Is this realistic?

[StayCool]

Only track on the weeks you want to lose. That's my motto.

I was overeating at every meal, including dessert, so the portion control was absolutely vital. It's possible that you do have to give up sweets entirely, but if you haven't worked on portion control with sweet treats, you might consider it.

Once I started training for 10 miles and beyond, that's when the issues with maintaining my weight loss started. There is something about long runs that just makes it HARD to lose or keep a loss.

Weights...check out the website for "activtrax". If your local gym has a program, look it up. It's been wonderful for me. I'm a female who can pack on some awesome muscle if I work at it, so I figured that I might as well go with it. And ActivTrax at my YMCA has been terrific for telling me exactly what to do and how to do it.

I love that motto too! And totally agree with it. I just need to convince myself to track even when I am being "bad" and I am doing much better with that part of it. I have to be honest with myself, if no one else.

I was totally overeating all the time before. Now I overeat *sometimes*. I do feel full with less food and I try harder to stop when I know I am full. Baby steps I guess.

My thing with the long runs was that the day I ran I did not want to eat at all. My runs were first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and I just was not hungry. I made myself eat when I got back and then again at least at dinner. However the next day I was starving. I googled Activtrax and came up with several local gyms but when I went to their websites there was no mention of it at all. I would think that it would be listed, right?

I do almost nothing with weights. All you need is your body! Seriously - most of the hard core acrobats I know never touch weights either. I'd start with squats, lunges, planks and push-ups; there is a very simple progression - first do them against walls, then with your hands on a bench or something similar, then on the ground, so you never have to deal with the issue of not being able to do "real" push-ups. Also, leg lifts to the side to work your glutes. That series of five exercises is enough to help you build some strength without being too overwhelming. Or get a Yoga video - not Vinyasa Flow, because that's a lot of cardio - find something that puts you in a pose and holds it for a little while. You can You Tube videos of how to do the other exercises so you can see the correct form. All of them will help your running, too.

We all have baggage. I'm glad you're trying to work through it, and you've accomplished a lot, now you just need to hold onto what motivated you to get there. Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader.

I will have to look into that. I know I can't do a push up and can only do a few "girly" pushups, but my wrists are my weak point so anything that requires my weight on them for an extended period is not happening or I pay for it later. I will work on it though.

As far as my baggage, the way I work on it is to talk, talk, talk and then FINALLY I do something. lol It's like I am convincing myself.

On the WW community boards (on their site) there are daily discussions of the Beck Diet Solution. It seems to have really really helped many people with serious emotional eating issues. Might be worth a try! Even to just read the discussions they have on the boards over there.

I find the WW forums hard to maneuver. I will have to look though. I did find a woman through Half Size Me that deals with emotional eating too so I have been following her stuff on facebook.

I think there is a book you could benefit from. I know, I recommend books all the time. But I read this in the summer of 2013 and it did more to change my life than even the running. Here is a link. http://www.amazon.com/Self-Esteem-C...F8&qid=1415930271&sr=1-1&keywords=self+esteem

I convinced a friend to read it. She finally did. She is still at the beginning and she has said it has made a big difference already. The reason she finally agreed to read it is because she said she noticed a huge difference in my outlook. She couldn't believe how positive I have become, especially given my marital situation. I told her it was because of this book and more specifically the "Accurate Self-Assessment". After reading this book I learned I am worth it. I do deserve a better life and to be happy. Both things you mentioned.

So, if you want to spill your guts on here and let us help you figure out your "baggage" I am happy to help you. If you don't want to do it here send me a PM. The point is, start doing something different or you will be 5 yrs older and looking back saying you wished you had.

I also need to say something else I have noticed and hopefully it doesn't offend. I don't know the whole situation, only what you write here. But, you seem to be waiting for your husband a lot lately. I remember a few times when you mentioned your husband and him possibly doing this or that. Now you are asking him help with weight training.

He may be the most supportive person in the world. But if you wait for him, it may never happen. You are able to do this on your own. And if you do it on your own you will feel so much more proud of yourself when you reach your goals. This brings me to another point. P90X can be done with just bands. You could get the kind that have removable handles and get a couple different colors. You could get everything you need for less than $100 +plus the cost of the program. Then you won't need to wait on him.

OK, hopefully I haven't completely offended you.

I will look into the book when I get a chance. I'm always open to looking into new things. I am a negative person, but not nearly as negative as I used to be. I don't really want to get into my food issues in depth but a lot of it stems from not having a lot of access to food as a kid and definitely not having access to healthy foods at all. So as an adult I have over compensated for that. Plus I feel like my sense of self and sense of strength is tied to being big. It gets complicated to explain beyond that and I'm not sure I know myself.

I do have to disagree that I have been waiting for my husband. If that was true I would have never done the race. I am hoping that I can drag him along into my journey so we can do it together. I do talk about including him a lot but I am really hoping that we can experience this journey together. It's funny because I do not nag him but I do talk about what I am doing a lot. I hope to rub off on him.

I was doing so good before our last Disney trip, I had lost 30 lbs and was well on my way to more. Then the trip happened and I felt great and came home inspired to lose even more for the next trip and then got lazy because I didn’t have anything planned. Then summer came and my schedule was off and I didn’t make any effort to fit in the exercise (and I live in one of the most beautiful places with literally miles and miles of beaches, lakes, hiking trails and mountains – so not ok to be lazy especially in the summer!) and I’m kicking myself for it now. I think about how much I would have lost by now if I had stuck with it but I have to stop that kind of thinking and just go for it from this point before I gain it all back.

I was very frustrated this week with my friends because they all bailed on various activities for a variety of reasons and in most cases I did them alone anyway. It frustrated me because I’m twice the size of them and do WAY more exercise than any of them (probably more than all three combined) and it pisses me off. The reality is though they are more careful with what they eat than I am and the annoyance I feel towards that will push me to do more so I guess in the end it’s a good thing. It’s great they want to come and exercise but at the same time I then end up depending on them and when they bail I lose out so I need to go back to my old way which is plan to go and plan to meet there. If it works out that they come great but if not I’m still there and doing it.

I finally went back to the doctor to get the results of my x-ray on my foot and there is no stress fracture so that's good. He recommended I get orthotics so I may do that - I didn't like them when I had them before but they have come a long way. I was holding off on getting a new pair of sneakers until I got the x-ray results but since I put a hole in my last pair on the weekend I need to get some this weekend. I have a pair of new balance that are more of a hiking boot than a sneaker and I can't run in them.

I hear ya about wishing you had just stuck with it. A couple years ago I had lost 27 lbs and was doing great. Then my last year of grad school started and I stopped tracking. Blech.

I can totally relate about friends bailing and how that would mess everything up. I think you have the right idea about becoming more independent and not relying on them.

YAY no stress fracture! I ended up with standard orthotics and once I got used to them I loved them. It took a little while though.

