Taking the Reins

So, the triathlon off-season is one week away and already I’ve got my eyes on getting back to my WW meetings.  Getting these last ten pounds off of my frame (should I say, pudgy midsection?!) will not only relieve some of the strain on my aching knees, but hopefully should make me a little bit faster! 

I don’t know if you all recall this, but way back in June I got off the couch and joined a triathlon training program.  I’ve since become horribly addicted, and now all I can think about are races I want to do or different ways to pick up more speed.  It’s insane.  But I left some things unfinished in my weight loss.  I have added muscle, true, but the same fat around my belly remains.  Since you can’t train for triathlons and purposely lose weight (I was feeling faint and unenergetic), the belly fat has just sort of hung around.  At one point I was okay with it, but then I got some back pain and I’m back to zero tolerance!

The off-season is a beautiful thing, as it appears triathletes don’t really rest…..they just pick different activities that may help them during the race year.  Yoga, for flexibility and a clear head.  Pilates, for building a strong core that will drive all three of your events.  Mountain biking, to work on those hills and build big quads!   And of course, weight loss — for more speed…….

So with that in mind, I’ve started to read everyones’ blogs again to get me back in the mood.  It’ll be extra tough this time around, because I’ll be going from 30 points a day back down to 22, with my exercise returning to more moderate activity, and I know what I can eat to just “maintain.”  Yet I am going to attempt to attack the off-season with discipline and try to once and for all kiss this pudge goodbye.

Next season.  Watch out!