Got Your Mojo WORKIN'! group - CLOSED (Page 35)

George - I looked at your workout log.  You are doing a great job, keep it up.  There is one hard fact about weight loss - you must burn more calories than you take in.  Switching from junk foods to healthier foods is a great move, but if you are eating more of the healthier foods, your caloric intake might be the same.   IOW, you need to consume less and/or burn more. 

Suggestion that works for me: when you feel hungry, don't view it as something that needs to be satisfied.  Instead, view it as a positive.....your body is telling you that it needs more calories or is will be forced to start using fat reserves....that is a good thing!!!

GEORGE -

For the life of me, I don't know exactly how that stuff works. You're right -- your diet seems impeccable! And by rights, you should be shawling off some pounds, but that isn't happening - yet. I think/hope "yet" is the operative word and concept, and I'm glad you're not giving up. Give it at least a few more weeks and see what happens by then. You're right, though, in not wanting to push yourself too hard in order to "cut weight", and then end up getting injured. That is always the tough line to walk, dancing on the edge between hard(er) work.........and subsequent injury.

I have never read deeply into weight-loss concerns and how one physignomy might differ dramatically from another, and it might be that larger-boned people just don't slough-off the weight as quickly as smaller-boned people do. The othewr way to veiw this, amybe, is in terms of muscle-mass. It takes me a while to show any appreciable effects of the lifting I do, whereas for bigger-boned people, well, they seem to show their muscle gains overnight. Might that be you?

Re-reading your post, I wonder if your previous eating patterns (no brkfast, maybe lunch, feast at dinner) are ones that are kind of "set" and to which your body needs time to adjust to the changes you are putting it through. Are you feeling any cravings during the day, or maybe even more tellingly, later in the evening? If so, how are you answering those cravings? It seems I have read about people looking to lose weight and having to address severe cravings.......but other than that I know not of what I speak.

Hang with it, George! And even though you might not be losing the weight you want, at least not yet, you are doing a great job of eating healthily -- that will confer fine benefits all on its own.

Illegitimum non carborundum!

Off to see if I can get to the GYM!!!

George,

I allow myself to gain weight during the off season and it never fails, every Jan when I start back at it, I actually gain a few pounds.   It takes me about a month to start losing and unfortunately, it comes off slowly.  I have found a better estimate is how my clothes (jeans) feel on me. 

You are gaining muscle and getting healthier.  As someone else stated, you have to watch your calorie intake as well. 

It is very frustrating getting on that scale and see the weight stay the same or even go up but eventually it will go down.  I only allow myself to weigh in once a week and I log it.  Every Monday morning at 4:30am I am on the scale.   You will see the difference over time. 

Good Luck. 

I had to laugh at your hubby's comment, Lori, because my husband has said the same to me. I think I have one in every color because I just gotta match all my different tri outfits, ya know?

Anyone have suggestions for good TRAIL running shoes? We have great trails not too far from our house which are starting to be the location of several races and I'd like to participate. Of all the shoes I have, none are marketed for trails. I used a pair of Zoot tri shoes for an Oly on trails last year and they worked fine. I'm not sure I need to invest in a pair, but I'm actually thinking of doing my first marathon on trails (because I love the tranquility) so that'll necessitate a lot of miles on them and I want to have my feet properly outfitted.

I've not posted since page 31 (that'll save you from looking, Steve) right before my swim lesson. I've been reading and keeping up, though. Good questions, good comments, learning a lot. My swim instructor had me working on kick sets this week and high elbow under water with a stronger catch. I was feeling the catch during my swim this morn so that was good. Tomorrow's lesson is going to be in the weight room where she's going to go over good strength training for my swimming muscles. I generally have weak arms and a weak lower back which I'm hoping to shore up during this off season. That should help a lot.

Keep up your good work, George. Don't get discouraged on no weight loss - it'll come with good eating habits and the exercise. I'm working on lossing the pounds I gained over the holidays. It may not come off until after the SuperBowl since we're a football family and have to have a feast every Saturday and Sunday during the playoffs. I just hide the scale until March.

Have a great day everyone!

George (and everyone who cares),

A person needs to burn just about 3500 calories to drop 1 pound of fat (I don't know the exact number but it is around 3500).  Let me try to put that into something meaningful.  Iif you did nothing but cut 200 calories out of your diet a day (drinking 1 cup of water instead of 1 can a soda) it will take 2 weeks for you to loose that 1 pound.

On the positive side of things, you said you are also lifting weights, correct?  If so you already know the scale will not tell the whole story.  Muscle weighs more that fat.  I would advise you to talk to your gym and see if they offer some sort of body composition testing (mine does, 24 hr fitness)  this will give you a better idea of how you are progressing. You could do the test every month if you wanted to.

