Couch to 5k

I hate running. I really, truly, hate it. Hate it hate it hate it with a blinding passion. I don't understand these running addicts. Considering that I really like sports in general, this is pretty compelling. However, nearly all runners are very skinny, or they are headed in that direction at a good pace.

I think there MUST be something to it.

I have decided to do a couch to 5k program. Because I have been doing some walking/running, I decided to skip week 1. I have done two of the three required workouts for week 2, and so far, so good. I worry a little about next week. I am supposed to warm up for 5 min. Then run 90 sec, walk 90 sec, then run 3 minutes, then walk 3 min. Repeat twice. Then again, I do run in 3-4 minute spurts, but it takes me a good 8-10 minutes of walking to recover. Maybe I'll have to run a little slower to do it. Week 4 looks even scarier.

Tried a protein drink

There's a really great store in Layton called Max Muscle. I heard from a friend that they will give you samples of their protein drinks before you buy. Considering those scarily big canisters are between $50-$60, that is important! I went in there yesterday, and talked to the salesperson, who could've easily been their poster child as a success story.

I have had trouble eating more than about 43 g. of protein a day, and if I could get a decent tasting protein drink that would add an additional 30 g, I would be happy. He gave me a ton of written information on each product that I was interested in, and a sample of my top 4 choices of things I may be able to tolerate.

Today, I tried "Iso-Extreme" in orange flavor. It gives 30 g. of protein and 143 calories. I didn't love it. I managed to drink it all down, which is pretty impressive. I think if I were to mix it into a smoothie, it may be tolerable.

Venting

There's a lot of so-called "diet experts" out there who claim that the chemistry of dieting is easy. All you have to do is take in less calories than you use, and Voila! The weight comes off. I think our bodies are much more complicated and sensitive than that, so it makes me really angry when they say that. I feel like by saying that, they imply that you are somehow cheating if you aren't losing weight. In fact, I think some of them come right out and say that.

Here's some simple math for them. In the last week, I consumed 10,542 calories. Through exercise, I burned 2377 calories. THIS WEBSITE says that my resting metabolic rate is 1342 calories a day. For the sake of argument, I'll assume I'm totally sedentary, which isn't true. That means just by living, and going about my day, I burn 1610 calories a day. According to my very conservative math, I burned 13647 calories in the last week. A pound is 3500 calories. My total deficit comes to about 3100 calories, so I should have lost almost a pound this last week. I didn't. This deficit has been pretty much the norm since I started this competition. I haven't lost any weight since our weigh in on Oct 1.

I think Karilynn may be on to something when she suggested I change how I'm consuming those 1200-1400 calories a day. I generally have been eating two large meals, a smaller meal, and a snack. I'm going to try and divide out my eating more evenly throughout the day. I've journaled through sparkpeople, and my calories, fat, and carbs are all within their recommended guidelines. I'm consistently falling short on protein though. So, I will also try to up my protein intake.

ETA: I never should have done the math. I realize now that if I behave perfectly- eat 1300 calories a day, exercise 5-7 hours a week, I will lose less than a pound a week. At least, according to the "It's Simple Math, Folks!" people. That sucks.

Updating

Not that there's really a lot to update. I have been plugging along.

I've really tried to embrace the whole "truly enjoy and savor food" thing. If something tastes great, I eat it slowly and truly enjoy it. If it doesn't taste that good, and it's not good for me, I quit eating.

This morning I went to this Realtor seminar (yes, I'm a realtor in my real life), and it was held in a movie theater. We were given bags of popcorn and drinks. The popcorn didn't taste good to me- the fakey butter felt icky on my tongue, and it tasted kind of stale. After a couple bites to verify that I really wasn't imaging it, I put the bag down and didn't finish it.

Yesterday we had a staff meeting/birthday party for my broker. I had decided ahead of time that I would get a piece of birthday cake, and let me tell you, I was so excited for it. Imagine my disappointment when I realized the birthday cake had some kind of jam filling. I hate jam filling. -sigh- So, I said no thanks, and sat back.

You know what though? It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

The only downside to the increased business in my professional life is that I haven't been to the gym all week. I was feeling very beat down and sore over the weekend, so I figured I needed a couple days off, but I haven't really worked out since Saturday.

I've noticed a few twinges in my knees, which concerns me a little bit. They've never bothered me before, and I don't want them to start.

I have created a new playlist on my iPod that has all of the songs that really do inspire me to run. I am hoping to explore running more. I hate it with a deep and abiding passion, but everyone swears to me that it's addictive and if I really try hard enough, I'll learn to love it, and become addicted as well. I'm skeptical.

Need to change things

I have been really, really good since October 1, according to Spark People. My calories have been between 1200-1400 every single day. My fat has been under 60 g a day. Carbs under 200 g. a day. I have exercised 340 minutes this month, 150 of which was weight training. The only thing I haven't done perfectly is my protein intake- according to Sparkpeople, I should have at least 60 g a day, anI have been hovering between 40-55. And yet, I have gained almost a pound since Oct. 1. Fat percentage has gone up a teensy bit. I feel like my jeans are fitting a touch looser, but not enough to console me.

