DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: senecadawg2 on February 02, 2019, 10:19:12 AM
-
Apologies if a thread like this already exists—I scanned through the first few pages of threads and didn't see anything that fit the bill.
I've recently discovered a passion for running. I'd say it's my greatest hobby at the moment and has been for a few months now. I didn't get into it for any particular health reasons—just for the fun of it—though I really admire that mindset as well. For me, it's more about finding solace away from other responsibilities. Especially with long runs on the weekend, I've found it's a great time to catch up with myself, listen to new albums (or even audio books), and keep my senses sharp. I haven't raced yet, but I'm building up the fitness to eventually take on the marathon. Long-term goal would be an ultra-marathon.
Anyone else, past or present, interested in this stuff? If not running, maybe a different, exercise-related passion not covered in the golf thread? :smiley:
-
Yep. Started running in 2007 for health reasons. Just to start exercising. Now it’s a part of my life. I NEED to run at least 3 days a week for my mental health. I notice when it’s been a day or two I get cranky. I know it’s good physical exercise but nowadays it’s just as much for my mental state as well.
I got into Trail Running about 7-8 years ago also. It’s a blast! In fact, I have a 10k trail run on the 17th this month then a half marathon trail run on March 3rd. If you haven’t tried Trail running I highly suggest it.
-
Did a couch to 5k last year and then followed that up with a 5k to 10k program. Haven't done any actual races, but I'm really enjoying it. Now I'm focusing on speed rather than distance since I'm pretty slow.
-
That's great. I'm also trying to up my speed, but it's the gradual process that I've enjoyed the most. After playing lots of team sports growing up and always feeling the pressure of having to perform for the group as a whole, something I love about running is the absolute independence of it, including going as fast or slow as I'm feeling on the day.
Yep. Started running in 2007 for health reasons. Just to start exercising. Now it’s a part of my life. I NEED to run at least 3 days a week for my mental health. I notice when it’s been a day or two I get cranky. I know it’s good physical exercise but nowadays it’s just as much for my mental state as well.
I got into Trail Running about 7-8 years ago also. It’s a blast! In fact, I have a 10k trail run on the 17th this month then a half marathon trail run on March 3rd. If you haven’t tried Trail running I highly suggest it.
I know exactly what you're talking about—so much of the benefit is mental.
And yes, I love running on trails! I was doing that pretty consistently before I almost stepped on what looked like the same cottonmouth a couple times in a row, always a couple miles into an out-and-back trail. I didn't have health insurance at the time and it spooked me pretty badly, but now that I'm covered I'm starting to get back out there again.
-
Been running for the past 6 1/2 years or so since meeting my wife. Took it up to lose some weight as well as get the girl - double benefit! We’ve done plenty of races since then of all distances, most recently the California International Marathon this last December.
I too get the need to move the legs fairly frequently, though these rainy Oregon winter doldrums make it tough to motivate sometimes this time of year. I’m a bit of an oddity in that I prefer road running to trails. I just like being able to zone out and go my pace when on the road vs. having to watch out for things to trip on or break your ankles on the trail. But really, I’m not opposed to either style.
-
Oh yeah.....I still like a good ‘road’ run. You’re right, you can kind of drift off a bit. You do that for a second or two on a trail run and your busting your :censored ha ha ha. Which I’ve done a few times.
I don’t run for speed much these days. I’ve unfortunately entered in to the realm of there’s always something hurting or aching. If it’s not a knee it’s an ankle....or a calf muscle...etc etc. I can usually run 6 miles in an hour on the road...maybe 5 or a bit more on the trails. I’m not even close to being a ‘fast’ runner. My goal these days is to 1. Finish the races and 2. Stay healthy doing it.
-
I used to hit the gym 4-6 days a week. Now I am lucky if I get there more than a few times a month. >:( :(
Enjoy being under 40, those of you who are, because once the big 4-0 hits, little aches and pains creep up and never seem to fully go away.
-
Enjoy being under 40, those of you who are, because once the big 4-0 hits, little aches and pains creep up and never seem to fully go away.
Good to know. I just turned 39 a month ago. Even still, I’ve had an occasional recurrent issue in my low back and right hamstring the past couple years. Nothing major, but still an annoying nag. Not looking forward to things eventually getting worse with more frequent injuries that last longer. :lol
-
I would have been SO into this thread in the past. I was/AM totally obsessed with running. I had major hip surgery 2 years ago and haven't been able to get past continuous issues that keep me from being able to really get back into it. I miss it SO MUCH, I get incredibly jealous when I see people out running. I daydream of running on my favorite trails. But I still haven't given up, and I work towards it every day. And I'm glad other people are enjoying it as well. :tup
-
I would have been SO into this thread in the past. I was/AM totally obsessed with running. I had major hip surgery 2 years ago and haven't been able to get past continuous issues that keep me from being able to really get back into it. I miss it SO MUCH, I get incredibly jealous when I see people out running. I daydream of running on my favorite trails. But I still haven't given up, and I work towards it every day. And I'm glad other people are enjoying it as well. :tup
Aw man, that's rough. I hope you're able to get back to it soon. I was having issues with shin splints for a while and felt bitter whenever I drove by people running on the side of the road, so I understand that jealousy well. :lol Of course hip surgery is so much worse, but I feel you.
Stay strong dude.
-
I've been jogging since I was 20 and I'm 57 now. I do half marathon (3 last summer). I don't imagine myself not running anymore. During the winter I still run on the treadmill since it's freezing hell here. I had to slow down since a couple of years because injuries were happening and had to accept that I can't push as much all the time like I have always do.
It's one of the best moment of my day. I do it with my dogs but as they got old, I'm more often alone or occasionally with a partner from the boxing gym or the CrossFit gym where I go. I like to here my feet hitting the ground and my breathing rythmn. I do wear earphones and listen to some great music but mostly I just like hearing what surround me. Ducks, water, wind, birds.
I do get older but I see myself doing that for a good 20 years. I might have to alternate that with some walking one day. But for now, I feel fit, loving it. My favorite hobby with playing music.
