The Mindset Shift Behind the Miles: Why Fueling Right Changed Everything (Again)

 I used to think about food constantly. Well kind of… After the talk with Koach on June 30 and running some things through Gemini (the AI that I use), I basically made up my mind that “nothing tastes as good as healthy feels” and that was it. On Monday, July 06 someone put a bunch of breakfast pastries on a cart by the kitchenette - which is next to my office. I walked past them. It was later in the day when I realized I had not even thought about them. Usually I would want one and spend entirely too much time reminding myself I didn’t need it OR I would have just gotten one. When I realized it had not occurred to me to pick one up, I started reflecting on that. I had been that way pretty since June 30. Now I know that isn't very long but it was just interesting to me. 

Then on July 11 it was my turn to host our SCC night. That meant lots of cleaning and well, for me, cooking. I LOVE to feed people! I usually taste (and by taste I mean full spoons or servings) what I’m making throughout the day saying “it’s quality control” and then that evening I eat my fill of the goodies I made. But this time I didn’t. I literally just tasted - the tip of a spoon or tap of a finger, a single bite, etc. just enough to know if seasonings needed to be adjusted. Then that night, I barely had any of it and I avoided all the breads/starchy foods. I didn’t even have wine that night. It was when I was telling Holly what I made, that I realized I didn’t eat much of it.

Fast forward to July 18. I catered for Michael that day. Normally, I figure out how to sneak bites of everything. He is a great chef!! Oh and he had cheesecake - my favorite. This time… I didn’t. I had a bite of salmon and a bite of cheesecake (that was store bought so it wasn’t my favorite but still… It was cheesecake!) That night I was talking to a friend at dinner. She was talking about another mutual friend who had lost a lot of weight also after a “rough” doc appointment. My friend said that our mutual friend told her most people don’t think about food all the time. She had learned this from a nutritionist. So I told my friend about my experience recently. She responded saying I had a great reason to ignore it. And basically doubted that it would stay off. 

This week, after running, I was talking to Holly about it. And I had two thoughts. It was at this point I realized that the previous time I lost weight I had turned it off. This was 2006 when I hired Koach. I lost 55 pounds, 35 of them in the first 5 weeks. That was a full lifestyle change. I stopped eating starchy carbs AND I was training for a 44 mile race after I had just completed a marathon. Here’s the kicker with that… It was from Thanksgiving to the week after Christmas. THE food season! The season when most people gain 5 lbs and I lost 35 lbs. 

Then with these last few weeks of eating solid nutritious foods, I am not thinking about food. And I think BOTH times it’s because my body is getting what it needs and isn’t looking for it. I also believe after a few weeks of cutting out the extra starches and sugars my body has broken its addiction to them. Could it easily come back? Probably but only if I start eating those things that I know are not healthy for me. I even asked someone in our office this morning about the journey she had been on and lately gotten away from. I mentioned the “thinking about food all the time” and she said “that’s the thing. When I was eating healthy and moving my body, I didn’t think about food.” A total “Huzzah!” moment!

So if you’re still with me… I am committed to healthy eating and daily workouts. (Ok I started July 01) I will discuss them here. I am inviting you along for the ride. In the next post, I will run the numbers so you can see where I started and have accountability for where I’m going.

Live fully,

Bobbi

Starting a new Journey

 Let's talk...

Several of you have asked about how the race in February went ... we'll just say "not good" for now. Allow me to explain in the words below.

You already know running is my thing, so I won't try to convince in that area.

However, I'd like to talk about the marathon and what happened from the discipline side of running. On the morning February 22 it had been 16 degrees in Kansas City as I headed to the airport. In Atlanta, the days leading up to the race had been cold and misty. Race day (February 26) it hit 70+ and was sunny. This made for a hot, humid day - especially the 2nd half of the race. I could say that my issues were the weather but that would be a lie.

My issues? Struggling to run and control my breath. I did have cramps in my calves and that was likely from the heat and humidity. But the others were all me. 

In training, I had failed to remain disciplined in all areas of training. Not just this year but over the course of the last handful of years. I let what I wanted now interfere with what I wanted more. I let my grit get soft and found excuses. Too many times, I said "close enough" ... and I paid for it on race day.

