That is very encouraging news Bonnie! I go on my first ride tomorrow after church. Really looking forward to it. I'm waving from Nebraska :wave:- have fun in our neighbor state.

Originally Posted by ShineOn:
That is very encouraging news Bonnie! I go on my first ride tomorrow after church. Really looking forward to it. I'm waving from Nebraska :wave:- have fun in our neighbor state.

Hey ladies!! Been a while for me! I'm getting back on the green menu again tomorrow. I've been going a little crazy and the scale shows it! It's been a series of events and other issues setting me off but I want to get back down to business starting tomorrow! I don't want to gain this weight back and I know if I let it go much farther I'll give up. So....wish me luck! I'll keep you posted.

ShineOn...I'm bummed you can't run anymore!! Biking is awesome too though! I'm going to try and do a run tomorrow and see how my knee holds up. It's been a while so maybe it will be ok. I miss seeing your smiling face! :)

I was just thinking about you today!!! We took the trail that went right behind your house, so I was waving at you. Yes, I'm really upset about the darn knee. I found myself watching the runners as I was biking - they were out there running without a care in the world. I saw a couple people running with bad form and so wanted to say something - which would have been completely inappropriate!! After all the physical therapy - when you see someone run and whip their foot out to the side, it just makes me cringe. I think, yep, you're going to hurt yourself.

The biking was fun but I didn't get near the sweat or the leg burn. I'm sure I would if I went further, but boy oh boy does my bum hurt! I'm struggling with the weight too and Tiffany's wedding is only 7 weeks away. I feel very fat, but I know I still look good. For the most part, I'm eating really healthy. I just have to get the exercise going again. I really miss working out with you!

Originally Posted by ShineOn:
The biking was fun but I didn't get near the sweat or the leg burn. I'm sure I would if I went further, but boy oh boy does my bum hurt! I'm struggling with the weight too and Tiffany's wedding is only 7 weeks away. I feel very fat, but I know I still look good. For the most part, I'm eating really healthy. I just have to get the exercise going again. I really miss working out with you!

When you go on longer/hillier rides you will sweat, burn, pant, get sore, and a lot of adjectives/verbs that I haven't included. I am still recuperating from yesterday's ride of 70 miles. Keep at it and it will get more enjoyable and challenging for you.

Originally Posted by ShineOn:
I was just thinking about you today!!! We took the trail that went right behind your house, so I was waving at you. Yes, I'm really upset about the darn knee. I found myself watching the runners as I was biking - they were out there running without a care in the world. I saw a couple people running with bad form and so wanted to say something - which would have been completely inappropriate!! After all the physical therapy - when you see someone run and whip their foot out to the side, it just makes me cringe. I think, yep, you're going to hurt yourself.

The biking was fun but I didn't get near the sweat or the leg burn. I'm sure I would if I went further, but boy oh boy does my bum hurt! I'm struggling with the weight too and Tiffany's wedding is only 7 weeks away. I feel very fat, but I know I still look good. For the most part, I'm eating really healthy. I just have to get the exercise going again. I really miss working out with you!

I miss you too!! I did my first run yesterday and went a mile. No knee pain yet but you know I didn't have problems until I did that first attempt at 8 miles. I kept concentrating on not swinging my leg out so hopefully that will help. I need to get some new shoes too. We put a lot of miles on my old pair :0)

I can't believe Tiffany's wedding is in 7 weeks!! Can't wait to see the pics on FB!

I had a good first day back on the green menu yesterday. I think I'm finally in the right mindset to stay on it for a while. I haven't weighed myself yet to see the damage but I know my pants are getting snug. I might weigh on Friday. We'll see......:0)

Shine On!!!!

I just saw you in the MRC online newsletter today.... and it made me smile.

Thinking of you!

Originally Posted by namaste:
Shine On!!!!

I just saw you in the MRC online newsletter today.... and it made me smile.

Thinking of you!

Me too and I just wanted to say what an amazing story! Congratulations on your huge accomplishment!

They sent me a copy last night - what a nice suprise!

