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Runners - tips for your first race
Beginners, what questions do you have about your first race? Experienced runners, what do you wish you'd known before your first race? In today's blog I jotted down a few ideas of things I really wish someone had told me before my first race:…
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Running - give up, shape up or cut down?
I was a bit a latecomer to running. Having bunked off from cross-country at school as much as possible from the age of 15, I didn't run another step until I was about to turn 30. 15 years later, I've built up from running one minute at a time to a Marathon, a triathlon and adventure races. Just a couple of weeks ago I did…
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National Lottery Olympic Anniversary run - London tomorrow
I know lots of MFP runners have been talking about the race in the Olympic park tomorrow, and a couple of my MFPeeps will be there. Who else will be there, and does anyone fancy a mini MFP meet? I'm in the pink wave and will be going super-slow - it'll be a good hour before I'm over the finish line doing the obligatory…
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Berry's July "something different every day" challenge
Consistency is key, or is variety the spice of life? Consistency worked for me. I lost 28lbs (2 stone) using MFP exactly as designed, doing exercise I enjoy and eating food I, err, enjoy too, just less of it. However I became complacent and, frankly, bored, and put half of that back on. Today I woke up a pound shy of 13…
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Exercise induced asthma, inhalers and running
Hello to all my fellow wheezy runners. For those of you who use a reliever inhaler for exercise induced asthma, rather than a preventer, how do you fit using it into your run? Can I use it before I start or do I need to wait until I start getting symptoms? I start wheezing about 15 minutes into a hard-ish run, and would…
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The Grand MFP Global Race
One of my American friends said the other day she wished she could go running with me. That got me thinking, why not? Even if it's only virtually. One weekend , we could set a time that's morning in North America and afternoon in Europe (and night-time in Asia-Pacific, but it might be a bit dark and/or cold!) and all set…
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Running jcakets - worth it?
I'm a firm believer in the "last time I checked, runners are waterproof" philosophy, but as I enter a cynical middle age, it takes far more to get me out of the door when it's pouring with rain. I have a couple of "shower resistant" jackets which usually soak me through in a heavy downpour, so think I need to upgrade. Can…
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What makes a good veggie, alcohol-free Sunday lunch?
An old friend is coming to stay next weekend and I'd like to cook her a nice Sunday lunch. However, as a wine-loving carnivore, I'm at a complete loss as to what to serve a vegetarian teetotaller to eat and drink. Any ideas?
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What's important: length, girth or firmness?
Or are position and action all that matters? I need a foam roller to iron out some hip and knee niggles from running and there are so many factors to take into consideration!
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Runners - what's the most you would pay for a race?
Running is frequently touted as a cheap hobby. All you need is a pair of decent shoes and a sports bra for women, and off you go. But if you like to enter a few races a year to motivate you (or indeed that might be your whole running raison d'etre) the costs mount up. I decided to work it out as price per km and added…
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Healthy waist size - how do you measure up?
Nuffield Health has issued the results of a study in which it measured British people's waist sizes and compared them to what is considered a healthy waist size. There's an infographic here: http://www.nuffieldhealth.com/sites/default/files/inline/Nuffield-Health-infographic-large.pdf It found the average British woman has…
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Exercise for the wheezy!
I've pretty much sat and watched by butt spread since I contracted bronchitis six weeks ago. One course of antibiotics later, I'm over the infection but I'm still coughing myself awake every half an hour at night, and during the day I have that really irritating cough that sounds like you're making it up. As Monty Python…
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Are your workouts age-appropriate?
I started working out just before I hit 30, which I thought was getting on a bit at the time. I went from beginner's aerobics at the YMCA to high-impact and circuit training; from basic gym workouts to lifting heavy; from running for one-minute intervals to a marathon and triathlons. Now I'm 45 I can't look forward to…
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Happy Bacon Connoisseur's Week 2013!
Yes, it's a real thing! http://www.lovepork.co.uk/blog/article/bacon_connoisseurs_week_2013 Here are some interesting bacon facts: - According to a survey of 2000 Brits by UK Food Network, Bacon takes the number one spot in Britain’s Top 100 Foods, closely followed by chocolate and steak. - Pig meat is the single most…
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Do you eat a "proper" Sunday lunch?
