Monday Morning Rambling!

I started dieting 13 years ago...that seems SO long ago, but it also seems like such a short time ago. I started dieting my senior year of high school. I was 268. I had just gotten back from a cruise with my family where my sister took a picture of me laying across my bed and I looked like a 'brown whale'...no joke. In all of our cruise pictures, I was bigger than everyone..even my dad. The senior year was starting, I knew prom was coming and I wanted a date. So I started losing weight.

Over that year, I tried a million different diets--these are a few of my faves:

I actually went to WW, first. I weighed in at 268.8 and never went back...for a few years.

Instead of WW, my 17 yr old brain chose good ole faithful--starvation. I'd eat nothing for breakfast, a diet coke for lunch, and vegatable soup for dinner. That lasted about a month or so. I lost probably 10 or so pds. Of course, the starvation diet didn't last long...

I moved on to the Carbohydrates Lover's Diet. I would eat nothing all day,and then gorge for an hr. That last a few months and another 15-20 pds.

By this time, I had lost 30-35 pds. It was the end of the year, I was down a few sizes and felt great. I didn't get a date to prom...but the guy I was IN LOVE with DID notice the weight loss. He told my BFF how great I looked, called me his baby...and I never heard from him again. Actually, I did...I got an invitation to his wedding about a year later. Story of my life...

I maintained the 35 pd loss...and managed to lose another 15-20 pds. I hovered around 200 pds a long time.

I moved to NYC when I was 20 years old. When I moved to NYC, I had a roommate who had recently lost a lot of weight. She had gotten into running a lot, so we encouraged each other. I was working out 5 times a week, and eating right 5 days a week. I actually rejoined WW. I was following the plan loosely, but tightly enough to actually lose weight. When I went back to Houston for Thanksgiving break, I was around 182. My family thought I looked GREAT! I felt great. One fatal flaw with this plan was my roommate not only encouraged me, she also became my binging buddy. We would restrict all week long, and eat all weekend long. Our metabolisms were still young enough to take this type of abuse.

I managed to maintain 182 throughout the rest of my undergraduate school career.

When I finished UG, I moved in with a guy I was dating at the time. He became my eating buddy. He was always trying to feed me! I also got my first 'real' job and ate lunch out everyday. I rapidly gained 20 or so pds. When I rejoined WW, I was 204.

I faithfully went to WW, I adopted all of the principles and lost to 165. I stopped going when I got a high stress job and started graduate school.

I still (to this day) maintain a lot of the principles I've learned through WW...but I haven't been a faithful member since I stopped that meeting. I always joined when I had a small regain, lose that weight and stop going.

Why am I talking about this? Especially since one of my goals for the year was to NOT diet...

Well, I think once a dieter, always a dieter. As much as I want to go off of my own free will regards to losing weight/maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I am craving that "eat this, not that" mentality of a diet.

So my current quandry is, should I go back to an eating plan? My family recently joined WW. I've thought about going with them. But then that's another 40.00 a month that I'll be paying out. Maybe MyFitnessPal?

I think before deciding if I want to do a diet, I'll go back to journalling and stick to my goal of measuring everything that goes into my mouth. Of course at breakfast, I forgot to measure the breakfast sausage I used AND creamer. I actually didn't forget to measure my coffee creamer...it's like I have a mental block against measuring that stuff. It's especially bad now that I've switched to a Low Sugar Natural Creamer.

I have always had the attitude that I must watch what I eat the rest of my  life. For the most part, I do watch what I eat...but I think I need to get back to that obsessive stage I was in at the very beginning of my WL. Of course, I'd NEVER starve myself again. That was 17 yr old nuttiness at play. But when I was on WW, I was super anal about my points and what I used them for. I wonder if I can get back to that. Maybe that should be my February challenge?

I didn't get my run in this morning. I will do it on the TM this evening. I may have to missBody Pump :( I scheduled a client at the time of Body Pump. I will see what time allows this evening.

Ok, I have no more time for rambling...

Thanks for listening :)

A week in review...a new week starts

I went into this week feeling bloated. My period had recently started and I got massive bloat. Of course with bloat, comes the thoughts of, "what have I been eating", "I need to clean up my diet", and the old time fave..."I FEEEEEL FAAAATTTT"

Sooo...

Last Sunday, I set the week up with some goals--no chips and 5 days of working out.

I added the no chips goal because since going lower sugar, I've allowed myself to eat chips. Chips aren't a trigger for me, so it was a safe, indulgent food...well, hello, chips aren't healthy. So they must go. I didn't eat chips all week, but I did eat 3 servings yesterday. Umm...yea. My dad bought two bags and I was at them. Oh well...chips happen. 

