Let’s Get Physical: Week 5

On 06/09, I wrote about my decision to get in shape in a post entitled “Let’s Get Physical.” My decision was based, in part, on the fact that I was out of shape to the point that walking up multiple flights of stairs winded me.I’ll be using a combination of diet and exercise to accomplish my get-in-shape-semi-quickly goal, and I’ll be following the Couch-to-5K Running Plan (starting with week 4), and “Nutrition and Hydration for Runners.”

This is a continuation of Let’s Get Physical tracking my progress after week five of my program.

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Heading into the last week of my program, I’m actually feeling pretty good. The running is getting easier, and I am with out a doubt in much better shape than when I started. I just hope that with winter approaching I’m able to continue to stay fit and don’t backslide too much.

Stats

Weight: 190 lbs.

Once again holding at 190, but still feeling better. As I said before, my hope is that once I’m running 5K on a regular basis and improving my times that the weight will start to come off. So far, its just been moving around (i.e. fat into muscle).

Active Heart Rate: 170/60

For some reason, I decided to run my route in reverse, placing a fairly steep hill at the very end of my route. The effect it had is similar to if I had sprinted the last quarter-mile. So, instead of the steady pace I had grown accustom to (and thus steady heart rate), my heart rate spiked. I expect this to drop again at the end of next week.

At-rest hear rate: 71/60

Staying low.

Run

As I mentioned before, I made the mistake of leaving a steep hill until the end my final run this week. I made it up the hill, but ended up walking the last block to my apartment. To be fair, I had been increasing my distance per the program, so that could have contributed as well. In addition, I ran Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday, so I had a 3 day rest leading into the run, which also contributed.

Once again, deviating from the schedule came back to bite me.

Eat

Again, no problems with soda (though I have been craving a Dr. Pepper, the sweet nectar of life). I have started eating less, more frequently, which may or may not prove to be a good thing.

As far as the nutrition guide I am supposedly following, the one thing I really haven’t been doing is eating a large breakfast, medium lunch, and small dinner. I’m sure this is affecting me, though in what ways I can’t certain. It is entirely possible that my diet is contributing to my very minimal weight-loss, but at least I’m not gaining!

With the last week of my program upon me, I am feeling great and I am getting in shape. I guess I should start thinking about what’s next — do I seek to improve my time, or do I seek to improve my distance? And what diet restrictions, if any to I place on my self? Certainly healthy diet = healthy body, but when is it OK to splurge and indulge? Does the rule of moderation apply to a healthy diet (i.e. too much of a good thing…)?

Time will tell.