Getting Closer to the Big DAY!

Well I am 18 days from surgery and I am getting very excited.  So many things to think about, and I am going to be "normal" again.  Had a pretty cool weekend as well, got to see Lance Armstrong speak and go to the Bills draft day party.  Want to give a big shout out to Mary Eggers for beating Lance Armstrong  in the 50 meter kick off.  They were also able to raise over $50,000 for teenslivingwithcancer and livestrong.  You can still donate to this as well, so if there is anyone out there that can help please go to this link http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/duel-in-the-pool/

As for my surgery, I am most worried about the post surgery and how my bowels are going to act.  I will probably keep myself on a pretty bland and strict diet to start but if anyone has ever dealt with IBD/IBS and has an thoughts or helpful hints, please let me know.  I will also have at least 4-6 weeks off of training, not sure how well I will handle that part.  I have not gone more than 2 days without training in the last year, who knows maybe I will come back even STRONGER!

Time to get ready for another week of work and see if I come up with anymore big ideas.  Still plan on the Buffalo to DC bike ride, any thoughts on a route?

Up and Down Weekend

Had some big workouts already this weekend and haven't felt so hot.  Thinking I need to quit eating junk food so much, just does not sit well in my guts.  Did a 53 mile bike ride yesterday and had horrible heart burn, and gas the entire 3.5 hours, especially when in the aero position.  Then did a 11.5 mile run today and had the same problem.  I don't know if it was the ice cream, pretzel m&m's, or wheat thins.  Maybe a combination of all?  Will I ever learn.  I better straighten up only 3.5 weeks until the surgery, then I won't be able to be eating all this junk anyway.

I did find an interesting read on long rides and how to properly pee on the bike, gotta check it out,
http://www.amateurendurance.com/community-submissions/article/how-to-peeing-on-the-bike/  This is something anyone in endurance sports must deal with at some point.

I am also thinking of doing a ride from Home to D.C. to visit Amy in August.  Would be a 400 mile ride, try for 4-5 days I think.  I'll have to see how I recover from surgery but I think it would be a great time.  Would get to see a lot of great sights, only thing that worries me is riding in D.C.  I have never had to ride in city traffic, always lived in the country.  We'll see what happens but things are looking great, and life is good.

Review of Kashi Go Lean Crisp Cinnamon Crumble

Well I will start off by stating that this is a review from someone with very sensitive bowels.  So if you are an individual who doesn't tolerate whole grains and fiber well this might be of use for you.  Here is the link if you want to check it out for yourself.  http://www.kashi.com/products/golean_cereal_crisp_cinnamon_crumble

The Facts

I will start by saying that this was a good tasting cereal for being a healthy alternative, but if you do have sensitive guts beware.  I ate a bowel at 7AM and by 11AM the pain started.  I had crazy gas pains for over 4 hours.  Now just to make sure that it was the cereal and not something else I ate I put my guts on the line again and had a bowel at 330PM.(If you know me at all the minute the pain stops I just want to eat again)   Sure enough by 730PM I had the same gas pains that lasted until 1130.  I am not sure if it is the whole grains or all the fiber but I belly did not like it at all.  So for all y'all IBS and IBD people just be careful on this one and let me know if you have the same problems or not.

What an exciting week

This has been a very busy and exciting week.  Right off the bat on Monday I registered for all my classes this fall at NCCC.  So it is looking like I am actually fully committed to do the RN program, very excited.  Then on Thursday I got an email from my Tri coach that allowed me to officially register for Ironman Arizona.  So that has me all pumped up now.  Then on Friday I got the date for my ostomy reversal surgery, May 17.  What a week, everything just kind of fell in place and that feels great.

As for Ironman training, we had some nice weather Friday so I was able to get in a nice 40 mile ride and did a 7 mile run this morning.  The only thing I am worried about is I am going to lose 6 weeks of training to the surgery.  Probably wont be able to start training until July, but will be praying for a quicker recovery.  All in all I cant ask for more right now, things are great just keep me in your prayers.

My Review of EMS Solstice Switchback 25°/45° Sleeping Bag

Originally submitted at Eastern Mountain Sports

A versatile favorite, the Solstice Switchback 25°/45° sleeping bag has thicker insulation on one side so you can decide how much protection you need overnight.

EMS Solstice Switchback 25°/45° Sleeping Bag

Good for the price

By TexasSnowMan from Youngstown, NY on 4/9/2012

 

4out of 5

Pros: Comfortable, Lightweight, Packs Small

Cons: Zipper Snags Easily

Best Uses: Backpacking, 3 Season Camping, Car Camping

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

I have used this sleeping bag in mid 20 temps and it did what it said it would do. It is fairly light and packs easily. Perfect for spring-fall hikes. The only problem I had was the zipper snagged easily.

(legalese)

Time for a another new diet, Low Residue, Low Fiber

Well to get ready for my big surgery and life without an colostomy I am going to be trying a low residue low fiber diet.  This will be my first day on it and I am hoping it will at least calm my guts down and slow them down a bit.  I am a little nervous about the surgery and how things are going to function after everything gets hooked back up normally.  So I am hoping this type of diet will help with that.

I don't have an official date for the surgery yet but am hoping I find out sometime this week.  This is going to be very exciting time for me considering I have been carrying around this extra baggage for over 6 years now.  If anybody else has gone through this please pass on any tips you may have.  I'll keep y'all posted on how this low residue low fiber diet works, sounds pretty plain and boring but that'll be just fine for me if it works.

Living with Pain

I sometimes wonder why I keep doing everything I do.  I wake up and feel like crap because I had to eat pizza and wings last night.  Knowing that I would wake up this way I still did it.  Then after that I know I have a ten mile run that is going to hurt because I tore some cartilidge in my knee but yet I get my gear on and go for a run.
So now I feel good because I got my run in but now will probably hurt more because of it.  I don't know if it is the OCD of wanting to train non stop or if I'm just crazy.  At least I know I'll have some time off when I get my ostomy reversed, that sounds like a blast don't it.