WHAT?!

Talk about a rude awakening. I stepped on the scale this morning on a lark and it told me I am up 4 pounds! I totally call shenanigans on my scale! There is NO way. I've been eating well within my calorie range, and have kept my sodium low for the last several days. Someone want to explain this to me?

The only thing I can think of is the joint pain I've been experiencing all week after my jog has caused me to retain some stress water. Or the cortisol is out of control. Or something.

Regardless, I swam 2700 yards yesterday and 2250 today. I must be getting faster because yesterday I swam 110 lengths in 60 minutes and today I swam 100 in 50 minutes. If nothing else, I need less recovery time in between sets. Tomorrow I plan on a long 75-90 minutes swim.

On Second Thought...

I think the jogging may have to wait until I can get the right shoes. I have wide, flat feet (a la Fred Flintstone. Very pretty. Very feminine.), along with weak ankles. This morning I could barely walk, my ankles hurt so bad.

I had planned to swim this morning, and even woke up bright and early on my own. However, when I crawled out of bed and put weight on my right leg, I nearly fell down. So instead I popped a couple Alleve and went back to bed. Alleve is my new best friend (it was also my new best friend when I had a cracked rib).

The good news is, my sister-in-law's dad is a running shoe guru. He had some advice for getting the right shoes and may be able to hook us up with some nice shoes for less than retail price. Nice!

I am shocked with how much of an impact a few minutes of jogging has had on my body. I walk 4 miles in a day easily, but 6 1/2 minutes of jogging have done me in. Of course, SIL's dad pointed out that when you run, your legs absorb 5-7 times your body weight with each step.

Jogging Aftermath and Weight

Hi there. I am very, very sore. Apparently jogging works all these muscles that swimming completely ignores because, as I mentioned, I am very sore.

You would think the soreness would be a deterrent, right? No, this is how crazy I am. The fact that I am sore means that I'm working something new and exciting, and, the fact of the matter is, I don't want jogging to beat me. I have given up my crazy competitive nature with regard to board games and I'm the consummate peacemaker during conflict and Jason complains that I don't argue enough because I can see multiple sides to many issues and because I just don't like aggressive discussions in general. However, this whole exercise thing brings out my competitive side.

For instance, I have been working on swimming 60 minutes in the mornings before work instead of 45 because I wasn't feeling pushed enough by the end of 45.

Also, I set a goal to conquer the hill in between work and my apartment. It's a big, steep hill. The last time I walked up it, not only was I not huffing and puffing so much, but I also proceeded to go a different direction after the big hill, which meant I walked up a bunch of little hills too. Because I beat the big hill and thought to myself, "I'm going to do those little hills too. Because I can."

So that's how my brain works and now I find myself thinking I should start at the beginning with the couch to 5K program and work jogging into my mornings. Because I'm crazy.

In other news, the scale went down on Saturday morning. If you count the weight I gained back, I lost 3 pounds. If you just go from my recent low weight, I lost 1.2 pounds. Either way, it's moving in the right direction.

Jog

Today I went for a jog with Jason. It reminded me that I hate jogging. Oh right.

I was lame and woke up too late to swim, so I thought I would head out with Jason. He was shocked that with all my swimming, I couldn't keep up with him on a jog. I tried to explain how they're different sports, you have to get used to any kind of sport, etc.

I've never understood all these people who can run like mad, but are in awe of my swimming ability. Because, seriously, I can NOT run.

My bones rattle with every step as my feet pound into the ground. And I can feel my flab bouncing. And my boobs. I guess I need a tighter sports bra. The point is, it's not pleasant.

Also, I tweaked my ankle somehow. I have weak ankles, which periodic yoga has helped make stronger, but I guess my right ankle turned a bit on one of those jogging steps. It's not a big deal, just a bit sore when I walk.

These sorts of things do not happen in the pool! Score one point for swimming.

Tomorrow, it's back in the pool for me.

Swimmy-Poo*

Made it back to the pool today. Because I am a rock star.

Actually, I kind of impressed myself because I did 90 lengths in 45 minutes. Which meant I was basically going the whole time I was in the pool. I used to do 80 lengths in 45 minutes as a rule. Maybe I'm getting faster.