-
I would have been SO into this thread in the past. I was/AM totally obsessed with running. I had major hip surgery 2 years ago and haven't been able to get past continuous issues that keep me from being able to really get back into it. I miss it SO MUCH, I get incredibly jealous when I see people out running. I daydream of running on my favorite trails. But I still haven't given up, and I work towards it every day. And I'm glad other people are enjoying it as well. :tup
Man, I can really understand your feelings. It's my biggest fear when I think of it. I could not see myself not running. In 2001, I broke my right leg while playing hockey. Very much damaged, I was 6 months off of working and it took me 2 years to get back to run slowly and short distances. I hope you'll be able to run again. Even if it's very short distances, just doing it and maybe getting all your body in a comfortable motion with your hips. Just do it, one step at a time.
-
I go to the gym about 4 times a week, but when my wife had her knee replacement surgery, I bought an Echelon spin bike and now I ride the bike at 4:00 a.m. and then go to the gym and hit the machines and then the steam room. The bike is so convenient especially when I do not feel up to going the gym, but still want to exercise. I do have to pay a monthly fee for the Echelon spin classes, but well worth the money.
When I got the bike all of the family members wanted to try it out sometime, but that did not happen. I know all about those good intentions, so I will not judge them. I just told them the spin bike is not going to turn into a place to hang your coat.
-
I started running ten years ago (I'm 38 now).
Like a lot of people, my initial motivations were simply to get in shape. I had slowly let go of myself in the decade since graduating high school. Working lots of hours, traveling all around the country with bands...one thing led to another and before I knew it, a decade had flown by and all I had to show for the time was about 45 extra pounds.
And so I started to run. Slowly. And after a painful Summer where I slowly built up my endurance, I ran my first mini-triathlon, and as they say, the rest is history.
I've run 4-5 days a week for the past ten years. I've run tons of races (5ks, Marathons, a ton of Ultras and even a brutal 50 miler), and prefer trail running to all others.
I enjoyed watching myself get in better and better shape as my thirties wore on, and everything was going swimmingly until a trip to the emergency room last year led to pretty startling esophagitis diagnosis that ultimately led to an insane surgery (due to the presence of pre-cancerous cells...seriously, wtf??? I'm only 37 I thought to myself over and over again) which was accompanied by a 'no lifting weights' for 6-12 months order from my team of doctors.
"What can I do?" I asked. I was told that literally, the only exercise I was allowed to do was running. That is if I 'could' run.
I will never forget waking up in the hospital bed and instantly understanding what they meant. I was in so much pain. I literally couldn't walk. And I was on a liquid diet for the next two months.
Guys, let me tell you, there is nothing more depressing than watching your hard-earned physique literally disappear before your very eyes. It was freaking horrible.
But, I could still run. And so, a week later, my wife dropped me off at the gym, and I hobbled for 8 minutes on the treadmill before I waved the white flag. Onwward and upward I thought to myself. It sucked to have to start over, but I was overjoyed that I still could move. It's insane how a hospital stay can completely re-wire your perspective on things.
And now, about a year later, I am back. And beyond happy to be running. Every morning I get up, lace up my shoes, and can't wait to hit the road/trail/treadmill (depending on the weather). The best part is that, at 38, I am routinely within seconds of PR's I set in high-school.
No, on second thought, I take it back. That's not the best part. The best part is I'm just happy to be able to move my legs.
I know it's hard to find the time...but seriously, to everyone here, I highly recommend making running/the gym a priority and working backwards from it.
Do it while you can!
-
Hi, I'm happy for you that you're able to run. As I get older, I can't perform as well as I use to be. There are days, I can be as fast as when I was in my 40's but it's only on a very good day. Performance is a lesser part of the whole thing now. I had to accept that. But on a scheduled official race, I'm certainly aiming for the best I can do on that day and it still does happen on occasions when I just do my regular jogging here in the city.
-
Great post William Munny—it often takes a crisis for me to appreciate what I've got, but reading your story has given me a big dose of healthy perspective. And, of course, I'm glad you've still got it. Long may it continue.
-
This is probably the opposite of most, but I'm extremely thin. And this year I'm finally making an effort to fix that a bit. I've been working out a few times a week for a couple months now. So it feels good to have that routine.
On the subject of cardio though, I've spent a lot of time working on stamina in ITG, so there's that.
-
@WilliamMunny - Very glad that you're able to get back in to it. I can't imagine what that scenario must have been like.
Although it's not as drastic as your scenario......for the first time in my 'exercise' life (since 2007) I've been facing some lingering issues. I pulled my right groin playing hockey last December and it's just not healing. Now, I've not done it any favors because I know I haven't rested it properly...but it is lingering. Strange thing is that it's not my groin so much any longer....that pain resided and worked it's way into my lower abdomen....from what it feels like its the lowest set of muscles in my abs. They don't 'hurt'...but are just sore. constantly. It's the kind of soreness you'd get the day after a good ab workout but would typically go away. Yet....this just persists. It's annoying.
I can still run...it's not crippling....just 'there'. It only really hurts when I am laying flat like getting out of bed or sitting up from a chair. It's odd.
Oh and....i've had freaking tennis elbow for about three months now. Talk about annoying. Like I said...I'm not doing myself any favors because I'm still playing hockey once a week and running a few times a week. I have a 10k trail race on the 17th this month then a half marathon trail run on March 3rd that I still really want to do. My fight right now is with pride and doing the right thing or keep being stubborn and pretending these issues are just going to vanish.
-
GMiller, you really need to take some time off. One of the things most people don't think about when working through an injury is how it will effect the rest of your body. Weak links in the kinetic chain cause other muscles to pick up the slack and do more work than they should. Honestly, in my professional opinion (performance trainer) you shouldn't do either of those races. At the very least skip the near race and see if you can heal over the next month. That time off might make the task of a half marathon no longer doable with lack of training, but there's always more races to run. My brother had knee pain but got a lottery spot in the NYC half. We went and he did his 28* half marathon, and promptly came home to find out he needed surgery to repair his meniscus.
