This morning I arrived at the Skidmore College Sports Center at 6:55 a.m. to undergo initial testing for an exercise science study. It was an earlier-than-usual morning. My cell phone also serves as my alarm clock, and the alarm can be set eight different ways. Slept right through the first one at 6:10 a.m. I did hear alarm #2 at 6:15 and chose to ignore it. The third blast at 6:20 got me up out of bed. Once at Skidmore, I was greeted by two student interns who escorted me back to the lab area where I underwent a number of (personally) humiliating measurements. Height, not so bad. I'm pretty consistent there and know what to expect. Weight -- well, I am SO glad they weighed me in kilograms rather than pounds -- it's a much smaller number. Waist and hip circumference - ugh. Dexoscan, where your body mass is calculated...is it optimistic or pessimistic to think of my body as half-empty of fat rather than half-full? What an eye-opening experience! The technician who conducted the scan showed me the picture on the screen. It looked like a shadow of the Staypuff Marshmallow Man with a skeleton hidden within. And yes, I am my own worst enemy and my humor tends toward self-depricating, but I gotta tell ya, this is a tough way to begin the day! On top of that, my blood draw didn't go particularly well. My friend Patty, the RN, had a little trouble with me (my curly veins' fault, not hers) and I left there with more than one Band-Aid.
To prepare for this test, I had to cut back on caffeine yesterday (just one cup of tea rather than the three Diet Cokes I typically consume). And then there was no food allowed after 8: 00 p.m. last night, which would never really be a problem because I usually have dinner and that's it, but knowing you CAN'T eat anything after 8:00 makes one very hungry at about 10:00 p.m., especially when that person is baking a last-minute batch of really perfect chocolate chip cookies as bartering currency for a friend doing my taxes (only to find out that I owe Uncle Sam, as usual).
When I was leaving the Sports Center this morning, I was struck by what a beautiful spring day we have. I thought about all the leaves that are just beginning to unfold from their buds (early this year) and how I hope to unfold from the bondage of too much good living and begin to enjoy a healthier life. I'm on my way!
Photos: Budding tree, and shadow, near the Skidmore College Sports Center this morning
