ephiemarie Member

Losing nearly 20 lbs. and 7% body fat did not change my calf measurement, which is fine with me since I like my muscular calves anyhow. :) 2 years ago, at 144 lbs. (height 5'4") Thighs: 21.5" Calves: 13.5" Body fat: 25% Currently, at 126ish lbs. Thighs: 19.5" Calves: 13.5" Body fat: 17-18%

Don't make weight loss your primary motivation. Instead, change your lifestyle in ways that result in improved health as you work toward personal goals NOT related to the number on the scale. Discover what your body can DO and find physical activities you love.

I'm going to go against the grain here, based on my own personal experience... Go to a department store (Kohls, Dick's Sporting Goods, whatever) and try on a bunch of shoes until you find one that feels good. Do it at your own pace, without a sales person hovering over you. Once you find a comfy model of shoe, buy that…

Shakiness can be a symptom of low heart rate, as your brain and body simply may not be getting enough blood flow. Since you have recently suffered a significant relapse and are feeling wobbly after walking, there may be more at play than just a low heart rate. I'm not a doctor, but my advice would be to find someone to…

I have a pair of Specialized Spirita RBX that I absolutely love and have recommend to others. I use mine primarily for road cycling, but they also work well for spin classes with SPD cleats. They have a more rubberized sole than most road cycling shoes, so they work well for walking on slippery gym floors. And as a bonus,…

German Shepherd. I've owned 3 GSDs, an American Eskimo, and a Border Collie. I currently own a 9-year-old GSD. Pros: Loyal, intelligent, gentle, protective, good with kids, lower energy, and looks intimidating. Cons: constant shedding, a lot of dog to have underfoot, predisposed to certain health conditions (although this…

I've done one half and have another one this weekend, so I'm not an expert by any means. However, I think you should give it a shot. You ran 9 miles AND will have the support of a friend to get you through the last third of the race. If you end up having to walk parts of it, that's perfectly fine. As I've gone through my…

Body Glide should help. P.S. No need to feel embarrassed! We've all had moments of humility here.

For me personally, I had great results with a combination of heavy lifting and running. I've had 4 children and developed DR after the first. My youngest is now 2, and my gap is nothing more than a tiny space directly behind my belly button. I'd recommend avoiding any abdominal work that puts you in a supine position.

When I go for a long run, I wear a hydration belt that has 2 bottles. I fill one with water and one with Gatorade and use the pocket for fuel (gels, chews, whatever works for you). I also have a handheld water bottle that has a small pocket.

Stunning.

$57/month for a family membership, which includes child care, swimming, many fitness classes, and steep discounts on activities and sports for the kids. Combined, my husband and I use the gym 6-7x/week, so we conservatively pay less that $2/day. Our health insurance reimburses each of us $25/month if we go the gym at least…

Nope. Not at all. :)

I don't have a xiphoid process.

Joe

After 4 kids, I'm only [read: barely, unless I'm drinking] brave enough for basic black.

I found it very difficult to stay on track with 5x5 while training for a half marathon and triathlon. If my lifting was strong, my running and cycling were weak, and vice versa. If running is your priority and cycling is a necessity, you might try adding hill repeats, sprint intervals, and trail running into your routine…

Smarties. They are not candy, just nasty little chalk tablets.

I love Strava.

I love my J. Crew ruched bandeau and ruched halter one-pieces. They're classic and subtly sexy, while still being comfortable. I got them new on Ebay for reasonable prices. In my experience, the J. Crew size chart online is accurate.

I used to consider myself a runner (sort of...it took almost a year before it didn't feel weird saying it out loud), but then I decided to train for triathlons. I still run 30 miles/week and have a half marathon coming up in a couple weeks, but calling myself a "runner" feels like a partial definition, as would calling…

I smoked 1+ packs/day for 15 years and quit cold turkey almost 3 years ago. Chantix and Wellbutrin didn't work for me (negative side effects). Nicotine gum and patches didn't work either. "Cutting back" (ha! we've all told ourselves that one, right?) didn't work. I finally just stopped. I went to bed early to avoid the…

It absolutely works! I had literally NEVER run a mile in my entire life (was always "sick" that day in gym class) for all the same reasons you have avoided it. It felt awful and awkward, and I couldn't imagine why people would do it for fun. After gaining some unwelcome weight, I started C25K in January 2014, completed the…

I have done one half and am training for my second next month. For runs under 10k, I don't carry water unless it's it's hot outside. I use a handheld water bottle for those. For longer runs, I wear a hydration belt and fill one 9 oz. flask with water and the other with Gatorade. I take a drink after each mile and generally…

I find myself reaching for my Walmart stuff (Danskin brand; don't like the Avia brand as much) more often than any of my other gear. It has held up better than my Old Navy pieces. You won't find thermal tights there, but I wore their regular running tights on all but the coldest Wisconsin winter days last year, and they…

I ran my first half in May and dealt with lower back pain (disc compression/SI joint issues/spasms) for the final month leading up to the race. I had twice weekly chiropractic adjustments, did tons of stretching, bought an inversion table and used it religiously, and kept running as much as I could handle. Although my…

I have some social anxiety and was scared to death when I first joined the gym. The thought of a one-on-one session with a trainer also made me nervous, so I went to the gym in the middle of the afternoon (slow time at my gym...Saturday nights are also usually quiet), looked around at all the equipment, and went home and…

Addition to my original post: * I originally started C25K to speed my weight loss. I had about 20 lbs. to lose at that time, although I was still within the parameters of a normal BMI. I lost the weight in about 5 months and continued working out consistently because I enjoy it.

I started C25K in January 2014 and have stuck to a consistent fitness routine since then, working toward various goals along the way. Initially I focused on running and later incorporated heavy lifting. In July 2014 I bought a road bike, started swimming, and began training for a sprint triathlon. I typically spend at…

I developed it after my first baby and went on to have 3 more children, so I figured it was permanent and never did anything to specifically work on it. After a year of lifting heavy (Stronglifts 5x5) and running, it all but went away. I now have about a half fingertip spot right behind my belly button that's not fused,…