Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Heavy Hauler

If you think your load is heavy
And you're feeling really bad
Check out this little donkey
And you won't feel so bad!

As I was running the last few miles of the Orcas Island Fat Ass 50K I noticed that something kept making a dragging sound behind me. When I looked back to see what it was I discovered my fat ass was dragging on the ground behind me. Time to start working on losing some weight so I don't have so much of me to haul over long distances. I'm 5'8" tall with a stocky build. In the last 10 years the lowest weight I've been at was 138 lbs. but that's way too skinny. My ideal running weight is somewhere between 145 - 150 lbs. I'm weighing in at about 158 lbs now. I'm trying to lose the weight so I can carry my 70 fluid oz. Camelbak and some nutrition when I run Western States.

I will start a side-bar with a weekly progress chart to track my weight loss.

My weight loss plan is simple. I follow the take the fork out of your mouth diet plan. It's a variant of the ZONE diet which basically makes you watch your portions. The good part of the program is that it makes you pay close attention to the fat, carbs, and proteins you are eating and insists on a proportional balance of each at every meal. The hardest part of the plan is eliminating caffeine. I think I'll just wean myself slowly so I don't suffer from too many withdrawl headaches.

OK, I've said it in writing, now I'll start working on making that goal weight of around 148.

Thanks for reading and for your support. I'll shout out a challenge to those who would like to join me in a quest for weight loss. You don't need to tell me how much you weigh just how much you plan to loose! Good luck!

Eric

18 comments:

Backofpack said...

How coincidental is that? I come in for lunch and announce that I am going to lose eight pounds. You just smile at me. I sit down to check your blog, only to discover that you announced the same thing to the world! I was only going to announce it to you, but I guess I'm announcing it to everyone now.

Just so we're clear though - I am not giving up my tea. Whatever amount of caffiene is found in tea, I need it. I really do and I'll be cranky without it. You don't wanna see that.

I'll add a sidebar too - but probably just a countdown. I hope everyone has empathy for me, because you ALWAYS lose weight faster than me while eating way more. How fair is that?

Anonymous said...

I thought you were going to tell a funny story about dragging toilet paper on your shoe or something like that!

Good luck with the weight loss (to both of you)! Women lose weight so much slower than men, so I hope you don't tease and taunt your lovely wife too much!

I, too, wish we'd met in person out at Capitol Peak. I know we'll cross paths again soon! Thanks for the support over on my blog!

Meghan
www.running-blogs.com/meghan

Unknown said...

Well since you're not going to hold me accountable I want to lose 15 by Portland in October. I think it's doable. Good luck with the weight loss.

Wes said...

I thought, LOL, you were going to say your diaper was dragging behind you. Oh god, that's funny!! OK. Back to reality. You need to lose 8 pounds, I gotta lose 25 more. Let's race :-) We know the last five are always the hardest...

Jenny, Maniac #401 said...

Eric- What does caffiene have to do with it? To me, it's the cream that goes into the coffee that has to go. I always wean myself to fat free milk in my coffee to reduce the calories. I'd love to say that I'd join youin this quest, but I find that I am SO hungry when I run so many miles, I don't really know how I can do it!?!? I know, more spin classes to sweat it off!
Good Luck!
Jenny

Sarah said...

I'm wondering about the caffeine too. That just seems wrong to give that up. My favorite invention is fat-free half & half. It's a contradiction, I know, but it's a fair imitation of the real thing. Good luck!

Darrell said...

I'd like to get back closer to 150 myself, but first we've got to get rid of the 12 boxes of Girl Scout cookies that appeared in the pantry.

Journey to a Centum said...

Jenny - What's caffeine got to do with it, got to do with it? What's caffeine just a second hand emotion...

It has to do with adjusting your metabolism and keeps you on more of a constant energy burn rather than the zim, zam,zoom,of a cafeine hit and the subsequent crash when it wears off.

Donald said...

I like the simplicity of your diet plan - but why eliminate caffeine? Green tea is supposed to speed your metabolism - it might be worth a try.

Either that, or you can just run a lot of miles.

Olga said...

Geez, I didn't think guys worry about it:)

Good luck!

Thomas said...

Eric, I'm really not sure if ultra training and reducing food intake at the same time is a good idea.

I have lost about 6 pounds in the last 2 months without watching my diet at all (though it IS a healthy diet. I just don't watch the portions).

Journey to a Centum said...

Thomas,

I've been traveling a bit more than normal and the food choices at restaurants are not within the same good eating habits I have at home. I try shopping at grocery stores when I can but typically I'm entertaining customers at lunch and dinner.

I'm just cutting back for a while and then I should be able to maintain with the mileage I will be running.

When I was running shorter distances and concentrated on speed my weight stayed at about 145. Now with the longer slower run I tend to eat everything in sight but maintain around 155 to 160. I'm sure it does not hurt to have some spare fuel along in the form of fat during an endurance race but at 145 I still have a good 10 lbs I'm hefting around as an "energy cell".

Ryan said...

Superbly done last weekend at Orca Island Fat Ass, you’re on a great pace for WS!

Funny pic! Nah..you need that extra weight! Think of those extra pounds as your own built in camelbak, where all the glycogen is stored up to keep you going! Have a nice run this weekend!

Tony C said...

Eric, let me know when you want to run a 12 peaks run ... I am dying to get back out on Tiger but don't want to go alone. *tc

Tony C said...

I forgot to mention ... I gave away my maps to Tiger Mtn but I've run 12 peaks (aka 12 summits) about 25 times ... only got lost once ;-) map must have been upsidedown - doh!

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

ERIC SAID:My weight loss plan is simple. I follow the take the fork out of your mouth diet plan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
well that about sums it up Eric, that's the best thing to do... I never counted calories, I am trying to GRAZE more but have to shrink my portions...

well I am 5'10 & started at 182 in Dec, now I am 171 ...was down to 167 during my cleanse...I want to get to 165!! that will be my 10th grade weight--LOLOL then depending on how I feel maybe a little bit lighter.

Good luck reaching that mark!! and I agree with lean and mean to help you get up & down the WS Course...strong legs & light ass :-)

Ciao,

Bob

runliarun said...

Ooouch! They want you to lose the caffeine too?

Anonymous said...

Love the photo! Don't we all feel like that sometimes? :) Good luck on the diet. I agree with others in not understanding the no caffeine part of the diet . . . unless the caffeine you partake of has a lot of calories. But, I found that ditching the caffeine eventually (once the headaches/cravings were over) resulted in more energy. I do indulge periodically, but I am no longer addicted. :) Good luck!