I'll admit I'm discouraged. I've been fighting off a major ice cream and chocolate craving for over a week. I'm down to one 12 oz. can of mountain dew a day, and want more, but my self control has won out every time. If I was seeing results, it'd be much easier to fight off the cravings.

I'm wondering if I need to eat more. Sparkpeople thinks I should eat between 1200-1550 a day. I've been more in the 1200 range. I'm seeing signs that I'm not eating enough. What are those signs? Well, that's TMI, even for me. I think maybe I'll try bumping the calories up to 1500. I also neeeeed to get more protein. My body feels beat up and worn out, and it seems like I take forever to recover. For example, I had a weight training session from **** on Tuesday. Here it is, 3 days later, and my hamstrings and triceps still really hurt.

I am considering trying some of those protein powders. I think I could make a half decent smoothie with some fruit, yogurt and some protein powder. Now I just need to decide, whey or soy, and which one is going to taste the least grody to me.

Before-ish photos

Here's my kind of before pictures.

You can tell my dh (the photographer for these) is significantly taller than me, and didn't get on his knees or anything. LOL

ground beef vs. ground turkey

Here's a quick calorie count for you on how little changes can make a HUGE difference.

Assume a 4 oz. portion of either.

80% lean ground beef
278 calories
18 g fat
27.2 g protein

Lean ground turkey (foster farms, in my particular case)
150 calories
7 g fat
22 g. protein

That is almost half of the calories, and less than half of the fat!

Last night I made tacos. I used ground turkey instead of beef, and fresh baby spinach instead of lettuce. I really do love fresh spinach, so that was no big deal. I was worried about the turkey because I am the world's pickiest eater. Yes, I am even pickier than your 4 year old. Swear!

Omigosh you guys! It was so good! It tasted fine. In fact, it didn't have that greasiness that I don't love that I get from ground beef. I am now tempted to try it for hamburgers.

I first tried ground turkey in place of the sausage I use in lasagna. I actually preferred the turkey, much to my shock. I fed my parents and my grandfather the substitute, and they all snarfed it down without knowing, so they apparently couldn't tell the difference.

I think that if I continue to find little substitutions like this, I can dramatically cut my fat without feeling like I'm sacrificing.

Diet Book Review- Fed Up by Wendy Oliver-Pyatt

I love diet books. I read them as a hobby. Because I am a cheapskate, I am limited to what I find at the library. I thought this blog was a perfect place to review the books I do read.

Today, I read Fed Up! : The Breakthrough Ten-Step, No-Diet Fitness Plan by Wendy Oliver-Pyatt.

The author struggled with her weight and eating disorders for quite a few years. She realized that she had an extremely unhealthy relationship with food and exercise. Her purpose in writing "Fed Up!" is to encourage a "nationwide rethinking about whether dieting and maintaining mental lists of so called good and bad foods actually leads to long term health and weight management." She feels like we, as women, hold ourselves to an impossible to attain standard of beauty. See Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty ad to show just how impossible it is to fit the traditional model of beauty.

I thought she made some great points. There's a lot of people out there who have labeled certain foods as "bad" or "evil" that really aren't. I don't think it's healthy to completely eliminate entire food groups from one's diet unless there is a religious, allergic, or personal issue with them.

She encourages the reader to be more in tune with his/her body. If it is hungry, feed it, but listen to cues, eat slowly and ENJOY the food, and stop just before you feel full. It's a very rational approach.

However, I think that she does seem to forget that people do develop food addictions, and unhealthy eating habits. If someone is addicted to sugar, they need to be encouraged to fill their diet with other foods, and try to retrain their body to crave the healthier options.

I also felt like her advice on how to deal with an overweight teen or child was a little too ineffective.

Will I follow her diet completely? No. However, there were certain parts that I really liked, and WILL take away from it.

I will view food as a source of nutrition and fuel for my body. I will not view food as "bad" or "forbidden" or as the enemy.

I will respect my body for the amazing things it has done, currently does, and will do. Each day, I will find something about my body that I find attractive, and I'll tell it to myself.

I will listen to and honor my body- I will eat when I am hungry. I will stop an exercise if it hurts too badly. I will eat slowly and truly savor and enjoy each bite, and I will stop eating when I feel full. If I am truly craving something that should be eaten rarely, I will eat it, but I will have only a small portion.

Oct 1 weigh in

I really wish everyone was posting their weigh in pics.

I didn't do as well as I'd hoped. I lost 2.8 lbs. I'd hoped to be down at least 4.

On the upside, my fat is down 1.5%, so that makes me happy.

I am going to work harder on my eating this next month. I need to increase my fruit and veggie intake. I am doing better with Mountain Dew, particularly after the comment that Elise made.