G: So, yeah, I have a mild ear infection. The doc called in some meds for me.
B: WAIT! Do NOT take those antibiotics! They'll kill all the viruses inside of you!
G: Oh geez! That's right! I'm glad you said something.
B: Just give the infection another week and then take the meds.
G: Yeah - the typhoid is still getting settled in there. I don't want to cancel it out. I'll wait.
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In other news, yesterday was the day o'reckoning with Trainer Ben.
My status?
I've lost 1.2 pounds & over 2% body fat. Woo hoo!
On the one hand, I'm like, it's taken me four weeks to lose one pound? And on the other hand I remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and that this is one pound I will hopefully never regain. Also, it has been four weeks of transition but only about two weeks of real progress, as it took me a couple of weeks to work out the dang food spreadsheet and the concept of eating every 3-4 hours v. only 3 times a day. And let's not forget the constant drinking of water. And then there was the lying to my trainer.
Some lifestyle changes so far (that I'm hoping will stick, in one way or another):
*Eating small meals a few times a day. At first this felt counterintuitive, especially making sure to eat a small meal at night after my "big" work out. It felt like I was canceling out my work. However, with this new eating style, I have more consistent energy throughout the day, and I never reach the ravenous point.
*Strength training three times a week. I have historically not been a fan of strength training. I mean, I get why it is important, I just thought it was boring to do. If I run on the treadmill, I feel like I'm really doing something (and I get the irony in this, since running on a treadmill is used as a metaphor for not actually getting anything done). But if I stare into the mirror and lift weights, bleh, not so much. This is where having a trainer has come in handy. I have learned so many new strength-building exercises, their correct forms, etc. I would not have been motivated enough to have researched these things on my own.
*Working out (however, whenever, whatever) six days a week. I have dedicated at least one (ideally two) mornings each week to work out. This is extremely new and unusual for me, as I do 99.99% of my working out after work and on weekends. Last week, I thought I would give it a shot: get up at 5:00 and get one workout in and then go from there. As hard as it is to roll out of bed, it makes a big, big difference in my overall fitness for the week. So, this week I will try it twice and then evaluate on a week-by-week basis if this is a manageable routine, moving forward.
*One very important rest day. One day a week, I take it easy with the food restrictions (Hello, Haagen Dazs, my icy lover) and with the exercise (Hello, semi-new couch that has conformed to my body).
*Healthy eating. In trying to maintain a balance of protein/carbs/healthy fat, I can see that the easy route would be to eat grilled chicken breasts for every meal. But I'm such a foodie that this would never fly. So I am finding ways to incorporate fresh veggies and fruits and sources of protein into each meal. Which means I spend about 2 hours (total) every week trying to plan this out in such a way that 1) I don't eat the same thing too often and bore myself, and 2) I keep a seasonal and nutritional variety that will add the most nutrients and minerals. So far, so good.
My goal?
Now that I have a handle on the food/exercise, I'm in crackdown mode. I would like to lose 4 pounds and some more body fat % (maybe 3-4%) in the next four weeks.
I need to be able to run from those lions! And to swim away from those Great White Sharks!
((Riiiiiiiiiight))
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