Will eggs fly?

I've come to a really big decision about this Halloween. One that I didn't really think I'd ever make.

I'm not giving out candy.

It something I've given a lot of thought to, and when I finally went to the store to find some alternative to the traditional Halloween junk, I found these:

They're mini pinball games and animals.

I didn't come to this decision lightly, and I'm going to be honest. The first reason I was considering going the candy free route is selfish. I didn't want endless amounts of mini chocolate bars in my house calling my name. I'm getting better at saying no to various temptations, but for me, the first step in saying no is keeping it out of my face in the first place.

There's a bigger reason for going candy free though. Throughout this process, I've maintained that it isn't just about the calories. It's about the health. And, if I'm avoiding something for my own health, how responsible of me is it to feed it to someone else? For example, if white bread isn't good for me, it's not good for my children. As such, I no longer have white bread in my house. The only crackers are now trisquits, which are one of the better choices out there, since they have no sugar or white flour. I'm not saying the contents of my pantry are perfect, but gradually, as I've looked at foods and decided they aren't really food, I've questioned why I would feed it to my family.

I'm not saying that I'm as strict with my other people's food as I am my own. For instance, I don't expect that anyone else needs to completely avoid sugar the way I do. I hope that my children are able to learn moderation in their food choices.

Halloween, however, is no longer about moderation. The actual trick or treating, I don't mind. I actually find it a nice tradition which brings back a sense of community. Neighbours open their doors and you meet the people that live 3 doors down and you've never talked to. Children have fun dressing up in costumes. And they get candy. Lots and lots of candy.

I love traditions. I find it really hard to break any. But, the tradition of junk at every house is one that I think could change. It's too bad you can't give out apples anymore, as everything has to be individually wrapped to be considered safe.

But, lets start voting with our dollars. Go to the store and choose something that is a better choice for our children. A healthier choice. The more people that do this, the more stores will bring in for options. It will take years to make a true change, but one person at a time we can begin.

So, will my house get egged this year? I don't know.

What are you giving out this Halloween?

Three things Thursday

1. I'm sick - again.

I feel like I'm just getting hit with one cold after another. It sucks. It also puts me in a position of needing to decide between resting to get better or pushing through with my runs and swims. Right now, the choice is to push through and do them, but go easy on intensity. The only good thing to come out of it is that I've discovered I'm craving citrus fruit and tea, rather then my usual white carb craving that comes along with a cold.

2. I got new headphones for my ipod shuffle today (covered by warranty, at least).

Seems apple messed up on this one. The headphones that came with the shuffle start to short out when worn by people that sweat. The salesperson that helped me commented that none of their products are meant to be subject to humidity. I told him that apple had heavily marketed the shuffle to the fitness community, down to showing people running with it in their commercials. He had no response to that.

3. It's gotten cold here.

Swimming is easy, since it's inside. Running is doable. I just have to suck it up and dress properly. I'm trying to reconcile myself with the fact that biking will be nearly non-existant over the winter. I don't want to spend money on my hybrid bike to replace the tires with slicks, which means I can't use it with a trainer. (I also don't have a trainer yet.) A new road bike isn't in the forecast until next year sometime. I'll have to make do with the recumbent exercise bike, which doesn't actually use the muscles the same way.

Running with a calorie deficit

Training for a 10 km (6.2mi) run has proved to be a lot more challenging then training for a 5km (3.1mi) was. To get up to the 5k distance, I just followed the program and gradually increased my running times. I'm learning that it isn't quite as straight forward to run longer distances.

I am consistently running into the same problem. On at least half my longer runs, I've bonked (run out of energy and hit the wall). I've played around with my pre-run food intake a bit, but there is one major hold back: the fact that I am maintaining a calorie deficit in my day to day life.

I feel like I'm stuck between two worlds right now: the world of running/triathlons, and the world of weight loss. I'm finding that those two worlds don't mesh that well.

A calorie deficit = an energy deficit.

It's a fact. A calorie is a unit of energy. In order to lose weight, you have to expend more calories then you consume. This isn't a state that is conducive to endurance events. For endurance events, your body needs easily accessible calories to give you quick energy to keep going.

I've always maintained that activity is not the way to lose weight. It's essential for good health and weight maintenance, but not actual weight loss. I honestly believe it would be easier to lose weight by cutting my calories sufficiently, and sitting on my butt most of the day. Then an energy deficit wouldn't have as much effect since I wouldn't be trying to do much.

Now, that doesn't mean I'm giving up either. I do have a plan to stop bonking during my longer runs. It includes restructuring my food intake on the days of my long run so that I'm eating more before my run. I'm also allowing a slight increase in my calorie intake on the one day a week that I run for over an hour. Generally speaking, I don't eat more due to activity, but it's time to start making an exception on days where the calorie expenditure is becoming that significant.

I won't deny I'm a bit nervous about getting this figured out in time. I have one more long run of 13km (8mi) prior to my 10km race. It's a tricky balance figuring out what to eat, without having too much in my stomach when I start the run.

Does anyone have any recommendations of good running books that talk about nutrition? It's time I start educating myself a bit more rather then just going on instinct.

