So last time I talked about my weight was the weekend before Thanksgiving and I had hit my goal of 30 lbs. Since hitting that goal I started running more and also didn't stay as focused on losing weight. Like many others, I find this time of year hard to manage. There is a holiday party at least once a week. There is always a luncheon to attend with amazing food and of course I crave Christmas cookies like it's my job (although I have not had one yet). For a couple of weeks I took "off" from dieting. I'm still making healthy decisions, keeping a food journal (on most days) and trying to avoid carbohydrate heavy food choices. Some days I am still able to stick to 1200 calories a day, other's I'm lucky to stay under 2000. Those days tend to be the days where there is a party. Obviously I'm still learning how to not over eat. It's hard. I hadn't weighed myself since right before Thanksgiving. The first time back on the scale was this morning. To be honest, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The result was that I had gained 2 lbs. I'm not super surprised about this. I'm not excited or happy about it, but I'm not at the point where I'm super frustrated with myself. I'm using these two pounds as a happy reality check that I need to stay focused and continue to log my calories and make smart decisions in social situations.
One thing that I'm still learning and trying to balance is how I fuel myself before hard runs. Yesterday was a 3 mile recovery run. I ran after work and at that time I had only consumed approximately 600 calories. I was only running 10 minute miles and I felt like it was hard to just have the energy to do it. This was so different from my long run over the weekend where I had consumed a burger and fries the night before and 2 eggs in devilled egg style for breakfast before hitting the state park for some fun running in the woods. My long run, which included lots of hills and a faster pace, felt easier than a 30 minute easy run yesterday. I think some of this will be the timing of when I eat. I don't know the best way to handle this situation. I'm going to try eating 100 calories right before I go for a run. Maybe that will help.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
2012 Goal #1
I can't remember if I officially announced this but I am running the Birmingham Half Marathon.
I've also decided not to use a coach for this race. For the last two years I have trained with Elizabeth Waterstraat. When I was finished with Ironman and decided to focus on weight loss so I took a break from her. Liz is a phenomenal coach, athlete and role model. I can't say enough good things about her. I was one of her less successful athletes (although she never made me feel that way). Most of the people she coaches are winning their age group, qualifying for Kona or making their appearances at the ITU World Championship. She taught me a lot about what it means to really go out there and give it everything you have, redefining what it means to be committed to something. Doing your best means being committed to the goal everyday and working everyday toward that goal. When I decided to run a half I thought about my goals and decided that it wasn't time to go back to her. At this time I'm not ready to go back to the triathlon world. I know that she can coach single sport athletes but I really want her to coach me as a triathlete. I'm still not ready to sign up for a triathlon. maryK and I are still on a break from each other (my bike). I also know that when I go back to her, I want to be committed to the race goal. Right now weight loss is still more important to me and I will put that above training.
Since I'm not using a coach I decided to use a hal higdon intermediate training program. So far it's good. I still have to use a lot of my knowledge for the workouts as the free version just provides a skeleton schedule.
My goal for this race is to run a sub 2 hour half. I haven't done that since I was 22 years old. I'm really focusing on running at a fast pace during my training runs. In order to reach my goal I must run at a 9:05 minute mile. I think I can do that. I just have to stay focused and continue to lose weight.
I've also decided not to use a coach for this race. For the last two years I have trained with Elizabeth Waterstraat. When I was finished with Ironman and decided to focus on weight loss so I took a break from her. Liz is a phenomenal coach, athlete and role model. I can't say enough good things about her. I was one of her less successful athletes (although she never made me feel that way). Most of the people she coaches are winning their age group, qualifying for Kona or making their appearances at the ITU World Championship. She taught me a lot about what it means to really go out there and give it everything you have, redefining what it means to be committed to something. Doing your best means being committed to the goal everyday and working everyday toward that goal. When I decided to run a half I thought about my goals and decided that it wasn't time to go back to her. At this time I'm not ready to go back to the triathlon world. I know that she can coach single sport athletes but I really want her to coach me as a triathlete. I'm still not ready to sign up for a triathlon. maryK and I are still on a break from each other (my bike). I also know that when I go back to her, I want to be committed to the race goal. Right now weight loss is still more important to me and I will put that above training.
Since I'm not using a coach I decided to use a hal higdon intermediate training program. So far it's good. I still have to use a lot of my knowledge for the workouts as the free version just provides a skeleton schedule.
My goal for this race is to run a sub 2 hour half. I haven't done that since I was 22 years old. I'm really focusing on running at a fast pace during my training runs. In order to reach my goal I must run at a 9:05 minute mile. I think I can do that. I just have to stay focused and continue to lose weight.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
How much do I weigh?