I also found this funny shirt on Facebook. It sort of fit:

Chips aren't really a trigger food for me, so this challenge wasn't that hard and I don't mind chips occasionally. 

Here are the workouts I committed to for the week:

 

Monday-body pump-check! Great class, actually.
Tuesday-spin+run/walk on the TM-check!
Wednesday-rest-double check. My favorite days of the week ;)
Thursday's 3-4 mile run turned into my long run for the week. So, def check!
Friday-rest! After the long run, I needed a rest. 
Saturday-5.5 miles...check.

Sunday has become a wild card sort of day. Traditionally, it's my DOR. My group decided to do speed work on Sunday...but no one showed last week. So I didn't make an event for this Sunday. My plan was yoga, but I woke up too late for the class. I could do in home yoga...but I haven't made it that far, yet. I will see...

This week's workout plans will be similar to last week, with a few changes:

Monday- 3 mile run plus Body Pump. 3 miles will probably be sprints.
Tuesday-spin+1-2 miles on the TM.
Wednesday-dor or maybe strength
Thursday-run
Friday-rest
Saturday-run
Sunday-yoga

Diet goals will be to measure everthing! I used to be so good about using my measuring cups, spoons and scale. I need to get back to consistent use. So this week, I tackle that. Convienently, I didn't measure my coffee creamer this morning. I did measure the mayo I used on my breakfast sandwich. 

I leave you with this picture. So often I get the "but I can't do it", "it will NEVVVVVVVERRRRR happen", "whhhhhhy"....I saw this picture on Facebook and duh...just because it's not happening now doesn't mean it won't. That's my motivational thought for the week.

Running, running, running...

Since my half is in March, I've been racking up the mileage. I spent the first few weeks of training, crying about having to run more (duh)...now I'm actually embracing the running and liking it.

I ran my long run on Thursday, so this morning I only needed 3-4 miles. I ended up going 5.5 miles. 5 miles running, .5 walking. 

The run started off ok. When I got to the park, the group I was running with was dispersing. Yes, I was a bit late. So I wasn't too much in a rush to start. I went to the restroom, and then started. I also decided that running with music would be good...so I ran with music. Thanks to my little sister for convincing me to put Beyonce on pandora. Beyonce and I jammed for 5 miles.

The first mile was ok. I had my sweater on, so I was a little hot. I was actually running at a good clip, even though my breathing wasn't good. I am getting a cold and it's effecting my breathing. 

The second mile was actually good. I was passing people...ok, ok they were walkers, but I was passing them. Actually, this old walking guy passed me at one point. He was flying-walking, if you ask me! 

Third mile took forever! I went off of the trail and over a bridge (a pedestrian bridge), and over to a path to another part of the trail. I pass this area on the way to work all of the time. It's slightly hilly, so I've always wanted to run over it. It felt good to do the inclines. Houston is flatter than flat, so the hills are a nice change.

Mile 4 flew by! I looked at my watch and saw 3 miles, then I looked down and saw 4. Very strange. Very cool. And obviously effortless. While doing this mile, I did see these fast chicks lapping me. I saw them on my way up and saw them again on the way down. Definitely raises the spirits--not! Lol.

Mile 5 was slower than slow. Not sure what happened...but it was hard getting up to mile 5. Finally it came and I was able to stop :)

I cut off my watch and walked the .5 to the group. They were doing yoga. I did a few poses.

I was going to go to brunch afterwards, but I got lost and could not find the restaurant. If I am honest with myself, I looked but I was getting a little nervous about going. I see these ladies every saturday and they are always so nice...but sometimes that social phobia comes back to haunt me. I stepped out of my comfort zone before, I can do it again. I know I can! Next saturday I'm going to brunch. 

This run was a good run. I didn't go totally easy on myself, but I did push myself too hard. I just allowed myself to listen to the music, take in the scenery and enjoy the moment. I looked at my watch, took notice of my speed...but I did not try to change it if I was going too "slow". 

I was thinking that I need to get back to a place of being OK with who I am. I get so caught in trying to run other's paces...and while that is good, I still need to do some easy enjoyable runs. 

I'm glad I went further than I had to go. 5 miles always looks so much better than 3 miles on my calendar. 

Speaking of calendars, I am going to do an update tomorrow on how I did over the week diet/exercise wise.

Also, since it's the end of the month, I plan on doing an update on my weight and low sugar challenge. I will post my messy calendars :)

Have a good day!

Power through or Stop?

My long run for this week was 7 miles.

