running away from those saggy pecs

Fernandomike · April 2011

I'm one of those unfortunate males who, when out of shape, tends to hold a lot of my extra pounds in my chest. About 10 months ago, my family was on vacation in Pigeon Forge, TN which has the famous Splash Country as part of Dollywood. I was going around shirtless like almost all the other males there when my young son looking directly at me says to his mother, " mommy, men can have boobies too?" Talk about embarrassing.

Well, that was the beginning. I went to the doctor and learned that I was borderline on all the things that you don't want to be. I could hardly run a step so I walked. I picked up a weighted vest (it has been invaluable) from Walmart and walked some more. I ate much better. Then, I started running which was torturous with me still carrying the extra pounds. Day-after-day, it got a little easier and I could go a little further. I mixed it up with cycling, uphill treadmill walks, and jillian's, "30 day shred." My highest weight has been 220 lbs. I was approximately 205 when my son made his oh-so-motivational comment. Now, I have met my goal weight of 175. Now, I just have to figure out how to maintain instead of climbing up or down.

Anyway, my running has led me to enter the Country Music marathon (I'll be running the half) this upcoming Saturday. I am nervous as crap. I have never ran 13.1 miles before, but I have come close. I'm proud of myself and I plan on demonstrating that by showing the determination to run every step. It's been a tough journey to get here and it certainly won't end at the finish line Saturday. Like the rest of you, I just want to keep on pushing to a level where I get and STAY fit.

laddyboy · April 2011

OUCH to the boobies comment and SUPER FREAKING JOB to you for what you've accomplished. Very inspirational story.

Good Luck in the 1/2. You've said you come close and I've always been told that if you run 5 miles you can actually run 10 if pushed. 10.5 is my longest run and I only stopped cuz it was getting dark and where I was running. I totally believe I can do a 1/2.
I plan on the Disney 1/2 in January.

I know you'll do great. Keep up the good work.

Newfiedan · April 2011

awesome accomplishment brother, very happy for you, and do not be nervous running that distance will be nothing compared to how far you have come.

Wileyjoe · April 2011

Great story, very inspirational! I am sure you will do well this weekend. Good Luck!

Fernandomike · April 2011

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. And in answer to one of the questions, the most I have run is 12. I will have the benefit of hydrating along the way as well as carb-loading the night before and jelly beans or something akin toward the end. I have had none of that in my training runs.

CricketKate · April 2011

You SHOULD be proud of yourself! That is awesome!

jeffrodgers1 · April 2011

Great story and a Great Feeling I am sure.

I am actually running a half on Sunday. Just a little word of advice from someone who runs any event put in my path... bring some added nutrition in the form of Gu Chomps, or Energy Beans. 13 miles is a long run, and the added Energy will keep you going longer and give you a better end result. I usually chew a couple of chomps every 20-30 minutes to sustain my energy levels. It helps me feel a little less like a train wreck afterwards and lets me enjoy to festivities on completion.

Good Luck on your Half! Enjoy the Experience!

Congrats on your truly amazing progress!

Homer3D · April 2011

My chest is also a problem area. Although I am not "big" I find that my body stores fat in my man boobs. Annoying as hell.

Don't worry stress too much about the half marathon. I was worried too when I did my first one in 2009. I didn't know if my body could take it. But you will power through it just like I did. Focus your mind and you will complete. And when you are done, you will find yourself asking...was this it?

Good Luck.

Fernandomike · April 2011

Great story and a Great Feeling I am sure.

I am actually running a half on Sunday. Just a little word of advice from someone who runs any event put in my path... bring some added nutrition in the form of Gu Chomps, or Energy Beans. 13 miles is a long run, and the added Energy will keep you going longer and give you a better end result. I usually chew a couple of chomps every 20-30 minutes to sustain my energy levels. It helps me feel a little less like a train wreck afterwards and lets me enjoy to festivities on completion.

Good Luck on your Half! Enjoy the Experience!

Congrats on your truly amazing progress!

Thank you for the advice. I'll take all of that I can get. Energy Beans and GU Chomps, where can I find them?

daddyratty · April 2011

Dude, that's awesome! I was 303 but I tend to gather more in my gut. But I shudder to think what your son would have said about my C-cups back then. Well, probably nothing because I never took off my shirt outside of my bedroom or bathroom.

bmontgomery87 · April 2011

good luck with your goals. Congrats on what you've achieved so far!

i store a lot of my fat in the chest area as well. thinking part of it may be estrogen from drinking a lot in college as well. It's frustrating but you'll get there!

jdm_taco · April 2011

Nice work on the running, bro. I can go for just a little over an hour and that is plenty for me.

I have the same problem and I cant wait until they are gone because I have never in my life taken my shirt off in public. I'm just gonna be patient and keep working hard. Pushups and strenous chest excercises have helped considerably.

Its nice that my pecs stick out further than my gut. :bigsmile:

jeffrodgers1 · April 2011

Great story and a Great Feeling I am sure.

I am actually running a half on Sunday. Just a little word of advice from someone who runs any event put in my path... bring some added nutrition in the form of Gu Chomps, or Energy Beans. 13 miles is a long run, and the added Energy will keep you going longer and give you a better end result. I usually chew a couple of chomps every 20-30 minutes to sustain my energy levels. It helps me feel a little less like a train wreck afterwards and lets me enjoy to festivities on completion.

