Hello and Happy Friday! I am so happy I made it through this week 🙂 I had four really super long days, but I only have to do that for two more weeks and hopefully we’ll be in our condo and able to eliminate the 2+ hour commute in August.
Today is 5K Friday – did you run a solo 5K this week? It doesn’t matter if you do it on Fridays or not, everyone gets an “A” for effort on this one 🙂
After my 3.1 miler I had one thing on my mind – Smoothie! Hot days and running just make smoothies taste so much better.
Usually I have AB (almond butter) toast on the side, but today I wanted a cup of cereal. There’s a mix of five different kinds in there…
I don’t go into work today which means I get to sort through my inbox and hopefully get to all your emails 🙂
I did get a great email last night I wanted to address on the blog:
Hello…I enjoy reading your blog – it is funny and real. Thank you for writing it! I was wondering whether you’d answer a question. When you took time off of running due to your knee injury, were you less hungry (no daily running)? Here’s my problem that I’m seeking to solve: I have been a daily exerciser for 20 years (yes, I’m no youngster). Recently I put my energy into running and I am always starving. Nothing fills me up and I overeat daily. I don’t want to stop running. Do you have any thought on this? Thank you so much!!!!
(I didn’t ask if I could publish her name, so it’s anonymous to you guys.)
This is a great question! I think I addressed it a bit on RER while I was laid off from running, but want to address it again.
After the Walt Disney Marathon in January I had some knee pain. I tried to run through it a few times, but finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with ITBS. ITBS is Illitobial Band Syndrome.
I was sent to Physical Therapy and told NOT TO RUN for six to eight weeks. I freaked out at first because that is the most time I have not run in years!
My first thought was, “I’m going to gain weight.” and then, “I am never going to be able to run well again.”
Well, I am here to tell you I was wrong on both of those.
I did not gain weight, not one pound. This was surprising especially because I was cooped up in our apartment in Maryland in the tragic winter and was probably less active than I’ve ever been in my life.
My body was less hungry and less snacky because I wasn’t running. Even when I started to do Kickboxing and Spinning classes my hunger was not as big as it is with running. For some reason running makes me hungrier than most other exercises and that diminished when I took some time off.
Less Running = Less Hunger
It’s science 😉 Okay, it’s not exactly science, but kinda. (Ben hates when I say “It’s science.”)
I had all the odds stacked against me at the time:
1.) I wasn’t running or doing much other exercise
2.) It was cold – which makes me want comfort food
3.) I was severely depressed and deep down wanted to eat myself into oblivion and die Ha!
and still maintained. Anyways, trust me kids – if I didn’t gain weight when I stopped running for 6 weeks you won’t. It’s science.
And now I am trying to build up my mileage and train for a Marathon. It’s not easy to build back up, but it’s easier than starting from scratch.
Stay positive and treat your body well whether you run or not.
Flashback Friday!
My BFF Cindy is having a baby tomorrow. She has a scheduled C-section for Saturday morning! I thought I’d share a picture of one of our November ‘08 road trip to Paso Robles for wine tasting.
I love you Cindy and can’t wait to see the baby 🙂
Have a great day!
This post is music to my ears!
I am currently training for my first marathon and I cannot eat enough food to feed the beast that is my stomach. Then in my attempts to fill the void, I overeat and feel crappy! Seriously, all I do is eat – co-workers comment on it, and I have my sister staying with me and I am eating what she eats but to the n’th degree! Its ridiculous. And, let me tell you, I am some kind of grouchy that I’m running more than a half marathon each weekend and three times a week and GAINING weight.
Thus, my questions are, what can I eat to fill up that is healthy and nourishing?
Thanks!!
I am really nervous about this! I just got back from vacation where I really messed up my right foot and my left knee. Watching me hobble around is, I’m sure, pretty entertaining.
I know I am going to have to take a LONG break from exercising and I have been pretty freaked out! Hopefully I’ll have a similar experience.
i made your blog, how exciting! 🙂 it is interesting to know that you also experience extra hunger from running. now i have to figure out a way to curb the hunger without eating the kitchen sink!
amy from los angeles
I’m in a wheelchair so I completely understand the less exercise = less hunger theory.
It’s great that other people get it.
How hard was it to go back to running after being out of running for so long??
Oh that cereal mix looks great!
This is a question I’ve wanted to ask you for a while. Why run if it makes your appetite so voracious? Perhaps that’s a dumb question, and I am in no way being snarky, I am genuinely curious. You say you love running, but you also seem to love kickboxing and other activities a lot that help you to stay in shape. You seem to want to lose weight so badly, but at the same time running seems to make it that much harder for that to happen. I love your blog and think you’re awesome, so it makes me sad to see you so down on yourself. Again, I’m not trying to be rude, but this is a genuine question I’ve wondered about.
I guess I love running more than I want to lose weight. I actually want to run more and get faster, so I have to add more running to my life! I better figure this eating/running thing out soon 🙂
After I had my appendix out I couldn’t do ANY straining activity for 6 weeks. I was freaking out too! But like you said, I didn’t gain a pound. I think our bodies find their happy weight so less activity means less appetite!
YIKES 5-6wks … I don’t to hear that! I’m seeing my PT on Tuesday and really hope that I can be back running in no time.
I have a 5k race at the end of August, keeping my fingers crossed.
your blog really is HILARIOUS. i freakin love it!
Isn’t it amazing how your body can balance itself out?! Congrats to your friend!
That should say “race courses,” of course. I had to correct my typo. I blame the BlackBerry.
I ran twice this week at 3.22 miles each; can that count? Don’t race course sometimes go slightly over 3.1 miles? 🙂
That totally counts.
I ran my fastest 5K this morning! So fun to connect with other bloggers who love to run. Your story of healing after your injury is truly inspiring. 🙂 HAPPY FRIDAY!
Good job on the 5K! Keep it up 🙂
That’s good to know. I have a running injury and I’ve been taking it easy. I am REALLY worried about gaining weight. But you are right: running = insane hunger! So does swimming for me!