Welcome Back Dairy!

This week I have been experimenting with adding dairy products back into my diet. I got rid of dairy a while ago because I thought I was having digestive issues. This was SOOO hard for me because dairy was my main source of protein (I don't like meat very much.) As I continued to do this, I had trouble feeling like I was getting enough protein. Then I started having a sneaking suspicion that I didn't have a dairy problem (occasionally I seemed to be able to eat cheese, yogurt or ice cream without a problem) instead, occasionally I would have a dairy problem because that dairy contained gluten.

When you have Celiac disease, dairy and gluten are a debilitating combination.

So this week I added back greek yogurt (Yum!) and cheese. I have been eating a TON of chicken and cheese quesadillas and I haven't gotten sick once.

It has been awesome!

Not only have I felt like I had more variety in my food. I felt like I was able to stay in my calories better because I was actually full.

Sorry vegans, I am back on the dairy train. 

Next stop..gluten free pizza!

One step closer to an awesome body.

This weekend I started to realize that I needed to get super focused if I was going to hit my weight goals (I want to be in the 1's by the end of October). So I got up and did some weight lifting. Then I did incline work on the treadmill at an incline of 10-15. I learned this can burn about 900 calories in an hour for me. After that I ran. I feel all ready to take on the world again.

I also made some new food goals. I am still sticking with my 1800-2000 calories because this seems to be my sweet spot, but I am not allowing myself to buy anything from a gas station.

I am on the road a lot for my job and sometimes if I am not prepared or I don't pack enough food, I find myself stopping for sugary snacks at a gas station. I justify it by saying I have the calories available.

However, this both messes up my financial goals (2 or 3 dollars here or there adds up) but it also makes me crave more sugar.

So I am trying to get really focused, especially only 4 weeks before the marathon (yikes). I definitely want to put my body in the best possible condition it can be for this thing so it's not miserable.

Onward!

A Week of Calorie Counting

Last week I started calorie counting again. This seems to be the thing that works best for me. For some reason, I have trouble simply eating healthy or eating clean.

This week, I want to make sure I calorie count each day. I seem to be able to lose by staying in between 1800 and 2000 calories. This is also a good range so I don't feel deprived.

I was listening to a podcast where a girl was talking about making sure your calories are high enough because if you eat 1400 calories, your body will adjust to that and you will need to eat 1400 calories for the rest of your life in maintenance.

No thanks.

She also talked about how helpful weight lifting is so that you weigh more at the same size which means you can eat more. This was definitely food for thought.

Anyway, I feel like my food is back to where it should be after a difficult season. Now I just need to get adjusted to waking up early and running again. I was supposed to today and it didn't happen. I'm still going to get a run in this morning before I leave for work but I like having it done by now.

Not much else to report today, so I'll leave you with this...

Healthy Eating and New Jeans!

Lately I've been experimenting with eating "real food" over "chemicals." I decided after my run today, rather than the typical gatorade, I would try to do coconut water. The only ingredient in coconut water is "coconut water." So you know it's decent for you.

And let me just say, wow it's disgusting. This is probably the most disgusting thing I have ever put in my mouth. Give me regular water or Gatorade any day. Sorry, clean eating folks, I apparently like my chemicals.

I have been having trouble getting back into running this week. My typical weeks usually consist of about 30-35 miles. This week I have only done about 15 so far. I was supposed to run long today and only did 4. My body and my mind are just not into it. But I think I will try for a longer run tomorrow.

After this marathon training is over, I'm thinking about looking into kickboxing. I have always loved kickboxing and the strong, amazing way it has made me feel. But the last time I did it I was super overweight and felt out of place. I'm interested in how it will be now.

On a more exciting note, yesterday I had to buy new jeans because the ones I have are too big. Unfortunately, I still feel like my thighs are big tree trunks, but if the jeans size is going down, I guess that is a good sign.

Maybe kickboxing will do something for building muscle in my legs that running is just not giving me.

Well, off to enjoy my Saturday. Hopefully you will as well. Happy Weekend!

Cassie

Success!

