He is working with me on the SBM Book coming out in December, and as such, the blog and all its glory is now out of the bag.

Coach M - Ironman NOLA 70.3

“I don’t like being called Coach Monster,” he told me this morning.

“Well, it’s kind of late now,” I said, “What do you want to be called?”

He shrugged. 

Then I worried that I hurt his feelings – that he thought monster meant monster in the traditional sense of the word. I sent him a text message after class and told him that his nickname is not as bad as it seems.  I call him Monster because he loves REM (the Monster album) and is sweet and googly like Cookie Monster. (But he’s also a badass triathlete… so, really, Coach Monster is all around fitting.)

I guess he can be The Coach Formerly Known as Monster. 

Oooh! 

Let’s have a contest for his new name!  We can present him with a list of options, and the person who came up with the one he picks, wins something! Yeah yeah! Contest contest!

Anyway. Last night, the heel on my right foot started hurting. This morning, it is killing me. I have some sort of bruise that I can see. When I asked Google what it was, Google responded: “bruises on the heel can be caused from being overweight and running.”  Bastard.

But I haven’t been running! I screamed at Google.

I’m kind of worried about it, because the bruise is on the broken foot. I am nervous that if I am at Iron Girl on Sunday, favoring the heel because of the bruise, that I might mess up the metatarsal area. Anyway, I am saying prayers. I need Iron Girl! I need it!

Friendly reminders:  
Iron Girl Details: I, along with the Expert and the two Swim Bike Kids, will be at Iron Girl bike check-in tomorrow around 11:30.  If you are out there, please come say hi! 

The Post-Race Swim Bike Mom Fun Fest is happening around 11:30 on SUNDAY at the Taco Mac in Buford, near Mall of GA. Please come join us!

Gear Details: The SBM TECH SHIRTS are on SUPER SALE right now – only $15 – in the Swim Bike Mom Shops store.  Finally, don’t forget to order your Swim Bike Mom Triathlon and Cycling Clothing- last few days. Ordering is only open until Tuesday. 

The Another Mother Runner ladies, Dimity and Sarah, are the very awesome (and very TALL) authors of Run Like a Mother and the new, Train Like a Mother books.

Seriously, I thought I was tall. Sarah and Dimity are awesomely tall (and fashionable, and glamorous). Dimity is so tall, in fact, that she calls herself “Taller than the Transamerica Pyramid” on their website.  I adored both of them and left the party feeling very inspired, grateful and (a tad) tipsy.

(L-R) Sarah, Swim Bike Mom, Ilana, and Dimity....Courtesy of Amerine Photography

I “met” Dimity the first time when she asked me to be a part of “Follow this Mother” on their blog. My post was featured here: https://anothermotherrunner.com/2011/11/16/follow-this-mother-71/, and I was honored to be a part of it.

When we walked into the party, I saw Dimity and Ilana introduced us.  “This is Meredith,” Ilana said.

“Nice to meet you, Meredith,” Dimity said.

“Oh, I’m Swim Bike Mom.”

Squeal. “OH! Swim Bike Mom! Yeah yeah yeah!”

I love Mother books and I especially love the tagline: “How to Get Across Any Finish Line – and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity.”   I am of the opinion that running (and triathlon) is directly the reason you WILL NOT, as a working mother, lose your sanity…

The book release party was incredible.  Met lots of ATL area bloggers and women. The Mothers gave away awesome goody bags (I won a Lucy gift certificate!). They had several giveaways from Nuun, Yurbuds, and Altra (Zero Drop) footwear.Plus, I had just received the go-ahead to remove Wilson, the boot, so I was feeling pretty good.

Courtesy of Amerine Photography

Great night full of amazing women and inspiration. Thanks, Mother Runners.

TEN BEST SPORTS NUTRITION TIPS
ILANA KATZ, MS, RD, CSSD

Many recreational athletes have a difficult time with weight management, especially those that took on the training as a reason for weight loss in the first place. It perplexes them when they then discover the weight gain, instead of expected and anticipated weight loss.

Don’t feel alone, this actually a very common phenomenon. There are a number of reasons for this.

First, athletes tend to build denser muscle as they are losing fat, especially in the first months of their new training program. It does not necessarily mean you are “fatter” just because the number on the scale is higher. Density shows up on a scale. It is therefore better to monitor progress by body composition rather than a weight. Monitor the looseness of your clothes, get someone to measure you with a tape measure, and get a body fat test done every few months.

