<p>Four slower miles this morning - I don’t think we got any faster than 10 minute miles. With the freeze we had late yesterday after several days of rain, I was worried about running on ice, but the streets were in pretty good shape so we went for it. But doing half the run in the dark made me very nervous about hitting an icy patch, and there definitely were some of those. So we went more slowly so we could keep a closer eye on where we were going. A couple of close calls. It was 12 degrees with some wind, so felt pretty good about just getting out and getting it done. It will be indoors with some upper body work tomorrow.</p>
<p>Send me strength to resist eating cookies today. D2 leaves for school this weekend and she asked me to make a batch of Monster cookies to take back with her. You know the cookies that have peanut butter, m&m’s, chocolate chips, oatmeal, etc… Not usually a sweet eater but I will have to pay attention not to dip in to the batter. Also won’t get to the gym today. We have dangerous wind chill warnings today. -20 to -30 so I am staying home. Home workout again!</p>
<p>Well, just eat the peanut butter. </p>
<p>The last time I had a cookie was in December when son brought some home and left them on the dining room table. So what was I supposed to do? Yeah, it was more than one cookie.</p>
<p>I’m having a tough time with the 150 calories thing during the day thing today. I might have to resort to my office stash of Campbell’s Go soups - the one with the surprised expressions on the front of the package. Those things are seriously good and they’re usually under 50% carbs.</p>
<p>I bought M and M’s to make monster cookies last weekend North! Do you want me to make your share and send to your D2?!!! :)</p>
<p>I’m in the camp where damn it, I’m eating a cookie. And I can do that - eat just one. I might eat one a day, but I can eat just one. One reason for me getting in shape a bit is so I CAN enjoy the delights of food to a degree - to eat and enjoy all foods well. </p>
<p>I know that’s not everyone’s philosophy or their willpower, but I love food (quality, not quantity) too much to do without all the time!</p>
<p>Salmonella, salmonellla, salmonella. That is my contribution to willpower, NMinn. :)</p>
<p>How about this plan? Set aside one or two cookies for yourself when they’re done. Then pack up all of the rest for your daughter immediately, and soak the mixing bowl and spoon ASAP.</p>
<p>Cookies are a gateway drug for me. Cookies and cocoa pebbles. </p>
<p>Weights today. Upped my 3 pt row weights, lowered the weights on the fly presses, because my arm is still bothering me a little. My calves feel much better. I’m planning to try a run on Saturday.</p>
<p>Did a 45 minute Tabata workout (that is one difficult workout), followed by a 3 mile walk outside. Need to log 12 miles of walking this week, according to my training log for the 3-day walk–which I signed up to do this spring. Last time I did it, I had nasty blisters despite taping and all the crazy things the walkers were doing to ward them off. I’m hoping to get in enough long walks that I can toughen up my feet. Anyone know how to avoid blisters with these long walks?</p>
<p>Feeling like I’m back on track with food–finally lost the 10 pounds I’d gained last year. I’ve been really careful with tracking. I use the Lose It app on my iPhone because it works with the Fitbit. But, I’ve broken my Fitbit (the thing snapped in half) and I might use another tracker because Lose It doesn’t track sugars. It tracks carbs along with calories, cholesterol, protein, sodium, etc.</p>
<p>Bromfield- a couple of things to try. SOCKS- I find the key to blister elimination is frequently the socks. You might want to try Wright socks, which have 2 thin layers and are really good at preventing blisters. I also like Balega. You should probably change socks frequently during the walk, especially if your feet get sweaty. Maybe every 3 hours or so. Also- do you use BodyGlide? I would rub it all over your feet, underarms and any other points likely to chafe. It is easy to carry with you, too (like a deodorant stick).</p>
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<p>Hmmm. I guess we shouldn’t look to the pharmaceutical industry to help in highlighting effective diet and exercise strategies to reduce diabetes!</p>