I had major hip surgery (arthroscopic repair of extreme labrum tear, femoroplasty, acetabuloplasty) almost 2 years ago, and problems related to the injury for 1.5 years before that. I've had numerous occasions where I would strain my glute or hamstring by doing too much, and end up taking as much as 3 months off doing NOTHING (the slowest a person can move and still move forward). I realized something... When people say to themselves, "What's the worst that can happen," they very rarely answer the question accurately and truthfully. After countless setbacks because of stupid trivial shit, I adapted the question... "Is it worth it?" As someone that's suffered the consequences too many times to count now, the answer is NO. Take the time off and get healthy, because you've got a lot of years left and I imagine you'd like to spend them running. Being smart now can do you a major favor in the future.
-
Gmiller, have you seen a physical therapist yet for what you describe. I may be biased since I’m a PT myself, but it might not be a bad idea. They can identify where you are tight or weak and give you some exercises to address those deficits, as well as look at your running gait pattern to also give you some things to focus on during training runs. As a runner myself, I know it’s tough to just stop completely, and a PT can give you some advice on how to keep running while also addressing the issues you’re facing, or also help you make the call if you really should rest it for a short while as well. In any case, I hope those pains go away at some point. Nagging aches suck!
-
GMiller, you really need to take some time off. One of the things most people don't think about when working through an injury is how it will effect the rest of your body. Weak links in the kinetic chain cause other muscles to pick up the slack and do more work than they should. Honestly, in my professional opinion (performance trainer) you shouldn't do either of those races. At the very least skip the near race and see if you can heal over the next month. That time off might make the task of a half marathon no longer doable with lack of training, but there's always more races to run. My brother had knee pain but got a lottery spot in the NYC half. We went and he did his 28* half marathon, and promptly came home to find out he needed surgery to repair his meniscus.
I had major hip surgery (arthroscopic repair of extreme labrum tear, femoroplasty, acetabuloplasty) almost 2 years ago, and problems related to the injury for 1.5 years before that. I've had numerous occasions where I would strain my glute or hamstring by doing too much, and end up taking as much as 3 months off doing NOTHING (the slowest a person can move and still move forward). I realized something... When people say to themselves, "What's the worst that can happen," they very rarely answer the question accurately and truthfully. After countless setbacks because of stupid trivial shit, I adapted the question... "Is it worth it?" As someone that's suffered the consequences too many times to count now, the answer is NO. Take the time off and get healthy, because you've got a lot of years left and I imagine you'd like to spend them running. Being smart now can do you a major favor in the future.
After the hip surgery, did they tell you that you couldn't run any more? Just curious. I used to run and loved it. I was in a car accident a year ago and messed up my back and hip. Chiropractic care has really helped me, I'm almost back to feeling normal a year later, but one thing my chiro said is that he wouldn't recommend me running anymore. My right hip was completely out of alignment which was causing it to wear unnaturally. His thought process is that the impact of running just wouldn't be good for it.
It's killing me to not run. As you guys have mentioned, it was a huge mental benefit for my life. It was how I relaxed mentally. I'd love to be able to do it again.
-
GMiller, you really need to take some time off. One of the things most people don't think about when working through an injury is how it will effect the rest of your body. Weak links in the kinetic chain cause other muscles to pick up the slack and do more work than they should. Honestly, in my professional opinion (performance trainer) you shouldn't do either of those races. At the very least skip the near race and see if you can heal over the next month. That time off might make the task of a half marathon no longer doable with lack of training, but there's always more races to run. My brother had knee pain but got a lottery spot in the NYC half. We went and he did his 28* half marathon, and promptly came home to find out he needed surgery to repair his meniscus.
I had major hip surgery (arthroscopic repair of extreme labrum tear, femoroplasty, acetabuloplasty) almost 2 years ago, and problems related to the injury for 1.5 years before that. I've had numerous occasions where I would strain my glute or hamstring by doing too much, and end up taking as much as 3 months off doing NOTHING (the slowest a person can move and still move forward). I realized something... When people say to themselves, "What's the worst that can happen," they very rarely answer the question accurately and truthfully. After countless setbacks because of stupid trivial shit, I adapted the question... "Is it worth it?" As someone that's suffered the consequences too many times to count now, the answer is NO. Take the time off and get healthy, because you've got a lot of years left and I imagine you'd like to spend them running. Being smart now can do you a major favor in the future.
Thanks for the feedback...really. I appreciate it. I 'know' this is the approach I should take. What I'm battling is my pride and the fact that I only have (8) games to go in this session of hockey and I'm wanting to get my moneys worth. But, as you say...I could really end up hurting myself. It's such a weird injury because it 'hurts' just enough for me to know that 'something' is wrong....yet, it's not so crippling to where I can still go run 5 miles and I barely notice while I'm running. Even playing hockey (I've taken the past two weeks off) I can get around....it's always the 'after' effect of cooling down where it really rears it's head again. Both the groin and my elbow.
Gmiller, have you seen a physical therapist yet for what you describe. I may be biased since I’m a PT myself, but it might not be a bad idea. They can identify where you are tight or weak and give you some exercises to address those deficits, as well as look at your running gait pattern to also give you some things to focus on during training runs. As a runner myself, I know it’s tough to just stop completely, and a PT can give you some advice on how to keep running while also addressing the issues you’re facing, or also help you make the call if you really should rest it for a short while as well. In any case, I hope those pains go away at some point. Nagging aches suck!
Not yet. I've been looking for the right place to go. I just haven't put a ton of effort into it. Historically I've healed quickly on these little aches and pains so I haven't seriously considered a doctor until the past week or two. I've been holding out that it'd just 'go away' It doesn't look like that's gonna happen.
-
Gmiller, have you seen a physical therapist yet for what you describe. I may be biased since I’m a PT myself, but it might not be a bad idea. They can identify where you are tight or weak and give you some exercises to address those deficits, as well as look at your running gait pattern to also give you some things to focus on during training runs. As a runner myself, I know it’s tough to just stop completely, and a PT can give you some advice on how to keep running while also addressing the issues you’re facing, or also help you make the call if you really should rest it for a short while as well. In any case, I hope those pains go away at some point. Nagging aches suck!
