Uh, oh . . . (update on me)

Maybe get a coach??

 I have trouble with consistency too. I'm making it a point just to do something everyday. I don't care if I ride my bike for 30min. I do something.

 so far I've done 2 tris and gotten faster at each. And I'm getting a coach (probably someone off this board - I already know who) starting in Jan.

as far as the eating, I've tracked at mydailyplate.com. Is it fun? no. am i consistent? yes.  just a little over a month into it but I've dropped weight and inches.

I swear we are proabably the same person.

That would be motivation enough for me.  But I'm not you ....... you need to find that "thing" that does it for you.

Again, if something doesn't make you happy, you should not do it.  Butif you have not given it a fair shake to see if you DO, just give it some more time

Being an inspiration to even just one of those kids is a great thing.

It does make me happy. Just . . . when my knee starts to hurt, I think I must be damaging it . . . so I quit. And, honestly, the only reason I am posting on this board and going to the Dr. is because I have 120 students expecting me to complete this. Hhahaha.

I really appreciate all your help. I refuse to not do anything today. I WILL Do something . . . even if it's just walking.

Latrina--Maybe we ARE the same person!

How about swimming for for a while? You have some swimming goals posted and that won't hurt your knee.

You could certainly swim and what about deep water running?

Did you go to your doctor?  what did he/she say?

I have an appt with my doctor soon but i've been seeing a physical therapist that specializes in sports.  My doc told me last year not to run, when I see him next I plan to tell him I am running, what does he suggest other than not to run?  I may also seek a referral to a podiatrist for some orthotics.

I follow a vegan diet and it is totally possible to do with sports training.  

Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek is vegan

Pro Triathlete Brendan Brazier is vegan

Here are some other resources to look at:

http://www.veganathlete.com/

http://www.vegparadise.com/otherbirds510.html

About your knee...

Are you hurt or are you injured?

Based on your logs, I'd say the biggest thing you can do for your knee is to keep up the amazing weight loss you've accomplished already and rest it as much as possible (pending an actual physician's diagnosis). That means focusing on your swimming and cycling (provided your bike is fit properly) which should be pretty light on your knee. You've got plenty of time still and the running will take care of itself once you're not beating your knees up with an extra 40 pounds per foot strike.

From your logs, your bike volume has dropped off pretty significantly and you totally stopped tracking your weight loss, BUT you're doing GREAT in the water!! It's time to dig deep and re-commit to your objective. Put a plan on paper for the next 30 days. Focus on the weight loss and use swimming and biking and your diet.

Get up each morning and execute the plan for THAT DAY. Don't worry about tomorrow, next week or the race in April. Focus on today, enjoy today's success when you go to bed tonight. You can do it.

I think you've got some pretty good advice.

 about your knee. I'd probably get a second opionion as well as work with a PT. Then I'd probably work on your "doing too much too fast syndrome"LOL

I'm sure you could do it. But you've got to do something. hell, now I"M watching you.

 really. get a coach. that's what i think.

See a Dr, PT, whomever you trust and rule out an injury

then HTFU. 

Tri Jean,

Everything is going to be fine.  You sound like a reasonable person looking for some  help to nudge you forward.  Consider it done.  Check upir logs: Inspire me.  Several good people are helping you out.

Knee- see a dr that specializes in sports medicine.  Preferrably one that consults for college or local minor league sports teams.  In my experience working with a GP usually leads to a prescription for high test advil and PT.  Now, I am not a dr., but that may or may not be the right solution (I have had lots of PT and taken lots of advil over the years but sometimes just knowing nothing is structurally wrong is nice).  If you have tight IT bands, simply getting massage or using The Stick or rollers can help a lot.  But go to a dr. and follow their advice.

Motivation- Best is a coach (but they are very expensive).  Nothing is more motivating than someone pushing you to get that last blast in.  Next best are some great training partners. Again, you will push and motivate each other .

Best of luck.  Keep pushing, it will click.

