Kathybad

I'm glad to be considered the rock! But let's not compare... my situation is different from most of you. I'm not working, so have way too much free time. My kids are at school during the day, so again have lots of free time! My challenge will be to stay committed once I'm working 50+ hours a week! Then I might be hard pressed to stay consistent... I am committed to doing it, but it will be a challenge! If there is one lesson that I've learned this summer... my personal time is very important to my family's health. If I'm healthy, they benefit big time... so I will carry that forward forever.

Ok, according to my tracking on "RunningAHEAD" website, here's my distances. It did surprise me at how quickly it adds up: Weekly Distance Run: Sept 15- 21 = 10 km Sept 22 - 28 = 15 km Sept 29 - Oct 5 = 12.4 km Oct 6 - 12 = 2km (so far) Monthly Distance Run: Sept 1-30 = 43.8 km Oct (so far) = 12.8 km

Sugar... That's great... doing something is always better than sitting still! Georgia... yeah, it'd be a lot of fun to form a group with that system... however, I don't think I'd be ranking up the # that Whosya and Renewed are doing! I'm more interested in improving form and speed right now! As for the treadmill... I find that SO HARD now when I have to run on it! I suck air big time and lose my focus! Renewed... You're kicking his butt! Good for you! So that's 14.9 miles since when? Ok today I've got to prepare for my interview... but think I'll go back to the park and run the 5k again... that will help clear my head a bit!

Ohhh, you are competitive! I love it! Renewed... you go for it! Georgia... go on eBay... there are lots of the pkgs and shoe kits. I think the sales guy was just feeding me a line. If Whosya is using it successfully, then we certainly can! My plan is to get one after paycheques start coming in! Lyn... thanks for the encouragement. I'm really looking forward to Wed's interview. I spoke to a man who works at this company and knows the people who interviewed me. He told me I was the only one called back for the 2nd round and that he thinks I'll get an offer... maybe not on Wed, but thinks one is coming. Ohhh I hope so! Now I'm up in the air about what to wear on Wed. I'd like to wear the same outfit, since its a different person interviewing me and its at a different facility in the city. But I'm nervous that the Hiring manager would also pop in and then recognize the outfit. So I'm back to clothing decisions. I just simply have no suits that fit! Nice problem, but not when $$$ are tight. Lyn... how'd your group interview go? When do you find out next steps?

I tried something different today. I figured I have progressed enough that I could try running with the dog. So I took her out with me and we ran at a slow pace and I slowed to a walk every few minutes for her. I think she liked it, but it wore her out. She never ran full out, kind of a light jog and I had to encourage her along. But she also didn't stop and pull away, she kept pace and we went for about 30 min, which most was at a run. So I think I have a C25k dog! LOL. I was supposed to rest today, but its so nice outside that I just wanted to go running!

Thanks to everyone who sent their prayers and positive thoughts... I got called back for another interview... this time with the HR Manager!!! So on Wed morning at 10:00 am EST... please send in all those positive thoughts again! As I understand it, HR is the last to interview at this company!!! To celebrate... I think I'll go for a run! LOL!

Finally... Finally.. (needed repeating) I was able to encourage my DH to really restart his running! He's a runner... but had not really been out doing it for a long time. He'd go occassionally, but not consistent. Then when I finished my race last week, I registered us for a run on Dec. 31st and got him to agree to train along with me. I've been following the training schedule all week, but he hadn't. I was getting really discouraged. He's under a major amount of stress, which he does not handle well. He has panic attacks that make him think he's having a heart attack, and he gets frustrated way too easily with the kids. So when he's stressed, he's absolutely no fun to have around! But when he runs, it improves his attitude 3000 percent!!! That's why I've wanted him to really restart it. Well yesterday I was to run a long run (5k) and then today for an easy run of 30 min (lol that's easy - yeah in who's world!). So what we did was I started my run and then 10 min later he headed out with the kids and dog for a walk and I ended my run at the park where they were. Then we walked home. Then in the evening he was encouraged enough to do a 5k run!!! Today, we decided that I would start my run and he'd take the kids and dog on the walk, then when I got to the park, he left for his run. So that's 2 days in a row!!! And now he's talking about us going on Tue morning together after the kids are off to school and before he goes to work! Yeah... he's hooked again!!!! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Memom... I suggest you start at page 1 of this thread and start reading the posts from the beginning. You will find links to all of the running schedules and music downloads that will get you started.

