Back on the weightloss wagon
You may or may not have noticed (and if you did you’ve been very kind and not mentioned it) that I’ve stopped blogging about my weight.
When a blogger who normally reports on his/her weight goes quiet about it that’s normally a sign that the scale has been going up. I’m no exception unfortunately. Since mid March this year I’ve been quietly gaining weight. I started off by justifying it through my running – I was training for a marathon and pretty hungry. Soon I was eating more that I could really justify even though I was running a lot. The funny thing about eating wrong is that it is really easy to do, especially when you are training quite hard too.
I saw a great post on Get Fit Slowly by Mac which had the line
Focus on the good and don’t get hung up on the bad.
If I look at the good I’ve got my exercise mojo going strong. I lost it for a while just before my marathon (of all places and times!) and it took me a while to get back in the groove. I’ve been really loving my running again and I think I tried to do too much too fast with my first marathon. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I’m really glad I did it but if I had to do it again I’d train quite differently. And I am now that I think about it!
The bad has been that my eating has been a bit off. It’s not a big fix really. 90% of my eating is very healthy – I’m just eating way too much of my healthy food and I need to control my portions a bit more.
I’m also going to start weighing in everyday again. I think this is crucial and I know that when I don’t do it I gain weight.
That first large red spike was my half marathon in late Feb and it seems to have been pretty much all uphill from there on. Oh well, I know what I need to do and I’m going to do it. Thanks for bearing with me!
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I’m with you on that, I need my scales otherwise I go way off track.
Andrew(AJH)´s last blog ..Household duties
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Hi Andrew,
Don’t worry about falling back on old eating habits, it has happened to all of us. The important thing is to pick yourself up and move on to better things.
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Good to hear you are back on track, and I’m sure you will be very successful. Also, it’s reassuring to read about your first marathon training experience – too much, too soon. I was on that road and have decided to drop to the half, leaving the full for sometime next year. I think, like you, I’d rather finish happy and strong, without losing my training mojo, as you say.
To answer you question from my last post, a “twoonie” is the nick name for the Canadian $2 coin. It comes from the fact that our $1 coin, which came first, is called a “loonie” because it has an image of a common loon on it. If you google an image of it you will also see that the twoonie is a bit weird in that it has two types of metal: a nickel outer ring and a copper inner circle. The first batch of these were made rather poorly and people could pop the middle right out! That has since been fixed…
Vava´s last blog ..They Call it Stormy Tuesday
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Andrew
reply on August 6th, 2009 11:47 am:
It would be handy to carry your cash around your neck! Pop those middles out!
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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I have never been one for the scale. My weight tend to fluctuate so much over a couple of days and I was putting too much emphasis on the ups and downs. I know just judge my progress by the way my clothes fit. I still weigh myself but only about once a month.
Best of luck on the renewed journey.
Tyson´s last blog ..My Weekend Fast
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The good news is that you know what works for you now and what doesn’t. I’d bet on you, but I suspect there wouldn’t be a soul who would bet against you.

Cammy@TheTippyToeDiet´s last blog ..1800 Miles Later
Twitter: tippytoediet
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I like the scale just because it keeps me focused on my goal. I know that my weight will fluctuate around a lot, but it is that constant reminder of what I am trying to achieve over the long term.
Jeremy´s last blog ..The Digital Weight Loss & Fitness Weekly Roundup – August 3, 2009
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Can’t recommend daily weighings highly enough – be at least honest with yourself, even if your not posting publicly about it.
Chris´s last blog ..July update
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Andrew – Thanks for being honest – I needed that as I am sitting here wondering some of the same things. My eating has been off a bit lately as well and I am trying to reel it back in.
Keep up the good work!
Tim Wilson´s last blog ..A trip, and a fall….. but my own shoe laces?
Twitter: virtual4now
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I am finding that trying to lose weight on a marathon training program is quite difficult.
Very easy to get the portion control wrong especially after a long run.
Hope the daily weigh-in helps.
Aaron´s last blog ..On Location in Taupo
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From what I’ve read, and from personal experience, it’s really hard NOT to put on weight when training for a first marathon. I found that I was getting tired to the point where I stopped caring about what I was eating. Now the marathon’s over I’m eating healthily, but the choices that I’m making are just ever so slightly higher in calories, so that I’m sitting around 2-3 kilos heavier than I’d really like. On someone my height those kilos do make a difference!
Good luck with getting everything back under control again. I’ll be trying to do the same …
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Eating is the catch-22 of exercise. I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard people say “…if only I could start exercising to lose weight…” Those of use who’ve suffered through that misconception understand though…
The good thing is that you watch it, so you know its time to get back on board.
Greg at Live Fit´s last blog ..The Definitive Guide To Vitamin D Levels
Twitter: livefitblog
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I am so guilty of this, been avoiding my blog and scales like the plague, this has made me snap out of it. Thanks Andrew!
abimars´s last blog ..I so love her!!!
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my sister is a big marathon runner and always laments her love of the run is replaced by the loathe of the weight gain during training.
then I drag her back to the dark side, errrrrrrrrr, the weight room with me.
MizFit´s last blog ..How to START working out: 5 steps to success.
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I’m sure we’ll start to see that trend line dip downwards now that you’ve blogged about it. Blogging seems to hold us to these things.
Bruce´s last blog ..2009 Training log
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I’m still around! I’m still keeping up with you, too!!!
I hope you haven’t forgotten about me!
I Am A Bigger Loser´s last blog ..Has it really been this long since I blogged?
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Hey Andrew:
Glad to see you’re doing well. I hope the momentum continues. Thanks for supporting my blog. Now that I’m back as well, I plan on being a better contributor to others’ blogs as well…Mac
mac´s last blog ..Gadget Guy Goes Running
Twitter: fitmacdaddy
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Hi Andrew,
I also find it very difficult not to gain weight when training for a race. I always seem to overcompensate for energy needs. I have started training for my first marathon next year and have been to see a sports dietician. I am really hoping that this will stop me from putting on too much weight in my preparation!!
Keep us informed about how you are going.
Gillian
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Sounds like you’re being smart about it. Weighing in everyday is, I think, one of the smartest things to do. Helped me so much a few years ago when I was knocking off too many pounds.
Marathons help, too.

Scott Keeps Running´s last blog ..Have Trails, Will Run
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I pretty much stay away from the weight issue. I weigh myself once a week and I’m always 10 pounds from where I want, and I’ve settled into being OK with it. And with training, it’s not going to come off b/c I need the fuel. I’ve also avoided weighing every day or more than once/twice a week because food is heavy. A steak for dinner can throw things off for a day or two when in fact you haven’t gained weight. But do what you need to do and good luck with it!
David H.´s last blog ..Thinking … about nothing
Twitter: runningbecause
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I didn’t want to acknowledge it, until you put it in black and white:
“When a blogger who normally reports on his/her weight goes quiet about it that’s normally a sign that the scale has been going up.”
I got quiet, too, but I am ready to get back on track. I definitely want to “focus on the good and don’t get hung up on the bad.” I just have to make sure I don’t let many more bad things happen!
Derek´s last blog ..Three Key Daily Goals to Start Losing Weight Again
Twitter: DerekSchwandt
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You are absolutely right about those bloggers (me) who don’t mention their weight for a long time being on an up swing.
TB–Milwaukee´s last blog ..What’s on your stick?
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Defenitely a struggle keeping out of the cookie jar after putting in a long workout. I’ve seen the very same thing and have struggled with it.
Way to hold yourself accountable, Andrew.
Jeff´s last blog ..Let Me Tell You About Some Friends
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