Good Luck on your Half! Enjoy the Experience!

Congrats on your truly amazing progress!

Thank you for the advice. I'll take all of that I can get. Energy Beans and GU Chomps, where can I find them?

Try a running store or sporting goods store near you. ****s, Fleet Feet, Running Room, Stride Ahead etc should all have them.

jeffrodgers1 · April 2011

Great story and a Great Feeling I am sure.

I am actually running a half on Sunday. Just a little word of advice from someone who runs any event put in my path... bring some added nutrition in the form of Gu Chomps, or Energy Beans. 13 miles is a long run, and the added Energy will keep you going longer and give you a better end result. I usually chew a couple of chomps every 20-30 minutes to sustain my energy levels. It helps me feel a little less like a train wreck afterwards and lets me enjoy to festivities on completion.

Good Luck on your Half! Enjoy the Experience!

Congrats on your truly amazing progress!

Thank you for the advice. I'll take all of that I can get. Energy Beans and GU Chomps, where can I find them?

Try a running store or sporting goods store near you. ****s, Fleet Feet, Running Room, Stride Ahead etc should all have them.

Thats supposed to be the shortform of Richard... not ****s but D1CK'S, Sports Authority also has them.

dlaplume2 · April 2011

Great story!! Thanks for sharing. Best wishes on your 1/2, you can do it.

wewon · April 2011

Thats supposed to be the shortform of Richard... not ****s but D1CK'S, Sports Authority also has them.

LOL @ the auto-censor!

Hello, my name is ****.

chnkydnknmomma · April 2011

Congratulations, what an accomplishment! You are truly an inspiration. I hope to run some day, right now I' m not quite ready for that...
Good luck with the 1/2, I'm sure you will do better than you think!

peteyTwang · April 2011

Congratulations! Have a great run in the Country Music Marathon!

nikkimwarren · April 2011

Good Luck on the run and like others said take little energy with you. Those boobs get in the way whether male or female...way to go on loosing them and the weight. You are an inspiration. I don't see many men posting in this area and it is great to see that they struggle the same as us females. I thought you all just never had Issues like us.

Nikki

nikkimwarren · April 2011

Good Luck on the run and like others said take little energy with you. Those boobs get in the way whether male or female...way to go on loosing them and the weight. You are an inspiration. I don't see many men posting in this area and it is great to see that they struggle the same as us females. I thought you all just never had Issues like us.

Nikki

Whoops looks like I posted twice:flowerforyou:

arc918 · April 2011

Good luck on your race this weekend. I'm guaranteeing you'll PR!

I'm going to go against the grain and tell you "nothing new on race day." If you didn't train with Gu, Chomps or whatever, don't start using them on race day - just stick with the water & Gatorade on the course. Don't buy a new socks at the expo because a sales guys says they are good.

Use you training runs to figure everything out so there are no surprises on race day.

jeffrodgers1 · April 2011

Good Luck on the run and like others said take little energy with you. Those boobs get in the way whether male or female...way to go on loosing them and the weight. You are an inspiration. I don't see many men posting in this area and it is great to see that they struggle the same as us females. I thought you all just never had Issues like us.

Nikki

Whoops looks like I posted twice:flowerforyou:

Speaking of BOOBS! .... Put a little vaseline on the nips'. It will help cut chafing. Doesn't matter if you are a guy or gal... 13 miles of rubbing leads to some tender Ta Ta's.

And if you see somebody offering you a stick with some gooey stuff on it...Don't eat it. It's vaseline. Use it for chafing. I have seen people try to eat this stuff during marathons (I am thinking they didn't know... but then some kids eat Elmers Glue too and dang it was funny!

)

Fernandomike · April 2011

Good Luck on the run and like others said take little energy with you. Those boobs get in the way whether male or female...way to go on loosing them and the weight. You are an inspiration. I don't see many men posting in this area and it is great to see that they struggle the same as us females. I thought you all just never had Issues like us.

Nikki

Whoops looks like I posted twice:flowerforyou:

Speaking of BOOBS! .... Put a little vaseline on the nips'. It will help cut chafing. Doesn't matter if you are a guy or gal... 13 miles of rubbing leads to some tender Ta Ta's.

And if you see somebody offering you a stick with some gooey stuff on it...Don't eat it. It's vaseline. Use it for chafing. I have seen people try to eat this stuff during marathons (I am thinking they didn't know... but then some kids eat Elmers Glue too and dang it was funny! )

I've run into that problem quite a bit in training. Trust me, my "nips" are going to be pretty darn greasy by race time. Thanks so much to everyone for the encouragement and the tips. I'll let everyone know how I did when I get back home for the race Saturday.

Fernandomike · April 2011

Thanks to all for the well-wishes and the advice. Things went very well as far as I am concerned. The course was brutal according to the experienced marathoners that I talked to both just prior to the race and just afterward, very hilly. I had sore feet and the fact that approximately 30,000 people ran complicated matters since you spend a lot of time jockeying for position. Anyway, I did manage to meet my goal of running the entire distance and I am very pleased by that. I finished in 2 hours and 9 minutes.

running away from those saggy pecs

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