Memom... you have it in you to accomplish this. Most of us have been at this since July, so are progressing along. Review our earlier posts to see what we were dealing with. We all followed the couch to 5k schedule and then modified a bit as we felt necessary! I would never have thought of myself as a runner... now I'm proud to say "I'm a runner!" Keep it up!

Georgia... Congrats. That's a great accomplishment. I love running outside and hate the treadmill now! Tootie... CONGRATULATIONS!!! Another amazing time! I love the pictures, you look so proud! Lyn... we did have an acronym, but I forgot it! It was something pretty cleaver too! How'd the group interview go? 70 mins!!! WOW, make sure you pack a lunch! LOL.

Luluc... what a great NSV!!! don't worry about the chip's official time. I've read on a few running threads that that happens a lot. Something about the chip taking some time to register at first... so go with your own time that you witnessed!

Luluc... You did awesome! That's such a great time! How'd you feel when you were crossing the finish line? Were there a lot of people there cheering? I know that was a feeling that I won't soon forget. The flowers sound great... very thoughtful. Triathalon sounds really good... its right up your alley for challenging! I decided the day of my run that my next challenge was to run another 5k but to shave a lot of time off. So I understand what you mean about "what's next". I've accomplished this and don't want to forget and move on... I want to keep it up! I ran 5k this afternoon and kept pushing myself to go harder. Everytime I'd slow down and loose steam... I'd tell myself to pick it up. I still am not very fast, but I'm learning :crying:.

Luluc... I'm still laughing!!!! With all the training you're doing, you won't have to fake your arms to look strong!!! Well, probably not as big as his guns, but still pretty cut! As for the run tomorrow... if the run is in the morning, wake up early so you can hydrate and get some food in. Just treat it like any other heavy workout day! Make sure you post pics of the finish line!!! DS is off school today as its a PD day (Professional Development - aka teachers get a break day!). So I sent DD to the daycare and spent the day with him. We played video games - he kicked my butt of course!, and went to a movie - IGOR. It was pretty funny. Stupid, but funny. Lyn, I know you're probably out of your group interview by now... but I did send positive thoughts your way around 1:15... hope it went well. Tomorrow I'm supposed to do a long run - 3 miles. So I'm going to go back to the park and do the run from the race. The rain has finally stopped and its supposed to be sunny tomorrow... cold (about 50F), but sunny. I've never run in longer pants yet, so wonder how that will go. Luluc, I hear ya regarding Halloween outfits. I've not been able to wear sexy in quite a few years. When I was just pregnant with my son (11 years ago) I fit into a size 18 - hey that's what I'm wearing now - OMG I'm as small as when we first got married!!! I just rambled into that discover! LOL - ok, back on track, way back then I dressed up as an evil vampress and looked pretty hot!!! That was the last time! OK, this year I'm going to look hot... but next year - watch out!!!!

Georgia... based on TDP, I'm consuming on average, about 60-65 g of protein, 20-25 g of fibre and 30 g of fat daily. That's in line with what my nutritionist recommended. Adding the OJ did increase my sugars, but my blood sugar is still doing really well!

Good luck tomorrow Tootie & Luluc. You both will do great! Enjoy the rush at the finish line!!!! Georgia... for breakfast I usually start with a coffee to loosen my band a bit. Then I have a yogurt (prebiotic style, not low fat) with a bit of banana and All Bran Buds mixed together. I've worked up to about 1/3 cup of All Bran Buds, but that took awhile... start small! For lunch I usually have a Lean Cuisine Cannaloni with some whole grain Triscuits or left overs from the night before and include some Triscuits. For dinner I always have a protein (beans if not meat), vegetable and then choose a whole grain starch, such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta. If no whole grain starch, I have a high fibre snack to finish the meal. I have my OJ in the morning... nothing wakes you up better. My snacks consist of cheesestrings, apple, peach, nuts or high fibre snacks. Then I drink lots of water throughout the day. So that's my day in a nutshell. It usually works out to about 1100-1400 cals, depending on how much I end up eating. Some days I'm tighter than others. I never ended up going low carb. Instead it is pretty balanced between carb, protein and fat. When I tried cutting back on the carbs, I couldn't last on my runs. I can't wait for Onederland!!!! I haven't been there for about 20 years (about 1/2 a lifetime ago... OMG). Goal is to get there by Halloween, and wear a really eye popping, sexy costume (in the privacy of our home after the kids are asleep! LOL)

I really think Luluc's trainer's nutrition advice is working. I've been eating whole grains at every meal and 4oz of OJ per day on the days that I run/workout. And the proof is on the scale! This is the 2nd week in a row that I'm down 3 lbs per week! Don't know if this is helping, but I'm going to continue to do it. I love OJ, and whole grains work for me! Of course, running and eating right is the main reason, but it wasn't moving as fast before!

