Fit Vs. Fat… Who Ya Got?!?!
February 17, 2012*HOUSEKEEPING NOTES*
* You may have noticed a name change… 🙂 Well, that also means the URL has changed as well. So, if you have my blog bookmarked, make sure you update it – it’s now http://blubbertorunner.blogspot.com
* If you’re viewing this on a computer and not your phone, you’ll also notice a new layout! Let me know if you like it, hate it, etc. – I enjoy feedback!
* Lastly, if you’re into this sorta thing, I also started a ‘Blubber To Runner’ board on Pinterest! It’s like the Reader’s Digest version of the blog, if you will. I’ll be posting movtiational quotes/ pics, probably some funny stuff, etc… so follow along HERE if you want! I hate clogging up everyone’s FB feed all the time, so this way you can follow there if ya wanna see that kinda stuff.
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OK… So… the running program is going, dare I say, very well. I can feel the changes that my body is having when it comes to my workouts – how they are becoming easier, how they are extending in distance, the little pains take longer to feel, etc. All the normal stuff a person should be feeling as they are going through a successful workout program.
Notice I said I can “FEEL” the changes. What I can’t do is “SEE” the changes.
This isn’t gonna be some blog post about low self-esteem when you look in the mirror. Nope – I’m WAY past that. This is about actual facts and me trying to put things in perspective, because I’m honestly confused a little. See, as I am running more, I realize that I need to ‘fuel’ more.
‘Fuel’ = ‘consume’… ‘consume’ = ‘eat’… more.
Yeah.
Here’s the deal – after I work out I feel GREAT. But, I’m STARVING. 1 thing I did learn through this whole process is that when you ‘feel’ hungry (re: hunger pains) that’s actually your body telling you that you’re dehydrated, not hungry necessarily. So, that knowledge – combined with the fact that I just ran 7 or 8 miles – puts me right into water/ Gatorade/ Pedialyte mode. And I devour it. I drink 75-100 oz of water a day and STILL wake up dehydrated. I seriously can’t seem to drink enough.
But, I also need to eat. And whatever it is I am eating, I can’t seem to lose significant weight in the last few weeks. I’m not REALLY complaining, because I have lost weight at every single weigh-in, but for someone running 20-25 miles/ week I would think it would have been more than .5 – 2 lbs/ week. My eating patterns have changed a lot – I haven’t been eating lunch consistently and my healthy snacking during the day is essentially non-existent. I’m eating a decent breakfast then also eating dinner… which is always amazing but not always the healthiest of options. So these are the things I realize I need to get back into doing… but I wanna know if there’s more it than just that.
So this gets me to the ‘plateau’ conversation. “Gach, maybe you’ve hit the plateau and that’s gonna be your loss from this point forward!” Last time I hit the plateau I was 260. Suffice to say I’m not 260… I won’t even be 260 when I run the half-marathon in 2 months. Could my body have changed? Sure, it’s 100% possible.
BUT GAHDAMMIT I WANNA KNOW.
So, any advice out there in Friend-land would be most helpful… I really wanna figure out how to continue to drop the pounds while I continue to up my training regimen because, at least at this point, I can’t seem to quite find a beautiful balance between the 2. What I would love is some things I can eat that will help me feel more full but also has that energy boost I need. Items, resources, etc… just let me know. I try to educate myself on stuff before I talk about it/ put it out there, but this one really has me stumped.
Lastly – I’ll try to better about keeping y’all posted on how the weight portion of this process is going… I’ve talked a lot about training, but have been lax in the diet dept. I’ll step that up – promise.
Blubber To Runner 
Love the new layout, LOOOOOOOOOOVE the new name and bookmarked for my reading pleasure. You know what's up with the weight loss…you aren't putting enough fuel in. You know this because you know you've been not using all your points. I know you know this because I do this all the time. EAT! Protein! Fiber! Keep posting because you keep me going daily.
The 2 main things when trying to lose weight are exercise (which you're doing) and changing eating habits. You need to be eating much more often. Basically: breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid aft snack, dinner and something in the early mid evening. So your main meals are bkst, lunch and dinner. Snacks could be anything from a banana to yogurt to some chicken to a protein shake. Why do this? When you eat frequently, it amps up your metabolism. Shortly after you do this, you'll notice that when it comes time to eat a meal or snack, you'll be ravenous, HOWEVER – you'll get full quicker. Smaller meals also mean more energy, less grogginess. Add in a protein shake each day also helps metabolism. Drinking lots of water helps alot, too. When you don't eat (like when you just eat breakfast and dinner) your body goes into "starvation mode" and starts to store more calories as fat to "survive" on. That's a simplification, but you get the idea. All those snacks and meals ain't easy – requires lots of shopping, planning, and bringing food to work etc. If you do this for 2-3 weeks STEADILY, I guarantee you'll start to notice a change. I can give you good, healthy snack choices if you want. Cheers!