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47lbs down, 25lbs to go and wanting to do a Triathlon

shape_up4good
shape_up4good Posts: 333
edited January 10 in Motivation and Support
I am in need of support. Let me give you some back story.

I started Body for Life in 2007. I proceeded to take off 60lbs. I kept most of it off until I started an internship from grad school in 2011. Most of it came back by August of 2012. I have posted on here that I did medifast and lost 47 lbs. I know that is where some of you will stop reading and start bashing, so for those who will keep reading I will continue.

Medifast has helped me immensely. I am back to doing things I like to do like playing basketball, skiing, and running. I am still 25 lbs from my goal, but I have other goals I want to accomplish. I want to run a triathlon in July of this year, and I don’t feel that I can start training sufficiently on the reduced calorie count.

How do I make the jump from Medifast back to the body for life model I followed for those few years? Why does this freak me out a little? Thoughts?

Replies

  • Mdin1029
    Mdin1029 Posts: 456 Member
    I don't know anything about medifast. I am training for a sprint triathlon. There are many resources and training plans on
    www.beginnertriathlete.com
    http://www.trinewbies.com/tno_trainingprograms.asp
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
    bumping to see. I don't know anything about medifast, but I am hoping to eventually do a triathlon.
  • melonclarinet
    melonclarinet Posts: 163 Member
    Medifast has a transition to get you back to eating normal. I think I'd do that so that you are gradually getting back to normal. And I think you're right, you probably can't train that hard on that few calories.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    www.rufusracing.com has a really good beginner training plan to complete a sprint triathlon. Up your calories gradually. Don't make quick, drastic changes. And be sure you're getting in plenty of weight training, and not just cardio. Pay more attention to your body fat %, because if you DO do weight training, you may actually gain a few pounds, but if it's muscle, who cares? Don't stress over it. Set your goals and do what you have to do to get there. Do you have a local endurance sport team? Rufus Racing is the team I belong to, and it's nice to have people around who can encourage you, help you train, train with you, answer questions, etc...a good support system is key!
  • dfquigley
    dfquigley Posts: 186
    This is why I like to make specific lifestyle dietary changes rather than try to use a system, then not knowing what to do to get back to a normal diet.

    That being said, if they do have that transitioning to a normal diet plan that was mentioned above, I'd get on it pretty quick, and make sure you use MFP to keep yourself in check.

    As far as triathlon training goes, start EASY. The run and the swim are the 2 most daunting parts for most people, so I would start a couch to 5k run program soon ( there are a tonne, just google them ) which starts with a lot of walking with short job intervals to adapt your body to the impact, especially important when you still have weight to lose.

    Also, get in the pool. Unless you adapt to being comfortable in the water very quickly, consider joining a masters swim program if you can, or find some other affordable group plan. I pay 5 bucks a session for group swim coaching and it's worth a LOT more than that imo. You don't want your triathlon to end on the swim, when you've barely started.

    The bike, if you use a gym, you can just start spinning a bit on there, and don't be afraid to use a mountain bike, a friends bike, whatever for the race, if it's a sprint there will be a lot of beginners, and triathletes tend to be some of the most welcoming as far as newbies go in sports.

    Lastly, keep up with the weight training. Not only will it help you to lose more weight, but it will strengthen your stabilizer muscles and keep away from injury. I can pretty well immediately recommend laying on your side and doing leg raises and clamshells. Virtually everyone has underdeveloped gluteus medius resulting in IT Band pain that can be crippling.

    DO YOUR CORE!!! :p

    Small, steady changes. I dropped 60 pounds and came back from hip surgery to do triathlon myself ( pics in profile ) , you can get past this dietary issue and make it too ;)
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