The Official Health and Fitness Thread

[4th Liner]

Mods, I couldn't find any similar threads, so merge if necessary - Reviving the thread from the old site.

I mentioned on the old site that I spent this year getting in shape, and that I was shooting to run in the 5K part of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Well, things weren't going according to the plan. Back in mid-August in the midst of a training run, I came across two women (a mother and daughter) who had their car blocked by a tree that had fallen across the road. I helped push the tree out of the way, got them on their way again, and went back to my run. Unfortunately, just after starting again I had to stop due to a tremendous pain in my right ankle. From experience, I knew what it was - a slightly herniated disc in my back pressing on the sciatic nerve.

I kept trying for the next couple of weeks, but the pains kept coming - it alternated from my left knee to my right ankle, or sometimes both at once. I finally had to give up running completely at the end of August. I tried short runs every week or so in September and early October, but every time the pains came back almost immediately after I started to run.

On the Monday before the race, I thought - Okay, one more try before I pack it in. I managed to go 3 km at decent pace and had no pain, but I shut it down, worrying I would hurt myself again. I ventured another short 1.5 km run last Saturday, but I didn't feel very strong at all.

I seriously was considering not racing - I didn't want to make a fool of myself, or hurt myself. But finally I decided that this was my goal; this is what I got myself in shape for; that I lost 50 lbs for; that had me up at 6 am almost every day, in all kinds of weather, for the last 9 months for. So, I decided to wing it - the race was back on.

Race day (Sunday) - it was a cool morning, but I hardly noticed it, leading up to the noon start time. I had a good start position, near the front, but with so many runners entered, I still had to pick my way through a lot of bodies. Regardless, I got off to a great start and was feeling good through the first half of the race. Around the 3 km mark I started to feel a little fatigued, but pushed on. Then I saw the turn at Bay Street and I knew I had less than a km to go. It was a tad uphill, but I picked up the pace. There was a pretty good crowd too, but I hardly noticed them as I concentrated on my running.

Nearing the finish, I saw the big clock saying I was past 24 minutes, approaching 25, so I put the hammer down (I wanted that sub-25 time) and I crossed just under. I was exhausted, but happy - and the best part? I was pain free for the whole run.

I ended up with an official time of 24:55, and a chip time of 24:44. Good enough for 298th out of a field of 5,036 and 22nd out of 171 in my age group. Not bad, all things considered.

[Erndog]

Awesome!  That is excellent.   

Those 9 months really paid off!  A year ago you probably never would have dreamed where you'd be today but you ran your race, lost 50 lbs and probably feel the best you've felt in a long time.  Congrats, that is some feat you've accomplished there!

Now the hard part is not falling back.  After what I've read from you, you seem really motivated so I'm sure it will be a piece of cake for ya! (not literally! )

[Sarge]

Way to go, 4th Liner!

[AlmosGirl]

That's great 4th Liner!  Awesome job.

Hubby and I started about 3 weeks ago trying to eat better and more exercising.  He's lost 20lbs already and is running more and skipping, which he hasn't been able to do in a long time.  I've lost 8 lbs so far and that's on top of the 10 that I lost from January to May.  I am almost back to my pre-pregnancy size (3 more lbs to go) of when I had my now 3 yr old and it feels awesome!

I did try the treadmill Thanksgiving weekend but probably overdid it and my plantar facitis was soooooo bad for a few days.  I almost couldn't walk for the pain but I have stayed using my bike in the meantime.  Will try the treadmill again but going to have to take it easy and lay off the running, just walking.

[Bullfrog]

I'm down about 5 pounds, but I just can't stop eating junk. I don't have much, but I can't resist a small bowl of ice cream here, a chocolate bar there...

They're just so damn tasty!

My wife's selling these heath shakes (Body by Vi) so I'm trying those everyday and it seems to help keep me full between meals.

Why does chocolate have to taste so good?

[Sarge]

Try having your food vices early on in the day.... Nothing wrong with a shake at 11 am. That way you have all day to burn it off.

[4th Liner]

Thanks folks, the support I've had on here definitely has helped me stay on track.

The one lingering regret is that my injury stopped my training - I was at a 22:30 time when it happened, and was hoping to get better. I figured a top 100 finish overall, and top 5 in my age was possible - oh well.

Next year I move up to the next age group - I'm kicking their butts!!

On high calorie snacks, doing without them is tough. The key, if you want to continue to indulge, is to do them in small amounts - like a small bowl of ice-cream and not half the carton! Moderation is good.

And to make sure it doesn't cause a weight gain, regular exercise a few times a week will help burn off any extra calories taken in. Just a one hour walk 3 times a week can make a world of difference.

Of course, more rigorous workouts could be better, but it goes to show you that there really is no excuse. If you can walk, you can be active and lose weight. It just takes the will to get started and keep at it.

[TheMightyOdin]

Good work 4th liner.

Don't worry about injury set backs, even professional athletes have to deal with them. Listen to your body and don't push too hard to soon. Plenty of time in your life to build smartly to whatever goal you wish to pursue. 

[Rick]

Great job 4th, awesome work on the 50, as well as the run.

Thanks for bringing back the thread, too.

[donkeyy0]

So my girlfriend's uncle is Everton McEwan. The guy has trained Sean Sherk (UFC Lightweight Champion), Fitz Vanderpool (WBF Superwelterweight champion), Carlos Newton (UFC Welterweight Champion), Steve Molitor (2 time IBF Junior Featherweight Champion), he's been sparring partners with Lennox Lewis <---like THE Lennox Lewis, Aaron Pryor, Donald Curry, and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

And starting next week he's going to be my personal fitness trainer.

I'm gonna be puking my guts out after a couple sessions with this guy...

Also, Money Mayweather might be going to his gym for his next fight...not sure if that's true, but that's what his facebook page says. I'm not gonna ask him to clarify that for me though.

[BMan]

Awesome!

The hardest part for me is finding a website or book on what would be a typical day in the life on losing the weight through good nutrition, with the idea of running maybe thrice a week..

I tried that last year and I didn't lose much after 6 months of running thrice a week. I figure it has to be the foods I am eating.   

[Sarge]

So last week was my birthday... Which also marked two years since my last cigarette (after ~19 years of smoking.) It's crazy, I could sooooo go for one right now... I don't think I'll ever fully recover from that addiction.

[Mordac]

So last week was my birthday... Which also marked two years since my last cigarette (after ~19 years of smoking.) It's crazy, I could sooooo go for one right now... I don't think I'll ever fully recover from that addiction.

You won't. It's been 10 years for me this Dec., and I occasionally get the craving. It becomes almost second nature to immediately dismiss it though...after a while it's like craving something from your childhood that no longer exists...you subconsciously acknowledge that, and the craving slips away.

Congrats on your  2 years!

[Sarge]

after a while it's like craving something from your childhood that no longer exists...you subconsciously acknowledge that, and the craving slips away.

... like the Leafs being good?    Anyway, thanks.... I've come to far. For a long time now I've been able to go out with the boys (many who smoke) and never give smoking a second's thought... But then again, there is that odd time like this morning when I think "DAMN!... Would a smoke be nice right now."

[Bullfrog]

So. level 2 of Jillian Michael's 30 day shred is apparently harder than level 1. Much harder.

The amount of sweat coming off of me right now is disgusting.

Sorry for sharing.