Good News/Bad News
You know what is the best thing ever? Starting a new workout plan that insists that on the first day, you rest. That was my yesterday. I walked around, shooting my mouth off about how "I'm on Day One of my new training program, yes, that's right, I'm going to run a half-marathon."
Day One = REST. Totally awesome.
Today, however, was Day Two. The task - run 1.5 miles.
In all my bragging yesterday, my friend Kim (Yes, Dog-Crap Analogy Kim) caught wind of what I'm up to, and insisted that she, too, is going to run a half-marathon. Well. That girl is always one-upping me. First the monkey bars, and NOW the half-marathon?
Actually, we decided to meet and run laps around the park while our two youngest played. We figured out that we needed to run around the park path 6 times to get our distance. It would be an exercise and play-date! Lookie at us multitaskers!
We decided to drive to the park, because we figured we wouldn't want to walk home after. This was a good call - but not because we were too tired. See, no one asked the toddlers what they would enjoy doing on a lovely Tuesday morning. My youngest was okay with it. Sort-of. Kim's son barricaded himself in the van, and refused to come out and play.
With some slight of hand, and a well-timed grab, we got him out, and brought him to the picnic bench. Then we did some pathetic, self-conscious stretches, and I took off for my first few laps. After the first lap, my three-year-old joined in. She trotted just ahead of me, setting a good pace, and yelled encouragement back to me.
"Come on, Mommy! You can do it!"
I puffed back to the picnic bench after three laps, and Kim did her first three looking like a champ. The kids and I stood along the walk and cheered for her as she cruised into lap three. My daughter joined Kim on one of her laps, too. Who needs a personal trainer? My three-year-old is totally up for the job.
I had a solid fourth lap, and then my shins started to ache. Knowing that I had horseback riding lessons in an hour, and I would be needing my legs, I used that as a lame (I know, it was lame) excuse not to finish my last two laps. While I did some more awkward and self-conscious stretching, Kim trotted around the park three more times. She kicked my hiney, man. Again.
While Kim made her way around the path, I corralled the two little monsters into my van for a private viewing of SpongeBob on our portable DVD player. You know, I used to scoff at the moms with the DVD players in the car. That's why it has windows, I said. Kids get too much TV already, they don't need no stinkin' movies in the car, too, said I. Then we got one for our upcoming trip and I owe lots of moms a big apology and maybe a gift certificate to NetFlix. Best. Invention. Ever. EVER.
Oh! And in further Kim News - she witnessed me making it all the way across the monkey bars at the school! I did it! I did it! My arms didn't fall off! Want to know the secret?
Here it is: If you hang 179 pounds of woman off of two stumpy, non-callused hands, you are not going to be able to do it. You can't just hang. You have to start off swinging.
So, Kim and I will meet again for a rematch on Thursday. We've got two toddlers, six laps, and bragging rights riding on the outcome. Provided we can even walk on Thursday. Heh.
I'm also down one pound to 178. This is tedious - but I think I know what the problem is.
Ready for the bad news?
I haven't been eating hardly anything. I haven't been cooking hardly anything. I knew when I decided to take on Fat Fallacy as my lifestyle guide, I would have a hard time with scheduling. But this last week and a half has kicked my sore buttocks all over the place.
I won't eat unless I'm able to sit down and appreciate the food I'm eating. I won't eat in the car, nor in front of the computer. Not in front of the TV either. I need about 30 minutes, three times a day, just for eating. And I'm not finding it.
With the last week of school festivities in full swing, I've been galloping from one place to the next, leaving the house before 8 am and often not returning until after 5 pm. I'm attending field trips, driving from school to stable to store to school again with no pitstops at home. I've skipped breakfast AND lunch for the last four days. This has resulted in really low energy and no interest in cooking a real dinner. Add in the fact that my husband is on a business trip, and I'm preparing for a week-long vacation with the three kids and a cross-country flight, and you've got a recipe for diet disaster.
Tonight, I ate a Happy Meal. It was gross.
I'm thinking at bare minimum, I need to eat a protein rich breakfast. I hate to shovel the food in, but this wishful thinking that my schedule is going to miraculously allow me time to eat, while contemplating the texture and aroma of each bite, is delusional. Especially this week, when all the planets have aligned, keeping me from having any free time.
