Time To Get Real About Weight
Last week one of my online running groups were talking about weight loss and why they run.? Quite a few people started posting their before and after pictures to extol the virtues of? running.? Runner after runner told stories of how they were inspired (usually by a runDisney event) to get off the couch, put down the potato chips, and get moving.??
Y’all know DisBroad April, right?? Check out what she accomplished by running.??
That baby she’s holding in the first picture?? She’s only 3 months older than my #OhLucy.? In other words… she lost her baby weight through running.? Me, on the other hand… Ahem.? And she may have accomplished the baby in picture number three by running as well.? Celebrating a PR perhaps?? Kidding!
And then there’s Crystal.? She is awesome in many ways, but these pictures just blow me away!??
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Daaannngggg girl!??
In Crystal’s case, she was motivated by her children and the need to care for them (two boys with Autism and high special needs).? runDisney started it, but she then educated herself and learned how to eat and work out in order to get the body she needed to do her job as a mom.? She turned a need to get healthy into a job she loves:? she’s a Beach Body coach .
There I am, reading all these stories, googly-eyed staring at the before and after pictures.? Amazed and a little teary eyed.? So happy and so thrilled for so many of my runner friends.? And yeah- you know it- jealous as well.? I can admit it.? Holy crap am I jealous.?
Why not me?? Shenanigans, what the HELL is wrong with you?? What is going to finally motivate YOU to lose the weight?? I’ve been running since 2007.? 5Ks and 10Ks until 2011 when I took the leap to the half marathon distance.?
Not quite as impressive, eh?? In fact, the 2008 and 2014 image are pretty darn similar.? Yikes.
So let’s talk why not me.? And maybe… why not you?? Another one of my running groups started this discussion: why don’t we lose weight by running alone.? Lots of ladies chimed in on this thread.? Okay, so I know I’m not alone.? And I know there’s plenty of scientific information out there on why runners- particularly women running long distances- will gain or remain the same. ?
I’m not going to try to BS anyone here and say I’m doing everything perfectly and I’m STILL not losing weight.? Cause I’m not.? I have a whole list of things that I do wrong, I know I do them wrong, and it’s time to do them right.? I’m not shaming myself into losing weight, but I am admitting that it’s time to make changes and make them now.? To borrow from Doc McStuffins, let’s put the following down in the Big Book of Runners Boo-Boos.?
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Does any of that sound familiar???
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As you know, I turned 40 this year.? And that’s a big number.? An even bigger number, however, is the one I find on the scale.? I’m at my all-time high (non-pregnant) weight.? Alright, not ideal.? I’m not going to waste time with the emotion of feeling guilty for what I managed to do or how I got here.? I am, however, making a plan to change.? According to Web MD, “apple” shaped people (like me) are at a greater risk for heart disease.? My family has crap hearts.? Genetically speaking on both sides, I am pretty much killing myself at this weight.?
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With the help of my partners at Diet Bet, I’ve decided to make a huge push for a healthier me this year.? I know the scale and the number on it does NOT define me.? But I do believe the scale is a necessary tool that can help me reach my goals.? Goals that include weighing a lot less by the time I run my first marathon.?
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(edited to reflect current game links)
Does this sound like something you relate to?? Are you interested in kick starting a weight loss/healthier lifestyle journey with me?? Then join my Diet Bet game starting on June 4th.? Bet on yourself to lose 4% of your body weight in 4 weeks (28 days).? If you lose, you win money.? Depending on how many other players win, you may actually MAKE money on your 28 day weight loss journey.? There’s a second game you can play as well.? This one is smaller stakes- only $10.? You can play BOTH games if you choose!
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Diet Bet believes that social dieting leads to greater success.? Let’s be social “losers” together!? Diet Bet is open to anyone with $20 to bet and at least 4% body weight to lose.? Men, Women… come on over and join the fun.? Bet on yourself today with a $30 buy in!? If that’s too rich for your blood at this time (I get it!) then I started the $10 game for you.? OR you can always play BOTH.? #DoubleDown y’all!
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Disclosure: I am working with Diet Bet and will receive compensation for hosting the game.
Are you a runner who lost weight when you started running?? I’d love to hear your story!? Or are you in the same boat as I am?? Any tips you heard for losing weight you want to share?
Patty Holliday is the owner and creator of all things No-Guilt Universe. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.
I just joined the DietBet! Larry Herman
Awesomeness! We need more men over there!
I seriously think I need to do this – nothing motivates you to get your act together quite like money 🙂
You know it! At least as a kick off, right? Get you jump started K.
I was inspired by RunDisney BUT I have also been Inspired by reading blogs like yours and seeing how much fun running could actually be! Something needed to be done. I lost 30 lbs once I started running. I could lose more if I actually ate right, but either way! 30 lbs lost for just getting up and moving! 🙂
That’s AMAZING Jennifer! WTG on your loss. Food is my BIG downfall. It’s not that I eat a lot, just that I eat ALL wrong. Sigh. It’s a process- and it’s changing. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
This is really great Patty! My mom is also a runner. She has been running consistently for over a year and a half and goes to boot camp 2x a week yet she has loss 0 pounds. I don’t know why things don’t seem to work for her either.
