Exercise and weight control

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

I do think it says something about attitude (which will get you through this, Tabby) that you are angry and not relieved. Clearly, there's something about walking now that you look forward to, or you wouldn't be angry about missing it.

Seaboe

[Tabbyclaw]

Thanks, Seaboe. Thinking about it like that helps.

-Tabby
the princess with claws

[quink]

Ugh.

So, I'm up about 10 pounds from my lowest weight point a couple years ago and a good 7-8 pounds above what I feel comfortable with on my frame. I'm still within a 'normal' BMI, but I'm not liking the extra bulk at all. It's time to stop slacking (ha! I just typed 'snacking' there. I think that about sums up the problem).

I signed up for a 10k in five weeks, and it's my first 10k race in a couple years. I'd really like to slim down a bit before race time, so I'm targeting a pound a week - five pounds will get me back into the top end of my comfort zone. I'll do a little bit of targeted training for the race (adjusting my normal running schedule to aim for a faster 10k), but the focus over the next month or so is almost entirely going to be on weight loss. The good news is that I know what calorie range I need to eat in to get back down to the low 120's. I couldn't eat in that range when I was training for the big race (I'll have to work a little harder on the diet for the next marathon. For this one, I was mostly concerned about making sure I could physically handle it), but it's not going to keep me from doing a 10k.

Bonus: Here's me making faces as I ran for the finish line in the marathon

[Embra]

quink, you look barely troubled by those 26 miles! ("What, I have to stop now? Well ok, if you insist...")

Seriously though, do make sure you get enough rest following the marathon: it's not only allowed, but AIUI it's actually not good for you to plunge into another regime right away...

[quink]

I'm starting back slowly . I've taken a full week off, and I'll probably do a couple light runs this week, along with some cross training (I may hit the pool this afternoon). When I do get back into my normal schedule, it'll be much shorter distances - I have a half marathon planned for fall, but I won't need to start building up for that until July. So the plan is to clean up my diet, drop the extra weight, keep the runs reasonable (and have fun with the 10k), and then ramp up for the next HM.

I don't like dropping fitness days from my schedule because I whine too much when I have to add them back in, but I have no problem with sticking to 20 minute runs after work for the next week or so as I ease back into it (and listening for any lingering aches in my body. My legs seem to have recovered, but I haven't really tested them with anything above a walk yet).

[Silkenray]

I'm the thinnest I've been in probably 8 years (still far too fat - I started out at about twice my ideal weight). I am without a doubt in better shape in terms of stamina and strength than I have ever been, ever, in my life. These are good things.

So why do I feel so much worse about my appearance/weight than I did before I tried doing anything about it? It's like my appearance was something I used to kind of passively dislike - but now that I'm paying attention to my weight and trying to get it under control, I am focusing directly on it and actively hating how I look.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Silkenray--because you know what you want to look like and it feels as if it's taking forever to get there. At least, that's why I don't like mine (despite having lost 10 lbs).

I did get my new corset yesterday and will start working on the costume to go with it tonight (by cleaning the sewing room). This is my treat, in part for my birthday, in part for losing the weight.

I have 15 lbs to go to reach my reasonable goal, 25 to reach my unreasonable goal. We'll see.

Seaboe

[NorthernLite]

Today I entered our local fun run in the 5k event. It's the first time that I ran with others since starting the C25K program and I think I did well. I kept up a steady pace throughout and finished well. Unfortunately, my iPhone app didn't start properly so I don't have my exact time. But I went out and tried and finished. Now for the 10k.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Congratulations, NL.

Our "On the Move" program starts today. I've been wearing my step-counter to work and discovered that its accuracy is severely affected by what I'm wearing (I always were pants to work). The most accurate position appears to be on my waistband, but if I wear a belt (which I mostly have to, these days), the belt keeps it from rocking enough to register my steps. I've had reading running from 863 to 3378 for the same basic workday. I'm thinking of just counting 1600 for the work day and then adding in my exercise from home. To win the $50 gift card, I need to average 6,000 steps or 15 minutes of exercise per day over the next 8 weeks.

Last time I did this I was training for a 1/2 marathon. They show your progress in graph form, and mine would be flat for 6 days, then have a huge peak on training day (my goal then was 5,000 steps per day, which I met thanks to those training days).

Seaboe

[stalker]

Originally Posted by Embra

Fingers crossed it turns out to be minor, easily treatable, and not too sore.

