HELP!!! I wanna lose weight!

[Exquisite5]

[QUOTE=lovelyivy84;1430988]

ETA: Just saw the bit about the marathon. Wow!!! YOU GO SOROR!

How long is the marathon? IQUOTE]

Marathons are 26.2 miles. Many marathons also have Half-Marathon options, which are- you guessed it- 13.1 miles. A full marathon generally takes a first timer 3:50:00-5:00:00 if he/she runs or does a higher cycle run/walk cycle.

[lovelyivy84]

[QUOTE=Exquisite5;1431127]

Originally Posted by lovelyivy84

ETA: Just saw the bit about the marathon. Wow!!! YOU GO SOROR!

How long is the marathon? IQUOTE]

Marathons are 26.2 miles. Many marathons also have Half-Marathon options, which are- you guessed it- 13.1 miles. A full marathon generally takes a first timer 3:50:00-5:00:00 if he/she runs or does a higher cycle run/walk cycle.

I am intrigued byt his half marathon deal- I can't currently imagine myself doing 26 miles, but 13...that might be doable with some (a lot of) work.

[Exquisite5]

[QUOTE=lovelyivy84;1431135]

Originally Posted by Exquisite5

I am intrigued byt his half marathon deal- I can't currently imagine myself doing 26 miles, but 13...that might be doable with some (a lot of) work.

There's alwasy triathlon!!!! Part of the reason I picked triathlon was because I wanted to do an endurance event, but knew I couldn't run anywhere for 26.2 miles- just too much jostling on these used-to-be-a-sprinter knees and due to a ligament injury I've dealt with in my ankle for almost two years now. Also, I get bored really easily so I couldn't see myself completing a 2 hr training run.

Triathlon is great b/c two of the events are low impact (swimming and biking) and the distance you run in an olympic distance triathlon is only 10K or 6.1 miles. Now granted, I will run that after having swam a mile (a LOT harder than it sounds) and biked 24, but for some reason I could wrap my head around all that alot easier than running 26.2 miles.

Also, since you're training for a 3 sport endurance event your training is a lot more varied, which for me was good. (again the easily bored thing).

Thing about triathlon!!!

[lovelyivy84]

I can swim (poorly- but that changes with some work) but riding a bike is something that I never learned to do (hard core nerd).

I initially have a hard time running due to boredom, but I've found that with the right music it goes along really quickly- the latest thing is Timbaland's new cd. I have bad knees too, so in the gym I alternate between the treadmill and the elliptical trainer, which helps my knees feel a bit less achy. Best thing though is to go outside and run/walk someplace pretty that I'm not familiar with. Especially if there is a possibility of shopping at a later time, lol.

Plus the aftermath feeling really is pretty intense. I just feel so good knowing that I can do it. After one full hour it is quite the high.


I am going to work on the half
[QUOTE=Exquisite5;1431141]

Originally Posted by lovelyivy84

There's alwasy triathlon!!!! Part of the reason I picked triathlon was because I wanted to do an endurance event, but knew I couldn't run anywhere for 26.2 miles- just too much jostling on these used-to-be-a-sprinter knees and due to a ligament injury I've dealt with in my ankle for almost two years now. Also, I get bored really easily so I couldn't see myself completing a 2 hr training run.

Triathlon is great b/c two of the events are low impact (swimming and biking) and the distance you run in an olympic distance triathlon is only 10K or 6.1 miles. Now granted, I will run that after having swam a mile (a LOT harder than it sounds) and biked 24, but for some reason I could wrap my head around all that alot easier than running 26.2 miles.

Also, since you're training for a 3 sport endurance event your training is a lot more varied, which for me was good. (again the easily bored thing).

Thing about triathlon!!!

[Exquisite5]

Good deal!

I do want to let you all know since music was mentioned in the previous post that in most races, particularly running races, headphones/music/mp3 players are not allowed. They are considered to be pacing devices (which in reality music is) and also quite dangerous when running with 5,000 other people.

If you train with a program (like TNT) they won't let you train with music either so you can learn how to self-pace and get used to running and only having your mind to entertain you. Its wise to do this even if you train alone b/c if you've practiced for six months w/ headphones and then try to run race day w/o it will wig you out.

This was a big shock to me when I started training, so I thought I'd share.

