Have I lost my mind to consider a HIM? (Page 16)

OK.  I need some balance.  I feel good on my exercise but my eating stinks.  I was feeling great and knew I was losing weight so I got a little cocky.  I hate to think what the scale is going to say tomorrow.  I hope I don't gain back everything I lost last month!

I went on a 4 mile run tonight.  I have swim lessons tomorrow and splash n dash on Thursday.  It will be interesting. 

IdealMuse - Congrats on all your exercise!  You runs look great.  You should be so proud of yourself.  I think the running challenge came at the perfect time.  I don't use a heart rate monitor yet so I don't know all of the rules about going slower on longer runs.  I always just run and lose steam at the end.  I know that is the wrong way to do it.  Tell us how your swim went and your time test.  Did you feel ok with your suit?

Leah - I work out like you do.  It is pretty much what ever fits into my schedule and where I am.  My husband wants me to get more on a schedule so I don't have to go on runs at 9:30 at night.  He says it is too easy for me to skip or get hurt when I do it that way.  I suppose.  I want to try this sample plan next week and see how it goes. 

Happy weigh ins tomorrow! 

Weigh in was rough today.  194.   Hope you ladies did better!

Kate - I think most of us go through cycles with great eating and less then perfect eating. Don't be too hard on yourself. If your super strict 100 percent of the time you're more likely to completely rebel. This is why I allow treats here and there. This has to be a way I can live for the long haul.

Swimming was good. I didn't feel too bad. I put a towel around me when we were hanging around on the deck and I was fine in the water. We did a 20 minute time trial (He didn't tell us how we did yet) and some drills. I liked how he explained stuff nothing was too new but it was good to hear things explained in a different way. So far I like the class... it's run by one of the better masters teams who also give swim lessons so they are pretty knowledgeable. He said they will be doing the class again after the holidays but it might conflict with my Tri-Group.

I don't use a HRM for running (not now anyway) I just know that I burn out quicker if I go 5mph or over but 4.7 and under I stay "cool" enough and can go for another 45mins so... which is important to know for my 15k. I'm trying to not to start out too fast!

Weigh in for me: 195. I think that's -1.

Plan for today: Maybe Bike. Tonight short run.

Edited by IdealMuse 2009-10-21 11:53 AM

229 today, +1 but i'll take it for all the smoked meat I ate over the past 6 days. +1 is something I can live with - I was generally pretty good watching what I ate. But we did not get as much exercise in due to sheer exhaustion.
Back in now-rainy Portland and ready to get back on track.
I missed one run while I was away, so i'll take an extra walk to make up for it... otherwise right on target.
Will catch up with all your posts later today. Have to figure out a rainy weather running outfit!
Now I have to put a new filter in the furnace, and fire it up, because it's starting to get that wet-cold that seeps in and doesn't let go...

I'm down a half a pound from last week. My scale isn't working and I had to use the Wii Fit.

(I wrote this hours ago and neglected to post it.)

Hey gang.  Double panic today.  OWS and going out in public in my websuit.  I feel like uncomfortable in it like it is compressing all my fat in.  Is that normal?  UGH!

The wet suit does push all the fat in - but it makes you look thinner! Wear it proud woman!

I feel much more comfortable in a wetsuit then bathing suit but mostly because it smooths out all my post weight loss loose skin issues.

Edited by IdealMuse 2009-10-22 1:38 PM

Think of yourself as a seal, fast and sleek!

"websuit"? Isn't that what you wear online?

Maybe more like Spiderman no wonder she feels uncomfortable!!

I thought maybe the "websuit" was something modeled after a duck and was extra buoyant.  And that would really help with the ows.  Really, there is nothing that can help with ows other than more and more ows.  Good luck with it and just know that we all have the same issues.  And for wearing the wetsuit, just remember that black is very slimming.

