*~*~*The Tale of One Chick Who Gets Serious About Running, Eating & Living Life~*~*

[seriouschick]

This is my new journal. I'm pretty excited.

I began my weight loss journey in May of 2006 at 249 pounds. Over the next 12 months, I dropped 87 pounds and got down to within 2 pounds of my initial goal weight of 160. Over the last year, life got a little crazy (adopted our precious daughter from China and baby makes 4, etc.), and I found less and less time for exercise. My eating stayed very consistent, but I slowly gained back about 20 pounds. I've held steady around the 175-180 number now for months and I'm finally ready to get back at it.



Toward the end of April, I discovered something new. I love to run! I'm not fast, but I'm getting stronger every day. I completed the Couch-2-5k program in 8 weeks and ran my first 5k at the end of June. It was SO much fun!

Now I'm in training for a fall 10k race. It's so hard and fun at the same time. I think I'm officially addicted.

I'm working with my menus trying to balance eating low-carb and still lose weight, but also fuel my body for running. I think it's going to be a bit of trial-and-error at first, but I'm wanting to find that good balance.

SO, that's me. I'm a wife to an amazing man, mamma to 4 of the cutest kids you've ever seen, crazy nut, diligent LC fan and now runner. This journal will be where I pop in and share what I'm doing, learning, eating and where I'm running to next. And it will also be where I record my weigh-ins and finally see my goal reached.

[sheryl0423]

Hey Becky
Been wondering what you've been up too. I've been reading your journal for quite some time and have enjoyed and got a lot of good ideas from your menus....good to see you back!!!!!!!!!
Hey and way to go on the running!!!!!!!!

[seriouschick]

Hi Sheryl! Yes, I'm back. This weight/health/body thing is such a journey. I'm in a new phase now and it's good.


I'm going to start doing weigh-ins again soon, but right now it's TOM and I know I'm retaining water like crazy, so I'm going to wait until that's over before I start to monitor the numbers. Or perhaps I should start now so that I can pretend I see a huge whoosh in about 4 days.


I woke up this morning at 5:30 and got my mid-week run in. I ran 2.5 miles and did a quick cool down. It was hard this morning since I got to bed late last night (around midnight). That is very late for me....especially when I have an early morning run. But I did it and I feel better now.

Breakfast: 4 scrambled eggs w/ fresh chives & coffee & lots of water (I was starving this morning!)

I need to stay very hydrated today. My goal is 120oz of water. I'm 32 oz in already.

[KimmerJ]

Becky! You are terrific! I love reading your journals! I have started back and I'm doing it. I'm getting healthy! You are an inspiration..... wanted to let you know that most of the gals are posting in Kimmer and Heidi's Adventures in Dieting, if you want to come and say hey! You are more than welcome to!

Good to see you!

[seriouschick]

Hey friend! Thanks for stopping by. I'll have to pop into that thread soon. It's nice to be back again.

Lunch: 1 piece of string cheese, salmon salad and another 32oz of water.

[nicsweed]

Yeah.....I can exhale my partner in LC crime is back....!!!

Your a fantastic support in the galaxy of LCF; we need you more than you will ever know; I'm relived that your back!-Nic

[seriouschick]

I'm back!

Dinner: 1 C of pulled pork and a big salad, lots of iced tea

a handful of peanuts & coffee for dessert

Tomorrow is my rest day from running. I may do some stretching and yoga...helping my tight hamstrings and quads loosen up.

Nighty-night!

[nicsweed]

Hey the menu looks great; are you adding back some carb to fuel your running? I heard that runner's need more carb for energy!

[seriouschick]

Nic ~ That's what I'm trying to figure out. I tried to add carbs back in a tiny bit at a time and I went WAY overboard. Gained back 5-6 more pounds, didn't feel good, didn't notice it helping my running.

SO, I'm back to square one. Eating low carb (at my normal 30ish-g carb per day level) and then seeing how I feel. I'm going to try to add in fruit & veggies for the carbs...not bread & rice stuff. It's definitely an experiment!

Breakfast: 2 eggs, coffee

LOTS of water

[nicsweed]

or yougart...i have been eating the yopliat light smoothie's in peach or strawberry; they are sweetened with splenda have about 8 grams of sugar or less so thats pretty low as far as i have seen in yogart dept; since i dont have my GB anymore my surgeon said if i eat low carb i need to eat low fat; turkey bacon instead of reg bacon you know the typical substitutions! I lost 5 pounds this week....YES! What is ur new goal weight?

[monet0329]

.. Good MOrning Bec...

wanted to say hello real quick while I had the time.. ..

you can do this again.. if anyone can.. YOU can ..

again, It's good to see you again..

[seriouschick]

Hey ya'll...

Just came in from my long run for the week. Got in 4.5 miles. Felt great! It's really hot so I had to take a couple of 2 minute walk breaks, but I still made a time I felt really good about. Now I'm enjoying a post-run brekky.

Nic ~ I'm back up to 184 (but that's with TOM water...I should be back around 180 by the beginning of the week, which is where I've been dangling for the last 3 months). We shall see. My goal is 150. I'd love to see it met by Christmas. Very do-able....even if with the muscle I'm gaining from running.

Today:

4.5 mile run

Breakfast: tons of water and leftovers (steamed chicken & veggies from yesterday)

I'm making coffee now...I need it!

[monet0329]

I wanna run again.. . good for you!!.. I'm not a betting person.. but if I was , I would bet you will make 150 by Christmas ..

you ahve a great day!!

[seriouschick]

Today has been good. I did a 2 mile walk last night...just to stretch my legs and relax. No running today, but I'm running in my 2nd 5k race tomorrow morning.

Breakfast: grilled pork chop & eggs, coffee

lunch: peanuts & some turkey salad, lots of water

dinner: we're headed out for dinner tonight. I think I'm going to have bbq wings and diet coke...unless there is some salad that catches my eye.

I've got to be up at out the door around 7:30 tomorrow morning for my race. It starts at 9 and I'll have about a 45 minute drive to the race site. Looking forward to it!

[nicsweed]

Congrat's on the 2'nd race; you got this one in the Bag!

[seriouschick]

I did GREAT in my race today! I crossed the finish line in 26:57...I'm sore, but I'm HAPPY!

Today for food, I had 1/2 protein bar for breakfast and some Powerade Zero.

Then for lunch I had some black bean soup & some turkey & cheese.

LOTS of water this afternoon.

Tonight, I'm fixing asian marinated flank steak & some cabbage slaw. YUM!

[sheryl0423]

Yay Becky

[nicsweed]

I'm so dang proud of you...oh and what type of asian marinade do you use; or is it a beck original creation?

[seriouschick]

Nic~ I just used oil, soy sauce, 5 spice powder, fresh garlic and I think I tossed in a bit of powdered ginger. It was good.

This morning I ran a quick 2 miles. I stretched a lot after. My legs are still a tad sore from Sunday.

Breakfast: 2 eggs, fried & coffee

Water

Lunch: Green salad (iceberg, sprouts, cucumber & celery) and a hamburger patty, more water

[seriouschick]

Hey...checking in for the day.

Weigh-in this morning was 183. Hmmm....I need to see that number drop. Gotta keep working.

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, coffee

Lots of water

Lunch: green salad & grilled chicken, more water

Snack: handful of nuts (pecans, almonds and hazelnuts)

I"m taking my kids to the fair tonight and I do NOT want to sabatoge myself with fair food. I'm taking a Clif bar (been eating those occasionally since I started running) and I"ll treat myself to a big diet coke or diet limeade. Then I'll eat something when I get back. We've been at the beach all day (did I mention we're at our summer house right now, in MI?)...and the sun and water really wear me out. I'm never as hungry up here as I am at home.

Running tomorrow. I'm doing a mid-week 3 miler. I'm not sure I have a 3-mile course marked out for myself here, so I'll probably just eyeball it and run for time. 30 minutes. 15 out, 15 back. My long run is Friday. 6 miles...It's gonna be hard, but I know I can do it.

[seriouschick]

Hello, hello!

Okay, so my training two runs this week have been pretty lackluster. This morning's run was terrible. My legs felt like lead and I had to stop twice to walk...and I only ran 2.5 miles. SO, I think I cut my carbs way too dramatically. My weight was down this morning (182.4), but I can't stay at this 20g level and run. And I love running! I started eating induction levels again on Monday and that was a bad, bad idea. Lesson learned. I'm back to the drawing board.

SO, today I'm off to the store this morning to pick up some steady carbs...lentils, brown rice, protein/fiber cereal, veggies & fruit. I need to add some back in to my diet pronto. I'm going to try and keep track very carefully on FitDay (used to use that, but I got away from it) so I can figure out what amount of carbs is right for me. I'm also going to start increasing my days of training next week. Add in one more short runs, so I'll have three off days...four days of running. Next week I'll run: Sun, Mon, Wed and I have 5k on Saturday.

My plan (as of 2 weeks ago) was to tackle a 6 miler on Saturday, but the way my legs felt this morning, that ain't gonna happen. Maybe if I increase my carbs today and tomorrow I'll feel better by then. We shall see. Twyla has always been so detailed and scientific about all of this. I need to go read her journal more carefully.

But I'm gonna figure this thing out! I need to get to my goal...and I NEED to run. The two can't be mutually exclusive. It's just going to continue to be work and trial/error. I've also been good about not drinking alcohol the last week or so, which I KNOW is a good thing. I need to keep that as a priority.

Okay, so a not impressive 2.5 mile run this morning -- done.

Breakfast: So far, a handful of nuts and some coffee. I'm going to eat some fruit after I go the store in a little while. I'll check back in a while.

[nicsweed]

Good Luck on adding back the carb's....it is a trial and error process; but ur so determined you can do it!

[seriouschick]

Lunch: I had a wedge salad (wedge of ice berg with diced tomato, bacon, tons of bleu cheese and italian dressing). Lots of diet coke

Snack: more water and a banana slathered in crunchy peanut butter

Dinner: small slice of meatloaf, 2 deviled eggs, diet coke

dessert: 2 squares of 85% dark chocolate and a cup of coffee

I'm going to try and run again tomorrow. We'll see if I feel better.

[seriouschick]

Weigh-in: 181.8 (still dropping, which is good)

Breakfast: 6oz yogurt, 1/2 C kashi cereal, coffee

TONS of water

I'll check in later. I was going to run this morning, but two of my kids were up all night with mild fevers so I'm feeling a little exhausted at the moment.

[seriouschick]

Mid-morning snack: an apple (love those Pink Lady apples...yum), more water

Lunch: 1 cup of my own "carbs for running" stir-fry: wild rice, browned ground chicken, a few chick peas, onions, and celery.

I browned 1# of the chicken, added 1/4 C of diced onion, 1 stalk of celery, 1 can of chick peas and 2 Cups of wild rice. Stirred it all together and then ate a 1 Cup serving. It was delicious and VERY filling. I seasoned it with garlic powder, some anise seed, and fresh pepper.

Afternoon snack: 2oz of cheddar cheese, more water

[nicsweed]

Yummo! That stir fry sounds Delish!