A while ago I posted a thread asking for insight into weight loss, calorie monitoring, etc. As is typical, you guys were nice enough to offer some very insightful replies and thoughts.
Some of the ideas were practical and I used them, some of them wouldn't fit into my daily routine. With that in mind, here is what I've done:
Now some of the things I haven't done:
And the results after eight total weeks in the preparation phase for 2007 Ford Ironman Wisconsin:
I haven't lost a pound. Matter of fact, I've gained about 7 pounds.
Now, I think part of the reason for this is my current training schedule. The past eight weeks have been a prepatory phase that has been focused on swim technique and endurance (lots of longer, slow swims...) and a lot of strength training. I haven't been on the bike for a couple weeks and my running training has been all preparatory training on the treadmill and stairmaster. I've only done one run outside in the last eight weeks and it was at a 9:00 pace. So, there is a lot of technique and strength stuff going on but no real miles per se', so no weight loss. I figure an increase in lean body mass has resulted in some of the weight gain. I don't think I've gained any fat, but my upper body is bigger- which I didn't really need... But my legs are stronger too after eight weeks in the gym.
So, that's the result after eight weeks of the preparatio phase for the 2007 Ford Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon. Thanks again for all your insights and suggestions.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
Some of the ideas were practical and I used them, some of them wouldn't fit into my daily routine. With that in mind, here is what I've done:
- All junk food is gone. That was surprisingly easy. I eliminated cookies, candy, ice cream, etc. The one exception was a scoop of ice cream ate in Paris last week- you're only in Paris once in a while...
- More frequent meals, about four "snakcish" meals a day following a fairly substantial breakfast after our morning workout.
- I include vegetables to much greater degree now. This part was a bit tricky but the Westborn Furit Market across the street from our new store has steamed vegetables in their deli section so I eat those. They taste awful- like eating mushy plants. Nasty.
- Greatly reduced portions. I still eat out pretty frequently but the portion size is greatly reduced. At a Mexican restaurant we frequent I no longer get the taco dinner with three tacos and rice, but order one taco by itself and eat guacamole instead of the rice figuring a "good" fat may be better than the carbohydrate in the rice. We eat there about once a week.
Now some of the things I haven't done:
- For all the banter about keeping a food log, I am not doing that. I may at some point, but it amounts to small steps for me right now.
- I'm not using any high-tech gadgets to track calories... yet.
And the results after eight total weeks in the preparation phase for 2007 Ford Ironman Wisconsin:
I haven't lost a pound. Matter of fact, I've gained about 7 pounds.
Now, I think part of the reason for this is my current training schedule. The past eight weeks have been a prepatory phase that has been focused on swim technique and endurance (lots of longer, slow swims...) and a lot of strength training. I haven't been on the bike for a couple weeks and my running training has been all preparatory training on the treadmill and stairmaster. I've only done one run outside in the last eight weeks and it was at a 9:00 pace. So, there is a lot of technique and strength stuff going on but no real miles per se', so no weight loss. I figure an increase in lean body mass has resulted in some of the weight gain. I don't think I've gained any fat, but my upper body is bigger- which I didn't really need... But my legs are stronger too after eight weeks in the gym.
So, that's the result after eight weeks of the preparatio phase for the 2007 Ford Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon. Thanks again for all your insights and suggestions.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com