Perpetual Healthy Eating and Fitness Rant & Rave thread

[Ice Cream]

60 miles a week + healthy eating = 1 pound gained, who knew? 

My experience is: the higher my mileage, the more likely there is weight gain.  I am hungry ALL the time with high mileage.

[caito]

Caito, if I don't make these changes now, I never will. I'm at the point I've gotten to a hundred times before - the point where I backslide. I'm fucking sick of backsliding. But I genuinely have no idea what it is that pushes me that direction, instead of in the direction of maintaining the changes I've made and continuing to make more positive changes.

But whatever.

Thanks, Meri. I'll put my phone by the bed tonight instead of in the other room.

People backslide because it's easy and comfortable.  Or at least, that's why I backslide.    What I mean about being ready is maybe finding a way to make other changes in your life to help you reach your goals.  Right now your job and your household duties leave you with this narrow early morning workout time which is very hard on you.   What if there was some way to really shake up your schedule or routine that helps put your weight goals at a higher priority?  It's major stuff, and yeah your DH would have to be on board.  Maybe it's not possible,  I'm just brainstorming here.

You've been struggling with this for awhile.  Your current set up maybe isn't working for you.  I'm trying to think of ways to help you break through.

I would also lik to propose that you get to go to some health/fitness resort and spa for a week to help you jumpstart. 

[debbatx]

If I had the money, I would love to go to a spa, but we don't. And I'm sorry I got snappy - I'm frustrated right now. Really, really frustrated. Mornings are the only time I can work out and I struggle mightily with that. It's going to be 94 here today - I'm going to go out tonight since I didn't get up this morning, but even at 8, it's still going to be warm, and that will just get worse as summer gets here. The gym is a zoo in the evenings - I'm there two nights a week already, so I know that. I also don't sleep well after an evening workout.

I have no idea how to shake up my schedule in a way that would work for my family and not cause heat stroke.

[Run Amok]

Meri can attest to my suckiness this morning. Sorry, Meri!

*sigh* I have this feeling I'm at a point where I'm either going to get things in gear or totally backslide. The problem is, I don't know what it is that I need to do to push forward and stick with the changes I've made so far rather than letting myself slide. 

Because, you know what? It's way effing easier to stick the donut in your mouth, or to go out for lunch, or to poor that glass of wine, than it is to say yes. That's the reality of it. Because food tastes good and because losing weight is hard work and it takes forever. I'm coming off a big backslide myself and not in a good headspace today and it's so easy to say "you know what? I've got a bunch of other crap going on and I don't have the energy to care right now". I thought that being on a plan where I like the food and that makes it easy was enough for me...but, you know what? It's not. It's super easy to get right back into the habit of a drink or two a day, a bit of candy here and there, enjoying the table bread and chips and salsa and eating out with my friends. I was home the week before last and was resolved to make that a week that counted (between trips) but then I ended up literally eating out like 9 meals in a row.

Jesus, I'm a little ray of sunshine, aren't I?

[debbatx]

If you're a ray of sunshine, I'm a goddamn bolt of lightning in the middle of a massive thunderstorm.

[onawhim]

Because, you know what? It's way effing easier to stick the donut in your mouth, or to go out for lunch, or to poor that glass of wine, than it is to say yes. That's the reality of it. Because food tastes good and because losing weight is hard work and it takes forever. I'm coming off a big backslide myself and not in a good headspace today and it's so easy to say "you know what? I've got a bunch of other crap going on and I don't have the energy to care right now". I thought that being on a plan where I like the food and that makes it easy was enough for me...but, you know what? It's not. It's super easy to get right back into the habit of a drink or two a day, a bit of candy here and there, enjoying the table bread and chips and salsa and eating out with my friends. I was home the week before last and was resolved to make that a week that counted (between trips) but then I ended up literally eating out like 9 meals in a row.

Jesus, I'm a little ray of sunshine, aren't I?

Yes yes yes.  At the same time I think it is important not to set ourselves up for failure.  It is easy for me to let those snowflakes of cheating or missing a workout turn into a blizzard of shame spiraling ice cream eating failure KWIM? I am an all or nothing person which rarely works well in practice for long.  I wish that balance was easier 

[caito]

I know how frustrating it is.       I feel like my whole life is one big weight loss challenge.   I don't even have much to lose and it still feels like the biggest deal in the world and tears me up emotionally.   I beat myself up about it too.    I can only see my old body in the mirror, not the healthier more fit body.  Here I am 10 days away from a marathon, in the best shape of my life and I still worry about looking fat.   Looking fat on race day even!    And I still put things in my mouth that I KNOW I do not need just because they taste good, I'm hungry, I'm stressed, I "deserve" it, whatever.    When it comes to this stuff, we all still make chioces that we KNOW are not helping us reach our goals, and this is all to say how very fucking hard it is.   And it's not fair and it sucks!  And no one is saying "Oh it's just easy if you set your mind to it."  HELL NO.   

But how awesome would it be if we all could spend a week per month at the health and fitness spa! That would keep us on track so well!

[caito]

Our lives are set up to fit health and fitness in around everything else.   I wish it could be the other way around.

[debbatx]

That would be nice, caito, but it's just not my reality, unfortunately.

[caito]

That would be nice, caito, but it's just not my reality, unfortunately.

