Every Wish That We Put Into Motion.... (comments welcome!)

[Herding_Cats]

So this is what I came up with for my "filler" plan to get me through until baseball season starts and it's likely that it'll be nice enough to run outside again with the 2yo. @DopeyBadger if there are any obvious red flags, or if I "should" do more paced work than I have listed feel free to let me know. What I did was line up LIIFT4 with the Higdon base building plan (12 wks) starting on week 5 since I already have some running base and don't want to go too far backward in my fitness. I did combine the long runs with leg day to "keep my hard days hard", and follow it up with a rest day (which worked out nicely since the plans were written that way. The week of Jan 17th is the "B4LIIFT4" introductory workout week just to ease myself back into things. I haven't filled in anything for the last 2 weeks because I don't know what our home schedule will look like then, or if I'll have the time/want-to to do stuff the week we leave (when I clean like a maniac for our house-sitter) and the week we are on vacation (because it's vacation.) I'll probably run something (probably a half) in the end of May/early June locally but I haven't picked anything out yet.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Seems reasonable enough. You're not trying to bite off too much too soon at the front end. You're under the 50% value based on your recent peak.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Had a random package pop up in my ups mychoice account last night and couldn’t for the life of me figure out what it could be! Well it was delivered today.

Booo. Of course it turned it sideways. Anyhow. We ordered these drawings back on Thursday or race weekend. DH also got an in-stock Oswald drawing. When we go back to Orlando for spring break I’ll be ordering one for princess weekend and one for springtime surprise as well. (I have a rapunzel one from the princess weekend trip SIL and I went on.) My long-term plan is to get the weekend name and the year put on the drawing each time I’m able to participate. So goofy challenge (goofy as the selected character), weekend name, and year. These are pretty much my favorite durable souvenir from Disney. These and spirit jerseys.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Ugh. I need to figure out this weight loss thing. Essentially, right now I'm where I was last year before I started alllll of the running (which was also pretty much my post-partum weight.) I hopped back into food-planning (beachbody portion fix) in late spring/early summer and lost around 8 pounds over the course of 2 or so months, and then put it all back on after I stopped keeping up with it. And let me just say how annoying it is that I trained for and completed two marathons and GAINED weight. I know logically that part of that is the difference between endurance training and HIIT or weight lifting, but it's still like....HOW did I run for hours and hours every week and gain weight (spoiler alert: it's probably the fact that I love carbs, AND the fact that being a SAHM means I have access to food whenever I want it.)

So. I'm back onto the portion fix. Or at least I'm trying. The "weight loss" bracket it puts me in works out to 1200-1500cal/day if I stick to it 100%, and that just seems like.....not a lot. And to keep it simple it's a LOT of chicken and vegetables, which I can handle for about 2 weeks before I'm so so tired of it. But I've also tried the 1500-1800 bracket for about a month in the past and I didn't lose anything. I don't really want to do the whole calorie counting/myfitnesspal thing because while they might pretend to be oblivious to everything, my older kids do pay attention to how I'm eating when I'm trying to lose weight. And I don't want to be modeling some sort of calculator method where I have to input every single thing I eat. (I did that several years ago, and while it was somewhat effective, it also drove me crazy because I try very hard to not make separate meals for myself and figuring out calories for homemade anything was ridiculous.) So yeah. It's frustrating.

I will note that this isn't a "health issue." I'm due for a physical soon, but last year all of my blood work/pressure/sugar stuff came back good enough that my PCP said I didn't have to get a full panel done again for a couple of years unless I felt like I needed to get something checked.

 

[SheHulk]

I hear you, sister. I struggle with weight no matter how much running I do. When I was a SAHM for a few years when my kids were tiny, I wasn't running because I didn't see a way to fit in the time, and also constant access to food, and depressed because I wasn't finding the time for things I loved to do, and I gained about 50 lbs! It's been a struggle getting it off, I assumed running would eventually bring me down, but watching the food intake is really the only thing. And it sucks because running makes me SO hungry.

I took a break from dieting (Weight Watchers is my go-to) training for my November marathon, then it was the holidays, but I've been trying to get back. It's hard. Especially when you are trying to model behavior for kids and also feed them in a practical sense etc. I only have really gotten a great handle now that my kids are grown. Living with me but way less interested in what I'm doing as far as food intake etc.

Weight Watchers is totally a calculator mentality, don't get me wrong, but one thing that has helped me maintain during marathon training is that (sounds stupid I know) "volumetrics" type of mentality that I got in the habit with from Weight Watchers. Eating stuff that takes up a lot of room in your tummy without a lot of calories. Just always making the higher-fiber, more-fluid choices. So you're not sitting there calculating but just being mindful when you can choose between 2 things, pick the one that will fill you up. Maintaining is different from losing I know.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Weight Watchers is totally a calculator mentality, don't get me wrong, but one thing that has helped me maintain during marathon training is that (sounds stupid I know) "volumetrics" type of mentality that I got in the habit with from Weight Watchers. Eating stuff that takes up a lot of room in your tummy without a lot of calories. Just always making the higher-fiber, more-fluid choices. So you're not sitting there calculating but just being mindful when you can choose between 2 things, pick the one that will fill you up. Maintaining is different from losing I know.

