Vegas gluttony

I was superhuman last weekend.

I ate more than I ever thought I could. Las Vegas buffets brought out a glutton in me that hasn't been seen since I was introduced to Pizza Inn as a child.

The buffet served Asian food, Mexican food, breakfast-for-dinner food, pizza, fruits, desserts - everything my big-eyed, small-stomach could imagine. We also went to a ritzy restaurant, and I just had to have pizza, hot dogs, popcorn and deep-fried Oreos from street vendors. Oh - and free cocktails.

On the plane back from our weekend adventure, I was sure I had put on 10 pounds. I rationalized it - told myself we'd get back on the wagon as soon as we were home. I told myself that you can't be on a diet in Vegas.

Getting on the scale was tough, but I had to do it. I gained 5 pounds. Not bad!

I checked again the next day: I lost 2 pounds. The next day: the last 3 pounds.

Brad was confused. He lost weight, too. We figured the long days of walking the Las Vegas strip must have helped us keep the sticky pounds down.

We're staying on the wagon. The big family vacation is in two weeks and we are in the zone.

I'm back to the food diary, and I'm working out in the mornings before work (before I have excuses to just go home and crash). Brad pledged to go to the gym for six consecutive days this week to make up for all the bad behavior.

I'll keep you posted.

First check-in

Despite what the scales say, I'm apparently in great shape.

I went to the doctor late last week for a pre-prenatal checkup. I asked a ton of questions, including what the doctor thought would be a healthy weight for me to set as a goal before trying to get pregnant.

Yes, I may be 30 pounds heavier than my "ideal" weight, but everything else is just peachy. My blood pressure is great (114/68). I had my cholesterol checked last year and it's great, too. I'll find out how my glucose, potassium and sodium levels are in June when my lab work comes back.

The iVillage Web site is a great tool to help me on my way. Because it's daily nutrition plans are just suggestions, what actually makes it to the food journal is very flexible. I actually eat a lot - it's just more fruit and veggies and less breads and junk.

I'm down two pounds in a week, and I'm 18 pounds away from my goal (which would put me at a BMI healthy by most standards for babies).

iVillage's plan

There are a zillion different weight loss plans and diets, theories and books. To add to the list of ones I'm trying (or have tried), here's an online tool I found.

iVillage's Healthy Living Online

So far I'm a big fan. You put in your current weight, height and other health indicators (if you know them - things like blood pressure and cholesterol). Then you can take a mental health survey and exercise gauge.

Depending on whether you chose to lose weight, maintain or gain weight, the site spits out day-by-day plans, including grocery lists. Don't like cauliflower or red meat? That's OK - It lets you substitute for other foods that would give you the same benefits.

What sold me is four letters: F R E E.

I'll keep you updated on the progress. My goal is 15 pounds. When I do it I'll be at "baby weight" and one step closer to starting our family.

Today's plan:
Breakfast:
9 grapes
1 cup Cheerios with slivered almonds
1/2 cup skim milk

Midmorning snack:
1 small orange

Lunch:
Tuna salad (lettuce, cucumbers, green beans, pecans, mayo and tuna)
1/2 banana
six whole wheat crackers

Midafternoon snack:
1/2 banana
10 animal crackers

Strength training: 40 minutes with 5 minute warm-up and 5 minute cool-down

Dinner:
mini hamburger with lettuce and mushrooms on whole wheat roll
10 peanuts
1.5 cups green beans

Sleepy time:
1/2 cup skim milk

Podrunner

For those who run with iPods - or have an iPod and want to start running - I'm finding tremendous success with the eight-week Podrunner series.

It's a free podcast available on iTunes.

The "trainer" comes over music designed to help you keep pace. He says when to begin a jogging interval and when to stop. He also gives great encouragement.

I'm on week three and it remains challenging but achievable.

Wagon?

Something bad happened to me.

I can't explain it, but I lost all motivation to train for a 5K, all motivation to work out at all. I have plenty of excuses I can lean on, but that's a weak escape from saying I just didn't feel like doing it anymore.

I found a new podcast that should help out, and I'm starting it on Wednesday. I also have new motivation.

I wanted to be ready to run a 5K in Carolina Beach and then Knoxville. When I started training I would have been to the point that I could run it (the runs were over the last few weekends). I can't really go into details, but I had to scrap those plans. My training routine seemed to go with them.

I have new motivation: There is a 5K in Charlotte in August. We can't scrap plans for going if it is right in our back yard. 

So this podcast should get me back where I need to be (from coolrunning.com I think). It is a series of nine tracks and you listen to a different one each successive week. There is music and a man telling you when to begin walking and jogging. You're supposed to be ready in two months to run a full 5K. 

2x11

I continue to make progress running.

This weekend I did two miles in 22 minutes. The first mile was just under 10 minutes and the second was just over 12, putting my total at 22.

Not too shabby.

