In which I keep you up to date

I love reading weight-loss blogs.

Even though I haven't met many of these people in person, I feel like I know them. I feel vested in their lives and I like to know how they're doing. This is where frequent updates are great.

Whenever I find a new blog, the first thing I do is check out the photos. I love the Befores-Durings-Afters. Then I want to know: How are you doing now? Are you at goal? What are you doing for exercise? What challenges are you facing?

I realized if new folks come here, they may have the same questions: How is she doing now?

It could be hard to discern that right off the bat - sometimes you can piece that together from my recent posts, sometimes not. And people may or may not have the time to spelunk through older posts.

So I decided to make it easy. If you look on the right-hand side there's a new link: What I'm Doing Right Now

I've always listed my weight stats, but these monthly updates will be a little bit more elaborate than a number and a date. Reaching my goal weight is a wonderful achievement, but really it's just the beginning of the story. I'll give you the lowdown on what's happening on the scale, at bootcamp, on the road, etc.

I'll update it at the beginning of every month as a quick reference for new folks, as well as those who may not have stopped by in a while.

In which I share my playlist

Becca's looking for new running music and I've been deficient in sharing. But, see above (click to enlarge). Right now I'm on a classic rock/club tunes/nerdy sci-fi heroic instrumentals kick.

That's the current favorites. I usually end up tweaking or completely revising about once a month as I can get easily bored listening to the same songs three times a week.

However, I do keep my playlists because sometimes it's fun to go back, listen to them again or pick a few from here, a few from there and Frankenstein a whole new one out of old favorites.

It's funny, when I do dial up an old playlist, I can usually remember exactly when I was training for and where I was running, sometimes even down to the specific street. For example, I have an all-live-Queen playlist that I ran to while training for my first big race last May. I can't listen to it without thinking about running that race.

In a blog post for a future day, I'll cobble together my all-time running playlist. Not a bad idea as the one above is getting a bit stale and needs some revision.

In which I run again

Last Wednesday night I got to do something I'd yearned to do for weeks: I plugged in my Garmin.

Unused since Dec. 4 it needed a charge because I had a run in the morning.

I can't accurately express how happy I was to be able to state that: I have a run in the morning.

I last ran on Dec. 29 - last year, for Pete's sake - after a three-week hiatus, courtesy of the whole back thing.

That day I took an easy, 30-minute treadmill run to assess how I felt. I felt great. Oh, God, how I missed running.

Then, about 3 hours later I was stiff as a board and in pain. Back to prescription ibuprofen and Flexerol. A great chiropractor worked out my kinks over a few sessions and I felt good, but he cautioned that the stress of running may put me one step forward, two steps back in terms of my glute problem.

I decided to take the entire month of January off to really give it time to strengthen and rest.

I've been able to resume bootcamp to continue strengthening, and time on the elliptical was a Poor Man's sub for a good run, but it also kept me from medication and pain.

It was so hard to abstain for a month. Given we've had an unusually mild winter, I'd see my running brethren out in force. I'd drive by them, a little jealous and a lot sad. That should be me.

I also really missed what running did for me metabolically: Burned crazy calories. Even a short, 30-minute run was like a calorie-burning furnace. By 7 am I'd be done with my run and face the day with a great sense of personal accomplishment. But, for January, that was on hiatus and I had to make hay elsewhere. I wasn't a fan.

There were clear roads and relatively warm temps. There were miles to run and races to prepare for, and, hell I wanted to get back on with it already.

Finally, the month was over and it was time to try again.

Wednesday night I went through my pre-run ritual. Finding my clothes, my sneakers, my cheap-but-effective hat and gloves. Headphones? Check. Nano? Charged. New playlist? Arranged. Reflective gear: Located. Weather: Clear and cold. Sunrise? 7 am.

Earlier that week I posted a question on Jenny Hadfield's Facebook wall: How do I get back into running without reinjury?

Hadfield is a veteran running coach, author and expert, and her advice was awesome:

Basically, go back to where you started: run 2 minutes, walk 2 minutes and repeat for 20 minutes. Gradually build up your time and slide the ratio until it eventually it's all running.

That made sense. After all, I learned to run with C25K, why not go back to a similar setup to rehab my legs and endurance into running shape?

Now, when I thought about the day I could run again, I assumed it would be at the gym. I hadn't planned on a mild winter and clear roads. When I got up Thursday and looked outside, it was criminal to head to the gym.

My best rehab would be on the road and since there was no snow or ice, why waste time driving to the gym and getting a treadmill when I could run my old routes? This is amusing because less than a year ago I was petrified of running outside.

So I did just that. My chiropractor cautioned me that a key to continued healthy running was improved strengthening of my core (hello bootcamp), stretching and warmup. I did my regular bootcamp warmup and stretching, then walked for 5 minutes.

