My Summer Body Experiment

I’m going through a rough time right now.

I think it would be really easy to slack off on my devotion to healthy eating and fitness, but:

  • I’ve come too far.
  • This is a great opportunity for me to take even better care of my body.

While the nutrition guidelines I followed to lose weight seemed somewhat restrictive at the time (they’re basically Paleo), they worked and I felt amazing. Digestive issues were almost non-existent, and I had so much energy.

These days, I still try to keep these guidelines in mind, but in reality, my eating’s been more laissez-faire as of late. Really, I eat basically what I want and just try to balance unhealthy meals out with healthy meals and workouts.

Well, I feel bloated and my stomach has been upset a lot lately, so that’s not working.

I’ve decided to use this extra time to recommit to my health and experiment a little bit.

My summer health (and this includes mental health) goals:

  • pick and begin marathon training schedule by July 1. (Also considering training with a group. Does anyone know anything about non-fundraising marathon training groups?)
  • Get back to Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday or Sunday running schedule.
  • Mondays and Wednesdays will be strength. I’m not sure what this will look like yet, because I’m still figuring out my gym situation.
  • Add some ab work in (maybe a la Angela @ Oh She Glows Whittle My Middle) to both tone my abs and reduce lower back pain
  • Fridays (and really any other time I can fit it in, too) will be for yoga.
  • The weekend day I don’t run will be for a rest day.
  • Cut way back on wheat and dairy. (Caveat: once I finish the wheat products currently in my kitchen)
  • But experiment with re-adding salads (which sometimes bother my stomach) and Greek yogurt (which I miss like crazy and didn’t used to bother my stomach–so long as I didn’t eat it before running)
  • Take my vitamins.
  • Stick to a somewhat normal sleep schedule.
  • Make the best of this time I’m not working and try to enjoy at as much as I can. After all, it is summer.

That’s all. 😉 I’m bad at following up when I create “official” challenges for myself, so these are just things I’m going to keep in mind. I’ll check back in on July 1, August 1 and September 1, formally, though, and will likely be discussing the above goals throughout the summer.

Do you have any summer health goals?

 

26 comments on “My Summer Body Experiment

  1. Holly

    That’s a great idea to use this time to really focus on health. Your goals look great!

    My summer goals include training for my first marathon that I will be running in October.

    Reply
  2. Cait @ Beyond Bananas

    You’ve got this, Theodora! You are right.. you have come very far. and it is amazing. It is inspirational that you are seeing that you want to really get back on track.. and are being proactive about getting there!

    Reply
  3. Britney

    I’m trying to get my running to a pretty consistent 25-30 miles a week this summer (I start marathon training at the end of August!) but so far I’ve been struggling with running. I hope to find a good running routine soon.

    Otherwise, I’m trying to clean up my diet too. I think I’m doing something that is “basically Paleo” but with no meat and adding some of the things Paleo discourages, like beans (because otherwise I wouldn’t be getting a lot of protein). This will be so much easier when my CSA starts next week and I have to eat all the vegetables before they go bad – I’m much better at eating them with the CSA because I don’t usually buy enough at the grocery store.

    Reply
  4. Dave Evans

    Congrats on all you’ve achieved…you’re advice is definitely inspirational!

    If you’re looking for a good non-fundraising training group, you should try either the Nike running group – it’s bit big, but it’s free, and a lot of fun. If you want a smaller, more structured group (that’s not free), I’d check out Jackrabbit – http://jackrabbitsports.com/training-programs/running/marathon-training-program-nyc-marathon/?location=1

    I’ve done that group 3 times and I love the trainers and the process – I highly recommend it.

    Keep up the great posts and good luck with the new plan!

    – Dave

    Reply
  5. Michelle

    Marathon training, marathon training, marathon training!

    If I can make it through the summer, stick to my plan and remain injury free till November I will be THRILLED!

    I’ve also been focusing on strength training lately and my mini goal is to do a full, no knees pushup by the end of summer. (Sounds small but my upper body strength is awful!)

    Reply
  6. Liz

    I second what Dave said – the Nike running groups is pretty cool. What about NYRR? I think they have group runs in the park during the week.

    Love the nutrition goals, my #1 this week is to drastically reduce my wheat intake. Sounds easy, but for this bread lover is totally hard!

    Reply
  7. kaitlin

    totally copying your summer goals. i think it’s really important to enjoy the summer and have a great time but also be mindful of your health and watch the calorie intake. then again, i’m in your boat…i run to drink 🙂

    Reply
    1. Theodora Post author

      yup! I’m sure I’d have the abs I want if I drank less…but then I’d have less fun.

      Reply
  8. Jen Correa

    So, I am going to be training for NY as well. And I have also gotten a bit lazier with my choices so I am stealing a few of your summer goals. My only additional goal is my #1.
    1 – Limit alcohol to 1-2 days a week and NOT excessive drinking.
    2 – pick and begin marathon training schedule by July 1.
    3-Get back to Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday or Sunday running schedule.
    4-Mondays and Wednesdays will be strength. (New Rules for Lifting)
    5-Take my vitamins.
    6-More sleep!

    Reply
  9. Allie

    My summer health goal is to train and run my first 5K. In fact, I just wrote my entry about my first training run today. Bring it on, summer!

    Reply
  10. Shannon

    Great goals! As far as gyms go, I go to the NYSC on 49th and broadway (on the 15th floor of the times square crowne plaza, ha) and there’s a pool, which is great for tri training. (I’m doing the NYRR sprint tri in July too.) also, I love their total body conditioning classes on Monday and Wednesday nights for strength training. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Theodora Post author

      @Shannon: ooh, thanks for that! I am pretty sure I’ll join NYSC again when my Equinox contract is up. Total Body Conditioning is an awesome class–I just got sick of it after going to NYSC/WSC for like 7 years.

      Reply
      1. Shannon

        @Theodora: Totally understandable. And fyi I swam at the pool there for the first time tonight and apparently it’s 18 yards instead of the standard 25, so it’s a little difficult to count yardage. Oh well.

        P.S. I totally run to drink too. I’d love a six-pack, but I like wine (OK, and vodka too) more.

        Reply
  11. Sarah

    Love this post! I’m doing something similar myself. I have some time off due to various factors and have decided to take the summer to focus on my health as well. I have to tell you, you are such an inspiration to me – I’m on a weight loss journey and in total need to lose between 40-50 pounds, so it’s so amazing to me to be able to see that you’ve done it without giving up your lifestyle! And that you ran the NYC marathon (I’m signed up this year and it will be my first.) Love your blog!

    Reply
  12. ellen

    As for running with a non-fundraising group… as marathon training starts to heat up this summer, many spots (like running stores, and Nike RunClub) will offer marathon-focused long runs on the weekends. I remember last year there were some that did the last 10 or so miles of the course, or x miles on the course that crossed some bridges, etc. I plan on trying a few of these this year for the long runs and doing shorter workouts during the week on my own.

    Reply
  13. Ash Bear

    I’ve heard more and more wonderful things about the Nike Running club these days. I’d love to give it a try if you’re interested. Thoughts? 🙂

    Reply
  14. Dori

    Great goals. Now that you have a little more time on your hands, it is perfect to focus more on fitness. I’m really excited to start marathon training. I can’t commit to the timetables of groups though. I think you will feel amazing as you follow these steps!

    Reply
    1. Theodora Post author

      @Dori: I know. That’s where my problem with organized groups are–I want the camaraderie and the coaching, but it is really hard to commit to a certain time for like four months. Especially since so many of them seem to have workouts on Tuesday nights and I have Junior League meetings then.

      Reply

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