I also walked to work and I'll be walking home. It's actually kind of hot outside so I'm sure I'll be nice and sweaty by the time I get home, but I will also be flushed with my awesome sense of accomplishment.

Apparently swimming puts me in a really good mood. Must remember.


* How many variations on the word "swim" can I use in these titles?

Food Issues

The last couple of mornings I have had the worst time getting out of bed. I wake up on my own at about 5:30, then Tiny the cat nudges me out of bed to feed him at about 5:45, and I know I should get up and go for an hour swim, but I just can't. So I sleep until 7 or so and get up in time to get ready and still be able to walk to work. Which, you know, walking to work is good and all, but I need to swim since I don't think walking 3 1/2 to 4 miles per day is going to get rid of these 30 pounds when I spend the rest of the day on my bum in front of a computer.

Or maybe it will. Since I haven't been that successful thus far, maybe walking is the magical key.

I think ice cream is the reason I'm so lethargic. See, Breyer's was 2 for 1 this week. AND we had a coupon. 2 things of ice cream for LESS THAN 1. Score!

Only, not really when dessert for the past two evenings has been chocolate ice cream. We got the low fat version and I've been good about doling out portions in little bowls (or, last night, tiny plastic Paw Sox baseball caps). But I know how my body reacts to simple carbs and I feel like that's where the dragging is coming from.

What happened to my monthly splurge day, you ask? Yeah, that kind of went by the wayside. But I need to bring it back. I thought about it this morning and decided that I would much rather have a lovely pint of creamy, full-fat Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Daaz once a month, than the crumbly low fat pseudo ice cream every night.

I have also realized that it is seventy-five thousand times harder to be super-diligent when I have a husband in the house. When it was just me, I cooked for me and I bought groceries for me and I stuck to my plan. No questions. I still cook for us, but with Jason around I find that I tend to slip more easily. Like we're at a party and he eats a cookie. Well, darn it, I want a cookie too! Or he tells me about the sale on ice cream that we also have a coupon for, when, honestly, I wouldn't have cut out the ice cream coupon and I wouldn't have even looked at the ice cream sales in the store circular.

He's been doing really well with his jogging, and he's been eating what I cook and really thinking about his own health and that's wonderful. But I think he just doesn't have the same issues with sugary carbs that I do. I have a bad habit of eating and eating and eating when confronted with large quantities of treats. To the point where he's actually commented on the fact that I get out of control. I have to set limits for myself and I have to keep the junk out of the house. When I shopped only for me, it was very easy to follow those rules. Now it's harder and I'm trying to figure out how to make this work.

Weight

Recently I told a friend of mine that I want to lose 30 more pounds. She looked at me like I was insane. I told her, well, I want to get down to 160, and let her do the math. She said, "Oh" because I'm sure she had no idea that I weigh 190. I tend to look about 20 pounds lighter than I am due to large leg muscles and my pear shape.

160 is still well within the "Overweight" BMI for my height. I have no desire to get down to "Normal" because I know it just wouldn't be sustainable for me. Lately I'm wondering if it's even possible for me to get to 160.

Yesterday I was feeling pretty good about myself. I feel like my stomach is flatter. I feel like my pajama pants are so baggy that it's only willpower and my huge bum that are holding them on. So I weighed myself this morning and I'm back up to that weight I was at a few weeks ago. I mean, it's only a pound and a half more than my last weigh-in, but still.

Usually when I combine swimming with a lower carb diet, I lose weight. Not dramatic weight, but steady weight. It just doesn't seem to be happening this time and I'm feeling a bit frustrated.

Strength

Long silences usually indicate a relapse into bad eating ways. Not true this time.

OK, so I did eat some junk when we went out of town last weekend. I also hiked, so it evens out.

I have been doing pretty well with the eating. This week has been nutso at work so far. However, we got a product out to a client this afternoon, they're happy, and now we get to work on all that other stuff on our to-do lists rather than just the one, huge, must-be-done-immediately project. I've come into work early and left on the late side, so I haven't been to the pool this week. However, I have been walking to and from work. Today it's windy and cloudy and threatening rain, but I'm leaving in a few minutes to walk home anyway.

