Sycoholic Member

I liked it. I don't use it anymore, but when I did I found it fun. I used it when I was training for Army basic training. It was my inclement weather workout. I didn't think it was extremely challenging, so for a beginner it would be perfect. If you want to step up your game the EA Active is a harder workout. Currently I…

I use Runkeeper for my runs. I've gone back and driven these routes and found it to be accurate. It saves your runs, giving you all the stats and even a map of your run. If you have a Window's phone you can use Caledos Runner as they utilize the Runkeeper site as Runkeeper doesn't have a Windows app, only Apple and Droid.…

Well it sounds like you're off to a good start. You won't look like Arnold without weights, but you can look fit and toned like a soldier with just body weight exercises. Here's a very good link to get you started with ideas http://www.barstarzz.com/ I use resistance bands when I'm traveling. I bought a Gold's Gym set at…

The issue with your shin splints are most likely caused by your bones not being strong enough to handle the beating you're putting them through. They're not used to running and you weigh more than you used to. Shoes can contribute to this as well. (No matter how much you like the ones you currently have.) No amount of…

Could just be how your body is holding water.... or it could be your muscles swelled from working out. I know I'll gain in measurements after working out.

The other missions aren't really any harder that I've found. The zombie chases are sprinkled throughout. The sprinting will make you a better runner faster than just plain running. Glad to hear you found a love for running and didn't get eaten in the process...lol

Pick one workout and be prepared to stick with it at a certain time of day. So do both. Nothing wrong with trying them. If you find yourself overly fatigued then just cut back to the one. I wouldn't switch off but maybe every month or so just to change things up. As your fitness increases you may be able to do both in a…

I love this post!!!! Next we'll be looking at calories burned taking a bath vs. a shower and sleeping on your back vs sleeping on your side.

Nope. Hate 'em. Always tears up my legs and takes me out of running for a few days. I'm actually starting a good leg routine (that will incorporate squats) next week. I'll be sticking to it and working through the pain. Once my legs are used to recovering I'll be fine with my running again.

It really depends on what you want to get out of running. For your first run I would suggest taking it easy and "feel" yourself out. You may be in a better state of fitness than you think, or you could be worse off. I would make sure you stretch well before the run and then immediately after. I would suggest a cooldown…

If you're really taxing your muscles you would most likely want a casein protein shake before bed. I take mine right before I hit the pillow. Currently I'm taking MusclePharm's Combat. However, I lift heavy almost every day of the week and consume upwards of 200g of protein a day. It's not a lot of calories and the protein…

It's really hard to maximize weight workouts and lose fat because you're not feeding the muscles. Now that doesn't mean it can't be done. My own experience had me using a tape measure. A scale just didn't work. After awhile I took two weeks off from weights, did a lot of cardio and lost 10lbs. Those two weeks got me a lot…

Whey protein immediately after a strenuous workout will help. Stretching afterwards will help too. Massage. Massage breaks up scar tissue that develops in your muscles and thus helps speed healing and alleviate soreness. Aside from that it sounds like you're probably overworking yourself a bit. I would take a day or two…

It's unhealthy and you should just avoid it. I went all through basic training.... went to Church's Chicken on family day. I felt sick the entire next day. I'm the same way now. If I eat a fat greasy burger I feel sick the rest of the day. Your body is telling you the food isn't healthy so you might as well listen. I just…

Rest and go lighter on the training as the race nears. I wouldn't run more than 4 miles that week and make sure you have about 3 days off before the race. Eat carbs such as pasta the night before. I would suggest you bring a small bottle of water and some jelly beans, chews, or gu packets with you. Anything past 45 minutes…

Enjoy the break. Obviously you don't miss lifting enough to keep going. Perhaps you miss the idea of lifting. Or, you just need a break. I just took a few weeks off of lifting to focus on cardio. I enjoyed it. Now I'm back to lifting and I like it. How about setting a date on the calendar in a week or two when you'll start…

Connie is really spot-on about a lot of the foods. Whey protein is your friend. Avoid excess carbs and especially anything with high fructose corn syrup. You'd be surprised where you find that nasty stuff.... it's even in some healthy looking "multi-grain, whole wheat, etc" bread. It changes the fat cells and makes them…

A good running shoe will more than likely suffice, but training type shoes will do double duty if you don't log lots of miles running. Cross trainers are a well rounded shoe usually with extra support on the sides built in. Kind of like a jack of all trades shoe. Now, I log about 20 miles a week and have separate shoes for…

Well, all I can say is the belly seems like the last to go. You're talking 7% bodyfat to see defined abs. What kind of ab exercises are you doing? You want a variety to really hit those muscles and show definition. An ab-wheel will really wreck em good though. Dairy can tend to give your muscles a smoothed over look…

First thing's first and that's to get some good running shoes. As a newbie and overweight runner you'll want a shoe with cushion and support. Go to a running store and have them check your gait and suggest shoes. Don't skimp and buy cheap shoes from somewhere as you'll grow to hate running since everything will hurt. Shoes…

If you're just gonna be a gym rat then some trainer's will do, otherwise I would get some good running shoes from a running specialty store. They'll be about the same price you'll find anywhere else but the service and guarantees will be better. Have them check your gait to make sure you're getting the right shoe too.…

I would strongly suggest against it. Think about how you feel after 4 miles. Now think about how you feel after 8. Add those feelings together and you still haven't hit 13.1. That's just how I would think about it. I don't enter races because of financial reasons. I can't really afford the $20-30 just to do a 5k. Now, I do…

It's definitely more expensive but I find the taste and quality of the food is much better. I have a grocery store called Earth Fare down the street. It's as big as any supermarket. However they have fresher produce too. Now, when I buy salad mix at Wal Mart, if I can find one that's not brown, it usually lasts 2 days in…

Yeah, I would definitely have your gait examined. Heel striking adds a lot of jarring and helps contribute to shin splints. Maybe you're doing this as well. If you buy the right shoe you shouldn't need special inserts. Also, stay away from any type of minimalist style shoe. You'll want more cushion since shin splints are…

First things first, drink water. Second, it sounds like you plateau'd. You need to change up your workout routine or at least push yourself harder. Doing a run at an even pace? Change it up and do sprints. Short duration, high intensity is better for fat loss according to studies. Another words, 20 minutes of sprints is…

I wouldn't run on your off day since you're relatively new. (and by new I mean you stated it's under an hour). I would try and run 2-3 times a week. You could ideally do M, W, F and take the weekend off to rest. Friday though I would push for at least a mile more than you're used to doing. So maybe Monday and Wednesday run…

Depends on what you do and how your body responds. If I run a 1000 calorie deficit it catches up with me and I wind up taking a few days off to eat and recover. Basically I'm eating back those calories and losing days of training. If you feel find and not like you're starving yourself with a 1k deficit then by all means,…

I wouldn't say it's a matter of challenging yourself, but if you don't feel anything from your workout you're not getting anything from your workout. Everybody's different but you need to find a routine that allows you to feel as if you exerted yourself. You still need to hit those muscle groups or you'll lose definition…

Unfortunately there is no such thing as "target" weight loss. Your body loses weight all over and at the same time. To lose belly fat you have to lose body fat. Diet and exercise are the only thing. Now, if you want to later work on definition for that 6 pack, then you need to do lots of ab exercises and have a very low…

What you have will work fine. It looks like pushups are your finishing move. Are you doing them close or wide? The closer you go the more you engage your triceps. The suggestions above are all valid ideas but at some point you'll plateau and that's when I would incorporate these changes. You have what appears to be a solid…