I know.  It's rarely anyone's reality.   

[debbatx]

  Sorry. I shut up now.

[caito]

Don't shut up!  We're all venting!       Venting helps, I swear.

[debbatx]

Yeah, but I know it has to frustrate y'all, and I don't want to do that.

[Magic Microbe]

I once read somewhere that it can take months before a new good habit feels normal but it only takes a week or two of not doing it to break the habit again.

[Run Amok]

Yes yes yes.  At the same time I think it is important not to set ourselves up for failure.  It is easy for me to let those snowflakes of cheating or missing a workout turn into a blizzard of shame spiraling ice cream eating failure KWIM? I am an all or nothing person which rarely works well in practice for long.  I wish that balance was easier 

True story. That is my biggest issue. Balance. I am 150% until I'm done. And then I'm done and I never look at it again. So, I'm all gung-ho and then I burn out. Story of my life (everywhere, everything). It is a minor miracle that I finished my degree, have lasted this long at my job, and still love horses. Seriously.

[debbatx]

MM, that makes a lot of sense.

[Lanarkshire with an L]

Debba, I was going to post YAY for running on Tuesday! Each victory is important. Each time you don't meet your goal is NOT an excuse to just throw in the towel and say to hell with it. Because, then, what was the point of dragging yourself up on Tuesday for that run? Are you not worth it? (Cos you are, you know!!) Don't let that time be wasted. Plus, think of the SPAAAAAAAAA! I've been having trouble getting up early for my DVD workout. Monday and Tuesday just didn't happen. Worst thing was, I was off Monday and was planning on doing it before my dr appt at 11! But my mom was unexpectedly off and I just didn't have the gumption to do it with her there. Once I left the house at 10:30, I didn't get back till like 6pm and the day was wasted. So, I tried again Tuesday. Still too tired (not sleeping well lately. Might need to hit the melatonin for a bit.) Then finally, Weds- I got myself up! Today as well. I was late to work, but it was worth it. Just gotta do it twice more this week....

Food/drink haven't been toooo bad, but I am meeting a friend out for dinner at this place that has a million kinds of beer. I've budgeted just one (esp if I want to get up in the morning). The one decent veggie meal has 900 cals, though (it's a black bean wrap.) I'm going to see if I can get the sauce on the side and maybe light cheese (if it has it). And it comes with fries, so I've already decided to tell them just to bring me a handful of fries, not the whole plate full. They are yummy with the seasoning on them and hard to resist if they are just sitting there. Plan is to *try* to go for a run afterwards, so another reason I don't want to eat/drink too much...

Congrats on everyone's weight losses, though! Meri, how's it going post Mirena extraction? Feeling any better yet?

[merigayle]

Debba-- it is really hard. I am just so exhausted from work, DD, life, everything. Things got exponentially difficult after having a child, i could have never imagined. My only time to really get a workout in is 5am. It SUCKS. I do have the threat of Badwater over my head and awful training from last year haunting me. could you sign up for a race that would give you motivation to get up? Or how about not an all or nothing thing--- exercise every single day and i get a spa day, or nothing. That is too extreme and most people cannot fit into that mold. Reconsider what success is. 3/5 days?

I know how frustrating it is.       I feel like my whole life is one big weight loss challenge.   I don't even have much to lose and it still feels like the biggest deal in the world and tears me up emotionally.   I beat myself up about it too.    I can only see my old body in the mirror, not the healthier more fit body.  Here I am 10 days away from a marathon, in the best shape of my life and I still worry about looking fat.   Looking fat on race day even!    And I still put things in my mouth that I KNOW I do not need just because they taste good, I'm hungry, I'm stressed, I "deserve" it, whatever.    When it comes to this stuff, we all still make chioces that we KNOW are not helping us reach our goals, and this is all to say how very fucking hard it is.   And it's not fair and it sucks!  And no one is saying "Oh it's just easy if you set your mind to it."  HELL NO.   

But how awesome would it be if we all could spend a week per month at the health and fitness spa! That would keep us on track so well!

dude Caito, i wish i still lived in Boston, we would be best friends You know what i am most concerned about at Badwater? not the heat, not the difficulty of the race, not puking my guts again and not eating for the last 35 miles, but how fat am i going to be on race day? Totally assanine indeed. wtf is wrong with us?? and no matter what weight i am, i am CONSTANTLY thinking about my weight because i gain weight just thinking about fattening food, or at least it seems that way

My experience is: the higher my mileage, the more likely there is weight gain.  I am hungry ALL the time with high mileage.

so if i eat less, then everyone will say i am not eating enough. i really cannot win.

[merigayle]

Congrats on everyone's weight losses, though! Meri, how's it going post Mirena extraction? Feeling any better yet?

feeling pretty good. waiting for a period or something from the progesterone, just hopefully not next weekend at my marathon i was crampy in weird places but ok today. did not stop my running. i had to really push myself back on the treadmill this afternoon, i was falling asleep at the red light, but i did it and once i was on i felt great and after my shower and lunch, i feel good enough to work! LOL.

[triciaflower]

Back to the IBS issue, I think it might have been cycle related. Which is REALLY weird because I have been rock solid regular- 28 days, no PMS, no cramps for the last approx 2 years. Perhaps it's cycle+food. Well, in any case it's all better now. yay.