Does that mean I should start defrosting the turkey yet?
Well, how big is your turkey? Rule of thumb is to allow 5 hours per pound (in the fridge) ... so if your turkey is more than 260 pounds, you should start now.
I've been reading this thread with interest, though I have much more than 5 or 10 pounds to get back to goal. As some of you know I've been working a program from Precision Nutrition since June. Part of this program is a daily lesson, sometimes an assignment, or sometimes just food for thought. As I was reading here I thought of one of the "food for thought" ones we had last month, and thought I'd share it with you. It struck me as where some of you are. Disclaimer Only information, not trying to push anything on anyone.
THE GRIND.... by Chris Shugart (T-nation.com)
The Grind is a term I came up with while coaching our Physique Clinic participants. Basically, the Grind is that time in your physique transformation where you just put your head down and grind it out.
It's often the time between the initial fast "newbie" results and the final results. Changes are occurring in your body, but you may not see them from week to week.
Mentally, the Grind is also where some of that new program and new diet enthusiasm wears off and it all becomes routine, even boring. There's nothing left to do or say really; you just work the plan, day to day to day.
But toward the end of the Grind, what'll happen is that you'll glance back at your "befores" and realize you've made some major changes. Other people will begin to notice. And that positive feedback will reignite the enthusiasm. And that will cause you to kick the training up a notch, leading to more results.
I think the Grind applies to life in general too, not just to losing fat and gaining muscle. There are simply times when we have to put aside all distractions (even the good ones), put our heads down, grit our teeth, and grind it out. At the end of the Grind lies an achievement, something great, or some reward or pay-off. But the Grind always comes first.
Thing is, most people won't make this sacrifice; they won't even begin the Grind, much less finish it. And that's why most people don't succeed. The Grind is often what separates the great from the average.
The spaghetti squash has been roasted, the beef stew is in the crock pot and I had an awesome workout this morning. I'll probably be ready to pass out by 2:00 this afternoon, but right now I'm riding the high! Let's all have a great, OP week-end!
Last night was out to dinner with DH. I had fish (scraped off the "cajun seasoning"---bleh, it was too salty) with a side salad and some mushrooms and onions. If they didn't make such lame side salads, I bet more people would order salads. Iceburg, shredded carrots, purple cabbage, and taste-free tomatoes. C'mon peeps!!!! With all the gorgeous greens in the world? I do not understand iceburg.
Ugh, just changed my stats back to 133... been hanging out there for a few days now so I guess it's for real. This week I am getting SERIOUS! I want to be solidly in the 120's for Thanksgiving!
The week-end has been a success! I stayed on plan, despite being offered birthday cake today. I also ran 10.4 miles this morning. I'll be really happy if I can keep this momentum going for a while.
Despite being POP (calorie wise) over the weekend the darn scale was up 2 this morning. Weird, I could tell before I ever even stepped on. My hands and feet feel tight. Guess it was the salty turkey noodle soup and other salty foods I ate this weekend. Guess I need to do a little sweating today.
Speaking of sweating, does anyone have a hard time working up a sweat these days? No matter how hard I work, I rarely sweat. In the old days I would sweat in a snow storm. Seriously.
Yes, yes, yes! Stayed OP this weekend! I ate all my planned camping food, had my planned 2 glasses of wine, turned down the birthday cupcakes, BBQ, and Krispy Cremes. Had a ton of fun and was somewhat active to boot. I also got to restock my cupboards with a trip to the far-away co-op and "real" grocery store so I'm all stocked up for the fall with things like bulk oatmeal, nuts, beans, yogurt, etc. etc.
Pat, I'm part of this thread even though I'm 20 pounds above goal (maybe 15... might change my goal... but I've promised myself I'll get there before I decide that). It's the spirit of the thread that's important, not the number!
Jay, WTG!
Lori, it depends what type of exercise I'm doing, but I've noticed that my sweat is not only dependent on how hard I'm working. Even in my climate-controlled gym, I sweat more when the humidity is higher (obvious direct result of sweat being unable to evaporate into moisture-laden air). I think heart rate is more indicative of how hard you're working.
Ward, great run and way to turn down the birthday cake! The bday cupcakes I were offered over the weekend were from WalMart. Turning them down was a no-brainer.
MBN & midwife, laughing at the turkey. I've no idea yet where I'll be for Thanksgiving. My family is too far away, and they won't travel to me. BF and I will stay home or go see his family. I figure if I need to roast a turkey I can do it, I've roasted chickens, but maybe you can remind me and midwife when to defrost...
I'm so glad I had a good weekend. It gives me so much more energy to carry this momentum on through the week.
