November 4, 2010...3 days in

Three days in and everything hurts. I guess this means whatever I did yesterday worked. I've been moderately successful in managing my diet, but I haven't settled into something that works. A year ago, I was much better about planning the meals and snacks. Today, my schedule is more erratic and unpredictable. The points help in that they help me identify somewhat filling, relatively low-calorie meals to consume throughout the day. The types of things that one can find and order in an airport or off a hotel room menu. This is good because I am on travel next week (Wisconsin) and I don't want to lose ground.

November 3, 2010

Yesterday felt good. I forget how good it can be to go to the gym in the mornings. I got in a double workout-out today. A full 90 minutes devoted to bike riding and barbell squats and lunges. I haven't put a lot of thought into how to to train for this walk. I know, for example, that I'll have to walk at some point. :)

However, I want to make sure these first initial days are devoted to managing my eating and energy as I start to increase the exercise.

November 2, 2010

So, the plan involves more than just "training" for a half-marathon. I'm also following weight watchers and trying to include lots of fruits and veggies in my diet. When I started to (REALLY) follow the plan last week, I weighed in at 146 lbs. Damn. One day at a time.

Today's Workout:

Up at 5:40 (Superfluous detail, but still proud)

35min Elliptical Intervals

I'll get to the diet later this week...

November 1, 2010...Part II

Thus far my plan (i.e., the saddle) involves returning to the things that have worked for me in the past:

Going to the Gym to Increase Energy and Tone

Observing the Weight Watchers Point System for Portion Management

Finding Creative Low-Residue Ways to Consume Fruits and Vegetables

Interim goals and challenges also worked in the past though I am wary of being too short-term (it is too easy to just stop one the goal is reached or not). I don't know if I have a longer-term solution for that, but I'll take it one step at a time. So, five weeks from now...

Sunday, December 5: Walk the Half-Marathon in Vegas

I'm not going for time and I'm only competing with myself. Last week, I managed to make it to the gym twice, the week before it was only once. I feel myself getting winded after 15 minutes of any exercise even though I was able to run intervals and flex my biceps a few months ago.

The goal is to finish. They kick you off if you don't complete it in 4 hours so we've got 13.1 miles in 4 hours. (We because my mom will be there with me.)

November 1, 2010

Okay, so what exactly does it take to get back in the saddle? For comparison purposes, I want to talk about life outside the saddle for the past four months (May-October).

The Diet:

Breakfast: Greek Yogurt
Snack: String Cheese; Granola Bar
Lunch: Not Exactly Sure..
Snack: Vending Machine Goodies (Animal Crackers or Ritz Chips or Baked Lays)
After-Work Snack: Frosted FireHook Cookie (Seriously, they call me Cookie Girl)
Dinner: Not sure here either...wasn't anything healthy though
After-Dinner Snack: Cookies. Chocolate,
After-Dinner Snack Accompaniment: Wine or Cocktail

The Exercise:
Morning: 10 minutes of Walking from Parking Lot to Work
Evening: 10 minutes of Walking from Work to Parking Lot

Gym Time? Not so much....


The Result:

+5lbs. (in four months!)
-stamina. endurance. noticeable muscle tone.

Analysis:

It is pretty simple. I got out of the gym habit and my eating started to slip. By the time I realized what was happening, I was sluggish and had no desire to push into the gym. Not quite as bad as it may seem -- to be fair I was traveling a minimum of three weekends per month and consistency in diet was difficult. But, it could have been better.

Hello Saddle.