I am having a hard time focusing on one subject today, so I think I’ll go random…
Frozen…
I literally froze my butt off yesterday on my run. Well, not off, it is certainly still there.
But I was fooled. It was 0 degrees and sunny.
The sun is such a trickster.
So I dressed like it was 20 degrees. Because the sun looked warm and I am stupid.
I knew after about 15 seconds that I wasn’t dressed warm enough. But I figured I’d get warm.
So I kept going.
I came back with light frost burn on my ENTIRE butt.
If it wasn’t on my butt I would show you pictures for proof.
I decided to get in the shower to warm it up. Bad idea.
I was immediately ITCHY ITCHY ITCHY (think worse than poison ivy) all over (especially my butt).
I looked like a sunburned lobster in all of the “fat storing” areas of my body, except I did it with the cold.
The upside is that I learned something new, you can get frost burn, and it likes to burn you on the fattiest parts of your body.
I think I just called myself a fat ass.
Intervention:
I was at the local bar over New Years (I was DD) and a person (friend? See, I am not even sure) came up to me…very serious and asked me how I was doing.
I said fine, thanks.
He looked at me intensely, “We are worried about you. You are working out too much – are you losing more weight? We think you have a problem.”
I reply that I don’t have a problem. That I eat like a pig and my IM build doesn’t start until February, so I am pretty light on the training hours right now, only doing 8-12 depending on the week.
Glazed eyes. Shaking head. Concerned look. Held, intense eye contact “We are really concerned.”
Who is we and why do I feel like I am on an episode of Intervention? I walked way entirely ticked off and frustrated.
He was kind dickhead enough to point out to me that denial and anger are the first two of the five stages of addiction.
I wanted to punch him in the face.
I guess I am stuck on the anger stage then.
In this place…in this world…It is NOT considered a problem if you spend 8-10 hours a NIGHT drinking at the bar, but it is considered a very serious problem if you spend the same amount of time in a week training for a personal goal.
Nutrition:
I have been doing really great with living the No Sugar, No Grains (NSNG) high fat way of eating. This is really working for me (thank you Vinnie Tortorich, you are freaking awesome).
I have never felt better and I am pretty darn close to my high school size. Which is crazy.
The hard part of this for me is re-thinking my fueling for endurance sports – my primary fuel is going to be fat (if you are interested, check out THIS interview with record holding Ultrarunner William Sichel, it is a great listen, he is simply amazing - and he talks about how he uses fat for fuel among lots of other things).
The thing is, for higher intensity work or for a mental pick-up, I am going to use some sugar. I’ll be experimenting with trickling sugar – which means taking small amounts over a longer period of time instead of the gel every 45 minutes. In theory, I’ll be using a heck of a lot LESS of that stuff and more of the fats.
For fat, I am trying a bunch of things, including Generation Ucan and this combo:
IM Fuel?
I haven’t really done much training over 2 hours at this point, so I am not close to settling on what I am going to use for fuel.
I see a lot of people reacting in various ways to this – and some are throwing stones at a high fat NSNG diet – which is fine, people throw stones at everything - but what I know is that it works for me and I am simply sharing my personal experience.
Playing…
I took Porter out for a nice snowshoe along Wyman Lake this morning, here are a few pictures.
View from my Sunday morning walk
Nice photo of my pool
Thanks for reading!
Love your ramdomness… and yes that guy was a little too concerned for his own good. Quite rude actually!
RIGHT! I was so annoyed. But what can you do? Glad you like the random!!!
I get the itchy skin after every cold run. I’m on the beach and prefer to wear shorts no matter how cold. But I think mine is wind burn! Ugh. Loved the random post!!
Oh man you are tough if you can wear shorts around here! Like – you even wear shorts if it is 0? I’ve seen people domit and I’m always impressed!
People question what they don’t understand. So I guess he must have figured there was something wrong when someone wants to exercise that much. He obviously doesn’t get how great you can feel afterward on a ‘natural’ high. I would tell him, thanks for your concern. But I am doing great!
Good advice Michelle! I was a little taken aback to be honest!
