Monday, April 27, 2009

Changing Mindset

For any of you who picked up running (okay, let's be honest JOGGING) for the primary purpose of weight loss, how have you gotten over the hump and turned that into running to be an athlete? I ask because I am a consistent 4K'er. I have done 5K's, but find myself in the last two weeks stopping short, since that still is enough for pretty good calorie burn. My latest 'excuse' is cotton mouth, I am seriously thirsty after 2K and by 4K it is ridiculous, I can barely swallow. It seems a tad ridiculous to have to strap on a water belt for freaking 5K, but it has gotten HOT, and I am a pretty sweaty person when I exercise. For you super running chicks, do you stop your time if/when you have to stop to drink water? I know in a road race that all counts, but to figure out your pace? Or to have your Nike girl happier?

Speaking of weight loss, I took my Fat Test this morning, and somehow I dropped .8 lbs, to get my score to a 87.23%! I have been skating by on my merits the past couple of weeks, and it is time to get back in the business of changing my life for the healthy, healthy, healthy good. This week, Mr. P and I are going to add a spinning class to our repetoire. (Mr. P got to choose this addition, I chose Body Pump, which we are sticking with as well!) I am looking forward to a new workout.

In other Fatty News, in December I signed up to take part in the Biggest Loser Blog Edition, and today was my final weigh in for that challenge (which started two weeks before I started taking my Fat Test). During the challenge I lost 37 lbs in 16 weeks, and found a great new set of bloggers that have the same struggles that I do, and I think that has made a huge difference this go around.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's weird you bring that up because last night I was asking WT the same thing because I was watching this episode of House Hunters and this lady kept referring to herself as a "triathelete" (and she was sort of chubby which has nothing to do with anything)ANYWAY I was asking Warren when do you go from being a fat girl just plopping down the sidewalk to being a "runner?"

Yesterday was the first jog in the heat, I have been doing 40 minutes pretty easily and I BARELY made it to 38 minutes because I was dying of thirst. I don't know how to fix that either.

This Friday is the last day of our work weight loss challenge. I am really hoping to win because I will win some money, and I want to use it to buy Flor tiles....

Tracy

wafelenbak said...

That's funny to me, because I just wrote this morning about my continued embarrassment with my running and the fact that I get a really phlegmy throat when I run, but don't feel like I run enough to warrant fancy hydrating equipment.
This probably isn't the answer you were looking for, but I've never really gotten past the 5K. Right now I am so focused on weight training and yoga that I want to increase my push up numbers more than my mileage! While I'm probably a little guilty of preaching the weight training regime, I'll take the opposite side of this debate and say, "Try it, you might like it!"

Alice said...

you know, i consider myself fairly athlete-y, i play sports, etc... but even though i've been running for a few months i still don't consider myself a "runner" at ALL. i still suck majorly at it, which is maybe one reason ;-)

DAVs said...

TRACY--I saw that househunters episode too and Lee and I said the SAME THING. Furny.

Anyway, I always always drink along the way while running. Water that is. There is no way I could not, because I sweat way too much and I'd be dying otherwise. I just have to take sips and not guzzle, which is tempting.

But alas, I'm not a runner. I'm just a jogger!

Shelley said...

Congrats on the 16 week loss - 37 pounds is freaking amazing!!!

Not a runner, but I do play one on the treadmill. I don't dare try it outside!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

Almost 40 pounds down? That's amazing, HP!!! I'm really so very impressed. Now, how the heck do I do that?!?

kilax said...

Woo hoo! Congrats on your weight loss!

You are an athlete whether you are running or jogging or walking! Wear that water belt! It is hot and athletes need to hydrate! The great thing about jogging is that it gets easier and easier. I do pause my watch during training if I have to stop, but not at races ;) And a lot of people stop to drink water at races anyway!

creative kerfuffle said...

i am in awe of your athleticism! really. that is an amazing accomplishment. i only spent three days in AL and i'm sure it wasn't even really hot for y'all, but hell, i was walking and felt thirsty and dehydrated, i can't imagine jogging!
my wordify is sibil--i think the internet is on to my split personalities! yikes!

Fatinah said...

to all you girls running without water - stop doing that! get a water belt - they have nice light ones available at Running room and they aren't expensive.

If you run, regardless of the reason, or the speed - then you're a runner.

Look at how far you've all come - you're all at the point where you don't think 5 freaking kilometers is far enough to warrant being thirsty!!! Sounds pretty athletic to me!!!!!

Meanwhile, what an awesome weight loss Hotch!! Holy Moly Macaroni!!! I am SO impressed with your accomplishment!!

Meanwhile, I've noticed that when I'm just running for "fun" (not in a race), I typically stop right around 4.5k.....for me that usually takes around the half hour mark, which I think makes good heart health sense, but it isn't so far that I worry about foot or knee injury (as I have delicate knees that get sore often).....

 
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