Diets and running
Posted on June 8th, 2012 | Health and WellnessTags: diet, exercise, food, healthy, run, running, wellness
I recently went for a physical, and expressed to my doctor my concern over not being able to lose weight. I’d gained about 15 pounds since January, and a grand total of about 30 since my split from my marriage (I don’t want to say divorce, since that didn’t officially happen until two years later). It wasn’t always a steady incline over the years; around April/May of 2010 I dropped down to nearly my previous weight again, only to gain it slowly back during the following years.
Diet is a big factor — even though I’ve been making a conscious effort since January to eat healthier, I still fall back on a lot of junk and comfort foods. I also am not as active as I used to be; I have a valid drivers’ license now so I don’t walk everywhere any more. While I still try to walk at least a half an hour 5 times a week, it’s not the same.
My doctor ordered blood tests and a metabolism test. My cholesterol, thyroid, blood sugar are all normal, and I have a resting metabolism rate of about 1,300 calories. Based on all this information, I’ve been put on a 1,000-calorie-a-day diet with an hour of cardio exercise five times a week.
Do you know what’s awesome about a 1,000-calorie-a-day diet?
Absolutely nothing.
I’ve been reduced to eating little more than fish and vegetables, all steamed with a little salt and pepper, to maximize the amount of food I can eat. A friend sent me some links to vegetarian recipes, but I haven’t tried any yet.
As far as the exercise aspect of the diet goes, I wanted to try something a little more intense than walking, but I am not, have never been, and never will be a gym person. Running has always daunted me, mostly because of my extreme boobage, but also because any time I tried I’ve failed miserably. This morning was no exception: I stretched, started out with a nice, leisurely-paced jog, and within five minutes my throat was on fire and I couldn’t breathe. I sought my friend Katie’s help, since she recently ran her first 5k race, after losing a considerable amount of weight from bariatric surgery. She recommended to me The Couch-to-5k program, which gradually eases you into running. I’m surprisingly eager to check it out, and hopefully I will be able to run three miles in two months, in addition to being able to drop this extra weight and feel better about myself.
I wish I could lose weight.
Wishing will get you nowhere. Stop wishing and start doing.
I don’t think I’ll be able to follow through with it.
I’m currently on a diet and exercise regime right now, too, but I’m not limiting myself to a certain number of calories every day. I think that may work for some people, but I know I would just feel hungry. Instead, I try to eat healthier — it’s more of a lifestyle change, as they say. Just make sure not to buy the junky foods and that helps you keep a good diet.
For exercising, yes, I agree ease into it. I remember before I used to get so tired after five minutes, too, but you have to push through. If five minutes get you tired, take a break afterward, then do another five minutes. If you run for five minutes, break for five, you can at least run a full half an hour if you do it for an hour each day. That will help to build up your endurance. Good luck!
It sounds like you’re going about it in a great way. You know your body best and you know what will and will not be successful. It’s hard at first to make good choices about eating and exercising, but eventually it becomes habit and it’s easier. Hoping you have the best of luck!
I wish you all the best with your plan! I remember a couple years ago I went nuts with the calorie-counting, and all it ended up doing was getting me really weak and depressed. That was also the year I started running–I got up to about 30 miles a week and I just dropped the calorie thing altogether because the exercise alone was getting me where I wanted to be. Everyone has a different path, but once you find it, it gets easier.