Thursday, October 04, 2007

Off season goals 2007-2008

In 2005 I decided to lose some weight because I was depressed and disgusted at how parts of me would flap and move when I ran down the stairs (Yeah. I know. Ew.)

I don't know what parts of me were doing running up the stairs because at the time I could barely walk up the stairs.

So now I'm ready for the next level, and I think it's for the right reasons. Well, first off, I'm just freaked out by the way my belly fat floats in the water. (You're welcome for that visual). I magically managed to put on nearly 15 pounds during Ironman training and oh, aren't you nice to say that it must be muscle? but unless I gained all that muscle in my ass and stomach and thighs, I don't think so.


Secondly, I think changing my bodyfat percentage and lightening up a bit would make an enormous difference in the comfort with which I experience running and cycling since, um, that's a lot of stuff to haul up and down hills, ya know?

I'm no longer vegan. I've made that statement before, I believe in honesty concerning such things, because I am personally annoyed by people who say they are vegan "except sometimes I eat fish"

or a vegetarian who "sometimes eats chicken"
After 7 years as a vegan, I got to looking at our diet and quite frankly, it was very high on refined carbs and very low on protein. Our diet was fine for day-to-day being a human being, but no so much for endurance athletics. So we tried Soy protein, which was making things, um, difficult in the GeekGirl/Baboo realm, as well. Finally, traveling was extremely difficult.

Even more pressing was the presense of Mini-baboo, who is 5'10", 180 lbs and still growing AND in cross country AND weight training.

It was clear that some allowances had to be made.
I pride myself on never stubbornly just staying with something that isn't working just for the principle of the thing, so, we brought eggs and whey protein back into our diet. I found "cage free" eggs which makes me feel better--HEY, DON'T MAKE FUN OF MY LOW THREASHOLD OF GUILT, MAN--and then I taught Mini-baboo how to make scrambled eggs in the microwave with soymilk.

I'm curious as to how the extra protein and, what is it, omega whatsits will affect his mental focus and cognition, if at all. I'll keep you posted.

As for me, I'm using egg whites. Today I started my day with a quick run (3.8 miles) followed by a 2-egg white omelet and cereal bar.

In all, I'm aiming for a diet that is 65 percent carbohydrate, 20 percent fat, and 15 percent protein, one of the recommended divisions for endurance athletes.
So here's today's graph. For a first day, it's not bad. I'm kinda close, I think...

It's my impuse control that's a killer. I've been stopping by and getting chips and candy and gatorade and everything, and I don't need them.

I need to drink more water is what I need to do. I've made this commitment before and always failed, usually getting 2-3 glasses a day.
However, this time I seem to be succeeding. Yesterday, for instance, I forgot my water bottle and could really feel the difference until someone took pity on me and gave me a bottle of water from the fridge in the office I share.

So anyway here it is. My trying to be a healthy eater instead of a vegan junk food junkie. I'm still not eating meat. Ew. But I'm coming back toward a middle path that I think is more doable.


If I replace some fat with muscle in the process, great. I'd rather have tissue that works for me instead of just, uh, floating in the water.

If not, well, there's always Photoshop.
Meanwhile, I'm going to be run-focused and do some strength training in the off season. I'm a noodle. I need some power.

Thanks for letting me think out loud.
...

14 comments:

  1. I am in the same place as you are right now with the weight thing. I also have a huge problem drinking water. It is a huge challenge.

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  2. That picture of your son is very nice. Good Luck on lifestyle change (I hate the word diet). You seem to have a great grasp on the protein to carb to fat ratio thingy.
    I'm sure you will have success.

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  3. OK, here are my best tips (Shh - it will be our little secret...)
    - the water thing: I have a 2L pitcher at work. I make a pitcher of Crystal Light every day when i get to work. I can't have ANY diet Coke until I finish the pitcher, period. Works great. I spend a lot of time in the ladies room though.
    - As long as you are introducing egg whites - try Egg Beaters. My favorite is the Southwest flavor. 3 or 4 nights a week we whip up the Jenny Fritatta for dinner(julienned BIG sweet potatoes, an onion, a green pepper, 2 cups of chopped spinach, and 2 cups of SW Egg Beaters - yummy, filling, and major protein boost, yet a fairly low calorie supper).
    - Quakes Flavored Rice Cakes - I e the Ranch flavor or Cheddar. They go down like chips, much healthier and lower calories.

