I spent this week failing to cope with routine changes and stress #Lessonslearned

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

When I started the week I had a simple plan. I was going to change up my running schedule so that I could have an easy day on Saturdays so I could start getting Jimmy back out running, in preparation for entering him in some races. I also had some diet ground to make up as what should have been a single splurge meal turned into a virtual splurge weekend. But all of that seemed pretty easy to handle, little did I know what threats were out there laying in wait for me.

First, kids got sick. Jimmy was sick for 3 days, starting with leaving school early on Monday and continuing until today. Danny was under the weather on Tuesday so I ended up taking a half day from work to care for the 2 of them. That really threw me for a loop, disrupting my routine. And I am just now realizing how much it affects me when Jimmy gets sick like this. He is normally such a rock, and I do depend on him to lead in the mornings, and when that isn't there, combined with worrying about him, just adds a level of stress.

Second, the weather. I was planning on running Tuesday morning, despite having run on Monday, because I wanted to adjust to the new routine. And I was ready to run in snow, I even got out there and started my warm up walk around the block. But, the snow was unusually wet and thick and quickly gathered on my feet like a layer of thick mud. Which wasn't very good running conditions so I surrendered and went home. I then  went out today on my scheduled run, but had a pretty weak run. Partially because people just need to shovel their damn sidewalks! Some times it is just flat dangerous to try and run on the side walks. Which threw off any attempts I made to get into a good rhythm.

Third, all of this stress from the kids being sick, and disruptions in routine led to my falling back into some bad eating habits. And eating too much, and the wrong things at the wrong times. So, in addition to the ice every where this morning my stomach was pretty queasy, taking away some of my energy I needed for my run.

Here is what I learned, or already know. A) None of this is fatal, it's not like having a bad week with a few bad meals and/or poor runs will result in my eternal demise. B) I really need to keep after the Skinny Rules habits, so that when disruptions like this occur the good habits are so built in that I won't fall back into the bad habits so easily. C) All of the above is also why I need to achieve my goals, because it's a heck of a lot easier to recover when you are at your goal weight, there's more of a cushion for a bad week. D) In addition to sticking to the good exercise and eating routines I really need to focus on handling stress better.

1/4 of the way there, survived some challenges over the weekend

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

I can say I am about a quarter of the way to my goal weight, having lost about 11 pounds since the beginning of the year. I can honestly say that I am beginning to really settle into a good groove with the changed eating habits.

I had some challenges this weekend. First, I ended up not running at all. I didn't run Saturday morning because Kim worked an overnight and I wanted to be sure to be home so the kids would not bother her while she tried to sleep. And Sunday I just decided to get the additional day of rest. But that was okay, because I was up and at it today, feeling the advantage of fresh legs.

Second, we had an unexpected visit from some family on Saturday which resulted in a mid afternoon visit to one of our favorite restaurants. Which presented a huge temptation to just blow off the good habits. But I held off, and kept to the good practices that I have been following.

Third, between work and a meeting Kim was basically not home at all on Sunday and I had an afternoon of uninterrupted football watching. But I held firm to the best practices and didn't overindulge, which is my normal habit when I am sitting at home at meal time with nothing to do.

And in the end it all paid off. I am starting to get pretty excited. Of course this week will present some new challenges with 2 planned meals out to watch out for. But I am feeling that the good habits are slowly settling into place.

Halfway through, it's been a successful month.

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

I started the new year with purpose, not so much resolutions as using the mental break of the calendar as a marking point. My plan was to start a new training plan, this time a Half marathon plan, which should have me at that condition by May. Second, Kim & I returned to the Skinny Rules, this time not trying to drag the kids along with us. And I have also tried to turn over a new leaf at work as well, cutting down on the distractions and focusing more.

Half way through the month I am successful on all fronts. My training plan is going well (despite cutting today short due to some muscle strain, and having to run in snow and single digit temperatures.) Our eating has improved, and I think we are on a course that we can maintain. And work has really improved.

Of course it is only half way through the month, and there is a long way to go in making each change a habit. Generally the theory goes that it takes 30 day of doing something for it to become a habit. So that is my first real goal: stick to the changes in routine and eating practices until they become a habit. I know at this point that running has become a habit. When I miss a couple of days I really feel it, physically and psychically. So for that it is just a matter of working on my building blocks: complete each training run as designed, knowing that they are the building blocks that allow me to build myself back into half marathon condition. And then follow the new eating practices long enough that they become the habit, hopefully breaking myself free from some of my previous bad habits.

Hi, my name is Mike (w/ apologies to those with bigger problems)

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

I am a junk food addict. That's just a fact, if I have the option I will eat food that isn't good for me. It takes great self control on my part to not do so when that option is available. After a year and half of fooling myself that my running allowed me to eat whatever I want I have to face the truth that it doesn't.

With the new year we have undertaken a plan to adhere more strongly to the Skinny Rules. Although this time the emphasis is more on sticking to the spirit of the rules. But being more realistic when it comes to meal planning. The reality is that our kids generally eat alright, aside from when we eat fast food. And we need to make our menus with an option for them and for us so there is no expectation that they eat everything we make. Because they need to eat things like carbs after lunch etc. which we can't do. Really, with the exception of breaking the cycle of fast food there shouldn't be much of a change for the kids, other than there should be some better options available to them.

Really I think that if I really focus on 3 rules:

1. No Fast food or fried foods

2. No Carbs after lunch

3. Go to bed hungry

That should make the biggest difference. And I do plan to step up the running this year, trying to train for longer distances. Not to say I will ignore the other rules, in fact I already follow some of them anyway. It's just those 3 are really my biggest downfall.

That's our pledge and goal. I am hoping that with the end of the holiday season and a regular schedule this should be easier for us to stick to than our last attempt. It was pretty hard to take up those new habits during the summer when life was considerably more chaotic.