weekend mixed bag

[saffronhare]

Many thanks to the Doughnut Fairy (aka zylch), whose visit this afternoon provided the sugar which powers this post for you all today. Feel free to metaphorically shower her with power tools, or pizza rolls, or whatever. :)

I'm reaching the point where the energy drain of walk training and the don't-wannas are getting more difficult to live with. Thankfully, there are only six weeks left. Whether this reluctance eases up or not, I don't have long to go. I feel like I'm definitely at a point where I can participate safely. Further training will help me reach a place where I can complete the event comfortably. I keep having to remind myself that an endurance event is very different from a competitive event.

Also, gatorade seems to cause gastro-intestinal doom. Perhaps it's a blessing that I'm identifying the problem now, but damn. That won't do at all. Enough said there, except to say that it really kicked my ass this weekend (no pun intended). The upshot of all that...er, nutrient loss...is that I'm going to back off on the really high-intensity walking for the next week or so. In addition to my motivation level, my physical energy reserves have really bottomed out over the last couple of weeks. (One might even postulate that the two are related, nes pas?) The color of the Breast Cancer stuff is pink, not purple -- no martyrdom is required. Shorter distances, less exhaustion. Yeah, moderation is the ticket for now.

That said, I saw a glimpse of my abdominaluary area today in the mirror. It sure ain't a six-pack yet, but there's much less belly there, and even a bit of definition to separate the area below my ribcage and my obliques. And I was hardly sucking it in at all!

Comments

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

You know, that sounds like an excellent idea. Potassium deficiency might also be contributing to some of these episodes of heart palpitations. Hm. Thank you!

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

Any suggestions as to where I can find this elixir? My son needs to seriously decrease his sodium and increase his potassium. The only problem is that his drink of choice is gatorade. I'm trying to find a replacement.

Doom doom doomy doom!

[zylch.livejournal.com]

Or something. Not knowing exactly what about the gatorade is causing you issues, I suggest the following ideas:

Make a dilute solution of it -- I found that 1 scoop of the powdered lemon-lime mix in .75 litres of water (this is about 1/3 of the recommended amount) made a very drinkable lemonade-like concoction, which kept me both salted and hydrated through the Tunisian heat without having Too Much Sugar for the GI or having to taste the tapwater. It even tasted ok warm. (BTW, how is the backpack working out? Or have you had a chance to try it on a long hike yet?)

SmartWater -- just electrolytes, no added sugars or flavors or anything. I'm not aware of a mix, though, so you'd have to carry your own or have people strategically planted at cheering stations. This is what I try to drink when I'm ill in that unhappy GI way.

Emergen-C -- also provides electrolytes, along with other vitamins. Comes in a variety of flavors with single serving packets that would be easy to carry. I think it tastes like crap, but a lot of people at the store drink it like liquid crack. (I have no idea whether we carry the Electro-Mix stuff from the same brand, but if the Merc has it we prolly do too.)

Also, the belly is noticable (in that good way) for those of us who don't see you in the mirror. Or at least I was thinking yesterday "Da-yum, she really *has* lost weight!" I mean, not that I spend a lot of time looking at your abs. Er, that is, that's not to say there's anything objectionable about your abs, it's just not, you know... Oh, hell, just take the damn compliment for what it's worth! :)

Re: Doom doom doomy doom!

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Hm. I've got a ton of Emergen-C at home. Maybe I'll give that a try until the budget will allow experimentation with Electro-Mix. I'll also check out the SmartWater. Cost per unit is something I need to control with six weeks and hundreds of miles to go, though. Gah.

Unofortunately, dilute solutions of gatorade don't work. I was doing half-and-half this weekend and it wasn't Enough for my system. And yet, too much at the same time. Ick.

The backpack is working great. I have to fine-tune what I pack and how I pack it, but it fits great. No disagreeable chafing over significant distances this weekend. Yay! and Thanks!