I'm loving my fitbit! I would like a hrm though. I'd love to get a waterproof one so I could use it in the pool.

I bought a new pair of new balance running shoes today - very excited about that!

I know. I really am thinking of getting the new Jawbone that is a hrm and is water resistant. I had a hrm but I had a difficult time getting it to work and then it died. So I did not get much use out of it at all.

OMG my sneakers are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned!! It's like walking on air!

 

[StayCool]

So my weekend did not go as planned at all. I was supposed to go to Zumba on Friday morning. Well I went out to start my car and the battery was dead. So I got it charged enough to get to the garage. New battery, new alternator and new serpentine belt. So I spent half my day there and missed it. Then my friend did not want to do Zumba up to her house so we did not go. I was ok with my food compared to what I have done before. But no exercise.

My Zumba instructor is talking about starting the 4 week Paleo challenge next week and I think I'm going to go for it. And then imagine my surprise when my husband said he would do it with me!!! I made sure he knew that he has to work out 3 times a week and can't drink alcohol. He agreed. lol So we will see. This is what I am hoping for. We can work together.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I'm loving my fitbit! I would like a hrm though. I'd love to get a waterproof one so I could use it in the pool.

I bought a new pair of new balance running shoes today - very excited about that!

My HRM is waterproof. I think they all are. They kinda have to be I think since you are dealing with sweat.

OMG my sneakers are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned!! It's like walking on air!

I love that. I put my running sneakers on and I'm like, "AHHHHHHHHHHHH, so comfortable. I could sleep in them. " Its to the point I hate putting my other sneakers on now. But, I only wear them when I run so they don't get worn out. Unfortunately I haven't been wearing them much with my training at work preventing me from running. Only a few more days and I will be back at it.

My Zumba instructor is talking about starting the 4 week Paleo challenge next week and I think I'm going to go for it. And then imagine my surprise when my husband said he would do it with me!!! I made sure he knew that he has to work out 3 times a week and can't drink alcohol. He agreed. lol So we will see. This is what I am hoping for. We can work together.

I am glad I was wrong about your husband and I hope you do rub off on him. I hope this 4 week challenge works out. I think your instructor is making it tough on you to start the challenge before Thanksgiving though, unless she is starting it the day after. You just said next week so I didn't know when she is starting.

I have tried listening to the Half Sized Me podcast. I only got through 1 so far and it was just her talking. She didn't do an interview so I don't have an opinion yet. Some of the topics I saw looked good. I have them downloaded on my phone so when I go back to training at the end of the week I will have some time to listen as it is a 90 minute commute each way.

Hoping to go to the gym tomorrow after work. I get out at 8:30 so that will make it a late workout but I have to stop making excuses. I don't want to go backwards. I am getting frustrated.

 

[StayCool]

I am glad I was wrong about your husband and I hope you do rub off on him. I hope this 4 week challenge works out. I think your instructor is making it tough on you to start the challenge before Thanksgiving though, unless she is starting it the day after. You just said next week so I didn't know when she is starting.

I have tried listening to the Half Sized Me podcast. I only got through 1 so far and it was just her talking. She didn't do an interview so I don't have an opinion yet. Some of the topics I saw looked good. I have them downloaded on my phone so when I go back to training at the end of the week I will have some time to listen as it is a 90 minute commute each way.

Hoping to go to the gym tomorrow after work. I get out at 8:30 so that will make it a late workout but I have to stop making excuses. I don't want to go backwards. I am getting frustrated.

I do agree that it will be tough to start before Thanksgiving but I think I will just have an off day for the holiday and then restart the next day. Plus it will go pretty much to Christmas so that will be a good thing for me. I normally bake a lot in that time frame and therefore eat a lot. This will curb some of that. So I'm ok with it.

I think that the podcast is a bit geared more toward women so you may not like it as well as I do. However, as active as you are in your children's lives, you may relate more than a "typical" guy. Either way, I do enjoy most of the interviews, but some are a little tough to get through. My goal is to just surround myself with people that are on the same journey as me so that I keep going.

Good luck with your workouts. Just keep plugging away, one foot in front of the other. You've got this.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I didn't work out today. I was all fired up to do so and woke up with a head cold. Normally I would have pushed through and run anyway but I will be waking up early to finish out training the end of the week so I didn't want to push myself and then not get any rest. Plus it is cold and rainy today so not the best conditions when sick.

I feel like the excuses are piling up. I have tomorrow off as my son needs to go back to the hospital for a follow up procedure from last month. So, if I wake up and feel better I will try to get in a run during the day assuming it is not raining. If it is I will need to try to get to the gym tomorrow.

As for the podcast. I am not one to worry about if it is geared toward women or not. I look for the motivation in the story. Hearing someone's story and seeing how they succeeded usually keeps me motivated as well.

Hoping the challenge goes well for both you and your husband. I'll be curious to see how much weight you lose just from the challenge.

 

[StayCool]

I didn't work out today. I was all fired up to do so and woke up with a head cold. Normally I would have pushed through and run anyway but I will be waking up early to finish out training the end of the week so I didn't want to push myself and then not get any rest. Plus it is cold and rainy today so not the best conditions when sick.

I feel like the excuses are piling up. I have tomorrow off as my son needs to go back to the hospital for a follow up procedure from last month. So, if I wake up and feel better I will try to get in a run during the day assuming it is not raining. If it is I will need to try to get to the gym tomorrow.

Hoping the challenge goes well for both you and your husband. I'll be curious to see how much weight you lose just from the challenge.

Having obstacles pop up is part of life. You falling off is when life is not excessively crazy and you don't work out. You are doing your best so don't be too hard on yourself.

I will talk to my instructor tomorrow hopefully about what exactly the challenge is. Then I will present it to the hubby.

Today is my weigh in day. I was down 3.0 lbs. So I lost the 2.2 I gained last week plus another 0.8. And that was with having a few drinks this weekend so I am very happy with that. Today when I tracked my weight I went back and looked at the fluctuation over the last 6 months. I have been gaining and losing the same 4 lbs over and over. So my new short term goal is to lose 4 lbs and get out of this cycle. I have not been making progress and there is no excuse other than not having self control.

 

[Chiomaca]

It looks like you guys have been working out some issues while I was away!

Staycool - congrats on moving the right direction on the scale this week. That and the Paleo challenge should help kick start you towards your goal to finish up with that same four pounds. Paleo might not be that hard over Thanksgiving if you're the one doing the cooking, or most of it. You can probably find alternatives to non-Paleo things like stuffing online, or else just do smaller portions. I use a salad plate at holiday meals so that I have to think about what I'm eating and how much.

