OK, this thread has slowed down, maybe because some of us are on the healthy food thread, too. So, I thought that I would give an IF update.
Monday was eight weeks since I started IF. This morning, I am down 8.8 pounds and am thrilled and feel great. People have started commenting on the change. I was hoping to lose 7.8 and reassess, but this feels so easy and natural to my normal eating pattern (but with no evening snacks!) that my reassessment says to keep going. I think I can pretty easily get to my trainer’s goal weight for me. I am nine pounds away from that. We know because of DXAs that that’s a good weight for me even though the generic BMI scale still would have me as overweight. I would be happy to go lower as long as just doing IF is all it takes. I find this easy. One of the weeks, my son and his roommate were in town so there was no calorie counting then and I made my eating window a little wide, but I only gained a pound and dropped that quickly.
I had a Zoom check-in with the trainer yesterday, and she had another woman lose 12 pounds on IF and not one ounce of muscle so I am hoping the same thing happens to me when I have my next DXA in May. Meanwhile, in April I go for my annual and will get new bloodwork so I hope to see improvement there, too.
I guess the most surprising thing is how much my gut has shrunk. I mean, if IF means the body is using fat stores for energy … well, my gut always has been a target-rich environment in that regard. I’m certainly not working out more than I did all of last year so it feels like it’s the IF and maybe continuing to eliminate processed foods? Anyway, I’m an IF fan!
In unrelated news, my sons got me a massage for my birthday, and I used it yesterday. It’s been a long time since I have had a full-body, deep-tissue massage, like almost 20 years. I had no idea that they can leave you feeling worse than when you went in! lol Last night, my knees hurt, and today my butt is sore. Did y’all know that? I found this story:
Congrats on the relatively easy weight loss.
I keep doing the same old thing - 4 miles or more of walking or 18 or more (indoor these days) biking almost every day. I also do a few minutes of light weights and easy stretching most evenings.
Yesterday I went to happy hour, maybe for the first time since COVID (certainly I haven’t been often), and I skipped exercising. I almost never do that, but can live with myself if I do
I’m looking forward to getting back outside on my bike soon.
I just don’t have a lot of new and exciting things to say. Run, lift, yada yada. rinse & repeat.
I have been struggling with mood (i.e. sadness) lately. Coming back from a trip or when kids leave is understandable. But lately, it’s just out of nowhere and for no reason I can put my finger on. I did read that perimenopause/menopause can do such things. I’m hoping that’s it, cuz a lot of the time I feel batsh!t crazy!
I don’t know because it’s not like a long term or even short term funk. It lasts up to a day and just seems to hit randomly. And if you asked why I’m sad or stressed I couldn’t say. Though it does seem to tend to hit on Sundays. Maybe I have less to keep me busy other than vacuuming
Somebody mentioned BMI calculator, I used it today and I found out for the first time I’m in the healthy category, I have never paid attention to this BMI index before, I knew it exists but I didn’t think anything about it.
Heck, I’ve been napping since my early 20s, my memory is more than excellent, I wouldn’t say exceptional but several people have been commenting on my good memory lately, so it’s not my hallucination.
I don’t believe everything I read that what keeps me healthy overall.
I read that earlier this morning since Alzheimer’s runs so strong in H’s family. It’s more a warning if there is a big increase in napping time in your golden years. I’ve got to get through menopause in one piece first. And, I come from a long line of couch sleepers and nappers, and no dementia on my side.
Mental health belongs in this thread too. Sort of a “Say it Here” thread but we are allowed to respond.
When I’m in a funk I try to add something new and different and enticing to my routine - for me that could be find some new parks to run at, shop my home and redecorate a room, buy a couple indoor plants, make a dessert! Or sign up for a one night class (I don’t like long commitments!)
Running for the first time in 2022 in shorts tonight ! Will be doing my fav run - a mild dusk run.
You know, one of the first signs that your memory is faltering is when you state that your memory is fantastic or excellent. (I’m kidding)
BTW, I squatted another PR this week. The increments are getting smaller and smaller, but the arrow is still pointing up, so I suppose that’s good thing.
I also finished the 3-week 3-workout sequence for the CF Open last Sunday. I won’t be moving to the next round, but I thought I did pretty well, all things considered (i.e., no weight classes).
Otherwise, the week has gone very well workout-wise. My Sunday runs have tailed off the last 3 weeks, because I would repeat the CF Open workouts on Sundays after a 1st run-thru on Friday evenings.
Yeah, maybe my memory is fading, but I can still beat you in an arm wrestling, I’m kidding , my humor is worse than your humour, which doesn’t say much.
Oh, I love those days when you can wear shorts but it’s not yet super hot. I actually ran two days in a row this week (unusual for me) in order to to cherry pick the nice weather opportunities. Dusky-ish is nice because temps cool as the body heats up.
It’s weird but I have always preferred running in not complete light. LOL. So just before sunrise and near sunset - best times. Ran this morning before the temperature started to drop. 53 when I started, 46 when I finished!
I almost skipped exercising for the second day this week (totally abnormal for me), but fortunately my walking buddy texted me and gave me the incentive to go out. Did 4.7ish miles. Now it’s wine on the deck time.
I had my absolute favorite kind of exercise today…. family downhill skiing. Had lots of time with our daughter in the car and on the slopes. She is a far superior skier but opted to spend time with me on my favored “blue cruisers” (intermediate groomed trails.). With encouragement, she got me down through the moguls on one of he easier expert trails. Dry roads, sunny blue skies, warm temps, and what my dad calls “hero snow” (velvety soft stuff, not too deep). Color me happy.
I was one of 22,000+ people who ran the NYC Half on Sunday. My goal for this year was to run a race in NYC so there I am. I have been very busy with other things and didn’t train as much as I should have but ended up doing better than expected.
That said, I plan to dial it back a bit. I still plan to run, but mostly shorter distances and if I sign up for races I will look for 5K or 10K distances. I really want to just enjoy being out there.
So, I thought that I would give an IF update.
I’m certainly not working out more than I did all of last year so it feels like it’s the IF and maybe continuing to eliminate processed foods? Anyway, I’m an IF fan!
run.
(I’m kidding)
) so am also sore