Sparrows Experiment

Well today I'm fairly disappointed. I decided to weigh. haven't done that in a super long time and the clothes aren't feeling different (cept the butt, my butt has def. changed to a smaller tighter thing lol. jeesh TMI sorry) and anyway I weighed just cause I do that on occassion. I was THREE pounds more than last time I weighed. What the heck? That means I'm up a total of 8 pounds since I started my whole experiment. Now, I KNOW the muscle vs fat thing, I know I work out like a freakin maniac and eat pretty well. I know that I am not FAT but it freaks me a little. I totally don't fit any differently in my clothes. I mean, they're not tighter, the butt is even looser. In the mirror i don't notice any significant difference besides some bigger muscle in my upper body and I have fewer curves from all the core exercise. Basically I'm turning into a man. lol. just kidding. the only hope I'm holding to is that I am in my monthly torture and just hope the sudden gain has to do with water retention, but that typically doesn't happen with me so my hope is not strong in that respect.
Anyway, I just needed to vent cause I was a little upset at the number. I don't know how you can gain 8 pounds of pure muscle in 10 months :( seems like a lot to me and not likely, so my next reasoning is that its not muscle, its fat, though I know thats probably not true. my mind is playing games. I do want to LOSE weight, not gain it, even if its muscle. how do I do it with this much training??
 
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I'd just add my appreciation of feta cheese, though some are pretty salty.

As for the weight, have you gotten your body fat percentage checked? It might give you a better idea/understanding as to where you're really at.
 
Yeah. I think you ought to spring for underwater weighing every few months or so to give yourself an idea. That's what I'm going to have to do pretty soon, here. I just can't tell one way or the other.

As for the weight gain..I wish I had some words of comfort. I'm experiencing something similar, and it's slowly making me crazy. It's verymuch possible to gain 8 lbs of muscle in 10 months, though.

I guess it's a matter of priorities. Are you more concerned with looking like the girls in cosmo, or being a superb athlete? I'm not sure that you can do both.

...I'm probably not helping, huh? Haha. Glad to see things are going well with your new job and whatnot. :)
 
Ha. Well thanks for trying Focus :)
I'd love to do hydrostatic weighing but its so hecka expensive. When I was in college students only had to pay 20 bucks to do it at a nearby gym. I did it 2 times each semester! Wish I could still do that!!! Back then I was 13% bf :O That was without really trying too. man, the good ol days ;)

My body fat with calipers and the bioempedence is the same. It hovers from 15.8-16.5 pretty consistently. but still...i know there is quite a margin of error with both those things
 
Derwyddon said:
You say you look better, your clothes fit fine, and you feel better. Why are you even weighing yourself, girl?
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well I sometimes feel like I just get used to how I look so maybe I don't see the real "me". lol I know I'm so backwards. I actually FEEL heavy but my clothes fit the way they have been for a long time. I guess its just feeling the extra weight thats really buggin me. Plus I'm just emotional right now I guess, don't mind me...this too shall pass :cool:
 
Derwyddon said:
You say you look better, your clothes fit fine, and you feel better. Why are you even weighing yourself, girl?
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I also actually was having a "thin" moment and thought "hmm havne't weighed a while, been working very hard, maybe I'm less weight!" yeah. that was dumb reasoning
 
Super hard spin class today. the entire time was intense and I'm still very sore from my leg weights and my long ride. whew. Did back, bi and tri afterwards

B-1 fit n light yogurt, 1/4c mini wheats
L-1 can tuna, 1 roma tomato, 1T relish, 1 slice ww sprouted bread
S-1 apple, 1 orange, 1 carrot
D-1c steamed broccoli w garlic, 1 chicken breast w chipotle seasoning,
S-?

I've been really busy today. Mondays are busy so my food intake has been dim but I don't so much care. I've been fine.
 
Took yesterday off. My dtr is sick and I had a lot to do anyway. Today I did spin class which was almost equally as hard as Monday, but I had way more energy, and I gave some swim lessons right after that. My swimming has been practically non existant. I don't have a lot of time to get in the water since I'm doing some private lessons, and I have to constantly be careful of gabbing too much since its cutting my workouts short lately. I really just need to go to the gym super early and swim and then I can do the rest of my workout later with the class. That takes more discipline than I may have right now ;)

I'm starting to just get SOOOO excited for the tri season and where I had some doubts before, I don't anymore, even through injury. My knee has developed patellar tendonitis which stinks but I'm holding to high hopes that once fitted for orthotics for the shins, and taking this break from running I'll be good to go. My first one is 2.5 months away. I know I shouldn't bank on orthotics as the cure-all but I kind of am.

I get my bike on Friday. I can't wait. I'm super giddy with anticipation. That one day on the trail really influenced me. I think I could easily just cycle, its so fun. maybe someday I'll do a century. that might be a fun goal.

A friend asked me where I felt weak right now if I were to do a tri NOW. I was happy to think that I don't really feel that WEAK in anything! I'm in the best shape I've ever been. Better than when I trained for the half marathon. Core exercises have made a huge impact on my performance. Where endurance used to lag I am now strong and I can tell its mostly from that core strength that gets me through when I'm tired. It keeps my form. I think my weakness is now in my head. The mental toughness is important to practice.

