Weigh in - Thanksgiving Gain

Apparently, I'm addicted to Thanksgiving. After two separate turkey dinners (one Thursday, one Friday), I brought home leftovers from my mom's and made more mashed potatoes and gravy (from Mama Pea) tonight to round out my leftovers of turkey, dressing and desserts.

Oy vey the Thanksgiving weigh-in!

Last week's weight - 240.8

This week's weight - 243.8

3 lbs GAINED

85.6 total lost since June 2010

Let's not act surprised. I ate way more than just two Thanksgiving dinners. There were cookies, pizza, ice cream, burgers and fries and did I mention left over dessert?

I am on the fast track to gaining weight. The good news is, I haven't gained anything in my last 8 weeks of eat-whatever-you-damn-well-please phase. The bad news is I weigh the same as I did eight weeks ago.

The worst news is I'm trying to get back on track during the worst time of year to try to eat and live healthy. I want to give up until 2012, but that's no solution.

I don't have an answer for myself right now. I am perfectly capable of calling myself out, but I can't seem to find what I need to stop stuffing my face.

Maybe I'll come up with something after the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone?

Diary of an overweight runner - Disney half marathon training check in

After having a little nervous break down a few weeks ago over my half marathon training, things have been going better on the training front. I have missed one mid-week run because I had to go buy new tires two Friday nights ago and thus I did not go to the gym.

After writing that post, I did 7, then 8 miles and this week I did 9. And I have survived!

The 7 and 8 milers were pretty nondescript. I did them within my 15 min per mile training goal and I didn't collapse after either of them.

The 9 miler on Saturday wasn't bad either but trying out a new unfamiliar (unmarked) trail combined with the Garmin Fit app on my phone freezing at 2.5 miles, I had that horrible sinking feeling of having no idea whether I was actually completing 9 miles since I just did it by time; figuring I run about 15 min mile. I also turned around a little earlier b/c I didn't want to cross a 4 lane busy road towards the end and I ran out of trail. I mapped part of my run afterwards (it was too tedius to do the whole thing) and I at least came within .2 of 9 miles. If I can do 8.8, I can do 10, right???

I did like the trail, so I would use it again if I pre-mapped my run and knew where I was going.

A couple good things did come out of Saturday's run. 1) I was definitely running more than walking, I would run approximately a 1/2 mile and then run a 1/4 mile. (Or run 2 songs and walk 1). Also, after my Garmin app froze, I ran for 15 minutes straight or 1 mile without stopping.

I've always ran intervals with the longest run interval being 8 minutes when I did the 5K in August. So this left me feeling accomplished.

10 miles is up next. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but I know I can do it. It may happen this weekend, but with being in St. Louis for the holiday I may only do 6 or 8 and do 10 the next weekend.

The race is less than 7 weeks away!

Weigh in

Last week's weight - 241.4

This week's weight - 240.8

0.6 lbs LOST

88.6 total lost since June 2010

Any loss I'll take at this point. If you saw this post you know I've been struggling with my food choices and Friday and yesterday were not better. I need to go back to sticking to a healthy plan when eating out.

I don't really have much else to say about this weigh in. I hope to blog later about my run yesterday, which was 9 miles!

Owning up to it

So THIS happened yesterday:

Click to see larger version

In case you are too lazy to click or need me to spell it out for you: that's yesterday's calorie total ~1,000 calories over my normal limit. Let's discuss what happened...

A slice of cheese and mushroom pizza at 3pm - approx 285 calories
2 packets of Nestle hot chocolate at 4pm - 160 calories
1 black and white cookie at dinner - 130 calories
Baked Potato with cheese and sour cream at 9pm - approx 440 calories

This was all eaten over and beyond my 3 meals and 2 snacks for the day. What is wrong with me!?!

And I ate half a homemade pizza for dinner (570 calories). But even with that, had I not eaten the above my day would have been fine.

WTF?!

Clearly it's come to my attention that my demons of overeating have reared their ugly heads. This is how I used to eat. All. the. time. I would eat Oreos by the sleeve full and not even think twice about eating half a pepperoni pizza. It appears I've been too confident about overcoming these demons over the last year and a half and deep down inside they are still there ready to take me down.

This has to end now. I've come too far and I'm way too close to what I think to be a comfortable weight for me to let those demons win this time around.

Midweek Ramblings

So, I may have given up daily posting of my food log (to protect you from boredom, dear readers), but I am still tracking over at Sparkpeople.

I'm still struggling with my food choices. Yesterday I was really snacky, so I ended up at Starbucks at 3 pm for a Peppermint Mocha. I got the skinny version, but that was still 290 calories un-needed.

