TheLaser Member

These are all great ideas, and I add one more suggestion based on my experience: five finger shoes. My running totally took off after a year of training almost exclusively in them. These are not for everyone, and some people do injure themselves wearing them, but you can transition slowly into wearing them to see if they…

So far the trail is winning! :flowerforyou:

I have thought about doing something independently, but I so dislike stretching and doing weights that I don't think I'd follow through with it without the pressure and competition that a live class would offer. Maybe that would be a good option once I have a little more background in stretching & lifting. A basic gym…

1) breaking a ten-year PR in the half marathon without really training for it (I NEVER thought I'd run this fast again): 1:38:32 2) a doctor on my swim team doing a double take, asking if I'd lost weight, & telling me it's very visible in my face & arms (two areas I most wanted to reduce!) 3) discovering that I love…

Long time distance runner here. I'm shocked by how much people carry and think they need for rather short runs. I really hate to carry anything at all, and I never do unless I know my run will be over 1.5 hours. If you know you're going long, you can "drop" water bottles/healthy snacks (e.g. banana) along the way in hiding…

I bit them for pretty much my whole but managed to stop... I don't even remember when. Sometimes I have relapses, like an alcoholic... one bite and I know that could start it up again. But it's been under control for several years. I did it in a multi-step process: -fake nails -they worked really well when ALL of the nails…

I gave it up over a year ago when I started MFP and I'm pretty happy without it. I generally avoid all sweeteners except fruit; honey, maple syrup, etc -those are all still sugars without the beneficial fiber of raw fruit. Every once in a while I do have a sugar craving.

I'd say the best way to find out about your options is to contact local running clubs and see if they have suggestions. Sometimes local running clubs will sponsor shorter events, or you could join them for track workouts if you like having other people around to push you or to use as a metric for your own ability.

My ode to running: There are a thousand ways to love running. Can there be anything more wonderful than running through the woods (my preferred), or through the sand on the beach, or scrambling over rocks up mountains, or on the road's even undivided pace, or the bounce of the track, the wind in your hair, all cares behind…

I LOVE exercise, so perhaps I'm not the best person to answer this question. But I will say that exercise can have a snowball effect: it might feel really awful at first, but then it gets more and more fun, you start feeling better and better and more alive, and after a while you look forward to it as one of the highlights…

I'm 5'5' and I started at around 136. I've been hovering around 122-124, but I'd like to get down under 120 again for my wedding this summer. Feel free to friend me if you'd like to see my eating habits. I *thought* I was eating healthily at 136, but it turns out I had a lot to learn.

Getting married this summer! I'm interested in joining a brides-to-be community, although I'm already at a weight I'd be fine with for the wedding.

I've been struggling a little with this, too, and have some very modest success. Chocolate is my trigger, too; I can't eat just one piece. Swearing off sugar and all sweeteners entirely helped, but I still have the occasional major chocolate craving. Here's my strategy: 1. I'm at the point where not just any old chocolate…

I tried making this curried cauliflower soup in my slow cooker and it turned out great: http://healthygirlskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/03/curried-cauliflower-soup-revisited.html I substituted sweet potatoes for regular ones and I can definitely recommend that.

This was great motivation! I made all of my goals yesterday. My goals for today are the same: 1. eat two servings of vegetables at lunch and dinner 2. no sweets or sweeteners except fruit 3. stay under calories

Hi Everyone! This is just what I need to get back on track! I'm 37, 5'5", people on my old swim team called me "The Laser" (because I'm focused) and so that's my nickname on here. I started in February and lost 19 lbs, and gained a little back (but I was ok with that -it felt healthy). This week and last week I stepped on…

For another perspective, I eat a very low carb diet and I've been swimming competitively with the Master's team for well over a year. Everyone has to figure out what works best for her/his own body in terms of carb/protein/fat ratios. How much or how hard to swim? I personally think it's about quality, not quantity. My old…

I believe what people on here often say about weight loss -it's 80% food, 20% exercise. I have always been an exercise maniac, but I only lost weight when I started MFP. At that time, I did also start swimming with a master's team nearly every day so that I could eat back my exercise calories. In that respect, I suppose…

Wow, thanks everyone for the positive & supportive responses! That's one of the things I love about MFP. To follow up with a few of the response questions: I'm not terribly militant about any rules, and I think that's been the secret to my success. Once I stop enjoying something, I don't see the point in doing it.…

I'm just over 5'4" and I went from 136 to under 120 in just a few months, so take heart that your goal can be achieved in a relatively short period of time! I never dieted or counted calories before, either. Good luck!

I emailed the race directed again and he said that there is no rule against footwear during the swims and I could wear the Vibrams for the whole race if I wanted to... so now I'm really not sure what to do.

Six marathons, including 2 Bostons A bunch of olympic distance triathlons and one half-ironman Recent 10 k swim Plenty of century rides, but I am not crazy about cycling My passion is endurance trail running but I haven't ever competed. I guess the benefits of a competition for me would be for the convenient food &…

I'm driving from LA to Boston soon and I've got a few strategies. First, I'm preparing a few things in advance and keeping them along with my yogurt and cheese in a small cooler. I'll also be bringing along quick-cooking healthy cereals that I can make with hot water from a hotel coffee machine, like the Bob's Red Mill…

I'm 5'5", also a distance runner, started at around 140 (was down to 136 when I joined MFP). I'm now 117, the dream weight and body shape that I never thought I'd see again in my lifetime. I saw a posting on here about how it's 80% diet, 20% working out, and I cannot agree with that more. Sure, 140 is in the "normal"…

I don't know if you have the same options in the UK as in the States, but check to make sure that the bread has no sugar or sugar products added and that it has as much whole grain or wholemeal flour content as possible. Sometimes you can find sprouted bread -also nutritious. These are the most natural and nutritious kinds…

I'm interested in this question, too, since I think my body fat % has dropped too much and I'm concerned about the effects (read: I think I may be in the same situation as the OP, but it's still a little early to get worried). The big difference is that my exercise levels have remained relatively constant with the many…

Great advice, ncrenshaw! I want to keep this in my list.

*Focus on how far you've come! *Focus on the non-scale victories (compliments from people noticing, clothes fitting differently, etc) *Take this slump as a time to learn about new foods, new exercises, and new daily strategies. Instead of going to the bar one night, you could spend that time learning *Give yourself a…

I am about 5'5" (1/2) and have been hovering around 121-124 for over a month now. My goal is 120 but I would like to see what it's like at 115 again before making a final maintenance decision. Are any of you having trouble shedding those last 5 or so pounds? What have you found that worked? (Just for the record I don't eat…

*switch things up once you hit a plateau (change workout routine, number of calories, etc) *keep reading and learning about nutrition and exercise (blogs, books, postings & diaries of other MFP members you trust) *pick a "focus food" for the week/month (new whole grains, using spices, different herbal teas, cooking a new…