I've been thinking a lot about success lately so I decided to start documenting some of my successes on my blog. The thing is, when I am doing really well (like yesterday or last week) I tend not to need to think much about my successes, everything is going right.

But today, I needed to think about successes.

Everything seemed out of control. I was moody and irritable, hungry, crazy, etc. So I didn't follow my meal plan completely and I craved sugar. Normally, this would send me spinning out of control. On days like this when I feel completely out of control, my eating disorder tells me to get control by going on a strict diet. I decided today I wasn't going to let the eating disorder win. So I am going to measure my successes.

1. When I was overwhelmed, I walked for 20 minutes to calm down rather than immediately turning to sugar.
2. Even though I did end up eating sugar, I made myself plan what I was going to get, buy only that and then wait until I got home to eat it so I was mindfully eating it.
3. I got all my work done even though I was in a foul mood.
4. Instead of sitting in from of Hulu and binging (like I would normally do on a day like today), I chose to go to poker and socially engage and I feel much better.

Regardless of the fact that I ate candy and french fries today, I still made positive decision in the midst of it..and tomorrow I will just get back on the plan I already had for myself rather than trying to make a new (strict) one.

After all, practice makes perfect right?

Fighting Back Against the Lizard Brain

I am a big Seth Godin fan. Last weekend I read something in his book that I had read before but it really made sense to me this time. He discussed the lizard brain which if you know Seth Godin, you understand what this is. This is one of his quotes.

“The lizard brain is hungry, scared, angry, and horny.

The lizard brain only wants to eat and be safe.

The lizard brain will fight (to the death) if it has to, but would rather run away. It likes a vendetta and has no trouble getting angry.

The lizard brain cares what everyone else thinks, because status in the tribe is essential to its survival.

A squirrel runs around looking for nuts, hiding from foxes, listening for predators, and watching for other squirrels. The squirrel does this because that's all it can do. All the squirrel has is a lizard brain.

The only correct answer to 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' is 'Because it's lizard brain told it to.' Wild animals are wild because the only brain they posses is a lizard brain.

The lizard brain is not merely a concept. It's real, and it's living on the top of your spine, fighting for your survival. But, of course, survival and success are not the same thing.

The lizard brain is the reason you're afraid, the reason you don't do all the art you can, the reason you don't ship when you can. The lizard brain is the source of the resistance.”
― Seth Godin, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? 

Last weekend I was feeling frustrated because my long run was 17 miles and I found myself quitting at 10 miles. Was I sick? No..was I injured? No. In fact, with 100% certainty I believe that I could have physically finished 17 miles. Why didn't I? Something about running a distance I have never run before scared that crap out of me. I had walked it, sure, but I hadn't run it. Running is harder, running takes a lot of focus, running hurts.

The Lizard Brain told me not to. Seth Godin talks in his book about how quitting isn't bad but quitting at something when you are emotional is bad. Quitting at something when you are emotional is listening to the lizard brain. You should only quit when you have thought out why quitting is the best option and why you will have more benefit from quitting then sticking around.

I had an epiphany during this time.

I tend to quit when the going gets tough. I am the mile 26 quitter. When I can see the finish line, I tend to quit. This doesn't just apply to running in my life, but it tends to apply in a lot of ways. I will work hard until it takes something that feels too hard to finish, then I will quit. There is something very scary about going outside of myself, facing fear and pushing past my limits to get somewhere.

So I made an agreement with myself this week. Whatever mileage I said I was going to do, I do. Yesterday it was 8 miles of pure boredom around a track. Today it was 10 miles in the scorching hot afternoon. But I did it. Both days I wanted to quit extremely bad. Today, I ran a little too long in the heat without enough water. (I learned my lesson and won't do that again:). But I have decided that I am fighting back against the lizard brain by facing my fear and reaching my goal even when the end seems completely outside of myself.

Saturday, I have to do 20 miles. Not only will this be hard because I have never run 20 miles but it will be more difficult because I didn't do my 17 miles last week. But I don't care because I said I am going to do it and I will.

Screw the Lizard Brain

Here is me after my run today. You see that blank look on my face? That's because I couldn't think of anything except for "water, water..."