New Year's Resolutions

If I had a nickel for every time I said I was going to start diet, I swear I'd be rich. You’ll actually notice a few of my earlier posts where I talk about my millionth attempt to drop a few pounds. As much as I hate to admit it, the truth of the matter is that I've struggled with my weight ever since I was about 10 years-old. I’ve never been extremely overweight; at my all-time high I weighed 180 pounds (I was only 5' 4" at the time so I was pretty heavy). Sadly, this was when I was about 13-yeards-old. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I finally decided to do something. I started playing sports and became more conscientious of what I ate. I was able to lose 40 pounds but all of that came at a price. I then became obsessive, weighing myself almost every single day up to 2 to 3 times a day. If I even gained 1 pound, I would get so down on myself that I promised I would lose 2 the next. Over the years it's been a constant struggle. I eventually learned that this wasn't healthy, and finally began to accept my body. I've become a little less stringent, weighing myself now about once a week. I’ve found joy in exercise, no longer seeing it as a weight loss method but more just something I do for fun. Yes, running is fun to me!

As much as I love to be active, I admit that my eating habits aren't always the best. I don't know what it is about me, but the minute you put something sweet in front of me I'll either resist the temptation or fall right off the deep end and eat way more than I should. I’m the all-in or all out type of person which has caused nothing but a series of weight fluctuations over the years ranging between 10 and 15 pounds. Again, not health either.


Before the chubiness kicked in.
Sorry, but I dare not share photos of my teenage years.



To this day, there’s still that little chubby girl inside of me that stresses out. I don’t consider myself overweight, but I know I could definitely afford to lose a good 10 pounds. Some friends say I'm too hard on myself, but I guess it's because I know I have the potential to do better. If I followed my runs with consistent healthy eating or treating myself to something sweet in moderation, I know I would feel so much better.

As we approach the New Year, many of us will resolve to eat healthier, workout more, or lose a few pounds. Last year, I resolved to quit smoking which went over very well. Yay for me! Well this year, I started mine a bit early. As of last Saturday a few friends and I decided to challenge each other on a little weight loss competition. I'm not looking to drop a lot of weight. We’re actually basing the winner off of percentage so my 10 or 15 pounds that I hope to lose will get me a fairly good number overall.

My motivation and outlook this time are different. For starters, the boyfriend has agreed to participate in the competition. I've mentioned in a previous post how we both felt like we've gained a little since we started dating almost three years ago. Another huge motivator for me is my half Ironman next year. Triathlon gear is just not attractive! Let me just say, for anyone who has done a tri, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Triathlon gear is usually very tightfitting and when you're out there on the course (especially since my event is right in the middle of summer), you want to wear the least amount of clothing as possible and still be comfortable. I don't mean that you want to go out on the course practically naked, but you want to avoid having to switch clothing or layer up on top of what you're already wearing during the transition.

Let me just say again, if I had a nickel for every time I said this. So here's to the New Year and starting it off right! What are your resolutions for 2012?

Here We Go Again

When I started training for my first half marathon in June last year, I thought I would instantly drop a lot of weight. What I soon learned is that runners are classified into two different categories: the ones that follow their workout regimen with a healthy or slightly moderate indulgent diet or those that say, "I run, therefore I can eat". And when  I say eat, I mean anything and everything because long runs means more calories burned making it okay to consume more calories. There is truth in being able to eat more calories, but by no means is it a green light to consume half a dozen cupcakes.

I started running with the "eat right, feel great, run better" attitude. A great recipe for losing weight in which I did. Well that soon changed. I started to notice the longer our runs got the more hungry I became. I quickly transformed into the "I run, therefore I can eat runner". Half a dozen cupcakes...yup, guilty as charged. In my defense, I sell cupcakes to make extra money to pay for my marathons so I need to taste them right? Okay...perhaps not six all at once. I'm admitting it--all the eating has caught up to me.
 
For the last six months, all I've done is complain about how my clothes don't fit to which friends and family respond: "How have you gained weight if you run so much?" Again, I became the "I run, therefore I can eat" type of runner.
 

I hate to admit this publicly and it's not because I am ashamed. I'll be the first to say...God did not bless me with a petite figure. I'm tall and curvy. I don't like to admit that I'm trying to lose weight because I don't want to be held accountable in case I can't do it. I know...I shouldn't be so negative but I have to be honest; I'm just not motivated. Another reason is that I think it takes a lot of guts to put something like this out in the open. I admire those who share their weight loss journey with others in their blogs especially those who have lost so much. Here I am struggling with 15 pounds and already feel defeated.

I know it will not only help me feel better but also would improve my running as I'll have less weight to carry. So, I titled this entry here we go again as I have decided to give Weight Watchers another go. Prior to my marathon training, I was a member and less than a pound from my goal weight but had to drop as the meetings conflicted with my training. Go figure...I stopped going to meetings to run and ended up gaining weight.

I chose WW because I know it works and helps keep me structured which for me, is what works. How has running changed your eating habits? What works for you?

Day 2 Dinner: Turkey burger on whole wheat bread, salad with vinaigrette, and grapes