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Mrs. 1500’s Half Marathon – Episode 5: Thanksgiving Fallout

November 28, 2018 by Mrs. 1500 17 Comments

To read this journey from the beginning, go to the first post.

Hi there, Mrs. 1500 today, the day that %$*@# gets real.

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving. Gobble Gobble.

And gobble gobble I did. I woke up the day after Thanksgiving weighing more than I did at the start of this journey. #winning

The weight fell off, came back, fell off again over the week. This sucks monkey balls.

When I Was Young…

Growing up, I was the small kid. Not tall, not fat. On the smaller side of average. Throughout high school and college, I was 125-135. I had my “fat shorts” that gauged my weight for me. When they got tight, I laid off the sweets. When they were really loose, I ate whatever I wanted. But I was always small.

…Then I Got Older

I’m not all that tall in grownup life either. Once I stopped working as a waitress and started sitting down all day long, I started gaining weight. Not too much in the beginning, but after my first child, things really picked up. I hadn’t lost all the first-baby weight when I got pregnant with baby number 2. I still have 30 pounds to lose from baby #2. She just turned 9, so it’s going pretty slow…

But like a person who’s grown up fat all their lives then loses weight, they still feel like the fat kid. I grew up thin my whole life, and gained a bunch of weight, but I still feel like the thin kid – until I step on the scale or see a picture of myself. Which means I eat like the thin kid who never gains weight.

Before this public announcement, I would ignore my weight when I had been naughty – eating birthday cake at work, Halloween candy at work or home, or drinking several delicious chocolate or peanut butter stouts over the weekend. I don’t have to look at my weight if I don’t weigh myself every day.

It’s NOT Just a Number

And before we go down the path of “It’s only a number” and “Your weight doesn’t define you” my weight is definitely NOT healthy or anything close to healthy. I need to lose 50 pounds. For my health. For my mental health, too.

50 pounds. That is a LOT of weight. It didn’t gather around my midsection at one time, it won’t leave my midsection at one time, either. I know that. But there is a BIG difference between typing it in and believing it. Or accepting it.

It doesn’t help that everyone I work with is younger than me – and in much better shape. There are only two people who weigh more than I do, one is a 6’4″ bodybuilder, the other is a 6’2″ 28-year-old athlete who eats like a horse and never gains weight.

I’ve got my 10K app to get me in shape to lead into my half marathon app, which will get me ready to run my half marathon. I’ve read (horror) stories about how training for a run can actually cause you to gain weight. I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I’ve also never trained for a run like this. I guess I can only say “I hope this doesn’t happen.”

I DID go on a cross-country bike ride in 1999 and came back heavier than when I left. Because you “need” to eat 7,000 calories per day to keep your strength up. 7,000 calories a day if you’re riding the Tour de France, maybe. I was not riding at that level.

Losing weight post-40 is hard. Losing focus and motivation, however, is SUPER EASY.

My timing super-sucks.

Tomorrow is Mr. 1500’s birthday.

More cake.

Mr. 1500 note: There will be no cake. My wife’s well being is infinitely more important than a stupid birthday tradition.

The Stats

  • Weight: 179.6 (down 1.0 overall but up .8 from last week. Not shocking, really.)
  • Workouts Complete: 15
  • Workouts Enjoyed: 0

This week I’m concentrating on vegetables and protein. Significantly reduced calories from last week. We’ll see how it goes. Fingers crossed for a better weigh-in next Wednesday.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dave @ Accidental FIRE says

    November 28, 2018 at 4:27 am

    The struggle is real Mindy, I’m that fat kid that you mentioned who got thin, but always considers himself a fat kid. But to stay thin I have to constantly work at it. Constantly. Over time I’ve learned to love the exercise part, I love to ride my bike and run and climb. Of course the hard part is the “not eating all the things” part.

    You’re really brave for putting yourself out like this, and it will no doubt help you reach your goal. Accountability it really good thing. Best of luck, you’ll crush it!

    Reply
    • mrs. 1500 says

      November 28, 2018 at 10:21 am

      Yeah, that “not eating all the things” part really is difficult. I’m also not yet to the “loving to work out” section of this journey, either. Definitely have reached the “I am no longer happy with the way things are and embracing the need for change” part.

      Reply
  2. freddy smidlap says

    November 28, 2018 at 6:47 am

    i’m with you in the former skinny kid/still thinks like a skinny kid thing. i weighed 140 at this height in my 20’s. i weigh 200 now. i don’t feel 60 pounds overweight but getting rid of 25 would be a bonus. i just turned fiddy this year. i think the biggest truth you wrote was that the gain didn’t come all of the sudden and won’t go away in a week or two either. good luck with the training.
    freddy smidlap recently posted…Not All Time Is Created EqualMy Profile

    Reply
    • mrs. 1500 says

      November 28, 2018 at 10:23 am

      Yeah, I’m super impatient. But then again, who isn’t when it comes to weight-loss? One of my favorite commercials ever is the guy at the gym who weighs himself, runs in a quick circle, then goes back and weighs himself again. Totally me.

      Reply
  3. Brian @ The Graying Saver says

    November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Have you thought about trying intermittent fasting? There are lots of different methods. Maybe check out Jason Fung’s book – The Complete Guide to Fasting. You may lose the weight through running, but if you don’t enjoy the workouts will the weight stay off? I’m doing the 16/8 intermittent fasting. I try to fast for 16 hours of the day and limit eating to about 8 hours. It’s not as bad as it sounds, but I’m not as compliant as I’d like to be. My main reason for trying fasting is to keep diabetes at bay. I’m down to a scrawny-looking 145lbs but my A1C is still 5.8 – 5.9. Diabetes is anything above 6.4.

