The Four Letter D Word

I'm fortunate in that I like to run, because in general my body keeps me at a healthy weight.  I don't have to think about it a lot.  While I was breastfeeding the twins, my body was hanging out at a higher weight than usual - about 9 pounds higher.  Some people say they get really skinny while breastfeeding, but not me!  I don't think it's good for your baby(ies) to diet while breastfeeding.  So I just let my weight do it's thing, even though I wasn't happy with the pooch that was my belly (it seemed that all 9 pounds was centralized in the belly, and my clothes really weren't fitting correctly as a result).  Certainly, I was still in a healthy weight range for my height, but it was not a weight I was happy about.  Now that the twins are weaned, and it's time to get to business.

I put myself on a diet.  That's right, the four letter D word.  I don't normally have to diet.  I eat healthy, for the most part.  And I don't have that much to lose.  So I gave myself the generous 1800-2200 calorie range and decided to just focus on healthy foods, and counting calories.  I realize that this seems like a lot of calories for a 'diet', but since I'm running 35+ miles a week right now, and I'm 5'8, this is a fitting target range for me.  And coming from someone who is used to munch, munch, munching throughout the day, it takes a great deal of willpower for me to stick to the plan.  In fact, I have to write down what I eat, otherwise I would definitely "accidentally" cheat.

I'm thrilled to report that it's been working splendidly.  I'm down 5 pounds, and only have 4 more to go!  And already my running feels so much lighter, and my joints recover from my long runs much faster.  My hope is that I can get down to my prepregnancy weight (which also happens to be my happy marathon weight - the weight at which I feel strong for marathons, yet light enough that I don't carry a lot extra into the race) by Halloween.  Why by Halloween?  Because if my weight is stable in the happy zone by then, I can indulge in some of those Reeses miniature cups that I love so dearly.  Without guilt.

Bring it on.