Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wednesday Workout Update

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled Wednesday Workout Update for this Thanksgiving Eating Recap. Why? Well, to be quite honest, I've only run twice since my half marathon - the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, and a 4 miler on Saturday. Which was a great run - the weather was cool, I felt good and it showed - I averaged an 11:15 pace! But I've been slacking since then...I even blew off speedwork last night. Guess lazy Shelley struck again I needed a break. I am looking forward to getting back with my running club this coming Saturday for a 7 mile run, but until then, I bring you eating news!

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Unlike the previous two years, when I had a specific game plan for Thanksgiving eating, the only goal I had for this year was to not be in physical pain from overeating after dinner on Thursday. I know, dream big, right? LOL. I guess with all of the running, I've not had to be as stringent with my calorie intake in order to maintain my weight...and yes, that's all I've been doing lately, maintaining. And that's OK with me - I've got other things that I'm focusing on besides weight loss (hello half marathons). I've come to realize that even if I have an upday (or two) of ingesting more calories than I should, I've been able to even things out in the following days and my weight has been staying right around the 150 pound mark. How am I doing this?
  1. I'm not putting "rules" on food like I have in the past. If I really want something, I have it.
  2. That said, I didn't have a ton of options for our Thanksgiving meal - I made what my family loves - turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. No rolls, no mashed potatoes, no other kinds of pie...not that those items aren't good; it's just that they aren't the favorites. And why have other food available that yes, we all would eat, but no, we really don't need?
  3. I had one plate of food for Thanksgiving dinner, and one piece of pie. I was full, sure - it was heavier food, and more of it, than I normally eat. But I wasn't in pain, and I was happy.
  4. I had a piece of pumpkin pie for breakfast on Friday - yum, I love cold pumpkin pie. Then I went to work and had a Luna bar around 3:30 for a snack. By the time I got off work at 7:00 pm, I was hungry! Met Jeff and Sam for pizza at our local deli/bakery - I had a few pieces of thin crust pesto chicken pizza. Red Mango for dessert, and I was a happy camper.
  5. I had a piece of pumpkin pie for breakfast on Saturday (haha, notice a trend?) and then went shopping with Max. We all had a late lunch at our "healthy" Chinese restaurant, where Jeff and I split the steamed mixed vegetables and chicken. I even ate white rice with it - something I wouldn't have done a year ago. But it was good and I don't do that very often. Red Mango for dessert (why mess with perfection?), and later in the evening, after the boys left to drive back to college, I had a couple of pieces of leftover pizza. Followed by the last of the pumpkin pie.
  6. I woke up Sunday morning with my stomach growling, which, when I was actively dieting, always meant that I would show a loss on the scale. Did I weigh myself? Nah. My clothes fit. I'm fine. But, I took the stomach growling as a sign that I had unconsciously managed to regulate my calories without feeling deprived during the holiday weekend/visit with my boys.
  7. I don't think I'll ever think/eat like a "normal" person - that is, someone who never had a weight problem. And that's OK - because I know that I need to be ultra-aware of who I am and how far I've come. No matter how "normal" I might look on the outside, I know that there is the potential to be fat again. Still, it's nice to have gotten through a big "eatin' weekend" like this one without feeling like I took a step backward. Two and a half years into this journey and I'm starting to get it. There is hope!

20 comments:

  1. There is a TON of hope, and so much inspiration. I love the goal of just not feeling ill!

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  2. good lord I adore you and your wisdom and honesty.

    and I think it's ok to feel number seven.
    and I think we all feel number seven.
    if not in the realm of FITNESS then somewhere else.

    xo

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  3. There's hope? Girl I don't think of it that way. I just see a friend who has peace with her weight loss, enjoys a good meal every now and then and don't get freaked out about it: I like it!
    You did great on Thanksgiving, foodwise.

    It's funny that you say that you are more focussed on your running than on your weight loss. Even though I'm not at goal weight I think exact the same way as you. Weight isn't that important to me now: finishing that half in April, that is!

    I think I'm cancelling my speedwork too this week. It's freezing cold here. It's 23 degrees today but due to the wind it feels like -4 degrees and I really don't want to go out to the gym after I got home. I really have to get used to these cold temperatures. So give me a few days and I get back to running, maybe friday in the gym but certainly this weekend for my long run.

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  4. That's so great to hear. I still have some angst, but I think there are starting to be more calm days. YES to Red Mango! There is a layover at the DFW airport on my coming trip. You know I am hoping it is long enough to seek out the Red Mango!!!

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  5. Oh course there is hope!
    Hope personified!

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  6. Great post Shelley! It's nice to know thatyou have loosened the reins, and it's all fine. (To keep going with that metaphor, you didn't drop the reins, just loosened them...making a big difference if you stay on or off the wagon! haha!)

    Seriously, though, very inspiring...it gives me hope of not backsliding once I get to my goal!

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  7. Can I just say how I love that you had pumpkin pie for breakfast two days in a row? You are my hero! :D

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  8. I couldn't believe on Thursday night, that I was actually hungry for a late supper. (Big dinner was at 1:30 p.m.) That means I didn't OVER OVER eat at dinner!

    Also, I LOST two pounds over Thanksgiving weekend. Musta been that super cold air I ran in on Friday night.

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  9. There is hope!

    And that's why I read your blog. You are my hero.

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  10. Hope is sometimes all we have.I hope (and pray) that you continue to inspire others. =)

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  11. Shelly you make me smile! You my friend have all your ducks in a row and are doing amazing!
    Congrats on a job well done!

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  12. Loved this post. Love cold pumpkin pie too. Breakfast food. And I totally can relate to the not wanting to be in physical pain from food. I'll bet people without eating issues never think about things like that.

    I took a big walk on that day and did not hurt from eating. Guess things have a way of working out one way or the other especially if you really want them to work out.

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  13. I love pumpkin pie more than I should.
    Great job with all the eats. And there is something to be said for maintaining at 150. That's terrific.

    There is hope, indeed.

    And I like the way you made half marathons plural. Better get a place to display all of those medals. :)

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  14. We've done the same with food at TG - we only make what everyone eats. So even though I made 6 pies, it was 2 each of pecan, pumpkin, chocolate cream because we've found out over the years that if apple or mince or whatever is there, people pick at it then it gets thrown away.

    You had pumpkin pie, I had a bowl of cornbread stuffing - lol!

    I L-O-V-E this post Shelley. People need to know that we don't have to "count" forever and that one day indeed we will, for the most part, be able to trust ourselves and our bodies!

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  15. Youz a smart lady!

    I want some pie for breakfast now.

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  16. So awesome, Shelley! Thanks for giving ME hope :)

    Glad you had a nice time with your boys, too :)

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  17. Good for you! Of course there's hope! You're displaying it for all of us!

    Winks & Smiles,
    Wifey

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  18. Lots of sensible and flexible choices that you are making! I too decided that I didn't want to eat until I was overstuffed, and I accomplished that.

    Of course, the next day when I had my beloved bacon-turkey-stuffing sandwiches I may have overdone it with the sides, but I only had a half-sandwich this year and one of those sides I stuffed myself with was sauteed green beans with candied almonds. Better than mashed potatoes, I guess. Progress! :)

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  19. Sounds like a lovely dinner shared with your favorite people - it doesn't get much better than that. Interestingly, I have woken up starving the morning after Thanksgiving, regardless of how much food I ate, every year in my memory, except this one, when I didn't want to eat until 10 am. Which is also very weird. I am a morning person, and normally I need to eat very soon after rising. Does anyone else experience that? "Extra" hunger the morning after a larger than normal meal?

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