Notice in this visual how different fat and muscle are in size, density and texture. These both represent 5 lbs:

Okay, then after your body becomes adaptive to your exercise, and body composition changes slowly stabilizes, then yes, the scale should start shifting somewhat (but never drastically, because although the muscle begins to burn fat, it is still getting denser). If, at this point, you feel like you are “gaining, rather than “losing” it may be time to budget on the difference between calories in and calories out. I, as a dietitian, prefer not to use calorie counting as a means to fat loss, but every now and then, an audit, so to speak, may become necessary.  Why? Well….

…many endurance athletes tend to over compensate for workouts. Does this ring true “well I ran 17 miles today, so I deserve to eat anything that is not nailed down”?

Or, for some it may even be the other end of the continuum, where they refuse to eat, because the calories add up. For those that do not eat enough, their bodies will adaptively become efficient fat storing machines. Always keep in mind, human physiology is a mechanism of survival. This means that if you are not providing the required fuel essential for life, your body will store every minute grain that you DO give it. It also adapts and moves into survival mode by using the stored fat (our reserve tank of energy) very, very efficiently, and that translates to “slowly” !! So if you are perplexed as to why you cannot lose a milligram on a scale, yet you have increased on work out intensity and time, and you are not eating very much… then its time to reassess your metabolic efficiency.

Here are the 10 best tips to help avoid these pitfalls…

1. Rev up your metabolism by eating within 30 minutes of waking up, even if its pre workout. If you have a hard time eating before a work out, start off with half a banana to get used to it, its easily digestible, high in carbs and low in fiber, which contribute to a more efficient work out.
2. Recover with a 3:1 carb to protein ratio combination as soon after your work out as possible. Some good examples of this ratio is a protein shake with 1 scoop of protein and at least 2 servings of fruit and some milk or yogurt blended together, or low fat chocolate milk, or a Mix One^T and a fruit. Do not forget to use protein as part of the recovery meal. It begins the rebuild and recovery of muscles as well as makes you feel more satisfied, decreasing the temptation to eat anything not tied down to the table, after many hours of intense activity.
3. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables throughout the day. These superfoods are high in antioxidants which combat off the build up of free radicals from exercise, as well as high in vitamins and minerals that keep your metabolic pathways working efficiently and effectively.
4. Keep a food log daily. Patterns of issues will be evident thus providing you with valuable data. A problem cannot be fixed unless you have the data to get to the root of it. Furthermore, logs make you self accountable to your goals and your current focus.
5. Always have a sports nutrition strategy, for both training and racing. Plan in segments eg. How many grams of carbs either mile by mile or in 15-20 minute blocks. Plan textures and products, eg. Liquids (GatoradeT, acceleradeT), solids (sports beans, shot bloks) or semi solids (gels). Research has shown that those athletes that fuel correctly and don’t avoid sports nutrition because of their high caloric content, actually land up eating less the rest of their long work out days, than those that avoid sports nutrition, trying to save calories.  
6. Know your carbs. Fuel accordingly. Pre work out and post work out carbs can be higher in (GI) Glycemic Index compared to the rest of the meals in a day, where slower burning carbs would be more appropriate. If you are not sure of the different fuel burning rate of carbs, good examples of fast are sports drinks, gels, and shot bloks, also banana and potato. Slower burning would be whole grain products, whole grains themselves (like brown rice, barley, quinoa), legumes, oats (more fibrous carbs slow the fuel burn rate). See other articles in this regard the MY sports nutrition article library too (www.onforlife.com/blog/).
7. Stay constantly hydrated. Goal pre workout is to be hydrated, goal during workout is to keep replacing losses, goal after workout is to rehydrate and replenish electrolytes from sweat loss.
8. Experiment with nutrition during training. Never try new products during a race and do not regress from the sports nutrition strategy you had designed for a particular race.
9. Use safe and effective carbo loading strategies starting about a week before a race. Tapering exercise and switching carbs to a higher percentage at least 3 days before a race, leading up to the race is the most effective way of carbo loading. Do not over eat the night before or the early morning before a race. 
10. Eat nutrient dense food (rich in color and fiber) versus calorie dense food with limited nutrients (such as sodas and candy). Body stores carbs in limited amounts therefore eating smaller meals more often throughout the day will aid in maintaining well fueled muscles constantly, rather than 2 or 3 big meals a day which just slows down the metabolism.

All these tips in combination will lead to most optimal fuel.

