From My Couch To A 5K... And Beyond!

Even still, you may have "fallen apart" at the end, but you still made it!

There's no way I would have even made it!
 
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Don't be discouraged by the scale number. Keep in mind that the lower your body fat (and yours is pretty low right now), the longer it takes to lose. If you lose weight faster, you probably won't be losing fat.

Plus, you look fantastic.
 
daiseeangel said:
I need to stop obsessing over the number on my scale. I went down to 146.8, but ever since then, I have been bouncing back and forth between 147 and 148. It makes no sense to me!
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Yea, you really need to throw the scale out at this point.

You are relatively lean and female. The scale will play tricks nonstop from this point forward. Women and hormones are a funny thing and there's no sense in even tracking weight often, let alone getting frustrated by it.

Now is the time measurements and pictures *really* come in handy.

I have been doing more exercise than ever before, and I am still eating carefully.
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I will say that lots and lots of cardio with a relatively lean, dieting female often times leads to no weight loss. I don't have an answer as to why. It's something that baffles a lot of people. But empirically it has definitely been observed by some great coaches.

But you're not only a dieting female. You're a long distance runner. In a way, based on what I said above... you have semi-conflicting goals.

I am starting to wonder if I need to bump my calories up a tad bit. But will that have a negative affect? Will it cause me to gain before I lose?
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Most likely.

Based on this statement I can tell you that you are far too focused on the scale. Who cares if you were to gain temporarily by bumping up cals? Most of it would likely be water weight anyhow.

I'm not saying this is what you need to do... I'm just saying if you were to do it... I wouldn't concern yourself with the minor weight gain.

Right now I am eating abut 1300, which I know everyone is going to say is way too low, but I'm never hungry for more than that! Honestly! It's not like I'm starving, yet only allowing myself 1300 calories. I go over some days, I go under some days, but never, ever less than 1200. I know people say it's impossible to live on only that, but it isn't hard for me at all.
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This is a huge point of contention I'm realizing as of late around here. People think that everyone clamors and hollers about eating so few calories b/c it's going to kill people.

Not true.

Why I always bark at too low of a caloric intake, especially when coupled with a lot of cardio/endurance running is simple: If you have physique goals... that line of 'attack' is not conducive to reaching said goals. Too low of calories and too much running is a surefire way to stall out fat loss and potentially lose muscle... especially in a female.

If appropriate levels of protein and resistance training aren't present... this is almost a given.
 
I'm going to agree with Steve, not that he needs me or anyone else to agree with him! But I was reading article online, I think it was by Leigh Peele, but my memory is foggy on that... anyway, there was an example of someone who eats "x" amount of cals and weightloss has stalled... the cals were on the low side for not only that person's weight but their level of fitness... long story short they were in your exact position you are and the explanation given as to why they weren't hungry is because the continued caloric defecit coupled with only cardio training had knocked down their metabolic rate to that of a 1300 expenditure so of course they weren't hungry... but it wasn't getting them to their goals either. Which is why, like Steve said, the protein and resistance training are important... training to keep your metabolism where it's at(or increase it) especially while you lose weight and protein to feed your muscles. And again to agree with Steve on some increased cals to restart your metabolism.

Steve feel free to call bull because I'm drawing on my memory and how I interpret what I read but I think I've got the main points... right?
 
brunettegoddess said:
I'm going to agree with Steve, not that he needs me or anyone else to agree with him! But I was reading article online, I think it was by Leigh Peele, but my memory is foggy on that... anyway, there was an example of someone who eats "x" amount of cals and weightloss has stalled... the cals were on the low side for not only that person's weight but their level of fitness... long story short they were in your exact position you are and the explanation given as to why they weren't hungry is because the continued caloric defecit coupled with only cardio training had knocked down their metabolic rate to that of a 1300 expenditure so of course they weren't hungry... but it wasn't getting them to their goals either. Which is why, like Steve said, the protein and resistance training are important... training to keep your metabolism where it's at(or increase it) especially while you lose weight and protein to feed your muscles. And again to agree with Steve on some increased cals to restart your metabolism.

