Need Some Help!

Yes...I need some help guys...... I saw the nutritionist yesterday, because I have decided to run in the Rock and Roll Marathon Labor day weekend.  I'm going to do the 1/2 marathon portion of it.   So...knowing that my body is going to require alot of nutrition to get through the training and the actual run, I decided I would work with my nutritionist to get through this. Currently, I take in about 1400 calories, 130 - 150 grams of protein and 50 - 75 carbs per day.  Plus, drink 7 (16 ounce) bottles of water.  Pretty good, huh???  Uuummm.....NOT!  I have to eat more......she said that I am too active now to be at these levels and need to add 25+ grams of carbs, we negotiated a cut back on protein to 130 (yes...NEGOTIATED - haha) and increase calories a little. She wants me to start by changing my afternoon snack of protein to crackers w/ peanut butter.  I agreed to have oatmeal 3 days a week (to start) instead of my eggs and turkey sausage.  I agreed to add a bit of sweet potato to my dinners a few days a week and even some brown rice. Here's where I need help......the thought of eating more not only terrifies me, but I'm not sure that I can.  The nutritionist looked at my food journal and commented on the fact that i am constanly eating and could not figure out when I had time to work out - haha.  So...how do I eat more? One suggestion she came up with was change the foods that I eat.  For example...tomorrow we are having tacos.  Instead of 3 ounces of ground turkey, she suggested havine 1 1/2 ounces of ground turkey and add black beans and corn to increase my carbs without really increasing the amount of food intake.  Since I don't eat the shell, she suggested adding a bit of brown rice to the mixture. So...I need the accountability that I'm doing what I'm suppose to be doing, suggestions beyond adding granola to my yogurt (because I already do that) and the support that it's ok...... She said that if I don't do this, I will not make it.  My body will not have the fuel for these harder runs in preparation.  And when I figured out how many miles Iogged in last week in just running (forget the walking and dvd exercise) I can see where she is coming from. Thanks in advance.......

Hmmm I guess I will just be lost with you... Actually what your eating sounds good I may have to try it.. I know I need to eat more protein but I'm just not a big meat eater and I don't do protein drinks.. Well I will just have to see what suggestions you get.. thanks

Fortunately, meeting my protein was never an issue for me.  But, this dang carb thing has my head spinning and in a panic!

Well Jill I cant offer any suggestions to you because Im the last one to ask advice. You do so well I know you will figure it all out you always do! There is no doubt in my mind you will finish that race and do well, so hang in there chick keep doing what your doing  make the few changes she has add and  go forward and WIN!!!!!!!!!!!! You rawk.... 

AWESOME! I was down on VA Beach last yr for the Rock and Roll Marathon Labor day weekend. and we didn't even know it was going on we just went for a long weekend away from the kids.  After seeing the marathon is when I found this baord and decided to do something about my weight.  Good Luck. I hope that someday I might be able to do the half marathon also.

Well since you are doing this the best way, by working with your nut. I definitely think that this is an okay way to go about it.  You have to have the right nutrition in order for your body to work the way it needs too.

I think the adjustment might be a bit difficult at first but you will make it work.  You could try adding in some fruits that are higher in carbs too, pineapple is a good one & I think bananas.  I love sweet potato, definitely like that idea.  She has a great point about changing things around to add the carbs but not increase your actually food intake.  I think this is just going to call for some research to get some great ideas on how to adjust your meals a bit.  YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! 

Jill, Registered Dieticians are like church demoninations -- they all want to get you to the same place, but each thinks that their beliefs are the best path.  In the end you have to "prayerfully" choose which to follow.  You expressed concern above about the directions you have been given and don't seem comfortable with it or you wouldn't have posted asking for comments. If you had a personal trainer who was giving you advice you were uncomfortable with, would you find a new trainer or go with what they said?   If you have been very comfortable with their advice in the past and it has worked for you then perhaps this is just a stretch for your comfort zone right now. Here is another school of thought to consider --  Have you read the "Zone Diet" by Dr. Barry Sears?  If not, please do.  He developed this diet after doing research on the hormones that regulate insulin while trying to understand heart disease.   His diet is the one the US Olympic team used to win the Gold Metals in Barcalona, Spain, several years ago.  Since then many athletic teams use his diet rather than carb loading before an event.  His theory is that you have more endurance if you keep your insulin level rather than spike it before an event.  He recommends a diet of 30 healthy fats, 30 percent protein and only 40 percent healthy carbs.

