Going back to being a 'non-runner', or rather, a runner who doesn't actually do any running (despite having not run for over 5 weeks now, I still think of myself as a 'runner' - but then, I also still think I can play the violin and I haven't picked up one of those for at least 10 years....!) has caused me a LOT of problems. Which is surprising, to some extent, given that when I was in training, I thought running had caused problems too (the main one being breaking me - or at least, a small part of me!). Whilst I had - and still do - absolutely love running, I found myself having to overcome things like my hopeless time management/ organisation skills (once running hit the half hour mark and beyond, both the running part and the before, after and, on the longest runs, during eating needed organising in advance!). Social events, and even basic 'friendship commitments' were a struggle as the miles clocked up, to the point that one of my best friends resorted to writing me an actual letter, photo attached, to remind me that she, and life outside of running, still existed! And then there was the problem of correct nutrition (quick takeaways when I was feeling lazy were no longer an option if I wanted to perform my best the next day) - and extra cooking meant extra washing up (or rather, extra piles of dishes waiting to be washed up, since house work is not my strongest point..!).
These running-related problems however were all easily overcome, simply because it was something I wanted to be doing - and besides, there were many more advantages than perceived issues - not least the ability to eat more than I have ever eaten in my life, call it carb-loading and then still slip into dresses that are 2 sizes smaller than when training started. Bliss :-)
However, spending the last few months scoffing as much pasta as I can possibly can, followed by constant pre-and post-run snacks, is a habit hard to give up. In fact, it was something I hadn't even considered giving up until 2 weeks ago when, whilst happily chowing down on a big bowl of spaghetti, my friend (looking slightly amazed, or possibly a little appalled?! - at the amount I was eating) asked, bluntly, 'how on earth do you manage to eat all that!'. Quickly followed, after my automatic reply of 'carb-loading...' by an even more blunt 'For what?? You're not doing any exercise!'.
Cue me putting down my fork and checking my waistline as that fact sinks in. Followed by a sneaky weigh-in the next morning. Yep, 3 weeks of zero cardio work plus carb (over) loading does not make me a size 8! It also, more distressingly, does not make me fit into the size 8 dress which I had brought ready for my birthday celebrations next month.. drastic action was needed!
Remembering my success with the Zest Super Cleanse, I decided to opt for another Zest diet - this time, the Boot Camp diet - something I hadn't attempted whilst running because I a) didn't need to lose weight as I was burning it all off on the trails, and b) I was running - and needed to eat lots! which this diet definitely doesn't allow! The diet basically consists of 3 meals a day, with very low carbs (forget pasta, bread, rice, potatoes..), protein at every meal and more vegetables than on a 2 acre allotment! The first week, I found this TOUGH! Used to eating a lot, and regularly, I was starving for the first 3 days. By the end of the first week, I had adjusted slightly however, and cravings for chocolate and pasta had started to subside. I had also lost 3.6llbs - which was massive motivation to stick to it for the second week! When I say stick to it.. I have to admit I found myself cheating here! The diet involves 2 'fast' days, which I just couldn't do! So, small meals substituted the zero dinner and a low fat yogurt substituted breakfast. Given that I wasn't 100% true to the plan (hats off to anyone who is, I just didn't have will power...!) and that I couldn't follow the exercise plan which works alongside the diet due to my knee, the fact that I lost the weight was, in my opinion, pretty impressive!
The second week (minus a 'day off' at the weekend, when I annoyingly put a pound back on by scoffing cream teas...!) was much, much easier. My tastebuds had adjusted to the meals, which were a little more plain than I was used to - and the attempt at cooking the grainless pizza was much more successful (I found cooking for an extra 10 mins made the base much less soggy and it held together this time - also used a smaller aubergine, which could have helped..). This week I only lost 1.2llbs - but again, I didn't do the fasting or the exercise... and, for motivation, I could get into the dress and I still have 3 weeks before the party to actually make it look good (yes I got into it.. but breathing was not an option..!). And so, at the start of my 3rd week of Boot Camp, I am feeling optimistic :-)
So, my summary of the diet:
1. It's Tough! Well, come on... it IS called a Boot Camp after all, so it was hardly going to be a walk in the park! Expect (unless you are superhuman, unlike me!) to feel hungry, and to have some difficult sugar cravings during the first week. Stick with it though as once this passes, it will feel like a breeze!
