A lesson learned.

So the running isn't cutting it any more.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still running.  But losing weight via running only works when you don't reward yourself with a bowl of chocolate ice cream after you finish.

It's funny how that works, isn't it?

I'm kidding.  I don't really do that.  Well...not really.  Okay, I sort of do that.  Which made me realize that I needed more exercise in addition to my running.  So I'm back working with a trainer.  A different trainer this time.  A male trainer.  A trainer that isn't going to let me quit.  And that is such a good thing.

Last week during our workout he brought up a great point.  He talked about how many calories you burn in a typical 45 minute work out and how we sabotage ourselves with the things that we eat.  And you know, I'd never really thought much about it before.  I had the mindset of, hey I worked out really hard so that affords me to put whatever the hell I want in my mouth for the rest of the day.

But the reality is that with the workout that my trainer is putting me through, I probably burn about 500-600 calories in 45 minutes.  And that could quickly be ruined with one Grande Latte at Starbucks after I'm finished!  Which totally explains why spring of '09 I worked out harder than I ever have in my entire life for 6 months and only lost 12 pounds.  I wasn't being honest about what I was eating.  Working out that hard made me hungry, so I rewarded myself by eating whatever I wanted because hey, I was working out harder than I had every before and I deserved it!

Herein lies my Aha Moment--weight loss isn't about working out; it's about eating.  Is working out an important/necessary/required component?  Absolutely.  But let's face it.  I am not on the Biggest Loser.  I don't have time to spend 8 hours a day in the gym.  I have got to start paying attention about what I am putting into my mouth or all of this hard work will be for nothing!

The crazy thing is that I'm loving it--the working out with my trainer.  He is kicking my butt and I'm begging for more!  As a matter of fact, yesterday I willingly got up at 6 AM (the key word being willingly) to go and do an hour of cardio.  6 AM people!  Willingly got out of my cozy bed to go sweat in a gym!

Yes, it's quite clear that I have lost my mind.  Now if I would only lose some weight to go along with that...