Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Juggling Act

LIW 166.8
Today 171.8
OVER 5.0

First of all, let me say, Ed and Jenn rocked! I have only gotten to watch about half, but you guys were cool as cucumbers! I would have decked that one doctor. Thanks for standing up for the protocol!

I am so very pleased with my weight! Since Friday, I have paid little attention to what I eat, and until last night, there were no hard core work outs. So that part is good!

I got home from Houston about 5:30. I REALLY didn't want to go last night to my Danskin training, but I did and I felt better when we were finished. But starting out, I felt like crud! I truly believe it was because my body was running on improper fuel! Everything that I have eaten in the last 5 days has been processed and none of it was whole grain! Granted, the dinner that we had Monday night was OUTSTANDING, a filet that you could cut with your fork. Topped with bearneaise sauce, and served with fried asparagus. Then several desserts were passed around, including bananas foster. Yesterday was mexican, and for the life of me, I do not know why I didn't eat any of the rice or beans!

I guess what I am starting to see is the correlation between proper fueling and performance. Who'd a thunk it! But it is very obvious to me now why exercise won't work on this protocol. You don't have the proper glycogen stores in your muscles. More on that tomorrow!

On to comments:

lindsayloo: Hey! Welcome to this protocol! It has been nothing short of a miracle for me!

Monica: Glad to see that you are back! I'll be over to check on you today!

Lili: Thanks for checking on me! I'll come over to play later!

becca: Can't wait to see how you are coming along. I'll check sometime today.

Monday, April 28, 2008

2 Quickies in a Row!

LIW 166.8
Today 173.6
Over 6.8

I survived our campout! The girls had a blast! We were incredibly fortunate with the weather. All is good! We have the best leader for our girls! She is so awesome. I don't have that talent.

OK, I am posting a link to a show called "The Mike and Juliet Show" Tuesday, they will be airing a segment on HCG with Ed and Jenn, from our blogger community. Here is the link to where to watch in your area. http://www.mandjshow.com/where-to-watch/

Please watch and tell our your friends to watch as well!

I am off to Houston for a conference. I will be back tomorrow night, just in time for running again with my Danskin group!

Friday, April 25, 2008

A Quickie

LIW 166.8
Today 172.0
OVER 5.2

I feel like the Nationwide commercial, "When life comes at you fast..."

Yesterday our workout was hill repeats. That's where you run up a hill 5-6 times. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I did 5 and could do no more! Ideally, you were supposed to run half of the repeat at 80% effort, then, the last half go all out. Well, we were doing about 100 yards. I did the first 50 at 80%, then turned up the gas, and only had enough for another 25. so my last 25, were a combo walk/jog. Yes, I was last every time! But it was all good! I am one sore woman today.

Diet wise, it is starting to feel more automatic. I have noticed that I can turn up the carbs as long as I don't turn up the fats. And I am a cheese loving girl! The main thing that I have noticed is that I can actually eat salads with little or no dressing. That is thanks to this protocol entirely! So we'll see how I do this weekend, with all the food that we will have camping.

Ok, you ladies need to say a prayer that it doesn't rain all weekend! We are camping in screened shelters, so heaven help us if it rains! MyI did manage to find a cute S.W.A.P.S. that was quick and easy. We did a Shooting Star using adhesive foam stars, pipe cleaners for the "tail" and stuck them on another square of foam board. They turned out pretty cute!

Sorry for not having anymore time to respond to comments!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Taking Care Of Things

LIW 166.8
Today 171.0
Over 4.2

This will be a quickie post because I am running late. But I wanted to throw out some food for thought.

How well do you take care of your beloved pet? Your car? Your garden? Do you devote even 1/10th as much time to thoughtfully planning for your own care? This is what I am rhinking about today. What are your thoughts?

Training is going well. I rocked last evening on our outdoor ride! Gosh, I love to ride!!!! Today, I will get into the pool at some point. Tomorrow is hill training. ( Running, ugh! )

This weekend I get to help take 12 Brownies camping...Weeeeee! So if anyone knows of any cute, quick S.W.A.P.S., PLEASE let me know. We have to make 30 of them! We are going with another troop, so I think that the girls will have fun.

Everyone have a great day!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Just Do It! When is Repetition a Good Thing?