I have definitely had people go into ‘intervention’ mode on me. “You’re losing too much weight.” “You’re over-exercising.”
Go be concerned about the friend who put on 100 lbs last year.
I gave the no sugar, no grains thing a try this week and I had a bunch of stomach pain. Despite that, I felt great so I’m hoping it passes
Crazy on the pain. I haven’t had that, let me know if it goes away!
Not sure my first reply got sent….hope that pain goes away! I didn’t have that happen!
I get really bad raynauds syndrome in my hands. Like, even sitting in my office at work. I can’t imagine a frozen butt
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I have pretty active friends but I find myself sometimes omitting workouts if they ask about my training for fear ill get the same reaction. I have a friend who has done an IM so she gets it. I never talk about eating but ppl ask me about it when we get together. It sometimes bothers me bc I just don’t want to talk about it and would just rather hang out without the pressure of “why aren’t you eating this or that.”
I think your IM training is going to be awesome! I’m still thinking through my fueling options. I haven’t done many workouts over 1.5 hours yet so thus far I haven’t needed anything but water
.
It is easier if you don’t have to talk about it. But the thing is, around here, I’m that crazy girl out running and ordering the burger with no bun. So it is in people’s faces. Ah well!
Wish someone would have intervened at 5AM this morning before my brick. Never really thought of the bar-hopping time versus workout time. Interesting way to look at it. Most people that comment about the amount of working out are trying to make themselves feel better about the fact that they aren’t doing it enough. Never had anyone get that in-my-face before, or say they were worried about me. Most folks just like to say I’m crazy. They might be right.
Haha…well, see around here you kind of stand out if you don’t drink much…
They think I’m crazy, that’s for sure. Maybe I am!
Um… I can’t fathom the 0 degree temp. I ran/walked around our lake today in a tank top. Seriously. Come to Atlanta to thaw out!
You didn’t need an intervention. People are so stupid. You are amazing. And I love that the NSNG thing is working for you. You know, people literally need to shut their pie holes. If it’s working for you, what does it matter to them?
Mmmmm… I love peanut butter. (that’s my random preggo thought for the day).
Haha I’d love to, it is supposed to be in the negatives all week.
People like to voice their opinion I guess…
You cracked me up with the peanut butter thing!
Yikes! Way to get it done in the cold.
However, I can 100% guarantee that a frozen front (for guys) is FAR worse than a frozen ass. I speak from experience. Itching your junk is even less appropriate.
haha TMI?
Intervention? Ugh. Don’t get me started. I can’t tell you the number of people who have done that too me. “You are getting too thin”…. what the hell does that even mean? I think they are just upset that you are being un-American by not being lazy and fat. Now go eat a plate of fries and drink a couple beers
haha
So proud of all you are accomplishing already this year!
Thanks Kevin! I bet a frozen wee wee is way worse than a frozen butt. Also it is going to be a HIGH of -25 Wed. No kidding. I’m going for a new cold PR
I hate the never warm up runs. Just hate them.
Me too!
I love when people give unsolicited advice about things they have never done. Today, my boss told me the only way I could fuel during a triathlon is with GU. I messed with that poison before and it did not like me. Last thing I need is the trots on a bike. Granted, he is a former college wrestler (20 years ago) and still holding into his glory days.
I know!!! It is crazy, right? GU causes me big problems too. I’m experimenting with Coconut oil and Ucan
I suck at picking out the right clothes to wear. I’m always too cold or too hot! Do your thing with the NSNG thing. People freak out too much! Don’t freeze to death up there. It looks like it’s a bit chilly!
Ugh, they need the intervention, you are training for a 17 hour race, how do you prepare for that? you train your rear off. People dont understand the commitment involved in our sport.
Best recent quote from the 2012 Kona Special “If they have to ask, they wouldnt understand”
I love your observation of time in a bar compared to time spent exercising . Put THAT is your beer glass and choke on it, kind sir!
HA! Thanks so much!
people are crazy! ignore him! if you’re feeling on top of the world, so be it, who is he to be concerned
Will be interested to hear how you are fueling for long workouts!!
Thanks Shannon. Once I figure it out, I will share it!