healthy living...mostly

so a___ and i started doing the abs diet about seven weeks ago and were pretty diligent about it until we went to stl last weekend. i've found that i really enjoy working out because it is difficult, but i know that i can do it and then when i feel sore the next day (or couple of days) i know that i'm building muscles in new places! the "diet" is really more of just a healthy eating plan - no white flour (which i was already doing), very little to no added sugar, nuts and veggies, low salt and low fat dairy and meats. of course we did throw in a few extra dark chocolate bars, but really, for the most part i think a shift towards a healthier diet has been successful. i was already eating fewer carbs than a lot of people because i try to limit myself so that i don't have to give myself as much insulin throughout the day but now i'm trying to eat fewer carbs and more protein to slim down even more. it's not always easy, especially on the days when my blood sugar gets low and i end up eating 100-400 calories more than i had anticipated but i know that overall i am making good food choices and that will (hopefully) get easier.

 our trip to stl was filled with eating. we had pizza and ribs and ted drewes and and and. it was delicious and i think tasted even better after 6 1/2 weeks of "dieting". it was a whirlwind trip filled with lots of family and friends and fun but it's always nice to come home and sleep in my own bed. i'm back to the working out today and hopefully in another six weeks i will see even more results.

i continue to have very good control of my diabetes, my last a1c a few weeks ago was a 6% and i attribute it to four things: more exercise, better eating, my insulin pump and testing 8+ times per day. i am so thankful for the health benefits that my job provides me and i am lucky to have the good health that i do.

Update

School continues. It feels like it's going to last forever, but I know it really won't. I'm taking Physics I, Calc III and Biochem I for the summer and so far enjoying the classes, but I'm sure that they will get progressively more difficult as the semester goes on.

I moved to Sandy (ugh) and for the first time since moving from Provo, am not living in Salt Lake City proper. I really like living with A___, but it is hard adjusting. I lived by myself for almost two years before this so it's a BIG change to being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want to having to take someone else's opinions/desires/etc. into account when making decisions. Sometimes it's simple things like what we buy at the grocery store or what temperature to keep the house at. Sometimes it's more than that.

I did start mountain biking with A___ and so far it's very enjoyable, although I don't love it like he does (yet). It's fun going downhill and the exercise isn't bad either...

My a1c has been great for the last 6 months; 6.6 then 6.0 then back to 6.6. I'm happy with where things are and would like to continue that trend of less than 7. I've been much healthier in general. I walk a couple miles on days that I commute by train (which is generally 4/5 weekdays) and I'm much better about what I eat (and what I don't).

Work is just....work. I do have a great job and I have a good relationship with my supervisor and other coworkers, but work is work is work.

Currently listening...

Oops. I totally spaced posting any music for May. Here's a (truncated) list!

1. Morgan Page - Strange Condition
2. George Acosta feat. Fisher - Love Rain Down
3. Laura Jansen - Use Somebody (Armin Van Buuren remix)
4. Kaskade - Everything (Big Room remix)
5. Armin Van Buuren - Zocalo (performed by classical orchestra)

There were actually several Armin songs performed by the North Netherlands Classical Orchestra and all are VERY cool, but I think that Zocalo was my favorite. The remix of Use Somebody is also worth a few listens (or more) and I like it better than the Kings of Leon version. I'm sure I've posted the Kaskade song before, but I heard it the other day and hadn't listened to it for quite some time and it reminded me how good it is and how much I LOVE the lyrics. Strange Condition popped up on Pandora the other day and I love her voice (not sure who the vocalist is) and haven't searched for any remixes, but am sure that some good ones will come of it.

Currently listening...

April is the Serge Devant album Wanderer...not too new (released in June 2009) but one that I've recently discovered and love, save one track. I actually HATE track 3 so I didn't even include it but the rest of it is good.

1 - Sweet Harmony
2 - Take Me With You Feat. Emma Hewitt
4 - 12 Wives In Tehran Feat. Nadia Ali
5 - Part Of Me Feat. Kyven
6 - Addicted Feat. Hadley
7 - Shadow Feat. Second Sun
8 - No Good Feat. Jaren
9 - Midnight Train Feat. Hadley Poole
10 - Surround U Feat. Kyven
11 - Wanderer Feat. Hadley
12 - People Feat. Kyle
13 - Peace Feat. Hadley (Bonus Track)

Take Me With You is my original favorite on this album, but I've also fallen in love with Peace. I love the lyrics and the beat.

Currently listening...

1. Andy Moor vs. M.i.k.e. - Spirit's Pulse
2. Cerf Mitiska & Jaren - Another World (Shogun remix)
3. Gareth Emery - Sanctuary
4. Johnny Cash - Hurt
5. Andrew Bird - Natural Disasters
6. Sia - Under the Milky Way
7. Erykah Badu - Tyrone (live)
8. Erykah Badu - Honey
9. Erykah Badu - Back in the Day
10. Zero 7 - Somersault

The first three came from Trance Around the World with Above & Beyond podcasts and I especially love the first one. The Gareth Emery is also pretty amazing. Going down, some older songs but ones that I have loved for a long time, or am just discovering (Erykah Badu). Sia is always a good choice, as is Johnny Cash. Already have an idea for April's list :)

Currently listening...

1. Arnej feat. Josie - Strangers We've Become (vocal mix)
2. Tenishia feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw - Reasons to Forgive (the Blizzard remix)
3. Tenishia feat. Tiff Lacey - Burning From the Inside
4. Nadia Ali - Love Story (Andy Moor remix)
5. Coldplay - God Put a Smile Upon Your Face
6. Erykah Badu - Tyrone
7. Erykah Badu - On & On
8. The Lushlife Project - Essence of Our Origins
9. Kirsty Hawkshaw - Fine Day (James Holden rexmix)
10. James Holden and Julie Thompson - Come to Me

Something from Tenishia was posted on a friend's Facebook and when I looked them up I came across the Tiff Lacey and Kirsty Hawkshaw songs. Love love love what I have found from Kirsty Hawkshaw although remixes tend to be better than her originals. Reasons to Forgive has become one of my favorite tunes in the last month and I listen to it very frequently. The original of this one is actually good, but I do prefer the Blizzard remix.

currently listening

1. Phoenix - 1901
2. Emiliana Torrini - Me and Armini
3. Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum
4. The LK - Stop Being Perfect
5. Kaskade feat. Becky Jean Williams - Start Again
6. Royksopp - Remind Me
7. Winter Kills - Hot As Hades (John O'Callaghan Deep Dream Remix)
8. Serge Devant - Addicted
9. Mike Shiver feat. Aruna - Everywhere You Are (Mike Shivers Catching Sun Mix)
10. Mike Snow - In Search Of

Lots of new, lots of not so new but all good in my opinion. And since this is my music post, mine is the only one that counts! I started building this post at the beginning of January, but didn't finish it until the end so it truly spans the entire month of my music.

The Winter Kills and Serge Devant are my favorite of the bunch although In Search Of caught my attention while I was eating at Sapa and then I heard it again a week later somewhere else and thought "ooh, this is a good song" so it definitely is worth a listen or two.

Royksopp is always a favorite although they're one that I tend to forget about until I'm reminded. Remind Me popped up on my Pandora to do exactly that, remind me about the catchy, eclectic electronic music that Royksopp puts out.