3 weeks down at StrongerU

Three weeks in, and I'm not seeing the amazing results I'd hoped for...yet. I think my body is still reeling from the crazy bloat I put on before starting this program (compounded with a head cold that relegated me to the couch for a few days). I was able to lose all that bloat within a week or so, but the has scale just kept flirting with 200# since then. Frustrating. However, my measurements show that I have lost inches, so that is progress. I do feel like I look leaner in the mirror. Hate the scale.

The second week, my StrongerU coach kept my macros the same since all the bloat loss made it hard to judge my body's response to the macros. The third week, he just cut back 5g of carbs/day - not a big deal since I've still been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the carbs anyway (but I'm ALWAYS crashing into the limit on fats). For the fourth week, he's having me cut back on everything to see if we can get the scale to budge. New macros for 4th week:

1558 calories (lost 100 calories)
165c    42%   (lost 10g of carbs)
42f      24%   (lost 3g of fat!!!)
130p   34%    (lost 5g of protein)

Still struggling with CrossFit too. Trying not to get down about my loss of mobility and strength - just gotta keep at it to get back to where I was. Although I was pleased to feel my old row pace of 2:200 250m splits starting to come back - I feel like it's been a while since I rowed that well. One coach really wants me to work on mobility in my hips and ankles, and prescribed hanging out in wall squats a couple times a day - ugh, that's so uncomfortable (which, of course, just reinforces my need to do it). And I haven't gotten the urge to show up for Open Gym on Sundays like I'd been planning yet - really need to get in there and start working on some Wendler squats and pull up progressions. Maybe this will be the week (if I'm not too sore from my long run on Saturday). But I've still been battling soreness too - last week, my forearms were SO SORE that I could barely straighten out my arms...not sure what caused that - low bar pull ups? Still easing myself in, and not attempting stuff RX so I don't kill myself. Stupid sprained toe is still bugging me too, although I didn't break my heart to not be able to do burpees in a WOD last week. ;) Split jerks and lunges are still out.

I have been keeping up with my running program though. My hip flexors were crazy sore during and after my last long run - first time running 8 miles. But on my last 5 mile run, I stretched them out a bit beforehand, and they didn't get sore at all. So I'll have to remember to incorporate some stretching beforehand each time. I've got my first 9 mile run ahead of me this weekend - time to expand my route another neighborhood or two! 

So, pressing onward. I'm still going to stay dedicated to this program in hopes of shedding at least 10 pounds before the half marathon in January, although I'd really like to get back to the low 180s. Really hoping this coach can find the sweet spot for me to make some big progress.

Kicking off with StrongerU, and my first timed 5K in 2.5 years

On the CrossFit Masters group I follow, several people were raving about a nutrition program called StrongerU Fitness & Performance (the first time I saw it mentioned happened to be on a post complaining about Eat to Perform making someone gain weight - of course THAT caught my eye). I finally had to bite to see what it was all about. It's another macros coaching program, but this one teams you up with a 1-on-1 coach who reviews your daily macro log, weight, and measurements, and adjusts your macros accordingly each week based on your goals (fat loss, muscle gain, etc). Although I was planning to do to keto thing on my own until the half marathon in January to try to drop some weight, I like the idea of being accountable to someone. And so many of the success stories are so impressive and inspirational! So, I took advantage of the 1/2 off deal the owner offered to me when he reached out after my posts about ETP killing my weightloss - much appreciated! It was still $150, but at someone else's suggestion, I asked ETP to refund my lifetime membership since I stopped following it, and they did give me my $100 back. So, StrongerU was really only $50, right? 

My coach Jason Falcon gave me macros of 185 carbs, 45 fat, and 135 protein, for a total of 1665 calories (and no flexing according to WOD/rest days). According my my Fitbit burns, that should average a 1,000 calorie deficit/day, which is a much bigger deficit than ETP ever prescribed - that alone gives me hope for some good fat loss! After mostly adhering to low carb diet since May, this seems like a CRAZY amount of carbs. At his suggestion, I had a "practice week" before officially starting, and I really had to get used to eating all those carbs - it it actually a struggle to eat them all while keeping my fat to only 45g).They also stress the timing of carbs around workouts - I'm still trying to work that out so I don't have a crazy amount of carbs to put away for dinner after an evening WOD, especially since I'm just not accustomed to eating carbs at breakfast and lunch (but I do like having some fruit, rice, and sweet potatoes again - I missed those).

I made a bad decision to have one last big hurrah before officially starting. I was good while practicing for a few days and actually lost a couple pounds, and then I indulged in some dairy in the form of Doritos and a piece of fudge at 6 Flags (and a night of drinking gin & tonics), and my stomach was pissed off for several days - so uncomfortably bloated and gassy. I GAINED 7 POUNDS! So crazy how my body reacts to dairy. So, I started StrongerU at 208.5, and after almost a week, 5 pounds of the bloat has gone away. I'm disappointed that my splurge started me off with such a setback, but it just reinforces that I REALLY can't have dairy! Looking forward to getting back into ONEderland in a couple weeks. I would REALLY love to get into the 180s again by the end of this 12-week program, which will wrap up just before our race in January. I took some before pics in the 2-piece bathing suit that I bought 2 years ago and have never worn - I would really love to rock that bathing suit when my book club goes on a special girls' weekend to the Caribbean in February!!! And I am definitely committed - at a book club meeting last night, I didn't have ANY booze, and only ate the snacks that I had pre-measured for myself to fit my macros. #dedication

I've resumed my half marathon training schedule now that my sprained toe is 90% better, and felt pretty good on my 7 mile run last weekend - my longest yet, doing intervals of 4 mins running and 1 walking. Lately, at the end of every run, I've been running the last mile or so without stopping to try to increase my stamina. My half marathon friends convinced me to sign up for the 5K race at the Hartford Marathon - how could I say no when it's free since my company is the head sponsor?! Go Team Eversource! So I set a goal to try to run the entire thing without stopping. And, this morning, I did it! I was pretty proud of myself for pushing through it! And my time wasn't bad - I was impressed that I kept a pace just under 11 mins/mile since MapMyRun always says my pace hasn't gotten below 12 in all the last miles I've run. And, I must say, I was happy to finish in the top half of all of my female divisions, and really happy with top 23% of the Athena division! Who knows, if I keep this training up, maybe I'll try the half marathon next fall.

We joked that we should crop out the first 1 since we only ran 3.1, not 13.1. ;)

Getting back to CrossFit has been tough though. The first WOD I did had thrusters and wall balls, leaving me crippled for several days. And what was in store for me when I finally returned a week later? MORE THRUSTERS! UGH! But, I was only sore for a couple days that time, so I guess that's progress. But I feel like I've lost so much strength and mobility, not to mention stamina that was already on the decline all year. At this week'ls Oly class, 65# snatches felt like such a struggle - seems impossible that I've snatched 115#! But I'm committed to keeping at it, and trying to get back to where I was (and hopefully better!). I'm hoping some weight loss and all these added carbs with give me the boost I need. Time will tell!