The Garmin counted up: 4:57, 4:58, 4:59, 5:00. And I was off.

I made sure to take it easy and loose. I'd check my watch and as soon as the 2 minutes were up, I'd stop for a walk. Rinse and repeat. It seemed to be over quickly, I went home, did my usual bootcamp cooldown and stretching, and I was back in the running game. Or was I?

Even when I was hurt, it didn't hurt when I ran. It was the 6 hours or so after when I stiffened up like a board. I spent the rest of the day almost waiting for the other shoe to drop or, really, back to stiffen. But it didn't. I felt OK.

Sunday was my next scheduled run day. It was brilliantly bright, sunny and a seasonally-appropriate 15 degrees when I headed out. (Note to self: Capris are not cutting it, get full-length running tights). Did my warmup and stretching, walked for a bit then headed off.

It was so great to run outside again. It was cold, but gorgeously sunny. My legs felt strong as they pushed off and landed. My arms pumped smoothly and my breath came out in big, beautiful plumes of white. I felt lean, light and loose as I quietly ran through my old haunts, by bare trees, brown grass, and barely iced over little streams. My favorite running music blistered through my headphones, broken up by the scratch-scuff-scratch-scuff of road sand shifting beneath my shoes.

It felt poetic and just right. And I was so very grateful to be able to enjoy what I love once again.

I came in the house and after stretching I headed for the bathroom to shower. I caught my reflection in the mirror: My hair was matted from sweating under the hat. My face and shins were pink from the cold. My torso looked flat and lean in a long-sleeved white running shirt and my legs, oh God, my legs looked - pardon my French - fucking fantastic in my running tights.

I hadn't seen that woman in a while. I couldn't help but smile like an idiot at myself. Welcome back.

In which I get some perspective

It was about 6:20 am today and I was walking across the bootcamp gym, carrying a 35-lb plate weight in each hand like a suitcase.

All I was doing was walking, carrying this extra weight, and as my shoulders started to burn, it hit me:

How the hell did I ever do this before - plus another 55 lbs?

Sure, I didn't have 125 lbs hanging exclusively off my arms but, you get the idea.

I can't remember hauling around a 282 lbs - and that's a very good thing.

The fact I got a little challenging reminder? Even better.

And the fact I could put down (OK, drop) the plates and instantly weigh 158 lbs again? The best.

Recipe Of The Day: Butternut Squash Mash

Funny thing: I never liked squash until I was 7 months pregnant with my first child.

Then I got a hankering for it - out of nowhere - and I couldn't get enough. I ate so much, it is a small wonder she didn't pop out looking like she had a bad spray tan.

Every since, I've made up for my misspent, squash-less youth and have enjoyed it immensely. Buttercup, butternut, delicata (oh, delicata), acorn, you name it.

I recently found this recipe via Grace Got Healthy: Butternut Squash Mash. Of course, it seems so simple. Why didn't I think of that?

I'd do the old standy, boil butternut, mash and douse with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter (or as I think of it: Yes, I Can Believe It's Chemicals), kosher salt and pepper. Yum.

However this, this looked even better because it's roasted, a favorite way to cook veg for me, and has, wait for it, real butter.

I know! I hardly ever use real butter, but then I remembered that the butter my husband uses is only 1 Points+ per tablespoon (Land O Lakes Light Butter With Canola Oil), which is more than you think (that's 1T in the bowl above).

Ignore that noise, it's my father, somewhere in Eastern Massachusetts bellowing: "THAT'S NOT BUTTER!" He is a purist.

Anyway, I gave the recipe a go and it was really good. Since you only count the butter, it's 1 Points+ for the whole thing. I bought the already peeled and cut-up squash because I am lazy. I am also concerned that left up to me to peel a butternut squash, I would take off a thumb. But, primarily, I am lazy.

A note: If you buy precut, cut it up more, into tinier pieces. It makes it faster to cook and easier to mash, see below:

In which my back - and butt - are back

I've always enjoyed the remake of Oceans Eleven, and my favorite quote is a total throwaway line.

During the last act, one of the thieves is a Chinese acrobat who's folded himself into a cart in order to break into the casino vault. He has had no lines the entire movie.

The rest of the gang is late getting him out of the oxygen-less cart, and when he extricates himself and catches his breath he yells:

"WHERE FUCK YOU BEEN?"

Cracks me up every time.

Anyway, if you visit here regularly, you may be wondering the same thing.

When a weight loss blogger who normally posts frequently doesn't post for a while, it's rarely good news. Usually the person is off the grid, off the reservation, off plan. Something is wrong.

And that's what happened to me in December.

Everything is cool now but, hoo boy, December was rough, the worst month I have had since starting Weight Watchers in September 2010.

