<p>Chintzy!!! Great transformation! You must be so happy to be fit and healthy! You are truly an inspiration! All of that hard work is evident in those pics!</p>
<p>Struggling with getting workouts in as the wedding activities pile up. Have been getting in walks but not a lot of my biking and it is driving me crazy. Will push some things back and get back to my routine over the next few days.</p>
<p>I liked the first picture being in the kitchen and the second being in the gym - perhaps there’s a bit of a message there.</p>
<p>I was thinking of asking my wife to make a low-carb pizza using something similar to my low-carb pancake recipe.</p>
<p>I love grilled “pizza” using purchased naan. Top with pesto, shrimp, red onion, tomatoes and shaved parmesan. I’m sure it’s terrible for me but it’s one of the few foods I really, really love.</p>
<p>[ImageShack®</a>; - Online Photo and Video Hosting](<a href=“http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/220/2007before.jpg/]ImageShack®”>ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs)</p>
<p>Here is a before link. It isn’t exactly a close-up, but it’s all I have on this computer. From 2007.</p>
<p>Speaking of Indian breads, one of my other specialities was learning how to make the Poori puffed-up deep fried Indian bread to serve with my lamb vindaloo and basmati rice. One of my other sacrfices to fitness. I’m gonna make lamb vindaloo one of these days, but I think the deep fried puffy poori bread recipe is going to be shelved.</p>
<p>I did buy my once-a-month loaf of Beefsteak rye bread and am enjoying a tuna sandwich as a change of pace for lunch.</p>
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<p>That’s when I try to take Alwyn Cosgrove’s advice to heart. Some weeks, workouts are going to be fantastic. Other weeks, you just have to “punch the clock” and get your exercise in, even if you aren’t really feelin’ it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you been working out a ton, your body may be saying that it needed a break. The week I took completely off from weight lifting (when I had the vertigo) two weeks ago was exactly what I needed. A bunch of little aches and pains cleared up and I feel really refreshed in my workouts.</p>
<p>Either way, I’m sure you’ll be fine as soon as you hit the park and get hoofin’…</p>
<p>Fantastic that your husband took off walking by himself. Couples exercise is probably great, but I can see where it can’t be every day.</p>
<p>Despite the progress on this thread, the outside world (US) is getting worse.</p>
<p>[Mississippi</a> most obese state, Colorado least | Reuters](<a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/us-usa-obesity-idUSTRE7663JD20110707]Mississippi”>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/us-usa-obesity-idUSTRE7663JD20110707)</p>
<p>Chintzy- love your pics. Your gym shot looks great – love the skort/skirt? you are wearing. MOWC looks like she was wearing a running skort, as well.</p>
<p>MOWC- your “before” picture looks like my “goal” picture lol.</p>
<p>Today opted for a 5 mile run in the rain. I am sticking with the Galloway method and am actually beginning to enjoy it. I am able to run at a nice pace, then alternate to the walk. It helps me keep my form while running, instead of shuffling along, and allows for two runners at different paces to run together. My running partner today was feeling quite tired. I would run ahead for the run interval, then walk back for the walk interval, so there was never that much distance between us despite the differing pace.</p>
<p>On the diet front, almost a week of Paleo. Not feeling deprived yet, and doing okay. Have experimented with coconut flour and almond meal and wasn’t satisfied with the pancakes and waffles, although the muffins turned out great. Came up with a clafouti (French baked pancake/custard-type dessert) made with fresh raspberries and just a smidgle of Splenda (paleo cheat, I know) to make a satisfying and very carby feeling dessert.</p>
<p>Have mainly stuck to the produce from my local CSA farm, kohlrabi, chard, kale, summer squash, carrots, etc. most of which I picked myself. This coupled with fresh grilled salmon and a little grilled filet mignon-- well, can’t really complain.</p>
<p>CJane, please share the details of the clafouti. That sounds wonderful. Also a great strategy for working with a partner when you’re at different levels.</p>
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<p>I cannot emphasize this enough. I went from being quite active and fit to augmenting my basic fitness regimen (which included but wasn’t limited to a twice weekly bootcamp and spinning classes) with full on marathon training. I did not increase my food consumption ( I know this for a fact, because I was weighing, measuring and logging religiously). Despite adding a high volume of running to my already not inconsiderable exercise, including long runs of over 3 1/2 hours and successfully completing the marathon — I did not shed a single pound :(</p>
<p>Yes, I know, I probably swapped a bit of fat for muscle, yadayadayada, but the reality is what idad talked about, my body just adapted. Similarly, I have ramped up my workouts, as evidenced by my boring updates on this thread, and they aren’t exactly low intensity, I have not shed a single pound.</p>
<p>I am hoping that at the end of this week, I might be able to amend that last statement. Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>MOfWC, your dog looks awesome!</p>
<p>“I frequently hear “Well, you can eat anything you want because you run so much.” It does NOT work that way. I wish it did.”</p>
<p>Yup. I third that.</p>
<p>Thanks! My dog IS awesome. He had his summer haircut in that picture, but he is a pure Golden Retriever with a gorgeous coat. He’s 8 now. WildChild stole our checkbook and bought him without our permission (already had a house full of pets) when he (WC) was 15. We kept the puppy and sent the kid away! He is HUGE- a little overweight (needs some burpees) but mainly just huge. Weighs 126.</p>
<p>Clafouti recipe:</p>
<p>3 eggs
Splenda to taste
1/4 cup almond meal
1/4 cup coconut flour
pinch salt
1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or coconut milk et al)
3 tbl. your oil of choice</p>
<p>Oven at 400 F.
