Progress Measurements & Reconciliation

4/13/2010 2:46:24 AM #

hey, don't beat yourself up. this is MUCH better than fatskinny.

a. you are getting curvier (smaller waist, bigger, buffer ass = awesome).
b. think about all you can do now. i am fatskinny and wish i was in better shape so that i was stronger and able to use my body for more than walking from the couch to the fridge.
c. haven't you impressed yourself with your willpower alone? because you've impressed plenty of us random people on the interwebs.

jen

4/13/2010 3:00:48 AM #

Do you feel rad? If the answer is yes then none of these body composition tests really matter. I have seen the before and after photos of you on Flickr Kristin, you would have to be blind to not see the absolutely drastic differences in your body. Those magazines are your junk food now, ditch them, they are far from reality and toxic.
If you had Corey's body fat percentage you would lose your womanly figure, periods, and who knows what else. You are an amazing inspiration Kristin, please don't ruin it with discounting all this crazy hard work you have been doing. That is far more unattractive than getting bigger hips due to muscle gain. Own this shit dude!

Ashley

4/13/2010 10:03:10 AM #

I'm sure you know this, but to preface, men's body fat % is always lower than women's! we have to make and feed babies. Higher body fat is in our DNA, so don't let Corey make you vomit (although that IS really low... gosh)

I think what you are experiencing is so normal, K. I have always gained weight when I really buckle down and run and lift weights consistently, and since I started training for a half, it's been no different. People look at me confused and say, "you've gained weight? but you're running so much!"

it's a frustration, and I agree with you about the body fat - is it worth it to cut back so much just for a number on paper? I would argue that you should do what makes you feel great. Granted, eating some cheesecake once in awhile will probably make you feel great. But binge-ing on that or brownies after every run makes nobody feel great. Find a balance that you can feel integrity about. Don't let numbers scare you. You are right, our society has made WAY too much over numbers. You are beautiful and you look amazing. And the most inspiring part isn't even your body, it's your discipline and determination!

Jolie

4/13/2010 12:32:50 PM #

My bodyfat is 74%. I'm a goddamned superhero. I AM UNDROWNABLE.

I am also the queen of fatskinny, admiring you and saying fuck the numbers. You feel better. You look amazing. You know that. xo

sweetsalty kate

4/13/2010 12:42:19 PM #

As per usual...I cannot say it any better than Kate...

I know that you'd like to see hard numbers to back up how you're feeling...and when the numbers are wonky (they're not all bad tho)...it feels hard to continue to feel so good....

but FUCK.THE.NUMBERS

If you feel great..then keep doing what you are doing.  You look fab, you SOUND fab and your body fat is steadily decreasing ....that is ALL GOOD my friend.  ALL.GOOD.  (18.7 is damn good!)

PS - Are you going to be in NYC in August?

PPS - We have a "Corey" in our gym too....he posts on our message boards as Tony5....we gave him that nickname.  Why the "5" do you ask?  Because he's part machine....Corey, I shall consider you Corey5 from now on.

  

Natalie

4/13/2010 1:28:41 PM #

Kristin,

You rock- but you already know this. Please remember you've probably never eaten so much meat/protein in your life, nor have you dedicated so much time and energy to lifting weights. Muscle mass, combined with fat reduction can result in gain. I think you know this. But maybe what you are realizing now is that maybe Corey's goals aren't necessarily shared. Sure you may want to be fit, look hot as hell (you do), challenge yourself, etc. But perhaps you try to adhere to a lifestyle that you could certainly do, but maybe one thats not right for you.

I think you might feel better adopting a more moderate eating plan - still lean and healthy but with a bit more wiggle room. You might enjoy some other fitness related goals like another race, or you may want to try an entirely new sport. You're getting some great life experience here, and learning about you, so don't discount that.

Keep on keeping on!

Ashley

4/13/2010 4:16:56 PM #

You look beautiful, lean and strong, and the differences I saw in your body from your before to your after pictures are positive changes. You do not LOOK bigger. But of course if you burn off 5% of your body fat and replace a bunch of that with muscle, you're going to increase your size in certain muscly areas of your body such as your legs and your butt - AND YOU WILL LOOK BETTER FOR HAVING DONE SO.

