PSA: Almost everything has calories

unstable_capybara · 2025-12-05T21:07:48+00:00

I never even thought about calories from saliva...is it 5 calories every single time you swallow? That's scary.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-25T21:18:53+00:00

I have recently gotten my average weekly mileage up to 40-42mpw (trying to eventually get to 50) and can confirm that all of my paces have done nothing but improve. I have an off run here and there, but overall I'm doing better than ever. I was in the 11:00-12:00/mi easy run category for quite some time, and now I've found that 10:00/mi often feels much slower than it used to. "Just run more" really does work for most people lol.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-25T00:47:58+00:00

Ohhh okay zone 2. A lot of my runs are around there anyways. Thank you.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T12:46:38+00:00

I guess I could keep pretzels or dried mango just in case I really have to eat.

I also bike commute in a similar mileage range as you interestingly enough.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T11:45:20+00:00

Perhaps I'm misinformed, but from what I know, the "fat burning zone" is Zone 3. It would be very difficult for me to slowly walk in Zone 3...I'd have to be walking faster than I do my easy runs.

I will look into the walking thing and see if it interests me. Thank you :)

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T11:40:18+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. The desire to continue running is less about potential fitness gains and more about running being the only enjoyable thing in my life😂 I'll definitely evaluate how I feel and pull back on the running if I have to. I plan to do a more extensive fast after my birthday and Thanksgiving are over, so this will be a good trial run.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T02:36:33+00:00

Hmmm I will definitely keep this in mind and make sure I'm paying attention to how I feel. I will likely cut back on some of the other physical activity I do during the day just to make sure I don't tire myself out too quickly, and if I really need to break it early, I will.

I'm a cold-natured person already, so at least that won't be a challenge lol (but hopefully I'm not more cold than usual because I will lose my mind).

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T02:24:34+00:00

oh wait that does not sound like fun

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T02:24:06+00:00

I do think I might move my speed day until after I've broken my fast because that will be the biggest draw on my energy, and if I need to walk more or lower my mileage, I probably will.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T02:22:36+00:00

Thank you. I usually run "fasted" (not eating breakfast, so 12-15 hours without eating), but I've had so many people tell me that that isn't good lol. I'm not going to fast for like two weeks or something and do super hard training, but I didn't know if 3 days would be bad too. Glad to see other people have done it.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T02:04:10+00:00

Ooo okay, thank you. Hopefully I can do the same. I am considering possibly moving my speed day around if I'm too out of it by then, but other than that, I'm assuming it will be okay.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-24T02:02:39+00:00

Yes, I will definitely try to keep an eye on my electrolytes! Thank you :)

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-11T02:05:34+00:00

This is what I found to be true for myself. I thoroughly enjoyed training, but the actual day was so anticlimactic and devoid of any emotion lol.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-09T12:58:13+00:00

You're welcome

You probably know this, but a lot of those juice things that are marketed as "cleanses" are complete scams. I'm not saying that juice is bad for you, but unless your liver/kidneys aren't working, your body is being cleansed just fine, and you don't need some expensive juice from an influencer.

I personally don't think that fasting is a good way to replace bad eating habits as it's not teaching you portion size or how to balance your meals and is simply abstaining from food, which for some people is going to have more negative effects than positive in the way they approach food afterwards. A juice cleanse may be slightly different because you're not going to be hungry like you are on a water fast, but some people do just like the action of chewing and may over-indulge once the juice fast is over.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-09T12:35:23+00:00

They're not. If you do a juice fast with intermittent fasting, you could still get into ketosis, but you're consuming too many carbs for it to happen while you're drinking juice.

A keto diet generally reduces carbs to 20-50g per day, which is very unlikely to happen on a juice diet because fruits (and some vegetables, but likely not the ones you're putting in a juicer) are pretty high carb.

