I had really hoped to see more physical results from the mile project at the end of three months, and while yes- my endurance is up, my heart and lungs can handle more, and my time was improving almost every day, it isn't enough to see the changes I was hoping to see. I haven't lost a pound, and my clothes don't fit better.
In fact, the opposite has happened.
I didn't expect to see any radical changes in my appearance with a mile run, but I didn't expect to gain weight, and fat. It is fat- not muscle. I have outgrown my "skinny" jeans completely, and my "loose" jeans were uncomfortably tight all last Saturday night (as I consumed an entire days worth of calories in the form of alcoholic beverages at the hotel bar with my ladies).
After coming off of a five day exercise break and food feasting orgy fest, I have a new plan.
The Mile Project, Phase Two:
Every other morning:
- Wake up 6:30 a.m.
- Walk dogs 1/4 mile
- Run one mile at an incline of 1 on treadmill
- Run 1/4 mile at lower speed and no incline
- Walk 1/4 mile at even lower speed, raise incline to 10.
- Walk for one minute at lower speed, no incline
- Do 4 sets of modified push ups, stretching legs in between sets.
- (alternative outdoor plan: run 1.25 miles, walk 1/4 mile)
- Shower
I am pretty proud of myself for working so hard at The Mile Project.
I may not SEE the results I would like to see, but no doubt what I have done over the last three months has paved the way towards a longer, more fit lifestyle.
Who knows what I will be doing three months from now for The Mile Project, Phase Three?
3 comments:
Awww. It is so frustrating when we work so hard and see such small results.
I wonder what foods you are eating? I can gain 5 lbs instantly on sugar and crap carb binges no matter how much I exercise. i thought that would go away once I trained for the triathlon but it still happens.
I did lose a lot of weight just walking everywhere, eating 1 serving at meals and eliminating the 4 daily soy chai lattes for 6 mos. I lost more than then in intensive training. And I still ate chocolate.
Hang in there. Keep up with the exercise more as a goal for increasing health.
I am not going to lie and say I have been eating WELL, but I don't think I have been eating much differently over all, but something has to give, that is for sure.
Bottom line, is I guess I have to start paying closer attention to what goes in.
But yes, the point of the mile project is to have a focus on health and fitness, NOT on losing weight.
Another thing to look at is your resting heart rate. What is it now? What was it when you started?
that was something that really made what I am doing stick and truly feel meaningful. I was at work the other night and I played with the BP cuffs. It was quiet. my resting heart rate was in the 50's! I checked again the next day at the clinic and it was 58! Before I was training it was 70-80's, maybe even 90's. I knew that my patients with resting heart rates in the 50's are usually athletes but never in my life would I consider myself an actual "athlete" Perhaps the numbers say I am.
I do know that means I am very healthy now and that is a true measure of how successful my training was beyond just finishing a tri, incorporating a fit lifestyle,losing weight or toning up. Our hearts have a limited number of beats over our lifetime and I have now allowed myself a longer life by increasing my heart's efficiency. I bet you have too in all that running! Keep it up. Some of the best benefits are not necessarily visible.
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