Tuesday, February 19, 2008

GRIPE GRIPE GRIPE

First of all, I don't know what the hell I was thinking, going to run my speed workout on the high school track. What a disaster. There were only about 50 meters that were completely free of ice or snow. Nevertheless, I had run the mile there from home, so I was stuck, and my Weight Watchers meeting started in 45 minutes at the nearby building. Just get it over with, I thought.
Ugh.

My "fast" laps were barely any faster than my recovery laps. I averaged 2:15 per 400 which is a 9:04/mile pace. My recovery laps averaged 11:55. If I wasn't mincing across windswept ice and trying not to fall on my ass or my face I was clomping awkwardly through crusted-over snowdrifts and trying not to turn my ankle by stepping into one of my previous sets of footprints. I couldn't even see where the edge of the track was and found myself running on the football field one time. My feet kept slipping and flinging out behind me, which bothers my knees like nothing else. I grimly ticked off each lap, thinking that all the scene needed was a soundtrack: the theme song from Rocky, playing as our hero(ine) slogs onward through frigid gales (it was quite windy out there), alone on a snow- and ice-covered track, stumbling, fumbling, but never. giving. up!

Yeah, whatever. The best part about this particular workout was when it was over.

Oh, and as if I haven't already said this, I AM SO SICK OF WINTERRRRRRRRR!!!

Secondly, if I wasn't already irritated with my run today, I had even more grim news at Weight Watchers. I gained for the second week in a row, which, combined with last week's debacle, has put me 5.4 lbs over where I was 2 weeks ago. Goddammit all to hell. I was doing so well. I don't know what the fuck happened. I tracked my Points all week, didn't overeat, had my usual foods for breakfast and lunch, and made sensible dinners from my WW cookbooks. I even made a smart choice when I went out to lunch at Panera Bread on Saturday. Instead of my faaaaaavorite sandwiches, both of which are hugely Points-heavy (one is 16 and the other 23 Points), I chose to get the low-fat black bean soup (2.5 Points) and half of the smoked turkey breast sandwich on whole wheat bread (4.5 Points). For a restaurant meal, 7 Points is outstanding. I even had water instead of soda.

Doing the right thing does not appear to have made a whit of difference. I still gained 2.4 lbs.

Sigh. I really need to refocus. I am DETERMINED (just like it says on the back of my Marine Corps Historic Half shirt) to lose 75 lbs. Absolutely determined. It's going to happen. It WILL happen.

10 comments:

Emma said...

I'm right there with you on the "I'm tired of winter" feeling. The older I get, the less I like it. And the dog? She absolutely HATES it, so our walks this time of year are sooo short, which isn't good for either of us. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

75 pounds will happen! I've never met you in person but I can tell from your blog you are that kind of person.
Also, the new profile photo is great. Everyone looks so differnet without a hat on.

Anonymous said...

p.s.- "mincing" is an excellent word.

Unknown said...

FWIW...I'm on WW and running, too, to lose weight and get fit. I find that when I hit a plateau or gain several pounds (like you write you have) for no apparent reason, it really helps to review what I've been eating. My WW leader told me that sometimes our bodies get used to the same foods at the same times of day. Mixing it up a little really helps. And don't give up! You've got a good thing going! Don't let two weeks of bad weigh-ins spoil numerous months of hard work and concrete gains (or losses, as the case may be!).

Sun Runner said...

"mincing" is an excellent word.

I just don't know how else to describe that bouncy, tip-toeing, one-foot-long stride that I have to downshift into whenever I encounter an extensive stretch of slippery road or sidewalk, or, in this case, "all-weather" track surface ("all-weather," yeah right) . So much energy expenditure for so little progress!

Don't let two weeks of bad weigh-ins spoil numerous months of hard work and concrete gains (or losses, as the case may be!).

I know...I've still lost a lot of weight and this has happened before. After almost a year and a half on the program there's nothing I haven't seen! I suspect that next week will be much better. It always works out that way. One time I had a couple of bad weeks in a row and then came back the next week with a 7-lb loss!

I totally admit I'm in a rut when it comes to breakfast and lunch. It's just so easy to make the same thing every day. And after so long I still haven't gotten tired of fat-free yogurt + blueberries + flax meal, which is my daily breakfast. It's easy, it's predictable, and I know it's always 2.5 Points.

ee said...

I know why you were running at the high school -- 18 year old junk. Just like in that Juno movie, right?

Sun Runner said...

Nice try, Mr E. No one else was insane enough to try and run on the track that day. I'm not right in the head when it comes to running, remember? :)

triguyjt said...

sarah..
thanks for the visit...
i saw on your recent post about hating winter....

see if this recent post by jawhowie doersn't make you laugh
www.1972jahowie.blogspot.com

i hope this gets you there correctly. if not, he's listed on my favorites on my blog...
funnny photo

Tina said...

In my professional personal trainer's opinion, it sounds like it *could* be water weight gain. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that the time you mentioned having a couple of bad weeks followed by a 7 pound loss, the weight you gained during the bad weeks was water weight. The 7 pound loss was probably partly the water weight you'd gained, along with fat you may have been losing the whole time. That's the bitch about water retension, you can be losing fat while retaining more water, and think you've hit a plateau when you actually haven't.

Unknown said...

until the roads clear up and the temp rises so that even after a long, long warmup you don't pop a muscle when starting some speedwork, i would keep it easy out there. Treat it as base, and use that ungodly contraption known as a treadmill for speedwork! Spring will be here soon.