LIW 166.8
Today 173.8
OVER 7.0

My eating habits left alot to be desired on Friday. Lunch was outstanding, and while it wasn't "bad" it was high fat. a girl friend and I ate at this really nice restaurant here in town. We had asparagus bisque soup, and I had a southwestern salad with barbeque chicken. It has a spicy ranch dressing and a very unique combination of boiled peanuts, and blue cheese. But it was outstanding! So I really shouldn't have done the pizza and beer for dinner! It was a "good" pizza though...fresh mozzerella, and basil.

I also swam on Friday...concentrating on my kick. I have to swim breaststroke, and my kick gets very sloppy, when I'm tired.

Yesterday was a CRAZY day! Danskin group training at 7am. We did our timed mile. Another lady and I were dead last! Our time was 13:20. So see Becca, time is NOT everything! But that is mainly doing a fast walk, with very little running.

I then rushed to concession stand duty for our soccer team, then rushed to take our daughter to her school's 30th anniversary celebration...for 40 minutes, then rushed to her soccer game...then 2 birthday parties. I was in bed by 9:30 last night!

So this morning, I was going to do my blog, then go for a jog./walk. It dawned on me, that, more than likely if I blogged first, the walk/jog would be either cut short, or skipped comepletely. So I bucked up, and went off to the school track and did 4 miles.

So now then, when is repetition a good thing? When you are building new habits. Did you know that it takes doing something AT LEAST 21 times before it becomes a habit? I figure that since I'm a slow learner, that I need to figure in 30 times!

In my mind this applies to making the right choices food wise too. And for me, it applies to being consistent in exercise and intensity of exercise.

Now I need to JUST DO IT!

Responses to comments:

Lili: Yes, I love cycling, and I just need to find more time to do it!

Biz: It is a total transformation, you are correct. I just need to be accountable to myself, and while I need to not beat myself up when I don't make the best choices, I need to not sugar coat it either!

Becca: I ice my knees every evening when I jog. Also, the weight has made a HUGE difference. And look at my times! I am a tortoise! You can make your own ice bags by mixiing 3 parts water to one part rubbing alcohol. I double bag them and keep them in the freezer. They stay nice and slushy!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Repetition is Good...Most of the Time!

LIW 166.8
Today 172.2
OVER 5.4

Training number 2 is over! Last night we did a spin class. It was fun! Remember, biking is my absolute FAVORITE! So it really felt good.

I am getting into a routine with my meals that is workiing out well. Breakfast is oatmeal with chopped nuts and dried cranberries, or a waffle with a slice of Jarlsburg cheese (like swiss). or a smoothies with milk and bananas and strawberries.

Lunch when I am at home is some kind of spinach salad with a cup of brown rice thrown on top, a cup of beans of some sort, grilled veggies, and reduced fat feta cheese. I have this really yummy cracked Pepper Vinagrette, and I usually put a tablespoon of that on. Some days, I do mango salsa, no dressing, and black beans, others, chopped tomatoes and kalamata olives, sauteed onions with greek seasoning. I make my rice ahead of time, and keep it stored in the fridge. Same with the grilled veggies.

Dinner is usually a repeat of lunch, just adding in a fish, chicken, or beef portion.

Snacks are fruit smoothies, or hummus. but I have to be careful with the hummus....it is so yummy, that I tend to overdo it!

Now then, I /we tend to eat out 2-3 times per week, either myself with a client for lunch, or our family for dinner. This is where I tend to REPEAT my former bad habits. Working on the eating out part!

Now that we are training, I am for the first time trying to expand my knowledge of WHAT can make my training more effective. Over and over, I am finding the word "repeats", "intervals", "over/unders". It seems that to make your body stronger and faster, repetition, short bursts of extreme, intense effort, and "mixing it up" while you build upon your base seem to be the most effective ways to train.

I don't know about y'all, but I am seeing similarities with how our body responds to exercise, and to how it responds to diet.

Repetition of eating habits, and dieting techniques are what got us to the "fluffy" state to begin with! (Or at least me) We did it one way for so long that it stopped being effective. Layer on no real change in eating habits, and you get the SEE SAW SEE SAW effect.

That is exactly what happens with exercise. If we keep on doing exactly the same thing, it stops being effective.

