Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon

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2009-03-11 11:19 AM

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Subject: Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon

Hiya guys.

I've been a bit of a lurker but thought i should bite the bullet say hello.

Basically i'm interested in making one of my weight loss goals to complete a triathalon as personally, i love cycling and swimming but i'm not a great fan of running.

I've basically decided , (possibly at a bad time being a final year uni student) that its time to shed the pounds and so i'm aiming to lose quite a bit (around 100lb ).  Most of the problem has come from eating c@rp (and drinkign too much) rather than a complete lack of excercise. I play football once a week as well as hockey and cricket when the season is right.

If anyone has any thing to help would be appreciated. I have (with the help of my flatmate) started doing meal plans and we now go to the gym on days where i do not have other sports. I was originally aiming to try and complete a sprint triathalon in around 9-12  months time (although thats kinda winter )

 

anyway, a bit about me

The names Steve,  I play bass guitar and clarinet, enjoy most sorts of music, play too many computer games for my own good and i'm a cheap scumbag student living off all you tax payers :P

 



Edited by SteveyD 2009-03-11 11:23 AM

2009-03-11 11:21 AM
in reply to: #2010940

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Subject: RE: Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon
Oh and i'm studying Electronic and Electrical Engineering @ University of Nottingham (UK)
2009-03-11 12:11 PM
in reply to: #2010940

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Subject: RE: Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon

Steve, I have a similar story. Right now I'm 6 months ahead of you (it was in the fall that I decided to do this.

Here's what I did and what I'd recommend you try:

1. Your best bet, with 100 lbs to loss is to only worry about biking for the first 3-4 months (I did 4-6 eight mile rides per week). It is low impact and you can go at your own pace. 

2. Once your stamina is up and your weight is down a little, I would add the swimming. (I did this around month 4). Then just bike and swim for 3-4 months (I currently alternate biking and swimming every day. 1 hour on the bike, or 30 minutes in the pool).

3. Running is just really tough, especially when you're not at a good weight. Your bone and muscle structure just can't handle the extra fat (to be blunt, speaking from experience). Once when your down to within 15-20 pounds of your goal weight would I think about adding in the running (I just tried this, month 6, and I still am not ready for it). I want to do a tri in July, 9 months from when I started, and think I will add the running in April or May.     

Best of luck, let me know your thoughts.

-Shaun



Edited by goisles26 2009-03-11 12:32 PM
2009-03-11 3:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon
goisles26 - 2009-03-11 6:11 PM

Steve, I have a similar story. Right now I'm 6 months ahead of you (it was in the fall that I decided to do this.

Here's what I did and what I'd recommend you try:

1. Your best bet, with 100 lbs to loss is to only worry about biking for the first 3-4 months (I did 4-6 eight mile rides per week). It is low impact and you can go at your own pace. 

2. Once your stamina is up and your weight is down a little, I would add the swimming. (I did this around month 4). Then just bike and swim for 3-4 months (I currently alternate biking and swimming every day. 1 hour on the bike, or 30 minutes in the pool).

3. Running is just really tough, especially when you're not at a good weight. Your bone and muscle structure just can't handle the extra fat (to be blunt, speaking from experience). Once when your down to within 15-20 pounds of your goal weight would I think about adding in the running (I just tried this, month 6, and I still am not ready for it). I want to do a tri in July, 9 months from when I started, and think I will add the running in April or May.     

Best of luck, let me know your thoughts.

-Shaun

Sounds good actually. I think i could quite easily work off that bike distance. I come from Cambridge, which is actually a really flat area and i used to cycle.

The only problem i have with what you've suggested is there is no nearby pool , would it be beneficial do you think to combine cycling and swimming, say do the 3 mile cycle to the pool then do the swimming or would that make the swimming part less impact?

2009-03-12 8:10 AM
in reply to: #2010940

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Subject: RE: Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon
On weeks that my schedule gets complicated I will ride and swim on the same day. Usually I will ride and swim one day, then take the next day off. I find that my body is wiped out after a bike/swim/bike day so my body really appreciates the day of rest afterword. I think your swimming would be fine, especially since it will only be a 3 mile bike ride to get there, not 30.
2009-03-12 8:45 AM
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Subject: RE: Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon
bleh took my bike to the shop today beucause theres a lot of work needing doing on it :\ (front deraileur , brake, new chain new spokes back wheel bearing ) and its looking like im going to have to save up for a new bike as its going to be cheaper :|

2009-03-12 10:32 AM
in reply to: #2012840

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Subject: RE: Utter Newbie wants to Try - athalon

While you're saving up for the bike, you can always walk to the pool as weather permits.  A nice brisk pace will help burn extra calories, and heck, maybe walk a mile, jog half a mile, walk a mile, and jog the last half mile to the pool.  Or some other sort of thing. 

I'm in a similar position, being about 100-80 lbs over where I want to be, but I'm lucky enough to have a pretty good schedule to work out around.  I do two 1 hour spin classes, and a 45 minute spin class each week, swim 3-4 days a week, and run/walk 2-3 times a week.  My goal for swimming and running is to keep pushing myself until I can get my race distance done in one setting without a rest.  So eventually I'll want to get my 5K actually jogged for the whole thing, and my swim distance swam without a break. 

Slow and steady will get you there.

~Chad

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