So after all this time, Coach Monster finally learned that he is called “Coach Monster.” 

He is working with me on the SBM Book coming out in December, and as such, the blog and all its glory is now out of the bag.

Coach M – Ironman NOLA 70.3

“I don’t like being called Coach Monster,” he told me this morning.

“Well, it’s kind of late now,” I said, “What do you want to be called?”

He shrugged. 

Then I worried that I hurt his feelings – that he thought monster meant monster in the traditional sense of the word. I sent him a text message after class and told him that his nickname is not as bad as it seems.  I call him Monster because he loves REM (the Monster album) and is sweet and googly like Cookie Monster. (But he’s also a badass triathlete… so, really, Coach Monster is all around fitting.)

I guess he can be The Coach Formerly Known as Monster. 

Oooh! 

Let’s have a contest for his new name!  We can present him with a list of options, and the person who came up with the one he picks, wins something! Yeah yeah! Contest contest!

Anyway. Last night, the heel on my right foot started hurting. This morning, it is killing me. I have some… Read the rest

In the hoopla of the last month, I forgot to post about the awesome Another Mother Runner book release party!  Ilana Katz invited me to attend and be her Plus One, so I was super excited.

The Another Mother Runner ladies, Dimity and Sarah, are the very awesome (and very TALL) authors of Run Like a Mother and the new, Train Like a Mother books.

Seriously, I thought I was tall. Sarah and Dimity are awesomely tall (and fashionable, and glamorous). Dimity is so tall, in fact, that she calls herself “Taller than the Transamerica Pyramid” on their website.  I adored both of them and left the party feeling very inspired, grateful and (a tad) tipsy.

(L-R) Sarah, Swim Bike Mom, Ilana, and Dimity….Courtesy of Amerine Photography

I “met” Dimity the first time when she asked me to be a part of “Follow this Mother” on their blog. My post was featured here: https://anothermotherrunner.com/2011/11/16/follow-this-mother-71/, and I was honored to be a part of it.

When we walked into the party, I saw Dimity and Ilana introduced us.  “This is Meredith,” Ilana said.

“Nice to meet you, Meredith,” Dimity said.

“Oh, I’m Swim Bike Mom.”

Squeal. “OH! Swim Bike Mom! Yeah yeah yeah!”

I love Mother books and I especially love the tagline: “How to Get Across Any Finish Line – and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity.”   I am of the opinion that running (and triathlon) is… Read the rest

This is a guest post from my girl, Ilana, sports nutritionist extraordinaire at Optimal Nutrition for Life.

TEN BEST SPORTS NUTRITION TIPS
ILANA KATZ, MS, RD, CSSD

Many recreational athletes have a difficult time with weight management, especially those that took on the training as a reason for weight loss in the first place. It perplexes them when they then discover the weight gain, instead of expected and anticipated weight loss.

Don’t feel alone, this actually a very common phenomenon. There are a number of reasons for this.

First, athletes tend to build denser muscle as they are losing fat, especially in the first months of their new training program. It does not necessarily mean you are “fatter” just because the number on the scale is higher. Density shows up on a scale. It is therefore better to monitor progress by body composition rather than a weight. Monitor the looseness of your clothes, get someone to measure you with a tape measure, and get a body fat test done every few months.

Notice in this visual how different fat and muscle are in size, density and texture. These both represent 5 lbs:

Okay, then after your body becomes adaptive to your exercise, and body composition changes slowly stabilizes, then yes, the scale should start shifting somewhat (but never drastically, because although the muscle begins to burn fat, it is still getting denser). If, at this point, you feel like you are “gaining,… Read the rest

I have had two solid says of eating “clean” and…. consequently, I have been able to not scream in horror at my weight. I did not follow my own advice completely (I have gotten on the scale), but I went from 227 (Tuesday) to 216.4 today.  Granted 227 was at nighttime  and 216.4 was first thing in the morning…

If you don’t count the ridiculous 227 and go with my starting weight of 218.8 then I am at 2.4 pounds of loss in around two weeks.

This morning, I was walking out of ths shower, and my daughter (age 3) said, “Ooooh Mommy I don’t want to see you naked!”  Then my son chimes in, “No Mommy! Put your clothes on.”  Thanks, guys!

So what have I been doing re: nutrition? Many of you have asked, so I’ll tell you.

1) I am tracking every thing I am putting in my mouth with the Livestrong.com app.  Everything. I am measuring everything. Everything. I cannot believe how little I “should” be eating. I have also noticed that it’s easy to remain in the calorie budget and remain relatively full with whole foods. Insert one cookie, and you’re screwed. Same with salad dressing.  I have found one I LOVE with Bolthouse Farms – it’s a yogurt dressing, in the refridgerated section…they have several kinds. I like the Olive Oil and Blue Cheese –  and it’s only 45 calories for 2 tablespoons, but it tastes delicious.

2) I have avoided processed food and… Read the rest