Originally Posted by ShineOn:
I was just thinking about you today!!! We took the trail that went right behind your house, so I was waving at you. Yes, I'm really upset about the darn knee. I found myself watching the runners as I was biking - they were out there running without a care in the world. I saw a couple people running with bad form and so wanted to say something - which would have been completely inappropriate!! After all the physical therapy - when you see someone run and whip their foot out to the side, it just makes me cringe. I think, yep, you're going to hurt yourself.

The biking was fun but I didn't get near the sweat or the leg burn. I'm sure I would if I went further, but boy oh boy does my bum hurt! I'm struggling with the weight too and Tiffany's wedding is only 7 weeks away. I feel very fat, but I know I still look good. For the most part, I'm eating really healthy. I just have to get the exercise going again. I really miss working out with you!

Hey Shineon and KeepinOn,
Where is the best place to read up/find out about good running form vs. bad? I'm running 2 miles these days and wanting to run my 1st 5k in October. I'm worried about injuring the old knees as well. I like to run, love what it is doing for my legs but I think 3-5 miles will probably be my max... I can't wait to see ShineOn's pic in the newsletter... I saw Namaste a few mo. ago and was so excited!!

KeepinOn, glad you're back in the game.. you know how to make this work so I know you'll be back to your maint weight in no time ;)

ShineOn, I work for a surgeon that used to compete in triathalons until his knees could no longer tolerate the runs... he now competes in biking, mostly in GA and rides in 3 and 6 gap races up and down mountains appro 80-160 miles each race I believe. He stays in great shape doing this, gets his adreniline rush and has a great time... He misses running but says this has been a great substitute/replacement... You'll find your niche soon but in th meantime, enjoy the rides! Hope to hear from you soon :0)

p.s. Why not get a bicycle seat traditionally seen on beach cruisers... All the lady's I know have switched to this for the painful hiney reason and done much better with it. Good Luck!

Thanks for thinking of me. I've been doing the stationary bikes at the gym for the past week & they're the worst!! I've been sneaking in a little running and so far my knees are tolerating it. I'm just doing 1/3 mile for a warm up and 1/3 for a cool down. Just enough to get that nice heart rate bump up and get the good "shine" to the skin!!

I found running world has the best articles for me - and they do have an online magazine that is searchable. There are always new debates, but the PT I went too said to land softly on the heel and spring off of the big toe for the "perfect form" and try not to lean forward. I don't really feel like I was in it long enough to really try out different strides.

Good luck with the running. I'm having to work extra hard to keep the weight off without it. Just wish my knees were better. BTW, the Dr. said being overweight for so long was what probably did the most damage to the knees. Since I can't change what happened, I just have to live with the consquences of being overweight for so long - bummer. Forward movement though!

Originally Posted by ShineOn:
Thanks for thinking of me. I've been doing the stationary bikes at the gym for the past week & they're the worst!! I've been sneaking in a little running and so far my knees are tolerating it. I'm just doing 1/3 mile for a warm up and 1/3 for a cool down. Just enough to get that nice heart rate bump up and get the good "shine" to the skin!!

I found running world has the best articles for me - and they do have an online magazine that is searchable. There are always new debates, but the PT I went too said to land softly on the heel and spring off of the big toe for the "perfect form" and try not to lean forward. I don't really feel like I was in it long enough to really try out different strides.

Good luck with the running. I'm having to work extra hard to keep the weight off without it. Just wish my knees were better. BTW, the Dr. said being overweight for so long was what probably did the most damage to the knees. Since I can't change what happened, I just have to live with the consquences of being overweight for so long - bummer. Forward movement though!

Well good... that's what I try to do... strike with heel and spring off with forefoot, no side swing, I do lean forward slightly but not greatly, try to keep knees under hips for sure, keep the run natural with minimum bounce/pounding if that matters and try to push hard with front of foot to keep the forward movement going... No knee snapping for sure!! I see others do that all the time and it drives me nuts, must keep knees bent!!! LOL... There's a fleet for feet in town that evals people for proper running shoes based on your feet and how you run... I've thought about going there but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for the help.

Karen

Another technique they taught me was to visualize kicking your butt as you're springing off. That's a little different than the "low impact" I was trying to do. I was concentrating on barely lifting my feet which created a slight "whip" of my left foot when I got a mile into it and started relaxing letting my "brain" take over. That's why caused the IT band soreness and initially got me into physical therapy.