There have been a couple of anonymous blog posts asking me how much I weighed before I started loosing weight and how much I currently weigh.
Readers, don't take this personally, but I'm just ready to post my weight on the internet. It's just slightly more personal than I want to get on this blog. If you want to know what I weigh, feel free to email me and I will tell you. c.tory.harper at gmail.com
Best,
Tory
Readers, don't take this personally, but I'm just ready to post my weight on the internet. It's just slightly more personal than I want to get on this blog. If you want to know what I weigh, feel free to email me and I will tell you. c.tory.harper at gmail.com
Best,
Tory
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Tattoo
To tat or not to tat, that is the question.
After completing an ironman it is popular to get an ironman tattoo. Many athletes use their creative juices to come up with cool places and artistic interpretations that can incorporate the Ironman Mdot. Here are some examples that I've seen out there:
I've never been much of a tattoo person. I don't have anything against tattoos, I just have never had anything that I felt like I identified with something enough to have it put on my body for all to see for a really long time.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about getting an mdot tatoo. These thoughts come about usually when i'm at the gym. It's almost as if I feel like the Mdot would tell people "Yup, I'm a badass" or "don't give me that look just 'cause I'm on the elliptical, I've done two ironman races". I don't know where I would get it. Maybe the back of my calf, but then when I wear skirts to work everyone would see it, or maybe my shoulder. I don't know why I really care what people at the gym think of me but I do. Obviously it shows that I'm a competetive person if it's important to me that the random people at the gym think i'm a badass.
Part of me also struggles with the fact that right now, the Mdot is a symbol of the Ironman company. There are other companies out there that host the ironman distance race but cannot actually call themselves an ironman because one specific company owns that term. I am actually rather annoyed with the Ironman coorporation (which is owned by the World Triathlon Coorpoation) because of some of the regulations and policies that they have in place for their races. I also still think it's rediculous that a friend got lost on a course and as a result ended up missing a race cut off time and didn't get to finish, but I'm starting to get off track from my original point. My point is, I'm not sure I want to do free advertising for that company. Perhaps there is another way to express the 140.6 miles that is cool without putting the Mdot on my skin.
I probably won't get one, but it's really weighing on my mind right now.
So the question is still, to tat or not to tat?
After completing an ironman it is popular to get an ironman tattoo. Many athletes use their creative juices to come up with cool places and artistic interpretations that can incorporate the Ironman Mdot. Here are some examples that I've seen out there:
I've never been much of a tattoo person. I don't have anything against tattoos, I just have never had anything that I felt like I identified with something enough to have it put on my body for all to see for a really long time.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about getting an mdot tatoo. These thoughts come about usually when i'm at the gym. It's almost as if I feel like the Mdot would tell people "Yup, I'm a badass" or "don't give me that look just 'cause I'm on the elliptical, I've done two ironman races". I don't know where I would get it. Maybe the back of my calf, but then when I wear skirts to work everyone would see it, or maybe my shoulder. I don't know why I really care what people at the gym think of me but I do. Obviously it shows that I'm a competetive person if it's important to me that the random people at the gym think i'm a badass.
Part of me also struggles with the fact that right now, the Mdot is a symbol of the Ironman company. There are other companies out there that host the ironman distance race but cannot actually call themselves an ironman because one specific company owns that term. I am actually rather annoyed with the Ironman coorporation (which is owned by the World Triathlon Coorpoation) because of some of the regulations and policies that they have in place for their races. I also still think it's rediculous that a friend got lost on a course and as a result ended up missing a race cut off time and didn't get to finish, but I'm starting to get off track from my original point. My point is, I'm not sure I want to do free advertising for that company. Perhaps there is another way to express the 140.6 miles that is cool without putting the Mdot on my skin.
I probably won't get one, but it's really weighing on my mind right now.
So the question is still, to tat or not to tat?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
One of those runs
I finally had one of those runs that makes you feel like you are on the edge of greatness, the run that makes you feel like you are invincible and nothing can touch you and you are on top of the world.
It happened on Thanksgiving day. Surprsingly enough, I had been a litle hungover from the night before. Wendesday we flew to Albany, NY to Monkey's parents. His entire mother's side of the family gets together for "Stoutenberg Family Thanksgiving". The events started with the "Travelers Buffet" on Wednesday night which was a wonderful lasagna dinner and drinks and then Thursday the family went on a hike in the morning and then the Thanksgiving celebration started in the afternoon which includes the thanksgiving play, a singing of Over the River and Through the Woods, Charades and the face game. Last year was my first year coming to Thanksgiving with Monkey. I was beyond impressed with his family's traditions. In fact last year I was almost in shell shock at how awesome they were. But I was also cought a little off guard, I didn't arrive ready to go.
