Mad Manatees Mentor Group - VERY CLOSED!!! Sorry! (Page 57)

Interesting, I don't think these pics show all that much difference, but I have lost about 25 lbs since my heaviest in about 2009.  I noticed it mostly in that I am not as 'thick' in the trunk.  I have put a few back on (I found the 5 you lost Joanne!) but work in progress.

(2008--Before #2.jpg)

(2012--After #2.jpg)

(Before--2008.jpg)

(2012--After.jpg)

You guys are making me wish for some colder weather.

Nearly 40*C (over 100) here again today, and it was already over 30*C at 6am when I did my bike ride, thank the Lord for my trainer too hot for outside. They keep promising thunder storms and rain but they never come. Hopefully tomorrow.

By the way thanks for the advice on the ride. I decided not to go. which was then enforced by DH (interpteret either way today) reminding me I needed to mow the lawn, a 3-4 hour job at our place

All of the before and after pics are super inspiring!!

Kirsten-I can totally see the before and after in your face and arms especially. 

These pictures have me thinking and I want to pick your amazing manatee brains.  I have trouble with goal setting.  I don't know how to do it.  I don't know that I have ever done any goal, really, because I am severely afraid of failure.  I would like to set some goals. Yes, I said that out loud.  Where do I start and how do I start?  

I seem to want lofty things but then when I don't see progress or if I am not consistent, I go far backwards.   I am one of those all or nothing people.  Training plans, if I miss a day, well then I miss a bunch more and then I look into new training plans.  Diets, if I blow a day, well then I blow the week until the next start date.  I need a brain reset. 

How did you all set and meet your goals?  What keeps you on track?  How do you get it set in your brain that this is what you want and go for it?

I know my questions are weird and I seem to have a disconnect somewhere.  I know my manatees will get me.

Will you all help me set some goals?

I do hope that you appropriately (or not-so-appropriately  ) stalk my log to keep me on track.

Joanne I have started using the iSMART method of goal setting and I have found it helpful. iSMART stands for:

inspirational

specific

measurable

attainable

relevant

timely.

So I make sure that any goal I set has these characteristics.

I am also a fairly visual person so I have a lot of things like graphs and pictures and have even been known to put reward stickers on my calendar like you do for little kids.

but the four biggest things that I have found are

1. find a supportive person (or group of people like here) and tell them your goals so that they can help and also hold you accountable

2. write your goals down and put them somewhere that you can see them. Read them every day or at least once a week and check off what you have done to move towards the goal in the week just gone and what you plan to do to move towards them in the coming week.

3. Break each goal down into little mini goals for the day or week or month.

4. celebrate every time you meet a goal, even if it's small and try not beat yourself up too much when you miss a day or two or ten, just reassess if the timeline for your goal is still valid, if not adjust it and move on, that's what life is all about. Stuff comes up.

Edited by StaceyK 2013-01-15 7:28 AM

These 2 things help me the most. If you have a large goal, such as losing 50 lbs, I would break it down to manageable milestones.  And when I reach each milestone, I would celebrate either through a reward or some such item.

The info at SwimSmooth is top drawer.  You can't go wrong.   

With all the before/after pictures being shared I figure I will share mine. Can you tell the difference in how happy we both look? 75 pounds lost

Wow, that's just incredible. And both of you do look happier AND younger in the after photo!

X2

Santa came a little late to my house. He's gone and dropped off a load of goodies for me to play with today :D  

A nice new swimsense watch for me to mess around with at tonight's swim lesson.

Some new bar tape that I just fitted.

And my first ever tri suit. WOW, they sure are skinny aren't they, lol. I didn't think it was gonna fit, but low and behold, fitted like a "lumpy" glove Very shiny though, looks like an out fit from Madame Whiplash's dungeon. I got the Orca RS1 suit. Anyone tried these? Anything I should watch out for?

One thing you gatta love about triathlon, there's always something shiny to blow your cash on :D

At what point does BT become an addiction that I need to seek help for?  Is there a BT Anonymous thread I can start?  Wait - that would be a little self defeating huh?  

Anyways...the week is off to a slower start than I'd hoped.  I had 3 dates last week with a woman I met at my 1/2 marathon.  I've had a lot of fun, but not sure where this one is heading.  All I know is that fitting in dating sure does make it hard to make planned swim nights.  Ugh!  I want to do both!  

I have ran 19 miles in 2 days though, and I felt great.  Missed yesterdays run and swim...I think I'm going to have to change my swim days.  Might have to cancel my weekly night time running group.  There is only one person that runs with me now, but a second asked to join.  I wish I had 40 hours in a day.  I wish I didn't have to work for a corporation (I need the medical benefits though).  

