Kathybad

Mamato... I'm so glad your DH is starting to heal up a bit. I know its still a long road ahead, but it sounds like you are getting there and coping as well as you can. Don't worry about the daycare thing. Kids eventually make the transition and its a great place to learn social skills. Plus... they get exposed to all of those nasty childhood bugs so they actually become healthier in the long run! Ok, doesn't sound good, but it is! Just a question, but if you opted out of benefits when you started, can't you now opt in? I hope you can find a position soon that offers you the health care coverage you need. We don't have the best health care plan in the world here in Canada, but at least we know we're covered for major stuff. However, I have to admit its really good that my DH got full time when he did and that we opted into his benefits. We signed up for his benefits 2 weeks before I lost my job. If we hadn't done that we would have lost our drug plan. My son's medication costs $1,500 per month! Under my DH's benefits we don't pay anything!

Well I didn't run yesterday. My energy level is too low and my stomach was too upset from the iron meds. Still is... yuck! I'm going to call my lapband doctor to find out if iron impacts the band at all. I was also very achy and stiff from my weight workout the previous day. Oh boy am I achy today!!! I plan to try running today and also doing my weight routine. However, if my energy is too low after I do the weights I'm just going to walk. Renewed... if you're still in the mood to "deep clean", why don't you and your DS come here... I could use the help! LOL. Cleaning is just not something I like or do even remotely well. I used to joke with my DH that I became a career person just to avoid housework and aford a cleaner! Now of course I'm supposed to keep house, so I do a half a#$ job of it and DH teases me that "its his job to keep house and my job to keep him!!" So of course I take him up on that! LOL. Georgia... Week 3 is great... keep at it as long as you want and need too. You're running, and the knee is ok. Time to celebrate!

My doctor put me on Iron supplements because I'm a bit anemic. She has me taking it 2x day. I took the first one this morning and it has been repeating on me all day and I've PB more times today (on very little food) than I have all week. Does anyone know if the iron supplement affects the band? The pill isn't very big and I had no trouble getting it to pass. I hope this gets better because its aweful!

Georgia... don't get discouraged! The point of putting the scales away was to reduce our dependance on them and what they tell us. Your success is not determined by the reading on a scale. Remember the following: * Our weight fluctuates a lot, depending on our monthly cycles * Your scale shows just one number, but not the % of body fat vs. lean muscle mass... your weight might have gone up, but your body fat might have gone down. * If you feel better than you did a month ago.. who cares what the scale says!!!

Bonnie.. Hugs! I know what you are going through. My mom died of BC in 2000 and both grandmothers as well. I've had annual mamograms since I was 35. My first one I got that call as well. My call came in on Dec. 21st. By the time I received the message, they had closed the office and wouldn't be open again until Jan. 2. So I had to worry about it all through the holidays that year!!! Turned out I had dense breasts as well and they just needed more images done. I'm not going to say.. "don't worry about it" because that won't happen. But I will pray for you and hope that all works out!

Renewed... your boys are beautiful! What a nice picture! Luluc... LOL, I think I would have been pleased by the comment! BTW, did you say your intervals are: Run 5 min, Jog 1 min, repeat for 30 min?? So you don't walk!! In the HEAT!!! Ok, now you're my hero!

Barb... Welcome... you're one of us now! Lyn... ohh, your sore paw! Rest that thing! Do you have a cushioning insole in your shoe... will it help? Georgia... I can't workout too early in the morning either. I am not a morning person. Anything before 9am is just insane. My DH is so much a morning person, and he laughs at me as I drag my butt out of bed. I have my most energy in the afternoon and evening, so I usually run around 2pm. Once I get back to work, I'll probably run in the evening around 8pm. Tootie-Belle... congrats! You took control of your mind and made the run happen. Good job! Luluc... OMG... 45 min! You rock! I remember a few days ago you said you were having trouble getting past 15min straight, now you did 25min and then 20min!!!! I love your attitude... Oh well, the treadmill's always there tomorrow! You are so right. If we don't achieve our arbitrary goal today, there's always tomorrow! DH and I had a date night last night. We went out for a drink on a patio downtown and then for a nice Italian dinner. It was really nice. I had an NSV moment... the waiter at the restaurant was hitting on me when my DH went to the washroom. It was hillarious. He was cute too! So when my DH came back I displayed my affection for him in a bit more of a public way so that the waiter got the point. Too funny!

I just finished my run, and did the full 20, but had to break it up again. I ran 10, 5 and 5. This time I felt good but around 8 min. I had to go to the washroom so bad that I had to stop. LOL. Then once I stop, it seems that I can't continue much longer beyond that. Oh well, I still ran 20 min, which is great. I just wish I could run it straight!

Georgia... did you change your ticker design to a runner?? Or was that what you always had? If its new... looks great!

