Thursday 26 August 2010

I Give up!!

Sounds like I’m quitting with this weight loss thing? Well not exactly. Over the past few weeks, I have found my training hitting a new low, struggling to generate power and almost grinding to a halt out on the roads. I discovered that weight loss and high intensity training were a difficult combination. Coach said it was down to the lack of fuel and negative calorie intake per day. The balance is very tricky. On the first week, lost 2.5 lb. Great! Week 2, gained 1. Oh, but I was away for the weekend anyway, so it could have been worse. No matter. Week 3, lost 4lb but also lost a truck load of speed and energy. At the time, I didn’t put 2 and 2 together and was just happy to see the weight melt away! Week 4, lost 1 lb, better I thought, that’s sustainable. Week 5, gain 1.5lb. hmmmph. What happened there? Week 6, this week, lost 0.5lb. That’s ok I guess, since I am STILL trying to find the balance between fuelling my body for training while still losing weight. ITS HARD MAN!!
Things I discovered this week?
1)      I have been picking up the wrong jelly in the supermarket – it’s been 1.5 points per pot, NOT 0 like I thought. Well, there’s why I gained last week I suppose!
2)      Training is now going superbly well, my speed is returning to me, and I feel much more reassured. This has been balanced by a much smaller incremental loss in weight. There’s  a connection methinks. Important for it to be this way round, will the world championships only weeks away.
Things I can still change?
1)      Stop having a bit of bread here, a bit of bread there...
2)      Weightwatchers low fat snack still add up, I MUST try and healthy snack more.
3)      Cooking my own stuff is better, its just a pain in the ass sometimes. Must make an effort to try keep it up.
4)      Eat regularly, including lunch, don’t ‘miss it’ or leave it till later.
5)      Less ice cream, even if it is weight watchers!

So, one more week. Then I’m off on a plane. What will the last week bring, we will have to see. I originally wanted reach 12 stone before I departed. I’m 2.5lb off that. Realistically I can’t afford to lose that in one week, and still train effectively, so my focus, till I’ve done my last race of the season, is to maintain, or as a bonus, lose a small amount, and then for now, I’ll be happy.


Wednesday 25 August 2010

The Orthotics journey

It’s been a long long journey to get to where I am now, but I wanted to share it, in the hope that others won’t give up on the process.

My orthotic journey goes back a few years. Quite a few. I never really thought about my feet until I started running. Well, you don’t, do you? I have always had weird bones sticking out in places where other people haven’t, I have always known I have very flat feet, so what? I kinda have two ankle bones on the inside, which made it difficult getting shoes when I was a kid, extra bits sticking out and all. My parents and my sister have always made fun of what they called my ‘bobbly toes’ but, who cares, I wear shoes, you don’t stare at peoples feet, do you? Its only now I know why.
The first time I considered orthotics was around ten years ago. There were some cheap ones on offer in Clarks, metal plate type things, off the shelf. Hmmm, ok, ish, well, I got bored of them, didn’t really see the point.

The next was at the ideal home show a number of years ago. I was getting achy feet when I walked distances, they promised all sorts of magical things they could fix, all I had to do was walk across this plate. Well, ok I thought, so I did. Oooooh you have very flat feet… bla bla bla and they told me I definitely needed them. Well, they blinded me with science, talked about foot imprints, and stuff, and said they would post them out.

When they arrived, they were hard stiff plastic, with a soft covering, and about 2/3 of the foot long, stopping just before the metatarsal. It took me ages and ages to get used to running in them (yup, I have now found running, and am at the start of my weight loss journey) and they constantly gave me blisters on my arch. Blisters were nothing new, I constantly have got blisters on my instep when I run. I have to wear compeed all the time during training, and use lots of Vaseline and crossed fingers during races! I persevered for a bit, but the aches from wearing them started to bug me and didn’t go away so I gave up and put them in the cupboard.

A few years more pass by, and to be honest I can’t remember why I resurrected the idea. Perhaps it was more pain; I think perhaps it may have even been knee problems, which the physio blamed on my feet. Anyway, I went to a local podiatrist. Again, they oooh and ahhh, look in wonder and tell me how crap my feet are. This time my feet are cast and moulds are made from them. I feel a bit more positive, maybe these ones will be proper ones? When they come, they are again hard plastic, with a soft covering, but are the length of my foot. Again I’m told it will take a while for my feet to moult to them. So off I trot, but as before, blisters, pain, aches. I really did try, and went back loads of times to the podiatrist. In the end they got fed up with me I think, and refused to communicate any further. The blisters were blamed on the foot rubbing against the edge of the orthotic, extra bits were added, nothing. Still rubbish. I had got no where and wasted yet more money (and believe me they weren’t cheap!)