I will second this big time. Rest never seemed to work for me. But after I spent some time (and a small fortune) with a PT some years back, I was put on a routine that allowed me to work through my IT band and hip issues.
Knock on wood, but my legs have been good ever since.
-
After the hip surgery, did they tell you that you couldn't run any more? Just curious. I used to run and loved it. I was in a car accident a year ago and messed up my back and hip. Chiropractic care has really helped me, I'm almost back to feeling normal a year later, but one thing my chiro said is that he wouldn't recommend me running anymore. My right hip was completely out of alignment which was causing it to wear unnaturally. His thought process is that the impact of running just wouldn't be good for it.
It's killing me to not run. As you guys have mentioned, it was a huge mental benefit for my life. It was how I relaxed mentally. I'd love to be able to do it again.
I was never told that I SHOULDN'T run. In fact, I was never told, "Your life will never be the same." lol There are protocols for returning to running from the specific surgery I had, but the real problem has been the amount of "damage" I did to surrounding muscle groups while my hip was getting worse. That's why I was stressing REST to GMiller. Being in good physical shape can kinda "hide" some problems, or at least disguise how serious it actually is. So, I'm a personal trainer/performance specialist/golf fitness specialist. I would train hard, and do A LOT of core work specific to golf. I had two doctors and two PTs tell me that my level of fitness (specifically in my core area) compensated for my injury and ultimately allowed it to get WAY WORSE over the course of my activity. That was due to the compensations by surrounding muscles groups, doing WAY more than they were ever supposed to. My hamstring and glute have never really been the same. I can deal with "hip" pain, and other than the occasional "stop you in your tracks/take you to your knees" pain, I don't really let my actual HIP stop me from doing much. It's the muscles that just can't keep up, no matter what I do. Every time I start to pull myself out of the hole, I do something stupid and find myself falling down to the bottom of a pit of despair, where all hope goes to die...
So I say again, don't YOLO yourself by saying, "What's the worst that can happen?" Think about what you could potentially lose, and ask yourself, "Is it worth it?"
-
Thanks for the feedback...really. I appreciate it. I 'know' this is the approach I should take. What I'm battling is my pride and the fact that I only have (8) games to go in this session of hockey and I'm wanting to get my moneys worth. But, as you say...I could really end up hurting myself. It's such a weird injury because it 'hurts' just enough for me to know that 'something' is wrong....yet, it's not so crippling to where I can still go run 5 miles and I barely notice while I'm running. Even playing hockey (I've taken the past two weeks off) I can get around....it's always the 'after' effect of cooling down where it really rears it's head again. Both the groin and my elbow.
Let me tell you a story... I remember doing a huge core workout (650+ reps) in the summer of 2015. It left me feeling perpetually tight in my left side, and I had almost endless ITB issues (I also experienced some before the workout, so I believe the problem was already forming) that kept me from a lot of running (who wants to drive across town to a trail just to have a hot knife work it's way into my knee about a mile in?). Even though I felt this tightness, I still worked out, did core work, and spent the summer of 2016 improving my swing speed in golf. Doing only "on course" work, I got my swing speed WAY up, and my long drive that summer was 348 (firm and fast doesn't exist in Florida during the summer). But, I was literally stretching out my left side before every swing. Eventually, I realized that I should see a doctor, and scheduled an appointment for Nov. 2016. I figured at the very least that the doc would suggest I take some time off to try and heal any potential injury. So I set up one last round of golf about a week before, saying to myself, "What's the worst that could happen?" Well, the answer was, "Total devastation!" I remember my hips basically stopping mid swing as they just finally gave up on me. Good thing I had that doc appt! First step was to try PT before getting an MRI and exploring invasive procedures. I did 2 months of PT and was doing good. I went for a run in late Jan. 2017 and my hamstring just got ruined (AGAIN... same thing happened about 5 months earlier). So I decided to shut it down, finally listening to my body, although my condition continued to deteriorate. Two months later in mid March 2017 I hooked up with this woman (:hat :lol) and literally could not walk the next day. It was awful, and I was starting to get to a point where I COULD NOT remember what it was like to walk normal. I decided to finally get a MRI and saw the labrum tear (looked like a mass of tangled fishing line). My life has been completely devoted to getting my NORMAL back, every single day.
Don't let this be your life...
-
I used to run when I was young. By the time I hit my early twenties I developed a heart arrhythmia and running / jogging triggers it every time. Its frustrating because I want to stay healthy and in shape but I can't do vigerous cardio vascular exercises without it being dangerous to me. I also had to give up coffee and any other caffeinated drink as that would trigger heart palpitations too.
I do get exercise at work since I'm a landscaper, but it's not the same as running. Jogging burns off the fat very quickly but I can't do that. So I've been battling weight gain as I'm in my forties now, but I'm still in ok shape managing to still fit into size 36 waist jeans, lol! If I could run, I could go down to a 34 in no time. Instead, I try to take my dog for a walk to the river almost every evening after work. 🐕
-
Ran a 5k yesterday at a a local winery. Was great fun and got two glasses of wine at the finish line and a bottle to take home. It was an incredibly windy day though and one of the signposts got blown over so me and the group of 4 runners at the front accidentally took a shortcut! came in at 16:40... whoops! :lol
-
Great stories guys. I love running! I've running since 2012, but I just took it seriously until 2016. I've run 4 half marathons, 1 marathon and a number of 5Ks and 10Ks. This years is going to be my 2nd marathon.
I'm 36 so I'm trying to reach my higher level before I hit 40. Right now I consider my self a good runner and I can't imagine my self not doing this anymore.
I love trail running but here in Mexico is not so easy to do because of crime and stuff like that, so my runs are almost exclusively in the city or running tracks.
-
I bought an elliptical machine a few weeks ago and I love it. My cardio has always been garbage, but now that its easy access at home, its getting better than ever.
-
I could never run, but about a year and a half ago started and now running 4-5km in what I think is okay time. Because I do a lot of weight work aswell, I always have tight sore legs, it's an ongoing problem and really affects my performance when I don't keep up with stretches and rolling.
