Dear Diary: 2011, how life has changed...

I thought I would start blogging again here at the running vegetarian website.  Unfortunately, I think I should get a new blog address.  You see, I am injured and cannot run.  

Last year, I thought it would be a great idea to sign up for a full marathon.  I had done a couple of Half Marathon's and it seemed like a logical step.  Plus, this year I turn the big Five-Oh!  I just wanted to finish one before I turned 50.

Training was hard.  I stuck to the Rookie Marathon's suggested running/training plan.  But with all of the running (8 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles on Wednesday, 8 or 9 on Thursday and 15 on Sunday), once I got to this part of the training, my knees started to go numb.  Then ache.  Really ache.  So, I put the knee straps on and plodded through the training.  

Word of advice to anyone training for their first marathon, don't "plod" through an injury.  It doesn't work.  By the time I returned from our vacation up north, my running friends could not believe my condition and my limp. After my long run, my knee looked swollen and ugly. 

They (my running friends) said STOP RUNNING!  GO TO THE DOCTOR!  I did the latter and eased up on the running.  I ended up with a kneecap problem.  Nothing serious but caused by the marathon training.  Doctor says "rest & cross train".  I am not a good cross-trainer.  I love running because I love the outdoors.  Hey, I live in SW Florida, how could you not love outdoors?  

I have been biking, lifting weights and using the elliptical trainer.  BORING!  Except for the weights, I am bored.  

And since I have not been exercising, I have gained weight!  I feel like a Mush-Mellow!  But that is about to change. You see, these last couple of month's taught me a lot about myself.  When I ran, I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.  Well, no more of that.  I found out, not running and eating like I used too equals an additional 10 pounds.  Clothes don't fit.  And I am miserable.

So, welcome 2011!  

Start weight:  143 (hard to even post)

Calorie Intake per day:  1,200-1,300

Eat at home more (more control on calories)

Get 8 hours of sleep

Drink more tea (notice it does not say "green" tea)

Exercise Plan:  

Elliptical 2 x per week   45 mins. per session

Stationary bike 1x per week  45-60 mins per session

Weight train 3 times per week; try to increase weight lifted

Walk or dog walk 1 x 60+ mins. per week (this is my rest day)

Yoga 1 or 2 x per week 90 mins. per session

That seems like a pretty good plan.  I am hoping that the yoga helps me heal.  I would like to run again in one month.  Even if it is just 3 miles without pain, I would be happy.

So welcome 2011 and the changes in my life.  I may even attempt pool running.  Anything to mix it up!

Breakfast today:  Oatmeal (Bob's  Red Mill) with banana and two tbsp. of Barney butter

Lunch:  2 slices of walnut arugula pizza (Men's Health Mag)

Dinner:  Leftovers

Lynda

Confessions: 137.8 OMG!

First let's start with the confession. I was moved by a blog post by another Spark Friend, Florida Sun, to come clean with my uprising weight. Yes, one year ago this week, I weighed 129 lbs. So what has changed?

Easy answer: I stopped logging into Spark, got too busy with my social life and work and stopped counting calories. Actually, I think it is not counting calories and protein, fat, etc. That is how I found out how to lose the weight last year. Once I started looking at my food intake, I found I was a high fat/carb person and my protein was too low. I am a vegetarian. So, I would eat tons of walnuts for protein. But also consumed lots of fat.

I worry about this marathon I signed up for. I am thinking I have bitten off more than I can chew. Can I do it? Is it too much? Too far? My friends gave me a training schedule, but I am going to follow the Marathon Rookie plan. It has long runs, but not as many. It is a much lighter schedule with the theory being not running as far is better because once your body has run for two hours the benefits for training are nil. When exhaustion sets in, the likelihood of injury does as well. There is a 20 mile run in the training and a few 18's. I will attach a post of the schedule in a later blog post. It is just that this schedule is not as daunting as the one my friends provided.

I have been struggling with injuries all summer, hamstring, knees, top of foot. Icing and Motrin constantly. And I am struggling with light headedness which my doctor says is allergies. None of my meds seem to help all the time.

So, it is posted. I am up almost 9 lbs. I am up a pant size (from 6 to 8). The size 8 is loose but the size 6 is tight. I can see the fat under my arms, on my back and in my tummy. Very ugly.

Today is a new day, right? And every day is a gift. I learned that when I lost my son two years ago. I plan on counting my calories again. Doing more yoga and trying to like green tea. That is what worked last year and hopefully this almost 50 year old body will respond again!

So far today, I had a ; small organic yogurt before Powerflex class, spinach/goat cheese/omlet for breakfast and two homemade Tazo green teas, with agave (1 tsp.) and lemon (why don't I like green tea?). 

Planning on a corn on the cob, summer squash, and Rachel Ray's Open Eggplant sandwich for dinner.   

Lynda

1200 Calories

Okay, so I got the idea about 1200 calories from the biggest loser show. And from entering my settings on www.Sparkpeople.com website. But after reading several articles regarding women in the over 45 age group needing 1 hour of exercise per day to MAINTAIN their weight and reading how women after the age of 45 start to have their metabolism slow down and require less calories per day than before that magic number to MAINTAIN. I figure it is much better (for weight-loss purposes) to keep the calorie count in 1200-1299 range and exercise every day.

Today's breakfast was oatmeal pancakes (this is a file pic-I did not add banana):

	Oatmeal pancakes

I found this on www.sparkrecipes.com.  It is delicious, easy to make and makes 3 servings.  And did you check out that protein count?  Awesome.  Especially for vegetarians.

Now, since it is Easter Sunday, I am planning on a long dog walk (long for them is 2-3 miles) and 1 hour of weight training with a short bike ride today to the gym.  It is supposed to be another glorious day, sunny and in the mid 80's.

Lunch will be an avocado-bean salad and a bocca burger (more protein) again found on www.sparkrecipes.com.
Snacks for the day include a serving of 100 calorie Orville Redenbachers kettle corn fat free popcorn, a handful of apple chips from Fresh Market and 1 skinny cow vanilla ice cream sandwich for dessert.

Does that sound like 1200 calories?  Well it is if you measure and pre-portion out those serving sizes.  The total calorie count for the day only comes to 1,234 and I am well within my protein and fat and carb numbers that work for me for weight loss.

I will update and post pics of the dinner later in the day.