We've got two weight problems in this house at the moment, mine and Oscar's. Oscar is too thin and I'm, you've guessed it, too fat. Oscar could do with putting on a Kilogram and I need to loose 2 whole stone to be back to the wight I have done most of my running and racing at. Given how much upper body strength I have gained since having the horses (and the spaniel!) and the corresponding muscle gain I think losing 1-1.5 stone would actually be a good aim.
Oscar is simple. Ish. I just need to feed him more. Without feeding him too much for his digestive system to cope with (and having to deal with the results of that at the other end!). The problem I'm having is that he just burns everything off as soon as he has a longish walk and ends up with RSPCA ribs and hips. Mainly because he runs around from the start of any walk right to the end with no let up, and if you put him on lead he pulls which also uses energy! If he's going to be anywhere near our 100K adventure he'll need to have a decent covering before we start. I found out about some meat-ball with extras type things you can make up called "satin balls" (no laughing at the back) that show producers use to but "condition" on a thin dog for shows. But after digging around a bit more I found theirs a risk of the high fat content bringing on pancreatitis... and after digging some more that cocker spaniels (Oscar is half cocker) are prone to pancreatitis. So I'm holding my horses on that one. Instead I'm going for more kibble, three meals a day with a bit of scrambled egg and vegetable oil embelishment in one of the meals and we'll see how we go with that. I'm also waiting for a delivery of a high-energy kibble for puppies and underweight dogs - useful cos I have both of those.
I'm not quite sure how I have managed to let so much weight creep on. I carry it well and don't LOOK two stone overweight, not until I try and squeeze into clothes that used to be slightly too big and now can't even be done up anyway! It's a combination of lack of exercise, stress, no time to eat well, too many biscuits lying about while I am stressed, probably the anti-anxiety pills (which I am now off thank goodness) etc etc. Mostly less exercise and more food of course. I haven't been completely sedentary (far from it - dogs and horses require otherwise) or completely pigged out but I have consistently over-estimated how much exercise I'm doing and underestimated how much food I'm eating. Someone has suggested getting my thyroid checked as I do have a family history. I think if the weight doesn't start to seriously shift as the running picks up I'll go have a word with the doc about it. Last time I mentioned the weight gain to a doctor though he did that typical doctor thing of making you feel utterly shit and stupid and said "well people just get fatter as they get older"... great. Cheers doc.
But yes. The plan of action for my weight is clear. The training increases and the food decreases. I'm thinking a "rice and" diet. Last night was rice and tuna. Lunch today? Rice and beans. I am going to minimise dairy, bread and meat and increase vegetables and fruit. And just try and be sensible with the cake. I was vegan for a few years and happily went without cakes and the like most of the time so I can do that again. Hitting 12 stone certainly gives you some focus. I was in Sainsbury's yesterday and was looking at the chocolate as I was waiting to pay and I just kept seeing "12 stone, 12 stone, 12 stone" printed on the front of all the bars... which helps you resist temptation!
Apart from worrying about weight in various ways it's been a good couple of weeks. I have been following my beginners running schedule well (only one missed and one delayed session) and getting myself to the classes. I feel like I am running strongly and recovering well in the walk breaks. I've been walking too and from the yard as much as possible and walking more briskly with the dogs (I tend to stroll when I taken them out). Stu and the MCC even came with me on a run on Sunday. We ran in the woods near Loweswater where the MCC could be off-lead. It was Stu's first run after his 10-in-10 and I think he enjoyed it. The dogs LOVED it - they got to do their usual charging around thing but just a bit extra because we were moving faster. They were particularly chaotic though - Hugo is being a bit teenage at the moment and straying just that little bit further away and turning the odd deaf-ear. Grumble. It'll come back.
We've seen our team-mates a few times over the last couple of weekends which has been lovely. We seem to have settled on "The Monochrome Chaos Collective" as our team-name which fits with Oscar and Hugo being our mascot-dogs and possible taking part. We shall have to get matching black and white kit and cause some chaos on our way round! The next step will be planning some running together but I have to get up to speed first.
I've also been snufflinf around on the internet looking for races to do as training along the way. I think this is how I can keep myself motivated. I am so looking forward to my "comeback" 5K race in a couple of weeks and that is really pushing me to so my beginners schedule training. I need races like stepping stones along the way towards the 100K to get my training. I think race plans need to be in another blog and I need to have a cuppa right now though.
How about a quote to finish?
"Anything is possible, It's your choice whether or
not you choose to make IT happen."
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