Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. Reason for joining this group:
2. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

OK, here goes.

I was overweight most of my life, losing a little over every summer by cycling, and gaining it all back with interest in the winter.  Heading into the winter of 2006, I was already at my winter weight, and finally figured that if I didn't lose the weight that winter, I'd spend the rest of my life fat.

So I started swimming with the masters' group at the pool and jogging after work--I lost almost 40 pounds in 4 months, and it completely changed my life.  Been going to swim meets since early 07 and started doing triathlons in earnest this year.

I joined CC last year to maintain the weight, since it has started crawling up ever so slightly.  Keeping the weight off requires eternal vigilance.

Most of you know all about me ..... but here it goes....

1. reason for joining? EASY Coach invited me. ;) It looks like it might be a place were I can get a few great ideas for workouts and than for Tri fun. I see there are a few more on here that are as crazy as me. ;)

2. interesting details..... Hmmmmmmmmm. might have to skip that one.

Job, CNA and curently looking to finish my RN

Family, Husband and 5 kids. 11 year old boy, 9 year old boy, 7 year old girl, 4 year old boy... and an angle that would be 10 now. he passed away in 2000.

Pets we have 3 dogs and a sometimes dog when our friend is at work on the slope. we have a chessapeak 7 years old, a doberman pincher/german short haired pointer mix (rescued from a crack house) and a black lab serviece dog.

I LOVE TO SWIM!!!!!!!! Don't tell them but I love kids..... I love to bike(a new love) and I am trying to learn that I like to run. I am hearing impared with amazing (new) hearing aids that are helping me be part of the hearing world. ;)

can't think of much else. you can always read about me in my journals... Most of you have. ;)

JennBug

My main sport is roller derby. Fitness-wise, I train to be fast, agile, and have good balance and control on skates. I need both mental & physical endurance to take a beating and still keep sprinting.

As for eating - the reason I'm on calorie-count to begin with - I'm monitoring my intake to make sure I get enough protein & calories to build muscle. I'm happy to report it's working! I no longer have muscle soreness after hard derby practices, so I'm starting to add other activities back in, like off-skates strength training on my own.

At other times, I've been known to run, bicycle, figure skate, swim, hike, weightlift and paddle the occasional kayak. I've got a husband, 2 greyhounds, and 3 vegetable gardens.

Hi,

I'm Regina and I race Mountain Bikes. I compete in the Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS) and race the Sport Singlespeed Womens class. What does that mean? Sport is the 15 mile race and singlespeed means I race on a singlespeed mountain bike. I love it!

I joined this group because it's always nice to have other competive athletis to talk to or discuss training/life with.

Other info about me...I started riding in June 2006, riding mountain bikes starting in Aug 2006 and racing by september. I plan to race the elite/semi-pro/pro class next year. I am also going to get my cycling coaching license next year. I've been married since Jan 07 and we have 2 dogs (boxers) named Duke and Flex.

Thanks!

Regina

bruce_fort , sha74 , bikeshoes ,  loxosceles , HELLO to all. it is neat to see new people here. please, introduce yourselves (if you haven't all ready) we would love to hear/read mroe about you....

bikeshoes I am impressed....Would love to see a picture of your bike....

;)

Jenn

Hi yall,

I decided to join this group because though I have always had a struggle with balancing weight, I have always been an athlete.

I got real into my workouts/activity about 5 years ago.  I kicked it off by focussing on cycling.  I have completed 4 MS150's (180 mile bike rides).  I like cycling, hiking, running, canoeing, volleyball, softball, or anything really.  I recently decided to run a marathon.  This will be my first marathon.  I am stoked.

I would love to get more serious and actually compete.  I just haven't figured out what my niche is.  Bikeshoes, would love to hear more about your competitions. 

About me, I am single...never been married...no kids.  But I have a terrific dog that loves to run too!  I travel a little bit with work.  I love to find the local workout spots (ex. trails) at the places that I travel.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Right now I'm in a High performance Ed class at my High school for swimming. Basically i want to get my times down so I can maybe possibly swim for a university come next year. The High performance Ed class is basically a class where I get to workout my body specifically to what I need to become a better swimmer. Though I've only been in the class for a while, We mainly deal with using plates, medicine balls, hurdles and other things while I'm sure we'll hit the gym in the next few days. It's pretty awesome cause I get a credit for it too!

I'm currently 6 foot at 188 pds, and am looking towards a 170ish weight goal, bassically to be even more fit for the swim season which starts in October, though I doubt I'll lose  18 pounds in a month my goal is for around christmas time.

Today in class we did a calorie counter thing for the past weekend and it made me think about what I was REALLY eating, and though it wasnt like I was eating bad foods as much as it was that I wasn't eating the enough of the RIGHT foods (IE veggies). My diets high in protein, dairy and the grain food groups while my veggie section was looking worse for wear, I figure by keeping this account up to date it will help me keep my diet a healthy one!

