April Highlights

Machka9 · April 2017

Tell us about some of your highlights this April and/or in the first third of the year.

What has gone well for you?
What are you celebrating?

Machka9 · April 2017

There have been several this month.

-- First full month as a 50-year old.

-- Cycled 1000 km in April, for the second month in a row! In fact we finished up with 1112 km.

-- Cycled 3000 km during the first third of the year. That's a good start to the year.

-- Cycled a 300 km randonnee + a 200 km randonnee (sanctioned long distance cycling events) on the Easter weekend. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to pull those off, but we had been training for it ... and did it!

-- In completing the events above, we also completed our 4th century in the CAM (Century-A-Month) Challenge. This challenge requires that we cycle 162 km on day in each month of the year, starting in January.

-- Cycled our 6th Petite Year Round Randonneur ride, a 100 km permanent. The Petite Year Round Randonneur requires that we cycle a 100 km event each month of the year, starting in November.

-- On April 29, 1990, I started cycling "seriously" and specifically, I started logging all my cycling distances. Yes, I have kept track of every single kilometre I have cycled since April 29, 1990. On that day, I rode 2 miles and had to take a break at the end of the first mile because it was that difficult. I've built up strength since then!

-- Celebrated my 1-year anniversary as an Australian citizen!

-- And maintained my weight all month.

Looking forward to May!! The plan is that May will be strength and speed month. Gotta get better at climbing hills and faster on the randonnees.

middlehaitch · May 2017

Nothing wonderful in April for me.
Just wanted to say you are wonderful @Machka9. I am always amazed by your cycling tales.

Cheers, h.

naomillion · May 2017

Wow, I love your April achievements, what a successful month it has been for you, awesomeness!

I reached my -40kg loss in April! It made me so happy that I celebrated way too much and now I am back at -39kg and bloated, lol! But I am back on track and motivated to keep pushing!

Also I started the c25k in April and today marks day 1 of week 4 and am surprisingly excited about it! Never thought I could enjoy running, but apparently it is much more enjoyable if it ain't for catching buses or trains

Let's rock May!

roboliciousbob · May 2017

My April rocked. I made it into the 130s, lost 8 pounds total(total weight loss at 45 lbs in 4 months), I bought clothes that can fit me even though still have 20 lbs to lose but NEEDED to because my old clothes were way too big, thus found out I'm in single digit pants size now(8s), I FINALLY started doing strength training(30Dayshred), and honestly I just feel really really good. And the best is I don't feel cravings for sugar or to just binge. I do not miss pop at all. What has really helped with that is that I have allowed myself little treats, I eat most of the same foods I ate before just in better proportions and work them into my calories for the day. I just can't have 'NO foods', specially when it comes to desserts. I even figured out how many calories are in my favorite homemade cookies, I just make them a little smaller and I don't make them as often, now only once/twice a month or so. Sometimes I make them and I don't eat one(I have small children that love to bake/help me bake. And I'm so completely okay with it. Before this journey, I could easily eat 5 or more cookies in a day! This is HUGE for me, I am a chocolate and sugaraholic, I use to have no self control.

Anyways it's been an Awesome April! Can't wait to see how May goes

LauraInTheWater · May 2017

Congratulations y'all! Mine health highlights are:
-Making it to my original goal weight, which is something I thought I would never do.
-Continuing to stick with this to see if it's possible to lose more weight to not only be healthy but feel sexy
-Learning that it's ok to treat myself occasionally and not feel guilty about it (ok still working on that one

Madwife2009 · May 2017

@Machka9 - my achievements are nothing compared to yours but you've given me something to aspire to

But here goes:

April Achievements

Cycling - I cycled 615 miles during April, taking my total for 2017 to 1658 miles. I wanted to hit 750 miles for April but the weather put paid to that.
Walking - I walked 181.5 miles during April, taking my total for 2017 to 459 miles.
Strength Training - I've been to the gym 17 times, total time 15.5 hours (can't be bothered to work out YTD). I also started cycling to the gym.
I have also started the C25K with my son; halfway through Week 2 and so looking forward to each workout
Weight - maintaining but the strength training is changing my figure and I'm starting to see some muscle definition.