So I guess where I am going with this, is that within the realm of good eating habits, we also need to "mix it up" on occasion. Maybe that means a raw foods challenge. Or a fruit cleanse. I just think that we must make our bodies guess what we are doing every so often! However, I'm not thinking that a week of fried comfort foods would do the trick!

Everyone have a good day!

And to my commenters:

Biz: I know that I need to get over there, and I will...I promise! You know, I might enjoy doing that! Let me get my routine under me now, and think about it, OK?

Becca: Don't try and woos out with the bad joints story! You are talking to Queen Rotten Knees! I had to chuckle the other day, because our trainer was talking abuot how the trail at Danskin is so hard to run, because it's not paved. Well, for me, that makes it EASIER, because it is so gentle on my kneees. I walk/jog it BTW!

And I don't mind you linking at all! I would consider it a complement!


Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Phenomenal Woman TRIumphant

LIW 166.8
Today 172.8
OVER 6.0

I hurt all over, but I feel good! We swam last night to start off our training, and this year, we have a new person coaching the swimming part. She is FABULOUS! Out of all the women, ( apprx 40 ) I am in the bottom quarter as to swimming speed. Now then, I am 100%comfortable in the water, just can't propel myself THROUGH the water very fast. This woman told me that I was a good swimmer..what???? And that it didn't matter that I did the breast stroke. She offered to meet with me and give me some additional tips. How kind is that?

Anyway, the title of my post is also our "theme" for this year's Danskin. It's a poem by Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman. I think that it befits us too ladies!

Here is the first stanza:

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to a model's size
But when I start telling them,
They think that I am telling lies.
I say
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my step
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman.
That's me.

It has also been set to music by Ruthie Foster. It is so awesome!

So everyone go out today and show the world that you are a Phenomenal Woman!

Comments:

BIz: I got it ;) I will stop being so hard on myself, yet I will be accountable....thanks!

Becca: I don't EVEN want to hear it girl! 53 is NOT too old to do a triathlon! I'm only 6 years behind you, AND the mother of an 8 YO! You do realize that I only do "girly girl" ones don't you?

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Today is the Day!

This just a very quick note, since I haven't posted in a very long while...

Weight is stable at 170-172. Working on eating 5-6 times a day, 50% carbs...not too much fat., it's HARD!

Tonight we start our official training group. We had a meeting Sunday with the whole big group, and it was so nice to see all my buddies. I also saw a woman who I really don't care for. She has never been an encourager. She just does HER thing, and to heck with the rest of us. I had a "moment" with her last year, and she just rubs me the wrong way! So she says "Wow! Look at you! I had heard that you had lost weight!" Hehe, they are talking about me!

We start in the pool tonight, Thursday we do a spin class, and Saturday we run...my goal for this year is to finish in under 2 hours. Last year I was 2:09.

Here's to my commentators:

Biz, I know that 5 lbs isn't alot, but it's also not protocol! :) thanks for keeping me grounded!

Skinny Jenny! I can't wait to hear all about Mexico! And you are right, on any other diet, I would be thrilled!

Becca, well, I REALLY haven't been working out as much as I SHOULD have, but now I have to! Hey, maybe you should train for a sprint triathlon!

Crystal! Where have you been hiding girl???? good to hear from you! Hey P2 is soooo much easier! Don't worry, you will take the weight back off.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Still Trying!

LIW 166.8
Today 171.8
OVER 5.0

Calories 1524
Fat - 37.9% (66 grams)
Protein - 13.0% (51 grams)
Carbohydrates - 49.2% (192 grams)

Daily Sodium Intake - 1,783 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 72 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 43 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 21 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 23 grams
Nutrition Grade B+

My focus to to fine tune my diet this week, so that next week, I don't have to think about it! Trying to get to 50-60% carbs, 20-30% fats, and 10-20% proteins. Also aiming for 1800-2000 calories Monday, Weds and Friday. Tues, Thursday, and Saturdays 2400-2500 cals, and Sundays, I won't count calories. And I am DRINKING my water! My thought process is that on Tues. Thurs. and Saturdays we will be working out for 1-2 hours HARD!

I am trying to learn about true "whole grains" There is alot of discussion as to what constitutes true whole grains...does whole wheat flour meet the mark, or does it need to say whole wheat only? Also trying to wrap my pea brain around the glycemic load vs the glycemic index.

Let me say this, meal planning on P2 is soooo much easier!

