TexasMPGal's Motivated Mentor Group (CLOSED- TRAINING IN PROGRESS!) (Page 4)

Kirk, I have been there...I thought the cutting out carbs thing was the way to go too, but then I think I found a better balance with it.  There are truly good carbs, and when balanced with whole foods like fruits and veggies, then you can reach what you're looking for.  It's the refined stuff, be it carbs, protein, whatever that gets us.  Not saying you can chow down on whole grains all day long by themselves.  I am NOT a vegetarian---but when I'm at my healthiest weight and training well my diets are much more whole food and plant based than meat based.  When eating meat, I limit it to lean meats, and honestly, rarely any beef.  I have found I really enjoy a variety of different beans, lentils, and vegetables.  When I eat breads or grains they are almost exclusively made from whole grain.  If it has bleached white flour in the ingredients...I don't buy it.  If it has hydrogenated oils, I don't buy it.  I have played with recipes and found delicious substitutes for oil in many a muffin and breads and I use whole wheat flour.   I don't cook with refined sugar--I buy sucanat which is sugar in an un-refined state.  I actually think it makes food taste better.  I wish I could say it is easy, but at first it definitely isn't...and I don't 100% stick to it.  But the more whole foods and plant based your diet is, the better for your general health, you'll still be fueled for training, and it really does lend itself to weight loss cause now your body is using what it is taking in much more so than when refined foods just go in, leave the bad stuff and then exit.

AND, I can tell you, calorie counting can really help.  If you can figure out what you should be taking in and then approx. what you are burning, you can then cut some of that out, and it lends itself to weight loss....not a horribly quick process, but a much more permanent one!  That's what worked for me...I need to go back to some of it myself after this week and for my big '09 goals.  So, I'll be really focusing on developing my plan this next week.

I'll give it a whirl!  This past spring when I wanted to drop a few pounds, I started using the nutrition in my logs.  Keeping track of what I actually ate and drank (even the coffemate I put in my coffee) helped me out a lot.  I could see how many calories I was eating and drinking.  It adds up quick!  

I also ate just about no processed food. I ate a ton of fruit and veggies. Drank gallons of water.  Snacks were either a low fat/calorie yogurt or fruit.  Whole grains and lots of lean protein, mainly chicken and turkey.  I wish I liked fish but I just don't! 

Since I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in quite awhile, I am back to watching what I eat again.  I have had a very tough month or so personally with lots going on with my middle son and I have been drinking and eating WAY too much.  Now that things have calmed down a tad, I feel like I can get a handle on my life again.  I hope!   Today is day two of detox!  Lots of water for me! 

I hope this helps a little.  It is different for everyone and just takes time to figure out what will work for you.  Keep us posted on what you are doing!

Erica--AWESOME! Thanks!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I'm back at home and I have decided that NOW is the time to focus.  My 2009 focus starts tomorrow...it includes solid workouts for which I prepare well, meaning: good fueling, good sleep, good planning to make it happen; it includes healthy eating and I'm going to start using the nutrition logs--I'd like to see 10-12 lbs go away before the summer, but for sure by Ironman; it means focusing some of my personal life and expanding it; it also includes probably studying and getting ready to take the GMAT or GRE again.  I've applied to some programs that would send me to grad school and then back to West Point to teach. I will find out the results of that sometime in Jan...and I am very HOPEFUL! So, I AM EXCITED ABOUT 2009!!

How about you? What you are looking at as we get close to '09.  I'm not really saying resolutions, but more what do you need to focus yourself on to be focused and successful.

It is so windy here, I might lost power during this post, or a house might fall on my ex-wife!!!

I need to focus big time on my diet. I want to lose 25-20 pounds by summer. I am a big fatty, so I know it can happen. I want to do three tris that I know of and if I can survive the 13.1 at the end of my HIM, maybe our local marathon in the fall. It is pretty flat and all my buddies would be manning the traffic posts to yell at me to suck it up the whole way

Kirk- I about spit water out laughing at the wind and ex-wife comment!! Sounds like how it was here yesterday...it was truly ridiculous. I am convinced Central TX is a wind tunnel.  Do you have some plans/strategies to get to your weight loss goals?  I know if I actually log what I eat and see the calories, then it'll work for me when coupled with my workouts.  I already eat *fairly* clean...though this past week was not so stellar!

Erica- I dare one of us to say we have never done what you did this morning! I am TOTALLY guilty of that when the alarm goes off and I have to go swim before work...so long as we don't make it habit, then we'll be good!

Well, I am keeping track of everything and I hate to say it, but the Wii Fit is actually helping me. It analyzes your body composition every day and it is pretty accurate! My wife and kids are all over me because right now my video guy or "Mii" is fat and tubby! I am down two pounds since christmas, but I think some of that was "sick" weight loss.

And Wes, I bet the mortgage on the gators.....you should too!!

I do have a heart rate monitor and I use it for the bike and run.  The only time I wear it in the water, and by it I mean the strap, is during a race itself.  Using heart rate requires some knowledge (of which I am still learning).  I use it to monitor the effort I'm putting out during a workout, and since I can't easily check my wrist while swimming, nor do I swim based upon my heart rate output, I don't worry about it in the pool at all. 

