Around lunch time Tuesday, I hopped on the bike trainer for a one hour ride. I hadn't been on the bike in a while, so I wasn't really sure what I'd do. I just started the music and started pedaling.
I took it easy for about 10-15 minutes, spinning with quick legs but easy gear. I wanted to let my lungs and heart rate settle in. Still kind of burny-lunged since being sick. For an hour ride, there was no need to push too hard right away.
It's like Pandora knew my plan. Around the 15 minute mark, the music picked up to something I thought "hey, I'll work with this." And I began to work. I think it was just some pickups during a chorus. My mind wandered. Maybe I should really try to make an effort to get to those Y spinning classes; I'd push myself more if I did. Wonder what it'd be like to teach. It'd be fun to have a friend who'd bring their bike and trainer over and we could ride together. I could "instruct" a mini-class....
And then the next thing I knew I was shouting out cues and encouragement to a fake class.
I felt a little nuts, but after one song, I just thought it was crazy fun.
Oh how fun it would be to be an instructor! I could just sub maybe? I don't know. I am not sure how it all works. But it was really fun to think about the things that make a person push. The encouragement, the challenge. It would be really neat to see people working hard, getting results, coming to my class to workout because of how I lead it. I think back to Mel at Urban Active. She was spectacular, by far the best spinning instructor I've ever had. It worked for me.
At the 1 hour mark I finally finished, but I wanted to keep going.
I was clumsy with my words. That would definitely need some practice. But I was also winging it – shouting cues to whatever song came on Pandora. I just went with the music, which I know isn't always the best workout. I thought about that too. I'd come up with some smart interval classes, and spend the time crafting the music around that. But then I'd have some "random road rides" where it would change up sporadically, kind of like how it is on a real road ride. I might have to make it purposefully random, because I'm sure instructors aren't allowed or encouraged to "wing" a class.
I was excited when I got off the bike. Initial thought: Maybe I should become an instructor in 2015?!?! It'd be nice to get out and interact with people, from whomever would employ me to the students. But then I thought about how scary it is being in front of people, and how I'm kinda chubs, and who wants an out-of-shape-looking instructor...
But then I thought again about how much I enjoyed the prospect of trying to get someone to work, to really dig in and feel good. And I thought about how dumb it is to be afraid of things like being in front of people, because fear just holds you back from experiencing amazing things.
I like experiences. I want to do it. I'm still really scared. But I want to do it.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Monday, December 29, 2014
2.8 miles today...and was I holding back?
I ran with K after a meeting today. Earlier in the day I had no breakfast, but a salad for lunch with 2 eggs cut up, cuke, cheddar and ranch (barf) dressing. Oh and a few snap peas. Tea later in the day, with cream.
The run went super well for me. We slowed and it wasn't because of me. I had to hold myself back. We clipped along at 10 pace, which felt easy. Later it was hard to run so slow (we were slowing). K eventually had to walk at the end.
I certainly don't wish the feelings of struggle and having to walk on anyone, especially K... But wow it was so weird and different to be the person who wasn't struggling.
My breathing was great. I felt strong.
Yay!!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Wrapping Up & Goals
For the past couple of weeks, I've been fighting off a cold. It finally got the better part of me last Saturday. I went on a run with Krista, then came home and really started feeling bad. Aches, tired, dizzy...ug. I made it out Saturday night, after a long afternoon nap. Then Sunday I was pretty worthless. Monday and Tuesday were a struggle, as clients suddenly needed everything last minute and all I wanted to do was sleep. Coughing was getting worse- burning. And I had to finish shopping. I had no appetite, so that helped my diet along nicely.
Christmas eve and Christmas I tried not to hack on everyone. And now it's two days after Christmas and I'm definitely feeling better! Yesterday I went on a 2.5 mile run. Almost immediately, my lungs started burning. But I took it easy, and eventually the burning went away. I didn't even cough much afterwords, so I think that's a good sign.
I was thinking about going on a bike ride tomorrow, but it's supposed to be raining. It was a 20 miler that goes the speed of the slowest rider. So really, it could be pretty painful and cold. I may just stick to the trainer. I just want to get some outdoor riding in this winter. Keep things in check.