Lyn & Renewed... you two rock the exercise and running world! I just did my 20 min "Tempo" run, which is intervals of fast and slow. So I did a total of 10 min at 5 mph and 10 at 4.5 mph in 5 min intervals. I'm sweating like a stinky pig!!! Ohh I feel great! goodnight all!

Georgia... You Rock! That is an amazing time! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! 21 MINUTES STRAIGHT! BBBBEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLSSSS &&&& WHHHHISSSTTTLLLEEESSSS. Just in case you didn't get that, it was my attempt at sending you bells and whistles all the way to Georgia!!!! I never ended up doing anything yesterday, I just was lazy. I wanted to run outside today, but its rainy and really cold! So tonight I'm going to run on the treadmill. I have my DD home today, so will run later tonight. Lynn... don't you hate waiting for news! I keep looking at my email and jump everytime the phone rings! LOL. Glad to hear you first round of interviews went well. Good luck tomorrow. Luluc... enjoy the rest and don't worry about the race. You will do great. You are such an excellent athelete and Sat will be a wonderful experience for you! My DH warned me ahead of time that you feel completely different on race day... you push yourself harder without realizing it and the last half is more difficult because of it. He was right, so if you feel that, just remember that you've trained well... you have all of us cheering you across the finish line and most important... this is your day and your moment to take pride in your accomplishments, so enjoy it!

Mamato... I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have to state the obviouse. With your schedule, you really don't have time for anything but surviving right now. Based on what you've said, if you tried to exercise in any big way, you'd probably keel over from pure exhaustion. Having said that... here's a few suggestions: Do you have any family or friends that could take the girls for a few hours at a time a few times a week. They could maybe pick them up and give them dinner. That way you could have a couple of evenings free for yourself. On those nights get your DH to make his own dinner. Then you'd be free to do your own thing... exercise or whatever. If you don't have people to rely on, maybe hire a babysitter?? We are looking into respite care for our kids, as they are both disabled so we can qualify for assistance. Maybe a respite program exists due to your DH's illness?? These can be difficult to find, but often are available if you search for it. That is my biggest advice... find a bit of help wherever you can to give you some time off, and during that time... make it about you, not your DH or housework or anything else. During this time... recharge your batteries. My personal viewpoint on antidepressants is no. You know your situation is being caused by a specific issue. Antidepressants won't take that problem away, but finding a bit of help might make it easier to cope. Most of all... don't beat yourself up. If you stress eat, ok. We all do and did. Forgive yourself... we all do! The band will help you stop the stress eating when it gets to be too much. Let it help you. When you're feeling a bit less overwhelmed your eating will get back in check! I'm sending hugs, prayers and positive thoughts your way! Hang in there and don't lose yourself in all of this.

Renewed... Your guys are gorgeouse! DH is a hottie for sure! Your little guy looks so much like you! LOL, I know he's adopted... looks like we both have the same situation. My bio DS looks like my DH and by adopted DD looks like me!!! Ok... nice 4-wheeler!!!! LOLLOLLOL Ok, I went to the Nike store at the mall tonight as I had to take my DD to get her glasses fixed and it's just across the hall. I checked out the Nike+. I can only get the adaptor for attaching it to the shoelaces in the U.S. as they don't sell them in Canada. And, if you wear it on the shoelaces it is not as accurate... loses about 10% accuracy per km... which could be a lot. I have the iPod Nano, but not the Nike shoes and really don't need a new pair yet. So, it'll have to wait until I do need new shoes. Maybe Christmas time?? BTW, I've registered for the Resolution Run which is on New Years Eve. Its a 5k. DH and I are going to run it together.

Georgia... I heard a beautiful whistle... thanks! LOL. Renewed... when you started talking about the Nike+, I just assumed it was expensive. I had no idea it was so inexpensive. I checked online at my Running Room store... its only $39 here (everything is more expensive in Canada). Heck, I could probably afford that soon!