Training Update: Lessons learned

Week of January 21-27, 2013:

Current Weight: 157.0 (No change from last week)

Total Lost to date (since September 2011): 63.8 lbs

Waist: 32"

Hips: 42"

Still in reverse taper this past week, so a lighter week overall.  I also never do well when my runs are mostly on the treadmill, so I took an extra running rest day and an extra entire rest day to finish off this reverse taper.  So what did I actually do this past week?

Monday: Rest Day

Tuesday: Strength training with Brandon, 60 min.  Slow pace between sets, low weight.  Ran 4 miles on the treadmill.

Wednesday:  Running rest day.  Rode 8.77 miles on my bike trainer.

Thursday:  Ran 2 miles on the treadmill.  Strength training with Brandon.  No leg work.

Friday:  Complete Rest day

Saturday:  Ran 6 miles on the snow on hills.

Sunday:  Unplanned complete rest day.

My trainer strongly hinted to my husband on Thursday night that a full rest day on Sunday would be a good idea for me.  In fact, his words were "if you see her getting ready to get on the trainer, hide the trainer."   So, when I felt a little tired on Sunday, I listened and took the entire day off.  I also ate my weight in sweets at Book club, but that's another story.

Lining up all of my purses is a workout too Mommy.

Another new update week, another post delayed until Tuesday....yesterday was Mark's birthday.  I decided to go all domestic.  I tried a new recipe for dinner with a new (to me) cooking method - using the broiler.  Yes, I called my best friend to ask her whether the broiler was at the top of the oven or the bottom of the oven.  But, then I figured it out on my own using the scientific put-your-hand-in-the-oven-and-see which-side-the-heat-is-coming-from method.  (the top, for anyone that doesn't know).  I made hoisin ginger glazed top sirloin steaks with a side of asparagus and rolls.  I also made a pear gorgonzola salad.  (I cheated and used a kit for that - it is delicious).

Steak!
For some reason, blogger thinks this picture should be vertical.

During the limited nap time Avery took (darn coughing that woke her up!), I baked a carrot cake.  The kind where you bake two rounds and put it together.  

Fresh from the oven.

Then, after some text messages about icing, I went truly domestic and went to the store to buy ingredients to make homemade icing.   In my defense, I did say no to the French maid outfit.  (A girl can only go so domestic in one day.)

And I used my mixer!  Unused no more!  :)

For those that don't know - I don't cook.  Except my homemade chili.  So much so that a good friend told me at book club, "I wouldn't ask your advice about cooking," and I laughed, agreeing with her 100%!

Granted...the cake didn't look super pretty...but I can just say that Avery helped, right?

I helped, she just didn't like my suggestion.

It was risky trying so many new stuff for a birthday present - but it all worked out.  The steaks were delicious, the cake was delicious enough that I had two pieces.  Mark said the icing was better than store bought.

And here is the problem.  For the last three days, I have had about 1000 calories worth of sweets each day.  And, 2 of those 3 days were rest days.  It is amazing that I did not gain weight this week.  When I started this process, I was great about moderating sweets. After all my Goofy miles, I allowed more and more sweet intake.  When I started, I'd eat one small candy bar and say "that's my candy for the day - delicious." The past three days? I'd eat a small candy bar and say "that was delicious, I should have another."  And another, and another.  I think my brain thought I said "eat more sweets" not "eat less sweets" as a week goal.  On the positive side though, I was better about protein!

This week - my goal is to cut out all that extra garbage.  Lesson learned, apparently, moderation isn't working right now.  Time to change it.  I want to start introducing menu planning and shopping based on that next week.  My trainer is coming up with some ideas along those lines and the science behind them.  (He's already learned how I think.)

I enjoyed my venture into domesticity, especially since the meal I cooked seemed fancy and was actually quite easy.  I'd love to start trying a new recipe each week.  Any awesome (and not too hard) recipe suggestions?

How was your training this week?

Have you ever had a wake up call with your diet/exercise plan?  What did it take for you?  (for me, it was charting my food and seeing the 1000 calorie change each day).