I'm hungry.

I've learned numerous times that it's 80% diet when the goal is to lose weight. And I really hate that because I really love food. So, I don't do anything unhealthy or bad to my bod but I have found that if I just stay a little bit hungry...the weight comes off.

Today I worked out an hour with my old trainer George. It was tough but satisfying. I try to do fairly intense strength training once a week. I usually work out with my friend Lauren. She does the super slow thing. We do incredibly heavy weight at a very slow pace. The point is to get to muscle failure because you build muscle mass by tearing down the muscles that way. Muscle at rest burns more calories than fat, my legs look great, etc. It is absolutely brutal but I have seen great results. I am in the best shape I've probably ever been in, yet I still have some extra weight on me...hence the Couch to 5k deal.

Tomorrow I'll do Week 1 Workout 3. It hasn't been bad but I am going so so slow. I'm not even sure what I do counts as jogging. But I read a lot and the biggest mistake beginner runners make seems to be not starting slow enough. I have taken that to heart. I may end up repeating this week. We'll see how the first Week 2 workout goes.

So, my goal is to get back to 115 lbs, which is a good weight for me. This morning I weighed in at 121.6. And no, I don't think you guys have to post your weight if you don't want to! I gained a TON of weight this summer - got up to about 130+ which is really heavy for me. I got home from 2 weeks in China HUNGRY and proceeded to eat mexican food for 2 months straight and one day my clothes didn't fit. It really was just like that. I've dropped a lot of that but have a ways to go. Hence to 5k in the spring. I think that will do it.

I ordered a heart rate monitor...very excited to get that so I can manage my arrhythmia which will make this a little more pleasant.

For the record, I hate running. I think it is too much wear and tear on the body and walking is much better for you. But the fact of the matter is that I am antsy to shed this weight and I think this is the answer.

Thus ends Clare's first post.