Re: not eating before your long runs. You should, even if it's something small. That's what helps you get through, especially if you're going longer than about 30 minutes. Bumbershoot's experiences are pretty accurate for most people - as soon as you run so long that you need to eat to maintain your energy levels, the weight loss stops. My weight doesn't budge when I'm in training, even though I don't amp up my intake until I'm running 30+ miles a week.

Dizzy - Yay for new running shoes! I'm always happy when I get a new pair. I think finding a new workout plan for when your friends cancel is a great idea. Also, maybe walking to school isn't a workout, but could you turn the walk home into one? Wear your running stuff and take the long way home? Then you could at least call the slower walk to school a warm up.

Waiting2goback - last week of training? That's great. What comes next? I hope you'll at least be working closer to home than your current commute.

My weekend was great, although the run wasn't my favorite. I was just glad to be with family and friends. I flew in Friday and met my mom at the airport - checked into the hotel, picked up our park tickets, and went to the Expo, which we both found very disappointing. People make a big deal of the Dooney and Burke bags, but I thought the design was ugly. The rest of the Avengers stuff was uninteresting as well. I left with a baseball cap to run in, and a plain pink "Run Disney" shirt. Rode a couple of rides in CA Adventure with mom and the boyfriend, and had dinner at the fancy pants restaurant in the park. Expensive, but worth it.

Saturday was the Kid's races and my nephews ran as Thor (the little one, 200m dash...which he ran about half of) and Iron Man (the older one, 400 meters, in which he finished in the top 20 despite only being eligible for that race by a month). They had lots of fun, and I got to meet up with the friends who came up from San Diego for the race. We had lunch in Disneyland and spent some time in the parks.

Sunday wasn't too bad since I was still operating on East Coast time. Ate some peanuts, some granola, and half a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss bar and met my mom and my friend down in the hotel lobby. That's when we discovered that my friend's run time hadn't registered - she's faster than me - so she was in the last corral. We wanted to run together, so all of us started in H instead of E where we belonged. I'd said I wasn't running for time, so I wasn't too concerned, but it did mean we weren't going to wait in long lines for pictures. We stayed together through the short run through CA Adventure, but dropped my mom in Disneyland. She trains for and runs lots of 10Ks and is finally admitting that she needs to run longer to do Halfs.

Disneyland races are different because they're much more like standard road races in that they go through city streets instead of staying exclusively on Disney property. In some ways I like it, there are fewer character stops, but more in the way of crowd support along the route. Lots of cheerleaders, Marvel Cosplayers along one section, and WWII re-enactors along another. It was not too cold, but the winds kicked up around sunrise and by the time we got to the section that went along the dry Los Angeles riverbed, they were really high. None of us realized that the race fee included free dermabrasion! All the mile markers outside of the park were knocked down by the wind, too. On the bright side, the wind made my cape look FABULOUS. Except when it was coming from behind and blowing the cape over my head...

It was neither my best nor my worst Half, but my intention was to run the race with my friend, and I stuck with her the whole time. She's on her second round of chemo in two years, so we walked a lot more than we would have a few months ago. But the insane woman is running half marathons mid-chemo which confounds her oncologists, and she loves that.

My brother and the boys were about 50 feet before the finish, and my friend's husband and daughter were just past, so we got a good finishing burst of cheer. Mom finished about 30 minutes behind us, so we all got to see her cross the line too. The costume worked great and even the fishnet stockings were comfortable. I think putting socks on inside of the stockings was a good idea.

Overall a great weekend and a decent run. Physically I could have done more, but mentally I was exactly where I wanted to be. I ate horribly though, so it was probably a good thing that I was so active.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Having obstacles pop up is part of life. You falling off is when life is not excessively crazy and you don't work out. You are doing your best so don't be too hard on yourself.

I will talk to my instructor tomorrow hopefully about what exactly the challenge is. Then I will present it to the hubby.

Today is my weigh in day. I was down 3.0 lbs. So I lost the 2.2 I gained last week plus another 0.8. And that was with having a few drinks this weekend so I am very happy with that. Today when I tracked my weight I went back and looked at the fluctuation over the last 6 months. I have been gaining and losing the same 4 lbs over and over. So my new short term goal is to lose 4 lbs and get out of this cycle. I have not been making progress and there is no excuse other than not having self control.

Great news on the weight loss. Even better news that you identified a trend and are now determined to change the pattern.

It sounds like we have a similar issue. I hear you on the life getting in the way thing but I feel this is different for me. Right now I am using the stuff going on as excuses not to work out. I mean, I have been working out but not like I should. I know I have stuff going on but I should still be able to do fight through. I have been snacking on Halloween candy and chips and stuff lately too. That's the main reason it feels different.

I ran today. It was 36' out and with wind chill it was in the teens. I always used to think people were crazy running in that weather and I was out there doing it today. I did 3 1/2 miles. I took it easy because I was woken up by a cramp in my calf this morning. (That used to happen all the time before I began running). This served as another sign to get off my butt. Anyway, my calf was tight so I didn't want to push it. While running my ankles and knees were hurting because everything is so stiff and tight from not using them.

I track my workouts and when I got home I wrote this one down. When I did I saw that it has been 6 days since I worked out at all. Not acceptable.

Back to my point. Our similar issue seems to be a lack of self control. I need to remind myself of my new goals and get my act together.

One final thing. I know you weren't impressed with the Runner Academy podcast but I listened to an episode during my run today. It was really good. It was about what we talked about last week. It was episode 49: Dave McGillivray. He is the race director for the Boston Marathon. That is the only reason he was on this podcast and not The Everyday Runner. He is just a regular guy and he talked about how he got into running because he didn't feel good enough prior to it. He discussed many other things but the end where he talks about food was good too. He has run 126 Marathons and he had a serious health scare because he didn't eat well all these years. It's worth a listen, my explanation doesn't do it justice.

It looks like you guys have been working out some issues while I was away!

Staycool - congrats on moving the right direction on the scale this week. That and the Paleo challenge should help kick start you towards your goal to finish up with that same four pounds. Paleo might not be that hard over Thanksgiving if you're the one doing the cooking, or most of it. You can probably find alternatives to non-Paleo things like stuffing online, or else just do smaller portions. I use a salad plate at holiday meals so that I have to think about what I'm eating and how much.

Re: not eating before your long runs. You should, even if it's something small. That's what helps you get through, especially if you're going longer than about 30 minutes. Bumbershoot's experiences are pretty accurate for most people - as soon as you run so long that you need to eat to maintain your energy levels, the weight loss stops. My weight doesn't budge when I'm in training, even though I don't amp up my intake until I'm running 30+ miles a week.

Dizzy - Yay for new running shoes! I'm always happy when I get a new pair. I think finding a new workout plan for when your friends cancel is a great idea. Also, maybe walking to school isn't a workout, but could you turn the walk home into one? Wear your running stuff and take the long way home? Then you could at least call the slower walk to school a warm up.