On to my commenters"

Biz, I know that 5 lbs isn't bad, and I know that I am obviously stabilized. But I wish it were within protocol.

Becca, I am NOT a runner! My knees are way too creaky! and I just don't enjoy it! now put me on my bike and I am one happy girl! In fact, trying to learn to run is what got me to HCG. You can go back to the beginning of my blogs to read that story!


Tuesday, April 8, 2008

7 Days....

LIW 166.8
Today 172.0
OVER 5.2

It's not terrible, right? I am not worrying about it. I seem to be fluctuating between 170 and 172. It is what it is!

Sunday's bike ride was so much fun! It was a charity ride for the local Austism Society. It was also the first time that they had done the event, so it was really small. But boy was it windy! I'm still trying to figure out how you factor in a 10-15 mile headwind into the speed calculations! Best of all, is that my husband is gaining confidence on group rides! That is so important to me, because I want us to be able to do these together. He does a spin class and weights 5 days a week, so he's definitely strong enough. Just needs the practice outside.

I did feel a difference in my muscles on this ride. I was not as well fueled...no one I told you so! So with that in mind, i'm going to be doing some meal planning, so that I don't have to think while I am training. I will keep you posted!

I have to share my rant with you all. I went Saturday, to buy a new "Tri suit" and granted, I only went to one place, and only looked on the sale rack, but I could not find a suit big enough! Now I am comfortably wearing 12's, so it shouldn't be that hard, right? That is sooo frustrating that for the sports world, size 'L" translates to an 8-10! And this store didn't carry "XL" I'm sorry, but there are "plenty" of women who "tri" and need larger sizes. The designers of endurance sports clothing are egotistical idiots! So the search will have to continue.

Everyone have a great day!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood!

LIW 166.8

Today 170.0

Over 3.2


I wrote this last night, and failed to post it!

Oh my gosh! Today has been the most beautiful day! Perfect temperatures, no clouds, no humidity, just perfect!




My cute little pie isn't working right now, so you get the readers digest condensed version! Breakfast yesterday was 1 waffle with 1 oz of Jarlsberg cheese. Lunch was half of a veggie skillet, which consisted of scrambled eggs, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and a few hash browns. Also had 1/2 of a buttered English Muffin. Dinner was a really good extra thin crust Margherita Pizza. It was about 1350 calories, 40% fat, 30% carbs, and 20% protein.



I have been thinking all day today about not being hungry on Thursday, and really not being hungry yesterday either. Because today, I HAVE been hungry! So is it possible to listen to your body? Is it remotely conceivable that if we pay the least bit of attention, that we can tell what we need? Today, I have had approximately 2100 calories, and now I am no longer hungry. Today I'm at approximately 42% fat, 18 % protein, and 40% carbs. I guess that tomorrow will tell! Ok,my weight this morning is 170.4 and I'm fine with that!



We are doing anothere bike ride tomorrow morning, so I probably won't post until the evening.

Biz, Yes, I KNOW that 1200 calories aren't enought, but like I said above, I just wasn't hungry! Thank you for looking out for me!

Lili, I'm actually on P4 now, and plan on staying on p4 until after the Danskin, when I will do a short round of p2.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Counting Down, 11 Days to Training


LIW 166.8
Today 171.6
Over 4.8



Calories 1224
Fat - 30.7% (44 grams)
Protein - 28.1% (90 grams)
Carbohydrates - 41.1% (132 grams)
Alcohol - 0.0%
Other - 0.0%

Daily Sodium Intake - 2,244 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 60 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 153 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 12 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 26 grams
Nutrition Grade A

Sorry that I was MIA yesterday! But Wednesday evening I had a bridal shower to attend. Not only was I tired, but my tummy hurt too! I ate waaaaayyyyy too much, especially chips and queso!

I got proteins, carbs and fats color coded. On calorie-count.com, there is a little block beside each word, but i couldn't make that happen! Also, I put an email link on my blog! I am having fun learning more about HTML and blogging! So yall can email me now if you want to!

I have a little over a week before I start my Danskin training. I have to do all that I can do before then. By that I mean try to get down about 2 lbs to the 168-170 range, and I need to work out all that I can, lose the alcohol, and just do it!

We have BIG thunderstorms rolling our way, so I need to wrap this up.