Sometimes it's just easier to go back to basics and with the holidays coming up, that's where I'm going to head. Back to eating my staples: whole grains, complex carbs, tons of fruits/veggies, low fat dairy and lean meats. This basically means I eat a variety of whole wheat bread, potatoes (white & sweet), whole wheat pastas, brown rice, lentils, Oats, beans, eggs, 2% cheese, 1% milk, shrimp, fish and chicken, apple, bananas, berries, brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and carrots. Oh, and the occasional nut butter!

It's boring, but this worked for me for the first 88 pounds, so why steer away from it?

Weigh in - what happens after you gain 7 lbs in a week

Last week's weight - 246.2

This week's weight - 241.4

4.8 lbs LOST

88 total lost since June 2010

I have been putting of posting today's weigh in subconsciously, I think. Because I don't see it as good enough.

Sure, 4.8 pounds in a normal week would be great. But I had a 7 lb gain to deal with from last week and I ALMOST was back to 239 as that is what I weighed in at yesterday morning; however, I ate too much last night knowing it would affect the weigh in and I didn't care.

Food log from Saturday:

Egg and cheese sandwich & banana (breakfast); a few samples at Christmas Village (not a lot since sharing a bowl of cheese dip with 10,000 other people's dirty hands wasn't too appealing to me); 1/3 of 12" pizza and salad with balsamic vinaigrette (late lunch); Apple dumpling with ice cream (snack); Another slice of pizza, romaine salad with blue cheese and 2.5 cups of popcorn (dinner); 3-4 pumpkin molasses cookies

Total calories: No idea, way too many (2,100+)

Food log for today (so far):

Peanut butter sandwich (breakfast); 3 pumpkin molasses cookies (after run); slice of leftover pizza; 1/2 order of General Tso's Chicken, egg roll and 4 crab rangoons; Ice cream sandwich

Yeah, so today isn't much better.

My long run today was 8 miles. I started 2 hours later than I originally planned. I REALLY didn't want to do it. But once I was out there it went great. The weather was perfect (a little sunny the 2nd half), and I was able to stay within my 15 min per mile goal.

Hoping to try and figure out how to stay on track this week (with a better weekend next weekend) to lose another 5 lbs next week.

Food log 11/11/11

I'm posting this now because then maybe I won't eat anything else tonight ;)

Banana and fiber one bar (breakfast); 1/4 cup 4% cottage cheese w/4 ak-mak sesame crackers (snack); Homemade Potato soup and an apple (lunch); 6" Subway turkey breast on wheat with 2 slices pepper jack cheese, all veggies and spicy mustard with 14 tortilla chips and salsa (dinner); three Mama Pea's Pumpkin Molasses Dough Balls (dessert)

I also had 2 lifesaver mints & 1 jolly rancher throughout the day at work.

Edited to add: Another pumpkin molasses cookie and 2 cups of popcorn

Total Calories: 1,440 1,594

One thing I've learned over this week is that 1 jolly rancher has 25 calories! I don't know why I didn't think about this when I popped 4 into my mouth yesterday and wasted 100 calories, but it just goes to show you how many un-needed calories we could potentially eat in a day.

Also those white lifesaver mints? Those are 15 calories each and the ingredients list (in this order) is: sugar, corn syrup, artificial flavors.

Goal next week? Stay away from the candy jar!

Food log 11/10/11

I'm in a grumpy mood. Trying to figure out what the best decision is on a tire is exhausting.

Thursday:

Egg and cheese sandwich (breakfast); banana (snack); Trader Joe's chicken pot stickers, edamame and an apple (lunch); 1 snack bag of Chex Mix (snack) 4 jolly ranchers (snack); Carrots & hummus with baked potato soup (dinner); Fit and Active mint ice cream sandwich (dessert)

Total calories: 1,993

Ate too much yesterday. Didn't need the ice cream sandwich. Stressful day today. Will probably miss run due to car issues.

Over it.

Food log 11/9/11

Is this getting boring for everyone yet? Truthfully, it's been a good exercise. I haven't been tracking for several months and although there are pros and cons to tracking, it definitely yields results.

