So I've been riding around on a rascal for the last week and a half. That's how long I've been on a break from running since my half-marathon on 4/28. Was going to get back in the saddle this morning but it's shiitty outside so I'll run later tonight. I didn't intend to take more than a week off but I had BIL's wedding to attend (which was OOT) this past weekend and it was kind of hard to fit exercise in since then.
My goal this week is to not only run again so I can have a good base for when I start marathon training in early July, but to also take a look at the NROLFW and see how I can modify it so that I can still do most of it during marathon training. Frankly, I've looked at so many other programs and tried several of them and nothing else is sticking like NROLFW did. I'll cut the weights during squats and lunges and make other changes similar to that.
Also, I started using My Fitness Pal and I love it! I never thought I'd want to count calories after being on WW for so long, but it is ridiculously easy to use and I like how I can see how I'm doing in terms of nutrient intake, which is very important to me. I've found that I still have to be somewhat of a stickler to maintain my weight because it's easy for me to go overboard when I'm not losing, and this app should be a big help.
Hope everyone is having a good week!



Re: # - Rascal Avoidance Club check-in
Weight Watchers is waving their signup fee now until Saturday
https://signup.weightwatchers.com/SignupVersions/Online/StepOne.aspx
I'll have to try My Fitness Plan.
I'm up a pound but we had a feast-ful weekend so its no surprise. Why is it so hard to stick to a diet after a binge like that??
I had a pretty good week. CrossFit Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday (two-hour Olympic lift class). I went again this Monday, and plan to go tomorrow too. I'm too sore and weak to go today; Monday was killer.
Still running 6 mornings a week. Had a terrible run Saturday and skipped Sunday's run because of it. I got a stitch in my lung and couldn't shake it. Had to walk in like three miles. The last few runs have been fantastic though. Morning runs when it's 55* are absolutely glorious.
Holding steady at 120 pounds. I don't think I'll ever see 119 again. I'll get over it. Eating pretty well, though maybe not quite enough. When my H travels (he left Thursday, returns next Wednesday), I tend to just graze instead of making real meals.
Nutritionally, since starting CrossFit, I've added a ton of protein, which I think is really helping. I have a protein shake in the morning after running, and another after CrossFit. It's about 100 calories and 20 grams of protein (each shake), and really tasty. Not only is the protein good for me, but it really helps me stay full.
Marie, tell me about NROLFW and why it can be hard for runners. I'm curious.
My Lunch Blog
FINALLY! I was going to post myself if you didn't post check-in soon! I'm jonesinng to share my crossfit test drive experience.
I have lost one lb this week and I all I did was walk on Sunday but I've been better about my eating. She said as she sat her sipping a Coke while typing - don't judge me! I have a killer caffeine headache. The side effect of giving up my regular venti soy chai lattes. My wallet and waist will thank me one day!
On to my crossfit test drive last night. Holy awesomeness! The atmosphere of the gym was amazing. Everyone was pumped to be there. I couldn't believe it. I had such a good time. The hour flew by. Several of the "athletes" came up to talk to me. When I first got there, I walked in and my eyes just bugged out, I thought about turning around and leaving but the owner caught up to me and sort of laughed at me. Everyone was like, "don't be nervous, it's awesome, you'll love it!"
One of the "athletes" joined last August. She told me she weighed about 230 and was a size 22 when she joined. She was about my height, maybe a smidge taller so 5'10" and I couldn't believe she had ever weighed that much. Plus I was watching her doing the clean and jerk and I was amazed at how much weight she was doing so I asked her later when I was talking to her, what the total weight was, 150! Holy smokes! I am definitely excited enough to want to sign up for a month.
So it's $150 / month -
was my immediate reaction. Now I am sitting here
about how I can fit it in my budget since H is so budget happy these days. I hate budgeting but I get it and no its important.
ETA: Ed asked me how I had heard about crossfit. I said, "oh a friend from out of state has been raving about it for awhile. He asked where you were from, I can't believe I was actually right when I said OH. I sort of feel a little stalkerish now.
Marie - you needed the break. Your body will thank you when you're out tonight. You know racing is different than training runs. The adrenaline just pushes you to the brink. Body needs a decent break after that.
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In my experience, doing NROLFW 2x per week helped improve my running...until I started running at least 8 miles. That's when my legs started to feel like lead. I stopped NROLFW and the lead feeling was gone. The book does not recommend endurance training if you're going to follow the program because the point of the program is to lift heavy, not light. Heaving lifting doesn't go well with endurance training for a lot of people. This is why I'm not terribly sure I can actually modify the program to my liking because the program works wonderfully as prescribed, but it's worth a shot since I just can't get into anything else, it seems. I'll still lift heaving for upper body strength but I will cut down on the lower body weights and see how I do.



