I Could Eat a Whole Cow

Jog/Walk/Swim 22/09/2011 05:23 AM  click this link to check out my fitness results from this morning's workout.

My gadget is so far working perfectly. But the greatest difference is how motivated I feel to work out.  You see, when the results are continuously displayed on your wrist watch you can tell whether you are playing around or you are actually working out.

For the last 3 days I have had my Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor, I have managed to burn more than 700 calories per each training session. I am able to tell whether I am in the fat burn or fitness range. It shows my calories and heart rate and stores this data for future reference. Just what I wanted. For a long time now I jog and walk each morning. I have lost more than 26 kilos in a period of one year. But for the last almost 3 and a half months, I have been at a plateau. Despite the workouts, increased intensity and sticking with my food intake, the scale does not budge. I'll decrease one kilo one time and add it right back. Well, this can be quite depressing but my nutritionist Alice Ojwang-Ndong says it is normal after huge weight loses and that I should stick with my routines. I feel like I'm working towards nothing, but I will not give up and keep at it. In addition, Alice says I add variety to my workouts which I have. I do long runs and walks on Saturday mornings but my friend and gym-mate Njeri Wathoa has been bugging me to try add swimming to the workouts.

I haven't swam for fitness in about two years. I took a break from the pool after suffering a double arm dislocation [the wrist and elbow] and nerve injury from a bathroom fall now two years ago. My orthopedic surgeon banned me from swimming until I'd properly healed. With all clearance from the doctor, this past Saturday was a good opportunity for me to try my skill on a 30 meter pool. I did an easy 45 minute swim and promised myself to pick it up properly in two days. Well I've now swam for 4 days and boy what a workout! I'd forgotten how effective swimming can be. 

The trouble is that since Monday of this week, I have been so hungry after my routines that I feel like I could eat a whole cow! But the funny part is when my Nutritionist Alice says "no darling, you can have a goat instead" and Njeri says "or a ram!" With friends like these, who needs an enemy? The positive aspect of this is that my metabolism is through the roof and I have done everything in my power to stick to my food intake. I have had a tempestuous relationship with mandazi and cake over the years and what better time for these  two characters to try raise their ugly heads! But I've learnt to suppress my feelings towards these two former friends. Spinach, Ugali and beef in the morning is good for me.

I am looking forward to swimming for a while and let's see whether this plateau curse will be broken. If you have any other great tips on how to break it, do let me know please :( Until then, I've gone to look for a goat Alice!

Good day

Dama