2. It WORKS! As evidenced by my losing much more than expected. Well worth the effort in will power - and, because all of the meals include good quality nutrition, you know you are doing your body good, unlike other 'crash diets' which can have the same weight loss but not the same benefits!
3. It's affordable.. I don't know about you, but I usually find diets hideously expensive! Mainly because of the weird and wonderful, super-food type ingredients. Not so with the Zest Bootcamp - just normal salad, veg and lean meat and fish. The only slightly expensive meal is the pizza, which needs almond flour (harder to get hold of... and - sneaky truth - I used plain flour the first week as couldn't find it!).
4. The meals are OK... Actually I am probably being harsh here - most dishes taste nice. I didn't, however, find any tasted 'wow' - and as a food-lover, I missed this! But for 4 weeks, which is how long I am doing this for, the food is fine - and there was nothing I found I didn't want to eat, which again has happened on some other attempts at diets!
Anyway, I am off to happily tuck into my apple of the day...bring on the return of running so I can get back to carb-loading with a passion... ;-)
Wednesday 13 March 2013
Monday 11 March 2013
The Brighton Chocolate Festival - a non-running blog post!
As you will have gathered from some of my food-orientated blog posts, I like food :-) Love it, in fact.. and, right at the top of my food- favourites list is ... Chocolate! Chocolate, in my eyes, is simply the stuff of gods. Or goddesses maybe... I always feel it is somewhat wasted on men as they never seem to appreciate it quite as much as the female sex!! Or as much as me anyway ;-) Many people have tried to wean me off the stuff - some say that it is fattening, some say it will give me sugar crashes (well, yes... it would. If I stopped eating it. So why would I stop??). Others simply say that it is bad for me... but, as of this weekend, I am pleased to say that they are officially, totally Wrong!
The reason I can now say this as fact is that I spent a very happy few hours on Sunday browsing the stalls at the Chocolate Festival in Brighton - a fantastic event for all chocolate lovers, and something I can't quite believe I hadn't been to before! The day had been planned as part of a Mothers Day outing - chocolate festival followed by a champagne afternoon tea at Bohemia - Yum! It had also been carefully considered in terms of my lack of activity over the last few weeks - going from running 5 days a week to nothing was having a knock-on effect on my waistline, so I was determined to watch, listen and treat my well-deserving mum... but NOT to sample.
Well... my determination to stick to the diet and avoid the chocolate testing was unwavering. For a full 2 minutes - which was about the smae amount of time it took for me to get to the front of the first stall, and for the very lovely man behind it to produced a large plate of gorgous dark chocolate buttons. Dark chocolate, I persuaded myself, does not count. Being packed full of minerals and anti-oxidants, it can, really, be considered as more of a health supplement. A bit like the pills I stock up on in Boots and occasionally remember to take in the mornings - onlyslightly much more moreish!! And so, venturing further down the line of exhibitors, I found myself taking a wide variety of 'supplements' of delicious chocolates, made from a range of cocoa beans and of varying strengths - and handed out by people truely passionate about their craft! I found myself learning about the different beans and new techniques for intensifying flavours (the Damien Allsop water ganache chocolates were just amaaaazing.. cannot rave about them enough!), testing new award winning chocolates from Sloe Seduction (a stall I found myself sneaking back to time and time again...) and warming up (it was seriously cold I have to say..) with proper, homemade hot chocolate with a spicy shot of vanilla - heaven in a cup!
Overall, if you are a fan of chocolate - or you know someone who is! - I would highly recommend going next year! As well as all the 'freebies' (also known as tasters....), there were some fantastic, beautifully presented products for sale which will make gorgeous presents for birthdays or Easter - one stall had some really pretty, hand decorated easter eggs for less than you would buy a basic cadbury's version in the local supermarket, with the added benefit of knowing all about where the individual beans came from which went into the chocolate (which tasted richly intense.. I know, as I tasted it :-) !