I am seriously considering trying to make coaching a "career", with the strength of my coaching being in swimming.  Before I got my current job, I built websites from my living room.  If I coach, I can continue to do that, and can make ends meet, but there is the issue of medical benefits.  Of course I can also build my own coaching website.  

The other obstacle is getting certified.  I know I have a lot to learn.  Yanti, (and anyone else who has coaching experience) I am curious as to your thoughts on this program I found online.  It seems like a great starting point with a lot of material for just under $500.  Of course, eventually I would want to get a USAT Certification, but I could never go higher than level 1 as I don't have the Bachelors degree needed for Level 2

http://triathloncoachcertification.com/

Ignoring all the marketing on the ITCA website and just looking at what the program covers I am tempted to do this.  What say you Manatees?  

I've read the book, and it was very good. Haven't got a lot to compare it to though, as I've only been swimming since November.

x3

I wanted the Perth team to do a video analysis and 1-on-1 coaching with me but it's nearly impossible to get a slot.

There are a VERY few things on the site, comprehensive as it is, that are merely controversial, or one part of something that has many, some opposing sides in swimming theory and coaching. There's not one item of information that I'd consider outright incorrect, misleading or harmful.

What I like about swimsmooth as a group is that they really try to integrate the best of all worlds and available information into their teaching and material. They're not committed to one style/method/philosophy etc., and they are always seeking more input.

What are your goals?  Are they weight loss related?  Are they triathlon / running related?  

I am bad at writing down my goals.  For me - what worked was setting the overall goal (Lose weight, Complete an Ironman).  I then told a lot of people...their reactions motivated me.  While people are supportive, the obligatory "good luck" (from strangers mostly) and the "you are crazy" and the "that's nuts" and even the outright "sorry dude, I don't think it's possible to complete an Ironman for your first triathlon" were all motivating factors for me.  I thrive off of people telling me I can't do something.  I thrive off of doing sh*t that most people think is crazy.  The crazier someone thinks I am, the more fun I'm having...that's why I like to run when it's poring down rain...  In my head, I get a rush when I see people driving by me in their warm cars, eating their big macs and smoking their cigarettes..but that's just me.  

The 2 biggest tools that helped me were my camera, and www.myfitnesspal.com    Take a picture on Day 1.  Take another every week or 10 days.  After a couple weeks - pull up the pictures and look at them.  I promise if you have been logging your calories, and doing your exercise, the pictures will motivate the hell out of you.  I didn't realize my hard work was paying off, then I looked at the pictures and thought "WOW".  Go look at the pics on the top of my blog..you will see what I mean.  It's amazing how fast your body will start to change.  Notice I took the pic from the same spot, in the same clothes, I always exhaled right before the shot and I tried to not smile (tense muscles).  

myfitnesspal.com has a free calorie counter.  Logging your meals and figuring out calories is a bit tough at first, but their program remembers your meals, and since we are creatures of habit, it gets much easier after the first week or 2.  Their program also adjusts your daily calorie intake based on the exercise you enter.  Their were many days that I had a hard time eating enough calories.  

I didn't "reward myself" for hitting little goals, because I just had the big goals.  It's helped me not feel so bad when I missed a day, because I knew that 1 day wasn't that big of a deal in an 8 month plan.  I rewarded myself by getting motivated from my pictures to go workout again.  

One last thing that worked for me is a saying I read on BT.  I'm not sure who wrote it.  

"I've never regretted doing a workout, but I have regretted not doing a workout" - I can't tell you how many evenings that got me out the door.  

Someone else also wrote that if you don't feel like working out - just drive 1/2 way to the gym..if you still don't feel like working out - turn around and go home.  It works...you will work out, and you will feel glad you did.  

Endorphin's from exercise are an amazing thing.  

If you need help with anything technology related let me know - I have the software to edit the pics you take - and get them all to the same size.  I will even create a slideshow for you that you can use as motivation.  

NOW GET OUT THERE AND JUST DOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTT !!!   

BTW - Love all the Before and After pics... Very motivating, and I love a good success story.  

Now, I must go work.  

Too late.

What is it you're hoping to gain from certification?

Mainly because it isn't necessary (at this stage). From what I recall of a discussion on Slowtwitch, the reviews were fairly positive and ITCA gives you a background in anatomy/physiology/kinesiology that USAT 1 doesn't.

On the other hand, it's all stuff very easily learnt on your own.

