Sometimes nothing is more motivating than getting up in the morning to find your pants are a bit tight around the waist. During February I spent more time on the trainer than in December and January, but it still was pretty much for the purpose of helping my legs remember what it is like to spin. Finally, last week I started to ratchet it up… though probably 12 weeks too late.

In January I started weighing in again each morning as I used to do while seriously training. I watched as the weight kept climbing. Last week I almost hit 180 pounds. That would be 12 to 15 pounds above my “fighting weight.” It definitely showed as I was feeling uncomfortable during the day with the waist band of my pants putting pressure on my stomach. I was starting to get that blob feeling.

When I did climb back on the trainer to spin with purpose, I thought I would croak. It was as though I had a bowling ball hanging down from my waist as I bent forward over the handle bars. It didn’t take much to have me gasping. I was embarrassed with myself.

So, I went back to the book the Time-Crunched Cyclist by Chris Carmichael. I knew my focus this year would not be what it has in the past. I didn’t want to waste Jim Cunningham’s time dealing with a half-heartened client. Some time ago I decided to use this book as my training plan for 2012. It sounded like a good plan for my schedule and it would also give me something new to blog about.

However, it really wasn’t excitement about the new season that got me to approach the book with a bit more seriousness. It was my own health. I realize that whether I race again or not, I need to train. I don’t want to be 180 pounds with my pants cutting into my belly! I don’t want to feel lethargic come mid-day. I want to feel healthy like I was just a few months ago.

Already I have stabilized on the weight front. Without changing my eating habits, I have lowered the daily weigh in mark by about two pounds. I’m feeling more energetic during the day and my digestive system is improving.

Best of all, after starting Saturday on the renewed focus toward building up my power, I had my first good night on the trainer last night. It actually felt good to push through my three steady state intervals. Granted, the intervals were at a much lower wattage than a year ago, but it is a step in the right direction.

In my next post, I’ll start going into the details of the Time-Crunched Cyclist plan. Let’s just pretend I’m going to do an extended book report slash science project. Hopefully, we’ll all learn something.

Here are a couple things I have learned already. 1) One good reason for a coach — if for no other — is for the accountability. It is good to have an outside force holding you to your schedule. 2) Another good reason for a coach is that while an “off the shelf” plan is doable, it is very easy to second-guess your decisions and wonder if you are correctly assessing your data.

So, here is my plan. I will share my experience with you as I train using this method. You help me by keeping me accountable. I’m also open for advice — but don’t be offended if I don’t follow all of it. If I took every suggestion, I would end up with a Frankenstein workout plan!

 

Tags: Time-Crunched Cyclist

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 at 8:45 am and is filed under Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.