Weigh in - 5.6 lbs lost and back on track

Last week's weight: 256.0

This week's weight: 250.4

5.6 lbs LOST

79 pounds lost since June 2010

BAM! Whatcha think about that!?!

This seems to be my pattern lately, I lose a little, gain a little, lose a fraction (repeat) and then BAM I lose 5 or 6 pounds. Cest la vie.

This week is proof that you can make good choices and lose weight.

It's proof you can lose weight during your time of the month.

It's proof you can have one meal that is as far from healthy as possible and still lose weight if you are making good choices otherwise.

It's proof you can eat a 450 calorie cookie and still be okay if you work it into your calories for the day/week.

Was every meal perfect this week? Heck no, but I made conscious choices. At work there is always left over food from lunch meetings and events - this week I had two boxed lunches from Panera. The first I had a salad, chips and cookie (the 450 calorie one), the second was a half sandwich, half salad and a peach I brought from home. I immediately gave my cookie away and threw the baguette away. I've said over and over, it's about moderation. And it's about being honest with yourself about what moderation means. Every cookie is not "just one cookie".

14 more pounds to my Garmin Goal! I'm ready!

Emotional Eating

Emotional eating is something I've done for my entire life. I think many people who suffer from obesity have had their turn with emotional eating.

When I was bored? I'd find something tasty to eat - like a pair of Swiss cake rolls (or 2).

Stressed? Mad? Sad? I always turned to food.

Happy? That was an occasion for food too.

There. was. always. food.

I don't remember much from my Biggest Loser application, but I remember one specific question that said "Food is..." and let you fill in the blank. I wrote "Food is everything. When I am sad, I turn to food. Mad - there's food for that too. Even happiness is celebrated by food."

I've done pretty good over the last 15 months to control my emotional urges towards food. My only rule for overcoming this was eat when I am hungry, do something else if I'm not.

Tonight, after a stressful week at work, I wanted nothing but a trough of fried Chinese food and to sink into my couch and not talk to a soul for the whole weekend.

Check on the first part of that. (I'm working on the whole not talking to anyone thing.)

I've had a great week food wise. Despite eating that 450 calorie cookie Tuesday, my food choices overall have been good. Exercise has been great and the scale is moving.

I knew I was choosing General Tso's chicken for the wrong reasons. Sure, I wanted it because it tastes good, but what's more - the thought of eating it was comforting. Chinese food was a staple in my "past life" and the thought of a Friday night in front of the TV with Crab Rangoon sounded like the best solution as I was driving home almost in tears from the frustration of dealing with stupidity.

(Side note: If I ever win the lottery, the first thing I'm getting is a chauffeur. Seriously.)

But I digress, I don't know where I'm going with this...confession? Maybe. But I feel better talking about it. I know making this one bad choice tonight isn't going to make me gain 6 lbs overnight and somehow eating what was probably about 1,500+ calories is not really making me feel guilty.

I feel more guilty knowing I was making the wrong decision, realizing that I was turning to emotional eating and continuing to make the wrong choice.

Bike Adventures

Saturday I went for my second bike ride on my new-to-me bike! I've stuck to paved greenways, but so far I am loving to ride.

Saturday I rode a little over 8 miles on a flat trail. I was only out for about an hour, but because I'm still getting used to riding that's about all I can ride at once before the bike seat makes riding less than comfortable. I need to look into a better gel seat or some bike shorts with the gel inserts.

I also should look into a helmet. Yes, I've been riding without one. Eventually, I'll want to bike from my house to the greenway (about 1/2 a mile or so), so a helmet will be required.

Here are a few pictures from my ride yesterday.

Hey, it's hard to take a pic of yourself on a bike!
Car windows doubled as mirrors can work.

Overall, I am loving my bike and riding it. It's something you can do when it is hot out (yesterday was 90+), but it doesn't feel that miserable because of the natural breeze of zooming down the pathway. I know there are runners out there that won't admit it, but biking is so much more fun than running. Except when hills are involved. :)

But man, just like running, this is an EXPENSIVE hobby. As I mentioned, I still need a helmet and I'd like to get a gel seat. Also, I need a bike rack for easier transportation. Until the money Gods shine down on me, I'm left with lifting my bike in and out of the back of my Element.

I can't wait to have more bike adventures and build up my riding endurance.

