Hello, Week 8!

on October 5, 2009
in All Posts

The sun rises on Week 8 of Marathon Training:

IMG_2834

I’ve run 150.12 miles in the last 49 days, a feat which I seriously doubted I would ever be able to do after I was injured last April.  All in all, training has been quite successful.  Although the first two races of the season were less than stellar (like the 15K), my weekly long-runs have been overwhelmingly awesome.  I think Friday’s 14 miler really sealed the deal for me.  I ran it fast, but it was ‘easy,’ and I had no knee pain after.  🙂

 

In the last year, I’ve been so focused on what long-distances do to my body in a negative way (i.e. knee pain).  I’ve rarely stopped to appreciate the positive effects of running on my body.  But last night, I was brushing my teeth when I noticed my body looked strong and lean.  I realized that little things like carrying heavy groceries up the stairs are becoming easier, too.  :)  I haven’t lost or gained any weight, but I’ll bet my body fat percentage has dropped and my cardiovascular fitness has increased.  Three cheers for running!

 

It’s with open arms that I enter Week 8 of training.   I can’t wait for January 10! 🙂

 

Breakfast was divine:

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I made Flax French Toast again. 

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Plus, strawberries and bananas.

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So much to do today… got to get cracking!

 

Come Back Soon!

 

I’ll be announcing the BIGGEST contest in Healthy Tipping Point/Operation Beautiful history in just a few hours!  Not only will 125 women (and maybe a few men!) get the chance to be in the Operation Beautiful book, but I have over a DOZEN sweet prizes to give away!

 

Have a wonderful day!  🙂

 

Whether you’re training or making improvements in your diet, how long do you feel it takes to see a difference in your body?   I think two months has always been right for me, but back when I started to get healthy, it took me about 1 year to lose 10 pounds.  Slow and steady wins the race!

{ 45 comments }

 

  • Diana October 5, 2009, 8:16 am

    I usually see differences after a month, month and a half. It’s great because seeing results encourages me to continue! 🙂

  • RhodeyGirl October 5, 2009, 8:16 am

    Oddly enough I don’t notice changes for a looonnng time. For example, I have been training for this half now for 6 or 7 weeks and just TODAY noticed a change in my legs and abs. It is a significant change, but sort of happened overnight after all the weeks of no changes. weird.

  • Christina October 5, 2009, 8:18 am

    It’s about 2 months for me too. I have the same experience as RhodeyGirl; I won’t see anything and then all of a sudden BAM! I notice things look different over night.

  • christie, honoring health October 5, 2009, 8:19 am

    I guess it really depends on what the change is. When I started lifting (heavy) weights, I started to see results after the first week. I was losing inches pretty rapidly.

  • Abby October 5, 2009, 8:20 am

    Your breakfast looks delightful! As for changes in the bod, usually a few weeks I personally start feeling different. Might not be obvious to others though! Id give it a month or so before any visible physical change is evident!

  • Lizzy October 5, 2009, 8:20 am

    i’m not sure i’ve noticed much of a different in my body since i’ve been training. i can say tho my legs do look a bit more sculpted and that i’m happy with! 🙂

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is October 5, 2009, 8:37 am

    That sunset is so gorgeous! I wish I had that to run with everyday. With proper nutrition I can feel a change in my body within days. I always have more energy, feel leaner and have more self esteem.

  • MelissaNibbles October 5, 2009, 8:40 am

    If I’m eating clean I can usually see a difference within a few weeks.
    Good luck in week 8!

  • Erin October 5, 2009, 8:43 am

    Breakfast looks good!

    I hardly ever notice a difference. Sometimes it’s kind of discouraging. Or I’ll notice a difference and then, if I change one thing about my training it will go away. And then I have a really hard time getting it back.

  • Stephanie October 5, 2009, 8:46 am

    It depends on what the change is. I’ve been trying to loose weight since last July and it’s taken me this long to loose 30 pounds. I know that seems like a lot but it’s frustrating when I know I have 15 more to go. But, unlike fad diets or whatever, I’m implementing healthy habits and seeing their gradual change which is worth the 2 years it may take to reach my goal weight.

  • Courtney October 5, 2009, 8:54 am

    It has taken me almost a year to lose about 20, and still have about 30 to go. But, my body at this weight is so different the last time I was at this weight because of strength training! I have noticed a big difference, I’m a smaller size and tighter than I was last time I was the same weight when I was not as committed to strength training. Yay for weights!!
    Courtney
    Adventures in Tri-ing

  • Jenna October 5, 2009, 8:55 am

    i can’t wait to hear about the giveaways cailtin!
    jenna

  • Matt October 5, 2009, 8:57 am

    Congrats on the training success 🙂

    I lost a lot of weight over the span of about a year. I started chunky, got too skinny, and now I am at my current weight. I like this weight because I feel strong, lean, and fast.