Yesterday I realized that the Heart Mini is only 11 weeks away. That sparked trying to really decide what I want to do next year for fun. And so here goes a list of goals.
1. Heart Mini Half Marathon - March 15.
2. Flying Pig Marathon - May 3.
3. Various sprint tris that are close and convenient throughout the summer.
4. Something biking long? I still haven't done any biking events.
5. Fall Marathon - Columbus?
So, thinking more about triathlon, I really think I need to back off a bit and just stick to a fun sprint here and there. Until I have the desire and time to really focus on swimming, sprints are plenty fun. Maybe even some duathlons. I missed running a lot last year. I want to get back to running.
My breathing continues to be better. I'm really hoping that this diet change I've made will allow me to have fun again, and maybe even have some cool performances. Maybe, just maybe, if I work hard, I can run a half marathon PR again.
Christmas eve and Christmas I tried not to hack on everyone. And now it's two days after Christmas and I'm definitely feeling better! Yesterday I went on a 2.5 mile run. Almost immediately, my lungs started burning. But I took it easy, and eventually the burning went away. I didn't even cough much afterwords, so I think that's a good sign.
I was thinking about going on a bike ride tomorrow, but it's supposed to be raining. It was a 20 miler that goes the speed of the slowest rider. So really, it could be pretty painful and cold. I may just stick to the trainer. I just want to get some outdoor riding in this winter. Keep things in check.
Yesterday I realized that the Heart Mini is only 11 weeks away. That sparked trying to really decide what I want to do next year for fun. And so here goes a list of goals.
1. Heart Mini Half Marathon - March 15.
2. Flying Pig Marathon - May 3.
3. Various sprint tris that are close and convenient throughout the summer.
4. Something biking long? I still haven't done any biking events.
5. Fall Marathon - Columbus?
So, thinking more about triathlon, I really think I need to back off a bit and just stick to a fun sprint here and there. Until I have the desire and time to really focus on swimming, sprints are plenty fun. Maybe even some duathlons. I missed running a lot last year. I want to get back to running.
My breathing continues to be better. I'm really hoping that this diet change I've made will allow me to have fun again, and maybe even have some cool performances. Maybe, just maybe, if I work hard, I can run a half marathon PR again.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Busy Day and Long Run or 5K
I've had a busy day. Just a lot going on, got up early, felt the urgent need to find something to wear to G's Xmas party tonight so did some brief shopping. It's a classic case of "well now the afternoon is gone" and I don't think I'll work out.
I also didn't work out yesterday.
In reality, I may lift. I did some squats and other leg stuff this morning while I waited for tea to brew. I did counter pushups. I am not ever sore from those, so I guess I need to do more.
Tomorrow morning I'd really like to do a 5K in Loveland. It's a Christmas themed one, and I don't really have anything even red or green...but it's free with canned food and sounds like a good enough reason to run with some people. I would not expect anything stellar for time. Maybe...just maybe I could pull off 10 pace. It'd be good practice.
The problem is I'm already tired and there's this Xmas party tonight...so tomorrow morning may be rough. Not because of alcohol. I'm just dragging a bit.
Alternative idea would be to run long. Like 6 miles. But the newfound overachiever in me wants to run this 5K tomorrow and then run 6 Sunday morning. Because I didn't do anything yesterday or today.
And obsession is starting to kick in big time.
I also didn't work out yesterday.
In reality, I may lift. I did some squats and other leg stuff this morning while I waited for tea to brew. I did counter pushups. I am not ever sore from those, so I guess I need to do more.
Tomorrow morning I'd really like to do a 5K in Loveland. It's a Christmas themed one, and I don't really have anything even red or green...but it's free with canned food and sounds like a good enough reason to run with some people. I would not expect anything stellar for time. Maybe...just maybe I could pull off 10 pace. It'd be good practice.
The problem is I'm already tired and there's this Xmas party tonight...so tomorrow morning may be rough. Not because of alcohol. I'm just dragging a bit.
