Did my first session of flexibility exercises from "Age-Defying Fitness" last night while listening to "Washington Week in Review." The exercises aren't too hard but it tired me out enough to lie down around 8:30. Unfortunately, instead of taking a nap, I passed out until 11:30. Then I was wide awake and couldn't get back to sleep. Unfortunately, I said in for a penny, in for a pound, and had a cup of tea, which was a mistake. I think I'm cutting back from two or three cups of tea a day to one. From then on, it's straight up water. It's the sugar and cream that are doing me in.
I did do an hour-and-a-half at the standing desk after getting up, which might have been a record but was probably overdoing it. Finally caught some Zs this morning but irregular sleep patterns are not the way I like to do it. That's the first time I've fallen asleep that early in quite a while. I attribute it to the half hour of neck and trunk exercises, with flexibility exercises putting me over the top, not to mention the heat and humidity. Bring on that Polar Vortex, says I! At least I'm exercising to the point where I'm tired, and I'm not feeling any tension in my back - yet.
Changed to the 4:3 diet in my settings.
What Is The 4:3 Diet And Why Is It Touted To Unseat The 5:2 Diet For Weight Loss? It's the diet I've largely been following for the past four months. I just didn't realize I could change my diet in the settings. The other problem is that it goes under various names, including the alternate-day and every-other-day diet, which aren't listed on FatSecret. Another variant is "The Eight Hour Diet"" by a Men's Health Editor. I reset my weight goal from 140 to 130 because I don't think 140 is going to get rid of the visceral body fat/blubber/love handles/pouch/metabolic syndrome.
Just read this from the Harvard Medical newsletter, yet another reason to lose weight: less aggravation of my flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and bunion:
Want healthy feet? Keep a healthy weight
Being overweight can lead to a host of health problems, from high blood pressure and heart disease to arthritis, gallstones, and sleep apnea. It can also contribute to foot problems in two ways.
First, excess weight contributes to the misery of common structural problems such as heel pain and arthritis. Any foot ailment is more painful the more weight you put on it. Second, excess pounds increase your chances of developing atherosclerosis, poor circulation, and diabetes — all of which can damage your feet.
If you deal with foot pain, your doctor may recommend medication or physical therapy. But if foot pain is slowing you down and you are also overweight, losing weight can help get more spring in your step.