Well, this year I knew what I was in for, so I came with my game face. I'm sure you are wondering what this has to do with my run. Well, after waking up on Thursday with a hang over from the night before (Yes, I drank over thanksgiving, In fact I took a slight deviation from my nutrition plan but that's a different blog) I spent much of the morning hanging around. My 1:00 my hangover was just about gone. The headache was gone at least which had been making me go crazy. I decided a run was necessary given my caloric consumption the night before and the fact that I would be enjoying my share of stuffing. I also thought a run would give my time to get ready for the family games where I needed to be ready with my game face on. I started out with my garmin just thinking I would do 3 miles. After a couple minutes I noticed how good the cool crisp air felt, especially running in it. After that, it's all a blur. I remember running past a few people and giving a nod. I was just in a zone. I didn't say hello. I just remember feeling like I was flying, feeling like I had tons of energy and my legs were just pushing me forward without any effort. For a while I didn't even listen to my music, I just listened to my breathing. And I did tell myself I was so thankful to be able to run and do physical activities (something I am thankful for all the time). I wasn't out of breath at any point, I just felt like I was running effortlessly. It was easy.
I looked down at my garmin and I had gone 2 miles out, so I turned around and headed back home the difrection I had come. The neighborhood I as in is windy with lots of side streets that lead you know where and it's easy to get lost. I didn't want to do to many turns and get myself lots. I got back home and looked at my watch and I had averaged a 8:57 min/mile. Not bad for someone who hasn't been running in a while. I know it's not my best time every, but considering I just started running a week and a half ago, I was pretty happy with it. I know that some of my faster more elite running friends are probably reading this thinking that I'm slow, and they are right. I am slow. But I'm getting faster. Two months ago when I was 30 lbs heavier I wasn't able to run that pace without my heart going out of control. I wasn't able to run that and have fun.
This run, is the reason why I love running. No one can take that feeling away from you.
It happened on Thanksgiving day. Surprsingly enough, I had been a litle hungover from the night before. Wendesday we flew to Albany, NY to Monkey's parents. His entire mother's side of the family gets together for "Stoutenberg Family Thanksgiving". The events started with the "Travelers Buffet" on Wednesday night which was a wonderful lasagna dinner and drinks and then Thursday the family went on a hike in the morning and then the Thanksgiving celebration started in the afternoon which includes the thanksgiving play, a singing of Over the River and Through the Woods, Charades and the face game. Last year was my first year coming to Thanksgiving with Monkey. I was beyond impressed with his family's traditions. In fact last year I was almost in shell shock at how awesome they were. But I was also cought a little off guard, I didn't arrive ready to go.
Well, this year I knew what I was in for, so I came with my game face. I'm sure you are wondering what this has to do with my run. Well, after waking up on Thursday with a hang over from the night before (Yes, I drank over thanksgiving, In fact I took a slight deviation from my nutrition plan but that's a different blog) I spent much of the morning hanging around. My 1:00 my hangover was just about gone. The headache was gone at least which had been making me go crazy. I decided a run was necessary given my caloric consumption the night before and the fact that I would be enjoying my share of stuffing. I also thought a run would give my time to get ready for the family games where I needed to be ready with my game face on. I started out with my garmin just thinking I would do 3 miles. After a couple minutes I noticed how good the cool crisp air felt, especially running in it. After that, it's all a blur. I remember running past a few people and giving a nod. I was just in a zone. I didn't say hello. I just remember feeling like I was flying, feeling like I had tons of energy and my legs were just pushing me forward without any effort. For a while I didn't even listen to my music, I just listened to my breathing. And I did tell myself I was so thankful to be able to run and do physical activities (something I am thankful for all the time). I wasn't out of breath at any point, I just felt like I was running effortlessly. It was easy.
I looked down at my garmin and I had gone 2 miles out, so I turned around and headed back home the difrection I had come. The neighborhood I as in is windy with lots of side streets that lead you know where and it's easy to get lost. I didn't want to do to many turns and get myself lots. I got back home and looked at my watch and I had averaged a 8:57 min/mile. Not bad for someone who hasn't been running in a while. I know it's not my best time every, but considering I just started running a week and a half ago, I was pretty happy with it. I know that some of my faster more elite running friends are probably reading this thinking that I'm slow, and they are right. I am slow. But I'm getting faster. Two months ago when I was 30 lbs heavier I wasn't able to run that pace without my heart going out of control. I wasn't able to run that and have fun.
