exercise – Thoughts From The Passenger Seat

2026, life

Take as Directed

Posted on August 27, 2026 by nancyb422

The Levoxyl I take every morning to compensate for having half a thyroid says: Take one hour before eating. Unfortunately, this also includes coffee, tea, water with lemon, and even water with electrolyte powder.

I’ve been ignoring those directions for the 29 years that I’ve taken the medication and knock on wood, the bloodwork numbers are always within range. I occasionally know something is wrong by my mood, and sometimes the scale, but I bounce back without a change in dosage.

But…..now I’m 66 years old and if it really is 10 years since menopause, this weight is hanging on tighter than a tick on a dog and apparently, it has no intention of leaving!

Oh what to do, what to do? I am running an experiment for the next 8 weeks, with doctor’s approval, and a follow up lab slip in my hand. The plan is to give up the morning coffee I usually drink 10 minutes after I take my pill and, wait until after my workout to put electrolytes in my water. I need to know if it will have an effect on my numbers and possibly, hopefully, on my weight. I’m only on Day 2, and already I have extra time because I don’t have to finish my coffee. I could get to my workout 15 minutes earlier if I want. I have my cup of coffee once I get to the office, and I add the electrolytes to my water bottle after my workout.

I’ll keep track of moods and weight and we’ll see where the numbers end up in 8 weeks.

Anyone else out there deal with taking medication on an empty stomach?

2026, life

Early Morning Out and About

Posted on August 5, 2026 by nancyb422

*Sun coming up over our garage/workout space*

I am up early every morning and out to my workout space by, the latest, 6:30am so being outside is nothing new to me.

But there is that rare occasion when I have to be off the premises at that time that puts my life in a different perspective.

Today I had a blood draw scheduled at 7:10am for my annual physical in a few weeks. The draw station is about 11 minutes from my home so, easy drive. But, I left the lab slip in my datebook back at the office! First, good thing I remembered last night so I could change my reminder in my phone. Second, good thing my office is a 2 minute detour from the draw station!

I left my house at 6:40 and drove the route I take every morning. The difference in that is, I’m usually driving that route at 9am.

Main Street is still quiet at 6:40. Walkers and joggers are in their homes, and the cars are few. The area feels sleepy, and there are remnants of an event held in front of the town hall; a dunk tank sits at the curb and saw horses to stop traffic are now on the sidewalk.

I stop at the office, grab my datebook with the slip, and check in at the draw station. I’m called in, give my blood, and am on my way in minutes. It’s smart to have an appointment!

On my way home, heading down Main Street from north to south, almost 2-1/2 miles, the town has woken up, and there are walkers and joggers all along my route. Another day has begun on the main roads in my town.

2026, thoughts

A New Year

Posted on April 23, 2026 by nancyb422

My birthday was yesterday and with that always comes my thoughts for my “new year”. It’s a nice little reset four months into the actual new year.

A couple of things I’ve noticed. I spend too much time reading other people’s blogs instead of writing on my own TWO blogs. This one and my family one.

I spend too much time, again reading, trying to “figure myself out” through astrology. It has given me an understanding of myself but I want to make sure I don’t lean too hard into it. What happens when I finally figure it out? Like the dog who catches the car. Will I be any happier? Not likely, so maybe I’ll try to keep some of that mystery alive.

I continue to work out every day but it’s only been since last week that I am coming to grips with my diet. What’s the old saying? It’s 10% exercise, 90% diet. I reinstalled the My Fitness Pal app and have been tracking my food. Keeping it realistic to lose a 1/2 pound a week and that appears to put me at the healthy part of my diet overall. Of course, with my first weekly weigh in, I gained 2/10th of a pound but I’m blaming it on the soy sauce with the sushi for my birthday dinner. I just have to stay realistic. Overall though, I feel great!