I have been lifting weights with my best buddy for the past 5 years, while competitively cycling.  He does not cycle.  We lift just about the same as each other on every exercise, however he looks like the guys from 300 and I look like me, the shorter stalky/chubby friend.  Yes you would think I would look like him with all the extra cardio I do, but I don't.  I am okay with that.  Every person is different and genetics play a role of 90%, if not greater, in the way you look.

All I am trying to say, the long way, is keep up the good work.  You are doing more than most people in the world.  The weight will fall off if you keep up the lifestyle.  Just watch how hard you push yourself we want to stay injury free, but you know that.

For the diet, try to mix it up on the veggies and the fruit, I know its harder than it sounds.  I am also a very picky eater, but keep telling myself, its good for you thats why it doesn't taste good.  I am slowly starting to eat more adventitious and finding out I like things I thought I didn't like.

I hope I have helped at least a little bit.  Best of luck buddy.  Keep us posted on your progress!!

Dann-O
 

Off to the Gym for a swim. Yesterdays swim was a make up for missing mondays.  after today I will be back on track!! yeah me!!

Yay, you, Daniel! Looks like you like to play in the mud from the looks of your race calendar. Fun!

Brenda,

I am in the same boat as you are with trail shoes.  I had a discussion with a local running shop and they told me it was best to stay in the same brand if they have a trail shoe comparable to your current running shoe.  Well, Asics doesn't make a trail shoe comparable in width and type to the Gel Nimbus I normally wear.  In fact, no company makes a narrow trail shoe.  This is just one factor in deciding what to buy.

How technical is the trail where the race is located?  If it isn't too technical (grass paths, wood chip trails) I would just stick with what you would normally wear for a marathon.  If it is technical (rocky, lots of roots, slippery, stream crossings), you may want to consider shoes by Salomon, North Face, etc.  If it is in between the two (dirt trails, some loose gravel, no water crossings), lots of companies make good trail shoes.  I am going to try the Brooks Cascadia because it seems the narrowest of what I have tried on so far.  The Cascadia is also one of the top rated trail shoes and is reasonably priced.

What race are you going to do?  I want to do the North Face Endurance Challenge half marathon in September.

Thanks for the info, Lori. I'll see if our one shoe store that carries the Brooks line carries the Cascadia. The trails here are pretty rough - steep rocky hills, a lot of roots, etc. so I'm pretty sure I should invest in a good pair. The first race is a 10 miler in April that I'll do but then they have a couple that don't fit in my schedule. I can't seem to find an interesting marathon to do in the fall but I know one is out there, I just haven't stumbled upon it yet.

Thanks everyone, I do plan to keep working at it.  As to answer a few questions.  My calorie intake shoud have dropped big time since the foods I ate in the past I'm sure where high.  I ahve not really paid much attention to calories but I will now.  As for the portions, before I would eat 1-2 dinner plates of food for dinner, now when I make my lunch or dinner I use the small plates, I guess they are called dessert plates.  So what I'm trying to say my portions have been cut back to 50+% and I'm eating veggies and good protein meats.  My cravings, well I really dont get them.  I have been told its good to snack during the day and afternoons, so I have been snacking on Dry Roasted Peanuts or yoplait light yogurt (the yogurt is something new I just added, I heard it was good for you and its taking sometime since I hate it, but like Dan said its not about the flavor its about what is good for you) If I get a craving for something sweet I eat a Special K Chocolatey Pretzel bar that has 90 calories and 8 grams of sugar, but I will only allow myself to have 2-3 per week.  As for big bones, I dont think I am, I'm just big fat at the time. Ha ha... No really I'm not a big person when I'm at the weight I should be which is about 75 pounds away.... Well again thanks for all teh post and its great having yall.

I do have a question.. I looked up the 2 tri's I plan on doing and they talk about being a USAT member, if not a member then you have to pay a $10 fee for the day.  So can someone let me know what the benefit of joing the USAT and if its a good idea how do you go about joining.

Thanks
George

I've been a little out of touch here too!

It's been a busy few days. I did my long run Sunday and I was pooped out. This marathon training is time consuming and I have to say, a little brutal! I know I'll be ready for my race but it has made me realize how much I like a more balanced to all 3 sports workout schedule.

Swam Monday and was supposed to run Tuesday but my legs weren't feeling it or should I say, they were feeling it too much. I ran around the block and decided to bag the run. I came in and did my strength workout and was done with workouts for the day.

I went out this morning and got my swim in then went to take care of the ranch where I keep my horses (I cover for the owner when she travels so I had many, many eyes staring at me when I pulled into the gate). When I got home I thought I'd try the run again and yippee! it felt pretty good. Moral of the story is.....listen to your body. I know we were talking about this the other day. Sometimes it's hard to skip a workout or 2 but in the long run it really pays off in maintaining our health.