Renewed... our outings are more through necessity... but are fun. If we stayed in the kids would drive us crazy. They both have severe ADHD, and are the human form of the Energizer Bunny!!! You are in my prayers today and tomorrow! I'm so glad your mom is going with you. The trip home and afterwards could be very lonely, so having her along is great! Leslie... good luck today on week 4. You can do it!

Jeannie... I usually walk on my between days. I take the dog for a brisk walk or take the kids with me and walk a bit slower. On those days we go to the playground, so there's always running involved (playing with the kids). Not exactly a cardio workout... but it is movement. I've searched online for some home based strength training ideas and have put together a beginner program for myself. I'm going to start it tomorrow. I'm also going to go look for that book that Whosya suggested. After dinner today we took the kids for a long walk and ended up in the park. We brought the soccer ball with us and spent about 20 min. running around playing soccer. So here's my NSV... last summer, I would have sat on the bench and watched my DH play soccer with the kids, as I wouldn't have been able to participate much more than the "stand and kick" role. Tonight, I was running, kicking, chasing, and running, running, running! At the end, I wasn't even winded. I could have continued for a lot longer!!!

Ok, where to start... Mamato... take each day one at a time, or even moment to moment! We're here to listen, so log in whenever you have a few minutes for the support. What you are facing right now is monumental, and takes priority over everything else... so no outcast thoughts... you're one of us! Whosya... WTG! Excellent time and even with a flat tire. BTW, how's the bike now! What is the distance on each leg of the triathalon? I've always wondered how far you have to swim and bike! Smith... slow down your speed, then you'll have more endurance to go longer. My DH, who's been running for years, runs at 6mph and up to 7.5 for a sprint... it took him awhile to get there... so slow down! Right now you want to concentrate on increasing your time, not your speed. Go to our first page of posts for the podcast download, which makes it easier. In case you miss the post... as pages build, here's the links. The following links are to the podcast that most of us use and the interval schedule it follows. Enjoy. http://www.djsteveboy.com/1day25k.html http://www.djsteveboy.com/1day25koutline.html We took the kids to Toronto yesterday for the day. It's only a 2hr drive away, and was a last minute plan. We called my DH's Aunt to see if we could hook up with her, but she was busy. So we went to Chinatown first. Took a long walk through there, seeing all the different vendors, foods, gadgets, people watched, etc. Then went for a late lunch to our favourite Chinese BBQ Noodle house. We used to live in Toronto, so have some familiar places to go. It was excellent. My son is not adventurous, but will try different things when we're out... so he tried BBQ duck, wonton soup, dim sum and seafood with noodles. Our daughter will eat anything, and is so happy and friendly that she draws people to her. At this particular restaurant, they seat you with anyone... so we were at a table for 8, and there were 2 other couples at our table. They were Chinese and spoke very little English. Sarah won them over... so they were giving her all sorts of food to try. It was hillarious. She tried congee (kind of like a rice soup... I love it in the Winter), sticky rice, chicken feet, cuttle fish and something else I'm not sure what it was. It was hillarious! Even one of the cooks came over to say hi and offer the kids a sweet. In this restaurant, we were the only caucasion people in there, so we kind of stuck out. However, since we used to live in Toronto, we'd been there so many times that they remembered us... so we were like welcomed back friends. Its funny how so much changes... but then so many things stay the same. It was the same wait staff and chefs as when we lived there 7 years ago! After lunch we went to a Chinese bakery and got some cakes, buns and cookies to go. Then we went down to this beautiful parkland by the lake (Lake Ontario) and walked all through this park. It was filled with meadows, water ways, beach front and parkland. Lovely! We stopped and had our dessert and then continued our walk. We didn't get home until 11pm... the poor dog was crossing her legs when we got home! LOL! What a nice day!

Lyn... NEVER STOP POSTING!!!! You are such an inspriation. Laughter is such good medicine! LITE... I'm in! Luluc... I don't need as much sleep anymore either. I used to crave my naps on the weekend, but now when the kids and DH lay down, I stay up and do stuff. I'm still not a morning person... never will be... but I feel as tired throughout the day. Your goals sound great! Georgia... I love your thought of working in a gym. In my old gym there was a staff person who was heavy, and she was such a motivator for everyone. She started when she was 100+ overweight and achieved her goal within 18 months. She was then the go to person for everyone who wanted motivation and weight loss tips. Excellent idea! Well no running for me today, as I'm off with the family on a trip to Toronto for the day. We're going to visit DH's Aunt and then go to Chinatown for dinner... YUMMY!!! Then to our favourite areas to walk around. Spontaneous trip idea... I love these trips! Have fun everyone... talk to you tomorrow.