I am in Northern California visiting my grandchildren.  Well, I had a work function today, but work stuff is now over and it is playtime.  I did get in a run tonight and plan to get in lots and lots of running this weekend because I am still a little behind in my Pumpkin number.  No real opportunity to ride my bike or swim or go to Crossfit, so running it is.  Actually, I am going on a bike ride Sunday morning because I have never seen my grandson ride his bike since he got his training wheels off. 

My online time will be limited so I will get on here when I can.  And now I need to go to bed.  Have a good day tomorrow.  Remember, run more and eat less.

Have a great time with your family!

And the one that matters, really matters, is #4.  You will eventually let #1 go, or not, but life will go on.  A few more times in the water and you won't even have or remember #2 or #3 issues.  It is a tough time of year to get in ows practice, but you seem to be taking advantage of every opportunity.  Not much more you can do.  There are certain "rules" about how to do ows (dolphin under waves, grab the bottom if you can, etc.) and I just try to replay all of them before I go in the water.  Don't know how much it really helps, but it seems like it helps some.

Glad you finished Kate! Lets work on the OWS panic so it doesn't negatively effect you again.
How can we help?
I'll try googling it and see what is know to help.
Personally I have no idea, I've never had a fear of water, my parents said I would always jump into water when I was a small child before I knew how to swim.

OK ladies - here is my story.  Today I really do feel nuts for trying to do this damn HIM. 

It started bad the night before the race when I tried the wet suit on.  It fit better than it did when I first got it but it was still a size too tight.  My husband said "it will look great when you lose about 20 more pounds".  Whatever.  Mom said, "are you really going to wear that tomorrow?"  Whatever again. 

So I was extra nervous all day long - should I even wear it?  I never knew I so vain until these damn triathlons.  I spoke to my tri buddies (bro-in-law and law student/tri rock star) they both encouraged me to wear it just to test it out.  They were very supportive.  If I try to wear it, at least I will know how it feels to float.   

This was my first Splash n Dash.  You could do a 500 or 1000m swim and a 4k run.  We got signed up and were stunned by the crowd.  There were only about 150 people.  The last race we did there were about 1500 people of all shapes and sizes.  The 150 people doing the Splash n Dash were all "super duper fit".  They all must have been training for the SOMA HIM or the IM-AZ.  I think there was only 1 woman heavier than me and I only saw 1 man with a beer belly.  INTIMIDATING!  These people had the type of bodies where they walk around in their speedos or their tri bikinis.  The law student/tri rock star said "I hope I look like that when I am 40!  I've got 15 more years to get there!"  Yes, I am training with a 25 year old. 

I decided I was going to power through though and do this.  Who cares what anyone thinks.  At least I am trying.  I got my suit on easier than I thought I would.  It was ok.  The 1000m people went first and we took off about 3 minutes later.  (I knew one person in the 1000m group.)  There were only 13 of us doing the 500.  When I got in the water I was stoked.  I didn't even have to tread!  The suit did it for me.  I was very optimistic.  I could float!  I wasn't going to sink!!  HOORAY!

So our 500m horn went off and I took of swimming like a champ.  My coach was right!  I can do this!  Mind over matter.  I had my head in the water breathing ever 3rd stroke.  I realized that when I actually do my stroke correctly I can cover a lot of ground!  Then it happened . . . I looked up to sight and freaked.  I started to lose my breath.  I flipped to my back and tried to get my heart rate down.  I back stroked then rolled to my front again.  Can't seem to get my groove back.  Oh no! 

It was a triangle bouy set up.  1000m folks did 2 laps and we did 1 lap.  In the middle of the first and second bouy, I called the lifeguard boat over and told him to pull me in.  I was having a panic attack.  I lost my breath and was freaked out.  He said "do you really want me to take you back?"  I said "Yep!  I can't do this."  I held onto the boat and tried to catch my breath but he couldn't go anywhere b/c there were swimmers going by.  I then thought I had to keep going so I let go of his boat and took off again.  Same thing all the way back.  Stroke and covered a lot of ground and then flipped to my back.  Stroked and covered ground and flipped to my back again.  Awful!

