Jeez Cal, I did the no carb thing for awhile and it was murderous. Running sucked, my head felt dizzy and I was so horribly weak. You’re very active. You’ve got a 15k upcoming. Don’t tank yourself now. There must be some safe binge proof carbs that you can eat. Oatmeal?
Heh no, oats are a trigger food for me. I used to be able to go through a box of muesli in one go. Potatoes seem to work pretty well. I actually do fine on low carb but I do run a lot better if I’ve had a baked potato the day before, so I’ll do that when I need to.
Have you ever looked in to fixing these trigger food problems?
you cant exist on cans of tuna and protein shakes forever! 
Theres gotta be a healthy balance somewhere!
Here’s a page of some interesting sounding books that I may get myself.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=trigger+foods&x=0&y=0
I do pretty well on a Paleo-type diet (although I also have dairy so it’s not strict Paleo). I cut grains out a while ago. Actually I can eat rice without too many problems but I avoid gluten like the plague.
Problem is when I fall off the wagon. Takes me a long time to get back on it, sometimes. I’m quite typical in my habits - I lose weight in the first half of the year and then put it on in the second half. That’s a cycle I need to break.
Today being a low-food day due to atonement for the recent splurge and it being a rest day, I decided to abandon the comfy yoga pants and put on my Hudson jeans which are the barometer of my ideal weight. This has resulted in me not wanting any treats. Try sitting around the flat in the skinny jeans and you might have similar luck with focusing on your goals.
Gym today, though lord knows I didn’t feel like it. I am still sore from the gymnastics class (particularly my abs and hips), never mind the fact I’ve been eating a limited diet the past three days.
I don’t know how I didn’t notice myself putting on weight - it was blindingly obvious to me looking at the mirror in the weight room. (Turning around in the rack doesn’t help - there are mirrors on both walls).
Anyway, I got on with it.
Standing Press:
Bar x 10
25kg x 8
27.5kg x 6
30kg x 6
No real progress here but my shoulders are still pretty fatigued.
Negative pull-ups: 4 x 3
Same, but I’m controlling these a bit better now. And given I’ve got heavier, it’s not bad. Knock 10lbs off and I should be able to do proper pull-ups again.
Rack pulls (just below knee height):
Bar x 10
60kg x 5
70kg x 5
80kg x 5 (+2)
90kg x 2 (+1)
Form breaks down a bit on the heavier ones. I actually find that my lower back feels better if I allow my upper back to round a bit on the way up. What gives?
Straight arm pull-downs
2 x 10 x 20kg
Knackered at this point.
Then did 2 x 30 hypers supersetted by some of the rolly uppy things. Then a lot of stretching and some handstand practise with feet on a wall. (Hands are still some distance from the wall - I’m a long way off vertical. But this is good for strengthening my arms and shoulders).
I am getting more flexible so I guess something positive is happening.
School tomorrow…
Cal,
Good training. I love that you log your handstand work. Keep at it. As you learned to walk on your feet you will, with an iron will and consistent practice, learn to walk on your hands. Falling just hurts more. And I’m going to chastize you only one more time–I know your unhappy with your body right now. And it’s great that you’re doing something about it. Eat healthier to be healthier. But in my experience my mirror mirror on the wall is a fucking liar. Don’t trust your eyes. Judge your body by how it feels and how it works. How far and fast can you run? How high of a tree can you climb?
I have a 9 year old daughter. She already seems to have a critical lens when she looks at herself. I hate that. Of course, I blame myself. NOw, to the extent I judge my body at all (which I still do too much), I try my best to use a performance measure.
I was reluctant to hit the submit button on that last post. And that reluctance some how got me a damn double post. This is me typing over it.
How are those gymnastics classes going?
They’re knackering but fun. My forward roll is getting better. Backwards needs work. Be a while before I can get a handstand but we’re working up to it slowly. It’s funny to be part of an adult beginners class. Some seem to find it comes easily, others less so. I’m not the worse by any means, which is encouraging.
Nadia - I hear ya. My body doesn’t feel great - I know when I feel fat, heh. But I’m happy about the progress I’ve made in other areas.
Handstands (better yet handstand push-ups) I think are the BEST for shoulders. Not that you need help there.
I’m rooting for you to lose the weight that crept up on you. But I have no doubt that you’ll get where you want to be.