My ultimate goal is to run a 5k without stopping!!! Ok, so my goals aren't too lofty! Once I achieve that, I'm not sure if I want to run longer or not. So if I can do that, I'll be happy. Then I'll plan to run the 5k 3-4 x per week... maybe train the dog to run with me. My ultimate non-fitness goal is to not have my legs rub together, not have my knees hurt when I climb stairs (not necessarily weight related, so might never happen) and enter a room wearing a hot outfit and drawing all the attention... in a good way! Not too lofty... lol How will I celebrate... by dropping a lot of money on some new clothes! I've been on a cruise... very nice, but DH doesn't like them. Carribean vacations are not fun with 2 kids along, so won't be doing that!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Oh, I needed that one! My husbands 2 sayings... or "mantras" are: "happy wife, happy life" and "smile & nod"... so I guess mine could be "what he doesn't know..."

Thanks Whosya... I'll look for it!

Whosya... Ok... here's your cheering section! YEAH!!! Make sure you post YOUR pictures you hunk! LOL, my DH would kill me for that one!

Do any of you do strength training? If so, what do you do, how often, etc. Are there any website resources you can recommend? I don't have a gym membership, so will have to do stuff at home. But I want to start because I think it will help build my strength and tone me more. I have an exercise ball, bands (big elastics with handles), hand weights and a bar. Any advice???

Tootie... WTG on week 3! You'll do great on week 4! Keep it up. I did my run, and unfortunately today was "matter over mind". My body just couldn't do it! About 1 min into my run, I knew I didn't have the energy to sustain it. Despite eating the right foods ahead of time... I had the nutrition, just my body is weak right now (TOM). I pushed myself to do 5 min run, 1 min walk, 5 min run, then struggled through the rest to finish a 30 min session. I ran a total of 14 min, so still pretty good when compared to last year pre-band (LOL)! I think I'm going to give my body the weekend to rest and go back to the start of week 5, rather than trying to keep going for the 20 min run.

Excellent news Georgia! Well, I'm going for my next attempt at 20 min! I'm going to eat some lunch, then go at it again. This time, my head is telling me that 20 min is my mark... not 13, not 15... 20! Mind over matter! LOL

Georgia... WTG!!! I'm so glad you were able to run today. I'm crossing my fingers for your knee tomorrow!!! Thanks for the comments! I had a tough day... I got the big time stress eating munchies and downed a bowl of ice cream and some "healthy" cookies. But, again... my band saved me! I love my band. In the past, it would have been a full on binge that wouldn't have stopped there... it would have gone on and on. Today, when I logged everything on TDP, it still was within my calorie goals! Now I know its out of my system and tomorrow I'll be fine! Goodnight everyone, and keep up the great work!

I had a doctor's appt today and didn't look when they weighed me!!! I told them I didn't want to know! I realize I could have found out and it would have been fine... but its a different scale, different time of day, and it just would have bothered me. So, I'm still in the scale challenge until Sept 5th.

jbrad... here's my answers... not that I'm "Experienced" by any means, just a little farther along... What time of day is best for you to run, moring or evening? - I'm not a morning person... I like my sleep! So I prefer to run in the midafternoon. I can do this right now, as I'm out of work. When I do get back to work, I will probably run at night. Do you eat before or after? - Both. I eat something about 20 - 30 minutes prior to running. Usually a yogurt, some fruit, or a light lunch. Once its digested enough so its not bouncing around in my stomach, I can run. Then right after the run, I drink a glass of milk (thanks Georgia!). That tastes great right afterwards and helps me recover. Then I'll have a balanced snack with carb and protein, like a shake, a Lean Cuisine meal or a protein/fibre bar. Do you run outside or on a treadmill? - I run on my treadmill, but once I'm running more steadily, and don't look like such a dork (or look like I'm ready to have a heart attack), I plan to start running occasionally outside. My DH (been running for years) prefers to run outside, but in this heat he runs inside. The only other bit of advice... don't let your head talk you out of doing something. By that I mean, don't let your negative thoughts convince you that you can't do the run. Hope that helps!

Renewed... Yeah!!! What was your distance? At 5 mph, you'd be completing 5k in about 37 minutes! So you're almost there!!! BTW, I agree with you to move it forward. If you know you can run it, mise well go for it... just don't overdo it... like you would ever do that! LOL

Serenity... modifications work too!!! Sounds like you have the right plan going. Renewed... I'm glad the family is nice and you feel good about them. I'll keep you in my prayers all weekend and on Tuesday as your family transitions. Way to go on the run! You're going to hit your "Graduation Day" next week! Congrats! Mamato... My thoughts and prayers are with you right now. Hang in there. I don't know much about MRSA, but if they know what it is, they must know how to treat it, and he will heal up. Take care, and enjoy your time to unwind with your running.