Weigh in - Guilty Edition

Last week's weight: 256.4

This week's weight: 256.0

0.4 lbs LOST

73.4 pounds lost since June 2010

In the interest of full disclosure, I weighed myself twice this morning. The first time, at 5:30 am, registered 257.2. I went back to bed. When I woke up for the second time, I weighed again and took the 256 number. I feel like I cheated on my math test.

I also feel completely crappy about my weigh in. Not because I didn't lose as much as I wanted to, but because I know I overindulged last night and I didn't have to. I went out to dinner with a couple friends and although the food was SO GOOD, I ate TOO MUCH of it. I knew I was eating too much as I was doing it, but I didn't care. The food was too good for me to care.

I gained 3 lbs since checking my weight yesterday morning. Yesterday's weight was 253 (even after eating a gyro and fries after my run Friday night). Today's is well above that. I know it's water weight. I know I can be back to the low 250's tomorrow if I drink plenty of water today, but I hate that I allowed it to happen.

Lately, I haven't had control in eating out with friends or in social situations where food is plentiful. I used to. I somehow lost 70 lbs continuing to eat out and enjoy gatherings with friends. I'm not sure what happened. I guess somewhere along the way I got sick of being the one that ate a salad while everyone else enjoyed the fried pickles. I don't want to be the friend that can't share appetizers or desserts because "I'm on a diet" (I'm not dieting).

In the end it is what it is, and I just have to work to correct the bump in the road I'm experiencing with this. It's comforting that I'm not alone. There are others out there that are experiencing the same things I am with their weight loss journey. In fact, Skinny Emmie just wrote about it last night.

At least there's power in numbers, right?

Time for a new weight loss goal

It's no secret I've lost my momentum lately. I missed my July 1 goal and it's taken me 5+ months to lose the last 20 lbs (see progress pictures on the right). In fact, as I type this I am licking remains of a peanut butter bar from my fingers. I just haven't been as aware of my nutrition lately as I should be.

So it's time to get back on track and set a new mini-goal. Which is:

When I lose my next 20 lbs I will buy a Garmin (or other comparable GPS device) to track my runs.

I've been thinking for awhile that in order to train for the time limit on the Disney half-marathon, I'll need to track my runs and make sure I am training at about a 15 minute per mi pace. The easiest way to do this is with a Garmin. Also, Miss Lynn was recently gifted a Garmin and loves it.

But I don't want to just go out and buy one, let's make myself work for it!

I chose 20 lbs because it is still a significant loss, but I estimate I will still have ample training time to use the Garmin before the Jan race by time I reach the goal.

So, there's no time limit on losing the weight, but I don't get the goods until I am 20 lbs lighter.

Today I weighed in at 256.4 so when I reach 236.4 I will purchase a Garmin. I've already planned a few dinners for the week, and sworn off sweets (I swear no more peanut butter bars as of today).

Here's to getting back my willpower!

Diary of an overweight runner - My First 5K

For the last 11 weeks I've been following the 5Kin100days training program. Although we still have 3 more weeks of the program, I did the Tomato 5K Saturday.

I went in with no expectations. I was simply going to run the intervals that I was scheduled to run for the program (four 8 minute running/1 minute walking).

Me and Miss Lynn at the start!

Overall, I kept a reasonable pace even though I have a competitive tenancy when faced with other racers around me. I started at the back of the pack and I definitely could have probably started up closer since I ended up passing quite a few people.

After my first two 8 minute intervals, I walked for about 4 minutes (up a hill) and continued with another 8 minute interval. The course miles weren't marked (I later found out the water stops served as mile markers), but I knew after my third interval, I had to be at least half way there.

After walking for several more minutes, I did my final 8 minute interval. I could feel my body tiring and with the sun bearing down, it was hot. I decided to walk until I knew the finish line was coming up. That only ended up being about 2 minutes and then I did the last .10 or so jogging.

I crossed the finish line at 44:29!

Although I had no expectations, of course in the back of my mind I had my "secret-never-to-be-said-out-loud-unless-accomplished" goal of doing the race in 45 minutes or less. Doesn't everyone make these unsaid goals? ;)

And I did!

This is only my second 5K ever. Technically it is a 14 minute PR; however, I wouldn't consider my first 5K as an accurate base for comparison because I walked it at someone else's pace. I am doing that race again in October so I'm really interested to see what I do it in.

I can't say enough good things about Brad Gansberg and 5Kin100days. The program gave me the ability to get over my mental fear of running caused by an earlier injury AND it gave me the physical base to continue training for my half marathon in January.

Honestly, crossing that finish line was nearly as satisfying as the half marathon I did in February. It was a new accomplishment. I am no longer walking races. I am running them!

