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Don't sell yourself short (don't be like my mom who gave up on herself when she was my age...in her early 40s. It makes me nuts that at 70 she's afraid to try anything new or take on any challenges. There are women older than her who have taken up distance running and cycling and have turned back the clock on their health…

• COFFEE MAKER!!! (old school. I grind my own beans and use a metal mesh filter basket) • cast iron pans • crock pot • salad spinner • convection toaster oven (I use this probably 3-4x as often as the regular oven. It cooks faster and more evenly) • SodaStream (I'm better about drinking water when I can have it fizzy)

Ha, are you my hubby in disguise...? I've lost count, but we have a bad habit of not selling bikes when we replace them. We sit on them to lend to friends who have fewer bikes. Also we're part owners of a LBS. >:) I have a road bike, 2 CX bikes (an entry-level Redline and a custom Ti Seven, because I wanted a better frame…

Yup. Years ago I had a mtn. bike with standard handlebars...and ONE hand position. And my hands would hurt and I had nowhere to go to relieve pressure on my palms. Even on my current mountain and fat bikes I have Ergon grips to distribute my weight better. On my road and CX bikes I have drop bars with flat tops. I ride on…

The difference in your lower back is really noticeable, too! NICE job!! I'm on day 4 of keto eating and my belly bloat is vastly better, even though I've only dropped 2-3#s -- it was entirely from my gut.

Thanks! At nearly 42 I know this will be harder than it was a decade+ ago. But if I don't rein it in now, it's going to get exponentially harder in coming years.

Someday I'd love to see that. Friends of ours were in Louisville when they were held down there.

Have you guys ever considered the JDRF Ride To Cure? I'll be doing my 5th this year (have ridden Death Valley 2x, Tahoe, and Nashville. Going back to Tahoe again this Fall). It's a really great program and the leading organization raising money for Type 1 research. My hubby has been a coach since before I started riding.…

Do you have a bike, already? If so, consider buying an indoor trainer (a good magnetic trainer can be had for a couple hundred bucks, new) so that you can use it at home. That way you'll already have your preferred dialed-in fit, saddle, and pedals.

The Sufferfest workout downloads are fun, have great music...and are HARD! But you don't have to push yourself as hard when you first start. And you'll see HUGE results. Most Winters I've casually pedaled indoors for 45-90 minutes a few times/week and simply maintained some basic fitness come Spring. Last Winter I did 1-2…

"Supreme Curve." Their 528/529/Curvy jeans are also good. But none are as good as Lucky Brand Sophia or Lolita cuts. Cyclins is my primary thing. Baby got back...and quads. And a relatively small waist. These Lucky cuts are some of the only jeans that accommodate my rear and thighs, but don't gap at the small of my back.

Ahhh…snake-oil wording…. Spammity spam spam spam...

Here's an interesting thread where several of the women who are experiencing this sort of pain also have endo: http://www.steadyhealth.com/stomache_cramps_while_running_t59043.html

I've had side stitches and intestinal issues, as well -- those are generally the result of erratic breathing or talking while running (stitches) or something not sitting well in my GI track. But neither are what I think the OP is describing. I've also had cramps that feel exactly like menstrual cramps/labor contractions.…

Layers and Sugoi Sub-Zero tights, FTW! Merino wool is amazing stuff, too. I wear merino socks year-round, but heavier ones for Winter.

I've had both the classic runner's side stitch and the sort of cramping the OP describes. They are VERY different. The cramping that seems to be uterine-centered can even feel like it's radiating down the thighs and through the bowels. Very much like labor contractions, since it involves the same anatomy. Side stitches are…

Could it be endometriosis? I used to have this very symptom a lot in HS during especially hard track practices. I seem to recall reading a while back that this can happen with endo. I was diagnosed at 30, but had all the telltale symptoms back as far as my very first cycle.

Right...because elite distance runners never sprint. :laugh: Do you actually know anything about how elite runners train? They're not simply slogging through 100+mpw at low heartrate. And the best sprinters still will have a pretty solid base of higher miles than most non-runners would ever imagine. The primary reason for…

I still build a lot of race plans off of Higdon's plans, but typically add tweaks of my own, depending upon the race and what sorts of goals I have involving my bike. I used Higdon's plans for the 3 marathons under my belt, too.

Endo is weird, that way. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with stage 2 (which isn't super severe)...I had HORRIBLY painful and heavy periods, particularly as a teen (starting BCPs as soon as I got to college was a godsend and likely saved my fertility when I ready to become a mom in my late-20s). That made life so rough, but I…

Did you have any inkling it was there!? I've heard stories of massive cysts that went undetected. Mine isn't painful, but I've had bladder and bowel weirdness. Doc suspects mine might be a chocolate, as well. The things we endure! Good to hear that post surgery has been positive for everyone.

Sweet. Yeah, from the sound of it my left ovary is just fine. The right side is the hot mess. I had wondered about PCOS, but that generally affects both sides...? What effect does PCOS generally have on triglycerides? Mine have traditionally been freakishly low and my overall HDL/LDL ratio has been nearly 1:1 in the past.…

MTB IS scary!!! I busted my wrist almost a year ago, after riding MTB for about a year. When CX season rolled-around I didn't hesitate to hop back up on that saddle! I crash a LOT less on my CX bike.

Favorite thing ever!! In my 3rd season of Fall CXing!

Yeah, my kid is almost 13...that wrinkly flap I have isn't going anywhere...especially since I'm currently 40#s lighter than I was after I lost the baby-weight (about 80#s smaller than I was when I delivered him) and still have 15 to go. It looks even looser/wrinklier the less I weigh. :sad:

Do you have a lot of stretch marks? Those are evidence that your skin has gone past the point of no return. Most of skin elasticity is genetic. Some women (and men) are blessed with skin that can be stretched to great lengths and snap back (like my friend with 5 kids, including twins -- and a serious 6 pack). Others of…

This is what I love about being a cyclist and hanging out with cyclists...muscular quads are envied (on either sex) because they serve a useful function...getting a spot on the podium!! :drinker:

Varying your route and when you run so that you don't have a trackable pattern is a good idea, too. Don't give anyone the opportunity to predict your route.

Interesting...I was reading a bit and from what I've gleaned the first few cycles on Prometrium can actually temporarily increase Estrogen and make things rough as the body tries to overcome the new, higher levels of progesterone in the bloodstream. Apparently things generally settle-down after a month or two. I wonder if…

Thanks, ladies! Yeah, I think this will likely be an experiment of 1. Just not having 23 day (or less) cycles and bleeding for up to 13 days will be blissful. I'm hoping maybe my skin will be clearer, too. This battling acne AND wrinkles simultaneously is totally for the freakin' birds! Insomnia has been increasingly…