McFuzz's Mentor Group 2011 - CLOSED (Page 24)

Man, you guys are all great!  I have had a tough time this week staying motivated for my workouts.  In fact, I've missed two of them.  I'm also still working on getting my night time snacking under control.  On a happy note, I am on my way to my scheduled swim workout; so hopefully I'm passed my mid-week funk.

Ann-Marie

Nowhere in my question did I restrict "successes" to triathlon only!

So have you been successful on any one of the nights?  And by "successful" that could be anything from "didn't snack at all" to "substituted an orange for the half-plate of chocolate chip cookies" to "I only ate 3 chocolate chip cookies instead of a dozen." 

You've got three inches on me!  I'm a smidge over 5'0!  I've been walking around for years thinking I was 5'2" and then went in for a professional bike fitting about a month ago and found out I just hit 5 foot.  I was crushed! (well, for about 10 minutes). 

Ah, no.  My problem, I think, is that i do not eat enough at dinner, so i feel hungry an hour later and eat.  Recently, my go to has been cereal.  That's not good.  So, my goal is to load up on the veggies with dinner and then try to distract myself when my normal snack time comes around.  That's the plan, we'll see what the reality becomes.

Just a quick observation from my run this morning now that I'm using a heart rate monitor:  I LOVE IT!  I have been a runner for years and years and have done just fine without it, but my heart rate info is telling me I could have been working so much harder than I have.  It's changed my workouts...I feel so much more focused staying within a certain zone, etc.  As a new runner I don't think I'd really understand how to use it to my advantage, but I sure do now! 

lol.  That's almost exactly what happened to me.  I always thought i was 5'2" until last year when I had a  physical and was told i was 5' 1 1/4"!  When asked, I still say I'm 5'2" - makes me feel tall   At my height - or lack thereof - compressions socks have to be folded over at the knee.

Ann-Marie

It's funny how when we use the tools like HR meters and power meters how much more efficient our workouts can become.

Mine was always the opposite when I was using it...I was working harder than I wanted to be! Guess I should search around for the strap so I can start using it again!

Sounds like everyone is having a great start to the year!! Hopefully it continues. If it doesn't, know that there is a nice group of people here to whip your @ss back in gear!!

My accomplishments so far:

-I've been working out everyday this week (for me its kinda sad that has to be an accomplishment). Do something for 21 days straight and it becomes habit.

-I haven't lost as much on my run as I thought I would, despite these lovely shin splints.

-I've been limiting my snacking. I have the sweet tooth of all sweet tooths(should that be teeth?) but have been doing fairly well. Sugar free jello and Oatmeal with raisins, a little brown sugar and peanut butter have helped this.

Keep up the good work everyone!

On another note...I found some Zoot compression socks for $42 at onetri.com, which is the cheapest I have seen them anywhere. They also had some pretty good deals on other things.

1. I haven't totally given up on the year yet (just kidding!)
2. I looked up some races this week and started putting together a schedule of ones I want to do (both running and triathlon) for the 1st half of the year at least.  Now I just have to work out the finances/training time for them.
3. Bought a book on sports nutrition and starting reading through it last night.  I think part of my issues with fatigue/soreness/etc have to do with not eating the right things at the right times (like before/after workouts) so I want to work on that this year. 

That's all so far, but I'm sure there will be more to come!

I have some of the same issues.  We try to eat a pretty well balanced dinner but I don't eat a lot since most of my workouts happen in the evening and I've found that a hard workout on a full stomach leads to "issues".  Then I end up eating not-so-good stuff after my workout (think ice cream).  It's something I need to work on too.  I consider last night to be a win - instead of ice cream, I had some graham crackers.  Not quite as satisfying to the sweet tooth but better for me.

Me too!  I don't eat enough before or after exercises.  It's the curse of someone who lost 200 pounds...I error too much on the downside of allowed calories.  A friend of mine who also lost 200 pounds says he's learned to eat more meals, smaller ones and make sure he fuels for thee exercises.  That way, he gets a better result when he can do the effort called for.  I'm trying to follow the example on efforts of 3 hours or more buy using my racing fuel.  We can only absorb 150 to 200 cals and hour but I think they are important cals.   

