Oof. This was an interesting week! I started a diet- not for weight loss- but to fix the digestive problems I’ve been having. It’s very restrictive, but I know it works because I’ve done it before (more about it here). So basically what this means is I felt like crap for a few days. But, there were still workouts, at least most of the time. Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting the Weekly Rundown. Let’s just see how this week played out…
Sunday
I had a headache all day, sigh. In the afternoon I got out for a 3 mile walk, which didn’t really help. But moving is always better than not moving…right?
Monday
Ah, top of the morning! I got my aching head out of bed and went for a run! 3 miles of alternating running and walking (the hamstring is still hanging on with a little bit of pain).
I also did runner’s touch and side planks with leg lifts- the two exercises I’m hoping are going to help heal up that hamstring.
Tuesday
In the morning I did the Caroline Girvan deadbug workout. I was planning on the gym in the afternoon but I STILL HAD THAT HEADACHE, so I went home and took a nap instead. Meh.
Wednesday
FINALLY- I felt better. Since it was my day off, I opted to sleep in a little and run after taking my daughter to school. But I wasn’t in the mood for the heat and humidity, so this 3 mile run was on the treadmill at the gym. It felt pretty good!
Afterwards I again did runner’s touch and side planks with leg lifts. It was impossible to get a good photo-
Thursday
I did an upper body strength workout at home, including work on the pull up bar (I’m up to ten negatives! That means it’ll only be 1000 years till I can actually do a pull up!)
And- this was the last day of school! I’m determined that my wakeup time will not start with a “5” for the next ten weeks.
Friday
I had planned to run, but I woke up thinking “I really feel like leg day at the gym.” THAT was weird- I actually wanted to lift weights instead of run, so I decided to do it while I was in the mood. I’m still not doing deadlifts, but I focused on squats, Bulgarian split squats, side planks with leg lifts (hey- I’m getting stronger with those. I increased it to three sets of ten- when I started I could barely get through one set on the left side!) and core.
Saturday
I knew my daughter and I were headed to the gym in the afternoon, so once again I decided to sleep in a little and run later on the treadmill. This was the best my hamstring has felt in months!!!! I upped the distance slightly to 3.5 miles.
Sunday
On tap for today- sleeping in! Some sort of… breakfast… and then upper body at the gym. This was a difficult week in some ways, but I’m ending it feeling pretty good. Let the summer begin!
How was your week? Is school out where you are?
32 Responses
Sorry, I know you already talked about the diet, but is it pretty low carb? For me, I went low carb and boy did it give me a headache! But, like you said, it was fine after a few days…I am glad you got past that part and are feeling better now!
Yeah, unfortunately it’s pretty low carb. That’s not really the intention, but just the way it works out. I feel like the first few days my body was not happy and now I’m used to it.
next week is the last week of school. time flies.
hope your headache goes away for good, it’s so annoying and would have ruined my mood and irritable easily. hope that’s not the case for you.
I feel much better- yes, having a headache is a mood buster.
School is not out yet. And it doesn’t feel like summer here. I think it will warm up this week.
I’m not on a diet but I’ve had a headache on and off for 3 days. Weather? It affects my sleep.
Glad the hamstring is feeling better.
Thanks Darlene! And, I get a headache sometimes if I haven’t slept enough. So maybe your headache is from the weather, or not sleeping enough- hopefully things will even out this week. I think temperatures are rising so you’ll get some nicer weather!
I’ve been a bit more “intentional” about my diet since Paris- mine is a bit for weight loss- and it still took my body awhile to adjust, but I’m feeling a bit more normal. I hope your plan helps with the digestion issues!
Well done on the strength Jenny!
Thank you Jessie! I think it’s important (for most of us- maybe not the few who manage to moderate their diets all the time!) to kind of reign it in every once in a while and give your body a reset. I know mine desperately needed it.
Ouch with the headache for days! That’s the worst, but it really sounds like it had something to do with the eating plan, so at least there was a “why” behind it. It sounds like you got in a bit of active recovery while it was going on, so there’s more upside there.
Yay for summer and the end of wake up times that start with a 5!
I’m pretty sure my headache was from the diet! That’s what helped me get through it- I knew if I just stuck with it my body would get used to it and I would feel better.
I’m texting you today- it’s the start of our book club!!!
I hope that your headache doesn’t come back. Do you think it was it related to your change in diet?
Yay for summer break and sleeping in a little later. I just checked to see when school is out in our county, and it’s not until June 13th. Enjoy your summer!
Wow, you guys end school LATE! But your kids probably don’t go back till after Labor Day, and ours starts August 11 (sigh.)
I would be surprised if the headache weren’t from the diet, and very possibly from having less caffeine. But- I feel better now.
Yay for the improving hamstring!
And did your headache resolve? May it was from adjusting to the new diet and lack of coffee? (Which would mean you’re through the worst of it I hope!)
So no getting up before dawn to beat the heat?