Waiting2goback - last week of training? That's great. What comes next? I hope you'll at least be working closer to home than your current commute.

My weekend was great, although the run wasn't my favorite. I was just glad to be with family and friends. I flew in Friday and met my mom at the airport - checked into the hotel, picked up our park tickets, and went to the Expo, which we both found very disappointing. People make a big deal of the Dooney and Burke bags, but I thought the design was ugly. The rest of the Avengers stuff was uninteresting as well. I left with a baseball cap to run in, and a plain pink "Run Disney" shirt. Rode a couple of rides in CA Adventure with mom and the boyfriend, and had dinner at the fancy pants restaurant in the park. Expensive, but worth it.

Saturday was the Kid's races and my nephews ran as Thor (the little one, 200m dash...which he ran about half of) and Iron Man (the older one, 400 meters, in which he finished in the top 20 despite only being eligible for that race by a month). They had lots of fun, and I got to meet up with the friends who came up from San Diego for the race. We had lunch in Disneyland and spent some time in the parks.

Sunday wasn't too bad since I was still operating on East Coast time. Ate some peanuts, some granola, and half a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss bar and met my mom and my friend down in the hotel lobby. That's when we discovered that my friend's run time hadn't registered - she's faster than me - so she was in the last corral. We wanted to run together, so all of us started in H instead of E where we belonged. I'd said I wasn't running for time, so I wasn't too concerned, but it did mean we weren't going to wait in long lines for pictures. We stayed together through the short run through CA Adventure, but dropped my mom in Disneyland. She trains for and runs lots of 10Ks and is finally admitting that she needs to run longer to do Halfs.

Disneyland races are different because they're much more like standard road races in that they go through city streets instead of staying exclusively on Disney property. In some ways I like it, there are fewer character stops, but more in the way of crowd support along the route. Lots of cheerleaders, Marvel Cosplayers along one section, and WWII re-enactors along another. It was not too cold, but the winds kicked up around sunrise and by the time we got to the section that went along the dry Los Angeles riverbed, they were really high. None of us realized that the race fee included free dermabrasion! All the mile markers outside of the park were knocked down by the wind, too. On the bright side, the wind made my cape look FABULOUS. Except when it was coming from behind and blowing the cape over my head...

It was neither my best nor my worst Half, but my intention was to run the race with my friend, and I stuck with her the whole time. She's on her second round of chemo in two years, so we walked a lot more than we would have a few months ago. But the insane woman is running half marathons mid-chemo which confounds her oncologists, and she loves that.

My brother and the boys were about 50 feet before the finish, and my friend's husband and daughter were just past, so we got a good finishing burst of cheer. Mom finished about 30 minutes behind us, so we all got to see her cross the line too. The costume worked great and even the fishnet stockings were comfortable. I think putting socks on inside of the stockings was a good idea.

Overall a great weekend and a decent run. Physically I could have done more, but mentally I was exactly where I wanted to be. I ate horribly though, so it was probably a good thing that I was so active.

I have 3 more days of training this week then back to the store next week. I was in the store 2 days this week and I learned that I know nothing. I didn't know selling cell phones could be so difficult. There is a lot more involved than I imagined.

Glad you had a good weekend and a good race. May not have been as fast as you wanted but you had a plan and you stuck to it. I poked around the Avengers thread to see how the race went and people were talking about how windy it was. Nobody that I saw seemed overly impressed by the theme. I haven't looked since yesterday so that may have changed. They said the medal was pretty cool though.

I do need to get out and do a race there. I want to experience that park at least once in my life.

 

[Chiomaca]

I ran today. It was 36' out and with wind chill it was in the teens. I always used to think people were crazy running in that weather and I was out there doing it today. I did 3 1/2 miles. I took it easy because I was woken up by a cramp in my calf this morning. (That used to happen all the time before I began running). This served as another sign to get off my butt. Anyway, my calf was tight so I didn't want to push it. While running my ankles and knees were hurting because everything is so stiff and tight from not using them.

I track my workouts and when I got home I wrote this one down. When I did I saw that it has been 6 days since I worked out at all. Not acceptable.

Cold weather running is crazy, but with the right layers it isn't too bad. Glad you made it out - and I still think running outside in the cold is better than the treadmill.

I have 3 more days of training this week then back to the store next week. I was in the store 2 days this week and I learned that I know nothing. I didn't know selling cell phones could be so difficult. There is a lot more involved than I imagined.

Glad you had a good weekend and a good race. May not have been as fast as you wanted but you had a plan and you stuck to it. I poked around the Avengers thread to see how the race went and people were talking about how windy it was. Nobody that I saw seemed overly impressed by the theme. I haven't looked since yesterday so that may have changed. They said the medal was pretty cool though.

I do need to get out and do a race there. I want to experience that park at least once in my life.

Is the store at least closer to you than the training? All that commuting has got to be awful, not to mention cutting into reasonable hours to exercise.

As for the race, fall is prime time for the Santa Ana winds, and that's what we got. It was really windy, Santa Anas often hit gale force. They cancelled fireworks that night and the next because of them.

It wasn't the race theme as much as the logos and merchandise they provided that were disappointing. It felt cartoonish rather than comic book-ish, if that makes any sense. I loved the theme of the race itself, and they did a good job playing into it with the cosplayers and re-enactors. I'm pretty sure the mile markers did as well, but they'd all been knocked over by the wind, so I couldn't say.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Cold weather running is crazy, but with the right layers it isn't too bad. Glad you made it out - and I still think running outside in the cold is better than the treadmill.

Is the store at least closer to you than the training? All that commuting has got to be awful, not to mention cutting into reasonable hours to exercise.

As for the race, fall is prime time for the Santa Ana winds, and that's what we got. It was really windy, Santa Anas often hit gale force. They cancelled fireworks that night and the next because of them.

It wasn't the race theme as much as the logos and merchandise they provided that were disappointing. It felt cartoonish rather than comic book-ish, if that makes any sense. I loved the theme of the race itself, and they did a good job playing into it with the cosplayers and re-enactors. I'm pretty sure the mile markers did as well, but they'd all been knocked over by the wind, so I couldn't say.

I had just a long sleeve shirt on with my pants. They are tight but I don't think they are considered running pants. They are warm though. I actually bought them last year to ride my bike in cold weather and they kept me warm on my bike. The shirt didn't do as good of a job.

To my store and back is 46 miles. To training and back is 121 miles. Mileage wise it isn't too bad but I have to drive the back roads to get to the highway which slows it way down. It's a pretty peaceful ride though, so that's good. Much better than driving to Boston for 3 weeks by far.

I was disappointed by the merchandise at ToT as well. I was kinda glad because it made the decision to not spend any money much easier. I know it was a popular race this year being it's first year. I wonder if people will be dying to do it again next year. Although any Disney race seems to sell out no matter what nowadays.