There’s all kinds of reasons it can be happening to any one person. But one biggie is her age- the older you get, the harder it can be to figure it out. Hormones screw with you big time. Mixing things up (ala boot camp) should be helping though. Sleep, stress, and food are also common issues. Add all them together… and you get me. lol But I’m working on it- each piece at a time!
I suspect alot of processed foods may be the cause of no weight loss and possibly feeling as many of us do, that after any length of run, we are allowed to visit the pantry and refrigerator and indulge in whatever looks appealing. The amount of calories we are burning is not always as much as we think it is!
EXACTLY. I know I burned more than if I hadn’t run 10 miles, but when you forget about the calories you take in on the run (2 gu packs maybe? plus gatorade, right?) then you get home and eat all the food… well, it’s easy to negate your run. And still feel hungry! It’s crazy. Processed foods: I think this is my personal failing. It comes down to convenience. I need to keep making my whole foods convenient!
I lost most of my weight while training for PHM 2013, but BEFORE I started running past 6 miles. Most of it came off with a combo of South Beach diet (sort of) and lots of walking with short runs. Once my runs got longer than an hour, the weight loss stopped. I think it’s because I added more carbs in because those long runs were rough without carbs to fuel. And I added more carbs than just on run days. There was the pre-run prep, the run fuel and the post run recovery. Run 3x a week and that’s lots of carbs every day. I am pretty sure that it’s a lot harder to drop and a lot easier to gain for me since I turned 40, but I really believe that the combo of heavy weights plus a focus on whole foods/low carbs is going to work for me!
that is my plan too April! Plus some heavy duty intervals. Not the slow walking ones I’m doing now between my moderate paced runs. Sprint, walk, sprint, walk… fingers crossed this will help! And sleep- yo, I need to get my sleep under control. Got a plan for that too. 😉
I lost a lot of weight when I started running, then I gained it back. Then I lost a lot when I started Crossfit, then I gained it back. Now I’m trying to figure out how to lose it again when my body has learned all the tricks. Even so, I know my biggest problem is my diet. Sugar is my abusive spouse. It says nice things to me to lure me in, then it makes me feel bad and look terrible.
The most bizarre thing is that I used to carry my weight in my hips and thighs. Since turning 40, it seems to have migrated to my stomach. I’m really not liking the situation.
Exactly. I never had a stomach issue- until kids and getting older. I do NOT like it there at all.
Great post Patty! I keep putting off losing the last bit that I cannot get off. I tell myself I look OK and then I look at pictures and I know that is NOT the truth.
Thanks Melanie. We can all get to where we want to be. Just have to have patience and keep at it.
I’m one of those people who gained weight after I started running, but I think I was allowing myself more naughty foods as a reward for being active. Heck, my first BondiBand was “I RUN SO I CAN EAT”!
This sounds great! I look forward to reading about your progress.
I have one that says I run for margaritas. Um. Yeaaahhhh… lol Thanks for the support!
You are going to great Patty, I just know it!! Best of luck on your Diet Bet! :0)
Thank you Lauren!
I don’t know if you saw the pics I posted today but they reality is, running has only been a small part of that journey. Yes, it gave me the determination to get out there and do something but I was very frustrated because for the first 1 1/2 – 2 years, I didn’t see much change on the scale. I finally got my food better and saw a lot of success but the stress of dealing with life and a move, means I went the wrong way for a little while. It really is so much more than just running and I try to explain that to people all the time when I hear they are starting to run to lose weight. Run to get in better shape because the reality is, it doesn’t really help you lose much weight on it’s own.
It is TOTALLY more than just running! And your pictures were FANTASTIC Mallory! Well done!
did I just realize we’re the same person? I think so. But I also really appreciate the no-shaming/guilt approach. I saw those same pictures and my initial reaction wasn’t inspiration so much as shame that I do not look like that at all and like I hadn’t lost enough weight, plus a friend who was bragging about losing 50 lbs and I just felt awkward and uncomfortable. It was wrong but everything was just hitting a really sore nerve for me.
I know, I know… No guilt though! Let’s just move forward and make the next round of before and after pictures US! Hugs girl.
Go girl! I thought that training for GSC would help me lose the grad school/wedding planning stress weight I put on in the last year, but I was so wrong as well! I’m about 6 weeks ahead of you on the diet train (I’m 11 lbs down and swearing by weight watchers right now), and I can’t afford to lose another 4% in the next three weeks before the wedding without having to alter my dress, or I would totally be jumping on this diet bet train! Hopefully this will be just the kick you need- I can’t wait to cheer everyone on from my computer!
HA Erika! Congrats on the upcoming wedding- can’t wait to see the beautiful pictures! And you know, I think Diet Bet may have a 2nd (3rd, 4th) round coming… cause I have a lot of 4% to lose. 😉 There will be a next time if you need it!
Patty, I wish you all the best on the Diet Bet.There’s a friend of mine who lost a lot of weight doing something similar. What started out as a bet for her turned into a new fitness passion in her life. Now, she teaches others how to do what she did. Maybe that will be you in the future. Hmmmm.
Anyways, I wanted to let you know that I’ve nominated you for Liebster Award at my blog. If you have the time, check it out… http://whyirundisney.com/2014/04/30/the-post-about-the-liebster-award/
I have lost 50 lbs so far and counting. I love runDisney! Going Goofy this year. It will be my 1st marathon. Check out my story: http://seekingmystrength.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-story.html