<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DKatie - which protein shake are you drinking? I have yet to come across one that isn't loaded with fat, etc. that doesn't taste like a$$.
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Things are good! I suddenly see really big differences in my body, which means I should probably take my measurements again soon. I need to make another appointment with my nutritionist again soon since I've switched up my training, or at least touch base with her again.
I got back on the food tracking bandwagon again, and I noticed a big difference in my energy and how I felt. I guess I wasn't doing such a good job of guessing at my food intake on my own. I wasn't gaining, but I know my protein intake was suffering, so apparently I'm not ready to not food track yet.
I started officially training for my duathlon. I did my first cycling workout yesterday - holy shiiits. Though my pace/mile increased by almost 2 miles per hour, so I'm not sure wtf that was about. Apparently I need to do drills and not just ride because I go faster.
My bad moment of the week was when my tri top came in, and I tried it on and burst into tears because I hated the way I looked - I thought I looked really fat. I'm trying to get over it, but it's kind of hard. I told my husband if I stand sideways and suck in really hard I look awesome, but from the front, I feel like I look disgusting.
Despite eating leftover pizza for breakfast this morning, I have actually been doing REALLY well the last week.
I've been tracking all of my food. I've exercised every day in May, sometimes twice a day. I'm into week 2 of couch to 5k. I'm doing weights. I'm walking. I did a little yoga Monday and plan to add it in once or twice a week.
The frustrating part is that I'm only down .4 pounds. I'm trying not to get discouraged, but when my goal is to lose 86 pounds, only losing .4 in the first week is a bit rough.
The real kick in the gut? I went out Saturday night and drank a lot and had late-night post-drinking pizza with friends. I weighed LESS on Sunday morning than I did yesterday when I did my "official" weigh-in. Don't think I haven't considered trying a beer-and-pizza diet.
To add to this, endurance training is doing the same thing really efficiently. Your muscles eventually get used to the same motion.
Heavy lifting wants to avoid that. Ideally, you are doing fewer reps but pushing yourself in order to fatigue and break down your muscle so that it rebuilds bigger and stronger.
The goals are different, and somewhat opposed to each other. That's why it's really hard to train for distance running AND really push yourself with weights w/r/t lower body muscles. Something's gotta give.
Marie - check out Female Body Breakthrough. It's a bit easier than NROL4W, and the book is laid out better, too. The tone is annoying, but you really just need the exercises and not all the inspirational crap.
I'm the last person to say this because I am really hard on myself but Emily - you need to focus on the positive. You're doing so much and making adjustments along the way. You'll reach your goals, just need to be patient and kind to yourself.
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I checked it out and I was kind of turned off about about her anti-running stance. That made me think that maybe this isn't a good fit for me either but I suppose I could give it a shot.



<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DTry weighing yourself in a few days and see what happens. I wouldn't be surprised if you weighed less (assuming you're exercising and eating better). Bloating, water weight and all that.
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Oh, and as for my check in...
Things are going so-so. My eating has gotten better and I'm down about 1.5 pounds since the last time I weighed in. BUT I really should be doing better. My goal was 4 pounds for April and I lost about 1.
However, I've still been doing much better on the food in the last 2 weeks (which is why I've just seen the weight loss). I'm eating more veggies and fewer carbs and sweets. It's just a matter of consistency and that's the hard part.
I do have a new eating plan that I think will help. I struggle between getting bored if I eat the same thing, to getting off track if I try too hard to keep making something new. So I've decided to do a meal plan of sorts, but only have 4 days worth of meals and just rotate throughout the week. This should make shopping and cooking easier, as well as give me some consistency and structure, but provide me with enough variety so I don't want to rebel.
I'm doing well on the exercise front. I'm jogging a bit with my dog when I take her for one of her walks, which is just a bit of additional movement, even though I know it's not much. I went to Zumba last night, and while I'm sure I burned a ton of calories, I'm not sore today, so I'm proud of myself. I'm still seeing my trainer (2/week to lift weights), but that will end soon and then the real challenge of self-motivation begins.
I've also convinced my husband to sign up for Crossfit, but we can't do that until after I've taken the bar - so I'll continue with my cheapo 24 hour fitness until the end of July. I can't wait for August for so many reasons (including unemployment)!
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I'm such an idiot! The whole time I thought rascal was referring to kids, so these posts were for everyone who doesn't want kids and is trying to lose weight. Ugh I'm so dumb!
Anyway, I guess I'll start participating now.
I'm on NROLFW Stage 4 and continue to love it. I've gotten back into tracking my food on Lose It and I'm feeling pretty good. I did cave and buy a bag of sour gummy worms while studying last night and at them all. I didn't realize the whole bag was like 700 calories, ugh. Oh well, it was worth it!
I'm making myself wait until Tuesday. I was getting obsessive about weighing myself multiple times per day. Still, you have to admit that one would think the bloat and water weight would be more 12 hours after a drunkfest than 3 days!
This. Also, even though it seemed like everyone else had this experience, I didn't lose a crapload of weight in the beginning. It took about 3-4 weeks to start seeing more than 1+ pound of weight loss a week. I didn't change anything up either, I just had to be patient. So keep doing what you're doing, bridey and see what happens after a few weeks of this.