2 more days of training and I am hoping to be back on a more consistent exercise schedule. I'm pretty sore from my run yesterday which is bothersome. 2 months ago I could run 5 miles and not feel it the next day. I feel like I am starting over.

 

[StayCool]

Staycool - congrats on moving the right direction on the scale this week. That and the Paleo challenge should help kick start you towards your goal to finish up with that same four pounds.

Re: not eating before your long runs. You should, even if it's something small. That's what helps you get through, especially if you're going longer than about 30 minutes. Bumbershoot's experiences are pretty accurate for most people - as soon as you run so long that you need to eat to maintain your energy levels, the weight loss stops. My weight doesn't budge when I'm in training, even though I don't amp up my intake until I'm running 30+ miles a week.

It was neither my best nor my worst Half, but my intention was to run the race with my friend, and I stuck with her the whole time. She's on her second round of chemo in two years, so we walked a lot more than we would have a few months ago. But the insane woman is running half marathons mid-chemo which confounds her oncologists, and she loves that.

Overall a great weekend and a decent run. Physically I could have done more, but mentally I was exactly where I wanted to be. I ate horribly though, so it was probably a good thing that I was so active.

I know that I shouldn't be so hung up on the fact that I didn't lose any *real* weight all summer because I did lose inches around my waist. BUT for me, I really need to see the weight loss. I kind of look at it like a 1-2 punch. Weight loss is first and then running will come and be easier on my body. Plus I always struggle with weight loss in the winter so I kind of feel like I missed my chance until next spring. BUT I'm NOT going to gain this winter! I don't eat before my long runs mostly because I'm out the door before I am completely awake. lol I have to do it that way or I won't go.

I'm glad you had a fairly good time at your race. I'm sure they will be tweaking things for next year to make improvements. Your friend sounds like a rockstar! That is awesome.

Right now I am using the stuff going on as excuses not to work out. I mean, I have been working out but not like I should. I know I have stuff going on but I should still be able to do fight through. I have been snacking on Halloween candy and chips and stuff lately too. That's the main reason it feels different.

I ran today. It was 36' out and with wind chill it was in the teens. I always used to think people were crazy running in that weather and I was out there doing it today. I did 3 1/2 miles. I took it easy because I was woken up by a cramp in my calf this morning. (That used to happen all the time before I began running). This served as another sign to get off my butt. Anyway, my calf was tight so I didn't want to push it. While running my ankles and knees were hurting because everything is so stiff and tight from not using them.

I track my workouts and when I got home I wrote this one down. When I did I saw that it has been 6 days since I worked out at all. Not acceptable.

Back to my point. Our similar issue seems to be a lack of self control. I need to remind myself of my new goals and get my act together.

You sound way too much like me in my head in this post. Sometimes things don't work out the way you want however you have gone through a TON of changes in the last month. Don't beat yourself up. Just look at it like a puzzle and you need to figure out how the pieces fit back together. Training is temporary and you will have to readjust when it is done anyway. Ride it out. Once you have a regular schedule then start putting things in their "permanent" places and your fitness routine will fall back together.

2 more days of training and I am hoping to be back on a more consistent exercise schedule. I'm pretty sore from my run yesterday which is bothersome. 2 months ago I could run 5 miles and not feel it the next day. I feel like I am starting over.

I listened to enough Runner Academy podcasts to know that most runners dial it back in the colder weather anyway. You still have your base. You can build from that at any time. You haven't given up and you are pushing forward. You are not the old you!

 

[StayCool]

So last night I went to Zumba and it was FREEZING! It is a big town hall type of building and they said they turned the heat on but holy cow. It took me about 20 minutes to warm up but it ended up being a great workout. I did get the info on the Paleo challenge and my hubby is still saying he will try. So that will start on Monday. I will do weights and measurements on Sunday and then again when it is over. I'm looking forward to the challenge actually. I will cheat on Thanksgiving BUT I'm not going to go nuts eating everything in sight.

I am taking a half day of work because my son has to have 2 teeth pulled so I will be able to go to Zumba tonight if all goes well. Then I should be able to go again tomorrow. So that makes me super happy. Hopefully it all falls together instead of apart. lol

 

[dizzyr]

I really need to get my head back in the game! I have still been doing my regular walking and I've been to the pool everyday since Sunday but I've been eating like crazy!! It started on Saturday when we went to the states and ate lunch at out favorite Mexican restaurant and then our friends took my husband and I out for dinner that night to celebrate our birthdays and we ate and drank for three hours!! It didn't get better either! Sunday was my husbands birthday so the girls and I picked up subs and chips on the way home for the pool and then had cake at dinner. Monday was not horrible but Tuesday was my birthday so my boss took me out for a huge Chinese lunch and then my cousin brought me KFC for dinner. Yesterday I had McDonald's for both dinner and breakfast and Wendy's for lunch (so wrong on so many levels!!!) today I had Japanese for lunch and my boss from my other job is taking me out for dinner. I don't remember the last time I are at home! I have a function tomorrow night too. I really really really need to get back on track. My daughters birthday is Saturday and we have a minecraft party planned so that will take up what little free time I have left but Sunday after the pool I'm making a menu and going shopping. This is beyond ridiculous!

 

[dizzyr]

Having obstacles pop up is part of life. You falling off is when life is not excessively crazy and you don't work out. You are doing your best so don't be too hard on yourself.

I will talk to my instructor tomorrow hopefully about what exactly the challenge is. Then I will present it to the hubby.

Today is my weigh in day. I was down 3.0 lbs. So I lost the 2.2 I gained last week plus another 0.8. And that was with having a few drinks this weekend so I am very happy with that. Today when I tracked my weight I went back and looked at the fluctuation over the last 6 months. I have been gaining and losing the same 4 lbs over and over. So my new short term goal is to lose 4 lbs and get out of this cycle. I have not been making progress and there is no excuse other than not having self control.

That's great that you are down - I was up which is no surprise I was the same as you where I kept losing the same 4-5 lbs over and over. I finally broke the cycle but not in a good way - I gained more than 5!

My husband and I have given up pop a number of times over the years but never at the same time so he said if I wanted to try again he would do it with me. He drinks regular and I drink diet. I have given it up for 6 weeks before and didn't feel different AT ALL but I would drink crystal light instead which of course has aspartame so it's really not that much different I guess than diet coke so this time I'm going to try and give up aspartame completely. I have some of the so delicious yogurts like key lime and banana cream pie that we bought in the states and a half a case of diet coke and once they are gone I will start. Normally I would start now and not wait until they are done but we can't buy the yogurt in Canada so I'm not letting them go to waste and they are low cal so if it wasn't for the aspartame I wouldn't be giving them up. We'll see if that makes a difference. On one hand this crazy eating week may have been a good thing because it's making me feel yucky and that may be enough motivation to stop! I already just want to order a salad for dinner tonight.