Weekly weigh in and Winter Onederland

First things first:

Today's weigh in put me at 211.8, for a weekly loss of 2.4 and a total loss of 32.0.

Meg at Grande Skinny Latte has put out a challenge. It's the Winter Onederland Challenge. In the weight loss community, there's a place that many of us shoot for known as "Onederland", meaning a weight that starts with the number 1, rather then 2.

Initially, I hesitated to commit to this challenge. I generally prefer to set goals for things I will do, rather then things I want to happen. Losing weight within a certain time period is something I want to happen which depends on what I do.

Having said that, I am starting to get so close to Onederland I can taste it. When I am really honest about my food intake, and I track it, my weight loss tends to fall into the 1.5 - 2 pound range per week. This is an average. Some weeks I lose a bit more, some less. That means that Onederland is not so far away.

The goal:

Lose at least 12 pounds in the remaining 9.5 weeks before New Years. (Meg is shooting for Christmas, but I'm giving myself an extra week since I have more to lose.) This requires an average loss of 1.3 pounds per week, a very realistic amount.

The method:

Track my food every day
Stay within my calorie range of 1400 - 1800
Continue running 4 days a week, and swimming 3.

There are other things I consider important to get and stay healthy, but when I was setting my monthly goals, I found I was starting to make the list too long and overwhelming. I'm endeavoring to keep it short and simple. Those are realistic strategies that shouldn't be hard to stick to.

So, bring on Onederland!

Sleep, who needs it?

Most of my life, I needed 8-9 hours of sleep a night. That was the amount that left me feeling well rested, happy and healthy. If I went more then a couple nights on less sleep, my body shut me down. I got sick enough that I had no choice but get the rest my body demanded.

Then I had children.

According to my mother (who I still think might have been delusional), I slept through the night at two weeks old.

My children did not follow my example.

Spud took 3 YEARS to sleep through the night regularly. Sweetpea (who is 1.5 years younger,) took 1.5 years. They both started sleeping through the night within a month of each other.

I learned survival. I learned to function on less sleep. And, I functioned like a zombie for a lot of that time. I could do it, but that doesn't mean it was good for me. It doesn't mean it was good for my body.

This past week has been like a revival of that time. Sweetpea is working on her final molars, and is usually waking up screaming once a night. Spud is wetting his bed, after staying dry for the last few months. Last week, I was preparing for a craft fair, and was going to bed late because of it.

Last night, I was up 3 times with my children. My children, who are now 2 and 3.5. Could someone please send them a memo that they should be sleeping better now?

How does sleep affect me? Well, my workouts have been sluggish and breaking my sugar addiction again last week was harder then it should have been. Today, I know I'm in for a challenge. When I'm this sleep deprived, I tend to want to snack more. It's like a belief that food can make up for lost sleep.

So, who needs sleep?

ME.

Smile and say thank you

Lately, I've fallen into an annoying habit. At least it annoys me when other people do it, so I think it's quite reasonable to say it's annoying when I do it.

The inability to take a compliment. I've got a few lately and I brush them off.

The compliment: "You've lost a lot of weight, hey?"
My answer? "I'm only at about 30 pounds now."

The compliment: "You're looking really good."
My answer?: "I still have a long ways to go."

Seriously?

Number 1, this is just annoying. When somebody gives a compliment, it's generally because they mean it and they want to make the person feel good. You're spitting in their face when you refuse to accept it.

Number 2, what is wrong with me that I am unwilling to accept a little praise? Do I feel myself unworthy of it? If so, I need to get a little bit of confidence and recognize the fact that I'm a pretty great person, and I'm starting to look it too.

Do you do this?

If so, practice with me. Imagine someone giving you a compliment. Smile. Then say, "thank you." Don't spit in their face.

Three things Thursday

1. I took a fall this week

I scraped and bruised my knees and hurt my hand. It was the stupidest thing. I was walking along with the kids and stepped off the edge of the sidewalk, turning my ankle. I fell flat down. My ankle is, funny enough, totally fine. My hand and wrist have been bothering me since then, causing me problems with anything I have to grip or lift.

The good news is, today, it just feels sore, rather then painful. I think it's almost at the point where it will stop interfering with daily activities. It hasn't stopped me from running or swimming, but it has kept me from biking, since I can't hold onto the handlebars or brake.

2. I gained 2.8 pounds this week

Sneaky of me to put it in with my three things Thursday, but I've been avoiding posting it, and I need to get it out there. I'm not going to whine or complain about it. I made a series of choices that gave me that gain. It doesn't put me back into the obese category - quite. I'm skirting the edge though, with a BMI of 29.9. Not a place I want to be, and not a place I intend to stay for long.

Already today, I'm starting to feel less sugar crazy. It's what I've experienced every time I cut out sugar. The first day is really really tough. The first week is hard. Then I start to feel more normal, balanced and in control. I'm past the worst of it though.

3. My son informed me yesterday that I am a good runner, as is he.

His sister, father and grandparents, on the other hand, are "not very good runners". I'm glad I fit into the elite category with him. I guess everyone else should step it up a notch... ;)