Thanks! All of these things have actually happened
The doctor I was referred to has decided that it's not a hernia. He thinks it's just a groin strain. He also says that I'm ok to take NSAIDs. I take pills for a hiatal hernia, and I was always told that because of this I couldn't take them. That made handling things like this a bit difficult! He said that the advice for that is really just don't take the full dose of them constantly for months on end, and it's ok to take them temporarily for occasions like this.
So, I'm taking a couple of ibuprofen a day, I'm still running, and I'm just not playing soccer.

It's interrupted my 5k training a little. I'm in the middle of a 10 week program, and this weekend it said to run a 5k race.
It was a course that was pretty much 1.5 miles downhill, with a turnaround and the last 1.5 miles back uphill. It was at 7am, and already by that time it was 90F/32C. I was also wearing a superhero cape (it was called Save The Day 5k, and that was the theme ).
That said, I managed another PB! I haven't seen the official results yet, but I think I finished 7th overall (we were told our position towards the end, and I passed one person after that), and my GPS had me at a time of 23:11 which is 7:29 min/mile.
My goal for the first half of the year was to break 7 minute miles, which I don't think I'm going to do. Given the injury though, I'm really happy with my progress: Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of the first time that I ever ran 5k non-stop!

[NorthernLite]

Way to go, Stalker.

[quink]

Congrats, Stalker! A sub-24 5k is pretty impressive. I'm really enjoying reading about your progress with faster finish times.

I'm down three pounds since my last post. It's amazing what cleaning up the diet will do. One of the guidelines I set for myself is that any treats and desserts I eat have to be home made, and I'm trying to keep them to weekends only, around my long run day. It foces me to put some effort into it instead of mindlessly snacking, and gives me a lot more control over the content without outright banning anything (because I know how well that works during summer). Last night's angelfood cake with berries and whip cream was much better than something from the ice cream freezer in the convenience store. Otherwise, my husband and I have been sticking to the basics, eating good food and avoiding most processed junk. He's cleaning up his own diet right now (and he just bought a bike for the first time in 15 years), so it's great to have us both on the same page and not sabotaging each other.

My 10k is in four weeks, and I eased back into regular running last week. I managed a couple tempo runs to get used to a faster speed than my marathon paces, and a 10k yesterday that felt like the best run ever. I've been holding off to give myself time to recover from the big race, and Sunday's run was the first time I've just gone out and enjoyed it. I think my body really likes the motion of running, because I felt like a puppy let out into the yard after being cooped up all day. It was fun . It's kind of nice to be prepping for a race that doesn't need months of training or involves me placing a lot of pressure on myself (not that I don't enjoy the longer distances - it's just a different mindset). I just want to go out and run it and enjoy the day.

[Embra]

good to hear people's happy running tales!

I had a really enjoyable run last week, about six and a half miles, and which I did at about 9.55 mins per mile pace, which I was very chuffed about. I've missed a few of my running days since, due to work and family commitments (if I could get the hang of getting up early in the morning I could fix that, but it hasn't happened yet!).

As a new incentive, I see that there is a horribly challenging 15k available in September: the "Devil Run" (the venue is called the Devil's Punchbowl, see here). After all my complaints about the hills in my 10k, I am perversely attracted to another, even more hilly course! We went for a family walk at this location over the weekend, and it's basically a deep bowl in the countryside, loaded with countours. I could make a real training virtue out of living on a hill now.

So, do I go for it?

I might need some trail shoes...

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

My local Walk-Run program starts up again on the 29th. Until then, I'll continue my 5 miles on Saturdays, but I'm trying to throw in other walks during the week. My goal (I think I've mentioned this before) is to have my normal walking pace reach 3.5 mph (17 min/mile). If I can do that, I think I'll be able to reach a 4 mph race pace. I don't currently plan any races, but I'm thinking of doing a 1/4 marathon on the day of the Seattle Marathon, on my own (the Sunday after Thanksgiving).

Seaboe

[Keket]

I've been hitting the weights 2-3 times a week before work for the last month or so. Out of bed at 5:20, in the weight room by 6:00. At first it sucked, but I'm starting to enjoy it now. I have a routine I can stick to, at least for the rest of the summer. I also recently got a Fitbit One, which I absolutely adore. Keeps me motivated to move more during my daily life.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

My first exposure to a fitbit was a sign looking for a lost one (followed a few days later by a sign advertising a found one, which specifically mentioned that the found one was not the lost one). In the picture, it looked like a thumb drive.

So, what is a fitbit, and what does it do?

Seaboe