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) October 5, 2009, 8:58 am

    I’m so glad your training’s going well!

  • Kristy October 5, 2009, 9:01 am

    I believe it takes about a month. With regular training and eating healthy, I feel that my body begins to look “tighter”. I don’t necessarily notice any weight change but I can tell that I feel leaner and MUCH more healthy on the inside!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) October 5, 2009, 9:01 am

    For me I start to see the changes in about a month to 6 weeks. My muscles get stronger and leaner and I just feel better. I’m trying to get back into that after slacking due to injury. I miss that healthy feeling.

  • Jojo October 5, 2009, 9:03 am

    I started turning my life around last September and this past week I finally noticed the differences and it also took me 1 year to lose 10 lbs. Other people kept telling me they could see differences but I didn’t recognize it until much longer.

    Keep up the great work on your training. I’ll be in Orlando for the race. I can’t wait to cheer you on!

  • K October 5, 2009, 9:08 am

    Glad training is going well and you’re noticing the positive effects of running! I lost a lot of muscle mass when I quit my sport so I need to get back on the ‘long and lean’ train.

  • Michelle October 5, 2009, 9:12 am

    I think that there’s difference between dieting and changing a lifestyle. I would agree that it takes about 1 1/2 months to really get into the grove of a lifestyle change. I would also say that it has taken a bit, esp. since I dieted for eight years, to learn to listen to my body. When it had enough, when it was hungry, when it was THIRSTY!

    Much of the was acknowledging and appreciating the emotional connections that triggered ‘unhungry’ and ’emotional’ eating. That took more time for me to get over, then did the actual listening to my body. I have about 20-30lbs to go. I don’t care how long it takes, as long as it comes off and I am in control of my life. Living by my rules!

    ~M

  • Nicci@NiftyEats October 5, 2009, 9:16 am

    I started to notice a change in my body after 2-3 months of eating healthy and continuous exercuse every week.

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans October 5, 2009, 9:19 am

    when it comes to dropping weight I am definitely in the slow and steady wins the race category. however, when I started lifting weights I started seeing more muscle definition in a few weeks.

  • Meg @ Be Fit Be Full October 5, 2009, 9:22 am

    I’m so excited for the change to win your book!
    When I start to see the extra cushioning in the areas I tend to gain weight, it takes about 4-6 weeks for me to see a difference. My strength training motiviation comes and goes in waves, and I can definitely see a difference when I am motivated to strength train!

  • Jac October 5, 2009, 9:22 am

    sometimes i don’y notice the difference.. lol.. but it’s not an easy task!

  • Jessie October 5, 2009, 9:30 am

    It usually takes me about a month to start to see very small changes in my body. I am pretty slow when it comes to weight loss though!

    Can’t wait until later to hear about the giveaways =)

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) October 5, 2009, 9:33 am

    I agree – it takes me about 2 months to notice a change too. I get the summer’s off (no work, no school), so I always go pretty hard core with the workouts in the summer, and by the end of the summer, I can finally see some results. Unfortunately I start slacking once work/ school is back!

  • Celia October 5, 2009, 9:55 am

    When I started losing weight it took me a long time to see any changes, partly because I had quite a bit to lose, but partly because all I could see was the fat. Now that I’m really close to my goal, I notice changes really quickly because a) A pound’s difference is much more noticeable now that there’s less of me b) I pay more attention to other things than whatever fat I happen to be carrying around (such as my killer biceps, oh strength training, how I love thee…)

  • Leah @ L4L October 5, 2009, 10:02 am

    I agree with slow and steady. It took me over a year to lose 25lbs. But it has stayed off! If I fall off the healthy eating bandwagon, it takes me a few weeks to notice a difference back in my energy levels and such.

  • Ali October 5, 2009, 10:15 am

    I think it varies for each person, but I’d say roughly four months for noticeable toning after weight training and a bit longer for running- like 6-7 months. Weight loss is a whole other story-it could be ten years or a month!

  • Weekly Bite October 5, 2009, 10:22 am

    With consistant exercise and listening to my hunger and fullness cues I start to feel better instantly, but seeing results takes about 6-8 weeks for my body!

    So excited to hear about the contest!

  • Rachel October 5, 2009, 10:28 am

    When I’m very serious and focused I feel a difference in a week or two and see a difference in 3-4 weeks. When I’m lazy about my food/exercise it takes a while longer. I need to get serious and focused again!

