Here’s the scenario: I exercised 7/7 days this week – 6 runs + 1 bike ride.
- Monday: 37-min. run [~4 mi.]
- Tuesday: 57-min. run [~6 mi.]
- Wednesday: 46-min. run [~5 mi.]
- Thursday: 64-min. run [~7 mi.]
- Friday: 17+ mile bike ride
- Saturday: 85-min. run [~9 mi.]
- Sunday: 59-min. run [~6 mi.]
I weighed myself Monday morning. I weighed myself Sunday morning… the number on the scale increased by exactly 2.0 pounds. Ugh! Frustrating sigh. I don’t only exercise to stay healthy, fit, and trim… I do it because I love it; but, it’s terribly frustrating when after a week of consistent activity, you see reverse results. I felt as though I ate a fairly standard diet this week, minus Tuesday’s indulgent farewell food. I am a bit puzzled. [If you try to tell me it’s all muscle weight, I won’t believe you.] That being said, I’m in a bit of a bitter mood. Heck… clearly exercise is not the answer to a sleeker, summer body. Maybe this week I’ll just be a lazy couch potato computer bum : )
- Am I being silly, or would this irritate you too?
- Do you use a scale? If so, how often do you weigh yourself?
* * *
Rant over. Time for some food photos!
After my 9-mile run yesterday morning, I thought peanut butter pancakes were necessary [ok, so maybe these contributed to the higher number… but… but, I ran 9 miles!]. Plus, I had never made PB pancakes before. Have you?
Minus a few scorched semisweet chocolate chippers, I gobbled them up as fast my runner’s hunger could.
Post-Running PB Pancakes
- 1 c. whole wheat flour
- 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. creamy p.nut buttah
- 2 T sugar
- 2 T canola oil
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 c. 1% milk – add less or more for preferred consistency
Combine first three ingredients in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, mix peanut butter, sugar and oil together until smooth. Add egg and milk – whisk until combined. Add wet ingredients to flour and stir together, minimally. [Add more milk here if desired.]
Cook 1/4 – 1/3 c. of batter over medium heat in a buttered skillet. I highly recommend sneaking in a few chocolate chips as they sizzle. Flip for a couple minutes more. Then layer pancakes with sliced bananas. Decorate with a few more bits of chocolate and golden maple syrup.
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Have you tried coconut milk ice cream?
Another first for me. I really enjoyed it… and dare I say too rich for my intense sweet tooth? I was impressed by the simple ingredient list, and how the nutritional stats compared to regular ice cream. It paired quite nicely with an apricot-coconut-walnut-oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.
* * *
Today, after my 6-mile run, I thought a red, white and blue breakfast would only be appropriate. I made a double batch of steel cut oats for me and my Dad, who had just finished another bike ride.
A healthy start to the 4th day of July:
- 2 c. water
- 3/4 c. steel cut oats
- 2 T flax
- organic red & blue berries
- white 1% milk
Naked oats.
Dressed in white.
Then I went grocery shopping for the week at our local co-op/health food heaven – you don’t have to pull my arm ; ) I made a quick lunch with a few new finds and the last of the edamame arugula spread, and enjoyed it in our sunny backyard – could I go as far as saying it was w.a.r.m. today! I didn’t think we’d see the day.
I spy baby blueberries.
Our summer lettuce stash – more’s a-growing.
* * *
Tonight’s dinner wasn’t traditional holiday fare, to say the least. No dogs, no beans, no beer. Instead, I made a 5 star salad with the beautiful beets I bought at yesterday’s farmers’ market.
A blue sky weekend!
Enough with the salivating on your screen already. Here is the recipe:
Peal 3 beets of different colors preferably. Place in baking dish with a generous drizzle of olive oil. Roast @ 400* until fork-tender – about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, wash and dry famers’ market greens. Then place warm beets atop a bed of lettuce with sliced red onion, crumbled herbed chevre, and chopped pistachios. Drizzle lightly with a dressing of: olive oil, balsamic, orange juice, honey, salt & pepper.
Simple. Sweet. Summery. Satisfying.
* * *
Rumor has it our small town isn’t doing a fireworks show tonight due to the expense. I hear that rumor every year, so I don’t really know if it’s true… but I’m not missing much either way. I hope you all had a colorful, healthful & HAPPY 4th day of July!
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Hillary
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:/ Don’t let it get to you! A lot depends on what time of day you weigh yourself. Lately, I’ve been weighing myself probably 4x a day just because I noticed last week that I dropped like 5lbs since I had previously weighed myself, and I was curious as to whether it was a fluke or for real. A lot has to do with water weight, too. I’ve weighed myself, peed, then weighed myself again and noticed a difference (albeit small)! Even weighing myself pre-run and post-run, there’s a difference because of the loss of water from sweating. A fluctation of 2lbs isn’t something to be worried over… the body has lots of natural fluctuations based on the things I mentioned above, and other reasons (time of the month, etc.)
