progress report

okay, so about 4 months ago, I decided I was going to do the MS150. Then I made up this challenge where I set some completely reasonable goals for where I wanted to be by April. Since we're now a little over halfway there, I thought I'd do a progress report.

First, the goals:

• Ride the MS150 at a respectable pace without SAG help, and recover quickly. Can't comment on this yet, but if my performance on the Frost Bike 50 is any indication, I'm going to do fine.

• Lose 30 lbs. Um, I don't think we're going to make this one. With just a little over 9 weeks to go, I've lost a whopping 3 lbs. So the only way I have any hope at all of making this goal is if I average over 3 lbs/week from now through April. Doable? Probably. Realistic? No.
  

How am I doing with the "plans" portion of the challenge? Well, there were a few things I didn't factor into the planning process:

• lots of cold, wet weather (in winter?! yeah, I know)
• getting sick in February
• moving out and getting settled in a new place
• how much I would absolutely adore my new TV/DVR
• Netflix, the return of American Idol & Lost, and my latest obsession with What Not to Wear (methinks #4 & #5 are related)

Bottom line is, I've been spending more time on my couch than anticipated. This translates to less time on the bike, and the sickness means more sleeping, so basically? "Ride lots" became "ride when you don't have anything better to do". The Saturday club rides, a couple commutes, spin on Wednesdays, a couple charity rides...that's about it. I haven't made 100 miles/week since November, so I'm really going to have to crack down in these last 10 weeks. Luckily for me, most century training programs are 10 weeks long, so I can pretend that I just started training. Woo!

As for the weight training...it stopped with the trainer sessions. I keep meaning to get back into it, but I hate it so much that it's hard to really find the motivation. I mean, if I can't muster up the energy to get off the couch and do things I like to do, what are the chances of doing things I hate? Non-existent. I need to start making it a priority, though, because all that core progress I made with the trainer is really starting to go. I bought a Pilates for the Woefully Uncoordinated DVD a while back, so I think I'll start by doing that a couple times/week. Once I've made that a habit, I'll move outside the core. Or not. Honestly? Don't care much about strength training. The stuff that makes riding easier/better/more comfortable, I'm all for that. And I wouldn't mind gaining some upper body strength...sigh. Did I mention I hate lifting weights?

About the food. Well, I quit WW, because it didn't seem like a good way to spend $40/month now that I'm paying my own utility bills again. Since then, I haven't been following a plan. I eat when I'm hungry, don't eat when I'm not, use small plates, don't eat in front of the TV, try to keep the junk food in my pantry to a minimum. It's working for maintaining my weight, but I'd really like to get on with the losing. I haven't been cooking at home nearly as much as I should, and that's a lot of the problem, too.

On the bright side, I've gotten a lot better about overcompensation. I still have my days when I come home and eat the world after a ride, but usually I can rein myself in.

For the rewards section...I haven't had many $10 weeks. Two, actually, which is not as many as I had hoped by now. If my last count is correct, I have earned $37 for the MS Society so far--$27.80 from me, $9.20 from Frazier. Again, not where I had planned to be at this point, but it's better than zero, right?

On the other reward, it doesn't look like there's a bike upgrade in my immediate future. I'm pretty confident that I'll make goal #1, but goal #2 would require some serious buckling down. I'm afraid that if I restrict my intake to the point where I could lose 3 lbs/week, I'd sacrifice the energy I'll need for training. Or maybe that's bullshit and I just don't want to make any more drastic changes to my lifestyle right now. Either way, 30 lbs. is not going to be a realistic option.

I still think I can make it to 10, though. :) Making it to 186 by April won't earn me a new bike, but it just might get me a new jersey. Or maybe a sweet pair of shorts (I decided to splurge on a pair of these when '06s were marked down to $90, and instantly fell in love--SO comfortable! But alas, out of my everyday price range).