Steve feel free to call bull because I'm drawing on my memory and how I interpret what I read but I think I've got the main points... right?
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Steve said:
Nope, that's all good info.
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I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends on here! :)
 
I just worked out in my backyard in my sports bra (and shorts :) ), and you know what?! I felt damn good! I kept getting off track, because I would stop to stare at my own reflection in the sliding door! :D I'm convinced I look a little better than I did in the bikini shots I took on July 9! That's what I need to be focused on! I think I have finally gotten it through my head that I'm at the point now to where my body is going to change more than the number on the scale is. Even though I won't be seeing any dramatic number changes, that doesn't mean that I'm not improving and changing my body!

I wasn't doing anything major. I did my big workout this morning, so I was just jumping rope and playing with the doggie.

Just thought I'd share my joy!
 
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FYI - I actually gained weight while training for my first half marathon. You have to eat enough calories to sustain your energy levels for the distance...that on top of building muscles made me stall on the scale. :)

My weight loss is slow and steady as I find a balance between calories in and calories out. It's tough...
 
I know it's hard to believe, but sometimes I can fathom it, being confident in your body is so much more satisfying than the number on the scale. I'm jealous that you're distracted by yourself in the reflection. Keep up what you're doing, it sounds like it's working!
 
Thanks! :)

If I take only 1 more day off of running this week (I sorta took today off - I went to boot camp, but didn't run extra afterwards) I will hit 11 miles ran this week! Yay! And those 11 miles don't count the running I do at boot camp. Those 11 miles are the ones I run while at home in my neighborhood. Hooray for me! I haven't really kept track before, but I don't think I have ever reached 11 miles in one week! :)
 
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Yay! Well done! I need to scrape up the courage and make the time to go for a run today... you are pushing me to actually go do it later!

Isn't it great to feel good AND look good!? Well done!!!
 
And it only gets better!!!

I woke up early to run this morning, and the weather was perfect! The best running weather I've experienced this summer, for sure! I already had it set in my mind I was going to run 2.15 miles so I could meet my 11 mile goal for this week.

Well I got started, and it was GREAT! I wasn't nearly as tired as I normally am! I ran on a sidewalk that has a busy street parallel to it, so I wanted to make sure I looked like a "real" runner! Wouldn't want all the people driving by to watch me near death! I never take that route normally, but I was feeling good about myself today! I kept going and going, and eventually I ran 3 miles! I'll definitely surpass my initial weekly goal of 11 miles! :)

This is the first time I have ever gone beyond what I was planning on doing! Normally toward the end I'm sucking air and checking the time and distance every 5 seconds. I never go longer than I plan. But today just felt so good that I felt like it would be a waste not to keep going!

No, 3 miles isn't the longest distance I've ever run, but this was the easiest that 3 miles have ever come to me! I think it was the break and the extra snacking yesterday!

To top it off, I averaged 11:06 minutes/mile, which is my fastest long distance pace for the past few months!

Yay!

After that James and I decided to have breakfast at a Mexican restaurant near our house. We've always wanted to try their breakfast, and today was the day. Now I know breakfast at a Mexican restaurant normally spells disaster, but I knew I would be ok. I ordered a child's breakfast, which was scrambled eggs, refried beans, and potatoes - all in children's portions, of course! :) I declined the cheese and tortillas, and I had water to drink! What a great start to my day!
 
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huevos rancheros is one of my favorite things for breakfast. After a run like that and a breakfast like that, you'll be set up for the day. Way to go.
 
Thanks so much, Trops and Casey! :D

It's 12:00 now (we had breakfast at 9), and I am still full! Granted, I usually have breakfast earlier than 9 (more like 7:30), but I've normally eaten lunch by now! Hooray for protein as part of my breakfast!! I feel very satisfied.
 
I find that 5-6 small meals and snacks a day keeps me from being hungry and helps to drop some weight. You should think about throwing some healthy snacks between those meals.
 
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