My Updates

The biggest update: I ran my 100th mile today.

Running
The running has slowed down a lot since my race. I've only run 6.6 miles since then -- 1.5 miles last week and 5.1 so far this week. I have to admit, since the race, I've lost a lot of my motivation. Between traveling, and working a lot to make up for the days I went away, I just haven't had the time or energy I had at the start of 2010. This week I've been running faster than I trained before the race (since I've obviously proved I can run faster!), but I definitely have been dragging myself to the treadmill. Maybe once it stops raining, and I can run outside I will feel differently.

Diet
During the Phoenix girls' weekend my carb-counting went out the window. Coming back home, it was hard to look at my low-carb options quite the same. I have been sticking within 40-60 grams, but it's a lot harder than before... and the content of those 60 grams hasn't been the healthiest. I had pizza and a sliver of cake at my kiddo's 5th birthday party Saturday. I had a Filet O'Fish and some fries today from McDonald's.

I'm on a bad path... but it stops now! I finally went out and bought some Atkins shakes and bars so I can start substituting again. Despite the indiscretions, I'm still 17 pounds down. I didn't meet my goal of losing 22-27 pounds by the end of March, but I'm not totally discouraged.

Life
Work and family stuff has me stressed out, which is likely affecting my motivation also. In keeping with my vow to enter my 30s in peace and happy, I am working on all of these aspects. It's just taking time and a lot of energy. I have started meditating again. Just a few minutes every couple of days, but better than nothing. I've also been making time for my nice hot baths, and my mint tea breaks.

Races
My next race is supposed to be this Saturday - the 5K Bunny Dash outside of Chicago. I'll make a final decision by Thursday about whether I feel up to it. I'm going out there for a conference, so I may choose to just relax instead.
4/3 - Bunny Dash (Palatine, IL)
4/10 - Essential 2 Life, Jersey City, NJ (My Hometown!)
After the 10th, I have no idea when my next race will be. My work schedule is conflicting with all of the other races I was interested in. I'll do some more searching and post new races soon.

Breaking The Habit

Today was a workout off day, especially since I've been at work for almost 16 hours so far. That's a workout of its own.

But, today was also my first day back at our main hospital since I started cutting out carbs, training, and writing this blog. It was tough walking through the cafe and the cafeteria, seeing my usual snack culprits and not grabbing them out of habit.

You know... the White Macadamia Nut cookie that goes with my tea, the pastry that goes with my mid-day water break, the fries that are pre-made so I can grab them if I'm really hungry and not have to wait in line. The list goes on...

I walked past all of it today, got my tea and diet Pepsi and snacked on my Atkins Endulge bar. But, I'm not gonna lie -- I definitely looked twice.

Anatomy of Our Low-Carb Fridge

The Scale Hath Betrayed Me

The scale says I gained a pound today.

I hate this point of working out and losing weight where you're gaining muscle (which weighs more than fat) faster than you're getting rid of fat.

I've done this enough times to know that even though I've stopped losing pounds on the scale, my body is starting to look different (my calves are looking particularly athletic these days). And, if I push through this temporary plateau, the numbers will start dropping again.

But, it still hurts to see the number.

I keep reminding myself that while muscle does weigh more than fat, muscle requires more calories to maintain. So I'm burning more calories in my sleep with muscle than I do during some cardio workouts.

I might avoid the scale for a few days until my body works this all out.

Net Carbs: 23 grams
Weight: -4 lbs. :-(
Workout: Group Groove class (cardio/dance), Group Power class (weight lifting). Today was a non-running day.

Avoiding the Apple Pastry

Every Wednesday morning, we have 5 consecutive hours of mandatory lecture (ouch). As a peace offering, trays of bagels, pastries and muffins sit next to coffee containers on a table outside the lecture hall door. I'm not a big baked goods person and the bagels are usually a little too dry for my taste, but the pastry with the apple stuff in the center... heaven.

Of course, this heaven would cost me 2 days worth of carbs.

In preparation of this temptation (or torture, depending on how you look at it), I packed a goodie bag that would keep me so well-stocked that I would never even desire to walk near the table o' carbs.

In my snack bag:

• Piece of a spinach omelet hubby made on my way out the door
• Dannon Light & Fit Carb Control Yogurt (3 net grams)
• Del Monte No Sugar Added Peaches (or Mandarin Orange)
• Blueberries & Blackberries
• South Beach Diet Bar
• Atkins Shakes - vanilla and strawberry
• Sugar-Free Twizzlers
• Water bottle

The big news of the day...... I did a treadmill run after lecture and increased today's intervals to 3 minutes running with 1 minute of walking, which means I ran a total of 23 minutes, and walked 7 minutes. No shin cramps, no gasping for air! 

Maybe I really can do this...

Net Carbs: 36 grams (so far)

Weight: woke up late, forgot to weigh myself before I got dressed.

Time For Change

The scale doesn't lie. Especially when it gives you the same number 3 days in a row. 

Apparently, I gained 27lb since the summertime. Yes, my gym did close in June (and I failed to find a new one). And yes, I have consumed rich sauces and tasty desserts in a way I never have before. I do work crazy hours. I'm often too busy to eat well. But, no matter what the reason (or frankly, the excuse), the fact still remains: 27lbs.

The extra 27lbs don't make me obese, but I still don't feel healthy. Over the last few months, I have felt increasingly sluggish. So it's time to make a change. This isn't how I want to bring in my 30s -- at all.

NOW

SUMMER 2009: