Operation Go Figure - Week 2

Well yesterday was the end of week two. When I met with Mark on Wednesday he changed things up. He now has me doing 3 cardio sessions a day 5 times a week. He also changed my menu and decreased my calories. The caloric change down was minor...only about 60 calories a day. The biggest change was the macro nutrient shift. My carbs went down and my proteins went up while the fats stayed the same. The change in carbs was not major and I am never carb depleted but with the extra cardio added I can feel it. I do my cardio at 5:30 a.m. then around noon then again just before bed. Kind of odd but it makes sense and burns fat like an inferno.

I am still not chewing my arm off but am ready to eat on my 3 hour interval. I actually heard my stomach growl for the first time in forever! My metabolism is cranking and I can tell because I am getting hungry faster and I am sweating more when I do my workouts. All of this is very interesting and amazing.

As of last Friday I have shed 4.4 pounds of fat and gained a bit of muscle. I suspect I will see more muscle gains this week with the extra protein. My weight is pretty low for me coming in at 108 pounds and that's with workout clothes and shoes. At the starting of a 100M I am weighed at about 114-116. I am pretty sure my trail shoes are heavier than my workout shoes but still that's light for me. It's crazy to see my body change so dramatically in such a short amount of time. The even crazier aspect of it I am not starving and not tired or sluggish. It makes me think a lot about how simple it all really is and how complicated and complex we might choose to see it, meaning change. Somehow change always seem to be saddled with so many obstacles when in truth those obstacles might be created. I don't know, just thinking and observing as this process continues. Right now I am burning around 700-900 calories with my cardio and probably about 250 for my weight training. The sum of those minus my 1747 calories is obviously working. I would have suspected I would feel like crap but I don't yet. :)

I have been practicing the posing portion a lot. This is my weakness. I am not shy about soliciting help and am fortunate to have friends who are willing to play "figure competition". They are the judges and I give them a script which tells them to prompt me for the next pose. They then judge and give feedback. It's been super helpful in a few aspects. First, I get practice and have to move around with ease in and out of the poses. The goal is to do this as if you are a pro with a graceful appearance and not a football player....which is where I am at. Graceful is a new word for me. I have never been graceful, never took dancing lessons as a kid, and really didn't play much dress up. So....now I am. It's also helping me become more comfortable in my own skin and doesn't allow me to hide my body. Obviously this is something I will be over by Oct. 11th. So far its all been a big growing experience and I am enjoying the "out of my comfort zone" push.

Someone asked me yesterday if I am having trouble with all the un-healthy food around my house. Friday's are pizza and movie night at our home so there is all sorts of junk food around then. In addition, my family eats about 70% of what I eat. Alex likes white bread, Bill loves chocolate and they both indulge in ice cream. The truth is I have absolutely no desire to put any of that in my mouth right now. I have never been one of those impulse emotional eaters anyway but as Thomas said, "Nothing like getting up in front of a crowd in a swimsuit to motivate". However daunting the swimsuit is the biggest motivator is the changes I see. My body looks quite a bit different and that blows my mind so that alone is motivating.

On the running front Micheal, Steve and I signed up for Coyote Two Moon 100M in mid March. Now that is going to be a challenge. Training for that kind of 100M with our winter will leave us becoming very creative. I am excited to do this low key FUN 100M. They seem to lean towards the FUN part so we will for sure take part. I am looking forward to doing this race.