Mel i have been snacking for you.

At my last WW meeting someone mentioned some WW frozen product that is like an ice cream snickers bar.....I saw them at Wal-Mart the other night and grabbed a box.

Big mistake, HUGE mistake! Can I say TRIGGER food for me?...tho I don't think they are really food, they are the devil disguised as a 3 point 'treat'....why do I think of them as 'treats' when they are so very harmful!?!

Anyhow I have inhaled two at 3 points each, probably more than 6 pts total as I ate two back to back.

I am telling ya'll the info gathered at WW meetings can be dangerous!

Oh well!

The good new for tonight is that I may have found a 1/2 I can do to help with my training, it is in Alaska and the weekend I am down for 17 miles so I could do the 1/2 and then carry on for 4 more miles, I have to make sure I will be in  the area of the 1/2 that weekend. Also I am getting Dante in Sarasota on Thursday night, the breeder says he is even more adorabull than he pics, she said if we want to she can show him for us next spring when she comes up the the panhandle, my baby a show dog Anyhow I am busy puppy proofing the house so must crack on, catch you all tomorrow.   

Hi everyone!

Last Tuesday I did do my 10.1 mile run. It was awesome!

This was followed by an 8.4 mile run on Friday and a 5 mile run Saturday. For the whole week I ran 26.6 miles (adding the 3.1 from the race on Sunday 6/21).

I planned to run a 5k on Sunday 6/28, but I was so exhausted that I decided to sit this one out; a danger of not preregistering, but justifiable nonetheless. In the previous 12 weeks I had done 13 races with only one weekend off. I still ran 4.8 miles Sunday evening with 4 quarter mile intervals.

Tonight I am scheduled to run 10.6 miles. That puts me only 2.5 miles from a half marathon. I'll be more than ready by Oct. 11. In fact, I'll be getting closer to being ready for a full by then. It's just too hot to find any HMs any sooner. I don't know how you runners in humid areas do it. The heat alone drains me. Maybe I'm just a wimp, but I don't like it. But, I'll be out there by 7:30 no matter what. I've got my gels and electrolyte tablets. I'll just run slower.

On Saturday I had my weigh-in and was down another .8 for a total of 148.8. I've noticed that every 5^th weigh-in I usually have a gain. I was also worried that with 4 weeks of 2+ lb. losses that I wouldn't lose. So, I was happy with the .8. That's a victory to me.

I need to lose .6 lbs. more to be at my 6^th 10% loss and 1.2 lbs more to get my 150 lb. award. Pretty cool stuff!

GatorGirl71/Aspins: Thanks for the comment with regards to my 5k pace (and the photos). I'm working on getting that number up and the miles too. It's a challenge, but I love it!

Shannon4Runner: I lived in SLC for about 5 years, so it was really fun to read your recent post. I used to hike in the Wasatch Mountain foothills, near the University of Utah. I spent a 4^th of July in Park City one year. I wish I lived where I could train at a higher altitude. I live at about 2600 ft. and most of my races are at 700 ft. or even closer to sea level. It's fine for racing in California, but I feel limited in where I can race. Congrats to you!

Numomma: We live close, but not that close. Unfortunately. I also carpool to a lot of races. I drive about 60 miles where I join up with a person I met at a race last year. That means that I have a greater distance to find races without putting the miles on the car. That's the only reason why I was in Culver City. I'll be in Newhall on the 4^th. San Bernardino is a bit too far away; except, perhaps, for a half or full marathon. Maybe down the road we can find a location central to us both where we can meet. That would be fun.

Numomma/Melissa: As for the heart rate/activity points, this is what I do (I have 6.4 pounds to lose to be at the high end of my weight range and 26.2 to be at a weight I believe I can maintain and that's right for my frame). I only count the activity points I earn during the running portion of my activity. I may earn a point or two during the warm up/cool down phase, but I don't use them or even take the time to count them.

Even during an easier run, my heart rate is above 70% of max, so I count is as high intensity. I use a mathematical formula (using the e-tools calculator for activity points will give you similar results). I eat ALL of the activity points I earn and ALL of my weekly points (5/day). I bank Activity points; they don't all have to be used the day you earn them. I run 5 days per week; about 26-27 miles per week.

The best feedback is how you feel (do you feel like you need more food-I was getting light headed, dizzy, and out of breath until I started using them) and on the scales. Although, when you first start running you may not lose right away. So, don't get too frustrated.

When I eat the extra points I reach for whole grains, fruits like oranges, bananas, strawberries, melons, and nectarines, and more dairy servings. And I've even grabbed a McDonald's Vanilla Cone (3.5 points) or some other sweet treat for fun, once in a while.

Back to Activity Points: remember that they are a product of duration, intensity level, and body weight. I personally believe that you should eat as much as you can (healthful foods that give good energy to fuel your runs) while still being able to lose weight and adhering to your daily allowance. It's different for each person and depending on how close you are to your goal. The closer you get, the more efficient your metabolism, the less of a calorie deficit your body can support without going into storage mode.

I have 23 daily points (for one more week anyway) and I eat about 29-35 pts./day. I earn about 40 Activity points/week.

Feel free to ask more questions if I haven't answered them all.

Jodi28: I agree with NamesTaken (Chris). Start working towards a 10K. Look for more 5K's too. You've done one and now you can set goals for yourself (increase speed, work out pacing issues, etc.). Congratulations!