<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DMarie-I love Myfitnesspal a whole lot. I've found that the estimate for how many calories/day I should be eating is low, so I tend to just pay more attention to my total calories for the day as opposed to how much I'm above/below the goal the app has set.
Thanks to a certain whiny princess dog (Copz, yes I am referring to your beloved little girl), I was up and at 'em for a run at 6am...the weather was glorious. Far better than it was for my runs on Saturday (humid) or Sunday (f'ing HOT). I am going to have to suck it up and get in the routine of running before work again...bye bye sleeping 'til 630am! My running group starts back up again next Saturday so my weekend long runs haven't been as long...its weird, but I don't mind it.
3 months and counting until Bridesmaid Dress Day...also known as my sister's wedding. I NEED to get my_ass in gear with the strength training, even if its just yoga for now...but I don't wannaaaaaaaa. I'd rather run :$ Time to suck it up.



<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DI always ALWAYS weigh less the morning after a night of drinking. It's the 2-3 days after that that are a kick to the tits weight wise, so this doesn't surprise me at all. It's why I always made my official weigh ins on Fridays. It was as far as possible from the debauchery of the weekend.
It's because you were dehydrated.
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I've been really working on my compulsive eating and stress eating issues. Finally, those urges and those voices are starting to die down as I regain control of my thought process and take control of my body. It feels so good to finally be finding peace with food and with my body after nearly 2 decades of abusing it.
This is the best time of year for my favorite exercise activity (inline skating), so workouts are no problem. I've been doing that 2-3x/week, doing zumba 1-2x/week, yoga 2x/week, and staying active on the weekends. I'm looking to add some strength training to my routine, but I really hate weight lifting and just haven't figured out what to do and where to fit it in.
The scale is down 3 pounds from last week this morning, which is nice considering it hasn't budged in a few weeks. My clothes are getting looser, though, and I am making huge strides with my eating issues, so I've been focusing on the victories and trying to be patient with the scale.
I love MFP! I'm ladyace2078 if anyone wants to add me.
I had a great week. Lost a lb, finally fit into size 10 (couldn't a month ago), small shirts, and I stole the 25 lb dumbbells from a guy at the gym to do dumbbell bench press--same exercise he was using them for. It was awesome.
I'm on Level 3 for butt bible and it is no.freaking.joke. I am so sore all the time and I am completely spent after the workout. My butt and legs have never looked better after only 5 weeks, so I'm pushing through.
I'm feeling demotivated this week to workout, but I'm pushing through it. I never regret working out because I feel great after, but I ALWAYS regret when I skip my workout.
I also upped my calories from 2200 to 2400 and I'm feeling much better and a lot less hungry.
I gave in an re-joined a proper gym last month. I missed NROLW too much and, as Ms Gpointe so rightly put it, I needed something that was only mine to keep me sane during this time of transition. Its been awesome and I'm really glad I listened to her.
I was about 15 pounds over my low weight, and went back to the gym with the mindset that losing wasn't at all the goal, I just wanted to get strong. But I have dropped several pounds in the last 4 weeks, as well as refound some good muscle, so I am very happy there.
The other reason I went back to the gym was to insure that I was eating enough. At one point I needed to start tracking calories to make sure I was getting enough to eat. The weights make more calories and protein more important, and me more hungry, so slowly, that has has come around too... Though I still am having "problems" with my food choices.
So you're saying that allowing my one splurge day to be Sunday Funday at the ballpark will not bode well for Tuesday's weigh-in? DAMMIT. There will be mimosas!
Way to go BQB!
Actually everyone deserves a big
. We all need to celebrate the little victories and be kinder to ourselves.
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Weigh in on Monday. PROBLEM SOLVED!
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I never weigh in the morning after a binge/cheat. I wait 2+ days to try to even it out.