Wednesday:

Grande Soy Latte from Starbucks (breakfast); Keebler Jumbo Peanut Butter Stick & half a small can of OJ (post-blood draw snack); banana (snack); 3 fish tacos & 1/2 cup black beans (lunch); Apple & 1 snack size bag of Chex Mix (snack); Veggie Corn Dog, Sweet Potato Fries and Salad (Dinner); Fit and Active mint ice cream sandwich (dessert)

Total Calories: 1,979

A bit higher than the rest of the week, but still under 2,000 which is the bottom line goal. The snack after my blood giving threw me off then while I was waiting at Firestone for my car I was starving and scarfed down the Chex Mix. I'm actually proud I didn't eat anything after the ice cream sandwich last night because I so wanted to. I just wanted to eat, eat, eat last night. Instead I made some warm water with a slice of lemon. That seems to knock the cravings out a bit at night.

I rearranged my workouts for the rest of the week. I'm doing Friday/Sunday again because I have to go buy new tires on Saturday morning and I have to be somewhere else by 9:30 so I just didn't have time to get tires, run AND make it to a friend's house by 9:30.

My main focus now is getting through the weekend with no slip-ups (and maybe lose 2 more lbs before Sunday). Gah, wish me luck!

Food log 11/8/11

The scale said 240.6 this morning. I know I shouldn't weigh myself every day, but I do and it works for me. Although losing almost 6 lbs in 3 days teaches me nothing about gaining 7 lbs in a week. Hopefully remembering I really want that 100 lbs lost milestone will keep me in check.

Tuesday:

Kashi Pumpkin Pecan bar and banana (breakfast); Trader Joe's Chicken Pot Stickers and steamed veggies with an apple and chocolate chip cookie (lunch); 6 oz Fage 0% and 3 chocolate malt ball whoppers (snack); 3 tilapia fish tacos with salsa and a cole slaw on top with a Fit and Active mint ice cream sandwich (dinner)

Total Calories: 1,504

The candy dish got me again yesterday, but I'd rather have 1 piece and be over it than pine over it all day. The dinner I made is an old standby favorite. It's very quick and filling and 3 fish tacos using 1 filet is about 440 calories. LOVE IT!

Also ran 3 miles and did my weight circuit yesterday. I feel back on track and I am loving it.

Food log 11/7/11

Monday:

Pumpkin Cream Pie Oat Bran with Trader Joe's pumpkin butter (breakfast); Kashi pumpkin pecan bar (snack); Trader Joe's Black Bean enchiladas w/ apple and a couple bites of 4% cottage cheese (lunch); 1 tootsie roll; Blueberry Chobani (snack); 1 snack bag of Chex Mix (snack); 2 oz whole wheat linguine w/sauteed bok choy and steamed edamame tossed in Trader Joe's peanut satay sauce, Fit and Active mint ice cream sandwich (dinner)

Total calories: 1,733

The Chex Mix and Tootsie Roll were not planned. I grabbed the Tootsie Roll without even thinking (mindless eating) and caved into the Chex Mix b/c I was at work later than I thought I would be and was starving. But I tracked every bite, lick and taste (as Cyndi ala Weight Watchers would say) and was still under 1,800 calories. Yesterday was a war won.

I did not go do weights at the gym (see being at work too late). I do have a cardio + strength date with the gym tonight.

Mending the aftermath and a new exercise

This morning the scale said 243.6.

That's more like it.

That's the gain I expected this week, not the 7 lbs that was shown. I'm confident with actually eating within my calorie goal and plan, I will be back in the 230s on Sunday.

Challenge extended.

As an exercise this week I'm going to post what I'm eating each day. When I posted my bad days last week it was really cathartic. I know posting food logs can get boring so I'm only going to do it this week and not make it a continuing thing, but it should be a good exercise.

Sunday:

2 slices sprouted bread with 2 T peanut butter and 1 banana (pre-run); Bowl of Mama Pea's Pumpkin Cream Pie Oat Bran with a spoonful of pumpkin butter added (after run breakfast); 1/2 cup 4% cottage cheese and 3 sesame crackers (snack); 1 bowl French Onion Soup w/2 oz Swiss Cheese (lunch); 3 steak tacos, chips & salsa, guacamole, cheese dip and beans (dinner); 1 fun size snickers

Definitely not a menu of healthful choices, but I'm getting there with better portions (sans chips at dinner).

I am headed to the gym tonight just to get some weight lifting in. I'm hoping adding weight training will help with building muscle in my legs for my runs. My aerobic endurance is fine on long runs, but for example yesterday around 5.5 miles my legs hurt so very bad. Either way weight training makes me feel good and hopefully it will provide toning where I need it.

Weigh in - The most epic gain EVER

Last week's weight - 239.0

This week's weight - 246.2

7.2 lbs GAINED

83.2 total lost since June 2010

Yep, you read that right (and no it's not a typo). I had an epic gain of 7.2 lbs this week. Am I surprised? A little. I knew I would gain because of everything I've eaten this week, but 7 pounds? Yeah...wasn't prepared for that.