For those of you who are looking for more information, motivation, support, etc. I highly recommend listening to Jillian Michaels' podcasts (she's one of the trainers on The Biggest Loser, for those who don't know her). She has a radio show on KFI on Sunday mornings. You can access about 6 months worth from their site. You can play them directly from the site or download them and even add them to your MP3 player and listen while you work out or do chores. You can learn a lot from her while still doing WW. If you are a fan of the show you get some behind the scened info too. Fun stuff.

http://www.kfi640.com/pages/podcasting/

Attached is a pic taken today for my school i.d. and, although previously posted in a previous thread I've included a before photo.

Hi everyone. Is it okay for a newbie to join in?

Back in December, I joined WW with a massive amount of weight to shed and so far have lost 23.4kgs (51.5 lbs).  I still want to lose about 33kgs (73 lbs) more, but I'm not in any kind of rush - just letting my body slowly become accustomed to feeding it properly and putting it to work haha. 

I started c25k a few weeks back, having never ever ran before - not even as a kid to the mailbox lol. Totally new to this.  I plan on taking it at a bit slower of a pace than suggested, just because I've still got so much weight to lose, but I did Week 3, Day 1 yesterday. Was so proud of myself lol, cause I was super nervous about that big 90 second jump in time.

Anyway .. that's me in a nutshell. Look forward to sharing running stories with you all

Hey guys!

  Man I DID NOT want to do my run today.  I told myself last night that I would get up early and do it.  Set the alarm and everything.  Instead I called my wife in California!!  Then got ready for the day and said I would run at lunch....well, something else "came up".  So tonight I said I MUST go.  So I did!  I ran 4 miles in 41:02.  I am not happy with my time but I have to remember I am not use to the heat and humidity just yet.  I have only been back in Japan for 2 weeks.  The heat in Kuwait was much different then here.  Anyway, lots of room for improvement.  Looking forward to posting longer distances and faster times.

  Today has been a bust in the food area.  Had a good breakfast (Kix again) some pretzels, Yogurt, but then the guys wanted to go to the food court to eat lunch.  BAD THINGS HAPPEN AT THE FOOD COURT!!!  Don't go there, it's a TRAP!  I got some BK.....need to work on the food discipline part of the program still.  That was around 10:00am.  At about 1 I had 2 hard boiled eggs and a yogurt with some sliced almonds.  Post run about 45 min ago, I had 2 hard boiled eggs and some green tea.  It's time for dinner but not sure if I am gona eat the steak that I have marinating.

Yiscah -  Welcome!!  Congrats on your weight loss and for taking the C25K challenge.  Please continue to post.  I love reading about how everyone is doing.  I am new myself.  As you can see I have only posted a few times myself. 

Arithmancy4me -   I just wanted to say that you look great!  Way to go!  Man, those times got me goin!  I just got back from a run and am geting pumped up to go back out already.  Keep it up!! 

Take care guys!  See you tomorrow.

-Chris the Marine

Well my lack of time has been solved. I was laid off today. Unfortunately, I now need to refocus and use the time I would like to spend on here and exercising to find a job. All I can say is Ugggh!

Thanks everyone, for the warm welcome!

Chris, running in humidity would be so trying. I've only been to Japan in the winter, but it if's anything like Singapore with regards to heat/humidity in summer .. I feel for you!!  The food court can be tricky. Having an 11 year old and a life, I've refused to give up on stuff like that. That's part of the reason I chose WW - you can have anything. What's worked for me is knowing the points for all of my favorites. I have a little list in my iPhone - everything from salads at this place that does a beautiful Moroccan Lamb w/ Pumpkin salad to a Double Bacon Cheeseburger from McDonalds.  I've decided that it's okay sometimes to make a bad decision, as long as it's an informed one, I track it and I exercise it off.

Ann, so good to see other people ahead of me on c25k. It gives me hope lol.

Diane, I'm really sorry to hear about your job. I know so many people back in the US that have been laid off now. Bad times...

Week 3, Day 2 - Done

I put this one off for as long as possible today. Set the alarm to get up early and get it over with, but when the alarm went off I thought, "Well, I have weigh-in this morning. If I drink all that water I'm sure to mess up the weigh-in."  I'm sure that water would have left my body by weigh-in, but I can talk myself into believing anything when I'm asleep lol.

Then this afternoon, my daughter had a friend over. Her mum was meant to pick her up at 3:30, so I decided to wait til after she left so I wouldn't be stinky and sweaty. She kept calling and changing the time, so eventually, I worked up the mojo to jump on the treadmill at 5:00 when she still wasn't there. Wouldn't you know, 1 minute and 53 seconds into my second 3 minute run, the doorbell rang.  I rudely just kept running and waved from where I was lol.

I'm happy to say it was easier than the first time. Not heaps easier, but I can really tell a difference in my recovery times.

Rochelle, your before and after pictures have blown me away!! Wow! You must be so proud. That's amazing.

Shannon, Utah is such a beautiful place.  I drove a Uhaul thing from Seattle to South Carolina, taking the scenic route and hitting a lot of states on the way. It was my favorite, scenery wise.  Just the colours of the rocks and what not were really nice to look at.

I'm Jess - a 31 year old mother of one 11 year old daughter. I live in Melbourne, Australia, but was born and raised in South Carolina.