Exercise Weight Gain, Check.

So my scale is showing my exercise weight gain as I've topped 160 for the first time in a while. In fact, today was 162.6 which I haven't seen since my Christmas weight gain.

I do know some of it is water weight, but I also think I am using exercise as a reason to eat more.  I've read a number of studies that indicate one of the reasons that people who rely on exercise for weight loss aren't as successful as those who concentrate solely on diet (i.e. doing one or the other) is because exercisers tend to increase their calories by 2x as much as they burn because they overestimate the effect of exercise.  So, in other words, I burn 300 calories and then I consume an extra 600 for the day and then wonder why exercise isn't helping me lose weight.  Some of that is increased hunger from energy expenditure, but some of it is simply a mental "I get a treat now that I exercised because they cancel each other out", except that I overestimate the calories burned by my exercise and underestimate the calories in my treat.

I need to be real with myself here about my band, too.  I am definitely pushing my band.  Definitely.  Yesterday we went to the farmer's market and stocked up on awesomeness (the corn last night for dinner was tender and sweet and I love eating local). On the way home, we stopped at 5 Guys for lunch.  I cut my burger in half, and when I was finished with the first half (including bun, which I don't need and causes me problems 5 out of 10 times, so I don't know why I persist), I was definitely full.  Band said stop.  I even recognized it and said "I'm full".  Out loud. And then I picked off the bun from the second half and ate the meat and tomato, plus a few of my husband's fries.  I obviously felt sick and uncomfortably full.  I am going to have dilation (if I don't already) if I keep this up.

So today I've decided to start tracking my food for a while again and I'm going to do weekly weigh-ins on the blog.  I haven't been following rules or being mindful for a long time now.  It's time for a refresher course.  In fact, maybe I should do the 5-day pouch test thing?  We'll see.  I'll start with tracking on myfitnesspal and see where I go from there.

My goal is not to lose, but to get a handle on being band-friendly and mindful again.  This is such a mental battle. I've said it before and here I'll say it again: I am morbidly obese girl in a slightly overweight girl's body.  And if I'm not careful, I slide very quickly into unhealthy patterns.

In nicer news, I went to a running store and got fitted for shoes that will hopefully support my flat foot and hip flexor problems.  Aren't they pretty?

Brooks Adrenaline GTS12

I walked in them yesterday and did a short half-mile trial run in them today (yes, I ran, I know) in the middle of a longer walk-- and I LOVE THEM.  So far so good-- my feet feel very stable and supported and my hips aren't bothered at all. 

Accidental Exercise

Yesterday I accidentally went to a step circuit class. . . and it was fun.  I'll be doing that again.

I have tried step before and I have had problems catching on to the fast moves (that damn t-step thing I still can't figure out), which has left me frustrated.  I don't know why Zumba is mostly fine but step is difficult for my non-choreography-friendly brain to process.  But whatever.  So yesterday I thought I was going to a BodyCombat class, but when I got there, I must have had the times mixed up because it was definitely step.

Good workout though, so I'll be back!

I start summer classes next week, so I suppose I should start figuring out a schedule.  I'm glad it's only a month.   Other summer plans include a trip "home" for a Cardinals game in June, a visit from my new colleague and her partner in June while they search for an apartment, a visit from my mom in July, and a trip to the beach house with pups, sis-and bro-in-law, and friends in August.  Other than that, it's wide open but I suspect it will go by super fast.