 

[dizzyr]

It looks like you guys have been working out some issues while I was away!

Staycool - congrats on moving the right direction on the scale this week. That and the Paleo challenge should help kick start you towards your goal to finish up with that same four pounds. Paleo might not be that hard over Thanksgiving if you're the one doing the cooking, or most of it. You can probably find alternatives to non-Paleo things like stuffing online, or else just do smaller portions. I use a salad plate at holiday meals so that I have to think about what I'm eating and how much.

Re: not eating before your long runs. You should, even if it's something small. That's what helps you get through, especially if you're going longer than about 30 minutes. Bumbershoot's experiences are pretty accurate for most people - as soon as you run so long that you need to eat to maintain your energy levels, the weight loss stops. My weight doesn't budge when I'm in training, even though I don't amp up my intake until I'm running 30+ miles a week.

Dizzy - Yay for new running shoes! I'm always happy when I get a new pair. I think finding a new workout plan for when your friends cancel is a great idea. Also, maybe walking to school isn't a workout, but could you turn the walk home into one? Wear your running stuff and take the long way home? Then you could at least call the slower walk to school a warm up.

Waiting2goback - last week of training? That's great. What comes next? I hope you'll at least be working closer to home than your current commute.

My weekend was great, although the run wasn't my favorite. I was just glad to be with family and friends. I flew in Friday and met my mom at the airport - checked into the hotel, picked up our park tickets, and went to the Expo, which we both found very disappointing. People make a big deal of the Dooney and Burke bags, but I thought the design was ugly. The rest of the Avengers stuff was uninteresting as well. I left with a baseball cap to run in, and a plain pink "Run Disney" shirt. Rode a couple of rides in CA Adventure with mom and the boyfriend, and had dinner at the fancy pants restaurant in the park. Expensive, but worth it.

Saturday was the Kid's races and my nephews ran as Thor (the little one, 200m dash...which he ran about half of) and Iron Man (the older one, 400 meters, in which he finished in the top 20 despite only being eligible for that race by a month). They had lots of fun, and I got to meet up with the friends who came up from San Diego for the race. We had lunch in Disneyland and spent some time in the parks.

Sunday wasn't too bad since I was still operating on East Coast time. Ate some peanuts, some granola, and half a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss bar and met my mom and my friend down in the hotel lobby. That's when we discovered that my friend's run time hadn't registered - she's faster than me - so she was in the last corral. We wanted to run together, so all of us started in H instead of E where we belonged. I'd said I wasn't running for time, so I wasn't too concerned, but it did mean we weren't going to wait in long lines for pictures. We stayed together through the short run through CA Adventure, but dropped my mom in Disneyland. She trains for and runs lots of 10Ks and is finally admitting that she needs to run longer to do Halfs.

Disneyland races are different because they're much more like standard road races in that they go through city streets instead of staying exclusively on Disney property. In some ways I like it, there are fewer character stops, but more in the way of crowd support along the route. Lots of cheerleaders, Marvel Cosplayers along one section, and WWII re-enactors along another. It was not too cold, but the winds kicked up around sunrise and by the time we got to the section that went along the dry Los Angeles riverbed, they were really high. None of us realized that the race fee included free dermabrasion! All the mile markers outside of the park were knocked down by the wind, too. On the bright side, the wind made my cape look FABULOUS. Except when it was coming from behind and blowing the cape over my head...

It was neither my best nor my worst Half, but my intention was to run the race with my friend, and I stuck with her the whole time. She's on her second round of chemo in two years, so we walked a lot more than we would have a few months ago. But the insane woman is running half marathons mid-chemo which confounds her oncologists, and she loves that.

My brother and the boys were about 50 feet before the finish, and my friend's husband and daughter were just past, so we got a good finishing burst of cheer. Mom finished about 30 minutes behind us, so we all got to see her cross the line too. The costume worked great and even the fishnet stockings were comfortable. I think putting socks on inside of the stockings was a good idea.

Overall a great weekend and a decent run. Physically I could have done more, but mentally I was exactly where I wanted to be. I ate horribly though, so it was probably a good thing that I was so active.

Sounds like a great weekend and your friend is awesome! Did she dress up as a super hero?!

I walk my daughter and then after I drop her off I walk to the bus for work which is only another 10 minutes so no real way to turn it into a run - there isn't a walk home. After thinking and rethinking I think the challenges of trying to turn the morning walk into a run are just too many to make it work (not dressed for a run because I'm going to work, always have my knapsack because I go to the pool right after work those nights, it's often pouring rain, daughter slowing me down etc) so I NEED to start running at lunch. I will bring a change of clothes so if it's raining hard I can have something to change into. I bought a jacket that is made out of yoga pant material to be my running jacket when it's cold. Also when I was walking with the girls on Tuesday in the dark and whenever a car would come the headlights blinded us - if I had been running that would have freaked me out. Running at lunch will work great if I can just get off my butt and start. I have a 5k in two weeks and I'd like to run at least a part of it which would be almost impossible right now so I need to get it together. NO MORE EXCUSES!!

 

[dizzyr]

I had just a long sleeve shirt on with my pants. They are tight but I don't think they are considered running pants. They are warm though. I actually bought them last year to ride my bike in cold weather and they kept me warm on my bike. The shirt didn't do as good of a job.

To my store and back is 46 miles. To training and back is 121 miles. Mileage wise it isn't too bad but I have to drive the back roads to get to the highway which slows it way down. It's a pretty peaceful ride though, so that's good. Much better than driving to Boston for 3 weeks by far.

I was disappointed by the merchandise at ToT as well. I was kinda glad because it made the decision to not spend any money much easier. I know it was a popular race this year being it's first year. I wonder if people will be dying to do it again next year. Although any Disney race seems to sell out no matter what nowadays.

2 more days of training and I am hoping to be back on a more consistent exercise schedule. I'm pretty sore from my run yesterday which is bothersome. 2 months ago I could run 5 miles and not feel it the next day. I feel like I am starting over.

Anything out of the ordinary like your training throws you off your schedule so its understandable you are feeling off. I totally get the feeling like you are starting over - that's exactly how I feel after getting off my pre-Disney diet. The difference is you already have that base and won't lose it completely so as soon as training is over and time frees up for you it will all come back quickly. I aspire to be where you are now.

 

[dizzyr]

Speaking of cold weather and running.....
My daughter and I are running/walking a 5k in two weeks and if the next 14 days of weather predictions are correct we are in for a cold and rainy day. What does one wear in the rain to run that will 1. Keep you relatively dry and 2. Keep you warm enough to get home after the race (assuming you are taking public transit!). Has anyone ran with a small backpack? Since this will be mostly walking it’s not really an issue this time but running in the rain will be a reality for the next couple of months here so I better prepare myself for it now 

 

[Waiting2goback]

You sound way too much like me in my head in this post. Sometimes things don't work out the way you want however you have gone through a TON of changes in the last month. Don't beat yourself up. Just look at it like a puzzle and you need to figure out how the pieces fit back together. Training is temporary and you will have to readjust when it is done anyway. Ride it out. Once you have a regular schedule then start putting things in their "permanent" places and your fitness routine will fall back together.

