cjmas

I've only done a half marathon, but I cannot imagine it'd be fun to carry either a fuel belt OR a camelbak for 26.2 miles! I did recently buy a 'wrist wallet' for running that my phone could fit into if I felt the need to carry it. (Not all of my running shorts have the little inner 'key' pocket, so it seemed like a wise…

Wow, most people can't run marathons at all, let alone in high heels! In any event, one of my friends was a physical therapist (she's in nursing school now), and she told me that one pound of fat puts four pounds of pressure on your knees. I haven't verified that information, but regardless: it makes intuitive sense that…

If you're not a runner now, working on endurance is a great place to start. Once you are comfortable running distances, start to incorporate speed training. (you can start with something like 4x100 meter sprints).

It's a form issue. Keep your upper body relaxed and arms swinging. (I can't carry anything when I run; I hate feeling unbalanced.)

I take the Kirkland (Costco brand) multivitamin.

Also, I don't know if you were making a pun or a typo, but this is the cutest thing ever.

I just want to offer some support! You shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed of your period; it's inconvenient, but completely natural and normal. If your periods are irregular, as others have suggested, maybe birth control is an option? Are you talking to your doctor, or an ob-gyn? (Highly recommend talking to a female…

A trainer once told me something like 'the first 20-30 minutes of your workout you aren't burning fat, so it's more efficient do do your strength training to build muscle first, then your cardio to burn fat.'

I felt COMPLETELY unprepared for Month 2 when I started it! Actually, I'm on my last week of Month 2, and it still kicks my butt! The workouts are a lot harder, and involve a lot more upper body work. (As women, we are at a disadvantage.) Anyways... no. Don't go back. Go forward! It's hard, yes, but it gets easier. (I…

No, but I'm interested to see what other people have experienced. I currently run with Asics (forget the model; it's whatever the running store person said I should wear after analyzing my stride), but I've been debating going down in cushioning. A friend of mine is a big 'barefoot' running advocate. I won't go that far,…

I think that would probably get expensive!

I'm doing Insanity and I've lost over 10 pounds (and I still have a week-and-a-half left.) Granted, I need to lose another 15-20, but... I'm pretty happy with my results so far. That said: I wouldn't bother with the supplements. Also: you can find the DVDs pretty inexpensively if you get them used. If you stick with it,…

Month Two is TRULY insane... and I didn't feel ready! (There is a lot more upper body work.) That said: keep sticking with it! I occasionally want to just stop before it ends, but it's a great feeling to finish... and while I have another 15 or so pounds to go, I appreciate the weight loss/strength increase so far! It's…

It's pretty personal - and changes- but I make myself laugh sometimes when songs like "Fat Bottomed Girls" come on my running mix. ;)

Oh, right: forgot to include that my company will pay for your gym membership (up to $50/month), but you have to prove you've gone at least 13 times per quarter. They used to automatically pay membership with a gym around the corner that we had a partnership with, and they would send over our attendance reports. (That gym…

My company's wellness program lets you earn points by doing various things (attending seminars on site, health coaching, etc.) and if you earn a certain number of points get a reduced health care premium next year. Some activities will also earn you gift cards and those seem to be the most popular. We have a quarterly…

I drink 6 ounces of organic 1% chocolate milk after long-ish runs (5+ miles) or Insanity workouts. The brand differs, depending on if I buy it at Vons or Trader Joe's, but I do always get organic. I don't know if, scientifically, it makes a big difference, but I'm typically not hungry after a workout.... until I get super…

I lost 3 pounds my first week of Insanity. That said: the first time you do the fitness test, you will likely be very tired and possibly uncertain about your ability to do the program. It's OK. My roommate did the warm-up for a workout and thought that was the whole thing. (She hadn't exercised in a long time.) What I'm…

I can relate. I'm a comfort eater! When I went through a bad breakup post college, I ended up gaining 30 pounds. I still haven't quite lost it. (I'll get there.) So... YES. I understand. Lots of people do. That said.. everyone has given some good advice. Get moving! Exercise will release endorphins and make you feel good.…

I'm 5'6" and 170. My goal before exercise is 1200, but I run and do Insanity workouts. I try to eat back most of my calories, but rarely actually do. It's also hard to estimate because I almost always work out at the end of the day, and so I don't want to eat huge amounts of calories for dinner. (I do drink wine most…

Triathlons are SUPER fun! My advice: stick to a training program, and be sure to get "brick" workouts before the event. (Brick= multiple legs in one workout: swim + bike; bike + run, swim + run, swim + bike+ run.) Get there EARLY and snag a spot on the END of a bike rack. SO much easier. Leave a bright towel on the end…

Have you tried cognative therapy? That might be the answer.

I'm doing an Insanity + half marathon training schedule. My easy run distances increase every two weeks, my long runs increase every week. (With tapering on the 12th week.) This week (week 3 of running, start of month 2 of Insanity) Monday: Insanity/ no run Tuesday: Insanity/ easy run - currently 3.5 Wednesday: Insanity/…

Basically: what everyone else has said. I hate treadmills with the intensity of a thousand suns. Running outdoors is cool, though. Once you get to a certain level of fitness, it can be very zen-like. When I was training for my first half marathon, my favorite level was when my weekday runs were 5 miles. It was long enough…

I've done some of the bodyweight workouts on my own, but I wouldn't do the other stuff by myself. Those gyms are crazy expensive, so I understand why you're asking. (I don't belong to one, either.)

I just finished the Recovery Week. I've lost 8 pounds so far, but have been stuck at the same weight for the past two weeks. I lost three pounds the first week, and then it's been really slow and/or stalled. I'll do the first workout of Month 2 (and the Fit Test) when I get home from work. I'm really hoping that Month 2…

How often do you run now? How far? If you want to increase your speed you should check out a training program that includes interval training. (I love Hal Higdon's training plans.) If you are a novice runner, you should probably stick with something like HH's novice 5k training program, or the Couch to 5k program. Good…

That's ROUGH. I broke some bones in my foot awhile back... it makes life tough. I would be really careful about your caloric intake. There are possibly some ab exercises you can do on the floor, sitting down. I'm sure you can also do some upper body strength workouts, too. Just take it easy, and good luck.

send your friend a note, apologizing for snapping, and explain you're stressed out. Most people would understand and appreciate that effort. Meanwhile: deep breaths, be nice to yourself, and maybe try making a list of the things you have to do, prioritizing it, and realize that some things may be left undone... and it's…

I have a HRM, but it's a cheap one and doesn't tell me calories burned. I use a heart rate calculator online. (It allows you to input your VO2 max, though, so I guess I could try that?) I guess it's working out OK, because I'm losing weight; I just want to be as accurate as possible.