My success so far for the year? I have only consumed 3 cokes this week (trying to quit!), haven't had a single beer or glass of wine (trying to cut back), hit all my scheduled workouts and lost 2 out of the 5 xmas pounds. However, the xmas candy has got to go, but my kids would be crushed.

Way to go to all of those who have signed up for their first races - that is the hardest step IMO!

I am working on my race schedule for this year and trying to find dates and times that will work for my family it will include 1 HM (first), 2 sprints, 1 oly (first) and a few 5 and 10ks.

I need help too.  Didn't even make it one day.  Cookies sitting on the counter have an this incredible pull to them. Sort of like the tractor-beam in Star Trek.  Once in it you can't get away.

Edited by suzimmer 2011-01-07 10:32 AM

To lose 200 pounds I learned that if it isn't in the house, I can't eat it.  Easier for the single guy I was, I know.  We do the same now.  Grand kids get good food when they come and all sweets are out the door with them...

Need some snack ideas. I've been getting hungry at night and don't want to eat junk, but need too eat something. Preferably something filling. I want to incorporate more veggies into my diet as snacks, but I don't like them plain and can't stand the "dipping" dressings like Ranch, blue cheese etc.

Any thoughts? Doesn't necessarily need to be veggies, just stuff thats better for you than crackers, chips etc. I already get in plenty of nuts, but they tend to go quickly as I love them.

Note: I don't like yogurt, cottage cheese or anything similar that smells THAT disgusting.

I eat sugar free angel food cake with strawberries.  Nearly a nightly treat.   Sugar free pudding is great, too.  Depending ont he cal count, sometimes sugar free pudding on top of the cake is awesome!


Edited by IceManScott 2011-01-07 1:08 PM

2011 Successes So Far

1.  I have registered for my Triathlon at the end of August

2.  I have done some type of training that will help me for the Triathlon

3.  I have registered for an 8k in March and 5k in April

I appreciate all the responses from everyone in this group.  It is very motivating for me to post something everyday in my training log.  I feel as though I would be letting the group down if I do not do something today to make me better tomorrow.

It seems that I am the true newbie to the group.  I want to throw a serious question out there.  What is a reasonable time for someone to complete their first ever Olympic Distance Triathlon in?  Are their gauge numbers that exist someplace? 

For example, a 40min swim, 1.15 bike, 50min run?  Thoughts? 

Charles

Idle threat!   You might have 25 people looking at your logs and seeing the lack of workouts.  Maybe even offering some gentle nudges to do something...


Fixed that for you!  DON'T DISCOUNT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!  You can't work out 21-days straight if you don't hit 7-days straight.  Doesn't matter whether you're training for a 5K or an Ironman, you have to do something and do it consistently. 



Also good!

One thought might be took look at previous race results for the Olympic you plan on doing.  Each one is different, not only in length but also elevation gain - so you really can't compare times between 2 different races.  However, looking at last years time for the race you intend to do may help.  You can even do some calculations - avg. completion times, bottom 20% completion times etc... You will probably find a wide range of numbers!

Hey Charles.  I don't know about anyone else, but it is hard to predict another's progress without knowing you pretty well.  But I do know this:  My first couple of triathlons were all about finishing and having a blast.  Fun times while doing my best.  Then reflecting on the race, what could I have done better, what did I do well and that gave me a gauge to set some realistic attainable goals that stretched me next time.   Trithlon - it is swimming, biking and running but for me it's all about the smiling.

Then the mentoring is working as intended! 



You're not the only newbie in the group.  Even so, don't let the Ironmen/women intimidate you.  We're all mortals. 



You won't be last with those numbers!  If you have identified a race, look at the results from the last year or two and see where these times fall in the overall population of participants.  It could be a brutally tough course, in which case 1:15 might be darn fast.  It could be a race that draws fast people (we've got a local race that sells out quickly with a lot of out-of-town interest because it's a qualifier for Nationals).  Half those people will come in between 1:00 and 1:10 on a flat 40K and you'll be pretty far back with a 1:15.  Keep in mind you can't really control who else shows up to race that day. 

hmmm... some of my favorites are: peanut butter on celery, raisins and cherries have been on sale at my local grocery store - that is what I have been inhaling lately!