How Hard Can It Be? Year 2

[Veronica]

This is a very big deal. I have given up my cookie-a-day habit. If you have eaten one of my cookies, you know they are pretty tasty. But, they are nutritionally garbage at 211 calories and 11 grams of fat. That’s 1/4 of my fat allowance per day! So instead of a cookie, I’m now eating a yogurt, 140 calories, only 6 grams of fat and the added bonus of 4 grams of protein.

Training this week has been tiring but fun. I’ve started doing three days with my trainer, Shawna Walker. Day 1 was lower body and left me a little sore. Day 2 was upper body. I brought my camera in for this and Shawna took some pictures of me doing pull ups. These were assisted, but I’m working towards doing them unassisted. The pics are posted in a thread called Chicken Wing or Back Muscle. You can also see them on our website. My training is focusing on building muscle endurance so I don’t rest between sets. Instead I do some other exercise. The pull ups were immediately followed by sets of 15 push ups. Day 3 was Boxing Day. It was a blast. I put on boxing gloves and Shawna had padded mitts on her hands and I hit her hands - repeatedly. Don’t worry, I’m not going to become a boxer. I don’t think I’d like getting hit for real. There was no biking, no swimming this week. I did do a couple of runs and a couple of yoga sessions.

I’ve had a few people ask me about what I’m eating. Basically, I’ve really cut down on the sugar and the simple carbohydrates. It’s really not that hard and I don’t feel deprived of anything.

For breakfast I rotate between 3 egg whites and 1 whole egg scrambled with a quarter cup of grated cheese and an ounce of ham and some fruit salsa on top, or steel cut oatmeal with 1 tablespoon of real maple syrup and a 1/4 cup of whole milk or 3 multi-grain waffles with 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of syrup.

At morning recess, I have a Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Almond bar. I also take an apple that has been cut into slices and snack on that throughout the day.

My work day lunch is almost always the same. I have a turkey and cheese sandwich with mustard and pickles on whole grain bread from the local bakery. Dessert is a small yogurt either a La Crema or one from Trader Joe’s. I eat this because I know when work out later these will sit well. If I don’t have sandwich fixings I will take a Healthy Choice steamer bowl.

Dinners have been a problem. Both of us are tired by the end of day and neither of us feels much like cooking anything major. We have been so busy on the weekends that I haven’t had time to cook up something that we could eat as leftovers either. Part of the problem is the stuff I would cook - pot pie, lasagna, cream based soups, etc. are all way too high in fat. Some nights Thom has barbecued a steak. Often that’s all I’ll eat, just a half a steak. Some nights it’s a frozen mini pizza. I usually eat a fruit and frozen yogurt bar after dinner. We know we need to work on this. I need to go through my Healthy Cooking cookbooks and start using new recipes.

Veronica

You can talk about what you want from life as much as you like, but what you do, what you invest your time and energy into, is your real priority.

[txred9876]

This is a very big deal. I have given up my cookie-a-day habit. If you have eaten one of my cookies, you know they are pretty tasty. But, they are nutritionally garbage at 211 calories and 11 grams of fat. That’s 1/4 of my fat allowance per day! So instead of a cookie, I’m now eating a yogurt, 140 calories, only 6 grams of fat and the added bonus of 4 grams of protein.

Training this week has been tiring but fun. I’ve started doing three days with my trainer, Shawna Walker. Day 1 was lower body and left me a little sore. Day 2 was upper body. I brought my camera in for this and Shawna took some pictures of me doing pull ups. These were assisted, but I’m working towards doing them unassisted. The pics are posted in a thread called Chicken Wing or Back Muscle. You can also see them on our website. My training is focusing on building muscle endurance so I don’t rest between sets. Instead I do some other exercise. The pull ups were immediately followed by sets of 15 push ups. Day 3 was Boxing Day. It was a blast. I put on boxing gloves and Shawna had padded mitts on her hands and I hit her hands - repeatedly. Don’t worry, I’m not going to become a boxer. I don’t think I’d like getting hit for real. There was no biking, no swimming this week. I did do a couple of runs and a couple of yoga sessions.

I’ve had a few people ask me about what I’m eating. Basically, I’ve really cut down on the sugar and the simple carbohydrates. It’s really not that hard and I don’t feel deprived of anything.

For breakfast I rotate between 3 egg whites and 1 whole egg scrambled with a quarter cup of grated cheese and an ounce of ham and some fruit salsa on top, or steel cut oatmeal with 1 tablespoon of real maple syrup and a 1/4 cup of whole milk or 3 multi-grain waffles with 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of syrup.

At morning recess, I have a Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Almond bar. I also take an apple that has been cut into slices and snack on that throughout the day.

My work day lunch is almost always the same. I have a turkey and cheese sandwich with mustard and pickles on whole grain bread from the local bakery. Dessert is a small yogurt either a La Crema or one from Trader Joe’s. I eat this because I know when work out later these will sit well. If I don’t have sandwich fixings I will take a Healthy Choice steamer bowl.

Dinners have been a problem. Both of us are tired by the end of day and neither of us feels much like cooking anything major. We have been so busy on the weekends that I haven’t had time to cook up something that we could eat as leftovers either. Part of the problem is the stuff I would cook - pot pie, lasagna, cream based soups, etc. are all way too high in fat. Some nights Thom has barbecued a steak. Often that’s all I’ll eat, just a half a steak. Some nights it’s a frozen mini pizza. I usually eat a fruit and frozen yogurt bar after dinner. We know we need to work on this. I need to go through my Healthy Cooking cookbooks and start using new recipes.

Veronica

You can talk about what you want from life as much as you like, but what you do, what you invest your time and energy into, is your real priority.

I am not in training like you are but I also find my hardest meal is dinner. Many nights its yogurt and fruit (or whatever is handy). My husband fends for himself most of the time and he has been working late hours so sometimes he eats grab and go food (not good for ya but he is still normal weight since he has a very physical job).

We cheat a lot also because there is a subway just up the road from the house and we will split a foot long!

We do a lot of snacky stuff also like lunch meat and string cheese.

I know... strange stuff but its working so far!

Tina

[tribogota]

Is that number right? you only eat 1500 calories a day, while training for a HIM? I eat about 3000....don't you feel weak and fatigued and a wee bit grumpy? Am I eating too much?

[Veronica]

Yep, only 1500 calories a day. Yes, I'm often feeling a bit hungry, but I felt that way on 2,000 calorie/day too, but not grumpy or weak. When I do a longer ride I do a eat bit more. But longer for me means 3+ hours.

I'm trying to get as lean as I can before my event in August. I don't know if you're eating too much. It all depends on your activity level and metabolism.

Veronica

[Veronica]

Trainer sessions, yoga, running, some outside biking - yippee!

We were tour marshalls for the Napa Tour de Cure. There are a few pictures (including one of our new car!)on our website and a write up about the ride. The link is below.

Still no swimming. I'll get back in the pool eventually.

Veronica