Beat eggs and Splenda 5 minutes until pale and foamy.
Fold in almond meal and coconut flour and salt. Stir in milk and oil to make a smooth batter. (Although the coconut flour will make it a little lumpy)
Pour 1/2 batter into baking dish (pie dish or 9 inch gratin).
Bake for 15 minutes.
Arrange raspberries on baked batter, and pour on rest of batter. Bake 35 more minutes until golden brown and puffed. Serve immediately.</p>
<p>makes 4-6 servings</p>
<p>Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/6
Amount per Serving
Calories 183
Calories from Fat 121.1
Total Fat 13.46g
Saturated Fat 2.1g
Cholesterol 107.5mg<br>
Total Carbohydrate 10.83g<br>
Dietary Fiber 5.93g<br>
Sugars 1.09g<br>
Protein 5.99g </p>
<p>Est. Percent of Calories from:
Fat 65%
Carbs 23%
Protein 13%</p>
<p>MoWC, Bunsen Burner and CJRead, stop lying! You are thin and fit because you have magic genes. It’s not possible for normal people to lose weight or run far!</p>
<p>I covet MoWC’s running skirt!!!</p>
<p>Sabaray, hang in there. It must be hard doing it for two. I know some days it’s almost impossible to do it for one!</p>
<p>NorthMinn, all the wedding stuff must be crazy-making, but make time for you no matter what! You deserve it.</p>
<p>mathmom, 20 pounds is awesome!</p>
<p>^ BB and MOWC are thin and fit, I am a work in progress.</p>
<p>Currently, I am chubby fit and the magic genes passed me by. My 66 year old mother is naturally thin and fit with movie star looks and bod. After doing no exercise whatsoever she took up running 3 years ago after my dad passed away and … just ran. No injuries, no issues. She runs about an hour a day rain or shine. She won’t race but looks fantastic. She does not have music, no Garmin, runs in crap shoes and cast off exercise clothes from her daughters, has no training plan – looks and feels great. I bear no resemblance to her at all…</p>
<p>My two sisters are both tiny and fit. I did not get their genes, either. My youngest sister decided she wanted to tone up for her wedding. 4 weeks of “watching watch she ate” and working with a trainer (doing WAY less than my usual workouts) she easily achieved her goals and looked fantastic. Same story with the other sister. Not fun being “the bigger one” and having to work twice as hard to achieve 1/2 the results. But nobody said life was fair :)</p>
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<p>Rachel Cosgrove, in her book, tells the story of training for and completing an Ironman (2.4 swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile marathon run) and getting soft and flabby in the process as she lost muscle from the hours and hours of distance cardio in the training. So, your experience is not unique.</p>
<p>She tells the story in this article:</p>
<p>[The</a> Final Nail in the Cardio Coffin](<a href=“http://members.rachelcosgrove.com/public/The_Final_Nail_in_the_Cardio_Coffin.cfm]The”>http://members.rachelcosgrove.com/public/The_Final_Nail_in_the_Cardio_Coffin.cfm)</p>
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<p>Genes are a big part of it, I’m convinced. </p>
<p>My mother is tiny and thin but not athletic by any stretch of the imagination. My dad was very athletic, played football in college, ran daily, lifted weights while he smoked and after he quit. Of course he was also built like a fireplug. Guess who I take after? Hint: Not my mother. Of course my sister takes after Mom, but I think I could kick her butt in a footrace. H’s father was athletic but overweight, his mother very thin but also exercised. One of H’s brothers takes after his mother, but the rest after their father.<br>
In our family, S is the only thin one but he has packed on the pounds from time to time. </p>
<p>I think those of us who have to work harder appreciate the results more? At least that’s what I keep telling myself. BTW, thanks for the recipe. I will definitely try that.</p>
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<p>You will! i suspect that you will lose weight pretty quickly.</p>
<p>Thanks, idad for the encouragement and the Rachel Cosgrove story. I trained with a bunch of Iron Man athletes and there were a few with similar experiences. Mainly women. Very interesting and somehow comforting. As in “I am not the only one”. Appreciate it.</p>
<p>The thin gene does not run in my family. My mother’s brother died of a heart attack when he was only 50 (he weighed well over 300 lb). His love of starchy foods certainly contributed to his problems. Judging by the phenotype, I inherited a lot of the same genes as my uncle, so no, I most likely do not have the thin gene ;). The female relatives from my father’s side were not thin either. I have to bust my tail and watch what I eat to stay in shape. My living relatives don’t, and they are still overweight despite being physically active.</p>
<p>MOfWC, funny how kids get us into extended pet ownersip! Our dog was the result of DD’s constant requests for a dog (2 cats were not enough). :)</p>
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