Love You

OM

Those type of ‘intervals’ might be ok, but a significant injury concerns me as much as your weight issues. I’ll leave it at this, that I’ve seen the result of injury, not necessarily from sports, time and again. It can affect your life in more ways than you can imagine.

Gum can help those nervous feeling. I’d use it but the folk around me, wouldn’t appreciate it….GAS You can replace some of the calories from meals with snacks. Like everything, just don’t over do it. Reduce some or the portions of your meals. I’ve read for the snacks to be most benifical they should be balanced: alittle good fats, good carb, and protein. Will leave you most satisfied Nothin’ says you can’t eat all the time! Your blood sugar will like it.

I have a confession. Acouple of weeks ago Amy was heading up to NY with her ma. The night prior to her leaving, I went to the store after work and bought a 14oz bag of M&Ms (peanut of course). I get home, and there on the counter is another 14oz bag of M&Ms. I went down to the studio, and there on my computer keyboard, you guessed it ANOTHER 14 oz bag of M&Ms. I found 2 others: one in the bathroom, and one in the extra bedroom. Well, I had to hold up my end of the deal by eating them all. Did it in 2 days…what a pig. It’s not just YOU I’ve sinned with other things, but that took the cake. Unfortunately, this came after a week of that weight lose cycling diet program I think I told you about. Talk about yo-yoing. Back it all came.

It’s had it’s affects. More sluggish. The weight gain, along with some cycling burnout has basically put an end to the cycling season. I did another century a couple of weeks ago (the M&M pigout was probably 4 weeks ago). I was a mile an hour slower than last year. Doesn’t sound like much, but it’s very significant. Add it up, it’s 1 hour, 40 minutes slower The biggest ride of the year is tomorrow, and I’m bowing out. It’s the century that I did last year that has 10,000 feet of climbing. I could do it, but the time would be alot worse. So I guess I don’t have anything to prove, and move on. Next years season is actually starting now So I’m moving into what’s called Periodization, a specific plan of training for the whole year. I say all that because this is the prime time to be losing weight ( a main enemy of cycling). Thus the reason for South Beach Phase One. I could probably get some of that weight off with another round of the cycling diet program, but I’d still have those fucking cravings. Phase one of the SB diet is not recommended at all during the strenuous part of the cycling season. Last time I really did Phase one, I was able to curtail the bad habits for over 1 1/2 years…not bad. Overall, I’m happy to say that even with my slip ups I’ve never gained it all back. Went from 205 to close to 170, then over the last 2 years has crept back up to ~185 (193max). So generally, I’ve kept off 15-20.

Speaking of working out. Running intervals? What’s that all about?! [Bring in the soap box please] {Warning: fatherly preaching about to begin}You’re playing Russian Roulette. If you’re tying to spike your metabolism (which is what I think you’re doing), that’s good!!!! But you need a FUCKING NON WEIGHT BEARING EXERSIZE like an elliptical trainer, if you want to do intervals. Elevating your exercise to an ‘interval’ level is very strenuous and potentially hazardous. A knee injury has the potential to stop you even in using something nonwt. bearing like an elliptical. A knee injury will not only slow you down, but has the GREAT potential to cause bone on bone arthritis down the road. Try even walking with that!! I’ve seen joint pain from injuries in patients that have lasted a lifetime. They basically live on pain killers. You can’t relate to that, and thank god for that. Don’t allow yourself to experience this. Injuries can happen suddenly. You’re fine now, but a tear, is well a tear. Tear a piece of paper..that’s your knee. It can happen quick. And don’t think that it can’t happen because you’re young. Running is really bad for you (I’ve given you that info a long time ago on the # of lbs/in per foot strike the knee experiences when running- so you’re responsible). Intervals are really worse. Oh-my-Gawd Wherever that idea came from, it’s wrong for you!! Conditioned athletes injure themselves from intervals……(oh brother) The honest truth? I feel worse about you running than I do about your weight. Really. It’s neck and neck. But running doesn’t just screw your knees. It can be ANY joint. Your back, your neck, your ankles, or all of the above. It’s not just the joints, it’s the nerves. Nerve impairment?…can’t walk. Ever see those folks in those motorised carts in the stores? Many of them, nerve impairment from an injury. It seems you’re using exercise to try to compensate for your diet. It just doesn’t work that way. Get your diet straight. Live an ‘active’ lifestyle. Continue with your trainer 3 days a week, and walk 20-30″ a day on the remaining days (it can be leisurely). Walking would help maintain the metabolic burn of your workouts with your trainer. I really believe that is a major reason why you haven’t maintained a steady weight loss. You’re seeing good progress in inches lost/body weight distribution. But the added walking would help keep the ‘burn’ going. [Down off soap box] Are you still with me? Probably not. I’d understand. I get preachy. Even though I’ve never experienced the metabolic issues that you’re facing, I do have alot of experience with exercise. You can’t workout hard all the time. You need ‘active’ recovery, where you’re still doing something, but at a real low level. It’s said that the potential of exercise is experienced during the exercise, but the real gains are made at rest. It’s when your body is restoring those glycogen stores [you can't keep emptying your energy tank and expect to keep going], and your rebuilding the strength back from the workout. Anyway, enough…sorry. It’s just ’cause you’re my daughter. You can learn some things in life the hard way. But don’t sustain a knee/back/ankle/neck injury. It has the potential to ruin your life on many levels. Seriously. You’re smart. Be smart about this…….

