Day 2 - Fast Day

Weight: 185.0
Change: -1.0

Hmm, maybe I should lie around like a walrus and mindlessly eat whatever I want more often!! Ha ha. Or not. I have no explanation for why I'm down today; I certainly don't feel any lighter. But, since today is fasting day, I fully expect to be feeling lighter by tonight!

So, Fast Day! This is the first of 4 fast days in the 14-day cycle. The Boss says to take .15g per lb of bodyweight of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA's) divided into six doses today. This is supposed to preserve lean muscle mass and keep the body burning fat as its prime fuel source. For me that means I need 29g (185 x 0.15) which I'll round up to 30, divided into six 5g servings throughout the day. Otherwise, I'm limited to water (and lots of it), tea, and black coffee.

 I love coffee. It is my very best friend first thing in the morning. But...have you ever gotten together with your best friend and had the feeling that they're kind of pissed at you? And you ask them if everything's okay and they say "oh yeah, fine" in such a way that you KNOW that everything is not fine but they won't tell you what's up? And you go home afterward kind of irritated yourself?

That's what drinking black coffee is like, as far as I'm concerned. I've tried to like it, really I have, but it's just not the same. Coffee needs cream (or milk, or whatever). Therefore, I think while I'm on this plan I will have to part ways with my favorite morning vice. Argh.

Workout plan for today is high-intensity interval training in the morning (10 rounds of a1:1 work to rest ratio) then 30 minutes of moderate cardio in the evening. I had originally planned to take my kids out to the park and do some hill sprints, but my dear sweet little contrarians would have none of that...and I really didn't feel compelled to argue with them since it IS the last day of summer vacation.  So I did what any normal, balanced woman would do: I took a pair of 15lb dumbells out to the back yard and did man-makers! 5 as fast as I could, then one minute off for ten rounds. By the 10th round I looked like someone dumped a bucket of water on me so I'd say it was effective! More effective, even, than sprinting - to the point where I think that's going to be my HIIT modality for the duration of the program. If you've never done them, check out the link:

Man Makers

This afternoon I took my kids to Symphony Under the Sky at Hawrelak Park, where my resolution met it's first big challenge...and seriously, I was doing great up until then; wasn't even hungry or really thinking about food...until we found a place to sit. 10 feet from the mini-donut and elephant ear tent. Next to that tent was the concession where they were making kettle corn. I did a lot of arguing with myself in my head, but iron will prevailed! Yes!

After we got home, I put supper in the oven and headed out for workout 2; a 30-minute run at 80% of my maximum capacity.

I tell ya, 80% of my maximum wasn't much after fasting for 24 hours. I dragged my sorry carcass along for a paltry 4.5km before the nice robotic voice in my Runtastic app told me it was time to quit.

All in all today hasn't been too bad. I've done some experimenting with intermittent fasting before, so I knew I could get through this first day. Tomorrow will be a bigger challenge. Bring it, I say!