Plans for May

Continue with C25K
Walk 200 miles (did 7 this morning )
Cycle 775-800 miles. I also want to cycle to my Mum's place, which is only 30 miles away but has a 1200' climb overall up a couple of evil hills
Loose a bit more weight
Strength training - increase weights, to further define my shape
Cycling - I really want to increase my speed as I am fed up of my rides taking so long (although they are quite hilly routes); I'm also fed up of being overtaken by other cyclists who shoot off into the distance within seconds.
Running (plodding) - hopefully by the end of May I'll be plodding slightly faster than I am now

lindafit4life21 · May 2017

Hi everyone I'm Linda I have 20 pounds to lose . Sure could use some friends please to help me along the way . Currently 148 I will weigh in tomorrow. In a size 12 I want an 8 or 10 . Thanks for anyone sending me a request

ABabilonia · May 2017

In April I finally reached below 200 lbs, and I also ran a little over 20 minutes straight for the first time in my history. In May I would like to be below 190 lbs if possible, and I have my first 5K scheduled for May 25th. Congrats on your accomplishments...

Machka9 · May 2017

middlehaitch wrote: »

Nothing wonderful in April for me.
Just wanted to say you are wonderful @Machka9. I am always amazed by your cycling tales.
Cheers, h.

naomillion wrote: »

Wow, I love your April achievements, what a successful month it has been for you, awesomeness!

Madwife2009 wrote: »

@Machka9 - my achievements are nothing compared to yours but you've given me something to aspire to

Thank you.

Everyone here is doing well!

ladyreva78 · May 2017

I though my April really wasn't very successful. My back was troubling me so I was very limited in the amount of movement I could do and yet...

- I walked 150km
- I lost 1kg (I would have been thrilled maintaining)

Small successes but I'll take them

For May I want to:

- walk at least that far
- lose another 1kg (or maintain)
- cycle as much and as far as I can (getting my bike tomorrow!)

Madwife2009 · May 2017

ladyreva78 wrote: »

- cycle as much and as far as I can (getting my bike tomorrow!)

This is wonderful (In the words of Olaf; can you tell I have a toddler?). Cycling is such fun! If you haven't cycled for a while, beware of spending too much time in the saddle in one go - last Friday, my DH decided to have a go (yay him). I kept telling him not to do too much as he'd be in pain, he ignored me and cycled for an hour. He was in a lot of pain, I think that today is the first day that he hasn't moaned about it.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld · May 2017

April was a huge highlight in my life. I wrote this post about why-

Today is my 40th birthday- Reaching it is my best fitness achievement to date and the reason I started this thread

Now that is a significant day in anyone's life but for me it is the day I have fought against for 13 years.
At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I lived on under 800 calories a day for years. (Ramen noodles and rice cakes were my total diet.)
I was hospitalised and force pump fed via a vpn twice over the years.
Due to the lack of nutrients during my developing years I have severe bone density issues which used to be able to leave me not able to get out of bed for a week at a time. The pain was ridiculous and I lived on pain killers to get through every day.
Then at the age of 26 I met my husband. He made me see life in a different way and I started to fight against it. I started to eat the number of calories my body needed and I started to take calcium and vitamin D daily. I got stronger with every week and month that passed.
I started to exercise to help with bone density and strengthen the muscles around my spine (L1&2 C12 totally damaged). There were times I literally cried with pain to get up but get up I did.
Further down the line I was strong enough to start the couch to 5K. Running was my aim due to the way it strengthens bones.
Then from there went on to 10k and half marathon training.
Fast forward to now and I am not in a wheel chair like the Doctors said I would be by 40 if I lived that long.
I'm 40, ran 12 miles on Sunday, have very little pain and get a lot less bone cracks or breaks every year.

Don't listen to your limitations- Push it with every thing you've got. Your older self will thank you for it.

To any one who under eats calories. Don't. I look much better now with a BMI of 20 then I did as a skeleton with a clothes hanger for shoulders!

ladyreva78 · May 2017

Madwife2009 wrote: »

ladyreva78 wrote: »

- cycle as much and as far as I can (getting my bike tomorrow!)

This is wonderful (In the words of Olaf; can you tell I have a toddler?). Cycling is such fun! If you haven't cycled for a while, beware of spending too much time in the saddle in one go - last Friday, my DH decided to have a go (yay him). I kept telling him not to do too much as he'd be in pain, he ignored me and cycled for an hour. He was in a lot of pain, I think that today is the first day that he hasn't moaned about it.

You and Machka are actually a bit my inspirations. I doubt I'll ever reach the long distances that she does, but I admire the perseverance both of you are showing. I know it's possible. I just have to do it

My plan is to do the 5km loop I'm usually jogging to start with. It's also a loop which takes me far away from normal road traffic. I haven't cycled in 20 years so I know I need to take it easy and get used to being on a bike again before I try longer distances and add regular road traffic to the mix. I can easily work out for 1 hour, so I know I have the necessary basis.