[delph998]

Originally Posted by Ideal08

I could FINALLY see my weight-loss. All doing a comparison pic for my hair album. And when I noticed it, I was ECSTATIC!!! I mean, I was so happy, I sent out an email to my friends. And then things just went awry. Anyway, here is the pic. This is the closest thing I have to before/after pics. My friend is supposed to be scanning my full-body before pics, but y'all know how black folk do.

http://public.fotki.com/NappyLaedi/3...risonshot.html

Soror RD, congrats on the 5lb loss!!! The more I think about it, the more I think I need to give FS another try. My system could probably use it. Send me some tofu recipes. I'm gonna make some of that chili tomorrow.

Break time is over.

Looking good Ideal!

[Ideal08]

Not even books on CD???? I could finish almost a whole book in 5+ hours. This saddens me to no END.



I am so glad you told us, Soror. That is so important to know.

I should have my whole life together by the time I complete the FPM. I mean, if I have to be with me and my thoughts all the time? This should be great therapy. I read somewhere that some dude memorized the Declaration of Independence and recited it on his runs. I'm cool on that, lol, but I did wonder why he did it, and I guess now I kinda know.

Delph: Thanks, chica!

Originally Posted by Exquisite5

Good deal!

I do want to let you all know since music was mentioned in the previous post that in most races, particularly running races, headphones/music/mp3 players are not allowed. They are considered to be pacing devices (which in reality music is) and also quite dangerous when running with 5,000 other people.

If you train with a program (like TNT) they won't let you train with music either so you can learn how to self-pace and get used to running and only having your mind to entertain you. Its wise to do this even if you train alone b/c if you've practiced for six months w/ headphones and then try to run race day w/o it will wig you out.

This was a big shock to me when I started training, so I thought I'd share.

[blueGBI]

Exercise DVD? You on a Diet Exercise DVD. I'm thinking about getting Turbo Jam or the Hip Hop Abs DVD. I actually walk for exercise more now that its getting warmer than using the DVDs.

Fitness magazine? Shape

Healthy treat (dessert-wise)?a small piece of chocolate

Healthy snack? low-fat yogurt

Healthy meal (at home)? lean chicken breast stirfry with brown rice and mixed veggies

Healthy meal (dining out)? Sushi from different spots in the city

Weight-loss website? www.3fatchicks.com

"Trick" to stay on plan? I have pics of myself when I came to college and now that I use to stay on plan.


Anyone else struggling with the change and seasons? In the winter, I had no problem staying on plan and I lost 15 lbs. Since the seasons have started to change, I've started to get hungry more and I've gained 3 lbs back. Am I the only one? Luckily, I'm still very much on goal for my end of summer goal and overall goal so its not that bad.

I'm also considering joining WW. I've been doing it on my own but I'm starting to believe I need to be in a group where I can see people face to face than just chatting online.

[lovelyivy84]

Yeah you're right on the therapy bit- I don't know if I can have nothing to look at or read for the time it takes for 13 miles without music, lol.

Hmm maybe I need to incorporate some yoga/meditation into this too...

Originally Posted by Ideal08

Not even books on CD???? I could finish almost a whole book in 5+ hours. This saddens me to no END.



I am so glad you told us, Soror. That is so important to know.

I should have my whole life together by the time I complete the FPM. I mean, if I have to be with me and my thoughts all the time? This should be great therapy. I read somewhere that some dude memorized the Declaration of Independence and recited it on his runs. I'm cool on that, lol, but I did wonder why he did it, and I guess now I kinda know.

Delph: Thanks, chica!

Hi again Sorors,

I made a mistake. I am doing th Philly distance run in SEPTEMBER not November. I am from the Virgin Islands, not sure I can run/walk anyway for any length of time in November either. I am also walking; not running I've had 2 surgeries on my left knee and running is not my thing. And I'm doing the half marathon, not the full marathon. I'm really siked about doing the half marathon.

One of the trainers at my gym want sto do it with me. She is running the marathon next week. http://www.active.com/donate/tntepa/tntepaJSkursk

She said if she does it 'we can't walk like it's a stroll in central park. We have to walk like a tiger's on our a*s*s. I guess she wants me to power walk. She tells me to try to do 1 mile in 15 minutes. I'm not there yet. I can do about .92 in 15 minutes. I am going to train with TNT also.

