Really Trying

rayvynn5374

Posted on a different board not gettign much feedback so I post here...

I am eating approx 1200 calories a day. some days I make what I think are awesome choices, some days not so much. I pack my breakfast and lunch everyday for work, drink approx a gallon of water a day (too much I think) dinners is dinner. Hubby cooks most nights (meat, veggie and soem sort of side).Generally have a banana around 4 so I am not starving at 6 when I run. I am trying to run not doing as well as I think I should be. On the treadmill I can run for 30 mins straight at 5MPH. Outside I can run for 5 mins max before having to walk. I have been fitted with proper running shoes, stretch prior to running, when legs start hurting on a run I tend to stretch them then too, and after a run. I run max 4 times a week never more than 2 days in a row. My routes vary from 1.6 to 2.9 miles, none are flat. The treadmill is now BORING!!! Cannot afford to join a gym, buy a HRM, or go buy a weight set. I have a treadmill, stationary bike*, eliptical*, mountain bike, public pool*, and pavement. *=not used often as in prolly never
Am I doing something wrong?
Should I eat more of something that I am not?
Should I vary routes that I run or stick to one until it is mastered?
At what point should I seek mental assistance?
Please don't tell me to research things since obviously everyone has their own opinions and the information is conflicting and confusing. Just post your thoughts, concerns, and what does/doesn't work for you and why if you know that part as well.

My goal is to be as healthy as i can be, looking as good as I can (make batwings go away and other flabby areas, reduce the cottage cheese looking butt, have firmer legs and eventually defined abs)

Info: 38yo female, 109.6 lbs (this morning), 5ft 1/2 inch, been running since January. My diary is open. Not easily offended but i am honest and easily confused so keep it simple, please!

PhilyPhresh

Sounds to me like you are wanting to improve your leg strength and durability? Do you get winded when running or just tired? If growing tired or achy is the case I would recommend you start working in some squats into your daily routine. I see you said you cannot afford to buy weights, but you may look around the house to find something that weighs approximately 8-10 lbs and hold it while you do some squats. Doing a regular air squat will help out, but doing something where you hold the weight over your head will cause you to also work on your stability and increase performance. How much protein are you taking in per day? Your muscles could also be wearing down if they aren't being properly fueled.

rayvynn5374

I looked at the past week and averaging about 60. MFP "allows" me 49. If it is really humid out I get winded but mostly the legs hurt. calves mostly

PhilyPhresh

I would say you need to be eating closer to an 80-90 gram a day range on protein (for people who do any workouts you should shoot for nearly 1 gram per pound of body weight). Once you do that I bet you will start to see some improvement. I would also still give the overhear squats a try as well. Make sure you go deep on your squat (hips just below knee level) so as to keep a healthy range of mobility in the squat. This will help strengthen your calve, thighs, and core.

rayvynn5374

I want to clarify about the weighted squats. You say 8 pounds or so..is that each hand or total?

orishp

Yeah, I am no runner so I cannot provide much help there, but usually before a work out (or after if I am not hungry before) I have a protein bar, I like the pure protein (http://www.pureprotein.net), they are low in carbs and sugar, something difficult to find in a protein bar! and they test pretty good (for a bar), they also help my chocolate fix

Each is about 200 cals, so not negligible, but they do fill me up quite a bit

rayvynn5374

Where do you buy them? About how much $ per bar? What all flavors do they come in?

PhilyPhresh

Just watch out for sugar alcohol... it is hard to find a bar without it these days and it is just as bad, if not worse, as the actual sugar...