As Maren pointed out, "What's done is done and what's eaten is eaten." So time to move on. I plan to track my food this week and get back on the horse and hope for a big ass loss next week.

On the plus side I did my first long run in 3 weeks today and I didn't die. 7 miles done! It was rough since I haven't been eating right lately and there was too much alcohol and not enough hydration going on yesterday, but surprisingly it went well despite my gut rot and dehydration.

Given my huge gain this week, I am back to 9.8 pounds from my Garmin Goal. And 16.8 pounds from 100 lbs lost. Talk about two steps backwards!?

My goal is to have the Garmin by Thanksgiving and the 100 pound party is tentatively scheduled for January. We'll see how close I get in the next 4 weeks.

Back to square one!

The story of the 3-day binge

I'm fully expecting a 3-4 lb gain tomorrow.

Sigh, I just had to put that out there. I've done 2 of my 3 training runs (3rd is scheduled for Sunday) and I even did weights last night after my run. I'm trying to incorporate weight training 2x a week.

But my food choices, oh boy my food choices are horrendous. Coming off the flu last weekend, I was craving white, processed carbs. So that's what I ate. And now, even though my body is back to normal, I haven't gone back to healthy eating. Here's just a selection of what I've eaten over the last few days - and I'm sure I'm forgetting some of it!

Today: 2 pumpkin pancakes with a banana and butter and syrup (unmeasured)

Friday: Banana; 4 mini quiches. 2 mini cinnamon rolls, 1 mini muffin and fruit salad; Green salad with ranch dressing, yeast roll with butter, smashed potatoes, 1/2 pan fried chicken breast, 2 bites of turkey with gravy, brownie and peach cobbler; 1 snack bag chex mix, tootsie roll and another mini cinnamon roll; 2 bowls french onion soup with Swiss cheese and croutons, veggie corn dog, 2 mini chocolate candies; 1 snack bag chex mix

Thursday: Peanut butter and pumpkin butter sandwich; banana; cup of clam chowder and half turkey brie cranberry sandwich; black cherry Chobani; 4% cottage cheese with Triscuts; 2 bowls french onion soup with Swiss cheese and croutons; 1 oreo ball; 2 slices bread with pumpkin butter

Wednesday: Peanut butter and pumpkin butter sandwich; banana; cup of french onion soup with half a baguet and Swiss cheese, slice of cheese pizza with black olives; Honeycrisp apple; 4% cottage cheese with Triscuits; 2 veggie corn dogs and sweet potato fries; 1/2 cup chocolate chip ice cream in "waning" peanut butter jar (1T peanut butter?)

If you want to play Where's Waldo, try to find any veggies in my list up there. Although Wed and Thurs are bad, but Friday is by far the worst. We had an event at work and I pretty much put whatever was in front of me in my mouth.

I know I shouldn't do this, but I've already written today off. I'm heading to a Beer, Bourbon and BBQ fest downtown and I fully intend to enjoy it.

Next week. I am back on it and I am committing for the next 4 weeks to be as close to perfect as possible with both food and exercise. By committing to 4 weeks, it breaks what can be big and overwhelming into a small, manageable thing.

I don't want to do this anymore

I am really doubting this whole half marathon training thing. We are now just 9 short weeks from race day and I haven't done more than 6 miles. The last two weekends I haven't done a long run. Furthermore, the last four weeks during the week I've missed runs like crazy. I have plenty of excuses, just pick one - working 50-60 hours a week, illness, traveling to Atlanta two weeks in a row. But when it comes down to it, my heart just hasn't been in it. When I have had the time to do the training, I just don't want to. I'd rather lay around all day and watch 5 episodes of Dexter (I may or may not have done this while I was sick last weekend....ok I did).

Thankfully I have 3 friends counting on me to show up on race day so I won't give up, but what the hell am I going to do to turn this around? I don't want to be one of "those people" who don't train for a race, show up on race day, have a miserable 13.1 miles and hate every moment of something that should be rewarding.

I feel more discouraged than ever because I feel like I've lost ground over the last 2.5 months. I was so good about working out over the summer. But lately? Not so much. I know 90% of the problem is work, but that's not changing any time soon so I can only figure out a way to deal with it.

I'll let you know when I figure it out.

All I can do is get through this week. This week, despite not setting a toe in the gym yet, I WILL do all 3 training runs. Tomorrow 3 miles, Friday 3 miles and Sunday 7 miles.

Even though I don't really want to.