As nattmorker said, I'm 34 and yeah want to try and get as fit as athletic as I can now. I really enjoy the running and wish I could do it more. I do a bit on the treadmill after my weights during the week, but the Sunday morning 5km run outside might just be my favourite part of the week. Allows me to kind of eat whatever I want on the weekend too and maintain a decent physique.
-
A few years ago I got really concerned about my fitness, and started running and going to the gym. I was never too big on going to the gym, but I fell in love with running!
Fortunately the city I live in has a lot of great running tracks, so I bought a good pair of running shoes and just kept going. Tampere, the city I live in is sandwiched between two lakes, so last year I had this crazy idea to run around the smaller one! It was just about 30 KM (18,6 miles), and I did it in under five hours. As a former asthmatic I couldn't run the entire way, but after the trek I was feeling so good!
My goal for this year is to make it in 4 1/2 hours. My ultimate goal is to run a half marathon one day!
-
30Km!! :eek
-
Stretching my legs was sheer torture the day after.. :lol Luckily I had a day off from work. But it was totally worth it, and I can't wait to do it again this year!
-
Stretching my legs was sheer torture the day after.. :lol Luckily I had a day off from work. But it was totally worth it, and I can't wait to do it again this year!
You must have ate like a fucking king afterwards. Could literally eat whatever you want and however much you want haha.
-
So, I did appreciate the great advice concerning the groin issue I was dealing with....but in typical fashion I ignored you all and just dealt with it while it worked itself out :lol I know I could benefit from seeking out a good physical therapist and really delving into some treatment.
My groin did heal up well enough to the point to where I now don't feel anything consistently bothering me...but I do notice it every now and then....but I think the method I've chosen...the 'ignoring it' method.....has done nothing but cause the irritation to immigrate to my right hip as that now barks at me from time to time.
I did run a 10k in February and the Trail Half in March.....and haven't missed any of my Sunday night Hockey games. Like I stated in my previous posts...the discomfort(s) aren't unbearable....just really noticeable and annoying but nothing that stops me from activity. So, I need to heed the advice and seek out a physical therapist to consult.
But I'm happy that the weather is turning as I'm looking to get back on the routine of running 4 or 5 days a week. It was a fun winter of eating and I captured a couple extra pounds so I've been watching the diet and have dropped a few pounds with my sights on dropping a few more. I'm not a tall dude....5'-7"....and my 'typical' weight is in the 165-170 range. I had gotten up to 191 over the winter but am now at 181, with spring hitting and my focus set I'm confident I'll get back down to 'playing weight' in the next month or two.
I've noticed more and more as I age wheras in the past I could counteract my poor diet choices with my running regiment....that my running regiment no longer can stave off the poor choices I make in my diet....so, I guess I'm at that age now (43) where my diet is going to become more important than my exercise regiment.
-
I've noticed more and more as I age wheras in the past I could counteract my poor diet choices with my running regiment....that my running regiment no longer can stave off the poor choices I make in my diet....so, I guess I'm at that age now (43) where my diet is going to become more important than my exercise regiment.
Sweet, so I've got 8 years still do be able to counteract a shit diet with my training. ;D
-
I've noticed more and more as I age wheras in the past I could counteract my poor diet choices with my running regiment....that my running regiment no longer can stave off the poor choices I make in my diet....so, I guess I'm at that age now (43) where my diet is going to become more important than my exercise regiment.
Sweet, so I've got 8 years still do be able to counteract a shit diet with my training. ;D
Good luck. :lol it’s a pain in the :censored having to discipline myself to eat better.
-
Last saturday, I ran a half marathon. In 2 weeks, I have another one. I'm just happy that we are starting to get real spring weather. At 57, I can't get any better anymore. In fact, I have been going downhill for quite some time now. :lol But nothing brings me more joy when I go running or training at the boxing gym or the CrossFit gym. Ah yeah, music is probably the only thing that matches that.
-
I've noticed more and more as I age wheras in the past I could counteract my poor diet choices with my running regiment....that my running regiment no longer can stave off the poor choices I make in my diet....so, I guess I'm at that age now (43) where my diet is going to become more important than my exercise regiment.
Sweet, so I've got 8 years still do be able to counteract a shit diet with my training. ;D
Good luck. :lol it’s a pain in the :censored having to discipline myself to eat better.
This!
I'm trying to eat less suger. Suger is such addicting crap!
Eating more things like rice, chicken, veggies, eggs, fruit, Skyr (kind of yoghurt), nuts (like cashew e.o.)
Moslty I workout 3 times a week.
Tuesday: Barbell workout
Thursday: Running
Saturday: Barbell workout
Running, means 10km at the moment. Try to speed it up before adding another km.
Average speed is ca. 12.5 km/h
Barbell workout is a circuit of 8 rounds.
1 round is:
8 reps Benchpress
8 reps Squat
8 reps Barbell Row
8 reps Deadlift
8 reps Overhead Press
60 sec rest.
Lifting 40kg (except overhead press: 30kg)
When the weight is getting comfortable, I'll ad another 2.5kg.
Love doing this.
Makes me sweat like hell.
btw, I'm 31 years old and already start to notice how important a good diet is...
-
Last saturday, I ran a half marathon. In 2 weeks, I have another one. I'm just happy that we are starting to get real spring weather. At 57, I can't get any better anymore. In fact, I have been going downhill for quite some time now. :lol But nothing brings me more joy when I go running or training at the boxing gym or the CrossFit gym. Ah yeah, music is probably the only thing that matches that.
Good job man :tup I agree....love this spring weather. I’m finally back to almost a normal routine.
-
Hey guys, quick question. Background first... I am not in to exercising at all. I mean AT ALL. Never have been. I also don't eat particularly healthy, but don't feast on a ton of junk either. If anything my wife thinks I don't eat enough. I am 6'1 and 170-175, and while not overweight by the numbers, I have zero muscle or tone and carry all my weight in my belly.