We haven’t started any biking yet this year and I’m looking forward to riding on my Specialized that I bought last September. I managed to sell my first bike, the Salsa, last week and I’m glad that someone starting out will get to enjoy it. With that said, I’m going to take each opportunity that comes up to ride without thinking about what’s on my desk or that “I need to be there”, when it’s likely I don’t really need to be there.

Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the first four months but I always appreciate that birthday reset!

2026, life

Sneaky Sunrise

Posted on February 28, 2026February 27, 2026 by nancyb422

I walk outside each morning at about 6:15 and head to my workout room. Twenty minutes after I’ve jumped (ha!) out of bed, made coffee, and drank the coffee while reading my daily bible plan/emails/quick social media glance.

Many days I round the corner and I’m compelled to take a picture of the sunrise. I’m not sure why because I have thousands of sunrise pictures already. Something about the morning sky, just makes me what to capture it.

Yesterday I took a picture and realized – it is a lot lighter out than I remember! Maybe because it’s been snowing the last few days and the 2 days before that was the weekend and I didn’t work out early?

Can it possibly be Spring getting closer? I can’t wait to start complaining about how HOT it is!

2025, Healthy Living

Beautiful Connecticut Ride

Posted on November 13, 2025November 11, 2025 by nancyb422

Last Thursday, our crew headed up to the Northwest corner of Connecticut for a bike ride. We started out in Colebrook which is just over an hour from our home. The ringleaders of our group, Mark and Marilyn had completed the ride over the weekend and instantly knew we all would love it.

There was a brief shower on our way up and the car said it was 42 degrees outside by the time we got there. I definitely wasn’t prepared for cold – even though I was told it would be! That is typical me, I just can’t understand a temperature change until I’m in the middle of it totally unprepared. Thankfully, Marilyn lent me a pair of gloves with battery pack heaters, and some toe warmers. My husband lent me an extra buff he had in his bag. At least I was wearing long cycling tights so I pulled my wool socks over the ends of them, but really wished they were my fleece lined pair! Dressed and off we went!

The ride was a mix of country roads and packed dirt roads. I was happy to not be riding on dirt roads with ruts and rocks like our central Connecticut rides! There were a couple of intense hills that for the first time on this bike I kicked it into Turbo. If we didn’t have e-bikes, we’d be sitting home on the couch instead of riding.

We don’t stop very often. Always for lunch, meaning whatever we can fit in our small bike bags, and occasional water breaks.

This time we happened upon a small cemetery – the Munson Cemetery. I only took a picture of one nearby stone, but google led me to the Find a Grave website. The Judd and Munson families are interred there. The oldest grave is for Sarah Booth Munson and she appears to have ties to Hamden and New Haven. I’m not going down that rabbit hole though!

Our ride also took us through the Great Mountain Forest which is a 6,042 acre forest that within Norfolk and Falls Village. It has 13 miles of road to ride on. We went in one entrance and came out another. And we saw a porcupine! It looked so cute waddling away.

The last 2 miles felt like 10 miles and it felt like it was all uphill back to our cars. 28.9 miles (I need to start riding around the parking lot to get that whole mile!).

*Just kissed the border of Massachusetts*

We definitely warmed up during the ride, and on the way home we celebrated ourselves with a cup of Dunkin’ pumpkin spiced coffee and an a glazed donut stick. I think we earned it!

2025, Healthy Living

It’s Special(ized)

Posted on November 9, 2025November 9, 2025 by nancyb422

Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car).

It’s a good thing I love to ride a bike because my most expensive personal item recently purchased is a new gravel e-bike I brought home in September. It replaced the first e-bike, a Salsa Confluence, I bought in February. It quickly became evident the Salsa was not up to speed (pun intended), for the rides our group takes. The Salsa was half the price as the Creo, had a smaller motor, thinner tires designed more for bike paths than dirt roads, and unfortunately for me on dirt roads with rocks, no shocks in the handle bars.