I listened to enough Runner Academy podcasts to know that most runners dial it back in the colder weather anyway. You still have your base. You can build from that at any time. You haven't given up and you are pushing forward. You are not the old you!

I know all of this. My problem was that I had to take a break after the marathon to let the blisters heal. Then I convinced myself it was OK to take a break because I had worked hard and it was OK to take a little time off. Now it feels like too much. But tomorrow is my last day of training and Saturday we go to Children's Hospital for my son's support group for one of his conditions. That is an all day thing by the time we get home.

Sunday I work but I will do some kind of exercise on Sunday. Next week I get back on track. If I don't you can all call me out.

I know people slow down during the winter but I have set goals that will not allow me to do so. If I line up to run another marathon next fall and I don't achieve my goal I want to at least be able to say I gave it my all.

So last night I went to Zumba and it was FREEZING! It is a big town hall type of building and they said they turned the heat on but holy cow. It took me about 20 minutes to warm up but it ended up being a great workout. I did get the info on the Paleo challenge and my hubby is still saying he will try. So that will start on Monday. I will do weights and measurements on Sunday and then again when it is over. I'm looking forward to the challenge actually. I will cheat on Thanksgiving BUT I'm not going to go nuts eating everything in sight.

Gotta love winter. It has been really cold here all week too. And it is just the beginning. I am looking forward to see your results from this challenge.

I really need to get my head back in the game! I have still been doing my regular walking and I've been to the pool everyday since Sunday but I've been eating like crazy!! It started on Saturday when we went to the states and ate lunch at out favorite Mexican restaurant and then our friends took my husband and I out for dinner that night to celebrate our birthdays and we ate and drank for three hours!! It didn't get better either! Sunday was my husbands birthday so the girls and I picked up subs and chips on the way home for the pool and then had cake at dinner. Monday was not horrible but Tuesday was my birthday so my boss took me out for a huge Chinese lunch and then my cousin brought me KFC for dinner. Yesterday I had McDonald's for both dinner and breakfast and Wendy's for lunch (so wrong on so many levels!!!) today I had Japanese for lunch and my boss from my other job is taking me out for dinner. I don't remember the last time I are at home! I have a function tomorrow night too. I really really really need to get back on track. My daughters birthday is Saturday and we have a minecraft party planned so that will take up what little free time I have left but Sunday after the pool I'm making a menu and going shopping. This is beyond ridiculous!

I can see finishing the yogurts you bought but why do you need to finish the soda? If you do any research on diet soda you will see it is no better for you at all. I would say put the soda down and drink only water. I only drink water. I have limited calories all day and I don't want to drink my calories. I can tell you I feel much better from drinking only water.

Speaking of cold weather and running.....
My daughter and I are running/walking a 5k in two weeks and if the next 14 days of weather predictions are correct we are in for a cold and rainy day. What does one wear in the rain to run that will 1. Keep you relatively dry and 2. Keep you warm enough to get home after the race (assuming you are taking public transit!). Has anyone ran with a small backpack? Since this will be mostly walking it’s not really an issue this time but running in the rain will be a reality for the next couple of months here so I better prepare myself for it now 

I bought a Columbia running jacket in the spring. It is waterproof and it keeps you really warm too. It was $40 on sale I think and it is bright green so if you run when it is dark it helps drivers see you. Once the sneakers get wet then I might as well be drenched all over anyway.

Anything out of the ordinary like your training throws you off your schedule so its understandable you are feeling off. I totally get the feeling like you are starting over - that's exactly how I feel after getting off my pre-Disney diet. The difference is you already have that base and won't lose it completely so as soon as training is over and time frees up for you it will all come back quickly. I aspire to be where you are now.

I appreciate that but at this point I feel no different than you guys who are struggling. I have been eating well but the candy is pissing me off. I set such hard goals for myself and I am on here trying to promote positive thinking, "can do" attitude, and pushing ourselves to be exceptional and not like everyone else. And I am not following my own advice. So, it bothers me. Part of it is to try and pump myself up as much as you guys. But so many people fall off the wagon this time of year. I vowed it wouldn't happen to me. I need to stop the excuses and starting Sunday I will start back toward my goals. This break was too long.

I listened to Half Size Me today. Episode 115. It was very real for me. I was diagnosed with depression many years ago. It turns out I never had it but I was convinced I did and I lived that life for over 10 years. I didn't have the kind of medical issues this woman did but I did have some issues and I can never go back to that.

There is a guy in my training class. He is probably 6'4" and has to be at least 400 lbs. I watch him try and get around. He can't fit in the chairs. He had trouble getting into the stall in the bathroom. He struggles just to breath. He makes jokes about his size all the time. I was never that size but I was on my way there. I used to sweat just trying to tie my shoes. I couldn't walk a flight of stairs without sucking wind. I worry about this guy even though I don't know him. But how long can he live if he keeps up the way he is going?

I realize I am not making much sense here but I often think how I could let food kill me like he is letting it kill him. I have read books on the subject. I read a book by the former head of the FDA and he said the food companies produce their food to be addicting. I KNOW this and yet I keep eating the FREAKING candy.

I have nobody that is living a healthy lifestyle. Nobody at work does. My friends don't. My "wife" is the furthest thing from it. Her family will put out food for Thanksgiving filled with butter, and fat, and sugar. I will be looked at funny if I don't eat 2 full plates and multiple pieces of pie for dessert.

I guess that's why I come here and depend on you guys so much for motivation. At least here there are some people who want to improve themselves. It's not like I am doing this completely all by myself even though it feels that way most of the time.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[Chiomaca]

Sounds like a great weekend and your friend is awesome! Did she dress up as a super hero?!

I walk my daughter and then after I drop her off I walk to the bus for work which is only another 10 minutes so no real way to turn it into a run - there isn't a walk home. After thinking and rethinking I think the challenges of trying to turn the morning walk into a run are just too many to make it work (not dressed for a run because I'm going to work, always have my knapsack because I go to the pool right after work those nights, it's often pouring rain, daughter slowing me down etc) so I NEED to start running at lunch. I will bring a change of clothes so if it's raining hard I can have something to change into. I bought a jacket that is made out of yoga pant material to be my running jacket when it's cold. Also when I was walking with the girls on Tuesday in the dark and whenever a car would come the headlights blinded us - if I had been running that would have freaked me out. Running at lunch will work great if I can just get off my butt and start. I have a 5k in two weeks and I'd like to run at least a part of it which would be almost impossible right now so I need to get it together. NO MORE EXCUSES!!