My last job was fairly physical and would keep me on my feet and physically active throughout the day. I am now unemployed and will be a SAHD with my almost 2 year old for a while. I am never going to be buff or ripped. That is not my goal. And I am not committed enough to devote much time to exercise. But I'd like to lose a little bit of the flab around my middle.
I would be happy to hear any suggestions you experts may have for exercises a lazy person like myself can do around the house during my new free time to help with my belly.
-
Hey guys, quick question. Background first... I am not in to exercising at all. I mean AT ALL. Never have been. I also don't eat particularly healthy, but don't feast on a ton of junk either. If anything my wife thinks I don't eat enough. I am 6'1 and 170-175, and while not overweight by the numbers, I have zero muscle or tone and carry all my weight in my belly.
My last job was fairly physical and would keep me on my feet and physically active throughout the day. I am now unemployed and will be a SAHD with my almost 2 year old for a while. I am never going to be buff or ripped. That is not my goal. And I am not committed enough to devote much time to exercise. But I'd like to lose a little bit of the flab around my middle.
I would be happy to hear any suggestions you experts may have for exercises a lazy person like myself can do around the house during my new free time to help with my belly.
There’s two things you need to know if you want to lose weight:
1- First, it’s really a simple thing at its core. Expend more calories than you take in. Burn the energy you eat plus more so the excess calories don’t get stored as fat for later use. So, in short, eat right (this is probably most important as if your diet is terrible, you’ll never burn off enough energy) and exercise.
2- The second thing pertains to the bolded above. If you’re going to lose weight, you have to commit to it. Make a schedule and stick to it. It’s only 30 minutes of activity a day that’s generally recommended, so you should be able to fit it in to your new found time. It’s also far too easy to put things off if you’re not feeling it. A rest day here and there is fine, but most times, force yourself to go. You’ll find it gets easier the more you do it.
That said, probably the easiest thing you can do is just get out and walk the neighborhood. Put your kid in the stroller and go out for a couple miles, or around 30-40 minutes. You’ll burn just as many calories as if you ran the same distance, it just takes a little longer. Plus you’ll be modeling a healthy habit for your kid in being active.
Good luck!
-
Hey guys, quick question. Background first... I am not in to exercising at all. I mean AT ALL. Never have been. I also don't eat particularly healthy, but don't feast on a ton of junk either. If anything my wife thinks I don't eat enough. I am 6'1 and 170-175, and while not overweight by the numbers, I have zero muscle or tone and carry all my weight in my belly.
My last job was fairly physical and would keep me on my feet and physically active throughout the day. I am now unemployed and will be a SAHD with my almost 2 year old for a while. I am never going to be buff or ripped. That is not my goal. And I am not committed enough to devote much time to exercise. But I'd like to lose a little bit of the flab around my middle.
I would be happy to hear any suggestions you experts may have for exercises a lazy person like myself can do around the house during my new free time to help with my belly.
The good news is your BMI (Body mass index) is 22.4 which is in normal range, so you are at a good starting point. Here's a chart for perspective:
(https://pinklotus.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/plpu-bmi-calculator-underweight.jpg)
I'm 5' 10'' and 157 pounds and Here's my routine:
Diet - I reduce sugar and carbs as much as possible, so no soda or juice. No junk food. I eat a variety of proteins (Steak, chicken, fish, eggs ect) and that's the main part of what I eat. Red meat in moderation. If I do eat carbs (Pasta, bread, rice) then I eat brown rice or whole wheat pasta and bread. I do whey protein drinks twice a day, and if I exercise, I have it right after.
Cardio- I've been able to reduce belly fat with cardio. I got a $250 dollar elliptical machine for my place and I absolutely love it. I've always hated cardio, but this thing is easy, convenient and comfortable to use. I do around 15 mins at least 3 times a week. Now that's just me, if you want to just jog around the neighborhood or do a treadmill, that works too. I just know that elliptical is easier on the knees, so that's what drove that decision.
-Even just walking around the neighborhood or the local park would be a good start as well. Burning belling fat I found works best when you get your heart rate up, as with cardio exercise. Just walking around has its limitations.
Weight lifting - This helps build muscle. I do all free weights, using a weight bench and standing. If you never lifted ever in your life, I would probably start with 20 pound dumbells and see how they feel. Then I do the following.
1. Dumbell flies (on the bench)
2. Bent over rows (on the bench)
3. Shoulder press
4. Tri-cep kick backs
5. Bi cep curls
6. Shoulder shrugs
7. Dumbell press (on the bench)
8. Behind the back
There's video of all those weight exercises on youtube so you can see how they are done. And you can add and remove what you want to. And if you want to build muscle, you MUST consume protein. I recommend Gold standard whey protein. Its quick and easy.
That whole routine has worked well for me, so try out what you think you would like and then from that build your own routine personalized to you.
-
I've been off the exercise bandwagon since last July... house hunting, house selling, and moving simply consumed virtually all of my free disposable time. I did a little bit of steady-state cardio (stationary bike) occasionally, but otherwise virtually nothing. However, somehow I lost 9lbs from Jan-Apr this year. I think it was a combination of being in constant motion (packing, moving, unpacking etc...), and a low caloric intake simply due to being so busy, I didn't realize how much I was (or was not) eating.
This weekend, we're finishing up house setup - storage/workout room being the last room in the house to get done. Within a couple of weeks, I'll be able to get back in to a routine. Since I'm at my lowest weight since I was like ... 14 (seriously, I was a fat kid, and never got below 183 in the peak of my exercise routine back in 2008 - I'm as of this morning), I can jump right back into lifting. Think I'll start with some bodyweight exercises first, and get my muscles used to being worked again.
@ Chris.... there are a LOT of bodyweight exercises could do as a starting point - squats, pushups, burpees, lunges, situps ... I'm sure all of us here could rhyme off a few dozen different types of movements. Just listen to your body. Start slow, and be patient.
-
I find the whole BMI thing to be a useful guide, but I wouldn't put a lot of thought into it since all it takes into account is your weight and height. Using the BMI, John Cena would be considered fat. :lol :lol
I have gotten back into lifting the last two weeks, albeit lighter lifting. I was never a heavy lifter, but I used to lift 5-6 days a week, so getting back into has been easy. Being 45 now, the more I work out, the less certain little aches and pains bother me, so I need to keep at it.