I'm not allowing my body to get the nutrients it needs, and it's affecting my potential weight loss. I need to find the time to eat. I need to slow down.
I have this weird, illogical perfectionism streak. It tells me that I shouldn't take up exercise if I can't do it right. It tells me that I know the "right way" to eat now, and by golly, I'm going to do it that way. I'm not giving myself the space to be flexible. I mean, I know I don't want to mindlessly eat in the car, or shovel handfuls of cereal straight from the pantry, but to forgo eating because I can't do it "right" is crazy. But that's what I've been doing. And it isn't working out.
Balance. I'm seeking balance.
Comments
Well done on the laps! Couldn't you at least have fresh fruit and nuts on hand to graze on during the day?? How about taking one evening to bulk prepare some stuff and freeze it. Good luck
Posted by: Sher | June 7, 2006 4:18 AM
What is this "balance" you speak of? I'm confused.
;)
Posted by: Mir | June 7, 2006 5:34 AM
I agree with the fresh fruit and veggie stuff. I spent about an hour one day cutting up all kinds of stuff and cooking up some broccoli and putting it all into the fridge. Now I can just grab something, along with water, on my way out of the house.
Posted by: Carmen | June 7, 2006 6:12 AM
Well done with the laps! That's farther than I managed in my first few runs. It took me weeks to work up to a mile! So you did great. Be proud!
I have the same problem with scheduling. I've started keeping a baggie in my purse with 1/4 cup of roasted almonds (the half salt kind from Trader Joe's) and a small handful of dried cherries. That's a guilt-free mini-meal that is surprisingly satisfying. I find Natural Ovens granola bars very handy for those situations as well.
The reality is that with our lives, we're just not going to be able to cook all the time. There are options out there for quick, healthy, heat-and-eat meals for once in a while. Or, when I do have time to cook, I sometimes double the recipe and put half in the freezer. Those frozen leftovers have saved me many times.
Posted by: EverydaySuperGoddess | June 7, 2006 6:27 AM
There is another school of thought out there that says you should eat something small every two hours. If you don't have something in your stomach for your body to work on, it stores fat and decreases your metabolism. The trick with this is that you have to eat a very nutritious something every two hours, like fruits or vegetables. Nuts are ok for you but they have to be the unroasted kind. Try to stay away from highly processed foods which are really just empty calories. I wouldn't pipe in with this unrequested information, but I am going through the same thing you are and figure every little bit of support helps. And besides, who doesn't want to eat more often, not less?!
Posted by: Liss | June 7, 2006 6:45 AM
You guys are great! Keep the suggestions coming!
Posted by: BigSlice | June 7, 2006 7:26 AM
How about baking a quiche or two on the weekends. Preslice and then grab a slice and nuke it for breakfast each day. It's quick to make and gives you the protein you need. I can email you my approx measurements if you'd like (I just wing my quiches - once you get the egg/milk/etc base down, you just throw in whatever veggies/cheese floats your boat).
Posted by: HG | June 7, 2006 7:39 AM
Oh yeah, I finally ordered Clower's book yesterday. :)
Posted by: HG | June 7, 2006 7:40 AM
I second the suggestion about the mini-meals. I eat approximately 300 calorie "meals" every three hours and I've managed to maintain my goal weight for over a year. BUT...and this is key...I don't COOK every three hours. I make sure to have food on hand that is easy to throw together (cottage cheese, nuts, brown rice, quinoa, fresh veggies, fruit, oatmeal, tofu, whole wheat tortillas, hummus, etc.)
The key to mini-meals is to get a substantial amount of protein in each meal (like at least 20 grams - which is a quantity that I struggle to attain because I don't cook a lot of meat). That will keep you full and satisfied until the next meal. You also need some healthy fat (nut butters, olive oil, etc.), complex carbs, and some veggies thrown in throughout the day. Very serious fitness experts say that you should eat a few protein + carb meals and a few protein + fat meals each day, but not protein+fat+carb in combination. That's a little too intense for my taste, so I just try to get my protein and calories in for the day and let everything else sort itself out.
