I feel like a machine! well, a hiking machine

I’m kicking butt on the treadmill!

Before, I was officially allergic to most forms of exercise

Now, I’m beginning to think about including jogging/running into my routine in addition to hiking not just to avoid a plateau but keep improving my fitness level! (And cycling too.)

I'm amazed I'm actually thinking of learning how to become a runner to become more fit and continue to challenge myself. Heck, I'm even reading magazines and manuals now about becoming a runner and cyclist!

Am I nuts?????

I feel a lot more fitter and stronger here lately throughout the day as a result of upping my walking to include hiking on an steep incline on the treadmill.

Is this the kind of feeling gym rats and exercise addicts have? This "high" or athletic motivation or energy?

I've honestly never entertained being more athletic than what was minimally required to lose weight before!

(*Any book or website recommendation for newbie beginners to running & cycling??)

~ tea

Tea,
You are not nuts! You're inspirational. I became a runner last summer. Started out at 188 pounds and I began walking for about 45 minutes around a track every day. Slowly. I picked it up -- brisker walking, longer, for about and hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. I stopped running when it became to cold and by that time I had shrunk from a size 14 in jeans to a size 4 and 188 pounds to 142 pounds. I started out walking and had no idea for how far. When the weather became nasty, I was ready to run a 5k. I would run six miles five days a week. I felt amazing. I started WW the week I started running. I never attended meetings. I did it all on my own. Self motivation is, I think, the most powerful motivation. Well, I don't have to tell you that.

I started running again two and half weeks ago at the YMCA, and my jeans are starting to fit a little better again. The fog is starting to clear and I see myself making goals again. The weight was slowly creeping back on. So I am watching my caloric intake again. So I guess I am back on WW as well.

As far as things to turn to or interesting reading material, I think it is just a matter of time before you want to start doing 5ks or a half marathon -- heaven forbid, a whole marathon. I wanted to do this, but during my training last summer I was stricken with some sort of weird bug, and I literally had a headache for two and half weeks. I was lucky to even start walking again.

So as far as motivation, here goes:


1. My favorite blog, Less of Josephine, is a 3fatchicks blog. Check it out. She and I started out in the same spot and are about in the same spot now. She's amazing and very inspirational -- funny to boot.

2. Getting a runner's mag. There are great tips in there. Same with SELF or Shape. I find those mags though, seem to repeat a lot of the same info. So I like to stick to runner's mags.

3. Get a great pair of running shoes.

4. Maybe get a pedometer. I found it to be a nuisance.

5. I love listening to my favorite podcasts. I only listen to those when I am walking though. I need a really fun, energetic playlist of music for when I am running. I always have to have something though. I think too much when it's quiet.

6. Invest in a great sports bra. Chafing ain't pretty.

These are my tips. I could never do the cycling. I like to tool around on my cruiser ringing my bell, but that's it. The adrenaline rush is the best part of a hard workout. Addictive.

mamaspank--

thanks for the info and inspiration (from you!! ) Honestly, I find many of the fellow 3fatchickies on this forum very inspirational as encouraging me to keep going! lol. So I find it amusing at times when kind comments come my way from nice commentators like you saying I'm an inspiration to you, since my initial reaction is "no, you are the inspiration here, not little 'ole me!!" But thank you, nevertheless

I finished reading Dawn Dais' "The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for women" and I'm reading back-and-forth "the complete book of beginning running" & "complete book of women's running" (both from runner's world magazine).

I'm also waiting for my copy of "Beginning Runner's Handbook: The Proven 13-Week Walk Run Program" by Ian MacNeill from the library.

I figure I'd just start out very basic... like try to jog for a minute three times a week and then build up to two minutes, three minutes... you get the idea. (*I currently workout 6 days a week, so that'd be like every other day since I notice the running books don't recommend you run every day but every other day to let your joints/muscles recover.)

~ tea

No, you are NOT crazy! I was a sendentary, overweight 40-something before I was encouraged to start running by my marathon-running older sister. Never thought I could, never tried before -- but I did it! And once I started, I got hooked. Now, I'm running half marathons and shorter races regularly and loving it. Last night, I was putting away my latest half marathon medal (got it Sunday) in what I call my "box of glory", with my assorted finishers medals and trophys from age group awards in various 5K and 10K events. My husband said, "See, you're an athlete!". Who, me ??? It's still hard to think of myself that way.

There really is an addictive quality to it (in a positive way) -- when you see yourself getting stronger, leaner and faster, you want to try harder to improve more. Finishing a race event is an incredible feeling of accomplishment, especially for someone who was never particularly athletic before. There really IS such a thing as a "runners high", and once you've experienced it, it keeps you coming back for more.

John "The Penguin" Bingham has written some very helpful books for "adult onset" athletes: "No Need for Speed", and "The Courage to Start", are a couple. He gives wonderful tips and inspirational stories for beginners. He also has a web site at: http://www.johnbingham.com
Runnersworld.com also has a lot of training resources and beginner info.

There are lot of great benefits to becoming an adult-onsent athlete:
-- No pre-existing sports injuries, everything is "fresh meat".
-- You've never done this before, so every event is a new lifetime personal record, no younger days of glory to haunt you
-- You don't really know what you CAN do, what your real potential is ... so training is exciting when you find yourself doing things you never thought possible. AND,
-- When others' abilities may be declining (because they are slacking off), we are just getting better and better!!

Keep up the good work!!

I don't think it is crazy. I can see myself in the same "running" shoes in no time. I am currently doing C25K and started week 4 on Monday. As an overweight (no longer obese... woo hoo) ex smoker I never thought I would be able to run 5 minutes straight. Yet I did it on Monday. Today is day two of week four and I can't wait to get on the treadmill to do it again.

Truth be told I fantasized about the day I can run the streets or trails of my little town.

I still can't run very well but I look forward to walking up to two hours a day. I want to be a runner. I can't wait til I can run longer than two minutes without stopping! A month ago I could only go for 30 seconds!

Well I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say "you ARE crazy...." but it's a good thing!!

I second the vote for a good pair of running shoes - VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

I will also suggest a heart rate monitor - I love my Polar F6!

As for biking...it's just like riding a bike! But seriously - there are tons of resources online to find local bike clubs...and trails.

Welcome to the crazy for exercise club!!