Alternative idea would be to run long. Like 6 miles. But the newfound overachiever in me wants to run this 5K tomorrow and then run 6 Sunday morning. Because I didn't do anything yesterday or today.
And obsession is starting to kick in big time.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Sub 10-min per mile pace
Tonight, when it was just about dark, I set out on my run. I despise this early darkness. It had been cloudy all day. That didn't help the sun get its last weak rays into the late afternoon. I knew I'd finish in the dark.
I decided I'd push it a bit. I started out so smooth ad thought maybe it could stay that way. So instead if 3, I did my 2.5 mile loop. I almost tripped over a branch in front of a car at the end. Stupid darkness.
My pace was sub 10 within the first mile. 9:58 I think. Then I slowed a bit in the middle, struggling with some slight inclines. So I pushed at the end, unable to see my watch but wanting to see sub 10 when I stopped. 9:56 was it.
I'm certainly happy I did this. I wonder about how hard it was though. I felt weak more than I had trouble breathing, so maybe that's good?
I'm trying to stay positive. Trying to believe I can get better, and people will want to run with me again.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
1 hour 10 minutes on the trainer
I finally got on the bike. This morning I had two sausage links, a stick of string cheese, and coffee with 4 T of cream for breakfast. That cream was spread over 2 cups of coffee by the way.
Then I got on the bike around noon. I decided to ride steady for a half hour. I tried very hard to keep my heart rate below 160 and my pace at 16 - 16.5 mph. This meant either quick legs in an easier gear, or not so quick cadence in a heavier gear. I alternated. And I tried to focus on belly breathing. I had fun watching my heart rate fluctuate. I could take some deep breaths and bring it down a few points. Interesting.
So here's the ride, all done to my mix:
Time: 1:10:00
- 30 minutes of warmup then steady pace 16 - 16 mph with HR below 160.
- 20 minutes of playing with the music, pacing differently, pushing. Still trying to keep HR down.
- 20 minutes of heavier pushing. Got HR up to 171. Includes cool down (probably 5 minutes)
Max HR: 171
Avg HR: 159
Summary: Good workout. Felt strong. Felt when I was weak, but don't think it was abnormal.
After all that time, I felt fine. No crashing, well yet I guess. I had a salad with walnuts, cheese and cucumbers drenched in walnut oil and vinegar. I had a cheese stick right after I got off the bike. I'm about to make some tea because I'm very thirsty.
Then I got on the bike around noon. I decided to ride steady for a half hour. I tried very hard to keep my heart rate below 160 and my pace at 16 - 16.5 mph. This meant either quick legs in an easier gear, or not so quick cadence in a heavier gear. I alternated. And I tried to focus on belly breathing. I had fun watching my heart rate fluctuate. I could take some deep breaths and bring it down a few points. Interesting.
So here's the ride, all done to my mix:
Time: 1:10:00
- 30 minutes of warmup then steady pace 16 - 16 mph with HR below 160.
- 20 minutes of playing with the music, pacing differently, pushing. Still trying to keep HR down.
- 20 minutes of heavier pushing. Got HR up to 171. Includes cool down (probably 5 minutes)
Max HR: 171
Avg HR: 159
Summary: Good workout. Felt strong. Felt when I was weak, but don't think it was abnormal.
After all that time, I felt fine. No crashing, well yet I guess. I had a salad with walnuts, cheese and cucumbers drenched in walnut oil and vinegar. I had a cheese stick right after I got off the bike. I'm about to make some tea because I'm very thirsty.
No Biking Yet
Well, I didn't get up early to ride like I had hoped to. I was so wired last night...and then this morning I was so very groggy. It has been something I've noticed since the new diet. I have a really hard time getting out of bed. I'm not sure why.
So I've made my list for the day, and will do a small piece of work to get a client off my back and then shower. I'll ride later...when I like to ride anyway :) Maybe around lunch time.
So I've made my list for the day, and will do a small piece of work to get a client off my back and then shower. I'll ride later...when I like to ride anyway :) Maybe around lunch time.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Hilly 2.65 in Madeira
Over the weekend, I didn't do much of anything. C'est la vie. I had intentions for Sunday, but got sucked into work.