No, Tee didn't run in costume, but as I posted in the pics I sent to our group of friends, some superheros don't need costumes. And she just e-mailed around looking to set up her next race, so it looks like I'm going to be doing the Shamrock Half in March. She'll have been three months out of chemo by then, so she'll probably be back to beating me again.

Yup, sounds like lunchtime running is your best bet. I run in the morning during the summer, but once again it's getting to the point where it's too dark to run to work since there are a few poorly lit areas on each of my routes. Now I have to break away from the gravitational pull of my desk...hasn't happened this week. Things are supposed to start slowing down before the holidays, but all I have been doing for a week and a half is jumping through hoops. I do plan to run this weekend, and I'm signed up for a five mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.

For cold weather running - LAYERS! Start with something close to your skin that is wicking because you'll still sweat and you want that to move away from your skin. Then a top layer - if it's cool and rainy, you can get away with a windbreaker that is water-resistant. Colder than that, add another shirt. I usually do a tank under a long sleeve shirt, with a jacket over the top. Bottoms, I can run in capris until it gets below freezing, then I move to leggings and start layering under those. Also: a headband or hat (ball cap for rain, headband if it's just cold), gloves, and wool socks. Those instant hand warmers could help warm you up at the beginning of a run or help keep your legs warmish on a windy day, but I've never used them except on race days.

Staycool - Yay for Zumba and for trying to make a big diet change. I'd love to get regular updates on how you adjust and how you feel as you make the changes.

Waiting2goback - you've got the right attitude about not wanting to slow down during the winter. Are there any races you can sign up for (Turkey Trots, New Years runs) near you that you can set as smaller goals to keep you motivated? You're right about needing to get back on track, after about two weeks that base you built will be gone. I can go about a week without running and knock out a good 13 miles, but if I skip pull-ups for longer than three days, I'm back to square one.

Instead of being angry about eating the candy, is there something else you can do? I have a few weaknesses - right now peanut butter m&ms. But if I regulate my intake, I can have my treat without a huge impact. I measure out 15-20 of them for the day and when they're gone, I'm done. Today, I had them for lunch, because it was that kind of day. At another point, I wanted cheese puffs (I know...I'm 12.) I'd buy a bag at the beginning of the month and when it was gone, I was done for the month. After about three months, I was done and haven't had a craving for them since. Or just get rid of it all - give it away, toss it, or hide it in the highest cupboard in the house so you have to work hard to get to it.

The holidays are hard for me because it's the season where I make candy and cookies - and the one year I didn't make them, the look of disappointment on my mother-in-law's face was enough that I won't skip that any more. Thankfully, I give most of it away, but the tasting always makes me crave more. But I also bought the fixings for butternut squash soup and chicken soup, so the weekend will end with good winter comfort food in the freezer!

 

[StayCool]

I really need to get my head back in the game! I have still been doing my regular walking and I've been to the pool everyday since Sunday but I've been eating like crazy!! Sunday after the pool I'm making a menu and going shopping. This is beyond ridiculous!

That has to be so hard to have that many birthdays at once! It is nice that everyone want to spend time with you and take you out to eat, but I would be frustrated as well. Good for you to get back on track and prepping everything on Sunday!

That's great that you are down - I was up which is no surprise I was the same as you where I kept losing the same 4-5 lbs over and over. I finally broke the cycle but not in a good way - I gained more than 5!

Just ride out the weigh in next week and I'm sure you will see a loss on the scale after.

Speaking of cold weather and running.....
My daughter and I are running/walking a 5k in two weeks and if the next 14 days of weather predictions are correct we are in for a cold and rainy day. What does one wear in the rain to run

Maybe bring a couple disposable ponchos to wear while you are waiting to start. During the run it probably won't bother you as much to get wet but a hat or visor will help keep the rain out of your face.

I know all of this. My problem was that I had to take a break after the marathon to let the blisters heal. Then I convinced myself it was OK to take a break because I had worked hard and it was OK to take a little time off. Now it feels like too much. But tomorrow is my last day of training and Saturday we go to Children's Hospital for my son's support group for one of his conditions. That is an all day thing by the time we get home.

I appreciate that but at this point I feel no different than you guys who are struggling. I have been eating well but the candy is pissing me off. I set such hard goals for myself and I am on here trying to promote positive thinking, "can do" attitude, and pushing ourselves to be exceptional and not like everyone else. And I am not following my own advice. So, it bothers me. Part of it is to try and pump myself up as much as you guys. But so many people fall off the wagon this time of year. I vowed it wouldn't happen to me. I need to stop the excuses and starting Sunday I will start back toward my goals. This break was too long.

I have nobody that is living a healthy lifestyle. Nobody at work does. My friends don't. My "wife" is the furthest thing from it. Her family will put out food for Thanksgiving filled with butter, and fat, and sugar. I will be looked at funny if I don't eat 2 full plates and multiple pieces of pie for dessert.

I guess that's why I come here and depend on you guys so much for motivation. At least here there are some people who want to improve themselves. It's not like I am doing this completely all by myself even though it feels that way most of the time.

Sorry for the rant.

No apologies for your rant. However, I do want to point something out to you. One - food is linked to emotions in people very often. Two - you are going through so many changes and have so many stressors in your life right now, something is going to have to give. I DON'T mean that you should give in to eating lots of candy or stop exercising, BUT you should be a little nicer to yourself. You WILL do this. You have already done it. Just be careful to push too hard. You need to be able to cope physically and emotionally.

As far as not having support, well what is probably going to be happen is that you will be someone's inspiration. You may be the first of everyone you know to adopt a healthy lifestyle but I have no doubt that someone is going to notice and ask how you are doing it. Even if they don't ask they may be watching. Besides, we are here. I may not always do as well as I want but that doesn't mean that I won't support you in your journey.

Training is over now, right? Get into a routine. Set it up so it repeats weekly. Put the candy in the freezer. Only eat what you want on Thanksgiving and if anyone gives you grief just say that since you've lost some weight, your stomach just can't handle so much rich, delicious food. If it bothers them, that's their problem. No worries.

I'm signed up for a five mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.

Staycool - Yay for Zumba and for trying to make a big diet change. I'd love to get regular updates on how you adjust and how you feel as you make the changes.

Instead of being angry about eating the candy, is there something else you can do? I have a few weaknesses - right now peanut butter m&ms. But if I regulate my intake, I can have my treat without a huge impact.

Have fun at the Turkey Trot! I was hoping to do one but since I'm not going to be home I'm missing it. Maybe next year.

I'm excited about the whole Paleo thing. It really is not a huge stretch from what I do already so I'm hoping it won't be too much of a shock. Other than no candy...

I ration my candy too. Until recently it was mini M&Ms. Mini because I could have "more". It worked for me and I didn't sit there and eat the whole bag even though I could have.