I’m not letting myself go.
I gained 10 pounds.
So predictable, you’re thinking. I’ve been married for two months and have already let myself go, trading gym time for the couch and eating like my husband?
No, actually, not at all. But it was a good excuse to post a wedding photo.
I’ve gained weight because I am training for a half marathon. I did not gain 10 pounds of muscle. I gained 10 pounds of F-A-T. Running makes me ravenous. So most of August and September have been spent on a carb bender.
I never weigh myself, but I know about what the number is. I was expecting the number to be up a little bit, so when I stepped on the scale at the doctor’s office last week and saw it was up by 10, not five, I was pretty pissed. My blood pressure spiked and I snapped at the nurse that 124 over whatever it was is high for me, and that my systolic number is usually between 110 and 115 and MAYBE SHE SHOULD MAKE A NOTE OF THAT. Poor nurse.
Poor me. I never regressed during my weight loss. There have been multiple plateaus, and I’m sure a five-pound fluctuation here and there, but I’ve never had to go buy bigger clothes or gained any amount that anyone besides me would notice. The idea of losing weight and gaining it back is chilling to me, and when I tell people who ask if/when we’re going to have children that “I’d rather die than gain weight,” I’m almost not kidding.
I figured I could let this 10-pound gain become a 20-pound gain, or I could get my act together. I might not be able to lose it until I stop running and start strength training again more regularly, but I can make better choices. I can down a protein shake after a long run to try to curb my appetite. I can make strength training a priority.
When I weighed 309 pounds, I didn’t realize that thin people have to work at it, too. It never occurred to me that unless you won the genetic lottery, maintaining a healthy weight is a conscious decision for most people. I wasn’t completely satisfied with where I was physically at the wedding, but I was OK with it. I was ready to keep fighting the back fat and working on toning my arms and keep moving forward.
Then I got the bright idea to train for a half. Two friends ran the Pittsburgh Half Marathon this spring, and it was so inspiring. I figured I’d need something big to look forward to after the wedding. Savannah is holding its inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll series half marathon. It seemed like a good fit. I was kinda enjoying running and did OK in an 8K (five mile) race on Sept. 11.
Five miles in 1:01:47, just over a 12-minute/pace. I was aiming for an 11:30 pace but I was up most of the night before with a gallstone attack but I still got up at 5:30 a.m. and ran the race. I even threw up. Really. I wanted to write that on the Internet just so everyone knows how hardcore I am.
I know I won’t regret running the half, that it’s something I’ll be proud of forever. But it’s also been kind of a wake-up call that distance running is probably not a good fit for me. I think that just like eating well, your fitness regimen has to work for you. I love spinning. I like going on long power walks. I actually started to miss the strength training I did leading up to the wedding. So I know what I’ll be doing once this damn race is over and that cool medal is hanging on my wall.
What works for you?
September 29th, 2011 at 1:22 am
I’m glad to see an update from you! I hear ya on the weight gain. During my weight loss journey I never gained weight either–other than fluctuating 5 pounds and hitting plateaus. I told myself the same thing: I would rather die than gain my weight back. I never ever want to go back there, and it makes me work harder and pay more attention.
I was training for Hood to Coast and started gaining some weight. It crept up slowly (I was also taking a medication that packed on the pounds) and before I could blink I’d gained 15. I stopped the meds and the weight slowly started to come off. But it really didn’t come off entirely until I got injured and stopped running for 2 months. I switched to weight training and lost 5 pounds immediately.
Unfortunately running does that. It’s easy to get sucked into the “I’M RAVENOUS” mentality after a hard run. My only suggestion (from my experience) is to up your protein intake. Especially at breakfast. It helps a LOT.
September 29th, 2011 at 2:05 am
I second Lisa’s sentiments. I had the same problem when I trained for my first half. For my second, I knew what I was going to be like so I was really careful about not going carb crazy. It also seemed like my body adjusted, because I just wasn’t hungry-haywire in the same way.
It seem certain exercises really set people off differently, hunger-wise–if I swim or cycle, I turn into a ravenous beast, but for some reason, as long as I’m not doing long runs, running actually curbs my hunger.
September 29th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Guilty!
I gained 15 pounds from last July-July…and it wasn’t because I was training for a race (although, I did two 1/2 marathons and a 15K this year). I was just being lazy and making poor food choices.
Now, I’m pregnant. I’m staring head-on at numbers that I’ve never seen the scale increase to, and I actually freaked out about it on Tuesday. I’ve gained 6 MORE pounds so far…and I’m not mentally prepared to venture into this new and exciting territory with the scale.
I just keep telling myself that this is a temporary condition. We can change these things–weight is not a permanent condition. I also have a 15K race planned for next July, which will give me 2.5 months to get my arse in gear and shed some of this “extra” after baby arrives.
Like you said, it’s fixable–it sounds like you know exactly what you need to do!
September 29th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Ahhhh the frustration! As I am working to lose my baby weight…I can totally feel for you. I’m in plateau city and am going a little batty. I know I need to make a change to get things moving again- such a mental game
September 29th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Hi!! I’m new to your blog! You are SO beautiful!~ Don’t let those 10 pds get to you. I gain weight during race season to, Training = need for fuel. Focus on the race and the feeling of accomplishment you get as your cross the finish line. You are going to rock that half!
September 29th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
I’ve gained weight too. Thanks to a new medication and my running regime, I am also constantly hungry. Add in the fact that the boyfriend eats ice cream every night, and now I want it too. I’m with you though – I’m going to keep on keeping on. Not let this get me down. I believe!