Todd finished his finals this week... he is DONE with his first year of grad school! We can't believe it's halfway over. He has spent this week reading, working out, and relaxing. He doesn't know what to do with his time now--he was spending upwards of 100 hours per week on various school activities, which all came to a grinding halt.
He starts his internship tomorrow! I am really excited for him. I still can't believe how lucky we are that his internship is right here in Charlottesville. We have big plans for exploring this place during the summer! Big plans. Starting off with a possible Cafe Rio run this weekend. That's right, THERE IS NOW A CAFE RIO IN MARYLAND!! Yes, we will drive 3 hours for a Pork Barbacoa salad.
I am still humming along with work, spending time with Todd, and growing my blog/business. Aside from a minor nervous breakdown this weekend (from which I was quickly rescued by my good husband), it's all going quite well. I have a very blessed life, which allows me to worry about things that aren't of much consequence. The following describes a recent goal I wish to document for gee whiz, which you may feel free to skip.
I have started working toward a goal I have had since I was 15: to weigh 120 pounds/wear size 27 designer jeans. (My goal in life was to be the same size as Heidi Klum. I've recently changed that to Duchess Catherine because she looks more athletic.) I have obviously not taken this very seriously, having been pretty much the same size for more than a decade. Two weeks ago, I started working out twice as much as I had been to finally make this goal happen. I felt great, albeit tired. I then experienced three major setbacks:
ONE. I gained 1.4 pounds.
I had stayed off the scale all week and was excited to see my progress after working so hard. I was so mad. I realize losing 8 pounds will probably be hard for me, because I hardly have 8 pounds to lose. But I certainly didn't expect to gain when I had made so many improvements. So I started counting calories. I was shocked at the number of calories I eat every day. So I'll be eating like a rabbit for the next few weeks (hopefully a skinny rabbit). If I'm irritable, you know why ;)
TWO. I have hated running all my life, but in the past few years I have come to really enjoy running outside. It doesn't hurt that I get to run in such a beautiful place--my usual route takes me around the UVa Rotunda and gardens. I'm no distance runner--the farthest I've ever run in one session is like 4 miles.
This week, I attempted running three times, and had to stop after about a mile each time due to burning pain in my shins and the inability to flex my feet, causing me to run totally flatfooted. I tried to push through it, but the pain worsened. Brief online research tells me it is likely my shin splints have returned due to overexertion (4 miles?). The only solutions seem to be ice, rest, and stretching. That means no running.
THREE. After coming to grips with having to do all of my exercising indoors (bleh), I embraced using the rowing machine and the stationary bicycle. I have had weak arches and ankles all of my life, but other than the aforementioned shin splints that first appeared during 8th grade soccer, I've never had any serious impediments to athletic activity. Until my buddy the tick left me with Lyme Disease. One of the common (and lasting) side-effects is joint pain, especially in the knees.
On Thursday, I biked for 30 minutes and rowed for less than 15. My knees have hurt ever since. How am I supposed to lose weight when my body revolts against every attempt at cardio? The elliptical machine is my last hope.
I realize I don't have a lot to complain about, if my biggest problem is forced use of the elliptical and setbacks in my quest to look like a super model. But if I keep gaining weight, I've threatened to quit exercising and eat what I want (and somehow weight less).
6 comments:
Girl...you look GREAT the way you are!
I just tore an article out of a Men's Fitness magazine about getting through a lot of the common setbacks to running, some of which you mentioned. Not shin splints though. Once you have those you just have to recover, then learn to run on grass or anything but sidewalks.
Riss- Heidi and Catherine don't have anything on you! You always look adorable! Plus you know what they say, pay attention to how your clothes fit/how you FEEL not an arbitrary number on the scale. Wish Todd good luck on his internship and enjoy your summer festivities!! :) I bet July 4th will be awesome out there!
Don't you worry. If you've upped your exercise, you're probably just retaining water in the muscle mass you're gaining. If you're doing all the right things, it WILL come off, even if slowly but surely.
GOOD LUCK. I'm proud of you, and right there with you (though no where near even your starting weight...!)
When I ran my half marathon I blew both of my knees out. I stopped running for like a year and it seemed to help. Now I wear knee braces when I run and I look like a dork but it helps. I also can't run as far or as long without them hurting. One of the biggest things that helps me is to cut back on sugar intake. I have a huge sweet tooth. I try not to eat as much at night either. I did a cleanse that made me loose like 6 lbs in one week. But it all came back :(
lime disease?! eek. you gained MUSCLE! 1.4 lbs of muscle. Try swimming. It's easy on the joints and pretty much the best exercise you can do! you are TINY how you are! HOLY COW! I'm seriously 20lbs heavier than you. You look awesome.
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