The moral of this story is that if you appropriately adapt a sports nutrition strategy, you will not feel like you have deserved to eat yourself into a coma after every long work out, and you will also get enough calories so that your physiology moves away from becoming too efficient and thus moves away from storing everything you consume as fat. 

* * *

If you don’t count the ridiculous 227 and go with my starting weight of 218.8 then I am at 2.4 pounds of loss in around two weeks.

This morning, I was walking out of ths shower, and my daughter (age 3) said, “Ooooh Mommy I don’t want to see you naked!”  Then my son chimes in, “No Mommy! Put your clothes on.”  Thanks, guys!

So what have I been doing re: nutrition? Many of you have asked, so I’ll tell you.

1) I am tracking every thing I am putting in my mouth with the Livestrong.com app.  Everything. I am measuring everything. Everything. I cannot believe how little I “should” be eating. I have also noticed that it’s easy to remain in the calorie budget and remain relatively full with whole foods. Insert one cookie, and you’re screwed. Same with salad dressing.  I have found one I LOVE with Bolthouse Farms – it’s a yogurt dressing, in the refridgerated section…they have several kinds. I like the Olive Oil and Blue Cheese –  and it’s only 45 calories for 2 tablespoons, but it tastes delicious.

2) I have avoided processed food and dairy (with the exception of my yogurt dressing).

3) While I have been eating meat, despite my love for the vegan way, I feel better having fish and eggs. Not emotionally, but physically better.

4) I was told a few years ago that I had a wheat allergy, which perhaps is a gluten intolerance/allergy. I hestiate to use that word, because gluten- free is such a buzz word right now. But proof is in the pudding… er, the protein. I’m not eating pudding. I feel less bloated and sickly.

5) No wine, beer, diet drinks, fruit juice. Only coffee (lots of it) and water. 

6) Finally, I am trying not to focus on the SCALE. At the same time, I am a need-to-know type of person. So I am working on keeping the number at bay and using it more of a guide, not a doomsday issue.

So this is what I am doing. I think the most helpful is the tracking. I truly was eating probably 3500 calories a day before I even knew what was happening.  Measuring out my portions and counting has been truly eye opening.

Other News:
I am working off a WordPress website now… so all of you who were “friends” with me on Blogger… you need to migrate over to the email list here, or you might miss the posts. Feedburner should be set up shortly and I’ll let you know when.

Swim Bike Mom Store:
I am taking Tri Kit orders now for just a few more days (through May 22nd). Go to Swim Bike Mom Shops and read carefully so you pick the right size. Here is more information too. Additionally, there’s lots of other fun SBM gear and stuff in the store.

Thank you all for your awesome emails and comments since my post yesterday. It is good to know that I am not alone.  After I posted that blog, I was chatting with one of my San Diego besties, Life Coach Carrie, and she made me pinky promise with her that we would do better and be better to ourselves. Now, a pinky promise was a bit of a logistical impossibility 3,000 miles away, but you get the idea. I like to honor my pinky promises.  

(Me and Life Coach Carrie, January 2012. Crazy TRX workout. My core is STILL sore from that workout.)

Oh… and I put my scale away again last night.  If you’ll remember the other day I posted my weight (218.8 – the horror)… well, last night I weighed. Which was stupid because it was at the end of the day, I had a good work out, I was very hydrated, had eaten alot of volume food and salt, was fully dressed….

The scale said 227.

EIGHT POUNDS UP? I swear to you, I almost crashed it against the wall. 

Even though I damn well knew that I was easily carrying 10 pounds of clothing, food, salt and water and that in order to have accurate results, you must weigh at the same time each day and under the same circumstances (e.g., take the bricks out of your pockets and don’t weigh carrying your child).

I know these things.  I emailed Ilana (my nutritionist) and she talked me off the ledge. Anyway, I put the scale away after that. And I felt a huge sense of relief again.  (Read THIS POST about hiding your scale if you haven’t and let me know what you think…)

So.

Today, I am stronger than I was yesterday (cue Kelly Clarkson: What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stonger!)  I wasn’t so great yesterday. Anyway, I have eaten well. I will eat well for dinner. (Positive Affirmations! Full food disclosure:  protein smoothie, banana, apple, salad with almonds so far today). 

 

Keep the smile.

Maybe I am having such a good day because I didn’t weigh this morning and the number on the scale isn’t banging around in my head. 

 

When our days seem cloudy, we must remember that we have ALOT to be thankful for. We all do. Yes, things could be better.

