Faster Tip #10 - Lose Weight

Gratuity: My sister reminding me to stay on track! 

Goals: I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is fourteen days.  ~Totie Fields

So many articles share the wisdom of weight loss for the heavy-set folks with respect to improving race times.  As mentioned in the this tip-sheet:

If you're already trying to shed some pounds, here's more incentive: Research has shown that, on average, runners get two seconds per mile faster for every pound they lose. So, for example, a 10-pound weight loss would shave about one minute off your 5K race time.

Weight loss has been an independent goal of mine all along and the fact that it will also help me achieve my running goals without working too hard makes me realize I need to make it a higher priority.

I do have to pat myself on the back.  I have lost 50 pounds over the last 2 years.    I have also improved my 5K time by 6 minutes. So you can see I am a real live example of performance improvement resulting from weight loss.   I have another 40 pounds to lose and I hope this will eventually give me another 4 minutes improvement on my 5K PR.

Ok I have patted myself on the back.  Now I have to kick myself in the butt.   You would think I could figure out how to increase my weight loss results.  At the current rate, it is going to take me another 2 years to lose the 40 pounds.    I don't want to take that long.   I look at the folk from the biggest loser and watch in amazement as they lose 100 pounds in 5 months.    I know it is doable.   I just need to gain the discipline to do what I know needs to be done.    Time is ticking on and I don't want to waste anymore being unsuccessful.

Awaken: 09:10AM
MIT: Clean House, Buy Hiking Shoes, Call for Cassie's Grooming
Yesterday's MIT: My first 10K run in about 6 weeks.  Felt good getting back to my training.  My muscles were sore but I was happy to say my knee did not blow up.  It was just a tiny bit sore.

Training too hard or not quite right?

Gratuity - Memories of Cory and Topanga

Goals - Know your limits, but never stop trying to exceed them.  ~Author Unknown

I've had a tough month with my knee giving me difficulties.  Immediately prior to my 10K race and up until a week ago my knee had swollen up and swallowed me  with pain.  Pain that had me limping ,waking up in the night, and popping ibuprofen.

The doctor said it was probably a torn meniscus but an expensive MRI and surgery would be the solution for that.   Although some folks I know had very positive things to say about this surgery I also had read contradictory reports. 

After reading the following from this  report 


Surgery has the best results when the primary symptoms of the meniscus tear are mechanical. This means that the meniscus tear is causing a catching or locking sensation of the knee. When the meniscus tear is causing pain only, the results of surgery may not be as reliable.

and with the knowledge that my issue was only pain, and additional discussions with my doctor who told me that declining surgery would cause no harm, I decided to try to "manage" the knee instead.

I've given it a month of rest and it is feeling much better.   I tentatively tried out TaeKwonDo and Yoga and a very very slow jog.    My knee brace has become my best friend.

Finally  I am rethinking my training schedule and what I need to achieve my goals.    I obviously trained too hard or too stupidly.   I need to train smarter.    Instead of a quest for speed , I am going to start a quest for smarter training.   Maybe I will get faster anyway but the main goal is to stay healthy.

Suggestions please!

NY City Bike Ride

Gratuity: All of the various Exercise Options and folks to do them with! 

Goals: "Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it." ~ Bill Cosby

New York City; 5 Boroughs; 42 Miles, 32,000 bikers; A beautiful day; Fit Friends = A new hobby

I heard about the New York City 5 Boro bike ride on the news years ago and it sort of stuck somewhere in my brain.  What a cool way to see the city was the impression it left me.  While talking to one of my new TaeKwonDo  buddies last year that piece of information helped to break the ice with this new acquaintance.  Deb was a bike rider and I asked her if she had ever done the 5 Boro.  She replied, "yes" and lit up as she spent the rest of our discussion sharing her adventures.    She encouraged me to give it a try next year.  I thought it sounded like a great event to participate in.

Well next year came and she reminded me of our conversations asking if I wanted to try the bike tour.   Reality struck and  fears of failure filled my head.   I gave her a fairly negative reply  filled with my fears.   She reminded me that it was not a race.  It was just a tour and I could go at my own pace.   I needed to think about it.

Then I realized that it was something I wanted to do and waiting another year after I became a more experienced bike rider or I knew my Taekwondo friend better would only cause me to procrastinate to the point where I never ever did it.  I had to embrace life as it was and not wait until all the factors lined up perfectly.   If I waited then waiting is all I would ever be doing!

My seat hurt and we got stuck in crowds but other than those two items I would say it was a perfect success. 

I hope to do a lot more bike riding and a lot more things I fear!  I hear that Montreal has something equivalent.  If you are interesting in this NY Bike Ride or others next year give me a shout!

199

Gratuity: Weight Loss

Goals: Fat is the new Thin! - me; ugg, I can't believe I said that.

I have finally hit the elusive 199 weight goal.   I am no longer OBESE according to my  BMI.  I am just Fat. Bravo and cheers to me!

So why is Fat the new Thin?  Because according to many articles, Obese Americans outnumber those who are "just" Fat.  34% are Obese and 32% are "just" Fat.  With all of these Obese folk walking around, it seems the Fat folks (me included) are feeling pretty Thin next to them.

Perception is an interesting thing.

The first time I hit 199 was in 1989.  I was glowing and 9 months pregnant with twins.  I felt so heavy  my legs would not support me.  My husband had to push me around in a wheel chair to do the Christmas shopping.  

The second time I hit 199 was around 2002.  I felt like a fat cow.  I realized I was approaching obesity and unsuccessfully vowed I would not enter that zone.   I hated myself and felt so unhealthy, sluggish, and out of control.  

The third time I hit 199 was last week.  I felt so THIN (unless I looked in the mirror or at a picture) and healthy and full of energy.  I can't imagine being pushed around in a wheelchair.

                                     Perception really is an interesting thing.