Thanks for the info...I will check it out.

My concern is that I thought I was eating too much, and am now finding out (from other runners as well who've had the surgery) that I am not.  That in order to have the endurance I will need to train and perform,  I need to increase my carbs - with good stuff, not cookies and candy (haha).

It's just scary...I've been given a license to eat...can I do so properly??? But...today...I've put my hat in the ring and started increasing my carbs.  By the end of the day, I will be at 1450 calories, 115 protein and 97 carbs.  All good carbs, too.

Ok sweetie, I think I'm a little unsure as to what you are looking for & I'll bet others are as welll.  IF I'm understanding your post correctly, there seems to be 3 issues.  Tell me if I'm understanding them right. 1.  I'm not hearing a lot of confidence in your Nut.  Is he/she a sports Nut or weight-loss only?  If it's the latter, then, as Cathy suggested, maybe it would be to your benefit to seek out a Nut. that specializes in sports training.  I mean, you wouldn't go see a shrink for  gyn problem, right? 2.  You said you thought you were eating too much only to find out that you weren't eating enough to sustain the kind of daily workouts you do normally.  Ok, you KNOW you're working your butt off & obviously you aren't gaining back weight, right?  Muscle weighs more than fat...you already know that too.  So I would suggest that your fear of overeating has to do more with your head than your weight, would you agree?  Perhaps a session with your wl shrink would help you sort through your fears/concerns.  That would release the stresses you're going through right now, which would allow you to redirect that energy to accomplish this goal you've set for yourself. 3.  Jill, are you CONFIDENT about doing this race?  Or have you upped the bar for personal accomplishments too high for the moment?  What is your motivation for taking on such a challenge?  What are your expectations?  These are questions to ask YOURSELF, not necessarily to be answered here.  More, answer them within yourself.  You seem to be asking for either validation or permission from others that what you've chosen to do is "ok". Honey, you only have to answer to yourself.  Only YOU will know if this is a good thing to do at this time. As I said in the beginning of this, I may be waaaay off base.  If I am, then I'm sorry for taking up space here unnecessarily.  I don't feel qualified to advise you on whether or not you should do this marathon or whether or not the suggestions your Nut has made is right.  I'm learning quickly that this is a very individual, personal thing.  What I CAN do is support you in whatever you decide is right for you, to NOT JUDGE whatever you decide.  So that is what I offer to you, as your friend.

Ok...I have ALOT of confidence in my nut....it's just bizzare to be told to EAT MORE!  After 2 years of watching what I eat, I feel like I've been given a license - hehe.  I swear as she was telling me this, that little guy who sits on my should was clapping "We can eat COOKIES!!!!!" - HAHA and she NEVER said that!!!! I mean, just last week I was complaining that I was grazing too much...only to find out that, well...yes I'm grazing..just not enough for the intensity levels I'm working out at. Even the nut is a bit out of element, because her normal advice is for her clients to watch the carbs, etc.  But for me...it's the complete opposite - haha.  So we BOTH are in a differing situation.  She gave me some really good advice, and I will see her every 2 months so she can monitor how things are going, and I can ensure that I'm not heading off of the track. Plus, I chatted with other bariatric people today who run marathons and they said that he advice was right on target and that I don't need to eat more, but change what I'm eating...more complex carbs and less proteins (I can afford to reduce proteins) - especially since I'm not looking to lose any more weight. UGH! I'm confident about the run.  My attitude is that I may not be able to run the whole thing, but dang it...I WILL fini****!  THAT'S what counts...right?!?!?! But...you do have one thing right...I'm just looking for some support.  That's all..... Thanks for being there..................