If the numbers get you down like this, you really shouldn't look at them. Maybe just the body fat percentage one as a check. If your body fat is 18.7%, then you're healthy and lean and you don't need to read the rest. Use the way your clothes fit and the way you look in a mirror as your check and balance instead!

And a little cheesecake once in a blue moon is good for the soul.

A Little Coffee

4/13/2010 5:15:52 PM #

I have recently lost 20 lbs. I feel great...worked my tail off to get here. Really tightened up my diet and work out 6 days a week. I am lean and muscular. My sister-in-law lost 30 lbs. about a year ago by starving herself down to her goal weight. Surprisingly she has been able to keep it off. Here is the funny thing... she looks really great in her clothes...TINY! So, I find my self comparing my firm thighs to her twiggy ones and sometimes envy the smaller. Why?? I am in much better shape, eat so much healthier, and I still let my head go there.

You do look amazing! You are contagious as well...don't even know how I came across your blog, but followed ever since.

Steph

4/13/2010 6:52:50 PM #

I got really mad at you when I first read this -- how could you not see the improvement? How could you focus on the negative and ignore your considerable accomplishments? Then I realized it wasn't you I was mad at. It was myself. I do the same damn thing. Nitpick about my appearance. Focus on the negative. Obsess about the numbers as opposed to how I look and feel. So I'm not mad at you -- I totally understand. It's tough to fight those inner voices. But we've got to keep trying.  

Hilary

4/13/2010 7:43:08 PM #

Ugh, that sucks. I mean, I see that initially the numbers at different than what you hoped but rationally, you *knew* you gained on the scale, right?
It's this whole society and going back to the fit = skinny debate. You were "skinnier" before, in that you weighed less, right? But you are SO MUCH healthier than you were before.
I think that the way the whole thing is laid out is negative, anyway. Weight gain is not a "regression" here, and it shouldn't be labeled as such.
I hope you come around and feel better about this. It sucks when what you see as your "trouble zone" got bigger, but think of it this way, you got that perkier ass you were looking for.
Downs do suck, but remember, it's pushing through them that is what makes us stronger.

Kaitlyn

4/13/2010 9:56:19 PM #

Have a ripe pear, sliced up and drizzled in a tablespoon of Maple syrup and throw some crushed pecans on top.

its friggin delicious and will make everything better.

you must try it!

joanne Arthurs

4/14/2010 1:52:09 PM #

Egads. I hate to blog pimp, but I wrote a very similar post to this, basically summarizing why I hate Runners World and other mags for making me feel bad about myself. If you feel so inclined, you can check it out, here:

innerteub.com/.../

In other news, I think the most important thing to focus on is HOW YOU FEEL. It was clear to me when you were logging your paleo diet that it made you FEEL better. That's not fake. That's not nothing. Screw the damn numbers: HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Liz

4/14/2010 10:44:40 PM #

I think you should go by the photos you shared in a previous post.
You look so amazing in your recent photo! Anyone can see that! You can see that!!!
Who cares what you weigh or measure???? As long as you look good and feel good that's all that matters!

It is so hard to get this into our heads. I struggle with it all the time.
Something which always helps me feel better is thinking about my trainer. She looks much leaner and fitter than I do, but weighs a few kg more! I'd happily put on those kg if I could look like that!

Reading your blog and seeing your progress is so inspiring to me

Alice

4/15/2010 10:40:59 PM #

From your awesome results I would say the paleo is working perfectly.  It is supposed to help you get stronger/more muscle and lean out at the same time.  Those 7 cms are hard earned and you should be proud of them and what they can do!

Regina

4/16/2010 2:19:21 AM #

First of all - I haven't read anyone else's comments.  I am pressed for time at the moment, but, I must comment.

Secondly - KD, you are an amazing person and athlete and I can tell you this after a very short time of knowing you.  Take my comments with a grain of salt.  I care deeply about you.

Here it is.

You need to go and get a DXA scan from Bodycomp - www.bodycomp.ca.  I am hinging on paying for it for you.  The way in which your testing was done is very old school and very inaccurate.  I am going to provide my take on your results, even though the results may be skewed.  I am not being a spin doctor to make myself, paleo, or CrossFit look good.  There is science to back all of this up.

