Mr_Stephenson Member

The reading half marathon here... still aiming for that 1h30 (I'll be happy with 2h though!)

Agreed, there are always an amazing number of bargains on Craigslist and Ebay during Feb :)

It depends on your budget, if you can afford it the LifeFitness T3 is a fantastic machine being robust, comfortable for running long distances and offers a wide variety of programs.

I used to end up with DOMS all the time from running, in my case the problem was not eating enough protein post exercise.

Congratulations, you look fantastic.

Also thanks Yanicka the photo makes it more clear, still more of a photo A than a B myself :)

Thanks everyone, I shall just have to stay patient and follow the plan :)

I exercise 3-4 times a week for at least 40 minutes per session at the moment, thanks to having freckles I can get pretty much the same place for measurement each time. I have to admit I have not measured wrists and ankles focusing only on only calves, chest, hips stomach, thighs, calves and neck. Most of my weight/fat…

I hate to say this but there the make and model of shoe make no difference if it is not the right shoe for the runner. Do you know if you are neutral, underpronate, overpronate or require a shoe focused more on cushioning than stability (or vice versa)... buying the wrong shoe will only lead to long term injuries and the…

Good to know as the thought of another mouthful is not one I relished... even if it meant running out to buy chocolate! Still I've eaten way over the maximum today so it all balances out (I hope :)

Warm ups are not always a good idea, generally for running you need stability rather than flexibility so this is one is purely a matter of preference. Unless you are going to start running as fast as you can for an extended period of time from a very cold start, in which case light jogging to warm up is a good idea. You…

Human skeletal muscle weighs apx 1.06 g/cm3 while fat weighs 0.90 g/cm3, so an given an equal volume of fat and muscle the latter will weigh more. The best way to measure your progress is with callipers and a tape measure :)

Fantastic sites, could I also recommend stumptuous.com?

Could I possibly recommend a superb site, it is called Stumptuous.com. It debunks all the old wives (and husbands) tails about toning, spot reduction, fat loss and muscle gain along with giving superb practical advice. I agree with you that its a really good idea to combine weights and cardio, if you are a bit on the…

Thanks Sjrnana, I'll give them a go in the coming weeks I also have to say I love the chocolate covered Katie blog.

Even in hilly terrain 2.9 miles each way should not be too bad, I'd say go for it. If you have any concerns why not take a relaxed ride to the gym on a rest day? Then you will know how the return journey will effect you.

More fantastic ideas here, thanks again. Love the banana ice-cream idea and I might try that one tomorrow (off to buy some bananas now). I've added Greek yoghurt, dried fruit, dark chocolate, vanilla pods and a variety of muffin ingredients to the list... may try the crumbles too since I'm sure someone will have surplus of…

Thanks Corjogo, Powdered peanut butter is not available in the UK, while I have often made my own peanut butter I thought it would be horrendously high in pretty much everything so this is something I will definitely look into. I've never really liked the chemical after-taste of foods that use sugar substitutes, but the…

The freezer idea is one I have considered but because I rarely use it I have little understanding of how it will impact of the flavour and texture of baked goods (especially cakes). I tend to cook everything from the raw ingredients on the day it is eaten (with the exception of cakes which I hope to last a few days). My…