It sounds like your "fleet for feet" is like our "peak performance". They were amazing. They asked that I bring in the shoes I had been running in. They looked at those for wear patterns, analyzed the way I stood. Felt around the araches and then had me run on a treadmill. What an amazing difference a good pair of shoes made. I sometimes pull out my old ones to walk in and I'm always shocked at how tight and uncomfortable they were. I really thought they fit well and swore I had plenty of wiggle room in my toe box. After I was professionally fitted and understood the difference I completely understood why my long toe hurt in the first shoes.

I would make time to get into the store. The only thing between you and the pavement is your shoes. Well worth the investment.

Originally Posted by ShineOn:
Another technique they taught me was to visualize kicking your butt as you're springing off. That's a little different than the "low impact" I was trying to do. I was concentrating on barely lifting my feet which created a slight "whip" of my left foot when I got a mile into it and started relaxing letting my "brain" take over. That's why caused the IT band soreness and initially got me into physical therapy.

It sounds like your "fleet for feet" is like our "peak performance". They were amazing. They asked that I bring in the shoes I had been running in. They looked at those for wear patterns, analyzed the way I stood. Felt around the araches and then had me run on a treadmill. What an amazing difference a good pair of shoes made. I sometimes pull out my old ones to walk in and I'm always shocked at how tight and uncomfortable they were. I really thought they fit well and swore I had plenty of wiggle room in my toe box. After I was professionally fitted and understood the difference I completely understood why my long toe hurt in the first shoes.

I would make time to get into the store. The only thing between you and the pavement is your shoes. Well worth the investment.

Wow, pro-fitted shoes sound wonderful :0) I'm pretty sure you're right, that's how fleet for feet was described to me, I'll have to go by there this weekend for an eval. With the 52 lbs lost many of my shoes are getting loose, I ran tonight and my running shoes felt loose as well. I never lace them, just slip them on so I'll have to tie them tighter until I can get new and professionally fitted ones. I would love to get the NIKE chip running shoe just for the purpose of tracking miles run and pace but the Nike shoes tend to be too narrow for me, I have a wide foot. I do try to run low impact and not sure if I'm spring off hard enough based on your description... hmmmm... I'll have to think about that next time I run. I did try to pay attention to whether or not I was "whipping" my feet out to side while running, I didn't notice it but sometimes it's hard to see for yourself I think. My 12 yo was riding the bike alongside me but I didn't think she would understand what I was trying to ask her to look for so I'll have to have hubby look at this as well. Thanks again and have a great night :0)

BTW... I am always thinking of you and keepinon... seeing your pics, hearing your victories and stories really kept me motivated in the beginning (and still now) when you are hopeful but worried, struggling and wondering if the program will work for you, wanting so desperately to lose the weight and be successful... you helped me through all this and I am forever grateful. I have 47 lbs to go but I'll get there, I know the battle will never go away, I see that in your posts but I know that it is manageable and I am so happy to be half way there and to have all of you as great examples of this so Thank You for the great inspiration you've been to me and many, many others here :0)

I have great news for you on the NIKE+ chip - you don't have to get their shoes. They sell a holder that you put on your shoe laces - around $8. I started with a nike shoe. When I switched to the professional shoe, the guy told me about the holder. I find it was just as accurate on the shoe laces as it was in the shoe. It just measure the foot strikes. The only disadvantage is it times your distances by your foot strikes, so if you get into sprint intervals, it's not very accurate. It will be important to recalibrate as you getting stronger with your stride. Ideally, I would go with a Garmin watch, but that's for hardcore training - it tracks via satelitte. $28 for the chip versus $500 for the watch (the newest one, you can get older versions for around the $200 mark). The nike website was wonderful for tracking. It was fun to see the bar charts and see the total miles ran and the graphs on the speed. The newest version even let's you add notes to your workout.

Happy running! :running:

Bump
 

If you are getting close to Stabilization or have started, this is a good thread to read over. There is some very good advice and also some new recipes for this new phase of our MRC experience. A big thank you to the ladies who wrote these posts for sharing your experiences with us.:thanks: