Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Plenty of people need more than 8 hours sleep though. Me? I can sleep ~ 6 hours and go strong all day long seven days a week. My wife? Nope - and 8 won't cut it either. She's closer to a 10 hour a day person (she requires basically 9 a night and an hour nap in the afternoon). She can function for a few days if she skips that nap, but by day three or four it isn't pretty. Just FYI...

edit - and if any of you are in this same boat, a word of advice: let your partner sleep. I spent the first 5-7 years of our marriage asking my wife to wait up for me (I work until 10 pm and she can't make it past 8 or 9 pm some nights), or stay up to watch a movie. After that, I wised up and let her sleep, learning that she was a much happier person getting her full rest. It's a great lesson learned!

I learned that a while ago. I can function on 5-8 hours of sleep. She sleeps and I sneak in later on in the night. I usually catch up weekends, but I let her go to bed because she has to be up early for her job.

Scott- I am seriously thinking about that book. Thanks for the link.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I'm an 8-10 hour a night person. I wish I wasn't. but I spent so many years feeling either guilty or sleepy. do what feels good.

hang in there 'diva!!! maybe you've overtrained? could account for the cravings, injuries? be good to yourself!

 

[MattS]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

She gets the full 8 and still feels this way. I am starting to think it's the thyroid acting up again.

This is a real possibility. Without all of the medical mumbo-jumbo...My wife's body is slowly killing her thyroid and she has had to up her medication several times.

edit - and if any of you are in this same boat, a word of advice: let your partner sleep. I spent the first 5-7 years of our marriage asking my wife to wait up for me (I work until 10 pm and she can't make it past 8 or 9 pm some nights), or stay up to watch a movie. After that, I wised up and let her sleep, learning that she was a much happier person getting her full rest. It's a great lesson learned!

I learned this one too, from a slightly different view. While I am certainly not a morning person, my wife doesn't go to bed until sometime after 2 am and is not up until around 9:30 am or so. While I am in bed by midnight and up by 7:30 am. And on weekends...forget it. I am up hours before my wife and have done plenty before she even thinks about getting up. Like you said it took me a while to get use to it but that is the way we both work best.

 

[DisplacedCornellian]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Update! I've been MIA.

Down 60 pounds since the end of February. Feeling fantastic.

Running is definitely helping, and I'm making pretty large strides there. Finished the Couch to 5k program a while back. Kept at it since then. Haven't done any real distance runs yet, but I'm pretty consistently running 3-4 miles at a time, 3 or 4 times a week, and lifting 2 or 3 times a week as well. Never going back.

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I've been getting by on 2-3 hours a night and taking a nap in the afternoon; I really should see a doctor about this...

Meanwhile, I ran roughly 16 miles this weekend. I'm thinking of averaging 4 miles per day on Tuesday through Thursday, then another 8 on Saturday, then a very easy week of no more than 6 miles leading into Detroit.

 

[BUT09]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Going back to CrossFit tonight! Very excited, but also terrified to see how much strength I've lost after nearly two months of doing very little really weight work.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

'bout time for an update from me, I suppose.

First of all, we are not going to run Detroit. it's a bummer, but reality of being injured and not running much on vacation has really effected my running, and not in a good way.

We did manage to finish our half marathon in Italy- it was not an easy run, even though the course was relatively flat. See lack of running for a good reason. And the next couple of days were tough- we walked around Venice, and I was struggling with patellar tendonitis- walking, by the end of the day, was torture. When I changed shoes- it got a lot better. Not excactly sure why the walking shoes made so much difference, but whatever.

Ran 5.5 miles yesterday- did it easy, and kept the heart rate down. Outside of the tendonitis when we walked to the UM game last night- it was a great run.

The plan now is to re-establish our endurance and back a little off on the speed. Our coach thought we were running a little quickly at times, and I think both Mrs Alfa and I paid with some nagging injuries. What's odd is that running at the "correct" pace just seems to easy- but in reality, that's the point. And I know that the correct pace will speed up, eventually. When I first started running- the pace that would keep my HR in check was slower than 11 min miles, whereas now- I can run at a 9:40 or so which will keep my HR <80%. Before getting hurt- that was 9:20. The problem was that I was trying to run < 9:00 so that I could do a sub 4:00 marathon. Not smart.