I love my 305.  I don't run without it.  I love the pace/mileage/calories/time/lap data/elevation/ shoot, it does it all.   One of these days I'll learn to use the HRM.  I don't know how to calculate my zones so I haven't bothered with it.  I highly recommend it to everyone I know.  The only thing I don't care for is the size.  It's HUGE on my wrist but it is more looks than anything.  If you can swing it, do it!

Oh, proud owner of a 305 here!! I use it for the bike and the run and I do use the Heart rate monitor.  I love all of the features, to include being able to upload that data into my BT Log.  I love being able to check my pace, get my avg pace, see my speed on the bike, etc.  If someone else is paying for it EVEN BETTER! Go for IT!

Brit, do you have the bike mount accessory kit for it.  I have used my 305 on the bike but hate having to check my wrist to see my distance/speed.  I'm afraid I'll crash! 

Yes, I do have the quick release bike mount and wrist strap.  It works pretty well.  Occassionally I fumble trying to get it off the bike and onto my wrist, but it's not bad.  You have to make sure you set it up right for the switch from bike to run, but the booklet tells you how to do it.  I have worn it on my wrist too, and I definitely prefer it being mounted to the bike!  You have to make sure it's in well though, or it can pop off, and if you hit something when it's on your wrist it can come off too (like running in the dark and accidentally hitting a car mirror on the side of the street at 0500 and setting off the alarm on the car....opps...)

Just copy and paste and you should be good!

Kirk is right!! Granted, it may not be 1 Jan yet but is New Years week!! Time to get going and started on the road to meet our goals! It's easier to stay going once you get going (it's that whole addiction thing).  Now, some of us have better weather advantages than others...but even if the weather gets you down, some core work can help keep you strong.  Those of us in TX have no excuse, it was easily in the 70's here this afternoon and I did some intervals that kicked my butt!!

I have a friend helping me with my training schedule, basically coaching, and he is kicking my butt with workouts! But it's good...so, keep the fire going if you have it roaring, but let's light a match (and tell us how we can help!!) if you are trying to get there!!

You'll see a lot of people here refer to triathlon as a journey--because it is.  Most people can't just decide one day to go do a triathlon if they haven't done one, and most people can shoot for the Olypmic or longer distances without some pretty dedicated training. That training is all part of the journey.  You will learn so much about yourself, about how far you push yourself, improve your confidence, etc.  It's an awesome journey, and really, doesn't stop so long as you keep pursuing it in some fashion.  I have lots of journey to go for this year!

ebshot - 2008-12-31 7:59 AM Okay, motivated mentor peeps, it's New Year's Eve.  What is everyone doing tonight??  Me?  Well, I'm hanging with my two favorite boys.  Cole, Liam and I are on our own tonight.  My daughter, Alex, is sleeping over a friends house and hubby has duty.  He takes duty every year on New Year's since we NEVER go out.  I plan to watch a movie with the kiddos and put them to bed.  Then, I have a bottle of pinot noir and a nice cabernet sauvignon calling my name.  Ahhhh, red wine, how I have missed you.   I'll miss you again once the night is over.... 

WOOHOO--2009!!! I'm excited about it!  However, I will be sharing that excitement this evening with 5 of my favorite friends: Me, Myself, I, Annie, and Davey (Annie and Davey have 4 legs, weigh 12 and 7 lbs, and are furry).  The plan is, after my 1/2 day of work (boy, I could do this schedule every week), to head to the pool for a pretty hard swim session, go pick up some Sushi, a movie, come home, do an hour on the bike to complete my 2008 tri-mileage, and then just enjoy a quiet little evening. I do believe some red wine is part of that as well...

Happy New Year's Eve everyone...get ready to put rubber to the road (literally!) for 2009!!

TexasMPGal - 2008-12-31 10:12 AM

ebshot - 2008-12-31 7:59 AM Okay, motivated mentor peeps, it's New Year's Eve.  What is everyone doing tonight??  Me?  Well, I'm hanging with my two favorite boys.  Cole, Liam and I are on our own tonight.  My daughter, Alex, is sleeping over a friends house and hubby has duty.  He takes duty every year on New Year's since we NEVER go out.  I plan to watch a movie with the kiddos and put them to bed.  Then, I have a bottle of pinot noir and a nice cabernet sauvignon calling my name.  Ahhhh, red wine, how I have missed you.   I'll miss you again once the night is over.... 

WOOHOO--2009!!! I'm excited about it!  However, I will be sharing that excitement this evening with 5 of my favorite friends: Me, Myself, I, Annie, and Davey (Annie and Davey have 4 legs, weigh 12 and 7 lbs, and are furry).  The plan is, after my 1/2 day of work (boy, I could do this schedule every week), to head to the pool for a pretty hard swim session, go pick up some Sushi, a movie, come home, do an hour on the bike to complete my 2008 tri-mileage, and then just enjoy a quiet little evening. I do believe some red wine is part of that as well...

Happy New Year's Eve everyone...get ready to put rubber to the road (literally!) for 2009!!

It is heart healthy and all....

I'm looking forward to all 2009 has to bring.  I know I have some tough times ahead but I am ready to face them.  Take the good with the bad, right?  It is shaping up to be a great year athletically for me and I am very excited about it.  Personally, it will be hard.  BUT, the tough times only make us stronger....