I'm loving reading everyone's posts. It's nice to be part of a group that is working their way through this 'thinking' sport. There is so much to learn.

Hope all of you cold weather folks are keeping safe
Johanne

George - I did tri's for 2 years before I joined USAT. Membership was $39 for the year or $10 each event, so since I only did one event I saved some money. When I added more races (4 total), I joined because then it was more cost saving. You can go to http://www.usatriathlon.org/ and click on member services to join. You get a subscription to USAT magazine, some discount codes for various tri gear and a membership card. If you do up to 3 races a year, you also get ranked so you can see how you stack up against others in your age group.

Johanne - I'm glad your body gave you the green light to have a good workout today. Way to listen to it on Tuesday. Good advice, especially for us more aged folks who aren't as spry as we once were.

It is something new for this year, well it was until I got laid off last Friday.  The worst part about the layoff is the only answer I was given is the company is going in a different direction.  How gutless of an answer is that.  I am hoping to still make the races but they may get tabled until next year.  I will keep the training up because it makes me feel good.

Snow was not too bad, but if shoveling was a leg in a tri I would be ready for my first race already!

Made it to the gym and had a great 30 min walk/run session. I'm up to 15/15 min split between walk & run, and I alternate 5 min walk, 5 min run, etc. I run at 6.7 speed and 1.0 incline, so I'm covering a 1/2 mile at a time in the run which is way more than I have ever run.

My fitness instructor at my office gym gave me some advice on keeping my pelvis forward which helped lighten my feet and really helped contribute to a great run.

I'm really beginning to appreciate all the skill/form required in these sports. I'm trying to see if I can find time for a swim workout on Saturday as well.

Folks, looking to confirm that I have the proper swim breath technique in mind before I head to the pool on Saturday.

Basically, I should be rotating my hips and shoulders in unison while keeping my neck relatively still, which will put my mouth above the water for a breath, right? The way I learned was to swim "flat" and to turn neck to side for a breath, but based on what I have read that is not the proper way if I expect to swim for distance.

Thanks for your thoughts, Adam.

What is L to S? 

I've had the same experience the past week.  I'm working out pretty hard but the scale doesn't think so.  there will be weeks coming up where you'll get some big drops; everything will even out.   

I agree that joining USAT is pretty valuable, i like the magazine, website, articles, and coupons.   

We just got hammered in Eastern Washington today, another 8 inches on top of the 18 inches we already had on the ground.  Another treadmill day, snow shoveling tonight will be my strength workout.  

I'm a little worried about the roads, we're driving to North Central Montana tomorrow for our daughter's scheduled C-Section early Friday morning.  Hopefully everything will be plowed before we take off in the morning.  

Adam - this is a good short clip on proper breathing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mis2F81br6U&feature=related

This also very good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB4fJxMWX3U&NR=1


Edited by bhc 2011-01-12 5:42 PM

Go to Swim Smooth http://swimsmooth.com/ .  They've got a simulation of a swimmer "Mr. Smooth" you can watch.  if you download Mr. Smooth you can vary the speed and angle of view.  It's a great aid, a picture really is worth a thousand words. 

Steve,

I looked at the 20 week HIM plan and it looks like it might work fro me.  I will have to move some things around to make sure I have a swim planned when the pool is open etc. But , on the whole, I think it looks good. It actually looks like a lot, but I think I will start and see if I can keep up.  When I did Eagleman last year, I knew I had not trained enough. I don't want to make that mistake again.  I am hoping starting out with a challenging schedule will be motivating. Of course, I start teaching in 2 weeks and then I may have to back off but if that is  what happens, I will. I'm hoping , as many group members have observed, that I will get additional energy from the work and so I will have more stamina for precalculus. It's a plan.
Maybe not a great plan but it is a plan.
 
Ellen

Hello Everyone!  Just wanted to let you know I haven't abandoned you for that "other" relationship.  A bunch of sick people around me, and a few work things, so I have been away.... Catching up, still, but haven't forgotten about you all!

MOJOMEISTERS!

Way to go, team! All these posts.....and I'm only getting to them now. Yikes!

I've been in Ottawa most of the day. Did a 40' run, 35' swim, 43' core/strength session, and a killer-diller 3' row on the Concept 2. THEN, Lynn took me out for my early birthday (tomorrow) dinner at a Turkish restaurant that was terrific, but I ate WAY too much. My eight this a.m was 171.......and did all that stuff above.......and then overate......so it'll be intersting to see what I weigh tomorrow morning. Ack?

I'll hit a few posts now, and then the rest in the a.m.

Onwards!