McFuzz's New Athlete Group (CLOSED) (Page 10)

Boo! Get better! 

All good things.  I think there are more rewards. 

Confidence that you can do any activity you choose because you're fit and already active.  Hiking?  Cycling?  Swimming?  Volleyball? 

Accept the attention gracefully and acknowledge that there are no magic bullets.  You work hard and pay attention to your diet.  When they realize just how hard it is (and also how rewarding it is), they'll really admire you.  You have a chance to influence them to make the changes you made.  This is also a reward! 

Let your personality be the antidote to these daggers.  Smile and be gracious and you'll show them that you're more than a smokin' body. 

There are two nuggets in this statement.  Would you apologize for being educated or rich?  (No)  You have absolutely no need to apologize for being healthy and fit (so please don't!).  Second, you've moved away from that initial group of friends.  You made a conscious and sustained effort to change because you weren't happy with where you were. Would you want to go back?  (I don't recommend it.)  You belong to a new group of people who have chosen similar healthy and active lifestyles.  Granted, many of them are virtual friends here on BT.  It can be a challenge to find local friends with similar interests.  If you look at what I wrote above, it may be finding people who enjoy hiking and kayaking more than running and cycling, but there IS a community out there that you need to find.  These kinds of challenges are why I wanted to mentor BEGINNERS this year.  (Thank you for helping me with this also.) 

Embrace the sassiness!  You put many high-school girls to shame, and 43 is NOT old.  (M40-44 is one of the most competitive age groups in both running and triathlon.) 

You're recognizing the negatives, so pay attention when you feel drawn back to them and make the same conscious decision to not go there that you made to eat lean protein and put on your running shoes! 

Kate, I don't know whether the perception is coming from your co-worker, or if it is coming from within you.  Do you see the same interaction between your co-worker and others in the office who aren't as fit as she is? If that thought isn't being validated in her other interactions, commit to changing YOUR attitude. 

In line with the lack of being weighed I'm really trying to love my body. I've spent years hating the way I look and I think if I can spend time just loving me for who and how I am I'll feel so much better. That's the theory though and in practice 41 years of telling myself I'm not good enough forms habits that are really hard to break. As the others have said, focus on how great you feel, how much better your body functions and the joy you receive from having a smokin' hot body

Kate, this is why I like mentoring and I chose to focus my efforts this season on beginners.  I'm here to support breaking those mental habits that are holding you back. 

I like the lively discussion here about weight and body image and attitude. 

I'll reinforce to everyone, ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING. 

You can be a little (or a lot) heavier than you want and with a good attitude, people will want to be around you.  It will also be the positive energy to make changes to get closer to where you want to be. 

You can also be exactly where you want to be with a bad attitude, and in those times, people will still not want to be around you.  Recogize this in yourself, and recognize it in other people. 

Now...if you can recognize it in other people, you have to ask yourself why do you choose to associate with that person?  What do they offer you besides discouragement and anger?  You have a lot of choice even for co-workers or family.  If you are immersed in griping at complaining at work, how can you reduce the contamination?  Interact less or choose to interact positively?  Find a new job?  Same with family.  If you don't look forward to spending the holiday with your bitter father, make some other plans and let him wallow in his bitterness alone.  Yes, it can be extreme, but you need to approach this as if your life depends on it, because it does! 

Of course people want to hear  a magic bullet because most people are too lazy to train and think there is an easy way out. On the other hand, a lot of people, even those who know there isn't a magic bullet probably aren't interested in all the mumbo jumbo about how your training sessions work and how your diet is put together. So my advice is just to say: Working my of and try to eat healthy.

They are jealous. But don't you let their jealousy make you feel any less about your hard earn accomplishments! Think: HA! They are jealous, I must have done something good then! :D

Life's too short and precious to complain. People who do complain a lot are people who don't belong into your inner circle.

Feel proud about what you do. There is nothing wrong about that. Besides, 43 isn't old!!! 44 on the other hand....