So, many years go by, and another set go into the cup board. I got a gait analysis at the Sweatshop, bought the best and most supportive trainers on the market, (which for my feet turned out to be Asics gel foundation) and thought screw sticking stuff in my shoes that clearly wont work. I’ll manage.
And manage I did, for a number of years. Thought nothing more till this summer, I developed excruciating pain in my foot. I went to my trusty physio (yes, I know, they don’t do feet!) He said oooooh, you have very unusual and flat feet.. bla bla bla. I think you should see a podiatrist. YAWN!!! What again. Never. I made an appointment. I have to be honest, I cancelled it, and gave an excuse. But, the pain didn’t abate and soon I could hardly walk. I had the European championships coming up really soon, so I thought I had better do something.

I went to see this guy, Steve, that I was recommended. Ooooh hes the best in Northamptonshire, etc etc. I was told. Hmmmmm forgive my scepticism, given the journey so far. But, I gave the guy a chance. He turned out to be a very clever chap, very informative, very very very helpful and accommodating, and explained things in great detail. After a lengthy trip to see him, (and a long appointment with the podiatry school students, during which I learned TONS about the foot anatomy!) I discovered all sorts of explanations as to the problems I have encountered all these years!

The ‘extra ankle bone’ turned out to be a result of extreme pronation, over a number of years, making the bones just below the ankle protrude more than they should. The ‘bobbly toes’ were as a result of the fact that there was no stability in my foot, overflexible joints, and no arch, I have been ‘clawing’ at the ground all my life, in order to maintain balance. Gosh, it’s a wonder I can even stand up I thought!! So, there started the next chapter!! This time, he explained how the foot is a flexible complex joint, etc, and you don’t want HARD orthotics, the stuff needs to flex if you are going to run on it. I was still sceptical, but things were looking up. At this stage, the European champs were in two weeks, and I still count walk, and had stopped running completely. He said I shoudlt race. Pah!! I don’t do all that work for nowt!! Fix me… please? He added some temporary spongy bits (lots) to the underside of my trainer insoles, and sent me away to try it.
I apprehensively hobbled out the door. First run in a few weeks. After I managed to extend the limp to a jog, it eased. By about a mile down the road, I no longer had pain. I gotta say, I was pretty flabbergasted!
I did the Euros anyway, (hurt like hell but what the heck!!) and went back the next week. I have to confess I expected a foot cast. He took the insole away (with the bits stuck on) and came back a moment later saying, done… they will be in the post in a few weeks. ??? That Easy!??

When they came, I could wait to try them. This pair were like a full trainer insole, thin, bendy, rubbery, but with lumpy bits moulded into them to match the contours of my feet. I ran in them. Yep, blisters on the instep. FFS!! I called him and expected him to say yes, feet need to adjust… no…. come in immediately they obviously need adjusting. Really? And back I have been, many many times over the past few weeks, lots and lots of minor adjustments. I did actually think that I was destined for blisters, even with these ones.
BUT.. the difference with these over all the others I have had? They didn’t hurt at all. They felt odd, yes, but no aches. After he was done adjusting them, saying the blisters were because the foot was slipping in the shoe (not enough arch support) I ran last weekend. 5 miles, no compeed (but did take some in my pocket, because I was convinced I would need them!). 5 miles. No blister, no plasters. The first time, ever in my life I have run without getting a blister, and without needing a plaster. I was Sooooooooo exited!! I ran again today, and still no plaster, no blister, no aches.

It really did work. I cant believe it!! I have been told that with my foot in the ‘better’ position I should now have a more efficient and biomechanically correct drive off the first metatarsal, like I should have had all along, which has only got to be good, for a runner, I think?
I am SOOOOOO excited and pleased I persevered to get to this point. I can’t recommend him enough. If you are going to try orthotics, make sure you go to a sports podiatrist, and DO persevere and pester them. It WILL be worth it in the end.

