Thanks Andrea I agree that we can do it and it helps to have encouragement.

Great advice and great bunch! I think the mindset to focus on here is common sense. The greek salad or the Waldorf salad sound good, but we know the garden salad is the one to get. After working out and sweating in the hot sun it's water to grab, and a bit of recovery stuff like a banana and bagel. Not a giant smoothie from Mcdonalds and protien shake. I bought into the "diet food" a lot and realized that it was all very silly. I know what to eat, I always did. It's the healty bits at the edges of the grocery store. It's the fruit, vegetables, lean meats, eggs, no fat milk and whole grains. Stuff tastes great prepared fresh. I also love sweet potatoes in the microwave and watermellon and grapes chilled in the fridge.

The good food is stuff you make yourself is what I am finding. You can control the portions and decide what sauces if any go on them. The only place I feel comfortable eating out is subway. Because I watch them make it and I know what the calories are. Also I have never been sick from the food I get there, which is a plus.

Oh, after burning myself a bit I want to remind you all to get some sunscreen that's waterproof for your workouts. =)

@Wideguy. Got a pair of Bakilas and KSO's. The PR 5k in my signiature was with the KSO's. I also ran my 10k in Minimus 00 trail shoes (which are basically ballet slippers with tread) I still have slight knee pain with all shoes, but the minimals really reduce the pain. I did start having Planar Fascitis in my feet with heavy Vibram use, so I stopped for a bit and it went away. I think my feet are still getting used to them. I run very fast in those, and they are my preferred 5k shoes because I can just zoom down the roads in them. I do maybe 1 day vibram, 1 day minimus and 1 day Brooks each week. I don't like the brooks as they feel like boats on my feet, but they allow for the middle of my feet to recover so I mix it up. #edit Also I got a pair of luna sandals coming today. It's a company made by Barefoot Ted to make sandals like Manuel Luna. =)

Haven't written in a while but still here and still running.  My weight loss, like many, has stalled so I have just kicked into "maintenance" zone and decided not to fret about the scale.  I may be 15 pounds short of my intended goal, but I'm 83 pounds lighter than when I started.  So, if I can maintain it (have been stalled for over a year), eventually my body will let go of a little more and, if note, hey, I'm healthy!

So, I ran a short 5K on Saturday in my Fila Skele-Toes (in honor of Wide Guy).   He got me excited about barefoot running about 18 months ago and I've been dabbling in it ever since (up to 1 mile or 2 barefoot).   I ran my fastest race yet for a pace just under 12 minutes/mile which is still penguin speed but it was SOOOO comfortable and I won first place in my age group (Old old old (58 years).  

So keep at it everyone.

Wideguy wrote:

Which Luna model did you get? Let me know how you like them! 

I went for the original one with the brown suede top and ATS laces. They should be at my house right now. Also I am moving away from the scary brockton and right outside Humarock beach! =) Yay less chance of being stabbed, shot or robbed!

Wideguy wrote:

 

Zerorez wrote:

I went for the original one with the brown suede top and ATS laces. They should be at my house right now. Also I am moving away from the scary brockton and right outside Humarock beach! =) Yay less chance of being stabbed, shot or robbed!

YAY for not getting shot or stabbed!  Also means less traffic and possible Barefoot time.

I'll convert you yet! 

* laughs maniacally* 

Well, running on the beach barefoot is kinda awesome, I am not gonna lie. The fact I could do that every morning is pretty tempting.

Hello 200+Pound Club,

As of today, I am the newest member of taking the first steps needed to make this change. I'm 5'11", 257lbs 33yr old woman. As I'm sure a lot of folks on here have asked "how did this happen?" I saw the weight creeping on - correction Leaping on. My weight gain happened in 20lb increments. I have been an athlete since birth, but have struggled with my wieght since I was a teenager even though I played volleyball, basketball and ran track. The bad part is, I'm the "small" one in the family...So this tells me I'm fighting genetics along with my love for food - family history also tells me that I'm at risk of Diabetes. I am lucky that I do have naturally muscular frame - but the bad part is, 5lbs didn't get my attention, 20lbs not so much,...70lbs later I now have a visual (I don't like the way I look) and phyisical problem. For 13 years I served in the US Marine Corps - struggled with my weight every day. I had unhealthy habits and as I got older, the "tricks" no longer worked. Add to it a torn ACL I just couldn't run without pain or stay within weight standards- it was time to go. There was also a divorce somewhere in there. Depression set in - I could no longer be a Marine, play Volleyball, and single. My entire adult life had been defined by these three things. So I threw myself into work and made excuses as to why I couldn't workout...So that's how I got here!!

Why the change now?? It's time. The weight is still teatering, I miss my active old life. I'm finally happy in the many other facets of life. I just moved to Hawaii with my new husband. There is so much to see and do - I don't want to miss out or let this weight slow me down. My short term goal is to get through week with more activity and begin C25K; also to run an 8K in August for the Wounded Warriors; long term is to drop 75lbs by the end of the year.

That's me

Hi,

My name is Mike and I was in your shoes 3 years ago. I was 6' 2" and  255 pounds and I realized that I was fat when I was on the Wii Fit Scale and

my little "Mii" was obese.

So I started running and changed my diet.  I went down to 183 lbs which was a too low for me.  I was training for my first full marathon last year and ripped my glute so i took time off.

Unfortuneatly some weght came back on so I am currently about 203 lbs which is where my wife has requested thati stay. She was tired of telling people that I was not sick or dying whne I was 183. I would like to be 195 lbs myself.

Anyway I am running my fourth half marathon in three weeks and my forst full marathon in October (Marine Corps) I just bookmarked your blog so I will be checking it out! 

I too have a blog http://runningonlongisland.wordpress.com/

Check it out if you get the chance!

Good luck and no matter what dont quit!