Week 25 - Two Weeks To Go...

As the title states, I've got just over two weeks left until the half marathon. I've been adhering to my schedule very closely, only having to defer one or two days, but not missing one yet.

My left knee had begun to develop a slight ache or twinge, but an extra day of rest seemed to put every thing back in order. I'm going invest in a new pair of shoes this weekend to see if that will help ease some of the other little pains I've been dealing with. Both of my current pairs of shoes have seen many more steps than they likely should have, so I think it's time to make the commitment and treat my feet.

At the tail end of my last long run, I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a window as I lumbered down the sidewalk. I usually try to remain conscious of my posture, pacing, and breathing throughout the entire session, but I guess by this point I was a little tired. My feet were shuffling along, and I didn't appear to have much of a bounce in my step. I hope that I'll be able to correct these issues come race day, but it is very tough to remain energetic when I've got so much weight hammering down on my joints with each passing step. I'm pleased with my progress so far, but am also disappointed. Disappointed that I'll likely be the same weight as I was last year at this time. 12 months ago I was in the exact same position, telling myself "never again". Determined that I'd be fit and healthy by this time next year. Well here I am, telling myself the exact same things I did the year before. Never again. I want to be proud of myself, but it's difficult when it feels as though I've been spinning my wheels for the past 52 weeks.

I truly hope that I can one day look back on all of this and be proud of my accomplishments, but that road is paved with hard work, determination and discipline.

Week 23 & 24 - Back At It, Full On.

I don't really know how it happened, but I'm back and as focused as ever. The switch in my brain appears to have been flipped to "motivated", and there's no stopping me. I estimate that my weight will be back around the mid to low 230's, or even lower, by race day.

I've been diligently adhering to my training schedule, and have been able to see the improvements, even on a day-to-day basis. After only one full week of regular running and strength training, my endurance and pace have increased by nearly two fold. The weekend, though full of activity, was also filled with a little too much intake. Having the Monday off as a holiday, Sunday turned into an evening of excess in the food and drink department. Back on track for Tuesday, it felt as though I'd taken 10 days off. My lungs were heavy, my legs wobbly, my chest tight. All from one night of fun. Needless to say, that won't be happening again anytime soon. I feel very focused again, not able to waver.

I may be suffering from "too much, too soon", though. My 5 miler yesterday has left me quite winded this morning, and rather exhausted. I got plenty of sleep but just can't seem to wake up and get my energy going. I'll be taking it easy today, in preparation for a long one tomorrow.

There's not much else to report. As the day of the race approaches, I'll continue to share my progress regarding my pace and endurance, and how I'm managing to remain upright after all this running. See below for my formal training schedule.

Week 22 - "Diet" Isn't A Bad Word

I went to visit my naturopath this past week, and he's quite excited to have me try a new diet plan. The word "diet" has been misconstrued over the years, almost to the point of having lost it's true meaning. The mere mention of the word conjures up images of a non-stop barrage of leafy greens and tasteless broth, which is unfair. You should never "go on a diet", but you should be willing to "alter your diet".

Anyway, my naturopath wanted me to try this "new" diet plan. I usually heed his advice without question, but this time I felt a little skeptical. I flipped through the brochure, taking note of the images of fit and healthy people happily bouncing around. Once I arrived at the food chart, an alarm went off immediately. The first meal of the day was to consist of a protein shake. But not just ANY protein shake, an (insert the diet company's name here) shake. I've been seeing this naturopath for many years now, and he's never really pushed fancy marketing at me before. I mentioned that I wouldn't be interested in purchasing the "required meal supplements" for this plan. He was understanding, and said the meal plan alone can be effective without the shake. As I read on, I saw a lot of familiar information, as if I'd seen it somewhere before...

I've been at this for what feels like an eternity, filling my head with more knowledge than I thought I'd ever attain on the subject. And after years upon years of research, I've been able to pare it down to a very simple formula.

A healthy diet consists of frequent meals, smaller portions, fresh produce, lean proteins, and exercise.