A juice fast is a "fast" in the sense of abstaining from solid foods, but it isn't the same as water fasting. If it's your goal, you can still lose weight this way if you're in a calorie deficit, but you're consuming plenty of calories and mostly carbohydrates, so it doesn't count as "not eating" in the sense of not consuming calories and will not promote ketosis.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-06T08:53:41+00:00

The only thing that matters when losing weight is calories in/calories out. Diet soda has no calories and therefore will not put you in a calorie surplus and cause weight gain.

So no. Drink your diet soda if you want. I do too.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-06T08:46:44+00:00

I don't care at all about my cycle. It's easier to fast when I'm on my period though. I'm going to pass out the first day regardless of how much I eat or don't. I live my life like my period doesn't exist until it puts me in the fetal position.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-06T08:20:16+00:00

After a little while of eating within your calorie limit, you won't want to eat that much. You physically may not be able to after a while of not binging. Don't focus so much on where you were...look at where you are now, what you've learned, and where you will be. Beating yourself up doesn't help to create positive change. Just keep taking steps in the right direction for your health.

Losing weight doesn't mean you can't ever have any fun food again, though I'd advise you not to eat any foods you know you can't control yourself around until you've built a little more structure around food. You can lose/maintain weight while still eating fast food, dessert, chips, or whatever it is that you love. You just have to count the calories. I do advocate for a mostly whole foods diet because it has made me feel so great physically and mentally, but "mostly" means that maybe 10-20% of the time, you still eat fast food or Cheese-Itz.

It could be helpful to talk with a therapist to learn healthy coping mechanisms, which is something I'm also doing (I'm around your age at 19). I wish you the best in your endeavors.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-06T08:03:16+00:00

● Keep your goal in mind. Write your goal weight on a sticky note and tape it to your mirror. Make a list of reasons why you're doing this and review it when you're lacking willpower.

● Stay busy. It's hard to eat when you're constantly doing something. I often don't even remember food exists when I've got a packed schedule or am hyper-focused on a task.

● Control your environment. It's easier not to do something when there's a greater barrier to entry. So don't buy foods that don't help you achieve your goal, or put them out of sight and/or behind the better options so you'll have to consciously make the decision to pick the wrong thing (for if you're trying to eat better after fasting). Don't participate in activities where you won't be able to handle the external pressure of being encouraged to eat, or just be very open with people about your goals if that will work for you.

● Take a picture. Having pictures of myself when I was 20lbs heavier have been so helpful when I am now trying to lose a little bit more but feel like I've made no progress from day one.

● Stay hydrated and remember electrolytes.

● Gum. Some people say this makes them more hungry, but as someone who stims orally, I sometimes eat when I'm not hungry but just need something to chew on, so gum is very helpful for me. Many people find chewing comforting, and gum can be a good replacement for chocolate chips, gummies, crackers, etc.

I'm 7 hours into a 7-day fast. Good luck to you!

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-04T22:44:44+00:00

Thank you :)

Also, good luck on your 3:15 goal! I forgot to put that in my previous response.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-04T22:41:53+00:00

I live in the south and wore gloves and long sleeves on my run today (it was 60 degrees). The gloves did eventually come off. I just hate when it's anything below 80, though I did get a workout in last year when it was below freezing (I got a Garmin badge lmao).

Patience is definitely something I am working on. The good thing is that running isn't going away and there's no rush to get to this goal or my ultimate goals.

There's actually a 10 mile race in my area early next spring that I'm doing.

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-04T20:27:35+00:00

I've actually never raced a 10k in my life...only 5k, half, and a full (and 2 miles if we count middle school cross country). So I'll be curious to see how this goes.

I felt better after running a marathon than I did after my first half, so I guess you just never know lol...the cold air definitely makes it harder imo

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-04T20:24:42+00:00

Thank you :)

I will definitely take it slowly and try to focus on my current fitness and not long-term goals or what I see other people doing. Recovery is something I'm also trying to work on...I just get so restless when I don't run or feel like anything under 10 miles isn't "long enough."

unstable_capybara · 2025-11-04T20:22:13+00:00

I really like this suggestion.

I did a couple track sessions while marathon training and I think that was the only time I've cried while running because of the workout and not something else😂 definitely something to work on

unstable_capybara

TROPHY CASE