Hello my friends!
I went on a “nice, easy run” tonight. I was tired and didn’t feel like running, but our relay race is in two weeks so I knew I needed to get out there and ruuuuuun.
I can’t say it was an awesome run, but it did feel good to get outside.
Sadly, I ran past an area that used to be beautiful farmland….that is now being developed and a ton of houses are being built. 🙁
It used to be one of my favorite areas to run by and it made me so sad to see it completely changed. 🙁
I know it’s just part of life. Sigh.
As I kept running, I was happy to see some more farmland though…
I imagine it’s just a matter of time until it fills in with houses too though. 🙁
I also have to tell you guys something funny/random. When I took that picture with my head poking out in the corner, I thought of my dad. Ha ha.
Way back when, when I was about 14 years old we went on a family trip to San Francisco. I remember as my sisters and I were taking pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and other landmarks, my dad said, “You need to be IN the picture!” He said, “A picture is much more memorable and interesting if you are also in it!”
He’s totally right! You can look up a zillion pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge on the internet, but if you are ALSO in the picture, it is much more interesting!
Soooo, I decided to insert myself in the corner of that picture…thanks to my dad. I’ve actually thought of that advice he gave me many times!
Anyway, I ran just over 4 miles at around a 9:45 pace. Sadly, I’m pretty much a 9:30-10:00 minute mile runner these days. I used to be quite a bit faster (before baby #6), but not anymore. 🙁
In my defense I’ve been a pretty hit and miss runner the past 3-4 years and haven’t worked on speed a lot. I’d sure like to see if I could speed up a little bit.
I’m actually a little bit of a “mental case” runner as well, ha ha. I worry about running too fast and then hitting a wall and not being able to finish the miles I intended to. I also worry about fueling properly and feeling strong throughout my runs. I also worry about running in the heat because my body just seems to fall apart when I do!
Yes, I’m a head case. I think I just need to chill, enjoy my runs and what happens, happens!
On the flip-side, Kev is just the opposite of me! He’s hardly trained for this race and he’s not even worried about it! AND that is pretty much his M-O. It seems like I’m always stressin’ about being properly trained for a race and he just goes on a few training runs and then does just fine on race day…in snow, sleet, hail or heat.
He’s a rockstar, or a crazy person….depending how you want to look at it. In fact, he ran two marathons about 10 years ago. On his first marathon, his longest training run was like 14 miles! He said the race was freaking hard, but he finished it! He finished in about 4 1/2 hours, which isn’t too bad considering his training.
I would have D.I.E.D! Jus sayin’.
Running is just hard folks. I love it, it always feels so good mentally, but it’s tough physically. I just like to train properly and feel very prepared and confident when I run a race!
Sadly, I’m not feelin’ too confident about this upcoming relay race! Gah!
My last leg of this race is NINE miles. I’m a little worried ’bout that. Of course. My other two legs are 4ish and 5ish miles.
So far, my longest training run has been 7 miles and it wasn’t an awesome run. Dang it. I’m hoping to go on a 8-9 mile run on Saturday and I’m sure hoping I feel good!!! **fingers crossed!**
We ran this same relay race last year and I loved it (you can read all about my experience with that race here if you so desire.) I felt a LOT more prepared last year, dang it.
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Well, as you may know (if you read my blog), the past few weeks I’ve been following a program called The Faster Way to Fat Loss. I just started my 4th week and I’m loving it! It really is a great program.
It’s just a well thought out, comprehensive program that’s based on things that I love; things that I’ve already been doing on and off for years now.
Things like carb cycling, calorie cycling, macro counting and intermittent fasting. It sounds complicated, but it’s awesome.
However, even though I’ve experimented with all of these things over the years, I’ve never done it quite the way this program does it….and I really, really think it’s amazing!
My body is loving it. I can just tell. It’s only been a few weeks, but I can already feel some big changes happening. I just feel better. I have more energy. My appetite feels more in control. My digestion is more normal than it’s ever been. I’ve lost a few pounds and I feel like my body will happily shed more weight. I know that sounds weird, but the past several months I’ve felt bloated, have had a very hard time losing weight and my body has just felt “off.” I don’t feel like that anymore and I’m so happy ’bout it!