No bitterness allowed! And awesome running =)
Eugene has a great local coconut milk ice cream…Coconut Bliss http://coconutbliss.com! I don’t know how they do it, but it’s always SO DELICIOUS.
Sounds like water weight to me. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
It’s only a problem if you keep gaining/if your clothes start getting too tight.
Otherwise, it’s probably a normal fluctuation. Just keep doing what you’re doing :)
Honestly, from all of that exercise it sounds like you either gained water weight or muscle. I cannot believe that it would be fat at all. I think you should take measurements of your waist and what not and determine weight loss that way.
mmm yummy pancakes!
I wouldn’t worry about it at all. Where’s the fun in life when you are worried about 2 pounds? There’s a few things that I’ve learned since spending a year in Europe. One of them is to enjoy life. You can’t enjoy life if you are counting every single calorie that you put into your mouth. Of course you are aware of it, but you need to try new things and experience different kind of food from different countries. Plus you will burn it off anyways. Hope that helps. What kind of bike do you have? I’m so looking forward to riding when I get back. I got clipless pedals last summer and can’t wait to get back into that and swimming. I’m going to do another triathlon and would eventually like to train for a half ironman. We’ll see, it takes a lot of training. I hope you are doing well! :-)
Don’t sweat it, Hillary. You’re a fit girl and there’s no need to stress about two silly pounds.
On the other hand, I would probably be upset if that were to happen to me. It is frustrating, so I can see where you’re coming from.
I personally use a scale and like to weigh myself every day. But that’s just me. I’m kind of a nerd and I like numbers.
~Amanda
I weigh myself everyday but it’s mostly because I got down to where I want to be and I just like to know that I’m still in a 2-3lb range of that – I have a good relationship with the scale these days, so I still get a kick out of seeing the number! I wouldn’t be bitter – take into consideration how your clothes feel too. I will definitely be trying out that salad this week – thanks for sharing the recipe!
Yummy eats girly!
I know a lot of towns near me were either not having fireworks or their displays got cancelled due to budget. Luckily, we still had a place to enjoy some fireworks and they were quite good.
I’m going to agree with everyone else and say that it sounds like water or muscle. Are you weighing yourself at the same time every day?
I don’t have a scale in my house… it tends to drive me crazy!
Your workouts from the week look great!
Hey Hillary!
Note that the number on a scale is never really an accurate measure when you are exercising hard AND eating well. There are SO many other factors that effect that number including: water intake, if you are on your period, the general ebbs and flow of the body and a few other things. I try not to weigh myself too much because it can be disheartening. You really should gauge your health on how you feel and how your clothing fits. The week before my period, my weight is ALWAYS higher no matter WHAT I am doing – including even more exercise than what you are doing. Just remember if you are doing everything right (eating well and exercising), you are treating your body well and your weight will go down. Don’t let a 2lb gain trouble you because next week it could be a 3-4lb loss! Overall, I say stay away from the scale and weigh yourself monthly if need be and just continue to lead a healthy lifestyle! :-)
I absolutely think it’s water weight too. Also, I’ve consistently heard that exercise results are usually always seen the week AFTER. Don’t worry about it!
Way to rock the workouts this week girl! You should be sooo proud of yourself!
I would be frustrated too, but don’t let it get to you. It could easily be water weight too.
I never even knew that coconut milk ice cream existed, but holy freakin’ yum! I will need to find me some of that asap!
Weight is just a number that can be easily influenced due to hydration level, gaining or losing muscle, sodium intake, and so much more. Keep track of inches or body fat and it will tell you so much more than weight :)
You look great though, girl! Don’t let a number get you down!
We are feeling the same thing girl! I was all over the place foodwise at the beginning of the summer because I was traveling and such so I gained some weight (no biggy). But now I have been back home for over 2 weeks and exercising really well and have not budged on the scale! What’s going on! I of course exercise to feel good and such, but it is so wrong to want to be back to my ‘before’ weight?!
2 pounds doesn’t sound like a big deal to me. My weight tends to fluctuate up and down a few pounds here and there. If it’s something like four pounds, then yes, it’s probably due to diet or exercise, not just a random fluke. But I don’t think those 2 pounds are gonna be noticeable or, more importantly, indicative of a decline in your eating habits.