On to Tuesday's comments:

Becca, just for you, I color coded! LOL! and yes, you are correct! I wondered if anyone would notice! :)

Biz, yes I like my chart, and if I do it correctly, it should look like a peace sign most days!

Amie, Hey! Thanks for stopping by! I'll try to come calling today! You are right though, I just need to get in the water!

Jenn, I think I will try out your theory! I like getting A's! I'm mentally preparing to be chronically sore during my training! Ouch!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Smarter Than the Average Bear!

LIW 166.8
Today 172.0, OVER 5.2
Total Calories 1793
Fat - 29.6% (61 grams)
Protein - 15.6% (72 grams)
Carbohydrates - 38.8% (180 grams)
Alcohol - 16.0% (42 grams)



Daily Sodium Intake - 924 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 74 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 154 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 19 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 19 grams
Nutrition Grade B+

I did it! I managed to get the cool little pie diagram in my blog! Although I probably should have debuted it on a day that I didn't have 3 glasses of wine over the course of the evening!

The last 2 days have been recuperation days for me, but today I am going to get into the pool. Swimming is not my best deal, and I want to be in the pool at least 4 times in the next 2 weeks. I need to stop worrying about how bad my form is (what form!?), and just get in the water, but I don't like doing things that I am not good at!

The other thing is that I am not getting enough calories in! I need to be at 1800-2200, and more on the days that I train, and I am not getting them in. I guess I need to add more veggies and fruit.

On to comments from my friends:

Lili, Yes, I need to find the article, because it really did make sense. Now I would like to dive alittle deeper into that theory.

Becca, you are right, but I'm having a hard time fueling the proper way.

Biz, awww, Thanks!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

I'm Back!

LIW 166.8
Today 173.2
Over 6.4

Calories 1465
Fat - 43.8% (74 grams)
Protein - 12.9% (49 grams)
Carbohydrates - 43.3% (165 grams)
Alcohol - 0.0%
Other - 0.0%
Daily Sodium Intake - 4,136 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 66 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 134 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 27 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 11 grams
Nutrition Grade B-

Before I tell you all about the weekend, I want to do a quick commentary on my diet the last few days. First, it is VERY HARD to eat enough correct calories when I am working out!!! Second, I eat way too much fat, and lastly, I am WAY over doing it on the sodium!

Ok, now to the good part! Our ride on Saturday was a blast, and I did great! It was cold and damp when we started, due to a "cold front" that came in on Friday. Cold in March in Texas is a relative term..but it was in the mid 50's, high humidity, and a fairly strong breeze. I finally warmed up about mile 3, and it was all good from there. I could really tell a difference hauling my happy butt up the hills...it was much easier! My girlfriends were all impressed with the new svelte me, and equally impressed with my ability this early on in the season.

Awhile back. I read an interesting article on cycling, that quoted one of Lance Armstrong's coaches. He said that he had attended autopsies of obese people and was shocked to see how large their muscles were. So he then looked at people who had formerly been obese, and started measuring their power on a bike. He concluded that people that had been large, and removed excess fat, were power machines on a bike. He went discuss standing vs sitting up a hill, and that's too technical for here, but suffice it to say, with the "back" that I have, I should be a power machine!

Ok, We got home and I didn't stop moving until 9 pm, when I crashed on the couch. By 10 pm, I was in bed!

Sunday morning I was sore, but nothing major. The cold front from Friday had now pushed back north as a warm front, and it was muggy, and drizzling. Oh boy! What fun! Right after the start of the 10K, it started to rain pretty hard. But actually that was a good thing! It made it not so muggy! But it also made the streets very slick. There were a couple of places on the hills that had me pretty nervous! But we finished with an average of 15:06 per mile. Nothing out standing but not bad either.

I came home after we wnt to brunch, took a shower and took a nap! Then we had friends over for dinner, and so I had to move around. It probably was good for me. Yesterday, I was sooo sore when I woke up, but as the day went on, I got better.

So this weekend, we are doing at least one organized ride on Sunday, and maybe another ride on Saturday.

I LOVE riding my bike! I LOVE riding my bike! I LOVE riding my bike!

On to comments:

Lili, I'm about biking like you are about raquetball! But I am FAR from nailing this nutrition thing. The slick streets kept me from over achieving!

Biz, there you have it! I survived!