  • Lindsay October 5, 2009, 10:53 am

    When I’ve been really working I can usually see small changes in about a month. Usually around 2 months I can really notice changes.

  • Megan @ Megzz Wins At Life October 5, 2009, 10:54 am

    I think it depends on how series you are.. with a diet you can see results within 3 weeks if you are extemely stict but with exercise I believe it takes a little longer more liek 4-6 weeks.

  • brandi October 5, 2009, 10:58 am

    i’m glad the training is going so well! I was watching the Miami/Oklahoma game, too 🙂 I figured you guys were having a blast! What a nail biter!

  • Katie @ Food.Home.Fitness.For Her. October 5, 2009, 11:00 am

    Caitlin~ I can’t believe you’ve run 150 miles in the last 49 days. That is awesome!!! I know how it can be to focus on the negative when it comes to running (knee issues, ankle pain…) but you are right, you don’t have to. You can totally replace those thoughts with being proud of how strong and capable your body is…and how much further you will go with those thoughts!! Great job Caitlin.

  • Amelia October 5, 2009, 11:01 am

    So happy your training is going so well! I love the way running can subtly transform your body. I think it takes about a month and a half for me to start to see any significant differences.

  • Julie October 5, 2009, 12:04 pm

    Yay for positivity!!

    It took me a slow and steady 2-2.5 years to lose all my excess weight. I started noticing changes in the first 5 months, and now I see a huge difference.

  • Nikka @ HealthfulGirl October 5, 2009, 12:23 pm

    It took me about a month before I noticed my strength and endurance changing as a result of a new workout regimen. I can feel a difference long before I can see one.

  • Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now October 5, 2009, 1:56 pm

    I’d say about a month. But I’m sure it depends on your personality, and also what you’re trying to change.

  • Lynne October 5, 2009, 2:49 pm

    When I was really overweight, it took 30 pounds before anyone noticed. Now I see differences in 10 pounds.
    It’s nice to hear that slow is what seems to be the norm. In the first year of my weight loss, I lost a lot of weight pretty fast. Now that I only have about 25 left to lose, it seems like it’s taking forever.

  • Jenny Eastwood@ JennyLikesToRun, Healthy living blog :) October 5, 2009, 3:39 pm

    Good for you that you’re noticing great changes in your body 🙂 And that’s really fantastic to hear you focusing entirely on the positive side of running.
    Ha, your breakfast looks lovely, it’s funny coz I was thinking of having exactly the same thing for breakfast but with pear instead of banana and strawberry lol.

    For me, depending on the kind of activity, I see changes quite early on. Within a month my body is getting stronger with more muscle definition. It so motivating to see physical changes!

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance October 5, 2009, 3:44 pm

    Well, I may be a bit from the “normal” when answering you question about how long does it take me to see a difference in my body as I have lost a significant amount of weight (104 pounds to date) over the past few years so I see a difference on a Monthly basis in the past!

    However, now that my weight loss has slowed down and I am starting to see a lot more muscle, instead of fat, I would say I see differences on a WEEKLY basis now…..and my husband confirms this for me! =)

    I am only losing a pound or so a week but I am seeing more and more definition in my body and it is wonderful! THANKS TO EATING HEALTHY & RUNNING!!! =) Plus, a little bit of weight lifting in there too of course.

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) October 5, 2009, 9:45 pm

    Woohoo, congrats on week 8.. I am running vicariously through you right now while I’m sideline with a hip injury. 🙂

  • Stacey October 6, 2009, 6:23 am

    It takes about a month to see a difference, but it only takes a DAY to FEEL different, for me, that is. Sometimes when I’ve had a extremely delicious carby meal out somewhere, it feels so good the next day to have a fresh salad and fruit.

    Let me just say that I am so proud of you! You are such a strong woman, what with the marathon training, the book writing and doing everything else you do 🙂 Your blog is truly an inspiration! <–Sorry to get so sappy, haha

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat October 6, 2009, 8:46 am

    January 10th is my best friend’s birthday, so I will remember to think of you and your marathon that day 🙂 Best of luck with all your training, you are going to do great with that positive attitude!

  • Heather October 6, 2009, 2:43 pm

    I started really focusing on my workouts in February of this year. I’ve seen gradual changes and inches lost, but as of yesterday (I actually posted this on my facebook) I’m really starting to see some good results coming faster now. I haven’t lost any weight, but my body has completely transformed! I’ve definatley lost inches and have gone down in clothes size.
    I also took the leap and accomplished one of my very longtime dreams of becoming a certified Body Pump Instructor! My life has changed alot (in many positive ways) over this past 6 months. I’m doing things now that I never thought I would do!
    The main thing, it doesn’t happen over night, but it will happen! So never quit!

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