As for weight loss - I got serious in January. I've loss 12 pounds since then. I started at 199 and am 187 now. I've been stuck here for 4 weeks now. I think it's my diet. I wasn't really paying attention to my food. When I started to look at what I eat, I realize I was downing close to 2100 calories a day. So far this week, I've been able to keep it under 1800. I'm trying to get to 1500 a day. I'm not on any diet specifically. I'm just trying to eat right (and less) and exercise.

Sorry for the long post. Guess i had to get things out. I have been trying to do this alone. It sucks when I have no one really to talk to or lean on. I'm tired of all my so call friends telling me 'but you're tall. You can carry 200 pounds." Whether I can or not, I don't want to. Ok..I'm done now. For real.

Also here are my answers:
Exercise DVD? Hip Hop Abs is my absolute favorite. I also my medicine ball with a arbitrary DVD I got from Amazon. I also have the latest version of the Taebo tapes which I never use. It's just too hard on my knee. I should have known this. oh well.

Fitness magazine? Shape

Healthy treat (dessert-wise)? Werther's chewy Caramel. It's not healthy but I love those things. For heathy, I sometimes peel, dice, then freeze a banana.

Healthy snack? My number one snack is my Zone bars, then quaker rice cakes, a slim fast shake (never as a meal. that's crazy)

Healthy meal (at home)? broccoli and some kind of baked fish or chicken

Healthy meal (dining out)? I don't reall go out much but when I do, I try to go to Applebees then I choose from their WW menu. If not, I just order chicken or fish and veggies. BTW - I loathe salad bars,. eww

Weight-loss website? www.fitday.com (basically a food journal site)

"Trick" to stay on plan? I write down my food daily. I weigh myself and take pictures every Sunday Morning.

[Ideal08]

I went to the TNT meeting last night and it's a done deal; I'm training with them. I'm REALLY excited. And kinda trippin'. They train any ol' body, active or sedentary. We start training May 12th and should be ready for the marathon (or half) in October. So it may not take me a whole year to train for the FPM. And I may do the FULL marathon in October instead of the half. AND I may do it in San Francisco instead of Columbus. Why? I've never been to Cali, and I'm all about free trips (I mean, I earn it, but you know, no need for currency). Also, instead of a medal, you get a Tiffany's necklace when you cross the finish line. Handed to you by a man in a tuxedo. How cool is that?

I'm still starting my training Sunday (cuz TNT starts out at 2-3 miles and PUHLEEZE, I can't start right there, I need to work up to that or I'll still be walking the whole way). AND I'm starting FS. I'm down to 184.5; my binge weight is coming off. I really would like to be at 182.5 by Sunday, but I just don't see it happening. But I'm not depressed about it anymore, and I've stopped the binge. I'm back on track.

Who AM I and what did I do with the REAL Monique? Cuz the REAL Monique would NOT be talkin' about runnin' ANYWHERE. Seriously, although I'm hella excited, I do feel that on some level, I've lost my mind.

[Ideal08]

Originally Posted by BrownSugaBabe

I have been trying to do this alone. It sucks when I have no one really to talk to or lean on. I'm tired of all my so call friends telling me 'but you're tall. You can carry 200 pounds." Whether I can or not, I don't want to.

Soror, I completely understand what you mean. A lot of my friends are overweight and trying not to be, so I can talk to some of them. But I've noticed that the more weight I lose, the less anyone wants to discuss anything with me. Now that folk think I don't have to lose anymore weight based on how I look, they think I'm trippin' or overreactin' or whatever. I've had people roll their eyes at me when I check my pedometer or mention going for a walk or to Pilates class. Or they say, "You still on that $#!t?" What really ticks me off (and serves as the best motivator) is when people tell me my goals are unrealistic and I'll never be toned and I'll HAVE to have surgery to get rid of a bunch of skin and maybe I wasn't meant to be any smaller than I am now and I need to gain the weight back and what did I do and am I sick and have I started smokin' crack (seriously, this was mentioned by someone, I kid y'all not). . . I could go on and on. So now, I talk to Y'ALL and my blog and folk that I exercise with or who I know are on WW. Otherwise, I try not to even mention it. It even makes some people MAD. I'm like DANG, why you mad?

I'm glad I have some cyber-support!!!