OK - so here we go -

First - the knee - I will ask the basic.  Have you been to  a true running store that can do a gait analysis and make sure you are in the correct shoe?  I did not do this when I started and I had knee pain after about 3 weeks.  I went in and got a gait analysis, got a new pair of shoes, and have not had a problem since.  If you have not done this - you need to do it.  If you have, let's move on.  Other knee problems are going to be best addressed by a PT or doc.  Do what they tell you.  My doc told me that I shouldn't run much because I was going to get arthritis in my knees.  I ignored him because the reason that I do tri's is much more important than me having to go against an arthritic knee later in life.  Your mileage may vary.

As far as staying on point, I know that I have a tough time getting out there at the end of a long day if I don't have a preset plan.  That is why I set a certain goal and import or build a plan and follow it as it is layed out in my log - don't look at what my log says now I am just coming back from surgery and maybe going back in today or tomorrow.  That way, I knoiw that I have to do that whenb I wake up in the morning and I can set a plan to get it done and have that plan in my head. 

Here is an issue I see with what you have going on - and a possible solution.  I looked at your race in April and it is a sprint with a damn boastful run.  The problem is - From Obctober to the end of April there are 26 or so weeks with no real goals except for perceived or timed improvement.

I would set yourself up a race - say after 13 weeks, lets say an indoor triathlon, 200 yd swim, 8 mile bike, 2 mile run.  There you have a shorter term goal that is easier to reach that will show you that you are on the right path (not to mention that you seem to be dropping pounds like a crazy person, congratulations).  Believe me when I tell you that doing one of these mini tri's, just by yourself or with a friend, having someone there to time you and encourage you, will spike your desire to continue into the harder part of the training from Mid Januaray to Mid-April. 

Of course - let's get clearance on the knee from a sports doc foirst, K?

Wow, guys! You have definitley come in full-strength to help me out. I don't think I was very explanatory in my post yesterday . . . so, now I will try to answer all your questions/concerns.

My knee: I am pretty sure that it's just a crappy knee. I have a couple MRIs and they always just say that my cartilage is missing . . . it's just breaking apart prematurely. The different with the diagnoses comes in with what do I do for it? Some people say to strengthen the quads, some people say I'm not missing strength or flexibility, some say that I shouldn't do any running or anything at all . . . ah! I just need someone to give me some straight-up answers. My dad works for a PT place and all of his friends try to give me some advice . . . and none of it is ever the same so I get really confused. This has been going on for about 6 years. Hmmmm . . . maybe I am adding mileage too quickly. I did get this running schedule from a cross country coach to make sure that I didn't do too much too soon, but maybe this is still too much too soon . . . you think so? I have an appt. with a specialist on Thursday. And, the thing is, biking hurts my knee, too, sometimes unbearably. And swimming. Although, I think with swimming, it's pushing off the wall that hurts it . . . so, yeah, my bike broke (that's why my bike mileage dropped drastically) and I have this new one on hold, but the dr. I saw last week told me not to bike, but the he recanted and said that I could just for the tri . . . but that the bike had to fit. See my problem? Hopefully this gives everyone a more complete picture. Someone did mention that I could even walk the running part. At least if I do that, I won't be letting my 120 kids down. Trust me, literally, the only reason I made an appt. with the dr. is because I have these students watching me to see if I do it. If all else fails, I can walk that part, right? I guess I need to get rid of the perfectionist attitude of "all of nothing."

As far as the vegan thing . . . well, basically, I have endometriosis really bad and I am not supposed to eat meat, dairy, white flour or oil. Yeah . . . I know. It's a problem. My ovary has been hurting lately (it's pinned to my pelvis) and so . . . I really don't want another surgery, so I am going to try to control my eating. Yeah.

AND the weight loss. Hahahaha. It LOOKS like I lost it rapidly. But it has taken me since June 2007 to lose that 15 pounds. I guess I should've made that evident. Hahaha.

So here is my new plan . . . little goals . . . well, first of all, where do I find a minature around here to get ready for?

I am doing the 100 push-ups in 6 weeks. I figure that I can tell my 120 students about it and maybe keep track of my progress in front of them. THEN I am supposed to get 240 minutes of pool jogging this month and get 2000 (or something) meters or swimming. I guess I can make that my focus. AND I do have two friends who are training with me (supposedly), I guess I could set up work out times with them. Maybe you guys are giving me a push in the right direction.

I will prevail!