This run, is the reason why I love running. No one can take that feeling away from you.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
30 lbs
In my last post I shared that I had less than a week to hit a goal of losing 30 lbs in 2 months. Well I just got on the scale and I have done it (as you probably guessed by the title of the blog).
I am so happy to be here, I can't share it enough. I still have to manage through 3 more Thanksgiving dinners but I just had to share that I had hit the goal.
I still have another 10 to lose until I will feel like I can go into maintenance mode but I still feels good to have gotten to this point.
I am so happy to be here, I can't share it enough. I still have to manage through 3 more Thanksgiving dinners but I just had to share that I had hit the goal.
I still have another 10 to lose until I will feel like I can go into maintenance mode but I still feels good to have gotten to this point.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
I've been running a lot. In the last 8 days, I've run 5 of them. I'm rather proud of myself. I've already noticed that I'm in better running shape than I was a week ago when I got back on the treadmill.
I know I keep mentioning this but I'm very close to signing up for the Merceded Benz Birmingham Half Marathon. I just need one more week to solidify that I am enjoying myself.
Ironically I only lost 0.5 lbs this week. I don't think that my weight loss and running have a positive coorelation. I didn't lose as much because I ate a large amount on Friday night at a dinner party and then also went out on a date night with Monkey for sushi and we split a bottle of wine. Since I haven't been drinking now for almost two months (with the exception of a wedding) Paul volunteered to be the DD that night so I had slightly more of the bottle than he did.
I'm 1.5 lbs away from hitting 30 lbs. My goal is to be there by Thanksgiving. I will do this.
Speaking of Thanksgiving. Today marks the first of 4 thanksgiving dinners I will be attending. Today is the UAB School of Health Professionals Dean's Office Thanksgiving, Saturday is my brother's 6th Annual Thanksgiving/Birthday Party, Monday night Paul's grad school class is having one and then Thursday is the official Thanksgiving holiday and I will be attneding the famous Stoutenburg Family Thanksgiving in Albany, NY. I've been thinking about how I'm going ot manage these events, the food and my goal of hitting 30 lbs before next Thursday. Then I realized, I don't actually LOVE a lot of the food at Thanksgiving. If I was going to have a meal that cost me 1000 calories (actually, probably more) I would rather have pizza, or french fries, crab rangoon, pad thai, or chorizo dip. The point is, it's just not the food I want to waste my calories on. Now, I will admit, the one thing I love is pumpkin muffins and stuffing. In fact, I could eat stuffing (or dressing as they call it in the south) and I would be happy. So i think the goal will be to NOT show up to any event hungry, or without a a bottle of water in my hand. I really started to love sparkling water. It's satisfying.
Anyway, that's the plan, I will let you know if I hit my goal.
Here we go :)
I know I keep mentioning this but I'm very close to signing up for the Merceded Benz Birmingham Half Marathon. I just need one more week to solidify that I am enjoying myself.
Ironically I only lost 0.5 lbs this week. I don't think that my weight loss and running have a positive coorelation. I didn't lose as much because I ate a large amount on Friday night at a dinner party and then also went out on a date night with Monkey for sushi and we split a bottle of wine. Since I haven't been drinking now for almost two months (with the exception of a wedding) Paul volunteered to be the DD that night so I had slightly more of the bottle than he did.
I'm 1.5 lbs away from hitting 30 lbs. My goal is to be there by Thanksgiving. I will do this.
Speaking of Thanksgiving. Today marks the first of 4 thanksgiving dinners I will be attending. Today is the UAB School of Health Professionals Dean's Office Thanksgiving, Saturday is my brother's 6th Annual Thanksgiving/Birthday Party, Monday night Paul's grad school class is having one and then Thursday is the official Thanksgiving holiday and I will be attneding the famous Stoutenburg Family Thanksgiving in Albany, NY. I've been thinking about how I'm going ot manage these events, the food and my goal of hitting 30 lbs before next Thursday. Then I realized, I don't actually LOVE a lot of the food at Thanksgiving. If I was going to have a meal that cost me 1000 calories (actually, probably more) I would rather have pizza, or french fries, crab rangoon, pad thai, or chorizo dip. The point is, it's just not the food I want to waste my calories on. Now, I will admit, the one thing I love is pumpkin muffins and stuffing. In fact, I could eat stuffing (or dressing as they call it in the south) and I would be happy. So i think the goal will be to NOT show up to any event hungry, or without a a bottle of water in my hand. I really started to love sparkling water. It's satisfying.
Anyway, that's the plan, I will let you know if I hit my goal.
Here we go :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)