johnwhitent Member

I use MFP more as a journal rather than follow the plan, but I find it very effective as such. Before I found MFP I used to just track calories consumed in an Excel worksheet, but the ability to easily track macros and other nutrients along with exercise calories burned coupled with the invaluable support of friends really…

Yep, I forgot about the stability ball. I don't use one, but the program calls for it and no doubt it would be better if you had one.

No pull up bar is needed, Supreme 90 Day uses dumbbells and body weight exercises only. I suppose resistance bands could be subbed in for some dumbbell exercises, but I don't recall the program demoing them as an alternative. I'm mostly a cardio guy (cycling and running), but I try to strength train at least twice a week.…

I'm using a Timex run Trainer. It's quite a bit less expensive than the Garmin's but does everything I need it to do (for running, cycling, lifting). My recommendation is check out the reviews at dcrainmaker.com. He is an independent individual tri fanatic who is crazy about hrm/gps devices. He provides many great in depth…

No doubt in my mind, after trying many - Sole Dean Karnazes! I've been using them in all of my running shoes for four years - took care of my PF.

I heat up fast when cycling, so layers are the way I go. I use my standard Pearl Izumi Elite cycling shorts and add knee warmers as it cools off, then go to tights over my PI's, and that usually gets me through the winter. Since I also run and hike I have tightly cut running pants I could throw over the tights and beyond…

You are probably training with more intensity leading to a higher hear rate. If all things are equal, heart rate will decline as fitness increases. I was just reading about this last night in the book "Heart Rate Training" by Benson and Connolly. It's a pretty good read if you want to learn more about your HRM and training…

The correct HRM for you will be influenced by what your goals are for it. The Polar's already mentioned are great HRM's, but if you want it to do more then other alternatives might be better. I cycle and trail run so in addition to heart rate I wanted GPS tracking. I bought a Timex Run Trainer which fits the bill…

That is the old cyclist argument, but today few people believe it to the degree they once did. No doubt specificity does yield the biggest improvement, but any cardio conditioning is going to carry over and benefit in another cardio exercise. I mean for a mountain biker there is no substitute for mountain biking, but you…

I second the wool socks. I use Smartwool Phd's and never get blisters. I thought wool would be too hot in the summer but it is not at all, and I overheat easily.

When my lab was young I had to take her to the river to run and swim three times a week or she would destroy the house. I'm so glad I lived out in the country where I could let her run free.

WOW, what an amazing transformation! Congrats to you for turning things around. My journey started with a doctor visit five years ago. My doc was alarmed at my weight, blood pressure, etc. He told me that my unhealthy state was going to knock 15 years off of my life, and I was 54 at the time so the thought of losing 15…

It may have been a 1986; it's too long ago for me to be sure. As I think about it I think it probably was an 86. I'll have to check online and see if I can find any pics, the fluorescent green get's one's attention. But whatever year it was, I loved that bike. Very quick geometry, immediate response to power, and speed…

I am searching myself. There are many Polar HRM's that track calories. If you go to the Polar website they have a tool that asks questions about your needs/desires in a HRM then shows you which of their models fit that need. Then you can examine the selections in more detail and make your choice.

Very nice. I bought a 1985 Cannondale new in 86; I can't remember the model. It came with a SunTour SuperbPro crank and I upgraded the rest of the componetry to SuperbPro - at that time comparable to DuraAce in quality. I wish I had that bike back!

I ride a Specialized Roubaix and I'm a big fan of that bike. But if I may be the oddball here, I adore a good steel frame. Nothing that I have ever ridden can touch the feel of a high quality steel bike. Sure, there is a weight penalty, but with the higher end steel bikes the penalty is not that bad and the ride is in a…

I used to maintain my typical restricted calorie diet (about 1,650 cals) on big burn days thinking that I would really lose some weight that way. But after reading Chris Carmichaels "Food for Fitness" I started bumping up my total calories, especially carbs on big burn days and started losing weight. Weight loss had…

Do tires count? Michelin Pro3's in 25 mm. Been running the Pro3's in 23 mm and love them but trying the 25's. The jury is still out. And I have a Fizik Aliante Versus saddle on order. I think that's about it for recent purchases.

OK, there needs to be a guy here, so here I am! I'm John, 59 years old and too soon to be 60. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitus at age 39 so its been 20 years now. When I was diagnosed with uc I had just gone through a painful divorce (is there any other kind) and was working a very challenging job at 80 to 90 hours…

Congrats, great job! Running hills will make you stronger and faster. I am much faster than last year even though I don't follow any progran designed to increase speed. I just do what I can, which does include hills. And don't sweat the slow weight loss too much. I only lost 11 pounds last year, but suddenly I am losing a…

I run and cycle on alternate days, and love both. But I find cycling to be the far better choice to burn a lot of calores. I can burn 650 to 750 calories an hour cycling (per Runkeeper, not MFP, at around 15 mph) and can ride for three or four hours. This is serious fitnes riding, not leisurely around the block stuff. My…

I had to build up to running very slowly, much more slowly than I wanted. I did c25k and had to go even slower than that. But I stuck with it and it was well worth it. It takes a while to strengthen the leg muscles, ligaments and tendons but your body will come around. Just don't push too fast, too far, too soon. You don't…

Wise advice! This assumes an active lifestyle, but that is wise advice as well.

I misunderstood, but that makes sense. Yes, for at least some people even very good shoes that are several years old could cause problems. I bought some high quality (Asics Gel-Kayano) shoes and only put maybe 100 miles on them before switching to trail running, so they sat in the closet. Three years later for a time I had…

All the carb bashing makes me crazy! I like to point out that next to models the thinnest people on earth are pro cyclists, and they typically eat a diet of 70% carbs, 15% protein, and 15% fat. This is the formula that Chris Carmichael prescribed for Lance Armstrong as he won seven Tours de France. Carbs are the human…

Hmm, that does sound like the new shoes may have caused the problem. Did you go to a specialty running store and let them analyze your gait and make a recommendation? If not you may have bought the wrong shoe for you. I had a lot of problems with shin splints when I started but for me it was lack of conditioning more than…

Like others I use chewing gum, but since I live in the hot and humid south during the warmer months I take a Fuel Belt with two water small bottles on anything over three miles. This year I'm getting an Amphipod which allows adding or removing bottles as needed based on run length and conditions. I find that the belts work…

I suffer with pf (no problems with good inserts) and I asked my podiatrist (who is a runner) this very question. He said that most recommendations deal with mileage, often saying anywhere from 300 to 500 miles, and that works for many/most people. But he cautioned that mileage is not very useful for lower mileage runners…

I had the classic encounter with the m.d. who wanted to put me on all kinds of medication - blood pressure, etc. I had no insurance at the time so I asked if I could get healthy with diet and exercise and he said yes, but that most people don't stay with it so he strongly recommends medication. That was six years ago. I…

This is me! At 59 I am sooo intrinsic. I don't need a pat on the back, an "atta boy," or a "wtg," and I am not trying to look good for others. I am singularly focused on better health and fitness. It's not that I'm a great guy, I just figure I have only so many years left and I want them to be good ones. I cycle, run, and…