Brendon

Right.  Why am I joining this group?  Um...because I'm an avid researcher and I love to gather information from everywhere that I can and then try to apply it to my training to see if it works for me.  I like to ask questions and might have a few answers myself, sometimes.

I went from being 265lbs and sedentary to finishing my first Half Ironman Triathlon on September 14th; a little under two years after I started to think about dropping a few pounds.  It's been an interesting journey that is by no stretch of the imagination over.

I also like to run half-marathons (albeit slowly, for now) and will be doing some swim meets this year for the Masters group at the local pool.  My swim time needs work, my running needs speed; all that's left that suits me fine is my bike, and I'm a little enamoured with my bike (like, maybe too much...)

That's it for me.  Not much else to add.

-Robyn

Hi everyone,

I've been pretending to train for a sprint triathlon for the last couple years, and have been inconsistent due to injury, school, work, etc. (Excuses.) It seems that when I lose my training momentum, I can go a whole month without realizing how long it's been since I've had a formal workout. I've been slowly building up my endurance, and am determined to compete in the spring of '09 in a sprint tri. My weakest discipline is certainly swimming, followed by biking.

I struggle with pacing and a sweet tooth. 20 pounds crept up on me during college that I'm trying to shed. I've always considered myself an athlete, having competed in track, fencing, and volleyball, while recreationally playing racquetball/squash and always looking for an outdoor adventure. I've gotten into yoga, but find I need to be enrolled in a class to really do it consistently and correctly.

Because in my mind I still feel like a competitive athlete, I often end up pushing myself too hard, which results in injury, as I refuse to accept my body is not as conditioned as I like to think it is. Because of that, I'm using this as my training guide (and cardio plan), adjusting where necessary.: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article -detail.asp?articleid=262 

It's essentially a couch-to-sprint 22 week guide, and I really had a problem admitting that yes, I started from a zero swim level, and it's been years since I've done a 5k. I got over that when I saw increased endurance, particularly in the swim. Now, I generally add another 100 to the swim and am several weeks further into the run. Because I'm now running in a city (as opposed to track or cross-country style), I'm still adjusting to the concrete pounding, and trying to not overdo it.

Thanks for the posts,

Nicole

Hi 

I'm a collegiate track athlete. I'm a pole vaulter. School just started up again which also means hard core training time. I'm not over weight by any means but being surrounded by tiny runners all day makes me feel like I should be more fit/ toned. I'm in the process of upping my calorie intake a lot to help my screwed up metabolism and hope to lose fat/ gain muscle in result. Eating this much just seems so wrong to me just because I'm not used to it but I know its something I have to do to become healthier and that's the most important thing.

Besides track I love wake boarding and snowboarding. I ride horses and live on a farm in Texas. Being a student athlete is my job and I'm studying graphic design with an emphasis in photography and considering minoring in marketing or advertising.

Jen

Hi everyone, I too am another college athlete. I play field hockey. I am currently in my season of play which has made losing a few pounds a real challenge. I have been average weight all my life, just the college lifestyle has taken a toll on me so I am hoping to lose a few pounds. I am a human science major in school, in my first semester of sophomore year...loving it. 

Anna

I decided to join this group because it is always interesting to hear other people's ideas about how to lose weight and what their routines are. This group caught my eye because losing weight while in season is tough while trying to compete at your highest level.

I play college basketball and just enjoy all sports in general-softball, volleyball, football, you name it. I am a senior just trying to make the most of my final year and getting the body I've always wanted.

Stats- 5 2" around 120 hoping to get to 115.

I am joining this group because I am just getting back into competitive sports.  In the past I was a swimmer and runner and never really noticed what or how much I ate and never had a problem.  During college I put on some pounds and eventually stopped working out (except for laid back ultimate frisbee).  6 months after I started working full time, I stepped on a scale and realized I had put on too much weight.  That was Feb 2008, however, since then I trained for and completed an olympic distance triathlon and lost about 30lbs.  To stay in shape over the winter I joined CC, the local masters swim team, and continue biking.  

I never really counted my calories before so this is new to me, but by seeing what I am eating everyday I hope to become a healthier eater. 

Triathlon's, here I come!  Thanks for starting this group. I am a former minor league football player and pro level rugby players seeking a new way to maximize endorphins, now that I am turning 40 this year.

 I am signing up for my first ever triathlon on March 15th in Miami. It's an olympic length course. Definitely want to eventually do the Hawaii iron man, hopefully in 2010.

