I love Blogs!!!!

I have a bunch of blogs that I read regularly. They cover a wide range of topics; triathlons, running, weight loss, strength training, nothing in particular. 99% of the time I read these blogs and while I enjoy it, no lightning bolts hit me. Last night I was struck by lightning.

8 years ago I weighed 225 lbs. It took me 1/2 hour to walk 1 mile. I slept a lot!! When I decided it was time for a change the first thing I did was head to Weight Watchers. They were a great help. I ended up losing 70+/- lbs. At this point I started doing triathlons. Now, I kept doing WW because my basic focus has been to lose weight. That has always been my goal and I was thinking triathlons would aid in the weight loss. This turned out not to be true. In fact, I found myself in a frustrating situation. I would try to restrict my calories and then would not feel like working out. So I would eat a little more and then feel guilty for going over my points/calories/whatever. I've been bouncing between these 2 feelings for a long time and have been trying to find a way out. I reached a decision the other day that I would really focus on weight loss until the end of the year, then I would start my training for the 70.3 in June. I know that training for distance events doesn't go with weight loss so I decided no distance events. The marathon was out, only a couple of more sprint triathlons this year.

Then last night I read a blog that literally smacked me in the head. DOH!!!! She said:

"Finding a sport, any sport. Dieting is not a sport, and for all practical purposes bodybuilding/fitness is not a sport. (I know I'm going to get a plexiglas hooker heel in the eye for that one.) You have to get the focus on what you can DO instead of how you look. The upside of that is that if you do something physically demanding that you love, you're going to look great as a result. Dancers, rock climbers, yoga instructors, fighters, and triathletes all have great bodies that are a result of their active lifestyle, not a lifestyle that's crushed and limited by whatever diet/workout plan they read last."

When I read this I agreed with it but it didn't particularly "speak" to me. Then I woke up this morning and even though it was 4:30 a.m., it was like a light had gone on. I know how to eat right and I do a pretty good job of it. But it's time to take the focus off weight loss and time to focus on triathlons. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to eat well and train hard. If I eat well, including good carbs, I will be able to train like a rock star.

I had been approaching this decision for a couple of weeks now. This blog just helped put it into focus for me.

Having said that. I swam this morning. I was doing a workout when I was interrupted by the lady in the next lane. I should point out that she is head lifeguard and has been teaching swimming for 30 years. She knows I'm trying to improve and said she had a pointer for my stroke. She said to wait to pull until the other arm begins to enter the water. Seems I was pulling before my other arm had completed my stroke. She said I was taking 4 strokes when only 3 were necessary. So I tried it at the side of the pool and then took off. What a difference. I felt like I was working 1/2 as hard and I was getting further with each stroke. Doing this allows for greater extension and rolling causing me to go farther. Wow, cool!!! When I was practicing this I realized that was what the instructor at the stroke clinic in July was trying to tell me I just didn't get it. He said I was pulling too quickly to wait a second or two to pull. Now I get it. I finished off my swim by working on this new stroke and it just felt better and better. Can't wait till Friday when it will have really sunk in.

Okay, that's all I have. Couple of revelations so I have some real mental work to do.