But how many of our problems are really “First World Problems“? 

I am trying to spend more time thinking like my daughter.  If she spoke eloquently, I imagine this coming out of her, like the E*Trade baby:  Get it together, Mom. Just put on your pearls and bring your backup jewelry along for the ride. A touch of color gives us perspective.

Finally… Iron Girl Atlanta… just five days away!

I know many of you are racing/spectating, so listen up! We are having a Swim Bike Mom lunch event after the race.  If you are interested in coming and meeting your ATL area Iron Girls and hanging out with us, please email me here and let me know so I can include you on the details list! No, you do not have to be a mom.

Swim Bike Mom on Facebook, Twitter, Daily Mile, YouTube and Pinterest

(And crazy)



I’m am NOW 4000% certain that this is not fat fat fat.

Now, that I am in my thirties, I am blown away by the intensity of fatness I felt at a young age.


Where did it come from? Why was “fat” even used? What kind of kid, at eleven, is even worrying about weight, and figures, and looking good?

“Oh,” I said, “Yeah sort of.”

 

Some of my best friends and Iron People do not need my meager words of triathlon wisdom.  And I don’t have much real wisdom to start. BUT. I bet you can think of a friend or family member who could use a little dose of Swim Bike Mom “Yes You Can Do a Triathlon” reading.

So what’s the point of this mini eBook?

Well, when I started out in triathlon, I had no idea what 100 meters meant, no clue which way to wear my helmet, and had no earthly idea in the world what “T1″ meant.  Hence, the quick starter eBook was born.  This will take even the most beginner of beginners to (and through!) that first starting line.

Don’t forget to comment and spill your next goal. I’m giving away 20 of these plans when released. You can keep it for yourself …OR give to a newbie you know and love.

FINALLY.
This is one of my favorite things of all! You will never (ever) see me race without a visor.  Okay, so you may never actually see ME at all without a visor.  SBM friend Karen saw me leaving the gym the other day, on the way to work, and she did a quadruple take.  My no-visor threw her off. I love visors – but particularly the Headsweats visors because they keep the sweat out of my face and my bedhead in check. 

Available Now at Swim Bike Mom Shops

Check out this photo from SBM friend Sarah.  Naturally, I love the shirt in the last pic, but what an amazing story.  She did her first tri in 2010 and it changed her life forever. Way to go, Sarah. Thanks for sharing.

Today, I had a great elliptical session and 2200m swim. I am down 2 pounds. Yay.


Sarah’s words: “How’s this for numbers! You ask why I’m so passionate about Triathlon… I did my first sprint in 2010, it changed my life. Find your passion. Be the inspiration you seek. My goal weight was 145 but I’ve embraced the healthy weight and I’m ok with muscle and tone The history on the pictures… 2005 - 6 months after I had baby #1 2006 – I was 2 months pregnant with #2 2007 – Was 10 months after baby #2…and those are maternity pants I’m still wearing!! To anybody wanting to lose weight…get rid of the FAT clothes the second you make progress! Leave no room to slip back!!! 2008 - I started walking 2009 - I started jogging 2010 – I bought a bike in June and thought that qualified me to do a triathlon in September! 2011 – 2nd triathlon 2012 – Just last week when my SBM tech shirt came (made my day!) I hope to do a Half Iron in November

Got a great story to share?  Head on over to http://www.swimbikemomstories.com/, get inspired, and then… send me yours to SwimBikeMom at Gmail dot com.

But something else is different.

I am not sure what it is.

For example, I woke up in Jacksonville, Florida today for a business meeting. I woke up an hour early at the hotel in order to squeeze in some cardio at the not-too-shabby hotel gym.  I got dressed. I drank coffee. I realized that I left my sneakers in the car… back in Atlanta.
 

Old Me:  “F it! I’m going back to bed! This sucks!”

Correction. The Really “Old Me” would have never gotten up early to exercise at a hotel. Never. Nev-uh.

But this morning, the Old Me was nowhere to be found. I ended up doing a series of planks, crunches, pushups, yoga moves and I worked up a decent sweat before showering and putting on the suit (which is when I really began to sweat. For the love… suits? In the summer? Who made up this dress code? )

Oh, and here are some obligatory blog photos with new self-timer app on iPhone. Come on, I know they are stupid. But no one likes blogs without photos. Boo-yow.

Push-ups with not-so-fabulous form.

Yoga. Or something that is trying to be yoga.