I feel like that's sort of what portion fix does too, it just doesn't come right out and SAY that. There's a huge emphasis on MORE vegetables WAY LESS carbs. As in, 3 cups of veggies, but only 2 "servings" of carbs (and for example, if I ate an *entire* english muffin that would be ALL of my carbs for the day) for my bracket. And the carbs part just kills me. I'm not excited about the idea of giving up my coffee creamer, but when I include that I'm already probably drinking my carb allotment for the day at 7am.

 

[Herding_Cats]

and again. 1200-1500cal/day just seems like not enough. It's really weird for me to think about someone who weights like 110 pounds being in the same calorie bracket as me, and it still being "enough."

 

[azrivest]

and again. 1200-1500cal/day just seems like not enough. It's really weird for me to think about someone who weights like 110 pounds being in the same calorie bracket as me, and it still being "enough."

I know right? I started Noom at the start of January, having the same mindset as you. Noom also starts you at 1200 calories per day, which would make me ravenous. Doesn't seem appropriate for non-sedentary people like us.

I stopped after the two week trial, it really wasn't adapted for me as a 5-day/week runner who needs energy. (I never got below 1800 calories a day) Don't tell me PB is a "red" food when it's my go-to for my early morning runs.

Really curious to see what others' input is on this. How can we keep our energy level to keep running while attempting a similar weight loss mindset?

 

[SheHulk]

and again. 1200-1500cal/day just seems like not enough. It's really weird for me to think about someone who weights like 110 pounds being in the same calorie bracket as me, and it still being "enough."

It doesn't give you a mechanism to add any carbs back in, for running? I'd be adjusting the heck out of that on my own. No way I could run on no carbs. At least Weight Watchers (not shilling for them, just telling my experience) gives you more food when you're exercising. Otherwise it wouldn't work for me.
Edited to add carbs come in a lot of forms: I love black beans & rice or even canned corn. It's a lot of fiber but filling and gives you carbs.

 

[HangWithMerida]

I totally understand the struggle of finding a balance between doing what you need to lose weight and trying to set an example for your kids. I lost 50 lbs a few years ago and have maintained it by doing meal prep. I sit down once a week, make a menu for Sunday-Friday that averages to whatever my calorie target is. Shop on saturday, cook on sunday. As a SAHM, you may have a different day of the week that works better for you. I don't count, track, plan for Saturday since that is the day we are most likely to be out and about and it gives me a chance to satisfy whatever my body has been craving that week. My only goal is to eat until I am satisfied not stuffed. Some weeks those days are probably pushing 3000 cals. Others, closer to 2000. This works for me because I am not making anything off-limits but I already have food made for today so I just eat that and if I'm still craving whatever it is, I have it on Saturday. And, I have about 100-120 cals of dessert every night. Dessert is non-negotiable.
Being able to pull something out of the fridge and just heat it up is HUGE for me. Zero decisions to be made. I make horrible decisions when I am hangry and tired. I adjust the calorie average up/down depending on running volume. At this point, if I wasn't prepping I don't know what I would eat day to day. It is just so ingrained into my routine.
Re: running and calorie targets. I weight about 130-135 lbs now. My base meal prep is 1500-1700 depending on where I am in running volume. That base doesn't include the half-and-half for my coffee, my prerun bar (90cals), or any extra snacks I eat when I am just hungry. It is a base and will maintain my weight even if I am not very active. On any given day I probably eat around 1700-1800 cals.
I will say, when I started losing weight, I ate around 1300 cals a day. I wasn't running as much as I am now. I focused on eating lean protein, lots of veggies and fruits and very little filler stuff. I wasn't hungry because I had fat to burn and I was eating enough calories to fuel my bodies daily needs.

 

[The Expert]

I know right? I started Noom at the start of January, having the same mindset as you. Noom also starts you at 1200 calories per day, which would make me ravenous. Doesn't seem appropriate for non-sedentary people like us.

I stopped after the two week trial, it really wasn't adapted for me as a 5-day/week runner who needs energy. (I never got below 1800 calories a day) Don't tell me PB is a "red" food when it's my go-to for my early morning runs.

Really curious to see what others' input is on this. How can we keep our energy level to keep running while attempting a similar weight loss mindset?

I've done Noom off and on a few times, and if you put in your workouts, it will adjust your calorie budget up accordingly. And keep in mind that the foods being marked red/yellow/green don't mean anything is off-limits. It's just to help you balance what you should eat more and less of.

 

[Herding_Cats]

So today was leg day of my introductory week for liift4. Not even the full amount of time that the workouts will be next week. And I was more of a baby giraffe coming down the stairs (retrieving a sippy cup from upstairs) after this workout than I was on marathon afternoon. Yikes.

 

[GollyGadget]

It's very difficult to train for a marathon and lose weight. It's also very common to gain weight when training for that long of a distance. If weight loss is a goal of yours, you may want to consider doing a training cycle of 2 for a shorter distance. This will also help you become a more well rounded runner.