I'm back from my conference. Weight today was 145.8, so I'm hoping after the water weight goes away I won't have had too much of a gain. Still aiming for 140 by Thanksgiving. The conference actually had pretty healthy food, since it was at a spa resort. Of course my willpower to resist the desserts started going downhill after the first day. Still, I didn't really overeat much at the conference and I had a couple times where I didn't eat very much at all. I did make sure to get my workouts in every day.
I had one hard workout that was kind of funny at the hotel -- I went to use the elliptical since someone else was on the treadmill, and it was super hard. Eventually I realized the machine was broken and it was stuck at maximum resistance! And there I was thinking, "Wow, I don't remember ellipticals being so hard!"
Jay
Megan, a veryy veeeerrrrry veeerrrrry good way to start the week
Lori, I was sweaty and I am sweaty-- nice, huh?
Clippy, sounds like you had success!
Wardhog, momentum is good, isn't it? I'm going for that goal..
Midwife, last year I bought a prepared turkey and my sitter picked it up for me when I was at work----got the wrong package, turkey was totally raw
Iris, I am reading your running blog and picking up some good tips.
Forestroad and Yoyo, glad you're here
Pat, thx for the reading, it follows what I've been thinking lately.
accountability time for me - scale this am 128 but that's after dinner's extra rice and french fries that prob have caused some water retention. I saw 126.5 yesterday am and did not go too too crazy yesterday with those tricky for me foods.
I think I started above 130 so at least I have made progress but am holding on to the idea of 124 as my "red line"-- now really just a goal. Under is seeming less likely in any kind of permanent way. But really, I do feel fine fine fine at <124.
I was thinking about Pat's "the grind" before I even read the post. Essentially, it is "how badly do I want that certain number on the scale." I had a little process with myself and decided that if I can eat the kind of plan that is really super op during the week I can indulge on the weekends. But I cannot acheive my goals if I give myself those indugent treats almost daily like I have been doing lately. Like most things it really depends all on me and to what degree do I desire? the job, the scale success, and so on ...
sorry for the long post
Last edited by kittycat40; 10-05-2009 at 10:33 AM.
Thanksgiving is suddenly turning into an adventure. My FIL has offered to take DD #1 to visit a college over the week of Thankgiving. One the one hand, it would be really great. On the other hand, she would be gone for her BIRTHDAY and her last Thanksgiving before graduating high school. Argh! This is when I just turn it over to her and have her decide what she wants to do.
A prepared sounds like a great idea, Kitty. What happened with the raw one? Were you able to get it roasted in time? Inquiring minds want to know.
Saturday was POP and then Sunday was a conglomeration of poor planning and stress. Food turned out to be green salads all day (one with turkey and one with chicken), but it was one of those nights where I turned to food to deal with bad stuff. My job is so great 98% of the time but then we also get to travel along with families through terrible heartbreak sometimes. Anyway, I made a decision to turn to food to make me feel better. The overall calories (balanced out with my salad day) weren't horrendous, but it again reminds me that I use some food for comfort and food is really not for comfort. It's for fuel. I should consider myself fortunate that my "drug of choice" is socially acceptable and won't land me in prison or rehab. Anyway, rambling thoughts from a sleep deprived brain.
Megan, just cause the thread is take 5 doesn't mean that taking 15 or 20 or even 30 is not an appropriate use of this thread. I think my little ticker shows > 15 lb spread FWIW.
Lori, I still sweat sometimes but in the Fall it's not as bad.
Midwife, remind your DD and FIL that if they visit a college over thanksgiving it may not be representative of typical campus dynamics because a lot of students will be going home.
Congrats to those of you who are turning down cake/cupcakes/etc! I am very impressed, but I think I really have a problem with sugar.
Kitty, thanks for reading my blog and I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Jessica, your elliptical story made me laugh. Did you go running in the park at all? I ran past the sign for the doubletree and thought of you!
Jay, 2 lbs down!! You are my new inspiration!
I'm setting my calorie limit at 1800-1900. I was losing there and I realize that I've been creeping up in calories as my portions become HEAPING spoonfuls dished out! Probably that explains the re-gain.
A prepared sounds like a great idea, Kitty. What happened with the raw one? Were you able to get it roasted in time? Inquiring minds want to know.
!
Luckily it was a slow day at work and I was able to get home early. And luckily the store was still open and I swapped out the raw one for a roasted (and sliced!) turkey. All ended well
It's the weekend! And we all know what that means! Time to really focus! My scale read 158 this am. I'm not going to blow it this weekend!
Still, I didn't really overeat much at the conference and I had a couple times where I didn't eat very much at all. I did make sure to get my workouts in every day.
