[MsSpentyouth]

I'm a plump, middle-aged marathon walker. No, seriously! Even at 240 pounds, I've walked two full marathons and seven half-marathons in the past two years. But I gained 25 pounds in the past eight months due to steroids to treat two bouts of double pneumonia. I was having trouble shedding those pounds, so I decided to give the South Beach Diet a try.

My daughter and I started on August 24, and I've lost 4.5 pounds so far (she's lost 5!).

I've been feeling great so far, but this morning when I went out to do my racewalking (4-6 miles a day, plus 8-16 miles on Saturdays), I just felt HORRIBLE!! There was nooooooooo gas in the tank. My muscles just feel completely depleted.

I realize that Phase I is really strict and that lower carb intake is going to reduce the glycogen stores in the muscles ... but does that feeling go away after a while during Phase I, or will I have to wait until Phase II to get my endurance back?

[sflake]

Not much of an exerciser here but I have read that people do better eating a protein before they exercise. Hope that helps.

[Ruthxxx]

Welcome to The Beach! I love your mickname!

Check out the book. I think it mentioned adding some carbs if you are going to exercise more than an hour. If you haven't got the book, I'll find mine and give you the info.

[LADY WINDSONG]

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME

Marcie

[MsSpentyouth]

Thank you for all the welcomes! I'm a prodigal daughter ... been absent from the board about a year, I think.

I'll do some searching about when to eat those carbs before long workouts. I probably just skipped over that part in the book and need to go back and read again. In any case, it's obvious that I needed more this morning. I'm worn out!

[Nikkiloo]

Hi MsSpent:

I exercise quite a bit as well ... try 1/2 apple with a little peanut butter about 1/2 hour before exercising (and of course about 16 oz of water) ...