Posts Tagged ‘cholesterol’
a patio overlooking the ocean 6-14
Well, I have reached the end of Phase 6 of my virtual tour through central France!!!
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This last day on Ile de Ré marked the end of a sort of odyssey for me. When I began, on January 30, 2013, I had little hope that my exercise plan would last very long. And here I am, 196.8 kilometers and 1975 minutes of stationary cycling later.
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map showing distance travelled (map from Google Earth)
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I have learned a lot about central France, I have practiced my French, I have drawn and painted a lot of my impressions, and I have had fun telling you all about it in my Blog posts.
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I also have several health benefits to report. My blood pressure is consistently down to normal, my blood cholesterol is improved, and I feel more energetic. As a result of this last, my house is (slightly) more organised. I have not lost one ounce of weight, but I have probably gained some muscle and lost some fat. My knees are no better but they are also no worse.
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I think, most important, I have learned two things about exercise …
1. about 2-3 months of regular exercise is needed to see a benefit, and
2. after about one month, exercise starts to be a habit, so it does not take so large an effort to continue as to begin.
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The vistas on this last day were not so different from other days on the island. I saw many paths to the beach, but rarely saw the ocean …
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a path to the beach (image from Street View)
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I saw an interesting ‘pink-flowered’ shrub growing along the ponds of the salt marsh …
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a shrub with pink flowers (image from Street View)
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And I ended my sixth phase of my virtual bike trip virtually enjoying a virtual lemonade at a charming patio in La Patache, overlooking the sea …
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a patio overlooking the ocean at La Patache (image from Street View)
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Best View: the salt marshes of Ile de Ré …
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June 26, 2013 ‘salt marsh on Ile de Re #2’ Jane Tims
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So, am I going to continue this exercise plan? You bet! Next, I am going for a 4 day tour of the city of Mermaid Waters in Australia. A very good friend of mine lived there once and biked every day to university along the path I will take. Then, I will choose a place in Britain to continue my virtual bike tour. I hope you will join me!!!!
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
more encounters with poppies 5-1
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houses in the town of Ferrieres – shutters and white curtains (image by Street View)
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map showing distance travelled (map from Google Maps)
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On my virtual bike trip on April 15, I cycled through the countryside to the east of the town of Ferrières. It seemed to take forever to reach the first corner in the road. This part of France is very flat and you can see what is ahead of you for miles …
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When I reached the corner at last, I was so happy …
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I could see poppies in the ditch at the edge of the grain field, so I looked back and saw the closest thing yet to a whole field of poppies. If you Google images for ‘field of poppies’, you will see some beautiful examples of the many poppy fields in France. Sparse though it was, this is the best field of poppies I have ever ‘seen’ …
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a field of poppies and grain – most of the poppies are along the road or deep in the field just left of center (image from Street View)
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Afterward, I followed my poppy-colored bike path into the town of Ferrières. This town seems to have more space than other towns I have ‘visited’ in central France …
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I must have been tired during my bike trip, because it was very hard not to stop and buy a scooter or motorbike at the roadside dealership …
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This is the first day on my virtual bike trip that I have been tired and not very motivated. I know from previous bouts of exercise that quitting can be far too easy.
Since I began my stationary cycling trip ‘through’ central France, I have kept at it for two and a half months, exercising once in every two or three days.
I have been motivated by a number of things: looking forward to my next virtual adventure, reporting on my Blog about my progress, and choosing a subject and doing my pencil drawing.
I am also newly encouraged by my last blood work which shows both my cholesterol and my triglycerides considerably improved. So today, I am heading back down to my tiny exercise room to see some new sights in central France. Perhaps there is a huge field of poppies just around the corner!!!!
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Best View: shade along the country road…
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
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