Anyway, diet wise I'm lagging. This happened last year too-when the weather gets nice my appetite just goes away. While that might be good for most people its bad since I'm already toeing the line on my calorie intake. I don't feel like my workouts lately have been hard enough to warrent a high carb post workout drink. I just have my normal lunch and so far its going ok. I still do it when I feel even somewhat depleated. I tried "gu" on my bike last week and I'll continue to do that for hard stuff. I think it made a difference.

anyway, here I am gabbing way too much again. g'day everyone.
 
Good to see in you such good form. :) Speaking of core workouts, have you tried the bosu ball and/or slider discs? (I think you tried the bosu) Both my spinning instructor and my trainer both seem to like them - in fact the former is teaching a class on the bosu.
 
stingo said:
Good to see in you such good form. :) Speaking of core workouts, have you tried the bosu ball and/or slider discs? (I think you tried the bosu) Both my spinning instructor and my trainer both seem to like them - in fact the former is teaching a class on the bosu.
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yeah I've only done bosu. It can be a heck of a workout, which really surprised me the first time.
 
Good day.
2500 yd swim
45 min spin class
15 min moving stairs-intervals
weights:
DB press
lateral raise
isolated front raise
bent DB row
bulgarian splits

random weight lifting session but I missed some of them the other day when I did bi/tri/back.
I seriously went out of the house this morning without breakfast and didn't even realize that till I was on my way to the gym! I've never been that braindead before! I think cause I wasn't in the kitchen this morning. My husband got the kids lunches and breakfasts and I just wasn't hungry so I didn't think about it. I still had a strong workout, but don't worry, I won't make a point of that :)
B-nada
L-baja fresh chicken salad w/ extra pico (no chip strips) 2 white corn tortillas
??
 
Same ol'
I've been doing a ton more riding than anything lately. I LOVE my bike and it feels totally natural. I feel like aside from the swim, my bike will be my next best strength. I've still not been able to run but I'm getting used to it and I left that pity party a long time ago. I've had a few trusty tri friends encourage me that if ANYthing has to go, ditching running for a time is the least inhibiting to total training. The bike helps you run, but running doesn't necessarily help you bike, and swimming is in a league of its own. I went to get fitted for orthotics yesterday, my legs are so messed up that my insurance is actually paying for them! Good thing, cause they are a pretty penny. Anyway, I'll get those in 3 weeks and then I'll get the green to begin back gradually. I seriously can't wait. In the meantime I have been spinning a lot, doing a ton of core work, maintaining my strenth, and trying to get my endurance up in the pool. I have found that even though my strength primarily lies in my swimming, I suck at endurance in the pool right now. I need to just set my watch and SWIM for like an hour without stopping.
I also have a new goal, a flexibility goal :) Never thought I'd care so much about flexibility but I am realizing more and more how much it plays into the success of athletics. The ortho guy told me I was the most INflexible person he had ever met in his 20 years of doing this. What an honor. sheesh :eek: but he gave me some specific stretches and promised faster running once I'm back into it, because of them.
Anyway, thats about it.
 
You've been quiet for a while - glad to see you back.

Do you stretch out after your workouts? I find that helps a lot both to increase flexibility and to decrease the ache the next day after doing unfamiliar exercises.
 
Swam with the Masters Swim Team at 5am today 2500 yds..mostly endurance based, which is exactly what I needed. Then went biking with some pals. We went a hair short of 30 miles. Loved it.
Out of the blue a friend said I look "tiny". that was nice. My lower body is definitely morphing from all the cycling.
My main meals are clean and healthy but my problem is the snacking and grazing between. Daily I'm probably 90% clean. That 10% can be anywhere from pretzals and PB to staight out ice cream or other garbage. The 10% is probably saving my sanity at the moment with the hard training.
 
Swam again on Friday (3000yds) and worked on parts of my swimming that I'm weakest in. I rarely slow down to try to "fix" anything in my own stroke. Its something I plan on doing more of as the months tick by. Took yesterday off to volunteer at a race in order to get a race voucher of 40 bucks off for my own race. Such a neet little system they've creatd for those of us who are cheap! It was a duathlon and really inspiring. Made me want to race right now. A chiropractor booth was there, I had planned on seeking a chiro out this week because I popped something out about 3 weeks ago doing yoga (of all things). It was nothing at all for the guy to fix me! I'm so happy, it had been pretty painful and made some things hard to do. Saved me some moula too :)
I'm signing up for a small venue triathlon May 12. It'll be great practice before the one thats way more high powered June 10. I plan on doing one a month till summer is over.
Just got new pedals and the bike shoes I wanted so clipping in should be much easier now.
Ended up swimming 4000 today and felt pretty strong. Back is still a little sore from the chiro but it'll work out.
 
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1hr spin class
Back and Bi weights
15 min swim
B-applesauce/whey protein
post-oj, whey, glutamine
L-chicken stir fry w/ olive oil
S-whey/flax seeds
D-tuna/salad n veggies/olive oil n balsamic/ avocado
 
Did a "brick" today in tri class. Thats 2 disciplines back to back with minimal transition time. I decided to TRY out my running legs and just be careful. Its been about a month! It felt great. My legs feel hecka strong and I commend the bike for that.

45 min spin class
20 min 6.5-8.5 run
core exercises

B-yogurt and whey powder
L-large chicken breast sauteed in olive oil, dark greens w/balsamic, 1/2 piece olive bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic
S-whey blended with 2T flax seeds
D-most likely something to do with chicken and veggies :) oddly I never really tire of chicken.
S-natty butter
 
Spin 1 hour
shoulder weights

I was totally tired today and my body felt horrible. I ran a little yesterday only for 20 minutes but it must've wiped me more than I thought.
 
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