If you can't wait until next year, venture to London or Bristol and you can still have a chocolate filled day out - whilst educating yourself on all the health benefits to ease the scoffing-induced guilt!! Click here for more information - happy tasting!!
The reason I can now say this as fact is that I spent a very happy few hours on Sunday browsing the stalls at the Chocolate Festival in Brighton - a fantastic event for all chocolate lovers, and something I can't quite believe I hadn't been to before! The day had been planned as part of a Mothers Day outing - chocolate festival followed by a champagne afternoon tea at Bohemia - Yum! It had also been carefully considered in terms of my lack of activity over the last few weeks - going from running 5 days a week to nothing was having a knock-on effect on my waistline, so I was determined to watch, listen and treat my well-deserving mum... but NOT to sample.
Well... my determination to stick to the diet and avoid the chocolate testing was unwavering. For a full 2 minutes - which was about the smae amount of time it took for me to get to the front of the first stall, and for the very lovely man behind it to produced a large plate of gorgous dark chocolate buttons. Dark chocolate, I persuaded myself, does not count. Being packed full of minerals and anti-oxidants, it can, really, be considered as more of a health supplement. A bit like the pills I stock up on in Boots and occasionally remember to take in the mornings - only
Overall, if you are a fan of chocolate - or you know someone who is! - I would highly recommend going next year! As well as all the 'freebies' (also known as tasters....), there were some fantastic, beautifully presented products for sale which will make gorgeous presents for birthdays or Easter - one stall had some really pretty, hand decorated easter eggs for less than you would buy a basic cadbury's version in the local supermarket, with the added benefit of knowing all about where the individual beans came from which went into the chocolate (which tasted richly intense.. I know, as I tasted it :-) !
If you can't wait until next year, venture to London or Bristol and you can still have a chocolate filled day out - whilst educating yourself on all the health benefits to ease the scoffing-induced guilt!! Click here for more information - happy tasting!!
Changing Plans - a Landmark weekend.
This weekend marked the start of my changing plans for running in 2013. In fact, it has probably altered my running full stop - but its this year that I have my mind on. It all started with my trip to the Physio on Saturday morning. Now, I already knew this was a 'make or break' visit in terms of my Brighton Marathon plans - at my last visit, my very nice physio had, rather firmly, given me two options on this front: 1) she could try to get my knee 'Ok' enough to walk-run the 26.2 miles in April, provided I was prepared to not run/ swim/ cycle/ ride or basically MOVE in any way shape or form for 6 months after, or 2) she could fix my knee. Having my heart set on the marathon - and desperately not wanting to let down either the charity I was running for or the people who had sponsored me, I barely let the poor women finish speaking before grabbing the walk-run option! And so, armed with some carefully planned exercises, a rather large ice pack and some words of caution from the physio, we started trialling the new, take-it-slow marathon plan.
It's at this point that I should probably admit that the plan was just a 'maybe' chance, and that I was meant to be spending the week assessing how my knee was coping with the exercise. In which case, when I woke up on Saturday morning with a knee twice the size that it had been the week before, or even the night before for that matter, I probably should have accepted that the 'maybe' was rapidly becoming an 'unlikely'... but no. As I hopped unsteadily into the treatment room that day, not quite able to weight bear on my left leg, I was mentally calculating just how many 'hops' I could fit into 26.2 miles - and whether a hop-walk plan would be slower or faster than the walk-run one that we had previously discussed. In fact, it took a full 45 minutes for my brain to cotton on to what I was being (repeatedly!) told.. that the Brighton marathon was out.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I did not take this news well - in fact, I spent the majority of the remaining day sulking and grumbling to anyone who would listen (as none of my friends paid any attention to my grumbles at all, that was basically just me...!).But, Sunday brought around Mothers Day - and you can't grumble and sulk whilst trying to make a special day for your mum! So, giving myself a rather stern talking to, I decided to 'Get Over It'! In fact, I was not only going to get over it, but, I decided as I nibbled on some rather amazing chocolate at the Brighton Chocolate Festival (will write about that in the next post as it was far too good not to be told!) that it was going to be a positive!