Of course there's much more to it than just that, but I think most would agree that's a fairly accurate summary in 20 words or less. The "new" diet plan I was being pitched wasn't that "new" at all. It consisted of exactly what I already knew that I had to do. The problem that I'm having is how to consistently put my knowledge to good use. I've been told the same thing over and over again for years now, but for some reason my mind and body keep trending towards poor eating habits and inactivity. Do I need to be sent to the corner like a misbehaving child to learn my lesson? What will it take? I've sunk many dollars into diet plans, trainers, wagers, and athletic programs to try and motivate myself, but the ebb and flow of my life always sways me back.

Needless to say, I won't be sinking any money into a diet plan of which it's "secrets" are already known. All I have to do I apply the knowledge I already have, and really curb my weekend madness. Seriously, the garbage I've been slinging into my muzzle as of late has been monumental. I'm ashamed, but ready to smarten up again. On the fitness side of things, I've put together my training plan for the upcoming half marathon. If I can keep to the consistent schedule from now until then, I should be able to finish without too much of a problem. However, my first few "runs" have been anything but. Mostly a brisk walk with the occasional trot thrown in, but at least I'm getting out there again. I also need new shoes. Badly.

In summation, things have been stable for me lately. During the week, I'm a saint, but the weekends grab a hold of me and refuse to allow proper food to cross my lips. Now that I'm going to be physically active again (at least for the foreseeable future), it should make my transition from weekend disaster to someone with a more level-headed attitude towards how I fuel my body. It remains eternally frustrating to know what I should be doing, but continually refusing to do what I should be doing.

**NOTE: This is my 50th post, and it goes to show that I'm still "all talk", as the weight loss yo-yo continues to bounce...

Week 21 - Weight Gain and Funk Busting

My latest weigh-in was a bit of a catastrophic event. I hadn't stepped on the scale for at least two weeks, and I wasn't looking forward to my latest "mass assessment". As I stood before that evil little measuring device, I reflected over the past month, and all that I had done to earn the number I was about to receive. It all started with my birthday weekend. I had just fractured my rib and been forced to take it easy. No training allowed. Add to that the excesses that go along with a milestone birthday celebration, and you've got a belt-busting recipe. The problem is that after the dust had settled from the 4 day party, I was unable to hit the road to work off all those calories I'd taken in. Over the coming weeks, my sedentary lifestyle became more normal and comfortable as my rib healed. By the time I was ready to resume my training, I had fallen back into many of my old habits. It felt good to sit around rather than get up and be active, or so I thought. My brain and body were craving all the things that they shouldn't have been. I couldn't be bothered to lace up the running shoes as I continued to concoct infinite excuses and reasons to put off my training for yet another day. I attempted a few outings, but found myself yearning for the couch and a blanket. The pleasure that I used to derive from running or riding my bike had withered away into obscurity, and was replaced by the faux enjoyment of being a full-fledged couch potato. I found myself spinning into depression from being so inactive, which would cause me to be even less motivated to get up and do something about it. A vicious cycle indeed, and one that I still haven't fully escaped from.

Still standing before the scale, I eased myself onto it's cold, metallic surface. Leaning gingerly on the sink for support, I slowly began transferring the balance from my left hand to my feet, and watched the digits climb. Rocketing by the previous benchmarks I had set for myself, 225...230...235...240...my heart sank as the number settled on 242.6 pounds. I was seriously considering not posting my current weight, but the title does read "Weight Loss And My Struggles With It". I have earned every gram of weight that has returned, and there's no mystery as to why it is back. Positive or negative, I must be held accountable.

I ended up donating my spot in the run to a friend of mine that really did amazingly well. His effort was inspirational, and I hope it can kick me into gear to get fully prepared for the next 1/2 marathon. I've got 6 weeks to get myself back on track, and I'm fully confident that it will happen. If I can stay healthy and injury-free, I'll be lining up alongside him at the starting line on June 15th. I've created a training schedule for the coming weeks, and I've narrowed it down to daily goals, no procrastination allowed. Today's goals shouldn't be achieved tomorrow. I'm feeling more motivated now that I've put my thoughts into words, and am looking to snap out of this funk with the rejuvenated attitude and vigor that I had when this all began. It seems so simple, but it can also be the most daunting. Just lace them up and take that first step. From there, anything is possible.