Also, yesterday morning I woke up early enough to do some strength training. I know, I'm as shocked as you are. Despite not feeling like I was doing all that much, today my arms, chest and stomach are SORE. I think that's more indicative of my weak muscles than of my actually doing anything fierce with my strength training.

I did 10 push ups! OK, 2 sets of 5. But still. I absolutely and completely stink at push ups. You would think the swimming and the defined triceps would give me some upper body strength, but I guess it's the wrong kind of upper body strength.

First, I did 2 planks for 30 seconds each. Those in addition to the 50 slow crunches and 60 bicylce crunches is why my abs are sore. But then I decided to try push ups. I didn't get very low and they were totally pitiful, but I did them. Proud of myself.

Podcast Recommendation

I walk to and from work at least once a week and on those 2 mile treks I like to listen to fitness and health podcasts. FYI, there are a lot of BORING podcasts out there. I just want to ask some people why they think they're being interesting enough to warrant an hour and a half podcast because they're sooooo not.

I have found a few that I like: Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy, Livin' La Vida Low Carb, Fitness Rocks. These are entertaining enough to hold my attention and usually have some good information as well. I don't always agree with what they have to say, but it's interesting to hear what's out there in the fitness and health world.

As you've probably guessed, I'm a big fan of The Biggest Loser this season. I've actually never watched a complete season through to the end before this season. Usually I catch an episode here or there and then other things get in the way. But I am hooked this time around, and totally rooting for Tara. I know that there are some serious flaws in the methods used, but I do like the time that is spent talking with some of the players about their emotional issues and why they eat. I also like how they all seem to gain such new strength and energy and revitalization from their time on the ranch and how some of them are trying to be an inspiration to others (i.e., Kristin and her motivational speaking, Filipe and his Tongan exercise class).

I recently discovered Jillian Michaels's podcast. She has a Sunday morning radio show on LA Station KFI. You can get the podcast on itunes. I've only listened to a couple of episodes, but so far I really like what she has to say, mostly because I think she's "real". She can be kind of brusque, of course, and she doesn't take crap from people, but I get the sense that she honestly cares and wants to help the people who call or write in with questions. I've heard her deal with someone who was obviously emotionally fragile in a very delicate way.

She also talks about her own foibles. At the beginning of one episode she talked about how she had a crap weekend food-wise and found herself in binge mode. She had to catch herself and step back to try to figure out why she was eating that way, deal with whatever issue was there, and move forward. She talks about how she kind of hates going to the gym. I appreciate her honesty and her acknowledgment that it's kind of a pain in the butt sometimes to look the way she looks.

Saturday Weigh-In: The FINALLY! Edition

The scale moved.

I lost 1 1/2 pounds last week. And another 3/4 inch or so. Jason would probably be a total downer at this point and tell me how weight fluctuates and the 1 1/2 pounds may mean nothing. (he also likes to tell me how there's probably an error rate of 1/4 inch or so on the measuring, but I ignore him or tell him to be quiet and let me be happy about my progress, illusory or not)

Yesterday I kind of threw my food plan book away. I don't know why exactly. Maybe it's the lack of sleep for the past 4 or 5 days, but I just didn't feel like passing up on the few treats I was offered. Also, there was a mango lassi involved at some point. Yum!

So yeah, a couple cookies, mango lassi, and an ice cream sandwich. I was still within my calorie range for the day.

I've had faux sleep apnea for the last few nights, wherein I'm so stuffed up that I have periods of not being able to breathe and I keep waking up. I missed out on my swim this morning because miraculously at 4 AM (I know the time because I was awake), my sinuses cleared and I could breathe through my nose again. I fell right to sleep and figured I needed some real sleep more than a swim.

Saturday I swam for 132 lengths, 3300 yards. I discovered that chlorine fumes are an awesome sinus cleanser. I wasn't gross about it - no blowing snot into the pool, which, by the way, I have seen people do and it's foul. After pulling on my swim cap and stretching and showering, by the time I actually got in the pool, my head was clear. So if you have a cold and don't feel like working out, go for a swim. Preferably an indoor pool where you have the maximum amount of contained chlorine fumes.