On a separate note, we have a Brad Norman challenge underway. For the entire month of March, there is to be no restaurant or fast food. Brad requested that we have one "cheat" each a week, but other than that we must cook or pack all food we plan to eat.

36 laps

People tell me that if I can do two miles that I can do three.

Yesterday I put that to the test. Inside the temperature-controlled Statesville Y, I grabbed my iPod (this is relevant later), a water bottle (this too) and a lap counter and commenced on the longest run of my life.

The first mile was a breeze. Jogged the entire thing.

The second mile was a little tougher. I had to alternate between a walking lap and three jogging laps.

The third mile was the toughest. I backed down to two jog laps for every walk lap.

So here's where the iPod and water bottle become relevant.

During the walking laps I grabbed the water bottle. I can't explain why, but I take a big swig of water and let it sit in my mouth for a few steps before I swallow it. That method must make me swallow a lot of air, because when it was time to run again I'd start burping. You can only burp so many times before you feel strange, and I started to worry that the burps would turn more sinister.

I discovered (with the help of my marathon-running ridiculousness family) podcasts from iTunes that were made specifically for running. I subscribed to two podcasts: one was the "Couch to 5K" trainer that tells you when to run and when to walk depending on which week along the 12-week program you happen to fall on.

The one I used yesterday was an hour-long mix by some DJ. The channel had several mixes to choose from based on beats per minute. I went with the slowest, since I run very slowly. It also served as a nice timekeeper. Whenever I'd finish a mile I'd check my progress through the mix for my time.

How did I do? I'm a little embarrassed to say.

What the heck: 36 minutes. That's about a 12-minute mile pace. Not great, but stupendous for someone who when she played varsity soccer in high school couldn't get ONE mile in under 11 minutes.

Run, Jess, run!

The plague is gone and it didn't completely destroy my base.

I ran last week (sorry I didn't update) and got through a mile before I had to walk a little.

Today I ran and got 18 laps down before I had to start intervals.

I noticed something strange when I stopped. I thought I couldn't run any more when I had to start intervals, but once I started walking something started aching in my side.

When I started running again it went away.

Any runners out there have insight into this?

Starting from scratch?

I am still in the clutches of a very gross sickness I lovingly call the plague. Although I think I limited exposure, I am afraid I'm back to Square One when it comes to my 5K training.

Just before the sickness, I racked up 18 laps nonstop. Now I can barely scale the steps at my house without wheezing.

Once I can breathe again I plan to take up my running routine. I'll let you know how far back I've fallen.

1.5 and still running

Stupendous news!

First, it needs an introduction. Media General offered $100 for employees who took a health assessment. Who doesn't want free money?

So it was appropriate that I use the health assessment money to get some new running shoes. I've been eyeing Nike Shox (which I call "boing shoes") for at least four years. A trip to Hibbett Sports on Broad Street and I came away the proud new owner of silver and white Shox.

I immediately went to the YMCA for my run around the track in my new shoes. It may have been mental, but it was like the track melted away and I was running on clouds.

Who knew boing shoes could be so effective?

Here's the proof: last night I ran 18 laps non-stop. That means 1.5 miles. I then walked two laps and ran the rest (total of 2 miles). I could have continued, too! It just isn't part of my training.

I'm excited about my progress, and just committed to my first 5K. It's in Knoxville in March.

5K training update

I am through week 2 of 5K training and I think it has been a success so far.

I wrapped up on Friday by running the track at the YMCA rather than going outside. I did 2 miles in about 22 minutes, which was a huge accomplishment for me.

I'm focusing on the positive of hitting 2 miles (even though there was some walking involved) rather than the negative: I ran inside instead of training my lungs for outdoor running.

Perhaps if the weather stays this mild I'll return to the park. I have 7 weeks pf training left until I should be able to do a 5K with no walking.

As for weight, cardio definitely has a way of taking it off. I refuse to step on a scale until I'm at least halfway through training. Still, I can feel a difference.

Bronchitis?

Running outside is hard for me, which is why I am now doing it.

At least I'll do it outside until someone shows me where I can run my first 5K indoors.

This morning I woke up for day 2 of week 1 of training to subzero temperatures (I know they were subzero because my hubby got a weather station for Christmas and it relays the temperature to my refrigerator).

I delayed running until lunchtime, but it was still way too cold.

I bundled up, put on lots of Chapstick, grabbed the iPod and headed to the park.

Inside I can do a mile. Outside I can now to a half mile, then I have to start intervals. I'm impressed by this, since two days ago I could only do a quarter mile before starting intervals.

That, my friends, is what we call progress.

But today was too cold. Around three-quarters of a mile it felt like something was pressing against my chest. That something reminded me a lot of a polar bear or other Arctic creature.

Mike (the Statesville editor and avid runner) says I should watch running outside when it is that cold or risk bronchitis.

Yikes. Maybe I should train indoors until the weather station says its OK.