I posted earlier about tweaking my back, which lead to a gluteus medius strain and I spent pretty much the entire month in a pattern of resting it and then accidentally reinjuring it. I had to take two entire weeks off from working out and I'm still unable to run - now 2 months later.

I went from a person for whom "sedentary" was a generous description to one who loved to get up first thing in the morning to work out. Believe me, I was as surprised as anyone. And then, for that ability to be taken away - even temporarily - was devastating. Add to that loss the overall pressure of December and, man, I was so down, physically and emotionally in pain.

Few people in my life seemed to understand how personally difficult this was for me, which lead to real feelings of isolation. "Oh, you hurt your back? That sucks. It will get better. But you get a week off from exercise!"

Well, I don't want a week off. A couple days a week, yes. Two weeks? Hell, no. I need it for my physical health, for my mental health, for my overall well-being - it's like oxygen to me now.

And, then, my inability to stop reinjuring my glute and back when all I was trying to do was ease back in and, wow, so unhappy.

It made eating right hard, and for a week I just said, "Screw it" and ate whatever I wanted.

It was horrifying how quickly all my bad habits rushed back. It had been 15 months of clean living, muscle building. sound eating. And, then, whoosh, back to whatever I wanted, which was baked goods, carbs and sitting on the couch.

A few pounds piled on, and one of my main tools for combatting weight gain - exercise - was unavailable. It was like trying to do Weight Watchers with one hand tied behind your back and, let's face it, living that life is difficult with both hands fully functional.

More sad feelings. More eating. More wearing of pants with elastic waists that were getting tighter. More low self-esteem. All bad. Just bad, bad, bad.

Then I ended the pity party after Christmas. I was able to go back to bootcamp and the elliptical (still no running) and start getting back to being 100%. I gradually felt better and better and, finally, just a week or so ago I finally felt strong and fit, 100%.

I still haven't run - yet - more on that in a future post.

So, anyway, that's where I was. December: Crawling into a hole. January: Crawling out. I didn't especially feel like writing with either endeavor. Should I have? Yes. But, frankly, I just didn't want to.

However, we're behind that now and, wow, do I have a shit-ton to share. At least I have a lot to write about.

Recipe: Butternut-Apple Soup

I'm one of those people who gets annoyed when others walk around in January in New England and complain, "It's so cold!"

However, it really was cold this morning. A pitiful 6 degrees when I ventured out in the cold dark to drive to bootcamp, so everyone gets a pass from me today.

I have had the ingredients for Butternut-Apple Soup on hand for 5 days and never had the time to make it. Today seemed like a good day because not only did I have the time, but we're also experiencing prime soup weather.

I got the recipe out of the excellent cookbook Appetite for Reduction, which I've been perusing because I am now a vegetarian. I wanted a new food challenge for the new year. I'm sick of eating the same-old, same-old and in theory this will get me to try new recipes, something at which I am traditionally pretty darn lazy.

I thought perhaps the transition may be hard because I love meat, yet I realized that I hardly eat meat anymore, thanks to Points Plus. More fruit & veg = more food for me? All righty.

Aside from chopping (see Notes below), prep was relatively quick and easy. The soup came out thick, creamy and spicy (again, Notes).

I calculated 5 Points Plus for 6, 1.5-cup servings. However, if you don't subscribe to WW's "Fruit And Veg By Themselves Are 0 Points But If You Put Them In A Recipe They Suddenly Count" Rule, the Points total would be much lower. Observe in whatever fashion you are comfortable.

Ingredients

1t olive oil
1 medium onion, diced small
1T minced fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper flakes
2t dried rosemary
1/2t salt
3 lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1lb red apples, peeled, cored and cut into 3/4-inch slices
2C apple cider
2C vegetable broth
1T freshly squeezed lime juice

Directions

Preheat a 4-quart pot over medium heat. Add onions to the oil for 5-7 minutes, until translucent.

Add ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary and salt and saute for a minute more.

Add the squash, apples, apple cider and broth.

Cover and bring to a boil. When boiling, lower the heat and simmer briskly for 20 minutes or until squash is tender.

Puree the soup in a blender or food processor. Add lime juice and season to taste.

NI per serving

Calories: 200; Total fat: 1.5g; Total carbs: 41g; Fiber: 7g; Protein: 3g.

Notes:

Chopping 3 lbs of squash and 1 lb of apples into 3/4-inch chunks takes some time, so it's not an I'm Starving And I Want Lunch NOW endeavor. And whining while chopping will not make it go faster. Ahem.

The soup will be very hot, so if you, say, lick a metal ladle out of impatience, you will burn your tongue. Or so I am told...

It's only 1/2t of red pepper flakes, but they give the soup a very nice kick. Nice if you like said kick, not so much if you don't (I'm in the former category).

Eating a bowl will make you drink a ton of water because the red pepper makes it spicy. This is good if you're trying to drink more water.