schicksa Member

New Garmin Forerunner (920XT) - My 405 was on borrowed time!

Signed up for my first Ironman in September (Chattanooga!). On the way I'll hit Rev3 half distance, a mountainous bike century in North Carolina, and Age Group Nationals in Milwaulkee. Should be a whirlwind!

Zucchini Chips - granted they're not totally healthy but they are yummy! Slice zucchini into thin pieces (1/4-1/8'' thick) Dip in Olive Oil, then roll in mixture of 1/4 panko crumbs, 1/4 shredded Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. You can also add additional spices if you like (I've seen Cayenne suggested). Place on…

Wahoo! I just ran my first half-marathon back in March. I didn't run with my phone; I actually have a Garmin wrist unit that tracks my speed/mileage and an iPod Nano that I use instead. I have a good running mix and play with it all the time to help keep my mind busy - the worst part for me on long runs is just boredom,…

Check out bras from Title 9 or Athleta; they make a variety for different sizes and sport types. They also have AWESOME customer service who can walk you through different recommendations and sizing tips (I did it through online chat). They're a little pricier but TOTALLY worth it!

There's a great program for beginner runners called C25K (Couch to 5K). Highly recommend, my brother just started it and really likes it.

I typically gain 3-4 pounds the day after a race or endurance athletic event just from muscle swelling and water retention. Yes, it really can fluctuate that much in a day. Typically it levels back out 3-4 days later.

I was a competitive swimmer for 16 years and am just now getting back into the pool. It's one of the best low-impact calorie burning activities you can do! I recommend the book "Swimming Past 50," it's got some great stroke technique information and workouts; one of my previous coaches co-wrote it.

If it's consistently bad I'd check with a doctor. Otherwise keeping a regular schedule as far as sleeping does wonders. If all else fails, try melatonin.

I have the same issue; I've been a swimmer since I was 6 through college and have always been on the far side of the chart for "average" BMI, borderling "overweight". Body fat percentage is much better to use, here's an article I found useful the other day:…

Looking at your food diary from the past day or two, definitely looks like you could give yourself some more on the fruits/veggies side as opposed to processed stuff. That would help keep your calorie count lower and still keep you full. Frozen works for veggies (not sure where you're located but in the states you can get…

I pre-ordered the flex, the colors are limited but you can take the tracker out and switch it into different color armbands as they are released later. :-)

Two things: 1. I'm always updating my playlists to keep stuff current so i don't get bored with the music. 2. The one thing that REALLY keeps me motivated is my Garmin Forerunner. It's a wrist GPS that tracks your distance, miles, speed, etc. You can also get one that tracks heart rate. I'm a little obsessive about keeping…

Look up some workouts for circuit/interval training, they combine strength and cardio and really bump up the challenge factor. Also, try a new class! Anything to shake it up and give you something to look forward to.

It takes about a month to get something ingrained as a habit. The trick is to push through that "slow down" period to where it just becomes part of your routine. That 2 week period is usually when I hit it. If I can push through that and stay focused, it gets easier.

I love the stair master! Great for your butt! I like to do it on random so it changes the levels automatically. Just remember, stand up straight and try to keep your weight OFF the handlebars. You get a much better workout that way and you're less likely to hurt yourself (think of the people that lean on it with all their…

If you're doing 2-4 miles, you're already doing 5K. I would shoot for a 10K, as more of a challenge!

If it were me, I'd go find another group. Unless I had a lot of money invested that they refused to get back, then I'd stick it out if I couldn't have a refund. Working out in groups is supposed to help motivate you; if the experience is that negative it's just going to bring you down and do the opposite. I stopped going…

Have you done any TRX stuff? It doesn't require as much strength as just a straight pull-up, but you can really isolate the smaller muscle groups in your upper body and strengthen those (which will in turn, strengthen your pull-up).

Circuit training is awesome! It combines strength training and cardio so you get a much higher calorie burn in a shorter amount of time.

I definitely know how it feels to be banged up after a fall! I usually back off a little bit and stick to things like spin class, swimming, maybe elliptical. The swimming takes all the weight off your joints and gets you working different muscles you normally don't use, and if you're comfortable enough you can alternate…

Careful with the compression shorts, they actually gave me really horrible heat rash! Of course I was in them for a 12 hour race in 100 degree heat so that didn't help.... Make sure you're not using cotton clothing, it hangs on to moisture. Body Glide works great if you put it on pre-workout. If it gets really bad, the…

THIS. It sounds like you're friend has a lot of toxic energy around her and that she's pretty negative about everything. Until she figures that out and changes her attitude about life, it's not something you're going to be able to change or fix. Focus on YOU and make yourself a priority. If she comes around, she'll come…

Careful with the heating pad, ice might actually be better. Other things to help with sore muscles: -WATER WATER WATER! It flushes out the lactic acid that makes you sore -Ibuprofen: brings down the swelling of your tired/sore muscles. I don't take it regularly, only on my particularly rough days. But it really helps.…

Something with Tuna. Or Greek Yogurt, with a little bit of granola, fresh berries, and a TBSP of honey. YUM.

My office isn't quite that bad but there is a lot of peer pressure to go out to eat with everyone. Donuts are brought in once a week, we have pizza friday once a month, etc. I'm pretty good at resisting, and when the good-smelling stuff comes in I walk down to my gym just two blocks away. They have classes every day at…

Try getting in some probiotics to help with digestion (greek yogurt has some and you can get non-fat, Oikos is my favorite). Anything high in fiber will help with that too. Epsom Salt bath will help with sore muscles AND getting things moving. Coffee tends to help jump start my system every morning, if you know what I…

Coaches always told me no more than 30 min after a workout, something with protein is best.

I loved flavored sparkling water. Deer Park makes some that is more affordable than Pellegrino or Perrier (orange flavor is my favorite). You can also throw berries, lemons, limes, etc in to flavor it.

Sparkling H20 is my go-to soda replacement.