I have decided it’s time to lose weight. This time it’s not just my weekend resolution; I mean it.
I am not fat. I know this. I am about 5 ft 5 ½ inches. I have always said I was 5’ 6” – it’s just easier to round up. But if I look at the “healthy” weight ranges for someone my height I am either on the very highest end of healthy for 5’ 6” or a pound or so “overweight” for 5’ 5”. Either way, I’m just barely hanging on. I have found that during periods of heavy training I actually gain weight. I am hungry all the time, and use the training as an excuse to eat whatever I want. Over the last month or so I have slowly seen the scale creep up a few pounds. It’s time for me to take control of food, not the other way around.
In 2008, I had really let the scale creep up. All of a sudden (well at least it seemed that way) I woke up one day to find myself almost 20 pounds over my previous highest weight. I had a vacation coming up in a few months and decided I had to do something about it so I started eating better and exercising more and before I knew it I have dropped 10 pounds. But then I lost my resolve and the pounds started creeping back on. I decided I really needed to do something and I joined Weight Watchers – in the end I ended up losing a total of 32 pounds and got within 6 pounds of my ultimate goal weight. But then I went on vacation to an All-Inclusive resort in Mexico and of course gained 5 pounds. I lost that 5 pounds when I got back, but never lost the additional 6 pounds, I was hoping for. The Holidays came, and I added a couple more pounds. Then I began training for my first half marathon – by the time race day came I had gained 5 pounds. Then I trained for another half marathon in the Fall, and yep there it was another 5 pounds. I have gained and lost these 5 to 10 pounds multiple times over the last couple of years, but have never gotten back to my weight in 2008 – and I’m currently 20 pounds from what I set as my ultimate goal weight back then.
The weight loss is not just about looking good (although that’s certainly a bonus). It’s about being healthier and using food for fuel vs. comfort. I know weight loss will lead to faster race times too. I know I’m not going to drop 2 minutes per mile off my run pace or anything, but hey I would take 15 seconds per mile. Last week I purchased Weight Management for Triathletes (Ironman) and while the book is geared to the “Ironman Triathlete”, it still has some good information for anyone who is training and wants to lose weight. I have only read about half the book so far, and there’s not really any new information in it, but it does provide some good reminders and things to put into practice for weight loss. Once I finish it I will do a book review.
So today is Monday, June 27th and this morning I started my weight loss journey yet again. I have decided to do Weight Watchers again – just on my own this time since I already have all the information about the program, but I know myself and one of the biggest factors for me in losing weight is accountability. That’s why Weight Watchers worked for me before, so it’s dangerous to do it on my own. That’s why I’m writing this blog. For accountability!! Here I am, telling the world I need to and am going to lose weight. My goal is to lose 20 pounds. I will report my progress and weight loss every Monday or Tuesday. So help keep me accountable! My first real hurdle will be this Friday night – 4th of July party. There will be lots and lots of yummy food………BE STRONG MICHAEL!
If you are on a weight loss journey let me know, maybe we can help keep each other motivated.
So, do you ever struggle with your weight? Do you find you gain weight instead of lose when training hard?
What else do you struggle with?
GL and enjoy the journey. If you have questions about WW let me know because I'm a receptionist so I'm all trained up on the new program. :) The hardest part for me is not over-indulging after a good workout.
ReplyDeleteI've made good, slow, steady progress ever since I started training and had lost 35lbs. In the last few weeks however, my training mojo has been weak resulting in skipped workouts. That's not so bad except I kept eating like I was training. Naturally, I've put 5lbs back on. I was only 2 from my goal weight but now I'm 7 away. Keeping my food intake in proportion to my training is the biggest challenge.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Michael I know that you can do it! I love that you say you know your not overweight but your also not at your ideal weight.
ReplyDeleteI am in the same boat as you right now. I know that I am not overweight by any means but I also no that I am not at my ideal racing weight. I am jumping on board with you and hoping to lose 7lbs to get to my ideal racing weight!
You can do this! You know I've used my blog to keep myself accountable, and it really does help. I've seen other people post bikini pics to motivate themselves... Gaaa! That's a bit hardcore, even for me, and I'm pretty brave about putting my stats out there. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can do it!
Good luck on your weight loss journey!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you. I'm 20 lbs up from my skinniest (but that's a weight that's not healthy to me). So I'm looking to lose 10. I'm counting calories. Goal of 1500-1700 per day except on long run days. I'm 5'2.5". We can do this.
ReplyDeleteI've been struggling with my weight a lot more this year. I just cannot seem to drop anymore weight despite my simultaneous sprint tri and 1/2 marathon training. I'm looking forward to that book review. WE CAN DO THIS! :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Whatever you do, don't deprive yourself! I am guilty of doing that sometimes and it just leads to disaster. I tend to gain weight when I'm training for something in particular. I don't know if it's the added muscle or the fact that I have the appetite of a 300 pound male bodybuilder.
ReplyDeleteI also struggle with intuitive eating. I will often eat "just because" rather than when I'm actually hungry!
Focus on your goal and you will do amazing :)
I agree - doing a blog is a good way to stay accountable. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteYou can do this! From someone who has been 85 lbs overweight let me just say that I'm rooting for you! When you wrote about your thighs the other day I wanted to give you a big high five! I ran 8 on Saturday and rubbed the heck out of the insides of my legs! I had put on 3 lbs while I've been injured and it showed up right inside my legs! Ah HA!