I finally reached the finish line and got out.  My friend from the 1000 got out the same time I did.  (Yes, he lapped me.)   At first I could tell he was proud that he lapped me but then he must have seen the defeated the look on my face.  He tried to cheer me on and helped unzip my wetsuit.  I got to the transition and told myself i was done.  I quit.  I'm not going to do the run.  Then I thought, what am I going to tell my kids!  I can't tell them I quit.  So I got on my shoes and ran. Plus, I knew I had to get a couple more miles in for the pumpkins.   

I ran and I finished the race.  Many of the 1000 m people passed me on teh run but they were superhuman triathlon people so I didn't care.  I almost started crying about 3 times but sucked it up.  My two tri buddies were waiting for me at the finish line.  They were so cute.  They tried to make me feel better but it didn't help much.  My bro-in-law said I was in a "triathlon death spiral".  They said it was all in my head and I just needed to keep at it.  I know they are right.   

On the way home I called my man.  He tried to pump me up.  He said he would take me to do more OWS and support me getting a swim coach.  it was nice but I was too down to appreciate it.  By the time I got home i had given myself a migrane.  I put the kids to bed and then put myself to bed b/c my headache was so bad I couldn't see.  I've only had 2 other migranes in my life - both when I was pregnant. 

The cute thing is that my bro-in-law called this morning and said "guess what!?  All 3 of us won our age groups!"  (13 people remember)  He also told me I wasn't last.  I finished 12/13.  I think I must have passed someone on the run.   

So now I am dreading next Friday's 1000m Splash n Dash.  (no 500m option this time)  He also has me doing a tri with him next Sunday.  This wasn't on my radar but he wants to do it.  It has and 880y OWS.  The next week another tri with a 1000m OWS.  I know the OWS practice is what I need but I'm just sick about it. 

Another reason why I'm bummed is that I don't even have waves like Leah does in the ocean.  I'm swimming in a dirty old man made lake.  The only waves I have are those created by the other swimmers. 

What am I going to do?! 
If I can't even swim a 500m how am I going to do my HIM swim?? 

I hope to have a better day tomorrow but right now I'm still having a pity party for myself.  I am going to do a nice long run tomorrow and get my head together. 



Edited by ~ AZ Sunshine ~ 2009-10-23 10:35 PM

You CAN do this. Try and think about today and not a few months from now. Things WILL get better trust me. On my first OWS I could NOT catch my breath I was wheezing gasping for air and I was following this girl who offered to swim with me. It took us maybe 1:20 to do the mile.

They were right a lot of it is mental and the husband is right swimming coach is a GREAT idea. It will help boost your confidence you're psyching yourself out. I have a feeling you can swim fine it's more mental then anything.

Can I suggest getting used to the wetsuit in the water in a non-race environment? Can you guys go out once or twice this week? I'd scrap next weekend if you have to especially if you're not up for the 1000 you can make it up with a later race.

I know how it feels to not be comfortable with how you look. I wish I had better advice there, but honestly I've found most everyone looks at the heavier person in a Tri and thinks "Cool for them" rather then nasty things you might be imagining. You might look HOT when you lose 20lbs but I guarantee you look a lot better then you imagine. We can't focus on the outward stuff. Think about how healthy you are and how great it feels to be getting fit like the old BB days.

Wish there was something I could do to cheer ya up.

Kate what size is your wetsuit? Do you want to borrow mine? Sleeveless so it's less restrictive and it's a WXLA (Blue Seventy XL Female) Maybe it's just slightly larger then yours? You can use it until you fit in yours where you feel more comfortable. I won't need it until early spring.

Ditto on the swim coach.  Someone to take you out in the water, one-on-one.  In the first couple years I did tris, I took an ocean swim clinic.  It wasn't one-on-one, but close.  And it really helped.  The fact that the next race is longer isn't any big deal.  Obviously you can swim. 

And, boy do I sympathize with you on the smaller races where they are all hard-body gods and goddesses.  I won't do smaller races for that reason.  I think you are amazing for continuing. 