I normally do my long runs on Saturday morning. The group I run with on saturday now does yoga after the run AND goes to brunch. I missed brunch a few saturdays ago and I never make it back in time for yoga. So, this week, I decided to do my long run on Friday morning. However, on my group's facebook page, a shout out for a thursday evening run. I thought I'd just do my long run on thursday evening, sleep in on friday, do a shorter run on saturday and go to brunch. (I really am looking forward to brunch :P)

I get home, my sister and niece were there, so I got caught up in talking/playing with them. I rushed out of the house without a bottle of water OR eating anything before the run. Ideally, I would have a tablespoon of natural PB and an apple. When I got into my car, I noticed I had a box of raisins--thank goodness! They came in handy.

I got to the park and the ladies told me that we would do 2/1 intervals. One girl wanted to do 6 miles, so the plan was we would do 2/1 intervals with the other girls for 3-3.5 miles, then we would continue on for 6 miles, and I would do the final mile by myself.

Good plan, right? Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans...

They are destine for failure.

We started the run, I was a bit out of breath, but able to keep up. We got to mile 1 pretty quickly. We did about an 11 mm (run/walking intervals). This is faster than I normally do my long runs, or better yet, any run. But I was feeling ok, so I decided to keep up with the girls.

Mile 1-2 was a distaster!! I suddenly got a very bad pain in my calves. I tried to run through the pain, but knew I needed to stop and re-lace and stretch. I also had to use the restrom. By this time, the girls were about a block ahead of me. They turned around to see where I was, but I waved them ahead.

I stopped and used the restroom. I also retied my laces and stretched. I actually thought about turning around and going back to my car. I was at 1.14 miles at this point.

I told myself to buck up and power through. I started jogging REALLY slowing, until the pain in my calves subsided.

Miles 2-3 were spent jogging really slowly. I actually saw my group up ahead. They very nicely waited for me at the entrance of the park to make sure I hadn't keeled over. I was able to trail them until 3.5 miles. When they stopped...

I was tempted to leave the park, also. However, I told myself I would do 7 miles. By this time, it was getting darker. The park we were at is a wooded park with shallow streams of water. There are also signs all over saiying, "Beware of Alligators." There is also NO lightening on the trails (WTF, City of SL??).

I ate half my box of raisins, drank some water at a fountain and continued down an unlighted trail. I was actually getting some energy and felt great. But, it was getting dark.  There were also a lot of rabbits and I kept hearing rumbling in the wooded areas. I was getting FREAKED out. So I ran this part very fast. At one point, I thought about someone hiding waiting to get me. I fortunately hit 5 miles by the time I was finished with this part of the trail.

So anyway, I get back to the main part of the park. Two boot camp classes were going on, so I felt safe in that area. I decided that I would just loop around this part until I got to 7 miles. I stopped at the water fountains--and they cut them off!!! I started panicking at the thought of going two more miles with no water. However, stubborn as I am, I kept going.

I did one loop around the park and it was a whole .35 miles. I KNEW I'd go crazy looping that area.

So I saw some people walking and they told me there were people on the trail. So I went on the trail. It was SO dark. I kept asking myself, "Nichelle, WHY are you doing this??" ...but, I couldn't stop! Not because it was one of those great, soul pumping runs...it was actually pretty shitty. I had bursts of energy, but it wasn't a great, I can't stop feeling. It was more of a "please stop" feeling. But, I kept going...

I finally got to 6.5 and knew that .5 miles was nothing. The last .5 miles went by in a flash.

When I saw 7 miles on my Garmin, I got an enormous sense of accomplishment. I felt great for powering through and not allowing negative self talk to stop my efforts.

Since the run, I've been thinking...why? Why didn't I stop? I could have done the run on Saturday. I AM so happy that it's done for the week. But what if I am having a great running day on Saturday?

I've been pondering this all morning. When people have sucky runs DO they stop or do they power through? I normally get very stubborn and when I say I am doing X amount of miles, I do X amount of miles. But is that always smart training? I wasn't in pain past 2 miles, but I was not feeling the best. So is it silly to keep going or is it heroic? LOL.

I can guess why I had such a bad run:
1. I wasn't mentally prepared for a longer run.
2. I did not properly fuel.
3. I had drank a lot of water that day, but obviously, I may have been a bit dehydrated.
4. I was probably due for a bad run.

Sticking to it Monday!

I stuck to my goal and went to Body Pump this evening. I heard mixed reviews about this new release, but I liked it best of all the body pump classes. The squats and lunges are intense, but I actually really liked them. My favorite are the dumbbell clings. I always feel so powerful when I do them!