I think I know better now, and will focus more on the correct pace for 80% of my weekly miles. I have to be paitent. And get back into aerobics for cross training.

I'm not going back to my old ways of not, that's for sure.

 

[Case_04]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Knocked out my first half marathon yesterday in 1:53:34 at the Harwich Cranberry Harvest Half Marathon. This race has Clydesdale/Athena divisions... won the Clydesdale Open 226+ division by a slim 14 minute margin and got a shiny medal. Haha, fat people are slow. Also, half marathons are tough. I was nailing 8:30 splits until mile 10 then I went like 8:54, 9:15, 9:23... didn't help that the only major hill was at mile 11 I guess. Also probably didn't help that I never stretched my training long run past 13 miles. I think a half marathon may be a once a year type thing for me... I like the 10K more, and don't want to have to be at half marathon type mileage all year. Had fun though.

 

[nmupiccdiva]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Knocked out my first half marathon yesterday in 1:53:34 at the Harwich Cranberry Harvest Half Marathon. This race has Clydesdale/Athena divisions... won the Clydesdale Open 226+ division by a slim 14 minute margin and got a shiny medal. Haha, fat people are slow. Also, half marathons are tough. I was nailing 8:30 splits until mile 10 then I went like 8:54, 9:15, 9:23... didn't help that the only major hill was at mile 11 I guess. Also probably didn't help that I never stretched my training long run past 13 miles. I think a half marathon may be a once a year type thing for me... I like the 10K more, and don't want to have to be at half marathon type mileage all year. Had fun though.

NICE! Great job!

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

'bout time for an update from me, I suppose.

First of all, we are not going to run Detroit. it's a bummer, but reality of being injured and not running much on vacation has really effected my running, and not in a good way.

We did manage to finish our half marathon in Italy- it was not an easy run, even though the course was relatively flat. See lack of running for a good reason. And the next couple of days were tough- we walked around Venice, and I was struggling with patellar tendonitis- walking, by the end of the day, was torture. When I changed shoes- it got a lot better. Not excactly sure why the walking shoes made so much difference, but whatever.

Ran 5.5 miles yesterday- did it easy, and kept the heart rate down. Outside of the tendonitis when we walked to the UM game last night- it was a great run.

The plan now is to re-establish our endurance and back a little off on the speed. Our coach thought we were running a little quickly at times, and I think both Mrs Alfa and I paid with some nagging injuries. What's odd is that running at the "correct" pace just seems to easy- but in reality, that's the point. And I know that the correct pace will speed up, eventually. When I first started running- the pace that would keep my HR in check was slower than 11 min miles, whereas now- I can run at a 9:40 or so which will keep my HR <80%. Before getting hurt- that was 9:20. The problem was that I was trying to run < 9:00 so that I could do a sub 4:00 marathon. Not smart.

I think I know better now, and will focus more on the correct pace for 80% of my weekly miles. I have to be paitent. And get back into aerobics for cross training.

I'm not going back to my old ways of not, that's for sure.

Think of it this way: if an injury or bad running day forces you to change the way you run, then it's a good thing. We all want to be fast, but at the same time, I know I'm not going to beat Ryan Hall any time soon. Remember, the Beastie Boys were right: "Let it flow, let yourself go/ slow and low, that is the tempo!"

No going back!

 

[alfablue]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Knocked out my first half marathon yesterday in 1:53:34 at the Harwich Cranberry Harvest Half Marathon. This race has Clydesdale/Athena divisions... won the Clydesdale Open 226+ division by a slim 14 minute margin and got a shiny medal. Haha, fat people are slow. Also, half marathons are tough. I was nailing 8:30 splits until mile 10 then I went like 8:54, 9:15, 9:23... didn't help that the only major hill was at mile 11 I guess. Also probably didn't help that I never stretched my training long run past 13 miles. I think a half marathon may be a once a year type thing for me... I like the 10K more, and don't want to have to be at half marathon type mileage all year. Had fun though.

+1 on the great job!

I can relate on the distance thing, but full vs. half marathons. Based on my shape, I like the results of running 25-35 miles a week.

Darned quick- and you make me feel slow!

But I'm a late starter to this running thing.