-
There are tons of free apps out there that I like to use. I'm cheap and a data nerd.
Food - there are tons of calorie counters. I use fitbit since I wear one, there is also myfitnesspal which is very popular.
Cardio - I would recommend starting with a couch to 5k. It starts you off easy and works you up to being able to run. Lots of free apps out there, even ones with story lines. My husband really enjoyed Zombies, Run!
Work outs/weight training - I found Nike has a free app with a ton of built in work outs that have a great variety. I usually start with a mile run on the treadmill as a warm up and then find one of the workouts on the Nike Training app.
-
Thanks guys (and gal!)
That said, probably the easiest thing you can do is just get out and walk the neighborhood. Put your kid in the stroller and go out for a couple miles, or around 30-40 minutes. You’ll burn just as many calories as if you ran the same distance, it just takes a little longer. Plus you’ll be modeling a healthy habit for your kid in being active.
This was going to be my first plan. Kid isn't a big stroller person, (neither of mine were) so I'll have to see how long she wants to sit in one.
Since I'm at my lowest weight since I was like ... 14 (seriously, I was a fat kid, and never got below 183 in the peak of my exercise routine back in 2008 - I'm as of this morning)
Funny, I was too. I was the boy who would want to wear my t-shirt in the pool and had my boobs made fun of a couple times. I worked a catering job in my early twenties and got up to around 210.
@ Chris.... there are a LOT of bodyweight exercises could do as a starting point - squats, pushups, burpees, lunges, situps ... I'm sure all of us here could rhyme off a few dozen different types of movements. Just listen to your body. Start slow, and be patient.
I know all the movements but I feel like a goofus doing them by myself without any sort of video reference. Any recommendations for any youtube videos? I know there are probably about a billion, I just don't know where to start.
-
Try looking up exercises on bodybuilding.com and watching the videos. They show proper form for whatever exercise you could think of. Helped me a lot when I was first getting into exercise and weight loss.
-
I know all the movements but I feel like a goofus doing them by myself without any sort of video reference. Any recommendations for any youtube videos? I know there are probably about a billion, I just don't know where to start.
The Nike Training app includes video instructions for all movements. It really is a great app.
-
Sorry Katt, but bodybuilding.com blows.
Chris, check out AthleanX.com. I guaran-damn-tee you won’t be disappointed. A lot of his old videos he’s got some great routines
-
I mean the site itself sucks but idk that's how I learned a lot of movements and it's worked wonders for me. Granted I also was fresh out of high school and weightlifting class, too, so I had that knowledge...
I always get much more invigorated about weightlifting and cardio when the weather starts to warm up, so lately I've been going to the gym before work in the morning and sometimes even twice in one day. I started using Brooks shoes, the Adrenaline GTS series, about 6 years ago and I buy a new pair every year. However for Christmas last year I treated myself to a different series of Brooks shoes, the Ghost 11, and I think they're the prettiest shoes I've ever owned (https://cdn.runningshoesguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Brooks-Ghost-11-Top.jpg). I baby these things and only put them on when I get to the gym and do my workout. SUPER COMFORTABLE. I might be sticking with the Ghost line from now on.
Going to try to get back to walking/running outside. In the summer, taking a few hours to jam to music and walk out in the countryside is so relaxing. I have a super sweet tooth so I often joke about working out to afford being able to eat like crap, but I want to get back to the best shape of my life by the end of this year, which is possible. I'm not fat by any means but I have some stubborn belly fat to burn and a naturally round face that I can't stand, so we'll see if I can get back to where I was in 2014.
Good luck everyone. Stay safe and get healthy.
-
Yeah the Ghost shoes are sexy.
Speaking of shoes, have any of you ever tried running in barefoot/minimalist shoes? I've been trying to figure out whether this is just a fad or if it might legitimately help decrease repetitive stress injuries like shin splints and runners knee, which I haven't been able to shake for a while now.
My hunch is that barefoot shoes force us to use better form and posture, which may be good long term, but that we may be able to return to the comfort of our running shoes once we relearn correct form and posture. Any takers?
-
Yeah the Ghost shoes are sexy.
Speaking of shoes, have any of you ever tried running in barefoot/minimalist shoes? I've been trying to figure out whether this is just a fad or if it might legitimately help decrease repetitive stress injuries like shin splints and runners knee, which I haven't been able to shake for a while now.
My hunch is that barefoot shoes force us to use better form and posture, which may be good long term, but that we may be able to return to the comfort of our running shoes once we relearn correct form and posture. Any takers?
Avoid wasting money on "barefoot" shoes and just run barefoot. It's an amazing freedom. Unless you're doing your run on trails or straight gravel, your feet should be able to handle the terrain. I used to do it on just the sidewalk in my neighborhood, and even the occasional rock/pebble or broken acorn didn't cause any problems. It forces you to be more mindful of your foot strikes, and your foot can easily adapt to the occasional under foot debris. WARNING to anyone wanting to try barefoot style running: EASE into it. Build your miles starting small, and with small increments. I did 1.5 miles on my first barefoot run and literally couldn't walk for over a week because my calves we're basically locked up. Definitely not fun.
-
Hey guys, quick question. Background first... I am not in to exercising at all. I mean AT ALL. Never have been. I also don't eat particularly healthy, but don't feast on a ton of junk either. If anything my wife thinks I don't eat enough. I am 6'1 and 170-175, and while not overweight by the numbers, I have zero muscle or tone and carry all my weight in my belly.
My last job was fairly physical and would keep me on my feet and physically active throughout the day. I am now unemployed and will be a SAHD with my almost 2 year old for a while. I am never going to be buff or ripped. That is not my goal. And I am not committed enough to devote much time to exercise. But I'd like to lose a little bit of the flab around my middle.
I would be happy to hear any suggestions you experts may have for exercises a lazy person like myself can do around the house during my new free time to help with my belly.