And the pain? Almost all gone. YAY!!
Steve Avil can be contacted through the contacts page on my web site http://www.melanieryding.co.uk/ under contacts :)

Thursday 19 August 2010

The weight loss hamster wheel


I wondered whether I should just avoid this weeks blog. I spend a lot of time encouraging and congratulating other people who do well and achieve their goals, got to stay positive, right? Not so easy. Any weight watcher will know that.
After rejoining the weekly meetings back in July, when I discovered that I had let a few pounds creep back on, I prepared myself to embrace toe diet once more, go back to being careful, counting everything. The initial interim goal was to get back from 12.8 to 12 stone. Then take it from there. Should be easy I thought. It started well. Too well perhaps. I reported last week I had been struggling to find the right balance to still fuel my training yet still lose weight. It continues to be a struggle. A few times this week I have run out of steam completely. So, the balance is still all wrong, I thought. Need to eat more, or training will be pants. So, I try. I always worry about needing energy bars and stuff though, because the calorie count on those things – the points value doesn’t bear thinking about! But need them this week I did. Hmmm.
I have however started to notice some tone revealing itself again from under the layer of fat I had allowed to build up around the middle. I even tried on a pair of size ten trousers I have been unable to fasten up for over a year, and got them on. I was feeling good, positive, and ready to be weighed.
When I went to the meeting, my regular leader was not there. I think, it’ll be fine. You have hardly eaten anything this week. Easy. Right? Right? No. I step on the scales, 1.5lb on. I was devastated to be honest. I so wanted to reach the 12 stone mark before I go to Budapest. There’s only 2 weeks left. The replacement leader says what did you do different? I said, I don’t know! She asks what do I need to do different? I again say I don’t know. She just looks at me, and says nothing more. That’s helpful I think to myself. NOT.
Cooooooooooooooach!! HELP!!! He gives me a verbal slap and says get a grip!! I ask myself, what would you tell someone who tweeted the same story. I concluded that despite a disappointment on the scales, I got back into those trousers this week. This to me is big news. It DID make me happy. I wish I had been measuring inches, because I bet that would have told me a more reassuring story. It’s just a small blip. Mel, you have had many of those. Get a grip!!
At the moment, training is vital, in preparation for the world championships. I realise weight loss and race pre is a stupid combination to try, and praise myself for losing 5lb this far in only a month, while still trying to balance a heavy training load. That’s quite an achievement I think. So, onwards to another week.

What did I conclude I did wrong? I think maybe, looking back at my OWN food diary, I repeatedly kept forgetting to eat lunch, and then tried to ‘catch up’ later. That I think was my error. I perhaps didn’t eat enough. I learned from past experience, having been a gold member for 4 years and a weight watchers member for more than that, that when I saved myself up too many points in a week, it actually had the reverse effect. It’s a fine balance, and what happens if you don’t eat enough is your body starts to store fat as an emergency measure because it thinks you are starving yourself. So, I’ll try again next week. Maybe I’ll get it, maybe I won’t. My eye is on the long term goal and I just have to keep trying to get the balance, and listening to my body closely. Its hard work though.

Monday 16 August 2010

The weight and training balance dilemma!

Since my last race, I have really been getting into the swing of watching what I eat again. When I was first introduced to the idea that weight loss could help me in race situations, I realised on return to the scales, that I had let almost 9lb slip back on. Ooops. It’s just a habit I got out of, like we all do.  I had started to get lazy, eat more junk, stop cooking as much. So I embraced the home cooking again and got back out the low fat cook books. Since I am still off work for a few more weeks and have the time to do it. I am finding the balance quite hard to be honest. At first, I did quite well, but then one week, I lost 4 lb. I didn’t get to lose 4 stone by accident you know, I am actually getting quite good at weight loss (when I set my mind to it that is!!) You would think that this was good, right? Coach was NOT happy with me. This coincided with me experiencing fatigue in training, and I was told off for losing too much weight all in one week. I very quickly learned that the balance of eating to fuel my training, while still trying to lose weight was going to be much more tricky than I first thought! I had to be reminded again that food is fuel, and without it my training will suffer, even if I am thinner!! I was ordered to eat more and disregard the diet for the race week. So I did, well I thought I did. I must be just a little too good at this weight watchers thing because that week I still lost 2.5 lb. Ooops! If you had said to me not long back that I would be getting told off for not eating enough, I would have laughed. Gosh, its hard work!!  So, I started the online food diary. I realised that sometimes I had really not had much at all. This is NOT GOOD! Heavy training unfortunately does the opposite thing to me than it does to most people, it makes me LESS hungry. So I have had to go back to drinking SiS recovery milkshakes after training, (strawberry is my favourite at the moment!) or if I do forget to eat, by treats to myself are peanut butter and/or nutella on toast. Especially tasty after a long session! So, last week I managed a loss of 1lb. Normally I would be rather upset at that measly amount, but apparently for coach, that is spot on. Balance restored (I hope). It is proving to be much harder than I thought to strike a balance between eating the right amount to lose weight (with the aim of hitting my target ‘race weight’), yet still being able to sustain hard fast exercise. To be quite honest, when I was originally told by coach I had to trim down a bit to get to optimal race weight, I was dreading going back to the weight watchers eating, but it’s MUCH easier than I thought, maybe a little too easy!