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Knocked out my first half marathon yesterday in 1:53:34 at the Harwich Cranberry Harvest Half Marathon. This race has Clydesdale/Athena divisions... won the Clydesdale Open 226+ division by a slim 14 minute margin and got a shiny medal. Haha, fat people are slow. Also, half marathons are tough. I was nailing 8:30 splits until mile 10 then I went like 8:54, 9:15, 9:23... didn't help that the only major hill was at mile 11 I guess. Also probably didn't help that I never stretched my training long run past 13 miles. I think a half marathon may be a once a year type thing for me... I like the 10K more, and don't want to have to be at half marathon type mileage all year. Had fun though.

Great job!

Hard to believe that the Detroit Marathon is only 9+ days away. Compared to last year, though, I've been eating a lot smarter, carbo-loading on fruit and whole grains, eating a big breakfast and then smaller meals throughout the day, and I find I'm able to enjoy a nice scone or muffin now without fear...

 

[moose97]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Knocked out my first half marathon yesterday in 1:53:34 at the Harwich Cranberry Harvest Half Marathon. This race has Clydesdale/Athena divisions... won the Clydesdale Open 226+ division by a slim 14 minute margin and got a shiny medal. Haha, fat people are slow. Also, half marathons are tough. I was nailing 8:30 splits until mile 10 then I went like 8:54, 9:15, 9:23... didn't help that the only major hill was at mile 11 I guess. Also probably didn't help that I never stretched my training long run past 13 miles. I think a half marathon may be a once a year type thing for me... I like the 10K more, and don't want to have to be at half marathon type mileage all year. Had fun though.

Congratulations on your finish, but was the bolded part really necessary?

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Going back to CrossFit tonight! Very excited, but also terrified to see how much strength I've lost after nearly two months of doing very little really weight work.

Yeah I went in after being on the road for the two weeks. And althouht my vacation had alot of hiking, certainly no Crossfit type WOD intensity.

So last night I walk in, went a little easy on the weight for me and put in a solid workout.

Which means this evening I am spending all my time with the foam roller.

I have spent the last 3 weeks off my shins, might try a short run tomorrow to see how they are are. Not running the marathon on sunday, but my friend is coming in to do it. I hope it stays cool in Chicago on Sunday.

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Yeah I went in after being on the road for the two weeks. And althouht my vacation had alot of hiking, certainly no Crossfit type WOD intensity.

So last night I walk in, went a little easy on the weight for me and put in a solid workout.

Which means this evening I am spending all my time with the foam roller.

I have spent the last 3 weeks off my shins, might try a short run tomorrow to see how they are are. Not running the marathon on sunday, but my friend is coming in to do it. I hope it stays cool in Chicago on Sunday.

you still good for Vegas?

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

you still good for Vegas?

I think I will be. I did a test run this morning and they seem fine. So I am going to start adding mileage back on and see how they go. I havent booked my plane ticket yet, which is good cause it looks like I have to go to Phoenix after, so maybe work is paying for one leg of the trip.

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

for anyone interested in the Ironman World Championships, Chris Lieto is starting the run and has a nice lead. Let's see if he can capture his first World Championship title!

 

[alfablue]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Bob-
Good luck this weekend. stay calm, start slow.

it looks like it will be reasonably cool this weekend- the race should start close to 50F, and should finish before it hits 60.

be sure to enjoy the view as you cross the bridge!!!

Actually- try to focus on enjoying the run- that way you know you are not running too hard.

 

[winger]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Bob-
Good luck this weekend. stay calm, start slow.

it looks like it will be reasonably cool this weekend- the race should start close to 50F, and should finish before it hits 60.

be sure to enjoy the view as you cross the bridge!!!

Actually- try to focus on enjoying the run- that way you know you are not running too hard.

Better weather than Chicago. It got HOTT!!! at the end of it. Kind of glad I bagged it. Althought I was all ready to run my friend in the last two miles, but I never found her.

Hope it went well bob!

 

[alfablue]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Better weather than Chicago. It got HOTT!!! at the end of it. Kind of glad I bagged it. Althought I was all ready to run my friend in the last two miles, but I never found her.

Hope it went well bob!

That explains some of the results I've seen. Some of my friends REALLY struggled on Sunday. WAY beyond what I expected.