fudgebudget Member

Thanks. I've been doing bodyweight exercises at home and would like the challenge of the added weights, and I need to get over my gym aversion anyway.

Thanks for the tip; I'll definitely look into some more strengthening exercises for the hips/glutes. I'm also working on getting over my gym aversion so I have access to weights again, as I know that will eventually help with my speed (after I work on endurance). I am using Runkeeper to track progress and am trying to go…

Well, right now I'm an interval jogger at best, so becoming a runner would be developing the ability to run for sustained periods, e.g., a 5K.

I did C25K a couple of years ago and didn't have much success (clearly - my scale says so :) ) - I did week 3 for like 4 weeks in a row and the frustration combined with summer heat was not great for my running aspirations - it's one of the reasons I'm really trying to get it together while I have a few months without…

Thanks everyone for all of the stories! It's good to hear that some people have had success without a program.

I was just surprised that I covered less running distance and experienced more pain with the structured intervals. I could probably apply some psychology to my reservations and say that I'm afraid of not having a definitive criteria by which to measure progress and success, and without a structured program I'm left to…

"Minutely starving" is called "hungry" and is not the same thing.

"Starvation mode" is so overused. It may even be true that your metabolism isn't as fast if you don't eat every 2 hours, I don't know, but your body is not going to shut down if it doesn't get food for 2 hours. That's hyperbole, and it's ridiculous. Children in drought stricken areas of Somalia are in starvation mode. You…

I tried C25K several times over the last several years with no success, and it was the only thing I was doing. I am working my way through it successfully now because I took some time away from running and did strength training. It has made ALL the difference. SO MUCH BETTER. Also - new shoes have been a huge help. I got…

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions! I'm sure I'll find a permanent routine soon, and the feedback helps.

Am I the only one who initially read "IIFYM" as "If It Fits in Your Mouth?" Because I like that better.

Stretching - lots and lots of stretching. I stretch a lot more after my runs than before, and also took ibuprofen after runs to help with inflammation. I started taking a fish oil supplement right after PF flared up this last time (which was something I needed to be taking anyway), because it is also supposed to help with…

You did not gain almost three pounds of muscle in a week eating at a deficit. It's physically impossible. It's likely water retention while your existing muscles heal.

I second the suggestion to run outside. I think about half the benefits I derive from running come from spending the time outside. Vitamin D FTW. I know I'll eventually have to move to the treadmill when winter comes in earnest, but I try not to think about that. One thing I did have to get over to run outside was the…

I usually run on asphalt and concrete and the Nike Frees (version 2, not 3, the latter not fitting me as well) have been great on it. Much better than the Air Pegasus N7s I was running in before. Granted, I mainly stick to Nikes since we have an outlet in my town, I haven't tried many other brands.

If you're up for doing workouts as hard as P90X, you can always try C25K to get into running, too (not that it's as hard as P90X right off the bat, but it's more of a cardio challenge than just walking).

If you don't have a condition like diabetes to make you need to really pay attention to sugar, I would change your food diary to track another nutrient so you won't worry about it. If your sugars are coming from mostly natural sources, like fruit, then you're getting it with fiber, which will negate some of the sugar.

I started running for the calorie burn, aerobic exercise, time outside, and bone density benefits. Also, runners who aren't dumb with their injuries typically have healthier joints later in life. It's a habit I've tried several times to get into for lifelong fitness, and so far this go-round has been my best, even with…

I learned both typing and cursive in my education - it's not like typing isn't something that shouldn't have been taught before, and you don't have to choose between the two. I realize that classroom management is difficult, and without a supportive parent base it can affect the efficiency of instruction which is why some…

C25K plus strength training. The latter has really helped me with muscle fatigue from running, and now my C25K training is more about getting my lungs to keep up with my legs. If you have a smart phone you can also get one of the C25K apps that will tell you when to walk/run for the entire program and it can run…

Laundry. I hate having to do laundry more often for clean workout clothes - especially since my only w/d access is coin operated and not in my apartment, which means more trips to the bank.

^^^ This. Also, just don't go in the kitchen. Prepare tomorrow's lunch while you're doing dinner and don't go in the kitchen. Refill your glass of water from the bathroom tap if you have to, or get a bigger glass. It's a habit for me to wander into the kitchen and automatically open the fridge to see what's there (hint:…

As a Spurs fan, I'm not excited about OKC, but I think my dislike for OKC is overwhelmed by my desire that LeBron never get a ring.

^^^ This. My Android tablet synchs apps with my Android phone. I have a Kindle app on both, so if I get stuck in a line, etc., without my tablet and end up reading on my phone, it will still save my place in the book when I go to read on my tablet later.

Any computer can also access Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) - I mention this for anyone reading this thread, because as a college librarian I see people lose documents all the time and really encourage people to work on the cloud.

If you want to take notes and record lectures you'll need a tablet that can use a wireless keyboard most likely. You can draw on tablets, but it's never going to be as fast as taking notes by hand (maybe if you use an iPad it's faster, but I have more experience with a Touchpad and there's a lag). If you want to download…

You can have alcohol, just make it count and don't mindlessly drink. I have been known to budget the occasional imperial stout into my calories (which are usually 300+ calories/bottle) because I love it and it's worth working out a little more to drink it. I just don't drink things I'm not going to enjoy (e.g., crappy…

When I was a freshman in college I dropped 60 pounds in about 6 months and was shocked at the sheer increase in attention I got. As someone who never really liked people paying attention to me much to begin with (though maybe that was because of the extra weight), it made me pretty damn uncomfortable. I didn't gain it all…

You can survive on very few calories - of course it's not healthy, but people do it. It's always kind of boggled my mind how some ballet dancers eat almost nothing and manage to dance all day long - some of them will even eat non-food items to quell hunger (cotton balls, etc). But, at the same time, while we're accustomed…

This is great - thanks for posting!