But now it's Monday!
I had a meeting with K at a coffee shop in Madeira. It was what I'll call an actual coffee shop – the kind I remembered from college years, before there was a Starbucks on every corner. There were mugs to use instead of paper cups. This place grinds their own coffee. There were random things everywhere...a true coffee shop feel. I liked it, and may consider going there to work some day. They had wifi and I think even some food.
After our meeting, we did a run around the neighborhood. Neither of us really knew where to go, but I had my GPS, so I could at least check distances. Madeira is hilly. We climbed some steep ones, much to my disliking. But, I actually feel like my breathing was better. It's a trend I've noticed lately. My strength may not be there yet, but my breathing seems to be deeper and more clear, if that makes any sense.
When I got home, I crashed. :( Not entire sure why, so I'll just document things here as I plan, so I can hopefully figure out what to eat when.
Breakfast:
- Kale, 3 eggs, onion, mozzarella cheese scramble.
- Chai with some cream and Stevia
No lunch...I never got even snack-hungry. I was also working really hard to get my stuff done before the meeting.
The Run:
Distance: 2.65 miles
Overall pace: 10:45 (ug. 10:40 for the first, 10:44 for the second, and then 11 something for the last bit) Still did manage to talk though...so that seems like an improvement.
Temp: 47º and cloudy
Terrain: hilly
After:
Crashed. Came home and had about a half cup of ricotta cheese with salt and parmesan cheese mixed in. Then thought I was maybe still hungry so I ... mixed about 2 T of butter with some almond flour to make a doughy treat. WTF. That was just weird. I just wanted it though. I probably should have opted for some nuts, but this is what I did. Then I showered. Then I sat on the couch and crashed. I fell asleep and just felt kinda icky. When Greg got home, he waited on me to recover some, then we went to eat. By the time we were done with dinner (taco salad with beef, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, avoided tomatoes) I felt all better.
So, there was the drive – about 30 minutes. Then eating and feeding the dogs – probably at least another 15. Then a 15-20 minute hot shower. And THEN I felt bad. I felt bad an hour after the run, even with having eating some food, albeit nothing sugary. So I don't know what that means. 2.65 miles shouldn't have felt like much effort. Was it the hills? Was it not eating any lunch? I really don't know. Maybe my body just isn't fat adapted yet and it stopped burning fat and that's why I crashed? Not sure not sure...just writing it all down so I can look back later.
Tomorrow morning I am going to do a "fasting" workout. I've done these many times before, not really knowing that's what I was doing. It is simply working out before breakfast. It's true that I don't run first thing in the morning anymore. And when biking, I'd have breakfast because I figured I'd need it. So, we'll see what happens. It's not my ideal time to get on the bike, but I'm going to try it.
But now it's Monday!
I had a meeting with K at a coffee shop in Madeira. It was what I'll call an actual coffee shop – the kind I remembered from college years, before there was a Starbucks on every corner. There were mugs to use instead of paper cups. This place grinds their own coffee. There were random things everywhere...a true coffee shop feel. I liked it, and may consider going there to work some day. They had wifi and I think even some food.
After our meeting, we did a run around the neighborhood. Neither of us really knew where to go, but I had my GPS, so I could at least check distances. Madeira is hilly. We climbed some steep ones, much to my disliking. But, I actually feel like my breathing was better. It's a trend I've noticed lately. My strength may not be there yet, but my breathing seems to be deeper and more clear, if that makes any sense.
When I got home, I crashed. :( Not entire sure why, so I'll just document things here as I plan, so I can hopefully figure out what to eat when.
Breakfast:
- Kale, 3 eggs, onion, mozzarella cheese scramble.
- Chai with some cream and Stevia
No lunch...I never got even snack-hungry. I was also working really hard to get my stuff done before the meeting.
The Run:
Distance: 2.65 miles
Overall pace: 10:45 (ug. 10:40 for the first, 10:44 for the second, and then 11 something for the last bit) Still did manage to talk though...so that seems like an improvement.
Temp: 47º and cloudy
Terrain: hilly
After:
Crashed. Came home and had about a half cup of ricotta cheese with salt and parmesan cheese mixed in. Then thought I was maybe still hungry so I ... mixed about 2 T of butter with some almond flour to make a doughy treat. WTF. That was just weird. I just wanted it though. I probably should have opted for some nuts, but this is what I did. Then I showered. Then I sat on the couch and crashed. I fell asleep and just felt kinda icky. When Greg got home, he waited on me to recover some, then we went to eat. By the time we were done with dinner (taco salad with beef, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, avoided tomatoes) I felt all better.
So, there was the drive – about 30 minutes. Then eating and feeding the dogs – probably at least another 15. Then a 15-20 minute hot shower. And THEN I felt bad. I felt bad an hour after the run, even with having eating some food, albeit nothing sugary. So I don't know what that means. 2.65 miles shouldn't have felt like much effort. Was it the hills? Was it not eating any lunch? I really don't know. Maybe my body just isn't fat adapted yet and it stopped burning fat and that's why I crashed? Not sure not sure...just writing it all down so I can look back later.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Saturday, December 6, 2014
The week. I think things are getting better.
Monday I ran 3 miles. It was an excellent run, the first after Thanksgiving laziness. I didn't take my watch, which always seems to result in an "excellent" run....hmmmm...
Wednesday I ran 4 miles, and felt pretty good. 10:20 pace average.
Thursday I rode my bike for an hour. I did speed, and pushed a hill at the end of the ride. I felt great, and felt great afterwords as well.
Friday I ran 3 miles with quarter mile repeats:
warmup: .5 mile.
4 x .25 mi hard with .25 easy recovery jog
.5 mile cool down at 10:20 pace.
Felt great!
Saturday I'm relaxin'. My running partner bailed for tomorrow's scheduled run, but I think I'll still run 5 or 6 slow and steady by myself.
I'm feeling pretty good. I'm feeling "normal," like I can't even tell I'm eating so different. So I'm either missing something, or I'm really beginning to adjust. Maybe I'll buy some keto strips to see what that's all about (morning fast urine test strips).
Sidenote: pooping has been different...not as often. Maybe I need more fiber!?
Wednesday I ran 4 miles, and felt pretty good. 10:20 pace average.
Thursday I rode my bike for an hour. I did speed, and pushed a hill at the end of the ride. I felt great, and felt great afterwords as well.
Friday I ran 3 miles with quarter mile repeats:
warmup: .5 mile.
4 x .25 mi hard with .25 easy recovery jog
.5 mile cool down at 10:20 pace.
Felt great!
Saturday I'm relaxin'. My running partner bailed for tomorrow's scheduled run, but I think I'll still run 5 or 6 slow and steady by myself.
I'm feeling pretty good. I'm feeling "normal," like I can't even tell I'm eating so different. So I'm either missing something, or I'm really beginning to adjust. Maybe I'll buy some keto strips to see what that's all about (morning fast urine test strips).
Sidenote: pooping has been different...not as often. Maybe I need more fiber!?
4 miles that were pretty good!
Wednesday morning I had to get some things done with work. So I opted for the "run later" thing, and I'm happy to report, didn't fail at that.
Breakfast:
A kale-cheese-egg scramble:
1/2 cup kale fried in about 1 T butter. Then 2 scrambled eggs cooked in. Mozzarella cheese was added at the end. I also had some tea with about 1T of heavy cream.
~ 5 carbs
Snack:
Before I ran I had about 6 cashews.
~ 4 carbs
The Run:
My mindset was to take it easy and just run a steady pace. I also wore my heart rate monitor because I wanted to get a base on that. Haven't done that in a while.
Distance: 4 miles
Overall pace: 10:20
Avg heart rate: 167
Max heart rate: 186
Temp: 38º and slightly sunny
Terrain: around the 'hood...slight inclines here and there
Towards the end of the run, it was definitely always above 171, and held around 183 for quite some time. Any slight incline would make it go up. I don't think the 167 is accurate because I was stopped for about 1 and then 2 minutes during the run, in which it fell a bunch. Meh.
I felt pretty good the entire time. I still feel like hills are rough...but have kind of always felt like hills are rough? So I feel like this run is closer to my current fitness level now.
Post Run:
Felt fine. Showered. Eventually had a couple meatballs, but I'm just not really hungry.
Breakfast:
A kale-cheese-egg scramble:
1/2 cup kale fried in about 1 T butter. Then 2 scrambled eggs cooked in. Mozzarella cheese was added at the end. I also had some tea with about 1T of heavy cream.
~ 5 carbs
Snack:
Before I ran I had about 6 cashews.
~ 4 carbs
The Run:
My mindset was to take it easy and just run a steady pace. I also wore my heart rate monitor because I wanted to get a base on that. Haven't done that in a while.
Distance: 4 miles
Overall pace: 10:20
Avg heart rate: 167
Max heart rate: 186
Temp: 38º and slightly sunny
Terrain: around the 'hood...slight inclines here and there
Towards the end of the run, it was definitely always above 171, and held around 183 for quite some time. Any slight incline would make it go up. I don't think the 167 is accurate because I was stopped for about 1 and then 2 minutes during the run, in which it fell a bunch. Meh.
I felt pretty good the entire time. I still feel like hills are rough...but have kind of always felt like hills are rough? So I feel like this run is closer to my current fitness level now.
Post Run:
Felt fine. Showered. Eventually had a couple meatballs, but I'm just not really hungry.
New Stuff
Last Tuesday wing night, I explained what I've been doing with my diet over the past month. It's such a complicated thing that I find hard to explain in one sitting, one paragraph, one breath.
Background:
- For the past couple of years, I've been exercising and trying to eat well, but have not lost weight much, and often have gained for no clear reason to me. In a nutshell, it's been frustrating.
- I have been feeling really crappy physically for a while. Just not healthy feeling, unexplainably tired, even though I didn't feel like I was making terrible choices all the time to warrant how bad I felt.
- Exercise was becoming more and more difficult. Performance in things has been declining. It's been a struggle to do things that were once a given.
- I have palindromic rheumatism and have had more problems with my hands hurting the past year.
- I have super high cholesterol, even though I exercise and "eat right". Doctor has recommended medicine, which may just be what needs to happen...but I want one last try to control it.
Closer to now:
- My uncle came to town hyping a couple books he read about calories, the way we eat, and carbohydrates/sugars.
- Timing was interesting, given how much I had been thinking about everything recently, trying to figure out what to do.
- I decided to read Why We Get Fat and What We Can Do About It by Gary Taubes.
- I decided that I agreed with nearly everything in this book, that the science was encouraging and that I should change the way I eat to see how my body would react.
Current:
- I became a living science experiment. I cut out carbs and sugar from my diet around the second week of November. I also increased fat.
- I went through 2 weeks of really feeling awful. I felt like I had the flu. No energy. Dizzy. Disconnected. I got my period in the middle of my cycle. I was irritable. My hormones felt all over the place. I could barely muster a shuffle when running. I slept like crap.
- Thanksgiving happened....I ate some sugar and paid for it the next couple of days feeling off and with headaches.
- I now feel pretty adjusted. I am eating less than 30 carbs a day, probably in nutritional ketosis, and am feeling really really good. My workouts are back to what they were.
Things that have changed:
1. Food tastes different and better. It's more satisfying. It tastes more like food than just substance I'm filling up on.
2. I haven't over-eaten at all since I've been eating more fat. (!!!)
3. I have a constant energy throughout the day and don't feel the crashes I used to feel in the afternoon.
4. I've changed shape. I've lost weight, but mostly I notice my belly shrinking.
5. My hands don't hurt anymore. (!!!) Could be a coincidence, but it's interesting and notable nonetheless.
6. Eating is so much more satisfying now, and I'm never ravenous like I used to be. Hunger is completely controlled. It's awesome and I don't feel like a slave to food anymore.
7. Cravings are way less. In fact, the only cravings I'm having now is still for something sweet after some meals. But I can manage those.
