Running, weight, and cold

I just spent the last 8 days with Luke in Sunspot. It's a tiny collection of people who live in close proximity to the solar telescope he works at. He goes up there once a month, I make it once a year.

I want to like Sunspot, to think of it as my mountain top writing retreat. But at 9600 ft elevation and with below freezing temps and winds up to 40 mph... it's  a hard place to love. If the temperature was ok, the winds we so blustery that I couldn't venture outside w/o a heavy coat (I don't have wind proof running gear). If the winds died down, the temps dropped well below freezing (I have gear for the 30s/40s, but not much colder than that). If both the temp and the wind cooperated, the elevation was brutal. I did a lot of walking, we got in a day of skiing... but man oh man did I miss my running.

And my body noticed. I gained 3, maybe 4 pounds while there. Why? Because I was stuck in a pre-fab w/ no where to go and inclement  weather. Combine that with stress and it's a recipe for not enough movement for what I was eating. God, I hate Sunspot.

Weight is a really tricky thing for me. If I watch what I eat, eat well balanced meals, and exercise every day (at least 45 min, running, walking, rock climbing, something), I can generally eat the foods I like, drink the beer I want to drink, and feel ok. If any one of those is out of whack, I gain weight, and I gain it pretty quickly. I'm at a point in my life where I am more comfortable in my skin, but I also hate being reminded at how even a small eating change can pack on the pounds in record time. For me, weight gain is definitely a sign that I"m not eating right for my body and I'm certainly not moving enough.

I'm also realizing that working from home is catching up with me. I don't walk from my parked car to an office, or even around the office to pick up a cup of coffee. I walk from my kitchen table to my kitchen for coffee, and back. I'm going to set an alarm to go off at 10am and 2pm every day and make myself go for a 10 min walk  - no matter what I'm doing.

I'm back in Tucson and never been so happy to come back to a place. Luke and I did our standard 4.5 mile loop and I already feel better. Even fighting cramps for the last 1.5 miles I feel better. I can't wait to do a longer run tomorrow.