[Simmer down] You’ve made alot of headway. I’ve said it before, but I’m extremely proud of you. Any progress is good- in many ways. You’ve got the knowledge and the smarts to make this work for you. Keep educating yourself. I’d be curious to hear your lab results. Get a print out.

Poopsie, sorry for the preachy wordiness of this. Believe it or not it’s out of love (and a little experience as far as that workin’ out stuff is concerned).

Love Bunches,

OM

I think, personally speaking, it takes years to educate yourself. To learn and listen to your body and how it responds to various things. I still don’t have things figured out myself, but I know alot more than I did a year ago. Heck, nutrition as it relates to weight loss and things like sports nutrition, is in the realm of science…They’re still making discoveries. It wasn’t that long ago that the ADA/AMA did an about-face with ‘lowfat’ diets not being the ideal diet. Goes to show, it’s a science. But as science goes, it’s getting better all the time.

Cheating sabotages your goals. You haven’t failed. You talk about your body composition changes, but talk about it as a secondary thing next to weight loss. Body composition is a HUGELY better indicator than weight lost of your progress. You know that. Seems like you haven’t unlearned that concept beyond the intellectual level. In that regard you’ve made great strides. But, drifting will slow or stop you. Acouple last comments about cheating. I haven’t read very many testimonials about people that have lost alot of weight, but we’ve talked about how it’s ok to cheat once in awhile. I wonder if those folks that lost all that weight drifted occasionally. What was their strategies. Be that as it may, what works for them, may not work for you. But I know, it can stop you in your tracks. Excersize has helped you alot, but you can’t fall into the trap like almost everyone does, that just because you’re exersizing, it gives you a allowance to eat shit. Anyway, I don’t know if you should consider rethinking cheating. It’s a curse, at least for me and my goals. Last point: cheating shows me that I’m not eat enough! Enough of the right things at the right time. You have this knowledge. Use it. You’re smart. Have hopefully studied. Have a good solid knowledge base. As that grows, you become more responsible to do the right thing. Not me, your friends, or your doctor will be able to provide that magic bullet, ’cause there ain’t none. You have the knowledge. If your cheating, you’re not free from those cravings/habits. You’re not eating enough good stuff. Maybe you’re not snacking enough?! Do you bring extra snacks to work? Maybe it’s the security thing; maybe it’s habit; maybe it’s just that you want it. Only you can answer

Anyway, I love you Don’t be discouraged. We all could do better. Nutrisystem was designed to give you a kick start. You didn’t come and say it, but it almost sounds like you’ve drifted even on that. Well, if you have, I don’t know what to tell you You have the knowledge. You have the responsibility. Sometimes it takes awhile for that knowledge to gel, and become ‘working knowledge’. It’s all up to you babe’.

Love ya

OM

I guess a person can say certainly, that one’s social network can influence a persons health. If you hang out together, you’ll be eating in the same joints, sharing much about life in general. So I guess it has some points, but it’s still a ‘novelty’…junk.

Anyway, life moves on, and I’m not giving anymore thought or energy to this article. Ain’t worth it to get all lathered up about it.