My new, best bike is a Creo Turbo 2 Comp with a 1.2 SL lightweight motor, and SRAM hydraulic disc breaks. A really crazy feature is the “etap levers” for changing gears. If you’ve ever shifted gears on a bike, you can hear it going on down at your feet as the chain moves higher or lower. Not this bike because it’s electric! There’s only a delightful little “click” as I press the right or left lever, and the chain makes its move on the cog.

It is worth every penny because my hands no longer ache after a 30 mile ride, I’m more comfortable and confident barreling down a hill, and I have more electric power for that hill at mile 27!

2025, biking, Healthy Living

Today’s Ride – Getting Stronger!

Posted on August 24, 2025 by nancyb422

We packed up the bikes today and met our friends for a ride that started out on the Airline Trail. The fifty mile trail is an old railroad that used to travel from New York to Boston. We start out in Portland CT which is on the east side of the Connecticut River. One section of the railroad still exists and was taken over by Tilcon Tomasso (or what we used to call Trap Rock) and travels from there operations in Middlefield down to the harbor in New Haven, or so I’m told!

So, we headed out and although we start on the trail, it’s not too far before we take a left and start UP THE HILL. We’re on the road for a while and then head into I think some state forest which involves gravel roads and washouts, but thankfully no massive puddles of mud! I wish I could take pictures as I ride but honestly sometimes I’m just praying to get me down the steep gravel hills in one piece!

*Today’s route ! Not sure what the colors mean!*

It was a beautiful day – not too hot, not too cool and we stop for breaks along the way. My husband and our friends are very patient with me because I’m always bringing up the rear – especially on downhills!

I couldn’t record this as a Peloton outdoor cycle ride because I’m at 499 rides and I want to do a live ride so I get a “shout out” by the instructor! Silly, but, whatever. I’ll do a live ride on Tuesday afternoon for that!

After burning all those calories we were starved! So what better way to fill our bellies?

I’m hoping I’ll be able to ride more often in the next few months. I’ll have to work on that!

2025, Healthy Living, life

If…

Posted on July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 by nancyb422

If I say the number on the scale is “just a number” when it goes up, why don’t I say the same when the number goes down?

Here I am again analyzing what I ate that would cause the scale to increase by .6, yes, half of a pound. It never ends.

Does it reside in my head past the weight check? Really, that’s all it is, it is a weight check.

No, I realize it doesn’t. There are so many factors that can cause it to shift. The delicious sourdough cinnamon raisin bread with butter I had after dinner last night comes to mind….

But I drink my coffee, fill my water bottle, and head out the door for my morning workout.

2025, Goals, Healthy Living, hobbies, Home, life, Travel, Writing

More of This More of That

Posted on March 21, 2025 by nancyb422

What do you wish you could do more every day?

By working four days a week, I’m getting glimpses of what retirement will look like.

I have a variety of hobbies that include knitting, ancestry research, writing for this and my family stories blog, puzzles, reading. All my indoor stuff but I also have a new e-gravel bike to ride and a boat that will go in the water next month. And travel!

I wish I had more retirement time every day to find a flow to work on my hobbies and outdoor activities!

Soon. I just have to be patient.

2025, Goals, Healthy Living, life, Writing

The Six Week Curse

Posted on March 10, 2025March 10, 2025 by nancyb422

Six weeks from whenever I start a “healthy lifestyle program” it all goes to hell.

2025 is turning out to be no exception. I talked about my plans for a healthy 2025 here.

What happened? Valentines Day happened and I went to Sweet Chocolata’s here in town to buy treats for my family and employees. Of course, I had to buy something for myself and their caramel and chocolate covered pretzel sticks are to die for! That was almost a month ago and I haven’t been able to get back on track. It feels like no matter when I start, six weeks later there is some event or holiday that derails me.

My workouts, of course, continue to be going well. It’s my diet that I can’t get back on track. I start each with with determination, and then slide away.

But, as Truman Capote said, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor”. Appropriate right?