Crunches.

Even last night at dinner…. the Old Me would have eaten the table’s entire appetizer plate of chips smothered in blue cheese, all the bread basket and been down seventeen martinis before dinner arrived.  Then, because it was a “special night,” my dinner would have included some sort of creamy deliciousness that would be better spread directly onto my rear end… right next to its neighbor, chocolate cake for dessert.

Instead, I had two blue cheese chips, one piece of bread and grilled fish. Two blue cheese chips. TWO. Seriously. TWO! TWO!

I’m not sure who I am. Really.

But I think I am starting to like myself a little more each day.  I am learning that fat, skinny, fit or fabulous is not the issue… it’s something about being kind to my insides. Taking care of myself. Giving my body a fighting chance by feeding it nicer.  And giving myself a break when I fall down.

Even as I sit right now at the airport, typing furiously, I sit across from Cinnabon. A bit ago, I had marched right past Cinnabon.  I went to Starbucks. Instead of ordering my standard fat-free chemical latte and blueberry scone, I opted for a plain coffee, apples, cheese and crackers.

Speaking of Jacksonville… look at the world’s shortest escalator ever.

It’s weird.

But really, these “same changes” feel different this time.  I have made these changes before.  But the choices felt painful. 

This time, I swear it feels different. Maybe I can credit my frame of mind. I’m not dieting – I am simply trying not to kill myself with food and alcohol.

These changes feel sustainable. Soulful. 

I am sure I will fall off the “kind to my insides” wagon now and again.  The difference is… I think now I have the right frame of mind to stand up, dust off and get back on the train.

Many of you said you were “with me” and wanted to implement healthy changes in your life…

How is your journey going so far?

I truly believe anything is possible when you want it bad enough. I have always believed that.

But watching this, I know it to be true. What an inspirational boost for this Monday.

I have no excuses.

Do you? Really? Let’s keep going. Let’s make it happen! 

(Thanks Amy M. for sharing this video with me. )

L-R:  Karen, SBM, Charity, Mark, Cynthia, Joanna

I met Charity a few days ago through this blog, and she brought Cynthia. Turns out that Karen and Charity knew each other, and Joanna is good friends with Karen. Small world!
 
We had a great ride.  The horrific hills from less weekend, seemed quite a bit less horrific this time.

While Mark is not doing Iron Girl (of course), he is doing his first triathlon in June at Lake Lanier.

He’s done several duathlons, and swears the swim will kill him (it won’t, Mark…it won’t!) 

Too bad Mark and I look like we could be siblings.

Even though I was bringing up the rear most (all) of the ride, I had eaten well on Saturday and consequently woke up down another pound and feeling better.

Amazing how much easier 20 miles is… when you’ve not eating 3 whole pizzas and drank a case of beer.  (Okay, so that was a bit of an exaggeration. Just a bit.)

After the ride, Joanna and I went to Mary Alice Park for a quick little open water swim. The water was a great temperature – cool to start, and therefore, no wetsuit for me – I was nice and warmed by the end.

Garmin maps of swims are my FAVORITES.  The satellite signal pinging all over the place looks like we were swimming on crack.

So I’m still eating mostly vegetarian, but I am (right now) focusing on not dying and bingeing… so fish has been a part of the diet over the last few days.

Dinner last night

Lunch today? Oh no…	.

Not too shabby! Picked off the cheese.

Tomorrow is a new day! So many of you are starting new on your commitments. Thanks for all the amazing encouragement, comments and emails.  We can do it!

Fun pool time yesterday with Swim Bike Kid #1.

 
Well, it’s official.  I have a metabolism. And a good one. I believe Ilana‘s words were “Your metabolism is actually above average.”

And because of this, I am going to tell you what I really weigh…

After the testing, I was waiting to hear: “You have no metabolism” or “It’s just terrible and that’s why you struggle with your weight.”

The Expert and I went in this morning for our BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) testing with my favorite foodie/nutritionist, Ilana at Optimal Nutrition for Life. Ilana is a-maz-ing. I just am a bad student. The first time I followed her plan I also felt a-maz-ing and lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks.

Well, in light of my recent weight gain and the new my Ironman fear… I have been scared straight and I am on the super bandwagon ‘o health.  I am down 1.2 pounds today.  Just in a day.  Just from sheer lack of cookies.

The Expert went first.  I was scared of the nosepiece and the mouthpiece… because I am claustrophobic.  (Turned out to be just fine, BTW.)