The British Government's healthy living campaign Change4Life, has published a poll in which it found a family Sunday lunch could soon be a thing of the past as three-fifths of mothers admit they no longer prepare and eat a meal with their families on Sundays. Brushing aside gender roles and family status assumptions dating…
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Savoury high-protein snack ideas
I crave savoury snacks rather than sweet and I'm looking to get more protein in my diet to replace greasy, high-GI crisps and the like. I also much prefer stuff that looks like real food than protein bars and drinks. What are good things to take to work bearing in mind a) I don't have access to a fridge so it'd have to be…
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Your most inspirational workout track
I'm not looking for playlist suggestions of pumpin' choons to get your feet moving faster. Instead, what's the one track on your workout playlist that you turn to for inspiration when you're finding it really tough going? Mine is "Ain't got no/I got life" by Nina Simone. Starts off mellow, ends up sweeping, and the…
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Running, weight loss and muscle maintenance
Hi lovely MFPeeps, I was wondering if those of you in the know could help me drum up a balanced running and resistance training programme. A dyed-in-the-wool runner for 15 years (but a very, very slow one), I've put it on the back-burner after a series of injuries and general ennui. However, I'm battling back (I previously…
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Two years, just 20lbs but a huge difference - loads of pics
It's a familiar story. In the dying embers of my twenties, I found I'd got complacent and contented. In a well-paid job, "Let's just get a takeaway" or "Let's open a second bottle of wine, Thursday is the new Friday after all," became my siren call. Moving to a new office, I ended up sharing an office with an Australian…
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Slow runners - just how slow do you go?
I'm in awe of the speed and race times many of the lovely runners on MFP and I'm completely inspired by them. However, I've been running for 15 years and despite following training programmes to the letter, adding in sprints and intervals, hill training, fartleks (snort) tempo runs, cross-training, weight training and…
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Body Mass Index replaced by just looking at people
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/health/body-mass-index-replaced-by-just-looking-at-people-2013012958016 Gotcha! :laugh:
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Virtual MFP party! What are you bringing?
It's Friday! You're all invited to my massive virtual pad tonight. What drinks, nibbles and tunes are you bringing to get the party started? Here's mine: Drink: A cheeky Rioja Reserva Nibbles: Cheese board Tunes: Berry's 80s Mix Tape playlist (even cheesier!)
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How to run in your lunch hour
From my latest blog entry: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BerryH/view/how-to-run-in-your-lunch-hour-464624 My place of work is desperately ill-equipped for running from – no showers, lots of roads to cross and pavements very busy with workers and tourists. But at this time of year, running before or after work means…
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Best anti-wrinkle creams for mid-40s
I confess I congratulated myself on hitting 40 without displaying too many ravages of time other than what could be dismissed as "laughter line". However, five years on with the hormones thinking about packing up and having lost some weight, I'm now getting proper old-lady wrinkles - you know, the "11" between the…
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MFP Pub Quiz
OK, I'm team captain for a work pub quiz tonight for charity. Help me swot up. Quote a question from above, give your best guess answer (no Googling!) and post your general knowledge question. I'll start: Q: Which common English word ends HTH?
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Lunchtime running with no shower!
Hi running buddies. Though I'm fairly hardy with running outdoors in the cold, dark or bad weather, any two or more sends me scuttling indoors! Until now I've been turning to the gym "dreadmill" to keep the miles coming when the worst hits, but I've just resigned my membership as it's too expensive. The park near me isn't…
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Wtaching horror movies burns calories
Or in English "Watching horror movies burns calories " :blushing: From The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/oct/29/horror-movies-help-burn-calories Scare yourself thin: horror movies help burn calories, study finds. Researchers discover watching horror films can help you burn equivalent of a chocolate bar,…
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600 days on MFP - pic heavy
First I was like: Then by doing a lot of this: And this: And eating a lot of this: I ended up more like this: And this: Problem is, I'm still a long way from my goals. I'm 7lb up from my lowest MFP weight and 13lb away from my first goal, and after a series of breaks for illness and injury I'm finding it hard to get back…
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Crisis - worldwide bacon shortage on the horizon
http://gawker.com/5946156/the-end-is-nigh-britains-national-pig-association-says-unavoidable-global-bacon-shortage-on-its-way What will become of our breakfasts? :sad: