I normally prefer to do cardio in the mornings on an empty stomach. This isn’t because of any perceived increase in fat-burning, but a simple matter of cargo weight.

I can’t run comfortably with 4-5 meals already in my system and the remnants of my last meal sloshing around my stomach at 7 pm.

This is why yesterday’s after work gym session was so unusual. I’d already eaten 5 meals by the time I got to the gym, but I decided to risk the treadmill for a 35 minute run anyway since meal 5 had been eaten over 2 hours before. I hopped on the treadmill, plugged into my Guitar Hero workout mix, and proceeded to run the easiest half hour of my entire life.

For the first time in months I actually felt efficient when I ran instead of merely resigned.

Very curious. I may try the experiment again on Thursday.

The diet continues to go well, though it has yet to stand the test of PMS when my carb cravings usually go a bit haywire. I’m keeping my focus very tight on this challenge because I really want the best results possible in May. I’m squashing the temptation to tweak things on my own and simply doing the plan exactly as given to me.

It’s almost too easy right now. Having the same meal plan every day (and no free day) means that I have been gliding along on auto-pilot just as I had hoped I would. My meals and workouts are all printed out in booklet form so I can refer to them whenever I feel like it, but for the most part I just devote two hours on Sunday to bulk cooking and an hour or two each day to following through with the workouts. No more worries about junk food at work (like the Valentine cupcakes and cinnamon rolls near my desk today) and calculating whether I can have some if I cut out one of my regular meals. If it’s not on the plan, I just don’t eat it.

I do realize that this lack of variety and strict adherence to very specific macros and calorie totals isn’t sustainable as a permanent lifestyle, at least not one that I would find enjoyable. However, I CAN do this for the 12 weeks in order to reach a specific goal.

And trust me–I *will*.

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2/13/06 Report
(*Diet and workout details omitted by agreement with trainer)
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Nutrition:

Meals - On plan
Water - 16 cups

Regular (Non-Plan) Daily Supplements - multivitamin with iron, calcium 600 + D

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Workout:

Weights - Done
Cardio - Done

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The Awful Truth:
1. Nothing!

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Brownie Points:
1. Did cardio right after work before going home and vegetating.

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Short-term Goals:
1. Work on paper doll sketches.
2. Fix remaining issues with Joomla migration at Pinkdumbbells.com.
3. Locate new Events module for PDB.
4. Upgrade Community Builder component at PDB.
5. Set up archived version of The Training Journal forum at PDB from Hershey Girl’s backup.
6. Upgrade Wordpress to 2.0.
7. Finish veggie planting and put in flowers.