Last month, I signed up for two JDRF rides — Nashville and Lake Tahoe, Calif. In that same announcement, I made some big promises, to you as my friends and ride supporters and to myself. I vowed a new level of commitment to my cycling, but more importantly, a new level of commitment to my health.
The hard part is happening now, behind the scenes, and I’m looking forward to sharing the journey with you as the year progresses. Where cycling is concerned, I joined a class at a local bicycle training facility (Endeavor Performance) in January. Endeavor is amazing, and by amazing I mean ridiculously challenging but equally rewarding. The first session lasted 45 minutes, and my legs felt like Jello afterward. The second class was 90 minutes, sans a mid-class low blood sugar that caused me to pause a few minutes. The next class went better by way of blood sugars, but the intensity was taxing for me. I’ll share more individual class details later, but the learning curve has been real. The day after each class leaves me completely exhausted on an embarrassing level. I’ve also been forced to wake up at 2 a.m. post-class to ward off low blood sugars. The first 90-minute class left me with a 31, and the second a 53. I’m still working out the kinks on this, which I’ll share later.
More than the cycling class, my biggest change comes by way of an investment in my health. I hired Jennifer Fleischer of Real Approach Wellness. She’s a registered and licensed dietitian/nutritionist, a wellness coach, a personal trainer with a masters in exercise and nutrition science, an athlete and has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 20 years. She’s working as my coach, my nutritionist and my personal trainer. I’ve come to a point in my life where I want to quit talking and start doing. I am having too many lows on the bike, I eat crappy foods and I have no one to help me be accountable. The best way I know to change those things is with the help of a trained professional. So I put my money where my mouth is, and I hired someone with the right credentials to help me reach my goals.
Part of getting older is understanding your strengths and weaknesses, knowing when to ask for help and realizing your own shortfalls. I work better when I’m accountable to someone, I stink at motivating myself and as much as I think I’ve got this whole D-thing figured out, the reality of my food and blood sugar log tells me something different.
I’m terrified about the coming months. It’s scary to admit you need help, and it’s scary asking for it. It’s humbling to look at yourself and realize how much hard work is required to reach your goals. Asking my friends to support type 1 research by way of $6,000 for not one, but two JDRF rides is a big request. I believe research has benefited me in immeasurable ways, and I fully believe it will continue to sustain my life. In the meantime, I am in charge of my health, and I want to live this life to the fullest. The only way to do that is by managing my diabetes the best way possible. Join me on the journey and be inspired to change your own life. It will be worth it, I promise.