I have been training to run a half marathon since January of this year (2014). I started with a running group learning to run a 5k. I learned so much about weather, what I can accomplish in a group, what I can accomplish alone, the power of the mind, how to make friends and so very much more.
This is 10 months later and I have been so frustrated that I have been able to run:walk 12+ miles in one session but have not lost one single ounce of weight. I am an interval gal of the Jeff Galloway Variety.
I started running in January at 266 lbs and I started October 2014 at the EXACT SAME WEIGHT.
In the meantime I have done a few tests to help me understand how my body works and to find reasons why the increase in activity didn't equate to a decrease in body mass.
The Caloric Expenditure test I took told me that my metabolism is 30% FASTER than other women my age, weight and whatever else they compare. WOOHOO!!! My body is a MACHINE!
The Mobile Hydrostatic Body Fat Test told me how much of my weight was muscle (currently 165 lbs) and what was fat and what a realistic healthy body weight would be for me. I had thought I needed to be close to 155 lbs but as you can see without bones or skin my muscle is weighing in at 165 lbs. So that was eye opening and my expectation is now set to 199 lbs.
Armed with this knowledge about me and my body and how it functions and with a running coach and team I was certain that I would be rocking cute skirts, knee high boots and fun sweaters on a much less fluffy frame this fall.
It wasn't meant to be.
STILL 266 lbs. I have ROCKIN blood pressure and cholesterol. I can run! I can run FAR! But it is still 266 lbs being propelled forward.
Well, it was until this week! I joined Weight Watchers a week ago out of desperation. I had a virus attack my lungs last month which is taking FOREVER to heal from. During which time I am not running and I can feel it. I decided that my body needs something and it can't be just the calories in vs calories out fallacy.
So off to Weight Watchers I went. Desperate and disbelieving. As a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian I wasn't expecting that there would be much for me to change and therefore I really wasn't expecting much change or maybe if I was lucky I could experience the SLOWEST weight loss ever.
SURPRISE! Week one was a loss of 4.8 lbs. WOOT! Now to have a repeat of loss and not a gain just because I mislead myself into believing "I got this."
There are a few things I feel have helped those numbers to budge.
#1 - I was going days without a vegetable or fruit. As a LOV (Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian) this would seem impossible, but a few days of burritos without veggies or pasta bakes with only tomato or alfredo sauce and other such meals I could conceivably not consume a veggie or fruit for 2 days. NO BUENO!
#2. Not enough water. Just as I need more calories than the average woman (did I mention I am approx 5' 10" ) I also need more water. So my water goals are closer to 120 oz than the recommended 8 oz 8 times a day.
#3. Eating whenever I wanted. Eating whatever I wanted. Eating while doing other things. All three of these go together and they influence mood, grocery lists and satisfaction. I could chow through chips and dip and never even notice that I was eating.
#4. Not being aware of portions. For anything. My idea of what a portion of M&Ms is WAY SMALLER than what is considered a portion (WIN!!) but my idea of what a portion of pizza is is WAY LARGER than what is considered a portion.
So, this week I made Mason Jar Salads to eat each day in order to up my veggie intake. As Matt Frazier of No Meat Athlete suggests, I have determined to eat one salad a day. Some days it is my lunch meal and some days it was my afternoon snack but for the last week I have stuck to that.
Matt also suggests starting your day with a smoothie so you are able to get your fruits in for your day. I love using recipes from the blog www.organizeyourselfskinny.com and she also suggests smoothies so this week I am going to make a few of her freezer smoothie kits up and attempt that as my new habit.
I have had a long time frustration with breakfast and with kids in school for the first time this year, I needed HELP!. Enter Organize Yourself Skinny's Freezer Steel Cut Oats. I quadrupled this recipe and am still swimming in frozen oat disks. :) I pop 3 of these in the microwave for 3 minutes and then add honey and cinnamon. Stir it up, scoop some out for my 3 year old and then enjoy!!!
Finally I tracked my points for WW and my water intake this week. That kind of focus helped me know when I could eat the chocolate drizzled popcorn and when I just needed to suck it up and drink water.
So, here I am today at the beginning of a new week. I start run:walking this week with a goal race of 15k in December. This afternoon I chopped and cut and cleaned (not in that order) and I made 8 jar salads - hubby asked for some to take to work. Later tonight I will create 3-4 smoothie kits with whatever I have here in the house.
Prepping. Hoping. Feeling better!!! I have less than a pound before I am in the 250s! Wish me luck!!!
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