Tuesday, August 23, 2011

LUSH vs. LEAN

In June I was invited to run with the Advanced Marathon Training Team in Richmond.  These people (Those People) are quite something.  Knocking out 7:30's on their training runs while singing Scottish Drinking Songs at the top of their lungs, not to mention doing random things like running sub 3 hour marathons...  it's sick.  And I mean that like ~ they're freaktastic ~.

One thing that really sticks with me as I reflect on Those People is that they are a really fit crew.

If you come visit RVA and see a bunch of UBER fit people running around town in black shorts and no shirts (the women just wear sports bras), that's them.  And by UBER fit I mean they are lean, muscular, runner build 'type' people.  On the TYPE scale of runners, Those People are lean like Death Valley.

I guess, on the Type Scale with Death Valley (1) on one end, followed by the Grasslands of the midwest (2), in the middle we have the small tree clusters that dot the African Savanna (3), which is squeezed up next to Temperate Deciduous Forests of the Eastern Seaboard (4), ...I would fall at level (5).

The Tropical Rain Forests of South America.

I'm lush, thick, a little wild, quite dense, with a darkness tossed in there that even I haven't fully explored.

This "lushness" is really noticeable when you put me next to a runner type... like, say, my Bestie T.

There's just a lot of me.  It's good that my H doesn't seem to mind all the extra me there is these days.

After my run with Those People in June, I realized I'd moved beyond curvy and onto squish.  I had the equivalent of one of those foam can-coozies people use to keep their drinks from overheating wrapped around my midsection to stop my abs from getting hot.  er, from being hot.

What's frustrating about this is that I think under all that *coozie* there's a really good runner.  A much better runner than I am right now.  And I'm not going to mince.  I'm "good".  Am I ~like wow~ show stopping, Black Team Worthy, 7:30's for 15 miles?  No.  But I'm a solid little runner.  I get that.

I just... well, I could be better.
"I could be better..." are words I live by, sad but true.

So.  After my Black Team Student Exchange with Those People... I decided I was really selling myself short.  I have connections, and managed to get in touch with a nutritionist, Brooke.  This lead to my break up with Nutella (~sigh~) and Ray's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard.

Brooke really struggled with the runner thing.  We had to build a calorie schedule around my (lame) metabolism that also worked with my ever changing mileage, had enough Iron to meet my needs, and a lack of red meat to meet my lack of interest in eating cows*.  Her theory of "set a calorie count & only eat that count - no more, no less" got derailed once my long run hit about 10, and add in rest days and toss in some 3 milers for fun.... and we had some challenges to get the plan rolling.

For the most part I hung in there with the "trial and error-slash-mad science experiment", did what she said, and ground my teeth as the feedback on the scale was unchanging.

Then she decided I wasn't eating enough, and set me up on a new plan.  I've lost about 4 pounds since we started the new plan.  It's a far cry from where I'd like to be, but 4 pounds is measurable progress, and at this rate I'll be close to the racing weight goal I set by the time I get to my A race.  I just need to keep my focus.  I said as much in our last phone call.

And, I love Brooke for saying this...

"GBA gf?  If you put as much effort into your eating as you put into everything else, you could be at racing weight whenever you wanted.  For some reason, you don't.  It's the one area in your life that you allow yourself to be lazy.  Why would you choose this one area, of all things?  You have will power to get up at 4:30am, but not will power to avoid animal crackers?  It's selective reasoning that makes.no.sense."  
(well, that and cleaning house, I'm lazy there too, but I feel we're going off topic).  

Thanks Brooke.  I (heart) you.

I shared all this because many of you who read my blog are runners, and I know ~ some of us ~ don't run to lose weight, but would still enjoy a little less coozie and a little more hotness.  I'm going to get up now, and get back to work cleaning my house.  And yes, Brooke, I'm on track today.

Because really, today is the only day that matters.  Stop worrying about what you ate yesterday.  Stop fretting about how you're going to handle avoiding animal crackers or bunny snacks tomorrow.  Just be in the moment.

*I'm not a vegetarian, and I do eat red meat including cows, but I don't eat much, because I just don't care for it all that much.  This is not a social statement, nor is this a suggestion that you need to eat or avoid red meat.  

13 comments:

bobbi said...

ok, I SO FREAKING HEAR YOU on this one. It was like Brooke had a bullhorn aimed at my head with that quote. Why DO I allow myself to be lazy with food?

I think I need a nutritionist...

Katie said...

Can SOOO relate . . .my am like you lately and I need to get my nutrition back on track too! Ready to get to race weight . . . I will join you!

Unknown said...

Thanks, G. This coozie needed yur post today.

MCM Mama said...

Dude, I am so there with you. I've been junk fooding my way through the summer and the last few days have been the worst of all.

So need to get this coozie off my abs and the couple of coozies off my thighs...

Go you!

jamie@sweatyhugs said...

Ahhhh..."little less coozie and a little more hotness"...this is SO me. I'm at the point where I *need* to get my nutrition on track in order to get to my best. Thanks for sharing. Love your blog!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Love that! ..."a little less coozie..." Love that! And yes I need a little less too.

I don't care to eat cows very much either.

wonderfully written! Your writing just gets better and better. Keep it coming!

Corrina (Mama Needs to Run) said...

Great observation! I'm the same way..can be super disciplined with exercise, but get lazy with eating. I'm running my first full marathon in January and I'd LOVE to be several pounds lighter. It is tricky to figure out correct nutrition with running and training though.

Jenny said...

I am the same way! Why can I be so dedicated to my training but I can't be dedicated to eating right?

Alili said...

*raising my hand* - fits me like a glove...or a puffy mitten.

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

I just fell in love with Brooke a little bit too. The girl tells it like it is, huh? lol

Your animal crackers are my Hershey kisses.

Ann ~ Sporty Girl Jewelry said...

I found you via your Why I Run post and glad I did. :) That advice from your nutritionist is so good - thank you for sharing it.

Julie D. said...

believe me, i ask myself that question every single day. Why can I run/push myself like I do and then not care a rat's a#$ about what I eat and my discipline goes out the window? I can't imagine where I'd be at if I had some dang discipline in that area. I realize I eat out of comfort, boredom, stress, anxiety, joy, downtime...whatever...but I HAVE to figure out a way to change that or I will watch the scale climb. 6lbs this summer. not good. Ideally, I would like to be 16-18 lbs. less than I am for racing weight.

Jesser said...

This came along at a great time for me. I have struggled with weight all my life but I've gotten to a point where I'm a bit overweight but more healthy than not. I can run 10+ miles at a pretty good clip (sub10) but I really need to make the commitment to lose the last few pounds (15+!!) both for my health and for my running. Lots to think about. Thanks.