    You can do it. Good luck!

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  4. The water thing is hard. As is the junk food thing. But you are Iron Misty- you can do it! Probly the extra protein will make you less hungry too (?)

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  5. Anonymous8:23 AM

    Sound like a good plan...good luck!

    I was depressed and pushing 200 lbs. in 2002. I followed the Body for Life program, lost weight and felt great. I've put some of the weight back on. Now that I'm doing endurance training, I crave more carbs. But, I have to remind myself that just because I ran such-in-such miles doesn't mean I can eat a whole pie! I love food.

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  6. Get one of those big plastic bottles (pretty colors!) from Target in their outdoor/camping section and fill it with filtered water. Sip on this throughout the day and tell yourself you will at LEAST drink this much during the course of a school day....(make sure you have time to use the ladies' room several times a day tho...I know how impossible that can be sometimes during a school day!) Then later that evening make sure you get at least HALF that much down before/after dinner. I love my bottle and don't go anywhere without it! :-)
    Love the "I don't eat meat except..."
    Like John and Yoko said long ago..."We always eat macrobiotically....unless of course we order a pepperoni pizza!"
    Yeah for water and protein! :-) And the occasional pizza!
    Strength training will help amp up the metabolism to burn stuff you don't want...but you know that already! Good luck!

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  7. In January 2005 I was also 194 pounds and hated it. I haven't made nearly the amazing transformation you have- you've been inspiring to me and I enjoy reading about your successes- or sometimes not so successful things. Anyway, good luck, I think if I had accomplished all that you have recently I'd be convincing myself it was muscle I had gained- I'm good at denial like that. You deserve to give yourself a little break for becoming Iron, although I'm sure less weight will help with racing.

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  8. Misty. you are an inspiration. Have been reading your site for the past year. Did my first triathlon this past june and got second in the over 40 athena (I call it the FFF--fat females over 40).
    I first started exercising for real on 9-11-01, I was on the stair stepper for the first time at the gym I had joined and watched the first plane hit the world trade center. I weighed about 300lbs at that time and since then have lost 80lbs. I am tall--5'11", so can weigh more, and may be an athena for life, but would like to loose another 50lbs.
    I have noted the biggest gaines when I lift weights and this past year was working with a trainer on weights and the difference was night and day compared to just swimming and riding my bike a lot.
    I also have noted that just because I exercise does not mean I can eat whatever I want

    I found a tool called the body bugg to be helpful, have you seen it? check out Apex fitness and look at the body bugg, really helps to keep you honest about how much you are burning versus how much you are consuming.

    Anyway, I am sure you get lots of people like me commenting. just wanted to finially say hi to you after all this time reading your blog. I am in Portland and hope to run the Portland Marathon next year, maybe an iron in the future.

    maybe a blog in the future if I have time, just created the account to leave my comments

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  9. Cage free eggs strikes me as a very nice option to have.

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  10. It was great to meet you and Sweet Baboo this weekend!

    I have trouble with the water thing, too. I wonder why we've evolved to no feel thirsty until we're already dehydrated? Seems maladative. Anway, I tried a big container awhile but I would forget to drink during the day anyway and then be chugging down the remainder right before bed, which = not a good plan if one wants to sleep through the night, ha.

    I think I need to go back to it, though, but this time add a timer on my watch or computer to something to remind me when it's time to drink.

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  11. Dude, I TOTALLY buy the cage-free eggs! If the animals are going to live just so I can eat, I figure they should be as comfortable as possible.

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  12. Come do Josh's workout with me. That workout will do whatever it is you want with your body!
    http://www.joshsgaragedenver.com/
    I'm such a josh groupy..

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  13. Good for you! That's a great off season goal. By the time CDA rolls around, you'll be flying up those hills.


    btw--mini baboo really isn't mini, is he?

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  14. Hey, you gotta do what works. I had to stop being a vegetarian after 20 years (some of them vegan), because my body was just not getting the nutrients it needed.

    And the cage-free eggs is a good step. We're lucky enough to keep chickens (in the city even!) so the clucky ladies keep us in a good egg supply. I always throw a couple of extras in stuff like pancakes, and bake with almond meal and other nut meals substituted for part of the flour. More protein, less carbs!

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