Diet is a big component of weight loss. I believe that the rewards of paying careful attention to it are worth the amount of thought that it requires.
Posted by: g | June 7, 2006 7:48 AM
I totally get the whole skipping meals thing. When I got pregnant, I realized I absolutely had to eat breakfast. I started scrambling a big batch of eggs with mushrooms and spinach once a week and keeping them in the fridge. Every morning, I plopped a couple of spoonfuls in a pita, sprinkled a little swiss on and nuked it for 30 seconds. Of course, I was eating this in the car on my way to work, but I think that's where the balance comes in. Something tells me Willy-Boy doesn't ferry 3 kids around all day.
And WAHOOO! The first pound comes off. That is SO great.
Posted by: Jenn2 | June 7, 2006 8:29 AM
Hi! I found your blog and the timing was perfect! I just recently started a get-fit campaign for my own self, and while I can't run (killer, mind-blowing shin splints), I have been walking every day. Yeah me!!!
Here's one of my favorite breakfasts, and it is very portable...
Blueberry smoothie - combine 1 cup frozen blueberries (chock full of antioxidants and stuff that makes me feel like a superhero), 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup skim milk, and 5-6 packets of Splenda. Blend. The yogurt has some protein, and it really does hold me for several hours.
Best of luck! I'm reading every day and am inspired by your efforts.
Posted by: melynda | June 7, 2006 9:38 AM
You guys, I'm totally smacking my forehead over these suggestions. I'm loving it! More, More!
Posted by: BigSlice | June 7, 2006 12:17 PM
I think that's why the plan I'm doing works for me. I barely need to know my name in order to eat properly. And I still eat while I read and eat at the computer. And I've lost twenty pounds.
I eat every few hours, starting with plain oatmeal in the morning. It's working for me! (I can hardly believe it.)
Good job on the laps! I hate running.
Posted by: Mel | June 7, 2006 3:05 PM
I'm just going to be repeating what others have said, but be sure you get enough protein in during the day. When I was on Weight Watchers, I ate all day long, right up until bedtime if I had the points. Now I'm on a low-carb plan (no boos and hisses, please) and I actually forget to eat. I used to laugh at people who said that, but I do! I keep Morningstar Farms pizza veggie burgers in the freezer and I microwave one and wrap it in a low-carb tortilla for breakfast. I also make a mean smoothie with Amplify protein powder. I've lost 20 pounds without ever feeling hungry.
Posted by: Ginny | June 7, 2006 3:09 PM
You need to stretch your calves when your shins start to hurt and after every run/walk. I did my first marathon last year and this helped so much with shin splints. Good luck to you-
Posted by: Kim | June 7, 2006 4:41 PM
I am so proud of you! Laps AND monkey bars!
Posted by: Becki | June 7, 2006 7:27 PM
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only perfectionist when it comes to eating right and exercising. I've also heard that suggestion about small portions of unsalted nuts and dried fruit. And I think there's a popular diet book called The Three Hour Diet. I know that some days I have breakfast at 8:00 and don't remember to eat again until after 2:00. Bad for the metabolism I guess.
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 7, 2006 9:05 PM
Well, I eat Atkins. Being a diabetic made it easy, cause the carbs are killing me anyway. So I snack on some nuts- and I live on the Atkins bars.
But honestly, I don't get hungry between meals anymore cause the protein is filling me up. I lost 40 pounds on Atkins and staved off the insulin shots.
So yeah. Pump the protein. I eat chicken salad alot for lunch - or a soup with lots of Non-noodle things in it. I also make little salami and cheese roll ups to snack on.
Definately not "low-cal" but it keeps me from being hungry and doesn't make my sugar levels spike up and down. That's when I would find myself shoveling cereal in my mouth - cause my sugars had dropped.
Oh, and another "atkins" thing? NO non-splenda sweetener. Thankfully most teas ( like the diet sobe and snapple) are made with splenda now. And Bryers has some good lo-carb ice cream bars.
And yes, a snack every three hours.
Posted by: Dawn | June 8, 2006 6:14 PM
Start off swinging. Check.
(That could really be a life mantra, yes?)
Posted by: Susan | June 8, 2006 8:14 PM