I have been working at the handstands, but they certainly are hard. Good job keeping at it though. You know where you like you weight and what you want your body comp to be at, so pull your head out of the sand, face the problem head on and straighten it out, but don’t be overly hard about it either - be realistic. You are a busy gal with lots going on… I love paleo type eating too. I am not strict paleo though, I use supplements.
Um yea sorry hope that did not come across to harshly. I think you are doing some cool stuff.
Gah! So I asked for information about this bloody 15K I’m doing. Got the directions to the start and everything. And on there is a note saying, due to rules and regulations from the park itself (Richmond is officially a royal park - there are deer roaming there and so forth) there is no baggage tent. So what the FUCK am I supposed to do with my coat, bag (if I take one), water bottle etc? Never mind my wallet and keys. FFS. I emailed back saying that slightly more politely and the woman responding said find a way to keep money and keys on my person. OK fair enough - I have a bum bag (what you yanks call a fanny pack - I refuse to call it that because in England, fanny is slang for vagina) but it’s the end of fucking November - people are going to need coats. I guess they are counting on everyone coming with friends who will hold their shit for them. And of course I am coming alone. The other thing is coming in a car and leaving stuff in there, but they’ve asked people not to bring cars if possible as parking is limited. Either way, I don’t have a car. You’d think if they knew there was a problem with baggage, they’d organise the fucking race in a warmer month so people didn’t need coats. They had the race there in December last year, so they should bloody know! Giant facepalm.
Cal,
NO bag check? That’s stupid. Are they handing out those “space blankets” after the race or is that an american road race thing? Those do a suprisingly good job of helping you keep your body heat in and they are a lovely fashion accessory. If the race isn’t far from your home you might be ok with just that.
If not, get and bring a “throw away” coat–one you wouldn’t mind losing something really heinous from the thrift store. Bring that, stash it somewhere and hope the deer don’t eat it before you get back. I don’t understand the bag tent/deer problem. But, whatever.
Is the race this weekend?
Next weekend. It’s about an hour, I think - a train journey involving a platform change (which is probably cold) and then a 15 minute walk from the station to the venue (same on the way back). So it’s not really like I can do without the coat. But that’s good idea about the disposable coat.
The deer don’t have anything to do with it - it’s more because it’s a “royal” park so they’re all up themselves with their rules and regs.
An hour commute sucks after running that kind of distance. I always get really chilled in that time after running that long. You may want to think about a full change of throw away dry clothes. Besides, littering the royal park with a garbage bag filled with thrift store delights seems like the perfect response to the no bag check rule. Or perhaps that is just the rebellious american response?
I always sign up for a few races a year to help motivate my training, but when push comes to shove they are a pain in the ass to actually do.
That does suck Cal! They must have a registration or something like that. Maybe you can make nice with someone who works there and leave your coat and stuff with them (not your money and keys tho). Altho as a NYer, I don’t trust anyone to hold on to any of my stuff, like, ever…
Or how about the train station - does it have lockers? Do train stations even have lockers anymore?
Meh. You’ll figure it out I’m sure.
ps. lol at fanny pack! My fanny pack comes with its own flesh pocket thank you. HAHA!
i will never think of fanny pack the same way again. and i will giggle for the rest of the day.
is there a way you can get a list of other runners, and possibly ride in someone else’s car? if theres multiple people in your area you can all split the cost of fuel!
Well I may have found a friend to go with me. She’s an old friend I knew from online gaming but lives up in Yorkshire, but just so happens she is down in London that weekend and staying with someone not too far from Richmond Park. So hopefully we can sort something out. Fingers crossed!
re: Fannies - we also find it hilarious how your men wear “suspenders.” To most of us Limeys, suspenders are what you’d call a garter belt. Cue images of Tim Curry in Rocky Horror… (The things that hold your trousers up are braces. And yes, so are the things Ugly Betty wears on her teeth).
Nadia - yeah, they are a pain in the arse. The Clapham Common 10Ks I run are easy - they’re in walking distances, have a bag check and are run five times a year for the last, oh I don’t know, quite a few years anyway, so they have the organisation down pat. But everything else seems to be a big headache. I’ve thought of doing a half marathon at some point but finding one I can get to that also happens to be off road is tricky.
This one is not too far away. It’s literally two short stops on the local train, change platform, a few more stops, and then a walk. It’s just waiting for the connecting train and the walking part that are a bit, ugh.
so wait. what abt a male who is wearing braces on his teeth and his trousers?
i love vocab with cal.