I also have done well with my eating. I snacked a bit too much, but no sugar!

Since February is right around the corner, I've been thinking about goals I'd like to set. I need to ruminate a bit more on them and then decide on what they will be.

Today was an overall good day :) Let's hope the rest of the week follows suit.

Tomorrow-spin! I do not want to get up at 5am, but it will feel so good to have it all done by 7am. I also plan on hitting the TM to either run or walk or combo 2 miles.

Sometimes BAD runs turn GOOD!

I promised myself when I started this blog, I'd talk about the good and bad of running. I read a lot of running blogs and I get frustrated at the fact that some of these peeps never have a bad run (at least they never talk about it)! I am one of the lucky few who have more bad runs than good, so I told myself I'd talk about them.

So here I go.

Like I said this morning, I had to meet my group for speed work this afternoon. I was supposed to meet them at 1-1:15. Like always, I took too long to get ready; stuff started popping up before I left the house--important stuff, like laundry, that couldn't wait til i got home; I lost my running shoes--read: I was rushing and put them down and forget where I put them (on top of the washing machine!); I forgot a snack, water...you get the picture. As if that wasn't bad enough, I get in my car and see "15 miles til empty"--gaah!!

I sent a hurried Facebook message to my girls to let them know I'd be majorly late and to start without me. 

I get to the park...and no one was there. The entrance we meet at was closed. 

So...my first instinct was to get back in my car and head home. Obviously, the run wasn't meant to be, right?!? But I knew that would mean that I'd have to get up tomorrow morning to do my run. So wanting to be lazy tomorrow beat out wanting to be lazy today.

I told myself I'd do 3 miles. 3 laps around the park. 

This park is particularly hilly. I knew I had a few tough workouts so I did not want to kill myself.

My first lap was ok, I started a bit slower but I made myself pick up the pace. The park has no shade and it was hot! The sun would come out and then the clouds would cover it. I got through the first mile without too much fanfare. The first mile always sucks for me, anyway.

For the second mile, I decided to veer off of the loop and go to a straight (flat) portion of  the trail. About .2 miles in, I knew I needed to stop. I started getting dizzy and my calves cramped up! I stopped, stretched and took off again. I stopped again at about 1.75 miles--stretched, caught my breath...then kept going to mile 2.

For the third mile, I only had to stop twice. Things were feeling better, but I was hot and it was windy!!

After I got to mile 3, I went to my car for water. I drank and rested a second and told myself I'd do one more loop around the hilly part.

So...I set off to do it. I was going to walk, but I was ready to go...so I sprinted/walked it. Something took over me and I had the greatest interval splits. I even saw 8:xx for a nano second. 

I've had a few runs like that--they start sucky and end up good. 

It always is a lesson to me that persistence and never giving up is the key.

Oh and I also learned that TM running is just not the same as outdoor running for me.  I must get another outdoor run in before the weekend. Someone beat me over the head when I try to avoid it. Please and thanks!

Ok, now I can start the sunday chore of LAUNDRY!! Ex-ci-ting!! Don't be jealous :)

Sunday! A start of a new week

I love Sunday's. It always feels like a new beginning. 

My Sunday will be spent relaxing, conquering hills at the park, and then cleaning. I will also make lunches for next week. I am going to make this lasagna from skinny taste.

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/02/zucchini-lasagna.html

I will also commit to my regular 5 days a week of exercise. Here is my tentative schedule:

Monday-Body Pump
Tuesday-Spin, and maybe 1-2 miles on the TM.
Wednesday-DOR-my favorite day of the week!
Thursday-Run (3-4 miles)
Friday-HIIT workout in the AM or spin
Saturday-long run

Friday may morph into a DOR. I normally do speed training with my group on Sunday, so I will probably drop Friday to rest up for a weekend of running.

I normally hate to read my horoscope or anything of the like. But lately, I guess I've been wanting/needing confirmation about my life, so I've been reading it more. Well, today is Chinese new year and I stupidly looked up my predictions. Two words describe it: Not Good. In all aspects-Money, relationship, work, family and health- I have bad predictions. At first it depressed me, but then I realized that stuff almost wants you to have a buy in for it. I have decided that I will live my life the way I planned it for the year. I can't predict when bad things will happen, so why should I prepare for a sucky year? I decided that this year will be great, so I will do everything in my power to make it as great as possible. 

I thought this picture was good for today. We have to set goals and attain them. No matter how much it hurts. 

I'm going to spend my year proving those silly predictions wrong! (please no one tell me how their predictions were right ;))

So with that said, have a great Sunday!