Finding 34" Again

I guess it is time to re-name the blog.  I bought a pair of 33" Levi jeans yesterday.  I haven't been able to wear this size in years....  I'm guessing 7 years or so.  

Weird thing is, I know I still have body fat to drop.  I would like to get to about 14% body fat.  I am weighing 188lbs now and my scale puts me at around 18%.  I know it is not completely accurate, but it is a good indicator.  I'd like to get to around 14% and then evaluate.  That means losing another 8lbs of fat.  

I completed my 2nd Crossfit class tonight.  Did pretty well with the new moves, but my hip flexibility is going to be an issue with the deadlifts and squats, but it gives me something to aim for and keep improving.  There are some seriously fit people in this class.  I am sure they didn't always look this way, and have this level of fitness, so it is pretty inspiring (as well as a little intimidating). I also worked out with my trainer this morning, so it was another double dip day.  My eating has also been really good this week.  According to Daily Burn Tracker I am coming in at about 1900 calories per day.  I am struggling how to add protein (without using shakes or supplements) and keeping my carbs in line, but so far, so good this week.  Hopefully it will show on the scale and start to show in the mirror.

I attended my first Crossfit Foundations class this evening.  Good stuff.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't super intimidated by some of the moves and especially the weighted lifts, but bottom line is I felt the same way when I started to train for my first marathon and heard people talking about 10, 12, 18, 20 mile training runs.

I'm running the 36th annual Marine Corps Marathon tomorrow.  It will be my 10th marathon and the 2nd time I've run this race.  Last time I did it in 2007 and came in with a time just under 5 hours.  I am hoping to get under 4 hours and 15 minutes tomorrow.  My personal best for a marathon is 4 hours and 21 minutes back in March so I'm looking to shave 6 minutes off my time.  The weather should be dry, but a cool 38 - 42 degrees throughout the race.

I was at the race expo yesterday and got my Body Composition Analysis done.  Here is what it said (all measurements were taken in clothes):

Lean Body Mass: 171.4 lbs

Body Fat Mass: 38.5 lbs (normal)

Weight: 209.9 lbs (over normal)

Skeletal Muscle Mass: 97.2 lbs (over - apparently this is a good thing to be over normal)

Body Mass Index: 26.9 (over)

Percentage of Body Fat: 18.4% (normal)

Basal Metabolic Rate: 2049 Calories

The analysis recommended that I lose 8.4 lbs of body fat.  Looking at the number of 38.5 lbs I feel like I need to lose more than that.  The analysis covered a bunch of other things, including distribution of muscle mass across your body, but I am glad that I got it done.

When the marathon is over I will be changing my training strategy with my trainer in an effort to strip away some of this body fat I am holding on to.  I will write more about this later, as I'd love some input from some of you that have seen great results, but for today and tomorrow my focus is on 26.2 miles in and around the Nations Capital.

Things have been a little busy lately with work.  The good news is that I am still here and still going strong.  I had a conference for 3 days this week but I still ran, did 2 personal training sessions, 1 yoga and worked out 4 times on my own.  I haven't had the chance to weigh myself as I always weigh in at the same time of day (after getting up in the morning and peeing). Marathon training has gone well.  Did a really fast 16 miler last weekend and then tomorrow I am running the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon.  It is a fun course.  I did the inaugural race last year and tomorrow I'm running with a friend who is doing his first half marathon.  He's been building up to this after starting with 5k's last year so it should be a lot of fun.  I think we will come in at just under 10 minute miles so I am guessing about 2 hours and 10 minutes for the race.  I personal best for him and a nice training run for me.

Eating has been OK this week.  I need to take pictures and weigh in next week.  I feel a lot leaner, but the last time I was on the scale the numbers and body fat % did not show the progress I can see in the mirror.  I've been here before (on previous body challenges) - it gets old and frustrating.  I'm not going to let it throw me off.  My pants fit better and I am less puffy around the love handles.