Posts by themassivetribulation

YES!

That sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing when I go running... but odd thing is that I haven't changed anything about my routine; whether that is eating or drinking. I tend to eat some light (such as fruit) about 2 hours before I go out running and drinking water has never affected me in the past, so I tend to drink it whenever I feel like it.

It's frustrating to say the least. I love to go running, but 95% of the time I purposedly concentrate on my breathing so as to try and prevent these pains. But regardless, sometimes they just hit me out of the blue... !

You said you suffered from something that sounds similar; have your pains subsided? Or do you still get them when you go running?

First of all I'd like to thank you for your feedback (both negative and positive).

Second of all, I would like you to know that I am NOT looking for attention, regardless of what you may think. You have made your judgements - I couldn't care less, but even so I'd like you to know that I am here because I have concerns that I would like to voice simply because I feel alone enough as it is.

Yes, I feel alone. I know I don't have BDD because I know I'm not fat, etc. All I wanted was someone to let me know otherwise (which you've done, don't get me wrong), because I am clueless. Ignorant, so to say. I've seen my fair share of naked bodies, but in a way I feel like I'm the only person in the world of my size who seems to jiggle. That's just a THOUGHT.

And in a sense - it wasn't a question of whether or not people jiggle... it was more of a question as to whether or not the WORK that I do for it means that at any stage in my life I can get rid of it! But evidently it seems that I can't, which is understandable.

What I lack is confidence. Self-esteem. I'm not in denial. I'm the sort of person who'd rather face up her problems than lounge around trying to find ways to cover them up.

Sometimes I just need to get a wake up call - need someone to slap me in the face and stop me from being riddiculous... It's all I needed to hear, and I'd like to thank you... regardless.

Thanks again, everyone. You're all a great help. I suppose I need to really find a way  of getting my head around running more than once a week and then just attempt to increase speed and distance from there. Right?

For now that about it, and thanks again!

Hm... this is all very interesting, but I suppose that the best way my questions can be answered is if I can actually get someone to physically help me out. Which is not really a big option for me.

I don't tend to run that much. When I do get to run (which is about once a week for a long distance - say... 10 km) then I do run. But most of the time I cycle. Throughout the week I have up to 5 HIIT session on my stationary bike along with resistant training right after. Then, almost every Sunday I go on intense long distance cycles with my dad who is a life-long professional cyclist.

So in a sense, I do tend to alternate. Main reason I would like to become a better long distance runner is because I know I won't have all of these opportunities available for me for the rest of my life. I believe that I shall be moving soon, so that takes away any chance of me taking long distance cycles. And if I won't have access to a gym, then that will minus all of my HIIT sessions back home.

Which pretty much leaves behind the running and the resistant training. As long as there are places to run, I will run. I would just like to gain experience and stamina for when I will really have to put myself to the test.

Other than that I wish I could maintain all of my current routines. I am a stickle for routines. It upsets me greatly to know that sooner or later I will have to alter them and much of what I do now I won't be able to do anymore, unless there are alternatives.

:(

Thank you very much everyone. It's all a lot of help.

Either way, I still have several questions that I am hoping you will be able to answer for me.

1. What do you do for food? I'm not very great when it comes to eating. Don't get me wrong; I eat VERY healthy (stray away from junk food or anything refined, etc). However, because I eat (max) twice a day, I tend to try and satiate my hunger whenever I do eat (two meals a day, that is). I've been often warned against this -body only gets hungry very rarely, probably because I'm starting to store more than burn (could my body be going into starvation mode or something?). It's slightly worrying that I don't get hungry as often as anyone else, or maybe that is just how I am. Even so, when I do get hungry, the only way I can describe it is... black hunger. It's viscious. So yeah, problem number one - NOT eating right. And especially, I don't know WHAT to eat.

2. Side stitches. I find that when I run long distances (short is out of the question - I'm not fast enough to be able to run any short distance races), I easily build up side stitches (pain in the side of my guts). Now, I've been told that this is because I've eaten and due to not enough oxygen being able to go down to the guts to get my food digested, you start building up an oxygen deficit, etc. But I don't know whether that is true anymore, because I often make sure that I eat at least 3 hours before doing any exercise. Also, I've been told that often the only way to get rid of side stitches is to just 'run it out', but I find that the longer and further I run, the worse it gets (to the point whereby I'm literally doubling over with the pain and my vision is blurred). The only way I've been able to combat this pain, is to make sure my stomach and guts are entirely 'empty' (so to say) of any food (meaning that I've at least had about 6 hours of break between eating and exercising) and then (believe it or not) made sure that my bladder is either half way or entirely full instead of running on an empty bladder. Now, the latter seems riddiculous when you think about it, because why would you want to run with a heavy bladder? Thing is, several years ago (in my last school) I was told that the best way to prevent side stitches, is to make sure that you DON'T go to the bathroom before a long race. I never really took that into consideration, although I did try it a few times without much success. But I've been taking that into account more often, and believe it or not... it works. It's important that you have a strong bladder though, but either way, it seems to work for me.

Thing is, I don't want to be running on a full bladder whenever I would like to go running. Don't get me wrong, I regulate my breathing, I make sure that I'm warmed up, etc. I just don't understand why I don't seem to be able to run a distance without starting up that side stitch pain that I've come to dread.

Hope that you can aid me further! Thank you in advance yet again. =)

Swimming... UCH! I can't stand that sport. I've never been great at it and I don't exactly have access to a pool, but it does make sense. It's not the first time that I've heard someone say that swimming is probably the best aerobic exercise for weight loss, maintainance, etc. But I'm not exactly a big fan of it (I absolutely loath it) and if I don't tend to enjoy something, then I know I'm not likely to stick with it. Then again, I might as well try and alternate from my usual routines. If I have access to a pool. ><

As for exercises that are focused on the areas that I've lost weight; that is not exactly so. When I do weight training or any sort of exercise, I make sure that my whole body gets a similar amount of working out. Yes, to an extent my lower body does get a least one and a half times more the intensity than my upper body, but it is still 'all rounded'.

And yes, gi-jane, I would say that I am thin, but it's not skinny. I don't wish to be latter, don't get me wrong. But to an extent I could be perceived as skinny when my upper body is looked at with scrutinity, but my lower body is absolutely FINE. And if anything; I wish to simply maintain my whole shape as it is. I can't just accept the way I look - it's harder than it looks/sounds. I've been there. I've tried and failed. 

Thank you, dave160. I've thought about drinking those protein shakes before, but I'm not allowed (mum won't let me) and I don't really trust them myself either. =/

Then again, I'm back to square one.

Who are you refering to, bmx419?

Yeeee seee? I didn't want to make it awkward to some of you, but the main reason why I'm so keen on knowing what other people's measurements are, is because I'd like to have somehting to compare myself to.

Sometimes I strive to know whether my size is ok. I don't tend to walk around with a measuring tape, measuring other people's thighs.

Also, another reason why I wanted to post this thread in the first place, is because I'd like to know your opinions. I'm 5"4' and my thighs are at 20.5 inches. I'm not happy because I know they could be slimmer... nevertheless I'd like to know your opinions and tell me about your own troubles/successes to maybe give me a little boost of confidence (or otherwise).

Thank you for those who've given some feedback! It's good to know that I'm not the only human being in pursuit of a goal. =)