It happens to everyone. Thankfully, I did not fall far!
I believe it all started when I started my new job. I have a new routine that I'm still getting used to. I've been at my job for over a month now so I really don't have any excuses now. The struggles I've been having come down to the fact that I'm not home during the day anymore so just like everyone else in the world, I have to re-work my personal life around my work schedule. Unfortunately, my work schedule is not set like I was used to, so its harder to plan ahead when I don't know until the week before what days I'm working!
As I said, my routine has been thrown off. As a result, I have been eating out more and not working out quite as much as I was before. Not a huge deal, but the eating out is something I really try to keep under control. I love love love eating at restaurants. Since my schedule is only put out weekly, I can't plan my menus bi-weekly like I used to. Since I wasn't planning meals, it was easier for my husband and I to go out. Plus, my new job is at a restaurant, so double temptation for me! My strength training has not been up to what it was either. I gave myself a little slack because I just started a new job...
Add all that together over the course of a month and a half, and you get a 4-5 lb weight gain. Boo!! If I had been keeping up with my normal routine, I would tell myself to take my measurements because it could have been muscle gain. Gain muscle= lose inches. But I knew that wasn't it.
I was hoping that being on my feet at work would offset some of those extra calories, but its easier to eat more than you burn when you eat out more. Restaurants add all kinds of sneaky calories that you might not realize. Most things are cooked in butter or oil. Even something that sounds healthy might not be what you think. That's why the food tastes so good ;)
Sad story! But the obvious plan for me moving forward is to menu plan weekly. I'd rather not shop every week, but looks looks like I'll have to. I'm lucky that my work schedule allows me to get up at a reasonable hour and have time to get to the gym or go for a run before work. I don't have to get up before the sun so I really can't complain!!
The moral of the story is: Recognize that little setbacks such as a small weight gain are not the end of the world. And life will change! Try to get ahead of the game if you can and put together a plan before the change sets in so that you don't fall back into bad habits. Hopefully I will take my own advice next time.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
My First 10K
Well I did it! I finished my first 10K race on July 4th. My first official 6.2 miles.
My main goal was just to finish in under an hour. That means I'd have to run just a little faster than 10 min per mile, or 6 mph. Which was completely in line with how my training was going but ultimately, I really wanted to finish closer to 55 minutes.
I did meet my main goal. The time they called as I was crossing the finish line was 59:07. Yes!!!!
The run was not easy at all. I got up early enough to eat something and let it settle, to use the bathroom, and get up to the run in time to get my goody bag- bib, t-shirt (most important!), flyers for other upcoming runs, and free water bottle!
I think my downfall was grabbing a banana that morning. I wanted something quick and easy, but it was not easy on my stomach. Eating it an hour before running I figured would give it time to digest. But about a half mile into the run I could feel that stupid banana sitting in my stomach.
Ugh.
It was a pretty warm morning, the run started at 8:30am. My GPS watch did not catch a signal in time for the race to start, so it was about .15 miles off the entire time.
Despite the banana, I did pretty well until about mile 4-5.The course went out on country roads, then turned around and came back. The turn around was not good. The sun was in front of you at that point. There were no clouds in the sky, so I felt the sun sapping my energy. There were a couple rolling hills too, and so by mile 4 my legs felt like they were trudging through molasses.
I wanted to walk SO bad but I felt like I had my husband on one shoulder and Jillian Michaels on the other. He was saying- Don't you dare start walking, keep running!! And she was saying- Unless you faint, puke, or die, keep moving!!
In the end, I made it without walking. According to my GPS watch, my mile times were as follows:
Mile 1- 9:19
Mile 2- 9:28
Mile 3- 9:37
Mile 4- 9:43
Mile 5- 10:12
Mile 6- 9:33
You can see I got slower and slower. I definitely felt drained of energy, and for that I blame the banana. I gotta remember- stick with what you know works! Usually I eat a bowl of cereal or an english muffin with peanut butter in the morning before running or working out.
At the end of the day, I'm pretty proud of myself. I want to give a shout out to my mom and husband for being there at the race to support me. They got up early and hung out in the heat for an hour waiting for me to finish.
I have my sights set on completing a couple more 10Ks this year, and moving on up to a half marathon. I also want to complete a mud run soon too!!
My main goal was just to finish in under an hour. That means I'd have to run just a little faster than 10 min per mile, or 6 mph. Which was completely in line with how my training was going but ultimately, I really wanted to finish closer to 55 minutes.
I did meet my main goal. The time they called as I was crossing the finish line was 59:07. Yes!!!!
The run was not easy at all. I got up early enough to eat something and let it settle, to use the bathroom, and get up to the run in time to get my goody bag- bib, t-shirt (most important!), flyers for other upcoming runs, and free water bottle!
I think my downfall was grabbing a banana that morning. I wanted something quick and easy, but it was not easy on my stomach. Eating it an hour before running I figured would give it time to digest. But about a half mile into the run I could feel that stupid banana sitting in my stomach.
Ugh.
It was a pretty warm morning, the run started at 8:30am. My GPS watch did not catch a signal in time for the race to start, so it was about .15 miles off the entire time.
Despite the banana, I did pretty well until about mile 4-5.The course went out on country roads, then turned around and came back. The turn around was not good. The sun was in front of you at that point. There were no clouds in the sky, so I felt the sun sapping my energy. There were a couple rolling hills too, and so by mile 4 my legs felt like they were trudging through molasses.
I wanted to walk SO bad but I felt like I had my husband on one shoulder and Jillian Michaels on the other. He was saying- Don't you dare start walking, keep running!! And she was saying- Unless you faint, puke, or die, keep moving!!
In the end, I made it without walking. According to my GPS watch, my mile times were as follows:
Mile 1- 9:19
Mile 2- 9:28
Mile 3- 9:37
Mile 4- 9:43
Mile 5- 10:12
Mile 6- 9:33
You can see I got slower and slower. I definitely felt drained of energy, and for that I blame the banana. I gotta remember- stick with what you know works! Usually I eat a bowl of cereal or an english muffin with peanut butter in the morning before running or working out.
At the end of the day, I'm pretty proud of myself. I want to give a shout out to my mom and husband for being there at the race to support me. They got up early and hung out in the heat for an hour waiting for me to finish.
I have my sights set on completing a couple more 10Ks this year, and moving on up to a half marathon. I also want to complete a mud run soon too!!
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