My long term goal is to use my cycle for part of my commute starting in September (the 7km to the nearest train station and back to avoid being limited by the rather sparse bus schedule).

My plan looks as follows
In May:
Do that 5km loop 2-3 times a week after work
Try for a longer loop (10-15km) on the weekend.

In June
Switch to the loop (still around 5km) that will take me through hills and easy traffic (add the first loop on every second ride)
Longer loop on the weekend (try for 20km)

In July
Start adding the 14km loop (train station and back - includes some moderately difficult traffic situations) and alternate with the other loops
Try to cycle to my brother's place (30km) at least once

In August
Try to do the 14km to the train station and back every day (with a stop at the pool which is 500m beyond the train station up a nasty little hill that I hated as a kid

)

I'll see how it goes and adapt from there. The pessimist in me is telling me it's going to be too much. The optimist in me is telling me that that cycle to my brother's is going to be a breeze and the return trip is totally doable on the same day and that in May already

)

Madwife2009 · May 2017

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

April was a huge highlight in my life. I wrote this post about why-

Today is my 40th birthday- Reaching it is my best fitness achievement to date and the reason I started this thread

Now that is a significant day in anyone's life but for me it is the day I have fought against for 13 years.
At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I lived on under 800 calories a day for years. (Ramen noodles and rice cakes were my total diet.)
I was hospitalised and force pump fed via a vpn twice over the years.
Due to the lack of nutrients during my developing years I have severe bone density issues which used to be able to leave me not able to get out of bed for a week at a time. The pain was ridiculous and I lived on pain killers to get through every day.
Then at the age of 26 I met my husband. He made me see life in a different way and I started to fight against it. I started to eat the number of calories my body needed and I started to take calcium and vitamin D daily. I got stronger with every week and month that passed.
I started to exercise to help with bone density and strengthen the muscles around my spine (L1&2 C12 totally damaged). There were times I literally cried with pain to get up but get up I did.
Further down the line I was strong enough to start the couch to 5K. Running was my aim due to the way it strengthens bones.
Then from there went on to 10k and half marathon training.
Fast forward to now and I am not in a wheel chair like the Doctors said I would be by 40 if I lived that long.
I'm 40, ran 12 miles on Sunday, have very little pain and get a lot less bone cracks or breaks every year.

Don't listen to your limitations- Push it with every thing you've got. Your older self will thank you for it.

To any one who under eats calories. Don't. I look much better now with a BMI of 20 then I did as a skeleton with a clothes hanger for shoulders!

This is so inspirational. I want to hit all of the buttons at the bottom of your post but can't. You are an amazing, incredibly strong person. I am full of admiration.

ladyreva78 · May 2017

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

April was a huge highlight in my life. I wrote this post about why-

Today is my 40th birthday- Reaching it is my best fitness achievement to date and the reason I started this thread

Now that is a significant day in anyone's life but for me it is the day I have fought against for 13 years.
At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I lived on under 800 calories a day for years. (Ramen noodles and rice cakes were my total diet.)
I was hospitalised and force pump fed via a vpn twice over the years.
Due to the lack of nutrients during my developing years I have severe bone density issues which used to be able to leave me not able to get out of bed for a week at a time. The pain was ridiculous and I lived on pain killers to get through every day.
Then at the age of 26 I met my husband. He made me see life in a different way and I started to fight against it. I started to eat the number of calories my body needed and I started to take calcium and vitamin D daily. I got stronger with every week and month that passed.
I started to exercise to help with bone density and strengthen the muscles around my spine (L1&2 C12 totally damaged). There were times I literally cried with pain to get up but get up I did.
Further down the line I was strong enough to start the couch to 5K. Running was my aim due to the way it strengthens bones.
Then from there went on to 10k and half marathon training.
Fast forward to now and I am not in a wheel chair like the Doctors said I would be by 40 if I lived that long.
I'm 40, ran 12 miles on Sunday, have very little pain and get a lot less bone cracks or breaks every year.

Don't listen to your limitations- Push it with every thing you've got. Your older self will thank you for it.

To any one who under eats calories. Don't. I look much better now with a BMI of 20 then I did as a skeleton with a clothes hanger for shoulders!

Wow! That is amazing. I am so glad you found a reason to turn your life around.

April Highlights

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