Be careful there!  I joined the M50-54 AG this year. 

You guys are great...and while I'm not exactly a beginner--I am a beginner in the sense of challenging these old thought patterns.  I've 'kind of' challenged them before, but this time it is a head on battle.  When I look back over my cycles of success/sabotage--it's my own attitude, as you suggest Mike.  I'm not a perfect person...I've made some hefty mistakes in my life, but I can't continue to use those mistakes as a beat down.  I think that's it--I get where I want to go and because of past mistakes feel like 'wait, you (fill in the blank 2 years ago) you don't DESERVE the success.  Huh. This is the first time I've put that into words.  You guys are GOOD!

WAAAAAAAH Old Skool Steel Frame!! I'm drooling here Can't wait to see it finished. Yes a columbus. Aaaaah, nice quality. Bike for life!

Dimitri...exciting day!  Glad you got the go ahead from your GP!  Nice swim as well! 

Nancy...nice frame!

I believe I did!  Now to hold to that!  I am counting on you guys to help me out with that!

Why are we women so hard on each other!?  We're all so busy wondering what other women are thinking about us.  We talk to ourselves in ways we would never talk to a friend, a sister.  Like you I have had many years of negative self talk.  We are in our 40s woman, enough of this, right!?  So far the 40s are fabulous and I want them to keep getting better! Let's help each other out with this.

Why are we women so hard on each other!?  We're all so busy wondering what other women are thinking about us.  We talk to ourselves in ways we would never talk to a friend, a sister.  Like you I have had many years of negative self talk.  We are in our 40s woman, enough of this, right!?  So far the 40s are fabulous and I want them to keep getting better! Let's help each other out with this.

My partner finally bought a tape measure. So here are my stats

Nice frame Nancy! 

Are you building it up with downtube, bar-end, or integrated shifters? 

Greetings all

We're at the end of January, so time for some reflection.

What has gone well for you this month?  How much weight have you lost?  How many minutes/miles/yards have you worked out?  How have you changed your nutrition in positive ways?  How have you changed your attitudes about training, fitness, health, body image, etc.? 

Now is the time to recognize that consistency is key.  All of those 20 and 30 minute workouts add up to some large numbers.  Missing a 30 minute workout if you've done 20 others doesn't change your monthly totals a lot (nor does it change your race-day performance very much).  Missing many 30 minutes workouts do make a difference.  Same thing with what we eat.  Over a month, a single indulgence with otherwise clean eating doesn't have a big impact. 

I bought a Raleigh Technium on E-bay in 2005 after doing my first two tri's on a Specialized Hardrock (mountain bike).  It had a 6-speed Suntour Cyclone drivetrain (freewheel), downtube shifters, etc. and I rode it to a 20+ mph bike split in my only HIM in 2006. 

I got my Klein Aeolus at the end of 2006 and then my Javelin in 2008. 

What has gone well this month?

I have become part of a great mentor group!  My training has been  very consistent.  I am proud of my efforts this month!

How much weight have I lost?

I've lost the holiday weight and am now heading into my 'lean zone'.  This is a zone I have visited twice in the last year but haven't stayed long!  As per my earlier post--this represents success to me and it scares me.  This time I plan to stay here and enjoy the hell out of it. (eeeekkkk!!!)

January Totals:

Swim: 1h 05m - 738.19 Yd

Bike: 21h 50m - 397.6 Mi

Run: 17h 00m - 93.56 Mi

Strength: 9h 45m

I am very proud of my bike and run totals!  My swim needs some time, but I am very limited in when I can swim.  Once a week in an OW situation is my only real option.

How have you changed your attitudes about training, fitness, health, body image, etc.?

I am loving training, I am loving the continued nutritional information I am learning (and applying!).  Fitness and health are great!  Body image--well that is the issue I am currently doing the work on.  This thread has been a tremendous help already.  I love everything about BT and triathlon and how it has changed my life! It just gets better!