    Reply
    • mrs. 1500 says

      November 28, 2018 at 10:24 am

      I am doing this too! Aiming for 16/8 but I’ve just started so it’s more like 14/10. Still, a better option than what I’ve been doing, which was 0/24.

      Reply
      • Cindy says

        November 28, 2018 at 10:53 am

        You should be proud of having made the decision to change, Mindy! Getting started is often the hardest step and you are well on your way to forming new habits. I’m excited for you and this journey you are on!

        I also second the Dr Jason Fung recommendation and intermittent fasting. I saw him speak in Vegas. He’s hilarious! … and Canadian ? You are totally on the right track for doing 16/8. We can chat more on this if you and Carl are interested. Or if nothing else, text me when the hangries hit lol! You can do this! ??????

        Reply
        • Mr. 1500 Days says

          November 28, 2018 at 11:02 am

          Yes, we still need to have that phone call. Maybe Sunday???

          Reply
        • mrs. 1500 says

          November 28, 2018 at 1:18 pm

          “text me when the hangries hit” Those are words you’ll regret.
          Thanks for the words of encouragement, Cindy. This time feels different.
          mrs. 1500 recently posted…Mrs. 1500’s Half Marathon – Episode 5: Thanksgiving FalloutMy Profile

          Reply
  4. Kristen says

    November 28, 2018 at 11:20 am

    One thing that’s really helped me is food and activity tracking. It’s a lot like tracking income and expenditures actually! I use MyFitnessPal, and I know there are several similar apps available.

    Reply
    • Mrs. 1500 says

      November 28, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      This is actually one of the most effective ways to know how much I’m eating – and also kind of depressing to see how easy it is to eat thousands of extra calories every day.

      Reply
      • Elyse says

        November 29, 2018 at 10:25 am

        I use My Fitness Pal as well and it helped me lose 25 lbs a couple of years ago. I put 5 back on, but now i fluxuate around that weight give or take 5 lbs depending on my willpower.

        I do find when I’m not eating sweets, I don’t crave sweets. But if I start to “cheat” then i start craving more and more sweets until I need to reset.

        The app won’t do the work, but it helps to keep track for my reset weeks when i start trying to eat healthier. All the good food is so high in calories, so the only way I’m able to rein it in is to track.

        Reply
  5. Cathleen says

    November 28, 2018 at 1:41 pm

    As I am reading this, I just finished a butterscotch cookie (homemade, with less butter and waaaay less sugar, and with bananas, but still, a cookie). Got up to get another cookie, then realized: holy shit, I’m not hungry. I’m just bored. (also weigh much more than I “should” according to the BMI- which i call the “bullshit mass index”). I exercise (but enjoy the workouts, since I’m not running), but my food intake is ridiculous. Imagine all the money we could save if we stopped snacking! Or only ate snacks we made ourselves (cookies, for example, or homemade chips). Oh, this was supposed to be an encouraging comment: go you! Yay for exercising! Plan ahead and have snacks that are healthy(er) to have instead of junk food.
    Cathleen recently posted…6 life and money lessons learned from my 95 year old neighbor: Part 2My Profile

    Reply
    • Mrs. 1500 says

      November 28, 2018 at 2:12 pm

      I had this very same comment to Mr. 1500 last night. I don’t eat because I’m hungry. I eat because I’m bored. It’s so easy to shovel the food in. I used to smoke quite heavily (18 years ago) and mainly for something to do with my hands. Maybe I should take up knitting?

      Reply
  6. Kelly says

    November 28, 2018 at 8:27 pm

    I can defintaely relate!!! A couple of things that have helped me are doing a small set of exercises each day during the week. I do them quickly in my PJs (so changing clothes doesn’t become a reason to not do the workouts). I’ll do 20 arm, leg and core exercises each day. Then by the end of the week, I will have done 100 of each. Little changes make a difference and it’s an easy ‘win’. I’ve also benefited from The Life Coach School’s podcast on overeating and the compound effect.

    Keep up the hard work! You’re doing great!

    Reply
    • Mrs. 1500 says

      November 29, 2018 at 7:54 am

      Thanks for these tips, Kelly. I like the idea of doing a few every day.

      Reply
  7. JRobi says

    November 29, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    You’re crushing it just by moving forward everyday. Keep up the great work!

    “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson

    Reply

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My goal was to build a portfolio of $1,000,000 by February of 2017; 1500 days from the birth of this blog (January 1, 2013). And hey look, I’ve since retired!

Investments only (primary home excluded)
1/1/13 (The Start): $586,043
1/1/14 (1 Yr Later): $869,635
1/1/15 (2 Yrs Later): $987,351
1/1/16 (3 Yrs Later): $1,057,961
1/1/17 (4 Yrs Later): $1,257,128
1/1/18 (5 Yrs Later): $1,527,701
1/1/19 (6 Yrs Later): $1,549,440
1/1/20 (7 Yrs Later): $2,035,040*
1/1/21 (8 Yrs Later): $3,379,746**
1/1/22 (9 Yrs Later): $4,762,642
1/1/23 (10 Yrs Later): $3,112,821

2023: Investments only
1/1: $3,112,821
2/1: $3,582,368
3/1: $3,716,852
4/1: $3,861,599
5/1: $3,694,445
6/1: $4,089,141
7/1: $4,384,858
8/1: $4,539,865
9/1: $4,468,622

Gains: $1,355,801

Overall
Gains since 1/1/2013: $3,882,579
Net worth***: $4,698,622

* The big jump between 2019 and 2020 was partly because we bought another home, but kept the previous (much more expensive) one as a rental. We have since sold it.

** Tesla.

*** Includes our primary home equity in addition to our investment portfolio.

Finally, we still have about $290,000 in mortgage debt (which I love!). No regrets about the debts!

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