Let me share my very first experience at multisport.  It was a swim/run race in La Jolla Cove - calm water, no waves, etc.  But I had never done anything like it before.  I started swimming and I guess panicked.  So, I floated on my back and had a "Come to Jesus" talk with myself.  I told myself that I was close to shore and that I could turn around if I wanted to.  I debated this forever and finally decided to continue.  Now this would be a wonderful, heartwarming story if I never again panicked in the water and my swims were forever after terrific. No,  I still have to remind myself to breathe and to let myself hang back, all designed to keep the panic attacks at bay.  I took the ocean clinics in the past, and will be doing so again.  The point of this is that I understand the panic.  Now you have to figure out how to make it all work in spite of it. 

Just remember that the swim in the California 70.3 is a harbor swim and won't be anything like swimming in the unprotected Pacific Ocean.

You can do this.  Really you can.  Hire a swim coach.  It might be $100 (I have no idea - I am making this up), but in terms of self-confidence, priceless. 

I found a bit of advice here:

http://community.active.com/thread/67195.pdf;jsessionid=2F308C09EE0...

http://wannatri.com/training/tips-for-conquering-your-fear-of-open-...

http://www.uwtriathlon.com/MessageBoard/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2762

#1 You did it!
#2 You want to do it again!
#3 You can do it - again...and again.

Just keep practicing ows. Do you have any idea what brings on the panic? Or is it more a general fear?

kiri

You all are so wonderful!  I am so happy I have you all in my corner!  Thanks so much for the encouragement.  I really considered quitting all of this.  I hate being bad at things but I hate quitting even more.  I'm doing much better today and am coming up with a strategy to tackle this swim panic.  I'll write more about it tomorrow.  I had a work event tonight and a full day so I am beat. 

Tomorrow I am going on a 48 mile ride with big climbs similar to our HIM ride.  I'm really looking forward to it. 

Thanks again and I'll write more soon. 

You better not quit.  I am planning on meeting you at least at the California 70.3 and hopefully at a training weekend before that.  So, missy, you jolly well better work on this stuff so that I can do at least one race in my life where I know someone.  Now, how is that for selfish?  And I bet you hadn't even considered that as as perfectly good reason, if not the best one, to keep working at this. 

Enjoy your long ride tomorrow.  It sounds great and you will get in some HIM-specific training.

I got in my long run tonight (not quite caught up for the Pumpkins, but getting there) and tomorrow after I get home I have some dreadful trainer workout waiting for me.  I mean I have an interesting indoor bike workout to look forward to.  I don't remember the specifics now, but it involves getting up to a really high cadense, holding it for a period of time and then backing off and repeating that a whole bunch of times.  I hope I survive it. 

Have a good Sunday everyone and remember, RUN RUN RUN.  Not to mention:  run more eat less.

Hi Ladies!
I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I had bike camp today. Early this morning I picked up another cyclist in NYC and drove to New Paltz, NY to meet up with members of my cycling class. It was supposed to be a two day event but the weather was dreadful yesterday and things go moved around. Today was a beautiful day, the fall foliage was wonderful, everything was warm tones of yellow, red and orange with a bright blue sky with puffy white clouds. We did a half an hour of bike handling skills then we broke into two groups I went with the flat group because the hills were extreme and group too fast for me. I would like to go up on my own and try the hill in the spring. Good HIM training.

We had a really nice 2 plus hour ride. Yesterday in the bad weather I ran on the treadmill at the Y. It was easier on my knee than running on the road so I plan to do that more often. I am pretty caught up with my pumpkin running. Just one more run to do for the month.

Bike camp sounds awsome!  I love my group rides.  Beautiful weather and good conversation while buring all those calories is awesome.  Definitely go back and take that hill ride at your own pace.  It will be awesome.  Good to hear you are taking care ot that knee! 

Thanks for the swim tips.  They were very helpful I plan on incorporating them into my work outs.