149lbs to 153lbs is NOT A REGRESSION.  I am almost willing to bet you lost about 4lbs of fat and gained 8lbs of muscle.  You are leaner than ever, you didn't lose in major muscle areas, and muscle weighs more than fat.

The body fat percentage is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT.  HUGE and it is the most important factor.  You are on the lowest side of the fitness standard for women under 40.  You do not want to be any lower than 16%.  Thus, you are in about the 95th percentile.  (I'm not going to actually do the math)  Did I say HUGE???

Hips and Thighs.  NOT A REGRESSION.  This is completely my fault.  I have had you performing powerlifts and olympic lifts for the past couple months.  Hips are bigger because we gave you a butt lift.  I don't care how great a movie stars butt looks in jeans.  Once the jeans come off they usually drop and have a flat ass!  Something you don't want!!  Thus, we have built you a little booty.  Thighs.  We have put some more muscle in those legs.  Especially since you are training in the anabolic realm and not the catabolic realm of distance running.  How does it feel to run up a hill now??  How much faster can you run??  Remember if someone ever tried to attach you it is better to run fast - not long!

Ladies, you are going to hate me.  Women will always be women.  You would rather be unhealthy and have big boobs, small hips, and small thighs.

Reality is, you would all be healthier with less boobs, a bigger but with some muscle, and firm thighs made of muscle.

Here is where I duck and you all throw stuff at me.

LU

Lu

4/16/2010 11:03:04 PM #

I know exactly how you feel Kristin! The first time I started training for a full marathon, I could see parts of me tightening up, my belly was shrinking, and I had definition in my thighs and calves. However I was fixated on the fact that my thighs and butt were getting really big and that I had put on 10 lbs. Three marathons later, and I realize it's worth it. Just keep doing what you're doing! You're inspiring me to keep up with all my exercise and healthy eating, so thanks!

Adrienne

4/20/2010 5:07:04 AM #

Listen, honey, you just posted your weight on the internet, so right there you won.  

I would have freaked out, too, but Corey is right.  So is your coach.  You know you are doing the right things - trust in yourself.

EDW

4/20/2010 2:12:20 PM #

I'm with the other readers re: how do you feel, for real?

This post resonates with me a lot. Thanks. I lost a lot of weight when I became a single mom -- stress -- and everyone commented about how thin I was. Wasn't I supposed to feel good hearing that? But I didn't feel good. I got colds often. I didn't have a lot of energy.

A couple of years ago, I started to work out with regular routine -- not nearly as much as you do, but I'm doing intense cardio a few nights a week (aerobic kick boxing mainly). My stress level has gone WAY down. I thought I'd lose a lot of weight. Ha. It's muscle, just like said. My thighs are big. My hips and butt, too. I've gained weight. But you know what? I feel GOOD!!!

Single Mom Seeking

4/23/2010 11:34:20 AM #

What I see is Muscle gain, a mean waist that everyone can envy (2 inches - that's incredible), and a body fat range that is  by far envious and very healthy going towards mega athlete for woman....

Why are you doing what you are doing?  Health?  Feeling better?  Isn't a thinner stomach key to better health in general?  And do you feel good about your body?

I think you have to sit back and look at why you are doing what you are doing...  I bet you have at least learned a lot from it all...  Is it sustainable for the future??  I think those key elements are what matters most!

expatraveler - Jen

5/4/2010 11:13:10 AM #

Girl, you are beautiful. And men are naturally supposed to have less body fat than women.

I agree with everyone else, how do you feel? Me? I don't diet. I just refuse to limit myself. I eat whatever I want but in moderation. To me, that is the PERFECT diet. Then again, I don't look like you do in a bikini. And you look DAMN good in a bikini.

But I am in the best shape I have ever been in in my life. I just rode my bike 134 miles over the weekend and I'm a 40 year old woman who's never been athletic until recently. I feel good. I feel proud.

Do what makes you FEEL good. You simply cannot compare yourself to Corey, the you before children, or the girls in magazines. Have you seen how they touch up those girls? http://tinyurl.com/y29wyek

Breathe and be thankful for your strong, beautiful body, Kristin. It has been very good to you.

T