I just learned how to swim and now consider myself a strong swimmer. Biking used to be my easiest event, now that I am doing distance, it's the hardest.  Running distance is new for me and I am excited most about this event since I always struggled running more than 1 - 2 miles at a time. I now run about 4-5 miles every other day. i am ready for longer distances and am starting to focus on time. (I do 13 minute miles but want to get below ten.)

My hurdle is that I weigh 250 lbs and need to get down to 200 - 220 and have been trying on and off for about 3 years. I visualize carrying a 45 pound weight around which seems stupid to me, that's my motivation for losing the weight!

 My rugby playing weight is 220 and my football is 260, but my ideal weight, for me, is between 200 - 220.  (I am am a muscular 6'4" large frame)

I struggle most with portion control when eating. I travel alot for my job and entertain but seem to have been able to find a way to not indulge

Hopefully I can lose the weight and stay focused with the support of this group.

Ok, I'm the horsey nerd who's been in enough arguements about whether riding horses makes us atheletes or not, but after this year, I can now rely on another sport to qualify me. I started running this year. I lost 13 pounds which brings me back to my early 20's weight (yipee!). I also go to school on the weekends, which has now helped me gain 5 pounds back (not yipee!) I have a tendency to come straight home from my office job and head staight to my desk to study. I went from running over 12 miles a week to zilch the past couple of weeks:(

I entered five 5k races this year and loved every one of them. The two most memorable ones are the Susan G Koman Race for the Cure in Cleveland, OH and the Akron Marathon Relay Team in Akron, OH. To be involved in such a huge event is so exhilarating. I think I ran on excitement and not effort on those days. Every race, my times improved. I'm still slow, and working hard to not go crazy about that. I'm a bit competitive by nature. Running doesn't come easily to me like riding, so I go with a "to finish" attitude for now..lol.

Once I got to my seven mile runs, I realized it was getting easier (maybe not the right word) to add more miles and I am thinking about trying to run a half-marathon next year. We'll see...thanks to school, my horses have had the easy life of barely any barrelracing, so I've also been stressing about getting more time to hit the road with the horse trailer again. I'm on holiday break from school and ready to hit the road and trail again, so I'm going to need to toss a coin as to who gets my attention that night...the saddle or the treadmill.

Hey!

I'm 16 years old and a very competitive volleyball player. I play in HS and in club. I have a number of D1 colleges recruiting me. Basically I wanna lose weight to feel better. I've never really thought of myself as fat because I have always carried my weight well because I am tall and athletically built. But I have the urge to jump higher and run faster. I want to feel better in my clothes. And volleyball? Well my beautiful sport = spandex. I love those bad boys, but I'd love a nice pair of legs in them.

 I'm excited to get going on this. My friends try to help when I ask them to but I know they don't really get it because they have fast teenager matabolisms that I just have never had, yet I find myself eating like them. I want to do this. I know I can do this!

Even if no one responds or whatever, I just LOVE getting this out. Wow that felt great.

-Gvicks

Greetings,

My name is Wes and I am a 43 year old triathlete and Ironman.  I joined the group to find some like minded peeps on this web site and to hopefully learn new stuff.  I live in Woodstock, GA, work in Atlanta, am married (20 years in March), and have three kids and four dogs!  LOL...

I have been a runner for 2.5 years and a triathlete for 1.5 years.  After leaving the service in 1988, I ate and drank my way to 235 pounds.  Since I started running and moderating my nutrition, I have gotten back down to 185 pounds.

I particularly enjoy coming to this site because I can share what I have learned over the past couple of years and help other people make healthy choices.

Hi,

my name is Elise, I am currently working towards a bachelors of education.

I needed a little zest so i decided i would try a sprint triathlon. So far my training is going very well. It really is something i look forward to each day. I hear its an addictive sport, i hope i catch the bug!

Hi There!  My name is Sheri, and I'm currently training for a Half Ironman Triathlon.  The event is on August 1st.  I started with this sport about 2 years ago and have completed a handful of Sprint Distance races and two half marathons.  I am an "every day, average Jane" Triathlete!  I am not fast, I show up at the starting line and concentrate on getting through the finish line!  Swimming is my weakest activity and I'm not a good runner either.

I joined this site to find like minded people with the same interests and goals for mutual motivation.  I also would like to lose at least 20 pounds and having just turned 41, I'm really having a hard time dropping any weight.  Any tips or advice I can pick up along the way would be awesome.

Nice to meet you all, can't wait to get started!

I am training for cross country and the swim team. I need to lose a lot of weight, but right now, I am just training for my sports. I started off by starting to lose weight, and waddaya know, i like to run! I have always liked to swim, so i figured, why not? especially because swimming and running work the same muscle groups, and I have always been a strong swimmer, so I am gonna go for it. any adivice? I already know to run every day, and I am working on my flip turns and lifting weights and I work out my thigh muscles. any other tips???