Fitness, fatness and frustration - oh my!

It has done nothing much other than rain here for the last week which has really done a number on my mood (to say nothing of the hormonal roller-coaster I feel like I'm on, sorry if that's TMI). We finally saw some sun today and the rain should hopefully be finished by Saturday night - please! I haven't even felt like blogging for goodness sake! Being cooped up in the house with the family grates on the nerves at times, and today I foolishly thought I could have breakfast with friends before I went grocery shopping. That bit me on the a$$ when Jason fell asleep in the car for 20 minutes on the way home and then didn't want to nap until 4pm. Which is right when Sarah woke up. Par for the course for this week. On the bright side, William and I went to the nursery yesterday and picked up a truckful of perennials to plant, if it ever stops POURING! :-) I'm feeling the need to dig in the dirt. And also get me some church, but that's for another post.

THIS post is about running, eating, health and weight loss - and what conclusions I've come to after training for my race.

Big revelation number 1:
YOU CAN DO FAR MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU CAN DO.


When I started training for my 10k race 9 weeks ago I was able to complete a 2 mile run in about 25 minutes. On Saturday I was able to run 6.2 miles in 56:34 minutes. I finished 30 out of 86 women in my age group, and 624 out of 1207 runners total. Almost in the top half of the group. Why? Because I was commited to doing it, and I stuck with the program as it was laid out for me, even when I didn't feel like it very much. Don't ever say "oh I could never do this/that/the other" because you CAN. You just have to work up to it! I don't think I'll ever attempt a marathon, or even a half-marathon, but another 10k I probably will. I have a lot more energy now than when I started and I love being able to run with William as he tries to master riding a bike. Now that I'm done 'training', my goal is to run 4 to 6 miles 3 days a week, and add the FIRM workouts in another 2 to 3 days; I FEEL stronger and healthier even though I've come to realize:

Big revelation number 2:
YOU CAN RUN 6 MILES AND STILL NOT LOSE ANY WEIGHT.

Ok so now I'm fit, why am I still fat? (or, fatter than I'd like?) BECAUSE I'D HAVE TO RUN 10 MILES EVERY DAY TO SUPPORT MY CALORIE CONSUMPTION. It's far easier for me to exercise than it is for me to NOT put the food in my mouth. I played around with some calorie calculators today and discovered that even my daily intake goal of 1800 was still too high to lose 1lb of fat per week; my goal needs to be closer to 1650 - if I couldn't stick to 1800, how am I going to manage even less? This is where my inner fat lady gets the best of me. I love food! Take me out to eat, and I'm drawn to the seafood pasta dishes every time. Carbs are what I crave and it's going to take some serious discipline for me to break out of this rut. I think what I'm going to have to do is make up my meal/snack list for the day and post it in the kitchen, and write myself notes everywhere to remind myself that each little bite adds up. We'll see if that gets me anywhere. I think I've just gotten discouraged because I really thought that the exercise would motivate me to watch what I eat better. It's not just about the weight - it's the fact that the noshing I'm doing is not fruits & veggies & stuff that's good for me, it's chocolate and M&M's and sugar and sweets - which does nothing for my mood, my 'seat' or my teeth.

So - if I haven't bored you senseless by this time, thanks for listening, I feel better just for having gotten this all out. Here are two links I found interesting if you'd like to do some research for yourself:


Tomorrow is a new day and I'm going to try to cut back on the sugar :-) - and also I want to show you what Matt brought us back from Japan!

Comments

  1. Wow- all this talk in bloggin land about exercise is motivating. Of course, that comes after the baby is born....

    I am impressed with your running. I really don't enjoy it, but my hubby does and worked his way up to a half-marathon twice. I was super proud of him! I bet you can do it too!!

    Here's hoping for some sunny weather coming your way!!

    ~Becca

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  2. You are amazing! It is a huge deal that you completed that 1/2 marathon. Don't beat yourself up and try not to get frustrated.

    BTW - if you have been focused solely on running, you may have hit a plateau. Mix up your work-out routine and see what happens...(Gardening is good exercise too...)

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  3. I am so proud of you for how well you did on your 10K!

    I agree that what we put in our mouths is super hard. I have the best of intentions and then I ruin all the work I did on the elliptical with a bag of popcorn and a soda!

    I have to get rid of this soda....

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  4. you have done great girl! I am proud of you! All this rain has had me down too!

    I am going to check the sites you posted in about 15 mnutes, as soon as the kiddos are in BED!

    What perennials did you buy? We bought a ton last year and they are looking great so far! They should after this never ending rain!

    Can't wait to se your gifts!

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  5. I hear you on the rain....we are on week 2 of rain. We also had a little sun this afternoon and I am hoping that it sticks around.
    It is hard to not eat, I know this.

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  6. It's been raining non-stop here too. We saw sunshine for the first time in like 12 days on Wednesday, but it's supposed to be back to raining today. UGH! It does make you feel a little yuck. Well, you're doing awesome w/ your running! I feel your pain on the eating department..."pushing away from the table" is always easier said than done. We've just gotta keep trying. I just tell myself that I'm not going to let a bad meal ruin my day, or a bad day ruin my week. That seems to help keep me on track. For some reason, when I think I've really screwed up, I feel like just throwing in the towel...falling off the wagon. So, I have to remind myself that no matter what I'll do better the next chance I have.

    Hope the sun shines for you soon! Have a fabulous Friday!!

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  7. Great job on the run!!! And revelations!

    I have to be more creative with my cardio losing baby weight, since I have so many problems with my right hip and my left knee. Running is out, but I will also be counting calories and working out. I'll keep your second revelation in mind for sure!

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  8. Hi Jen - thanks for the encouragement! I just found out my cholesterol is sky high and I've GOT to lower it AND lose some weight or I'll be at risk for a heart attack in the next 10 years - waaah! Anyway, I tried a running program called Couch Potato to 5K back in Feb. and I hurt my hip so bad (even though it was a really slow start) that I thought I'd never try it again. BUT my hip is better now, so I think I might give it another go.

    You rock!!!

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  9. It's really really hard to change eating habits...but I know you'll get there. Don't beat yourself up...you are doing so well with the exercise!

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  10. I started interval training when I couldn't even run to the mailbox. I couldn't believe how fast I improved, and that I quickly got to a place where I didn't feel like dying when I ran. It was awesome! Then I hurt myself. :-(

    ~Heather

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