I do get up in the morning and work out, some. I do eat relatively healthy, in large quantities. I avoid snack food and sweets, when they're not in front of me (but when you work where I do, they often are). I don't drink a lot, unless others are.
But here's what's been going on: Instead of getting up at 6:30 or 7, as I should be, I've been hitting the alarm clock until 7:30 or 8. Some days I don't even get in to the gym because I'm so comfortable in bed. I never used to have this problem. The end result is that my workouts are cut short because I work a 10-6 schedule. I put on weight after the Portland Marathon, then lost some of it. Now I've put it on again, and then some. I look fine and most of clothes still fit OK, but I'm not where I'd like to be.
Part of this is because I've also been noshing indiscriminately on large quantities of pasta and other carbs while munching chocolate and whatever ridiculous dessert is in front of me at work. It's always someone's birthday. I've also been drinking beer and wine at home, which is normally fine, but not when coupled with guzzling the stuff on weekends (and now weeknights!) with friends. Seriously, I love drinking. I love drinking with friends even more. I love it so much I worry about it sometimes because I tend to drink a lot once I get started. Drinking just doesn't love me and I get tired of completely losing the day after a night of drinking to headaches, lethargy, and other hangover symptoms.
I feel flabby, unenergized, and complacent, both mentally and physically. I really need to detox and gain back some psychological strength. It's also important for me to properly maintain good nutritional and exercise programs while approaching the marathon. I decided to set some goals to help me on my way.
- I'm starting a 1 or 2 week round of a naturopathic "Spring Cleaning" diet. This diet is not about calorie restriction (although it can be) but rather about removing unhealthy toxins from your system. It focuses primarily on cleansing the liver and kidneys, much as a juice fast would, but without the extreme measures. It also helps eliminate the cravings for sugars, fats, alcohol, and caffeine that can come with regular consumption.
The diet allows you to consume foods as you normally would, but excludes certain items from consumption. That means: no meat except cold water fish, no eggs, no dairy, no coffee, no alcohol, no chocolate, no "rancid" or heated oils, no bleached flour, no white rice, etc.
Justin has agreed to try this with me, primarily because we have to eat the same dinners. I don't care if he does the "no milk, eggs, or sweets" thing. He can eat whatever he wants for lunch, but we normally eat leftover dinner. The funny thing is, aside from the "no dairy," "no meat," and "no eggs" stipulations, we eat this way much of the time. Removing animal proteins from the diet is supposed to aid in the digestive process, so we'll give it a try. I love tofu, beans, and fish better than everything else anyway! I've already made a meal plan that consists pretty much of our standard meals. I figure that the things it cuts out are things that I don't really want or need. I need to put them into the appropriate frame of reference by reminding my mind and body that these things are a luxury. - I need to be able to get a good night's rest and to do that, I need a good workout. The problem is, if I don't get enough regular exercise, I don't sleep soundly, and then I can't get up in the morning to work out. I'm going to go to bed earlier because I sleep the best at the beginning of the night. I am also going to get up WHEN MY ALARM GOES OFF and not later. I will not hit "snooze" four times.
- I need to focus my workouts in a way that will benefit my performance and health in the marathon. Until now my workouts have been sort of ad-hoc. This happens when I run longer distances and start to be exhausted. Cutting back on the distance to save my knees doesn't mean that I should rest completely unless exercise makes them worse. I will focus on straight-leg lifts, which are beneficial for Runner's Knee, and core exercises for greater stabilization. I'll try light running again starting this week, but if that doesn't work, I'll focus on elliptical training or biking. I will do 30+ minutes of cardio or an hour of weights every day. I won't half-ass it. I will sweat.
- I've got to get outside more! It's nice out and the day is longer. I've got no reason to check CuteOverload and my RSS feed 900 times when I get home from work. I work on a damned gorgeous canal. I can take my breaks outside, too.
- I'm happy to say that I've been planning positively for the future, and I want to do more of it. Justin and I have been talking about our "5-year plan," including what to do after he graduates, where to live, if we want to go overseas, where to buy a house, when to have kids, etc.
We've also taken the first steps toward making concrete wedding plans. I will be contacting a wedding planner in Montana this week to inquire about facilities and other arrangements. I'm going to try on one particular dress with his mom later this week, and then I'll be trying on others with friends because there is no way I will be able to afford this one. More on that later, after I've actually done it.
The weirdest part of all this talking is the conclusion that we'll probably start trying for kids in three years. This seems so soon, but I have a feeling it might feel like a long time to wait after we get married. Justin will be 30 then, and doesn't want to wait much longer. I'd ideally like 5 years of married life without rugrats, but realistically I don't think I will be able to make it that long. What a turn about from my feelings a few years ago. Funny how hormones work.
Anyway, all these changes are pretty small things. I'm blogging them only to solidify my thinking and remind myself. I'm hoping in two week's time to feel firmer and fitter in mind and body. It's about the right time of year for cleaning out the cobwebs.
Posted on April 09, 2007 @ 5:11 PM | 5 comments
Comments:
Good luck to you. I seem to go in cycles... I'll be doing really well, eating healthy portions, eating small sweets, exercising regularly... then I get in a rut. We get too much takeout and I don't know when to put it in the fridge as leftovers. A holiday or birthday comes and there's cake and cookies everywhere. I get busy and don't go to the gym. I sleep late and when I'm not asleep, I'm tired. While I'm accepting that I simply will not lose the 25 lbs I've gained since age 20, I am not accepting of the flab and lovehandles... I need to get on the "up swing" and quit overindulging as well. Don't think I could cut out meat and cheese though... mmm. Well maybe meat. But not cheese.
Anyway, I've rambled. And we too want kids in about 3 years. And I am looking forward to hearing about your dress hunt!
By 
lazylightning, at
6:04 PM, April 09, 2007
I think I need to sit down and make some solid goals for myself this quarter like you have done for yourself. I've started becoming a major slacker these days which I hate but I can't seem to get myself back on track. So thanks for the motivation!
Also, I'd love to hear more about your wedding plans as they move forward and be a part of all that fun stuff...and oh how weird and exciting that I can look forward to being an Aunt Allie in the next few years!
By 
Allie, at
6:25 PM, April 09, 2007
Good for you and your goal setting. It's so fun to reset one's goals!
I too have found that the marathon training has really effed with my regular activity level and my food intake. "I'm recovering, I shouldn't go exercise..." and extraneous caloric consumption have all caused me to gain weight too. I'm really looking forward to getting back to a regular level of physical fitness.
And yeah, isn't it WEIRD to have your ovaries twitching a little bit? Seeing my niece be born and watching her grow up right now is getting us both really excited to have babies... in a few years. ;)
By Rachel, at
10:35 PM, April 09, 2007
Tick tick tick tick DING BABY TIME!!!
By LazyLightning, at
6:34 AM, April 10, 2007
Congrats on the goal setting and the cleansing diet. If all of your meals are like the one we ate last night, you should have no problem :) Oh boy wedding and babies!! (Amy runs screaming from the building)
By , at
5:22 PM, April 10, 2007