All well and good.. but how do I turn being injured, unable to do ANYTHING even remotely active and missing out on the one event I had set my heart on... into a good thing?! Well, I made a list! Admittedly, it is currently quite a short list - but I am working on it :-) feel free to add anything ...
So, my list so far:
1. I have a tailored plan to address all of my imbalances, tight muscles, areas of weakness, potential posture problems, which even my mix of pilates/ yoga/ body pump and conditioning gym workouts didn't pick up or correct! I may be broken now, but when I do get back to running, I will be better than I was before. And you never know - a better posture may just make me faster - bring on the soon-to-be supercharged me!! (well... maybe not soon.. or that super... but you know what I mean!!).
2. I have an opportunity to be involved in running - from the other side of the fence! I may not be able to run in events for the next few months, but that doesn't mean I can't take part at all! All races require marshalls and volunteers to help on the day - so I have now applyed to volunteer at the marathon, and will be looking to get involved in anyway I can at events in my local area. A good way to put something back into the sport, and meet new people - never a bad thing :-)
3. .... oh OK so I only have 2 things on my list so far - I did say it was short! Give me time though as I'm sure there are more...
If anyone else has had to pull out of a race - let me know how you are getting on with NOT running! and good luck to the rest of you still racing and running injury free... I am only mildly envious.. honest..!!
It's at this point that I should probably admit that the plan was just a 'maybe' chance, and that I was meant to be spending the week assessing how my knee was coping with the exercise. In which case, when I woke up on Saturday morning with a knee twice the size that it had been the week before, or even the night before for that matter, I probably should have accepted that the 'maybe' was rapidly becoming an 'unlikely'... but no. As I hopped unsteadily into the treatment room that day, not quite able to weight bear on my left leg, I was mentally calculating just how many 'hops' I could fit into 26.2 miles - and whether a hop-walk plan would be slower or faster than the walk-run one that we had previously discussed. In fact, it took a full 45 minutes for my brain to cotton on to what I was being (repeatedly!) told.. that the Brighton marathon was out.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I did not take this news well - in fact, I spent the majority of the remaining day sulking and grumbling to anyone who would listen (as none of my friends paid any attention to my grumbles at all, that was basically just me...!).But, Sunday brought around Mothers Day - and you can't grumble and sulk whilst trying to make a special day for your mum! So, giving myself a rather stern talking to, I decided to 'Get Over It'! In fact, I was not only going to get over it, but, I decided as I nibbled on some rather amazing chocolate at the Brighton Chocolate Festival (will write about that in the next post as it was far too good not to be told!) that it was going to be a positive!
All well and good.. but how do I turn being injured, unable to do ANYTHING even remotely active and missing out on the one event I had set my heart on... into a good thing?! Well, I made a list! Admittedly, it is currently quite a short list - but I am working on it :-) feel free to add anything ...
So, my list so far:
1. I have a tailored plan to address all of my imbalances, tight muscles, areas of weakness, potential posture problems, which even my mix of pilates/ yoga/ body pump and conditioning gym workouts didn't pick up or correct! I may be broken now, but when I do get back to running, I will be better than I was before. And you never know - a better posture may just make me faster - bring on the soon-to-be supercharged me!! (well... maybe not soon.. or that super... but you know what I mean!!).
2. I have an opportunity to be involved in running - from the other side of the fence! I may not be able to run in events for the next few months, but that doesn't mean I can't take part at all! All races require marshalls and volunteers to help on the day - so I have now applyed to volunteer at the marathon, and will be looking to get involved in anyway I can at events in my local area. A good way to put something back into the sport, and meet new people - never a bad thing :-)
3. .... oh OK so I only have 2 things on my list so far - I did say it was short! Give me time though as I'm sure there are more...
If anyone else has had to pull out of a race - let me know how you are getting on with NOT running! and good luck to the rest of you still racing and running injury free... I am only mildly envious.. honest..!!
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