ReplyDeleteYou've got the will power so I know you'll get there. I'm bad about ice cream so I'm right there with ya!
i struggle with eating for fuel vs comfort. i LOVE to eat, and i LOVE to eat delicious food! i tend to stay the same weight when training hard, but it frustrates me because i feel like i should be loosing. although i dont need to loose weight, i could stand to drop 5-10lbs. i also need to tone up. i like to refer to myself as "skinny-fat" im thin but flabby.
ReplyDeleteI started my diet last week. It has been going surprisingly well so far. I'm trying to think of it as a lifestyle change not a diet, because I really don't want to be this weight again.
ReplyDeleteI hope Weight Watchers does the trick for you. Good luck!
I'll have to check out that book. When I did my first marathon I gained weight. I think you fall into that trap of thinking you can eat whatever you want because you are burning so many calories. Sadly, not true. I am not trying to necessarily lose weight now but definitely need to change my eating habits. I think it will really help with my racing. I'm with you, I'll won't turn down 15 seconds :) Mostly, I am doing the clean eating thing. Cutting back on diet sodas, no breads or sugar, lots of meat, fruit and veg. It has only been a week but so far, so good I suppose... good luck I KNOW you can do it!
ReplyDeleteI'm about to start Paleo to lose about 35lbs. I'll definitely be here for your journey!
ReplyDeleteHey Michael its good to know that there are others in the world who struggle as much as I do with the extra poundage..
ReplyDeleteI am dieting right now as we speak and am looking to drop 20 also.. I am here for you. I have opted to drink protein shakes to jump start my weight loss...
I sure would like to get faster. haha
I don't have any tips on weight loss or weight gain - the main thing I find is that by working out or training for something I generally eat better, because if you don't eat better you feel like crap on your run/swim/bike because your body is processing bad stuff.
ReplyDeleteTraining also helps me to not drink as much alcohol, because running the night after drinking is like death!
Main thing I would caution you on is try to not lose too much weight too fast - because you might not have enough fuel for your workouts. You don't want for your body to burn muscle because it's not getting enough calories. The hardest part I've found is determining what the ideal weight is, because while it might be good to lose weight, you don't want to lose all your energy for training by losing too much.
Everything about you is "ideal" to me baby! I love you!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I'm actually hitting the same sort of realization myself (although I'm more like 90 pounds from goal weight. It hurts to even admit that.). I'll be following your journey with interest!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with my weight but watch it very closely. EVERY time I do a hard workout I gain weight. I ran a PR 10 miler on Saturday - gained 2 pounds. WTH!!! Frustrating but I now understand that while I may have gained weight, it's not a bad gain. I'm not gaining fat but muscle(I think?)
ReplyDeleteTraining and losing weight while they seem like they should go together never seem too. And then when you stop training and don't stop eating...yea well it's not pretty. I'm going to have my work cut out for me when this summer's training ends.
ReplyDeleteAbout five years ago, I set out to lose some weight and it took me nine months to lose 30 pounds. The actual losing part SUCKED, but keeping it off has been okay, mostly because I changed a lot of habits and they stuck. Here are two things that worked for me: I drink a protein shake in the morning for breakfast after my workout - it fills me up and refuels me. Also, I ALWAYS have dessert. It's just small. :)
ReplyDeleteah that Jim...he is like my Bill...
ReplyDeleteyou can do this.
I lost 72 lbs. I changed everything about my diet (some part I had to because of health issues) and I started running. Now I would not go back to how things were before. I now struggle with calorie intake. According to the chart I am underweight for 5'11". but those are all just numbers and they dont take bone structure and activity level in consideration. My diet is really strict and I cannot eat a lot at once. In half marathon traiing I need more calories when the weekly mileage go up.
this is great Michael! it takes a lot of guts to be willing to share this kind of journey with others. i struggle with using food as a comfort as well. both of my parents have what i would call addictive personalities--my mom's addiction has always been food. she recently had a "health scare" and finally kicked it into high gear and made some real changes. she did WW as well, and it has really worked for her. you have being fit already working in your favor, so i know you've got this. i also fall into that trap of using exercising/training as an excuse to eat whatever and however much i want. but i think it has more to do with your attitude towards food--how you view it. you're going to rock this, Michael! and i love Jim's comment ( :
ReplyDeleteIt is too easy to use the excuse of training to indulge in a snack or bigger portions. Weight gain is not uncommon for distance training! Good luck with WW :)
ReplyDeleteMolly from I am a Sleep Baker is having a weight loss group, she is always taking new people
ReplyDeleteI to have always struggled with my weight. Good Luck. You can do this girl.
ReplyDeleteCatching up w/ your blog, Michael!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you! I am on the journey too--I have 10 more pounds to get to my "racing weight." Thinking about food and weight loss is no fun for me (whereas running is fun), but it's part of it.
We can do it!
Michael, I hear ya with the weight struggle....I called it 'pregnancy weight' until I realized that since my youngest was 10 (at the time) I really couldn't go with that excuse anymore! LOL! I had to get off the couch. Accountability is huge! I keep a food journal and when I notice I'm going up a couple pounds it's usually because I've slacked in the record keeping department. That last 5-10 pounds is the hardest...at least for me. I am inspired by all that you have accomplished! Be proud of yourself!
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