A few other tips I've learned along the way:
1. If you're going to eat carbs, choose the ones with high fiber to keep you feeling full longer.
2. Keep unhealthy snacks out of the house or at least in an inconvenient place so the temptation is less
3. Focus on what you can add rather than what you should omit. It's a lot easier psychologically if you can frame your healthy eating habits this way.

 

[Herding_Cats]

It's very difficult to train for a marathon and lose weight. It's also very common to gain weight when training for that long of a distance. If weight loss is a goal of yours, you may want to consider doing a training cycle of 2 for a shorter distance. This will also help you become a more well rounded runner.

I knew that marathon-training weight gain was a thing, but like with a lot of things in life, we always tell ourselves, "Well that won't happen *to me.*" And honestly I was doing pretty well until about november, when the mileage ramped up and all of the holidays (and all of the baking I do) hit.

A few other tips I've learned along the way:
1. If you're going to eat carbs, choose the ones with high fiber to keep you feeling full longer.
2. Keep unhealthy snacks out of the house or at least in an inconvenient place so the temptation is less
3. Focus on what you can add rather than what you should omit. It's a lot easier psychologically if you can frame your healthy eating habits this way.

1. Yes to all of this.
2. We don't buy pop (we only drink it if we are eating out somewhere) and we honestly don't have very many unhealthy snacks in the house. We have the convenience foods for the kids to take in their lunches, but I don't get into those. I quit buying ice cream because I like it too much.
3. This is the mindset I need to focus on more than I have. Eat the veggies first. Then everything else. And if I'm still hungry, more veggies.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Good grief. Hi. Me again, here to complain. Squats are stupid. And I even used light weights. Here's hoping I shocked my system enough that I won't be this sore next week too.

I do have a HIIT/plyometric exercise performance question. I'm not great at the jumpy, quick exercise stuff. It's always been the part of the workouts where more often than not I maybe make it through the first round and then use the modification. Pushing yourself in these how you get better at them, right? As in, go-until-you-can't-go-no-more and THEN modify? Or would I get more out of it if I just stuck with the modifier for the whole time? IDK if I'm making sense with that, but there it is anyway. It's not like I'm looking for excuses to step the jump-squats instead of, ya know, JUMPING them or anything.

Also. Totally feeling the post-marathon "down-ness." And I know it's normal but at the same time, what do I do with myself now? (Yes, I have a plan for the next 2 months, SS is coming up, etc, but it's not as all-encompassing as training for a BIG race distance.) Virtual races seem so lame now that I've done an in-person race weekend. And I've yet to find a nearby race that's at a "good" time of year for me to run as some sort of time-trial A/B race. Plus I don't really have anyone to run *with* me....I got very spoiled with my October marathon with my SIL and during MW with The Expert there to distract me from the miles. And I while I've considered asking one of my boys pace me for a half, I'm pretty sure my 16yo wouldn't even CONSIDER it (anything over about 8mi messes with his head) and my 14yo would complain about how slow I am the whole time.

 

[SheHulk]

Plus I don't really have anyone to run *with* me....I got very spoiled with my October marathon with my SIL and during MW with The Expert there to distract me from the miles. And I while I've considered asking one of my boys pace me for a half, I'm pretty sure my 16yo wouldn't even CONSIDER it (anything over about 8mi messes with his head) and my 14yo would complain about how slow I am the whole time.

I tried to get my XC-running teen to run with me sometimes, back in the day, and he would actually complain that it caused pain in his knees to run as slowly as I ran. Don't want to injure the poor boy.

My cure for the post-marathon blues (this time) was to sign up for a (non-Disney) race I could travel to and meet up with some friends. They are more fit than me so I have to get my butt in gear to not be embarrassed.

 

[HangWithMerida]

While I hate squats and totally understand and agree with your aversion to them, do the stupid jump squat. I’m not doing the stupid jump squat, but you should, definitely.

 

[Herding_Cats]

While I hate squats and totally understand and agree with your aversion to them, do the stupid jump squat. I’m not doing the stupid jump squat, but you should, definitely.

I only hate them because of how sore I am today. Usually it's not a problem but again... I'm more sore than the days after Goofy. And it's stupid that 3min of squats with not-heavy weights did that to me.

 

[The Expert]

And I while I've considered asking one of my boys pace me for a half, I'm pretty sure my 16yo wouldn't even CONSIDER it (anything over about 8mi messes with his head) and my 14yo would complain about how slow I am the whole time.

What if they paced you on a bike or skateboard or something fun?

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Squats and lunges are my nemesis, so I can relate. I am meeting with my coach in a few minutes and I’m pretty sure she is going to put them in my strength schedule lol.
I don’t know much about strength training, but my husband does and he says that you should be able to get through all of your reps with the last few being really challenging. So if you are finding that by the end of the first set it is too hard and you can’t even do the second set the same way, maybe some modifications would be useful. I also know my husband rests between sets a lot longer than I ever want to (I get impatient with strength training). That rest is what helps you be able to start strong again and re-build fatigue with the reps.