Also, my random personal recommendation is to really think about whether you want to be a triathlon coach or a swimming coach and exactly what kind of coaching you want to do ... and get out there and find everyone you can who's doing any kind of coaching and chew their ear off. Oh wait, that would also be me

One of the best ways to become an outstanding triathlete is to train, inasmuch as possible, as one, and with the single-sport athletes. Being an outstanding coach is something of an art (and really depends on how one categorizes 'outstanding') but you'd best serve yourself as an athlete and whoever your clients are/will be by aiming to be as well-informed in each of the disciplines as a single-sport coach would be. (And then of course, in triathlon as a whole, as a sport both in training and race execution).

More random thoughts--don't wait for 'certification.' (It's a good idea, and how you do it is a good topic for discussion, but for now ... ) get clients. If you can't get paying ones, volunteer your services. Coach a school running club or assistant-coach a swimming/swim lessons program. Learn everything you can about bicycles. Offer to tune people's bikes.

Woooo hooooo!!  That's great!!  Yeah, I picture Yanti when I swim and Salty when I run.  Not that I end up looking like either one of them, I'm sure!!

Chad, the only coaching advice I have comes from left field. I don't use one, nor do I intend to, as those are not my goals. But I have played a variety of sports and I have figured out a couple of coaching aspects:

• The best athlete is NOT the best coach. Coaching is an art form unto itself.
• The best coach tailors to the needs of the athlete. Think John Fox changing the Broncos last year to take advantage of Tebow, then changing again to take advantage of Manning. Be open to different things.
• What works for one may not work for another. You seem motivated by showing people they are wrong about you. I am motivated internally/personally. As a coach, you need to be able to push both buttons to help the athlete grow.
• Learn as much about psychology as you do physiology. The mind is where many athletes are seperated from others.
• Every job has many of the same things about it, make sure you love the bad parts of the job (pay, benefits, hours, whatever) as you do the good parts. Your own outlook determines many things.

The last part is simple. I wish you only the best and success!!!! Job choices are like triathlon, it may be a long go, but in the end it will be worth it. Preparation is key.

I am hearing the marvelous rhythms of rat traps snapping up in the ceiling ... and the even more hauntingly beautiful sound of dead silence now.

Phoebe remains sitting vigil in front of the candlelight.

I was so smiling when I read this. You sound like me. I HATE failing. I'm the kind of person who doesn't do things halfway. Once I decide on it, I do it. It's a strength and a weakness. It's also why I'm tri-ing at this point in my life. As we're trying to teach our son "You have to try even though you won't always like it or do it perfectly." Eeeek. It's hard!

Late last year I committed to doing Insanity in the afternoons...6 days/week. I printed the calendar, Xed out the days when I was done, and stuck to it. At the end of the program I thought I'd do a few days a week and it fell apart because I didn't have a set program to follow. I need a specific schedule.

I started by setting a large (broad?) goal and writing it down...preferably where others can see it.  One that I don't KNOW I can be "good" at. Then I break it into smaller more specific ones that I know I can make (ego). I really like the bar graphs on the log so I can SEE myself inching towards those smaller goals each week.  I already have a supportive DH, but I joined this group because I need extra help.

Start with something small that is a stretch, but attainable.  You have already lost 5 lbs, right?  So set a reasonable date to lose 5 more.  Write it down.  Put it on your fridge.  Tell us about it.  Then stop worrying about failing.  The thing about that is that if you are afraid of it, you make it happen so you can tell yourself "I knew it!".  At least that is what I do to myself.  If, in the end, you don't meet your goal, reevaluate--how close did you get?  What could've gotten you there?  Was it too broad?  Were you overstretching with respect to the timeline?  I think sometimes I set goals that I can't possibly reach in the timeline I have set, so of course I fail...  And always, always, always celebrate what you have completed (tell us about it so we can celebrate with you!)

Joanne, there are some great tips here for weight loss motivation. My methods were a lot like Chris'. I used Livestrong to map my weekly weight loss goals and to track calories in/calories out. I always got a thrill when I consumed less calories than I was "allowed" based on my excersice. I was using Hungry Girl meals which I probably wouldn't do now. They are super easy and convenient and low cal but they use a LOT of processed foods. It did make it easy to log the meals in Livestrong tho.

Here are my before and after. As I said I was not fond of being in front of the camera so the few pix of me are with family or on mission trips (such as this one), only for "special" occasions. The after is me and DS1 after my first triathlon, Tri for the Cure-Denver.

(me n vinny.JPG)

(Big Trout Lake 2008 050.JPG)