Well. Apparently, the Expert’s “super fast man metabolism” was ….not.  His metabolism is actually below average, which means that between the two of us, we can actually follow similar, if not identical, meal plans.

Then he told Ilana his weight.  And I stared at him. “WHAT??” I wailed.

We are only 12 pounds apart in weight. Oh, this bummed me out. Big time. (Consequently, you should have seen the perfect metabolic meal I just ate and how fast I moved on my session on the elliptical…)

So Ilana went over the results. My BMR is hovering around 1987.  Which is considered a “fast” metabolism.  Who knew.

So anyway, I thought I would be bummed to learn that my metabolism is normal… not to mention “fast.” But Ilana said something that was awesome and I think is going to do wonders.

She said, “Use this fast metabolism to your advantage. Eat well, and your fat will burn off.”

As I was on the elliptical (only a few more weeks to run!)… I was looking at my jiggle thighs and singing, BURN BABY BURN it’s a THIGH RUB INFERNO… but I was thinking, I got it this time. I got it. 

Additionally, the Expert agreed to a bet. I am spreading the word because I want you guys to hold me accountable.

So, on this day, I am going to tell you my weight.

Why?

Because:
1) Some of you send me messages saying, “But you don’t understand, because you’re not as BIG as me” or “You don’t weigh as much as me, so I can’t run like you.” You will be surprised in about six seconds.

2) I want you to know exactly the struggle and truth that I am going through, so that you can see… that YOU can do triathlon (at your current weight), try to lose weight and be happy doing it (at least that’s my goal!)

3) I need your help to get me to my goal. I really do!

If I eat well and reach my Augusta 70.3 goal weight, then I get a tri bike for my race.

Not a “new” tri bike, but a tri bike nonetheless. I really, really want the bike. And I want to feel good.  I want to feel good in my skin, in my race.

So here are my numbers.  Don’t laugh.  Don’t cry.  Just absorb them.

So, as you can see, I have not been under 200 pounds since I started this journey. Actually, I have not been under 200 pounds since 2009.  And that was only for a day, when I reached 199 for my 30th birthday.

I was on a good trajectory after Miami, but I’ve put on weight again. I am not settling for this battle.  I know it’s not about the SCALE, and I still don’t cling to my scale, and I won’t. I am going to keep my scale hidden most of the time, and only weigh at Ilana’s.

So who’s with me?? Really? Who is going to change? Let’s do it for ourselves. 

I love you guys. I mean it. The Swim Bike Mom community is amazing and I would have never imagined I would have so many thousands of amazing people who feel just like, and who are, friends.

You have given me endless inspiration and hope. I want to do the same for you.

By putting my weight out there, I am showing you what I want to be… BUT…I am also showing you what I accomplished during my “fatness.”

So. Don’t let weight stop YOU either.

We can ALL be better.  But let’s all be honest with each other, ourselves and get moving to being exactly who we dream to be.

Oyster Eating Fail.


Usually, I can joke about it, but really, I’m not finding humor in it anymore.

I gots a problem. 

I am meeting with Ilana Katz (my pal, book-contributor and nutritionist) again on Saturday. I know she’ll help scare me straight.

As I swam a very hard and well-earned 2100 meters this morning, I felt like crap from what I put into my body yesterday. I fueled my body with poopsicles, alright. Garbage food. And lots of it. Disgusting chemical food that tasted delicious.

This morning, I was whining to the Expert:
Expert:     You have to get your act together.
Me:           I know.
Expert:     You have people depending on you.
Me:           I know.
Expert:     Get it together, Mere.
Me:           Okay.

But all I can think about today is cookies. I wanted to leave work, go to Panera Bread with my laptop and work from their tables…. so I could sit and eat their cookies.  Then, I have been thinking about how much I want to eat pizza and drink beer after work.  I had a swim this morning, and I want to UNDO it all with FOOD.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!?!  I can’t take this food obsession/destruction any longer! I seriously feel like I am about to lose it. 

Well… I was feeling that way…

Until I remembered something very important: I have signed up to volunteer at Ironman Florida in November. 

Then I got scared.

And I didn’t want pizza or beer anymore. I just wanted to get on my bike, get this healing broken foot run-ready and feel healthy. The thought of 2.4 miles in the water, 112 miles in the saddle, and 26.2 (holy guac) on the run…

140.6 miles at this weight? In these pants?

Oh. em. gee. If I had to ride 112 miles with my 10,000 pound rear in the saddle… the Queen would fall off.