Weigh in - the rollercoaster of weight loss

Last week's weight: 254.2

This week's weight: 256.4

2.2 lbs GAINED

73 pounds lost since June 2010

I figured I should just quit procrastinating on posting this and admit that I gained again. Welcome to the roller coaster.

The only excuse I have is that I ate too damn much this week. No binges. I rarely binge anymore, but I've just been overeating in general. It will stop right now. I have a goal in mind to get myself on track. I'll be posting more about that tomorrow.

I also will have a report from the first 5K I ran yesterday, so there's still a lot of good things going on besides the gain. This is important.

Happy Sunday!

Weigh in

Last week's weight: 255.0

This week's weight: 254.2

0.8 lbs LOST

I'm posting this from my phone for a quick update. It's a loss and I'm happy with it, but I'm ready to get back to my 2+ lbs weekly losses.

I was commenting to my roommate that it seems like I can't do both food and exercise perfectly at the same time. So if I'm doing good on exercise, my food slips and vice versa.

This week, I'm going to fix this. The vending machine candy bars and office cookies have to go.

Happy Sunday!

Diary of an overweight runner - Michelin Man

Another week of 5Kin100days down on the books. I'm actually looking forward to getting our schedule for next week.

Today's run was rough though. First, it started when I wore the wrong pants. Yes, I know it seems like a minor thing, but there are certain qualities to clothes that I like when I'm running and these pants didn't have them. Combined with the shirt I was wearing, I looked like the Michelin Man and people stared at me.

Now I know you think I'm just overreacting but no, really, I caught one woman giving me a dirty look (which I shot right back). I tried not to care, but it's hard to concentrate on your rhythm when you feel self-conscious.

Secondly, I could not slow down. I kept speeding out of the gate during each 7 minute interval unable to slow myself down. I'm not sure why I was in such a hurry today, but I felt it.

Also the hills killed me. Now that I'm doing much more running than walking, I had two hills to reckon with. One is a gradual incline and the other is the infamous Mount Crumpet. I took video of Mount Crumpet today, but if I posted it you would just get motion sickness.

What's important is that I kept going. Yes, I cut two of my intervals short and I walked 2-3 minutes in between them, but I didn't stop, I eventually picked myself up and finished running.

However, my run Thursday was good. I timed my running portion and I was able to run 2.85 miles in 41 minutes for a 14:23 min per mile pace. This was the first time since I started running that I thought, "Oh hey, maybe I'll be able to do this Disney half marathon afterall."

I'll start training the beginning of September - just 4 weeks away!

Quinoa Black Bean Salad Recipe

I have to admit after staring at the computer for 10 hours at work today the last thing I wanted to do is write a blog tonight, but I've been dying to share this recipe with you.

I have to give credit where credit is due, and credit for discovering this recipe fully goes to Karissa at Confessions of an Herbivore. She made this for a small dinner gathering we had with friends while I was visiting St. Louis a couple weeks ago and instantly I was hooked!

I've made and tasted several Quinoa salads and until eating this one I was never satisfied. The flavors I wanted to be in the other salads, just weren't there.

Quinoa Black Bean Salad
Recipe courtesy of Cooking Quinoa.

The ingredients.

1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa

3 cups chicken broth

15 oz can black beans

1 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 tsp juice from pickled jalapenos*

1 1/2 cups cooked corn

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped finely

1/2 fresh jalapeno, chopped finely*

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, chopped finely

1/4 cup lime juice*

1 tsp salt

1 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin

2 tablespoons olive oil*

*I made a few alterations, including cutting the oil in half, using only 1/4 c lime juice, using fresh jalapenos instead of pickled and using half the jalapeno juice since mine were home canned last summer and they are MEGA spicy!

Basically all I did was cook the quinoa. While the quinoa was cooking I chopped everything up and combined as directed, leaving the lime juice, oil and cumin to make a dressing of sorts. Once the quinoa was cooked and cooled (in the fridge) I combined it with everything else and mixed the "dressing" in. Perfect!

Mine made ten 1 cup servings.

Finished product.

It just has a kick to it, but it doesn't have a lingering "after" spicy taste and the red peppers and corn bring a sweetness to it.

Additionally, it makes a great side dish OR a meal in of itself! It's packed full of wonderful nutrients, like 9 g of protein per serving and being high in vitamin C. It's also low in saturated fat, has no cholesterol and offers 5 g of fiber.

I. Love. This. Salad.