Soooooo that's what is happening. I'm still adjusting, and experimenting. I'm trying to figure out what alcohol I can enjoy a bit of. I've been having a beer maybe once a week. I've tried bourbon, which I love, but feel pretty bad after drinking that. Vodka seems to work out ok. But mostly, just drinking one drink is an improvement anyway.
I'm anxious to see how much weight I can lose, if I keep losing weight or not. And I'm anxious to see if my performance gets better or stays the same. I hope it doesn't deteriorate. I think there will need to be some playing around with eating some low GI carbs before long excursions. We'll see.
The Plan:
To track everything here so I can refer to it as needed.
I'm already feeling way better physically and am starting to also see the mental side as well. My uncle kept talking about a clarity. I think I'm beginning to feel that as well.
So...onward. It's a new journey that I'm pretty excited about.
Background:
- For the past couple of years, I've been exercising and trying to eat well, but have not lost weight much, and often have gained for no clear reason to me. In a nutshell, it's been frustrating.
- I have been feeling really crappy physically for a while. Just not healthy feeling, unexplainably tired, even though I didn't feel like I was making terrible choices all the time to warrant how bad I felt.
- Exercise was becoming more and more difficult. Performance in things has been declining. It's been a struggle to do things that were once a given.
- I have palindromic rheumatism and have had more problems with my hands hurting the past year.
- I have super high cholesterol, even though I exercise and "eat right". Doctor has recommended medicine, which may just be what needs to happen...but I want one last try to control it.
Closer to now:
- My uncle came to town hyping a couple books he read about calories, the way we eat, and carbohydrates/sugars.
- Timing was interesting, given how much I had been thinking about everything recently, trying to figure out what to do.
- I decided to read Why We Get Fat and What We Can Do About It by Gary Taubes.
- I decided that I agreed with nearly everything in this book, that the science was encouraging and that I should change the way I eat to see how my body would react.
Current:
- I became a living science experiment. I cut out carbs and sugar from my diet around the second week of November. I also increased fat.
- I went through 2 weeks of really feeling awful. I felt like I had the flu. No energy. Dizzy. Disconnected. I got my period in the middle of my cycle. I was irritable. My hormones felt all over the place. I could barely muster a shuffle when running. I slept like crap.
- Thanksgiving happened....I ate some sugar and paid for it the next couple of days feeling off and with headaches.
- I now feel pretty adjusted. I am eating less than 30 carbs a day, probably in nutritional ketosis, and am feeling really really good. My workouts are back to what they were.
Things that have changed:
1. Food tastes different and better. It's more satisfying. It tastes more like food than just substance I'm filling up on.
2. I haven't over-eaten at all since I've been eating more fat. (!!!)
3. I have a constant energy throughout the day and don't feel the crashes I used to feel in the afternoon.
4. I've changed shape. I've lost weight, but mostly I notice my belly shrinking.
5. My hands don't hurt anymore. (!!!) Could be a coincidence, but it's interesting and notable nonetheless.
6. Eating is so much more satisfying now, and I'm never ravenous like I used to be. Hunger is completely controlled. It's awesome and I don't feel like a slave to food anymore.
7. Cravings are way less. In fact, the only cravings I'm having now is still for something sweet after some meals. But I can manage those.
Soooooo that's what is happening. I'm still adjusting, and experimenting. I'm trying to figure out what alcohol I can enjoy a bit of. I've been having a beer maybe once a week. I've tried bourbon, which I love, but feel pretty bad after drinking that. Vodka seems to work out ok. But mostly, just drinking one drink is an improvement anyway.
I'm anxious to see how much weight I can lose, if I keep losing weight or not. And I'm anxious to see if my performance gets better or stays the same. I hope it doesn't deteriorate. I think there will need to be some playing around with eating some low GI carbs before long excursions. We'll see.
The Plan:
To track everything here so I can refer to it as needed.
I'm already feeling way better physically and am starting to also see the mental side as well. My uncle kept talking about a clarity. I think I'm beginning to feel that as well.
So...onward. It's a new journey that I'm pretty excited about.
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