Not this Queen.

 Needless to say, Ironman has officially scared me straight.
Really, all I can think to say now: time to make this sh*t happen. 

Who’s with me? Who’s coming with me?



Source



However, sometimes I have to get into it further. “What do you do at the law firm?” they’ll ask. I dread this part.

Source

But, I say it, “I’m an attorney,” and then one of three things happens:
1) the person has absolutely no reaction (thank goodness);
2) they suddenly are very interested (and also, angry) and follow up my response with something like, “OH, I HATE LAWYERS! How despicable. How do you do it?”; or
3) they are interested because they have a legal problem that suddenly I can assist with.
 
(I have utmost sympathy for doctors. At least people come up to me saying, “I have this neighbor who has a loud dog and he keeps me up all night barking…”  With doctors, I imagine there’s a lot of “Hey doc, I’ve got this thing under my arm…” (lifting shirt) “…can you take a look now?”)

Anyway.  Last night, I was thinking about what I’d like to be when I grow up. I started doing some math.  I calculated how much money I would be “losing” if I quit my job.  I did the calculation based on 35 years (the expectation of evil years I have left in this profession).

My realization: the Golden Handcuffs have absolutely got me.

Source

And even though my handcuffs are more Sterling Silver than real gold… I am absolutely stuck.Now, I’m wondering how the Lessons in Patience are paying off.

How many of you are stuck? In a place you don’t want to be? In a job that you swear will rip your entire soul out before the end of the month?  Are we just glad to have jobs, especially in this economy? (Yes, I know this is correct.)  But really, how many of us just want more? Or something different? Something that doesn’t actually pain our stomachs and drive us to drink each day?

I thank God for triathlon.

Source

Triathlon, I am certain, is gaining its rampant popularity due to the fact that people hate their day jobs. Hate. Hate.

Being a “Weekend Warrior” allows a person who can’t survive another weekday spreadsheet, another classroom of bratty munchkins, to get on a bike and ride free… to run until the pain goes away… to swim 70.3 flip turns until the sounds of the evil boss is gone with the bubbles and the taste of chlorine.

I’m not sure what to say about the Golden Handcuffs.

But I believe triathlon is the key to open the cuffs. Not permanently, but regularly. With a workout, I can break free of the cuffs, and be me.

From SwimBikeMomStories.

Triathlon is the joyful noise that gets me through.

At the end of the day, I may be forced to stick out my arms and return to the prison.

But I know, deep in my heart that the sunshine was worth it…and that the weekend escape with my fellow triathlete “inmates” is enough to keep me going until the next time.

I need to stop eating garbage. Yes, I need to lose 4,000,832 pounds. Yes, I need to stop being so impatient with myself. But I am really making excuses, and I’m tired of it.

We all slip up with our diets, our workouts, our tempers. How do we stop the bad behaviors from spiraling out of control? 

Sweaty from lunchtime workout. My favorite time of day because this is when the co-workers ask: 1) Have you been crying? 2) Why are you so RED? 3) How DO you have time to workout with all this WORK that has to be done around here?

I recently started Chrissie Wellington’s new book, A Life Without Limits (review to come soon….so far, awesome). Me and ole CW have a few things in common. [No, not our fast and mad running skilz. I know that was your first thought.]

Food is my fuel and I am filling my tank with poop-sicles. 

Triathlon clicked with me when I realized that progress from training was amazing, steady and directly proportional to the work that I put into it. The realization that I simply needed to do the work, day by day, was a big and big dividend-paying revelation. That as long as I took each workout and completed it, one day at a time, I would eventually find myself crossing a 70.3 finish line. And I was right.

Starting back into training again is wonderful. I am semi-scared, to be honest. But as I did 35 minutes on the dreaded elliptical (4 week countdown to running), plus abs, I had the same realization again:  I must just do the workouts, day by day and keep going, to get me to Augusta 70.3. 


Delicious organic carrots! Seriously. Delicious.

 As I realized that my training would continue to be a slow, steady gain, I thought about my food back at the office. I made a tangible mind-stomach connection:

Like my training, I need to take my meals one step at a time. Complete every “good” meal like a workout, plan for the next one, applaud and move on. If I have a bad workout, I don’t beat myself up (too badly). I need to play the same workout game …only with food.

Maybe if I flip my mind around to fueling efficiently and smartly, then this binger might turn into something slimmer. Good golly, I hope so.