I really feel like the biggest things that are helping me the most are intermittent fasting and the macro ratios I’m following.
I’ve done intermittent fasting on and off for years, but I’ve never done it EVERY SINGLE DAY for an extended period of time and I’ve never been quite this dedicated to it. All intermittent fasting is is not eating for a specific amount of time and then eating during a set “eating window.” I usually have my first meal of the day between noon-2:00 PM and then stop eating around 8:00-9:00 PM.
It was hard the first week, but now it’s really not too hard anymore. I actually love it and feel great.
The other HUGE, HUGE, HUGE thing that I think is helping me is that I’m eating a LOT more carbs than I used to and a LOT less protein! Super weird, but my body is loving it! My macro ratio right now is around 50% carbs, 30% fat and 20% protein (the default macros on My Fitness Pal.) I’m eating around 1800 calories a day, although I’m calorie cycling as well so one or two days a week I’m eating 25% less calories.
It’s awesome. 1800 calories is a very realistic calorie amount for me too! In fact, some days it’s hard for me to eat that much. On the days when I’m eating a little less calories, I am a little hungry, but it’s not too bad….and HEY, it’s only for one day at a time.
I really believe calorie cycling is a great way to lose weight. It keeps the body guessing and also keeps the body from adapting to a lower calorie amount and slowing the metabolism down.
I looooooove the science behind nutrition and physiology and am always reading crap about it. These concepts are taught and well respected by many people that I respect!
There is so much conflicting information out there about health, fitness and nutrition. It’s so hard to know what is really healthy and what will be effective! Over the years I’ve just tried things that make sense to me and then I just see how my body does!
There have been many things I’ve had great success with and a few things that have backfired on me, but that’s how I learn what works for MY body!
I’ll share more details and specifics in the next few weeks as I continue with this program a little longer, but for now I’ll just say that The Faster Way to Fat Loss really is a great, comprehensive program. I’ve had a lot of people ask me about it and I promise to share my honest opinions about it. I really do think the components of this program are some of the more effective weight loss strategies out there. The concepts are not unique to that program though; they are things that are taught and followed in other programs, but I just really love the way The Faster Way puts it all together.
I will say that it is quite expensive though, in fact I think it’s a bit overpriced…it’s $200. In the past I’ve paid around $80 for a few different programs; 2 different Oxygen Magazine Challenges and Jessie’s Girls Bikini Body program.
I loved all of these programs and learned so much! They both included extensive training and nutrition plans and a little bit of coaching. I felt like they were all well worth the ~$80.
The Faster Way to Fat Loss also includes an extensive training program and nutrition guidelines. It does not include a specific eating plan, however you can purchase an additional recipe book if you like. The Faster Way has more coaching though and it implements the strategies that I really love and that I think are most effective! I still think $200 is pretty steep, but it is a solid program that has the potential to really change lives.
I will say though that I am already very familiar with all of the concepts of this program. I think it could be quite overwhelming for someone who is new to all of these concepts. Macro counting alone is quite the learning process and I think it can take weeks to really get the hang of it.
I also think some people might struggle to know what to eat without a specific eating plan. This is also something that just takes time and experience. I guess any time you start a new program, you kind of just need to jump in with two feet, know that it will be a learning process and figure it out as you go!
Since a lot of people have been asking me about The Faster Way to Fat Loss, I just want to say that it really is great, although it is expensive and it is a lot to take in and learn, especially if you are new to all of those health/nutrition/eating concepts.
I will continue to share my honest thoughts about the program as I go along! Oh, another one of the major components of this program is to make sure to get adequate rest! I love that this is a HUGE part of this program because it is something I struggle with, but I know is so important!
Sooooo, with that being said, I need to end this and go to bed! I sincerely hope each and every one of you are doing well! Love you all!
**I am an affiliate with The Faster Way to Fat Loss and will be compensated if anyone signs up for the program using my affiliate links. However, I only promote companies/programs that I believe in and would actually use myself. I will always share my honest opinions about the program for better or worse.**
Best wishes with the relay race! You’ll do great.
Awww, thanks so much Char! We had a fun race!