[lovelyivy84]

People are like that- your being proactive and getting healthy for yourself threatens them because they can't or won't do it.

Glad to see you are shaking the haters off- you and the other ladies who are so incredibly proactive about your health are an inspiration to me, I gotta say. THere have been so many times that I let depression or a hectic pace interfere with caring for myself that it really really helps to see you guys doin your thang and helps me get it together!

Originally Posted by Ideal08

Soror, I completely understand what you mean. A lot of my friends are overweight and trying not to be, so I can talk to some of them. But I've noticed that the more weight I lose, the less anyone wants to discuss anything with me. Now that folk think I don't have to lose anymore weight based on how I look, they think I'm trippin' or overreactin' or whatever. I've had people roll their eyes at me when I check my pedometer or mention going for a walk or to Pilates class. Or they say, "You still on that $#!t?" What really ticks me off (and serves as the best motivator) is when people tell me my goals are unrealistic and I'll never be toned and I'll HAVE to have surgery to get rid of a bunch of skin and maybe I wasn't meant to be any smaller than I am now and I need to gain the weight back and what did I do and am I sick and have I started smokin' crack (seriously, this was mentioned by someone, I kid y'all not). . . I could go on and on. So now, I talk to Y'ALL and my blog and folk that I exercise with or who I know are on WW. Otherwise, I try not to even mention it. It even makes some people MAD. I'm like DANG, why you mad?

I'm glad I have some cyber-support!!!

[Ideal08]

Originally Posted by lovelyivy84

People are like that- your being proactive and getting healthy for yourself threatens them because they can't or won't do it.

Glad to see you are shaking the haters off- you and the other ladies who are so incredibly proactive about your health are an inspiration to me, I gotta say. THere have been so many times that I let depression or a hectic pace interfere with caring for myself that it really really helps to see you guys doin your thang and helps me get it together!

I just need for people to understand that if I can do it, ANYONE can do it. Seriously.

You kiddin', right? Soror li84, you motivate me!!! Remember? Toocute was tattlin' on me to you? You are still in my book of fitness gurus. We all fall off at times, but you always seem to be 'on it.' Depression WILL jack you up. That's another reason I love walking. I FINALLY learned how to do it when I'm angry, mad, depressed, or anxious. It actually works. By the time I get back from my 4mi walk (this was in my real life when I actually exercised regularly, not sporadically [sp?] like now), I would feel SO much better. I haven't figured out how to battle a hectic pace yet. I guess it's all about planning and scheduling, but those types of things don't work really well for procrastinators because we neither plan nor schedule, and if we do, we don't stick to it.

I guess I see why I'm running the marathon. I need to get my life together, lol. And this is gonna help. If I can be disciplined to do something I don't even much like, I should be able to be disciplined with anything (eating habits, finances, celibacy, going back to school, etc). They say it's a life changing experience. I'm ready to change my life. And I wanna see what this whole 'runner's high' is.

I think I might be growin' up or something.

[BabyBlue91]

Originally Posted by Ideal08

Soror, I completely understand what you mean. A lot of my friends are overweight and trying not to be, so I can talk to some of them. But I've noticed that the more weight I lose, the less anyone wants to discuss anything with me. Now that folk think I don't have to lose anymore weight based on how I look, they think I'm trippin' or overreactin' or whatever. I've had people roll their eyes at me when I check my pedometer or mention going for a walk or to Pilates class. Or they say, "You still on that $#!t?" What really ticks me off (and serves as the best motivator) is when people tell me my goals are unrealistic and I'll never be toned and I'll HAVE to have surgery to get rid of a bunch of skin and maybe I wasn't meant to be any smaller than I am now and I need to gain the weight back and what did I do and am I sick and have I started smokin' crack (seriously, this was mentioned by someone, I kid y'all not). . . I could go on and on. So now, I talk to Y'ALL and my blog and folk that I exercise with or who I know are on WW. Otherwise, I try not to even mention it. It even makes some people MAD. I'm like DANG, why you mad?

I'm glad I have some cyber-support!!!

OMG, I thought it was just me! I have friends, relatives -- and yes, even sorors -- telling me I need to stop losing (I'd like to get between 145-155). The last time I weighed 180 lbs was in 1985 (age 12) and believe you me, NO ONE was encouraging me to maintain that weight then. I'm riding this train to the very end of the line!