Karen, SBM and Kim heading out!

This was my first day back in the saddle since broke-foot-a-palooza 2012.  The air was cool and I felt so alive, just being back on the bike!

Karen and Kim!

Even though the bike was painful and exhausting and I have a long road ahead, I loved being back on the bike.

A few observations:

1. While I felt great getting on the move and back onto my bike, I felt (and to my horror, also looked) like a giant stuffed sausage.  Time to put down the food (again and always…sigh.) Not only for aesthetic purposes do I need to lose weight… but there were some mean climbs on this course, and three weeks until the race…. if I could peel off, say… 1000 pounds, that would make the climbs easier.
2. This was actually my first ride with a “group” that did not include the Expert.  While I can say that I was probably holding the group significantly down, it felt great to spend an early morning riding with some fabulous ladies.  Next week:  Mountain Goat is coming too! Woot!
3.  We rode about 20 miles, and while it was difficult, I am proud to say that it is true: I have not “lost it all” with the broken foot.  Because the beginner triathlete in me could only do 8 miles on the first outing.  So… there’s something there. 
4. Seriously, the last climb on this course (around Mile 13) was crazy.  Crazy. I was sucking wind like a freight train, and Constance (my Garmin) didn’t even register my heart rate… I think it was too high for the watch.

I am looking forward to the race. Even though I will be walking the 5k (doctor’s orders), I am going to be so thrilled to have the energy of a race again. It’s all about the climb, baby. At least that’s what Miley Cyrus says… and we all know she’s a genius.

Thanks, Karen!

 Have a great week! Oh, and on the drive out… I couldn’t help but LOVE this!

He wrote me back:  

“Patience, grasshopper. You are where you are. Embrace your current ‘place’ and be thankful that you are moving forward towards your fitness goals. In the end, it is all any of us can do.”

[After he sent the text, then he ninja chopped six bad guys in an alley outside his dojo. Just sayin.]

Embrace your current place….

Take a hint from the Swim Bike Kiddos.  Who have no problem with this mantra.

I responded: “If we could only see ourselves through the eyes of others.”  One of my favorite quotes from Coach Carrie.  For even Coach Monster has had some negative statements about himself lately. Coach C always tells me:  “Remember to see yourself as others see you” which is kind of scary, but also reassuring.  Because we are the biggest enemies of ourselves.

Embrace your current place…

However, sometimes we do not want our current place. I completely understand that.  So how do we embrace a place we aren’t loving? How do we move forward when every step (literally and figuratively) hurts?

At the risk of sounding mumbo-jumbo-hocus-pocus, I believe that the simple Law of Attraction is at work. We must embrace the place, miserable or happy, and put out the positive vibes into our little universe. With the outpouring of positivity, good things are attracted, and better things appear on the horizon.

I go back to this quote all the time: 
Just because something isn’t happening for you right now… doesn’t mean that it will never happen. 

I must repeat that mantra, sometimes 10000000 times a day….or else, I’d become Swim Bike Murderer.  Just sayin.

For example, just because my swollen pork foot is a “decroded piece of crap” right now, doesn’t mean it will be a piece of crap for always.

Post-NOLA festivities = Sausage foot

Embrace your place and have a great weekend, everyone. The Expert is racing his first sprint of the season tomorrow!  (So jealous!)

Premier Protein

In other news, I am working on a sponsored campaign with Premier Protein. I am pretty sure that this is a “Frosty” Recipe that this Peanut Butter Lova will be Trying:

Monkey Frosty
1 Banana peeled and frozen
1 Premier Protein Chocolate Shake
3 Tbsp Peanut Butter
 Ice for volume
Directions: Break frozen banana into pieces, combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until lightly chunky. Scoop into large cup and serve with a spoon.

Okay…. That sounds goooooood. Premier Protein suggested that I incorporate the shakes into my morning meal routine. If we’re talking peanut butter and bananas, I think I can “manage.” I’ll keep you updated when I try the shakes and let you know what I think!

Really, though, I am always looking for a new protein powder. I used Designer Whey for years during weightlifting, but haven’t found one I really love since then. Premier Protein is also a whey isolate, bringing 30grams of protein per scoop. I’m still living the mostly vegan lifestyle – and while I know whey is a no-no… I have learned not to beat myself up over an isolate.  If you are interested in a new protein powder, check them out and then let me know what you think.

Here’s a sponsored article: Three Ways The Right Protein Can Help Boost Your Day.