Less energy today

Don't know why. I anticipated my run as being a good workout: Saturday, long sleep, a couple of hours after getting out of bed, plenty of coffee and even a bite of cheese. But it was hard hard work. I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted, though I did stretch to do more than yesterday. Sort of.

And I'm not feeling the happy energetic glow from it either, not like yesterday. More tired than glowing. I sat afterwards and I did some mindful breathing for just a few minutes. I think I could have fallen asleep, though I didn't.

So is it because of lingering bad teen feelings? Or a long but not restful sleep? (these things are probably related.). Or maybe I just need more recovery time? All possibilities.


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Really Good Today

Put on the bra right away even though I was thinking I don't feel like running today. Then I ran, and the good feelings lasted until I just took a glorious walk at lunch.

There is a gnawing, a lack of satiety, feeling like I'm missing something. This is the flip side of the over-full sense of completeness after a big bowl of pasta. Except that at this instant my stomach is quite full from my lunch salad.

Last night I was restless and wanting chocolate or ice cream. I got into bed and got a tip on a new exercise book from KCF, and that took care of my need to consume.


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Hanging in there

I analyzed all the foods in detail from my first two days of "Atkins Phase 1" where my net carbs were still over the target 20 grams. I need to eat plain meat, no gravy or sauces, and stick with the leafy vegetables. The treat foods, from categories allowed, need to be severely restricted in portion size. So broccoli with sour cream and Parmesan, creamed to a lovely mouth feel, should be cut off at half a cup, not the two cups I wanted to gorge on.

But meat! During this phase, I can have as much as I want. I'm trying to make protein bigger than fat, which means more fish and poultry, less beef. The guideline is 6 ounces per each of three meals, which is bigger portions than I am used to, especially at breakfast. But better to eat more turkey breast than to have more cauliflower.

I have been skating on the edge of Atkins malaise. Lots of water, eat meat when hungry, nibble on a little bit of salt. Not feeling too bad. Lower energy at lunch partly due to heat.


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Better today

Some reduced energy today, but right now not the malaise of full Atkins flu. I ate ravenously my lunch. I went out at noon, to take a walk, and wimped out based on energy, the heat of the day, and hunger. I stopped to buy a Greek salad and my favorite avocado and artichoke in vinaigrette salad. AFTER I bought it I checked its numbers on MyFitnessPal and it definitely put me over carbs for the day. I dialed back how much of it I ate. My big lesson yesterday was I should eat more protein and fewer vegetables. The raw carrots I voraciously consumed in the car driving home yesterday had many carbs for few fibers.

So today's afternoon snack is cheese. I had roast chicken for breakfast. I had few calories yesterday, but definitely need to up the protein without upping the fat.

Here are the numbers from yesterday. At least I got fat to less than 50%! But carbs should be closer to 10% than 20%.



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Atkins Flu?

Day two, and feeling crummy? This is awfully quick!

I felt great this morning at the gym, still full of yesterday's optimism. But mid morning, I got a queasy almost pain in my stomach. Almost a headache, and a loss of focus.

I drank some water and ate some salt. Now I'm eating my lunch a bit early, steak and salad. Suddenly famished, but something in the salad or dressing has an off putting moldy overtone. Maybe the mushrooms?

I assume eating will help a lot. More later.


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Capital Crescent

In the spirit of making lemonade, I escaped the hospital for an hour and headed downhill. With incredible luck I found an access point for the Capital Crescent trail, an off road paved hike-bike trail that runs from Georgetown to Bethesda. Filled with mostly bicycles roaring in both directions, but a pleasant walk with a view of some wild flowers. Then back through a cute but obviously tony neighborhood wedged in between MacArthur Boulevard and Clara Barton Parkway. Nearly four miles round trip.


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Out of the Fog

I woke up feeling good this morning - the first time in a very long time. Was it the sun and exercise yesterday?  The extra two hours sleep I got Saturday and Sunday mornings?

I need to clarify "good" - my knees, my back, my hand, my stomach, my head - they all hurt. I'm a bundle of breaking down body parts. But I feel - optimistic? As I rolled out of bed, I didn't need to rush to the coffee - my morning mental fog was missing. At the gym, I felt strong and like pushing myself, instead of just going through the motions.

Whatever it is, I would like it to stay.