Posts by quasicamel

To help me stick to my workout schedule, I always tell myself that even if I don't want to do my planned run, I have to at least walk. I mean, how hard is it to walk for 30 mins, given that I run for longer than that usually.  That way, I have no excuse to skip the gym completely...and I found that once I actually get there, I always end up feeling good enough to run. 

All that being said, I don't always want to work out, but I make myself do it anyway because I need to.  I don't always want to go to work either, but I do it because I have to.  I pretty much treat my workouts the same way.  My body needs them, so I do them, even when I don't feel like it.

Good luck!!

I was shopping for clothes at my favorite store, where I already was wearing their biggest size.  When the only thing that fit me were flowy skirts, it was time to change.  I remember standing in the dressing room in yet another pair of pants that was too tight to buy.  I started getting tears in my eyes and decided this was too much. 

I already didn't like how I looked.  I still felt like the athlete I was in highschool, but I certainly didn't look like it, and I certainly wasn't in shape at all!  I just felt that people didn't know who I really was...that I had somehow forgotten who I was.  I was someone who actually liked being active...who loved running.  So I joined a running club and have been competing in half marathons every since.  But more importantly, I feel like me again. 

That was almost 3 years ago.  I lost a little over 50 lbs in about a year, and have been maintaining for the past 2 years. It can be done!

If you're really serious about answering the question of why you keep doing this, perhaps a visit to a therapist is in order.

We often carry baggage around with us that keeps the unhealthy patterns going in our lives - I did.  Talking through it can help bring these things to light, and give us a place to start making some changes in thoughts/actions/coping behaviors.  Once I was aware of my issues, I could do something about them.  It was really empowering.

That's what I figured, but just wasn't sure.

Thanks! 

For those of you posting about running and knees, here's a link to a running study from Stanford: http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2008/au gust/running.html

I believe another study recently came out with the same findings.  Running doesn't increase injury, it delays the onset of injury and death when compared with non-running counterparts.

Well, first and foremost, don't buy them to begin with.  If it's not at home, you're less likely to make a special stop to pick them up that late at night.

If your problem is stopping somewhere to pick something up, I'd suggest stocking healthy or not-as-bad-as-the-really-fatty foods at home.  For example, if you crave ice cream, try keeping some Skinny Cow treats at home instead of buy gallons of the full fat stuff.  That way, at least you know you have something yummy waiting for you.  I also really love the sweet fruit, so I stock lots of strawberries, honeydew, watermelon, and cantaloupe in my fridge.  Depending on where you live, though, that might not be so easy.

I don't know how helpful my suggestions are, but I know they worked for me.  At the end of the day, all I'm left with is my own willpower to decide if I eat healthy or not. 

Good luck!

I understand where you're at...I'm struggling with the same thing.  Hitting my weight and moving to maintenance brings new freedom, but also new challenges.  I've found the sure fire way for me to stay on track is to not buy the bad stuff.  If all I have around to eat is healthy foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc.), when I do over eat a bit, it's not really that bad.  I feel gross, but not full of empty calories.  I figure at least it's nutritious.

Plus, for me, I can only eat so many carrots, or watermelon, or zucchini before I just stop grabbing for the food.

Don't know if that helps at all, but it's what helps me stay on track.

Unfortunately, it happens.  It's most likely due to how you land on your foot when you step.  Also, sometimes our feet are just softer and need to build up calluses/hardened skin in certain spots.

For serious runners, it's not uncommon to lose a toenail altogether, especially when first training for marathons.

I love the mani/pedi/spa idea.

Also, maybe a gift card to her favorite clothes store if she needs to buy some new things now.

I'm posting without reading the other replies (cardinal sin, I know), but here's my two cents:

There are different companies that make SPF clothing available for athletes.  A few sites to check out are Athleta.com (they make a SPF50 rash guard that's perfect for running),  coolibar.com,  solumbra.com,  solartex.com.  They are many more, just google for them.

Also, there's apparently a "dye" you can wash your clothes in once a month to add a SPF of 30+ to them.  You can check that out at http://www.sunguardsunprotection.com/.

Hope this helps!

For our first dance, we waltzed to a symphonic version of "Moon River."  It was a really beautiful song, full of sweeping strings and woodwinds.

1. I can get a plane without getting the "oh great" face with an eye roll from whoever is sitting next to me.
2. I can go into any store at the mall and know the sizes will fit me.
3. I can wear a skirt on a hot day without rubbing the skin raw between my legs.
   

I try and only keep healthy snacks on hand.  That way, even if I eat more calories than I planned, at least it's nutritious.  I know that doesn't really answer your question though.

One thing I used to do when my weight loss would slow is...everytime I wanted to eat something that was outside of my planned calories for the day or really unhealthful, I'd go stare at my scale.  I'd try and think about if what I was about to eat was worth it and figure out why I wanted to eat it.  Was I bored?  Did it just sound really good, but I wasn't necessarily hungry?  If I truly felt hungry, I'd drink 8 oz. of water, wait 30 minutes, and then if I still had the urge, I'd try for a healthy snack (think fruit, a handful of nuts, veggie sticks, etc.).

Other times, if I really wanted that skinny cow ice cream sandwich, even if it meant I'd be over my calorie allowance, I'd eat it.  I didn't want to feel deprived, and then binge later because of it.  I'd try to see it as just delaying reaching my goal weight by a few days.  It wasn't as if I'd ruined anything, just put things on hold for a tiny bit.

Not sure if that helps or answers your question, but it's what I did when I wanted to be snacky all night long.

Good luck!

Here's what I had to do, and I assume it's the same for all states...

1. Request copies of your Marriage Certificate.  You'll need these to mail in to some places.  2 or 3 should be plenty. (In CA, you can often times write out a check before your wedding, and have the officiant mail it off with the paperwork so your license is there when you get back from your honeymoon.  It helps speed things along.  In most states, you ARE NOT automatically sent a copy of your marriage certificate.)
2. Change your name with Social Security.  You'll need marriage certificate and maybe other documents.  Check online, it says everything you need.
3. Change your name with your DMV.  This can only be done AFTER you have your new Social Security card.  While there, make sure to fill out any paperwork for cars that you own/make payments for/lease.  When you try and call your loan company, they'll need your name to be changed with the DMV.
   
4. Change your name at your bank/credit cards/insurance/employment/etc.  Once you have your changes with Social Security and the DMV for a new ID, you pretty much can do the rest.

Good luck with everything.  Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.  It can totally be a pain to change your name, but just take everything in order and you'll be fine.

Happy Name Changing!! 

My hazel eyes with freckles in them, my long slender neck, and my "runners" calves.