At shy of the 20-mile mark I was forced to "cut the course" - I was going too slow. And I was too slow because... yep! I had not trained sufficiently. This was not due to my trainer's plans.. this was due to me. I DO believe I would have just made it but that wasn't the goal either. What happened though was that a race personnel had me (and I assume the 4 or 5 people behind me) escorted across the street to join the group heading towards Mile 23. I was escorted by one of the police officers who had been directing traffic to make sure I didn't try to go on. If you just did the math, that means my race was only 23 miles total - not 26.2 miles. And although I understand when many of you say, "but that's great!", "wow - 23 miles", etc. it wasn't the goal. The goal was a marathon. And I failed because I did NOT do what I needed to do. 

The other aspect of that failure is weight. I have had many friends and colleagues say, "but you're healthy inside", "you can do things most people can't", etc. They are correct in those comments - I usually have very good blood work, a great resting heart rate and the like. However, I cannot do the things I want to do.

And THAT my friends is THE problem. I would not have been in that position at the Atlanta Marathon if I were in the physical condition I should be. It's not even about how I look (although that is a side benefit!) It IS about the goals I have. I cannot accomplish them if I stay the same. I could blame this issue on hormones and menopause but again, it is really my fault. 

After coming to terms with all of this and swallowing a big o' bite of humble pie, I am committing to reawakening the discipline that took me to so many heights before (Tahoe Triple Marathon, Mount Hood PCT 50 miler, just running 20 miles every other weekend in less than 4 hours) and today is Day 1 of that journey. I am committing to 75 days.

I will update regularly on what I'm doing and how it's going. Much of this is more about the grit, aka mental toughness, that it takes to accomplish my goals.

Those goals include exceling in: 

• Fitness and nutrition
• Finances
• Faith

This is to obtain the freedom I desire. There are some business goals as well but they don't start with an "F"! LOL 

Soooo, I am going to invite you on my runs, include you in my strength training and yoga sessions, and will even bring you into the kitchen with me. I will invite you into my times for personal growth and development as well by sharing what I am reading. All of this is to rebuild that discipline I once had by strengthening my mind and my body. I hope you will come along!

Believe,

Bobbi

Again?

So as you can see, I had decided to start a blog about running, specifically about running in a skirt. Unfortunately as soon as I finished my last post the pain in my foot began. Ok... maybe a couple days later. It had hurt some the day I ran with RIT in 3 degree weather but I brushed it off to the cold and having Raynaud's syndrome. The following week when I ran with the group, I had to have Koach pick me up at 4 miles.

At this point I can only wear shoes that do not lace over the arch of my foot. It could be a stress fracture or it could be capulitis (sp?) which is simply a swelling around the metatarsals of the foot. Either way, recovery is 6 to 8 weeks. So for now, I'm mixing up a batch of homemade hot chocolate while waiting for the snow to start falling tomorrow!

Happy and Safe New Year to all!

Believe,
Bobbi

It's New!

.... but still in a skirt. New blog but old habits. I'm a skirt girl. When I dress up - it's a skirt or a dress. I only own one pair of jeans and one pantsuit. Oh and I have a pair of capri's! So it was only natural that when I run it would be in a skirt.

When I first started wearing running skirts most of the available ones came in black. BORING! The pocket, singular..not pockets, if they had one was in the middle of the back and not big enough to hold anything bigger than a key and Chapstick! As new colors came available I would be asked if I played tennis... ummm... that's a NO! Not a clue how to play the game.

As I'd run the paved trails here in the Kansas City area, I was really the only person in a skirt. This was 2007. I could go MONTHS without seeing another skirted runner! Out on the dirt trails there were even fewer.

Over time not only did skirts start to come in more colors and patterns but they became more functional. The shorts underneath often have rubber grippers like tri-shorts so that they stay in place. Not much is worse than having the legs "roll up" - I do not know about you but I certainly do not need more bulk with my chub-rub!

So this will be the story of running in a skirt! My hope is to talk about all the girlie things associated with running... like why is everything pink??? or how do you respond to "cat calls"? Or even how do you deal with... well you know?

Until next time!
Believe,
Bobbi