So, I am listening VERY closely to my body at the moment, and go training armed with energy bars and gels, just in case I haven’t got the balance right and need to ‘top up’. I went out without them the other day, what a fatal mistake!! I had stopped using them because of the calorie content, but they will have to become my friend for a while again, well at least till the hard training leading up to Budapest is all sorted. J 

Weight loss and weight maintenance is not an exact science, it is quite tricky, even for me!!

Monday 9 August 2010

Barton Marina Sprint Triathlon

It seems ages since I last raced, and a funny thought that the last one was in fact the European Championships in Athlone! This really was only a race pace training session for me, but as always, i want to do well, even if that is not supposed to be the focus! I have never been to Barton-Under-Needword before, or even done 'chaserace' race before so i had no idea what to expect. I was so laid back on the days running up to this race, I kept thinking there was something wrong here! The night before, I had all my stuff laid out in a matter of minutes (with the help of my 'race equipment list' on the computer!) and route planned - it seemed i had to get up at 4.45am! eeek! So, race morning, up at dawn! Hubby says i always get to races FAR too early, so this time we planned to 'time it just right' and get there at 6.45am, for an 8am start. Clear roads got us there at the predicted time, Barton Marina being very easy to find thanks to my trust TOMTOM IPhone app! There only seemed to be a handful of people here. This race was going to be MUCH smaller than i was used to. It will make a nice change. :) I had a quick look about, checked the bike into transition, sussed the layout, and was JUST in time for race briefing. this 'time it right' malarkey seemed all a but last minute' to me! No time to recce the bike route, so that will be a nice surprise in store! First time i have done a race without driving the route first! Oh well. There were only 2 waves, newbies in the 1st, then everyone else. this was a bit odd, i wasnt used to racing in the same wave as the men! i am used to womens waves, and know where i will usually expect to be position wise in the swim - back of the front pack. So this time, i had no idea how i was doing! I felt like i was MILES back, and hoped all the people in front were men!! Funny little lake, floaty gloopy algae type stuff, but was ok once we got away from the shore. nice little swim under a bridge and back, then out to T1. At one point before hand, we were wondering if we had to get out and dive in on the other side like the pro's. Phew!! Reasonably smooth through T1, clocking a time of 58 secs, a PB there for me I think, and the first one under a minute. The bike course had a few cheeky surprises in store for me. Having not driven round it, I had no idea what was round the next corner! There were a few steep decents with chevroned corners, turned out to be not that sharp, so had I know i would have stayed down on the tribars for sure. What goes down must go up, but being from the 'rolling hills' of Northamptonshire, nothing that i hadnt seen before. :) Apart from a hairy scary moment on my return (where a newbie triathlete in front decided to overtake as well as undertake a car in Barton - Kamikaze i recon!) it all went pretty smoothly. Hubby, marshalling on the last roundabout almost didnt recognise me with my new pointy helmet but managed to get this picture as i passed him! i'm not sure how much different an aero helmet makes TBH, all I can say is the bike leg turned out ot be an OKish speed, but felt easy, whether theres something in that who knows. perhaps it means i can push just that fraction more? Through T1, (it seemed to take for ever but it was only 41 secs) and runing. I had a real dilemma over shoes for this race. Having only worn the orthotics once, and still nursing the blisters, i wasnt sure if my feet were ready to race in them bare foot. I also have been nursing an injury, so wasnt sure whether to risk racing flats. Oh, what the heck. it dont matter does it, its a 'race pace training session' remember, so racing flats it was. I took the run steady, didnt know how the foot would perform. It niggles now from time to time, but on the whole was ok, and i can still walk afterwards,  which is better than after Athlone, where i could hardly walk a step! So, test race out of the way, foot held up, that means i had better NOT chicken out of the run coach training session this week i guess? Overall, 2nd in Age group, 8th woman overall. About what i had predicted. Lovely little race, well run, nice setting, great weather, and I would recommend it. I'm not sure why it struggles for competitors, it would be a great race for a newbie open water triathlete to do. A fun sunday out was had by all. :)

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Race taper, Orthotics and cook fest!

Taper week, and i think i have JUST recovered from the beasting at the track with the new run coach last week!! (i had to postpone the saturday run TT though!!) i was meant to meet him again this Tuesday, but TBH, with a race at the weekend i gotta admit i chickened out - for fear he will do to me what he did last week, and i will once again barely be able to walk!