HUNGRY!

I feel like I have so many things I want to tell you.

I'm something like 42 days away from a pretty stressful weekend at work. Last year, this particular event put 11 pounds back on me over the course of the weeks leading up to it because I would drive screaming from the office and order cheese fries at restaurants that didn't actually have cheese fries on the menu, but they felt so bad for me that they made an exception.

The difference between last year's event and this year's is that this year: I can actually exercise! I'm not coming down off the Mono. The difference also is that I'm trying really, really hard NOT to make myself feel better with food. I'm finding it easier to make myself feel better with exercise (especially because I'm to the point where running no longer makes me think I'm going to pass out or throw up).

I read a couple places online that those who run for 4 hours a week are shown to burn more calories at rest than those that do not. Now I'm nowhere near 4 hours a week. I've just completed Week 7 of Couch to 5k and the past couple of workouts have been 35 minutes a piece. But I have noticed my appetite and my capacity for eating has changed greatly. I want more small meals. I eat less in a sitting. I'm full faster. But then I'm hungry again in a couple hours. Of course I've witnessed this phenomenon before watching muscular boyfriend chow down on bowls of cereal at random times during the day, but I've felt the need to be a little more stringent with myself. I attribute this to the mentality of the 3 meals a day, 2 snacks, don't eat anything after 8 PM... but I'm eating most of my food during the week by myself, so really, who cares when or how I eat it? It's my hot body, I'll eat when I want.

I was having my protein shake for “First Breakfast” (right after my shower) and then a yogurt or some fruit or something along those lines for “Second Breakfast” (10:00 AM). Now I'm finding that the protein shake just isn't enough in the early morning anymore. So I have it and some food for “First Breakfast”... yogurt for second breakfast (10:00 AM)... a piece of cheese for “Third Breakfast” (11:30 AM). You get the idea. Then lunch (12:30 PM). Then afternoon snack (between 2:00 and 3:30 PM). Then dinner (between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM). Then evening snack (10:00 PM). I always want more to eat in the morning. It's funny considering I have only been eating breakfast for the past couple of years.

You'll be happy to hear that where last week I thought I might have broken through the plateau... I still think that's true. Monday morning weigh in was the lowest I've ever been (151.8 lbs) and despite the need for more food I've been fairly consistent stepping on the scale in the morning. And Monday was the first time during my run that I managed to travel an entire 5k! Nearly did it again on Thursday. Did it again on Saturday. Did it again this morning.

I did something this week that I'm not really sure if I'm supposed to do. I continued to run with a cold. Actually, I had a cold when I hit that first full 5k. Uphill. After that, my sinuses felt like they were absolutely on fire. And they were open. I wasn't full blow sick. I think it was one of those colds that starts out as allergies, but then you don't get everything cleared up so then it's in your chest and you sound a lot like a 80 year old smoker? Anyone? Anyway, I asked a coworker that also runs if it's ill-advised to run while sick. He was of the opinion that if you're doing it and you're pushing yourself, it can make you feel better and clear out your sinuses. Although, he did slip in the caveat that if you're in the middle of it and something happens to alert you that you don't have the energy for what you're doing, then you should probably stop.

So I did a great job running this week when you think about the fact that I was sick. I took a handkerchief on my run and I stopped my GPS for a few seconds to blow my nose. I've also been really trying to work on technique because as the running becomes more intense and more frequent, I am coming down with side stitches and shoulder pain. But then on Saturday's run at 3.48 miles (I accidentally paused the app again, but I didn't stop running...) I only got the side stitches and shoulder pain after sprinting a little bit because I had some not-so-nonchalant, disgusting men ogling me. You might think I'm exaggerating (as I sometimes do that), but you don't look over your shoulder. Then do it again. Then tap your buddy's shoulder. Then you both look over. Then forward. Then over. Then STOP and stare. No. Not very polite. So I ran past them.

