When I competed in figure competitions I used to do bi-weekly check-ins with my trainer and post the pictures every two weeks along with a blog post. This was fine leading up to a show, but afterwards it was a hard habit to break. That along with weighing and measuring every single thing I ate. For years I felt I had to do that to feel in control. This year I let go of that need for control and started to live like a “normal” person. I still continued to eat healthy 90% of the time, but I no longer weighed or measured my food. At first it was hard to wrap my head around the concept, and just believe that I would be fine.
So far my results have been great with this new mindset and my body has changed in a positive way. Here are my comparison stats in pounds and inches.
May 1 September 1
Weight: 161 153.5
Chest: 35.5 35
Waist: 27 25.75
Navel: 30 28
Hips: 39.5 38.75
Upper thigh: 24.5 23.75
I think I’m doing alright for not measuring my food the past three months, considering this is what I looked like after a seven month offseason, just prior to starting my diet for the 2011 competition season.
I really think running has helped me get back to a good place. Now I go for a run because I enjoy it, not because I need to get in X amount of minutes of cardio in for the day. I also really enjoy the feeling of accomplishment it gives me when I finish a hard run. So far this week’s workouts have consisted of:
Monday: off
Tuesday: 4.28 miles easy pace (5:46/km)
Wednesday: 5.38 miles 10 minute warm-up, 3 x 1 mile repeats, 10 minute cool down
Thursday: off