Yes, the headache is gone. I’m not sure if it was from the much lower caffeine, or just the diet overall or the combination. But, we can get used to anything, right? I’m feeling better now.
Ugh a days long headache is rough. I have had those when I quit caffeine previously. I am glad you were feeling better later in the week and still got some good workouts in! I didn’t get any workouts in during the week since I was in the office and then we had a student recognition ceremony for Paul on Friday. But I ran 4.5 miles yesterday and will do a CG workout this morning.
Paul has one more week of school and then he’s out for the summer. He said he is sad and happy at the same time. He really liked his teacher and really likes school so is never counting down the days until the year ends. I imagine that may change when he’s a teen, though!
Aw… that’s so cute. Yes, at that stage they still like school! Although, I think my daughter was sad and happy that the school year ended. Thee were some graduating seniors that she’ll miss.
I think the headache definitely could have been a caffeine thing. I was drinking a lot of black tea, and then I had to go to green tea, which I MAY have mentioned (ha ha) I don’t really like.) So I switched to green AND drank less of it- I think it took a while for my body to adjust.
Good luck with the CG workout!
I’m so sorry about the lingering headache. That’s a real bummer. I believe the last day of school here was Thursday. Since it’s still so chilly here it just feels wrong. We’re supposed to get some heat this week though. You’re doing so great at the gym!
Thank you Marcia! I just heard your weather- 60s today and 80s tomorrow. THAT should make you feel like it’s summer!
Wow, a three day headache. At least you knew what to expect going in but ugh. I am so sorry! On the upside, I’m so glad your hammy is feeling better!
Thank you Nicole! Yes the hamstring is better, the head is better AND my digestion is even feeling a little better already. So, things are looking up.
Are you doing the FODMAP diet? That’s usually what I recommend to my patients, but it is very restrictive. I’m not surprised you had a headache. I hope you feel better this week!
Great job on your pull-up prep. I’m convinced that I will never get one.
My diet is an anti-candida diet, which if anything is probably more restrictive than FODMAP.
WHY are pull ups so impossible??? And yet… I see women doing them at the gym (every once in a while). Maybe there’s some kind of magic we need to learn.
Ugh headaches can be so annoying! I had a pretty bad one Monday afternoon (I think mine was dehydration/heat-related after my run in the morning) and I was supposed to drive home 2 hours from my parents’ house after the long weekend there but ended up taking a sick day from work the next day because I was not up for that drive with my headache. Fortunately my head felt fine the next day so it was a bonus day off, and I’ve barely taken any sick days so I was ok with it! I’m glad your head eventually felt better and you were able to get some workouts in!
Does your diet allow electrolytes, like LMNT? I’ve found I’m very sensitive to electrolyte imbalances and often get headaches (usually post-run if it was long and/or hot) if I don’t take in enough electrolytes! Yesterday I took in 2500 mg of sodium just from my liquids alone during and after my long run and even though I struggled the last few miles in the heat, I didn’t get a headache and feel great today! Just a thought, though everyone is different and not everyone is as salty of a sweater!
I usually do drink LMNT in the summer, and need to order some more. I have to look at the ingredients- I think it should be fine? I know there’s no sugar. I agree- electrolyte imbalances can definitely cause headaches.
Glad you got a bonus day off and that your headache was gone!
I am all for reducing sugar and also cut out all of those gels and sugary chews. Seeing ‘coaches” on IG tell runners to eat pop tarts is one of my serious pet peeves! They are terrible choices of food and fuel. Anyway-hope your plan works for you and also that your headaches go away. Maybe from giving up coffee? Now coffee is supposed to be good for you so who knows!? Anyway-glad that hamstring is feeling better! Hope you have a great week
Thank you Deborah! Yes, I definitely started to eat a lot of junk while I was training for my race, and my body didn’t like it one bit. My headache definitely could have been from a lack of caffeine- but now I’m used to it (the lower caffeine, not the headache- the headache is gone!)
Well that’s great news on the improved hammy situation! Your diet sounds challenging… I’m curious to hear more about it. I know I have way too much sugar in my life, but ugh. It’s SO tough to forbid it…
It is VERY tough, I agree. My body was letting me know in no uncertain terms that I needed to fix the situation though.
I read about this diet in another post. I hope it’s worth it! I think it’s so cool that you woke up feeling you wanted a leg day in the gym. Of course!
Very good news about your hamstring. Hope you get a good, headache-free week!
Thank you Susanne! And yes- it would be very hard to do this diet, now knowing if it was really going to work. Luckily I’ve done it before and ended up feelig amazing- so it should work again.
I find it so inspiring that you worked in movement even in the midst of a days-long headache instead of pulling the sheets up over your head in bed.
You’re a wonder and an inspiration Jenny!
Ugh. I had a headache most of the week from the weather. Barometric pressure despises me.
You did great, regardless. And I’m so glad that hamstring feels a little better.
School got out on Friday and now we are in the clear until band camp in July.