I googled how to prevent side stitches. That's one reason why I didn't want to play sports as a kid... running always gave me stitches. I learned that it's actually your internal organs jostling up against one another that makes it sore. And it always happens on the right side because that's where the majority of your abdominal organs are kept (I know this to be true because of the numerous time I've viewed my liver on ultrasound). So you're supposed to breathe full breaths to keep your diaphram open, keeping your organs from hitting each other. Also, you're supposed to exhale when your left foot hits the ground.

All that makes me think of is rubbing my head and patting my tummy. And running. All at the same time.

I figured it would be difficult for a right handed person, but I tried leading with the left side and that really helped. I also tried to keep my pace slower. Going downhill can cause them too because you're bouncing a little more than uphill because you're trying not to fall down the hill.

I've learned a lot this week. Also learned that doubling up on the sports bras is awesome. Also learned that all of my sports bras are now too big. When you've worn at least a “large” everything since you started wearing bras, it's hard to imagine needing something smaller. Yesterday I picked up 2 mediums. My breasts said thank you... they're also kind of enjoying spending a little more time together. They grew up together afterall. Old friends.

I got to do something else fun this week... I went to the Mall and played dress up. Bought a couple dresses, even though I really can't afford it. But it's nice to have a couple things that aren't way too big. I bought a size 8 dress. EIGHT. All my pants are 10 now and I really think I'm down to 8 in dress pants, but again, clothes cost money. It's pesky. Running is free.

I mentioned before that I was sick and I do find myself generally making excuses when I'm sick. Ohhh, I feel so bad... I really want to eat something that will make me feel good. Instead of laying on the couch, I kept up with my running. Instead of eating everything I wanted, I gave myself 24 hours. I had french fries for lunch on Wednesday (I tracked it. When all you have are french fries, it's surprisingly low in calories as compared to a combo). So I epic failed the 21 day no junk food challenge after about 4 days. And then it snowballed from there. You know. One trip to Arby's and one Keebler cookie. Yea. I'm an animal. Sarcasm.

I guess I'll call for a do-over when I'm well. I felt like last week was pretty awful as far as work stress and the inability to do anything fun when I got home for lack of energy. And I tried my best to at least keep my eating modest. I ordered a kid's meal at Arby's while at the mall, trying on smaller clothes for fun.

I did make one recipe worth sharing, I think...

You all know how much I love pictures of food. Well, my little brother was having one of those magazine fundraisers and usually, I have nothing to get because I already have subscriptions to WW mag and Cooking Light which are really the only ones I read on a regular basis. BUT... Eating Well has been attracting me and I saw it on the list, so I went for it. Got my first issue and saw a Potato and Chickpea Hash and I was interested.

But I can't just follow a recipe. That'd be... practical! So instead of using potatoes I used Sweet Potato and I enjoyed it very much. I actually cooked it at work. Halved the recipe in a way, so this makes 2 servings at 250 calories each. I call it “Sweet Potato Hash and Eggs.”

1 medium-large sweet potato, grated on a box grater

½ c diced onion

2 c baby spinach, chopped

½ can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

½ a zucchini, diced

2 eggs

Combine potato, onion and spinach in a bowl to mix well, then pour mixture into a hot pan, patting it down into a patty and letting it cook for 4-5 minutes. Pour in the chickpeas and the zucchini, mixing together and breaking up the potato that cooked together. Lastly, make 2 wells in the mixture for your eggs to cook in. Cook your eggs until you like them and BOOM. Done.

I ended up flipping my eggs because 1, I didn't want my yolks to overcook because I like runny yolks and 2, because I DON'T like runny whites. Looks like snot. Can't hack that.

I'm pleased with what I've learned this week. I've got less than 2 weeks until my first 5k. I finished my 50,000 IU of Vitamin D regimen this weekend. Have to go get blood drawn to check that. Also pleased that I didn't stay for an event at work on Tuesday that had chocolate cake. I had no chocolate cake. Fight the poundage.