I seem to recall someone here that's a certified personal trainer that offered up any help to anyone that wants to come get it.
:hat
-
You gotta have brass balls to run barefoot on the sidewalk. Way too much debris from trees, rocks, even broken glass for me to risk that. Might get away with it at the high school football track.
-
Yeah the Ghost shoes are sexy.
Speaking of shoes, have any of you ever tried running in barefoot/minimalist shoes? I've been trying to figure out whether this is just a fad or if it might legitimately help decrease repetitive stress injuries like shin splints and runners knee, which I haven't been able to shake for a while now.
My hunch is that barefoot shoes force us to use better form and posture, which may be good long term, but that we may be able to return to the comfort of our running shoes once we relearn correct form and posture. Any takers?
Avoid wasting money on "barefoot" shoes and just run barefoot. It's an amazing freedom. Unless you're doing your run on trails or straight gravel, your feet should be able to handle the terrain. I used to do it on just the sidewalk in my neighborhood, and even the occasional rock/pebble or broken acorn didn't cause any problems. It forces you to be more mindful of your foot strikes, and your foot can easily adapt to the occasional under foot debris. WARNING to anyone wanting to try barefoot style running: EASE into it. Build your miles starting small, and with small increments. I did 1.5 miles on my first barefoot run and literally couldn't walk for over a week because my calves we're basically locked up. Definitely not fun.
Thanks for the advice, I'm definitely going to give it a try. I used to live and run on suburban roads where I wouldn't have worried so much, and I'll be moving back that way soon, but this past year I've been living in a smallish town in which my typical 3-5 mile morning jog takes me through strip mall parking lots, peoples unkempt front lawns facing a 45 mph, high-traffic road, and a half-mile loop on a boardwalk that's visibly splintering. There's a decent track at the local high school though, which sounds better suited for short distance work to strengthen the feet anyway.
-
My feet are so sensitive I don't like to be barefoot, mostly at all :lol
But I'm definitely on the exercise bandwagon after being off it for a long time. I have an exercise bike and some dumbbells/bench in my basement, but since I am pretty out of shape, I'm not doing too much just yet and easing into it. Just ride my bike for a bit after work for now, but I plan on pushing my biking further and adding some weight exercises as well.
Honestly though, my diet is this:
1- First, it’s really a simple thing at its core. Expend more calories than you take in. Burn the energy you eat plus more so the excess calories don’t get stored as fat for later use. So, in short, eat right (this is probably most important as if your diet is terrible, you’ll never burn off enough energy) and exercise.
Just cut down on my calorie intake by a large amount, add in some cardio and weight, and the pounds should shred off easily. I did this before about 10 years ago and lost 55 pounds in 6 months. But then, I was unemployed (and no kid) so I had a lot of free time to do cardio twice a day. Now, it's tougher as work has me consumed but if I put in the effort, it will happen and that's just what I am committing to for now, but in the effort even if it's not too much today but as long as it's getting done and I am adding to it over time as my body adjusted. I would love to lose 30 pounds in that same 6 month timeframe.
-
Chris, check out AthleanX.com. I guaran-damn-tee you won’t be disappointed. A lot of his old videos he’s got some great routines
Saw some of this guy's videos and liked what I saw. Will give these a go for a week or so and see how I feel.
-
Chris, check out AthleanX.com. I guaran-damn-tee you won’t be disappointed. A lot of his old videos he’s got some great routines
Saw some of this guy's videos and liked what I saw. Will give these a go for a week or so and see how I feel.
He posts really informative videos at least once a week, usually 2 or 3 times. And there are some REALLY good ones from before his following really blew up. Just subscribe to his YT channel and you can find a ton of gold.
-
I did my first trail run in 30 months. Running is difficult right now :loser:.
-
Running is difficult right now
Yeah...I'm right there. I started running in 2007 when I had reached my heaviest weight I'd ever been (217 lbs... I'm 5'-6" so not a lot of room to 'hide' that weight) so I started running and exercising and ended up at that time dropping 63 lbs
Anyway, I really took to it as some of you might know from my posts throughout the years. really got in to trail running....just running in general. I consider it just as much mental therapy as exercise. For a solid 10-12 years I ran three or four times a week....anywhere from 5-8 miles at a time and have averaged 2 ir not 3 races a year to boot. About two years ago I started playing in a men's ice hockey rec league one a week and I've noticed since then that's when my health has taken a hit.
I had a pretty bad groin injury pop up that had never been an issue in the entirety of my running career....then, I had a trail half marathon that I was supposed to run on Sept. 7th and woke up for it and my lower back was barking big time. Like, hurt to walk type barking. That had never happened either. I didn't run that race and since then I may have ran maybe 5 or 6 times. I'm still playing hockey on Sunday nights and occasionally on Mondays as well....but this lower back deal I had pop up is still kind of lingering in the background. Like to the point of.....sorry for the description here.....even wiping when on the toilet is difficult to perform without a level of discomfort.
I thought maybe my weight was the issue as I'm about 10 lbs over where I historically linger at weight wise....but I'm starting to think that maybe...just maybe...my age and level of activity over the past decade plus may be starting to catch up to me.
-
Yup...we're all there. About a month ago, while deadlifting, I must've tweaked something on my left side at the back of my hip. It wasn't a sharp pain that I instantly noticed, but after that workout there was a dull ache that just has not gone away. I had an elbow thing (golfers elbow) creep up on me a few years back, and linger for about 9 months.
#sigh.
-
I had an elbow thing (golfers elbow) creep up on me a few years back, and linger for about 9 months.
DUDE! that was another thing. I had 'tennis elbow' from about Thanksgiving last year to February-ish. Holy Cow!! I always thought tennis elbow was some no big deal type injury. That crap friggin' hurt to the point of tears sometimes. Can't straighten your arm....zero grip strength....it was brutal. Me being stubborn I refused to not play hockey each sunday because I had paid for the session....so even if it felt better by thurs/fri it'd flare back up after games on sunday.
To this day it still lingers but it's not debilitating. I use an e-stimulator I bought at Walmart to use electrical therapy on it. Freaking aging man....it's for the birds.