Cacao moratorium

The advent of Lent has brought with it a good opportunity for me. That is, to get my eating back under control. I think I was mid-pregnancy when my eating went off the rails - and chocolate became a integral part of my daily diet. Now I've been back into the running for over 3 months, and my weight has steadfastly refused to drop down below what it was when Kyla was just 4 weeks old. More specifically, I have 15lbs still to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight; ideally I'd like to lose 20. This would still put me above what experts say is the 'ideal race weight' for my short stature (101lbs), but I can't ever see that happening.

You know what I no longer believe? I don't believe that breastfeeding helps you lose weight faster. And I don't believe that runners who have had babies come back faster. They are both quite obviously myths told to cheer up fat, immobile pregnant women. NO, I do not want you to send me contradictory real life examples - I'm feeling bad enough about myself as it is, thanks very much.

I just can't drag around all these extra pounds on the run for much longer. They're slowing me down, putting my knees at risk, depressing the hell out of me. It's time to do something about it, and stop blaming anything other than my unhealthy diet.

Though I'm not Catholic, Lent seems like a good enough excuse to cut out the chocolate completely. Cold Turkey. If I can quit my addition, it will hopefully lead to a reduction of all my junky eating habits, a big weight loss, easier running and ultimately, increased speed. What would I do without competitive running for motivation? I couldn't care less about being slim for aesthetic purposes!!

I've done it before, I can do it again. BUT HELP ME! 40 DAYS WITHOUT CHOCOLATE - THE HORROR!

Slip Sliding Away

My skiving on the blogging front is not, I am happy to report, reflective of my running lately. I had managed to keep up with my five-times-a-week schedule (exactly as outlined in previous post), until this Wednesday when winter weather finally caught up to NYC. It was just an inch or two of snow, but when those inches are pushed up onto the pavements, it's nigh on impossible to cross the streets walking, never mind running. Not to mention the risk of falling on my head, as regular readers will know I am apt to do.

Part of me is sorry I finally got rid of my membership at the local Y, since I could have resorted to the dreadmill, as in winters past. But then again, maybe it's good my body is taking a forced rest.

Another part of me is glad I never have to look at that swimming pool down at the Y again. Is it possible to be mad at a sport? Because I am kind of mad at swimming. I swam religiously throughout all 41 weeks of my pregnancy, right up to the morning I was admitted into hospital. What did I get for it? I was so unfit when I started exercising again it was as if I hadn't raised my heart rate in years! It's really made me question the value of that sport.

Anyway, I've been keeping busy in the past few weeks of my blog absenteeism. Hellgate held its 8th annual awards night (3rd for me.) It was the very best yet - thanks in no small part to a couple of fabulous, tear jerking picture montages. They can be viewed here on the new Hellgate blog which, like the montages, was built by Josh, our new club secretary.

Since my last post, Kyla has started rolling over, giggling regularly, almost sitting up unaided, and eating "solids." This is a very exciting time in babies' development I guess!

As I say, the running is coming along very nicely. Can I tell you how much I love running in these sub-freezing conditions? This is a 180 degree turnaround from my first reaction to this extreme a few years ago. Now I am all about the COLD! Three or four layers (particularly on the bum/thighs/belly area), gloves, hat, and a thick slathering of vaseline on exposed face skin to ward off frostbite, and I'm raring to go! Sure, my legs are frozen numb by the time I'm done, but it feels so good!

I managed one hour 21 minutes last Saturday. One big benefit to becoming fitter is that I can finally add longer, more interesting routes to my repertoire. And there's not many better than the view from the rim of Roosevelt Island on a sunny winter's afternoon. There's little doubt in my mind now that I will be able to at least cover 13.1 consecutive miles on March 25th. The 'fat jogger' self perception I've had for months is slowly but surely being replaced by the fit runner I once was.