Don’t worry too much! A million things could change your weight – salt intake, water intake, time of month, time of day, working out (I just noticed all your long runs, I bet that has something to do with it. All the long mileage makes your muscles break down and later swell as your body repairs… they need some rest!). The scale would really impact my mood so I stopped weighing myself in the winter. I didn’t think I could do it, but I haven’t weighed myself in 2 months now and everything still fits – plus I’m more sane!
And that is the precise reason I don’t own a scale. That number on it… yes, that one… means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things (and neither does 2# which I do think is either water weight or muscle like everyone else has said). You’re obviously fit with your exercise level and healthy so that’s what matters. Life is too short to care about that silly number my dear, just enjoy :)
SO happy I stumbled upon your blog!! My husband has been requesting we try beets, and I had no idea what do with them or how to cook them!!
I love pancakes, especially when there are chocolate chips involved.
I wouldn’t get too hung up about it. My weight can be all over the place some weeks, even when I weigh myself at the same time – hence the reason I do not do it very often! I think as long as you’re feeling good, that’s the main thing. Based on all that running, I’m pretty sure you’d have to be eating TONS in order for your calorie intake to be higher than your burn! Don’t let it get to you – congrats on your running progress! :)
Girl, I work out 2 times a day, run over 30 miles a week and I have gained 7 pounds over the past 3 months. I am 100% convinced that this weight gain is entirely healthy and muscle because 1) my clothes still fit the same way they did before, and 2) 3 months ago, I was in the hospital with a nasty stomach disease, on a liquid diet, not exercising at all (barely moving). When I got out of the hospital, I was only allowed to eat refined carbs and nothing with fiber and not able to work out. I had to do this diet for a month and it was awful, but as soon as I started to eat my healthy diet and work out again, I gained weight! GOOD WEIGHT! I know it’s so hard to conceptualize that in a society that is telling us that any weight gain is bad, but trust me, if you are working out as much as you are and eating the right things, your body will only do what is right. But if you are worried, I would say to add a little strength training into your workouts. So many people pound out hours of cardio, but if you are not balancing out by building lean muscle, you won’t burn as much fat.
Don’t sweat it girl, you look great and feel great and that is all that matters!
I totally know what you mean about frustration with a scale…not necessarily because you want to lose weight, but it seems like it should at least stay the same if you haven’t made any other changes! Chock it up to retaining too much water from all the delicious summer produce or something :)
I weigh myself every day. I KNOW that people say you aren’t supposed to, but I do. Water weight or not…it is ANNOYING when you are doing everything right and it goes UP! I totally hear you there! There is always that time of the month too when you get all bloated and well it’s just an all around bad time! And, you have to take into consideration if you’ve pooped or not. I know, I’m a first time reader and I’m already talking about poop. I think it’s because I’m a mother. It’s a fact of life AND it’s healthy. So if you ate salt, drank loads of water, ate normally, and are having your “flux” within two weeks…SHOOT, you could go up five pounds.
And your salad, yum!
I would be so annoyed by those 2 pounds! I’ve recently decided to take a little weigh-in break. I think I make it matter too much. I can have a great week, and a bad weigh-in will make me just want to quit.
Are you running so much for weight loss purposes? Or just because you love running? Because as far as weight loss goes, I think you’d be better off running less and doing more strength training! Just a thought :)
But like others have mentioned, don’t get too hung up on it because a) there are SO many factors that go into our body weight (i.e. time of day and water weight) and b) remember that you’re sassy and fit just the way you are!
I think everyone else ^^^^ covered my thoughts on the scale :) So many things can be a factor – but that doesn’t mean it’s not frustrating :(
Great photos though! How wonderful is that sunshine!
aww girl, i am sorry!! but it’s prob your butt muscles growing from all of that biking!! 2 is def NOTHING!! it could be ANYTHING!! it could be WATER or something for all you know!! the scale is a load of crap.
I’ve never had peanut butter pancakes, but yours look delicious! And I feel your frustration on the scale. Hopefully it’s not too de-motivating. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog!
Your muscles are probably retaining water from all the bike riding, running, salt, and yes, eating carbs can even make you retain water. It could also be your period. I shoot up like, five pounds TTOM. Don’t let it worry you. =) You’re slim, healthy, and gorgeous.
Your salad looks so crisp, fresh, and delicious! Yum. Perfect warm-weather food (except that it’s never really warm here, is it?). :D
I know this is kind of an old post, but just wanted to throw my opinions out there. I wouldn’t get worried if I were you. In fact, I heard that when you do intense exercise, without rest, your weight goes up due to your muscles holding onto water. Something to do with inflammation I think? Regardless, I notice my weight goes up when I don’t take a rest day or two. Maybe don’t exercise so hard this week and see what happens?
I NEED THOSE PANCAKES! Ahhh, definitely trying out the recipe ASAP!