<p>I agree that socks are crucial to blister prevention. And in addition to the points above, and assuming your shoes fit properly, the thing I would add is avoid cotton or high percentage cotton blend socks. Cotton promotes blisters.</p>
<p>Stick to high-quality synthetic fabric athletic socks</p>
<p>Bike, weights, and elliptical medley at the gym today. I discovered that bench level pushups feel just right at this point. My floor level pushups are, well, meh at best, and modified, yeah they’re definitely more doable, but it’s just not the same. Bench – perfect! Now if only I could do more of them.</p>
<p>My best estimate of miles run for the month of January is a little over 44.</p>
<p>Amesie -</p>
<p>Thoughts? Anyone switched to whole-fat dairy products?</p>
<p>I always buy whole milk and whole milk Greek yogurt. Hasn’t ruined me yet. My philosophy is that the extra fat increases satiety so I don’t consume so much. :)</p>
<p>bromfield:</p>
<p>Congratulations on the double 5 pound party! That’s awesome.</p>
<p>On blisters, the hiking crowd says to wear very thin sock liners under your main (wool) socks. These sock liners are available in smart wool, silk, or wicking polypropylene. I have a bunch of the polypro liners from LLBean. Coincidence? I don’t know, but I’ve yet to get a blister, even hiking in brand new leather hiking boots. I’m sold.</p>
<p>The theory is that the liner socks stays in one place. The main sock rubs against the liner sock instead of your foot. Or maybe it’s just that the liner wicks moisture from your skin. </p>
<p>[Liner</a> Socks at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Includes skis and snowboards.](<a href=“http://www.rei.com/category/4501316]Liner”>http://www.rei.com/category/4501316)</p>
<p>The “recycled polyester” version is like the ones I wear from Bean. Really, any superthin poly liner sock would probably work. I think they make a ton of options like that for ladies, don’t they?</p>
<p>Day-um, Bromfield, I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around a 45 minute Tabata class! :eek:</p>
<p>My trainer throws in a couple of minutes of Tabata at the end of my workouts occasionally and they are killer.</p>
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<p>I only buy whole-fat dairy, sour cream, cheese, etc. I actually don’t buy milk (unless a specific recipe calls for it and then I get whole milk). I just buy half gallons of half & half.</p>
<p>In my personal opinion, the fat in the milk was never the problem. It was the Honey Nut Cheerios I was putting it on. Switching to skim milk doesn’t solve the problem. It drives me crazy to watch Biggest Loser and get bombarded with two hours of low-fat this, low-fat that and not a single mention of the role sugar and refined carbs play in obesity.</p>
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<p>You and me both. I did one 4 minute set of Tabatas on the Airdyne, just so I could say I’ve done them. And, honestly, I couldn’t go all-out on all eight intervals. I had to pace myself to get thru 4 minutes. I don’t have any desire to ever do another set. I know that 20 seconds fast, 10 seconds rest is too aggressive for an ol’ (formerly) fat guy like me.</p>
<p>I did spinning in this hotel I’m at. A friend of mine just started spinning so I brought along my idiot spinning pants with the pads 
and did one of the programmed spinning “trails” in the workout room. </p>
<p>Not for me! I miss my morning run/walk even in hideous NJ January weather.</p>
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<p>Here’s what we did: squats with kettle bells in each hand and one foot on a step board (started with right leg up on the step and then left leg), TRX lunges combined with leg lifts, fast walk around the gym doing halos with kettle bells (that’s the move where you hold the bell and move it around your head in a circle), TRX rows, walking up and down stairs (2 flights total and we did it 8 times), step up on the step board with 2 risers–did a pattern–step, step, down, down (that sounds lame, but it really got me winded). We ended up with TRX planks. We did planks where you just hold yourself up for 15 seconds and then planks where you bring your each leg up (like a leg lift–did both right and left legs) and a final set where you move your legs out (start with right and then switch to left) while holding yourself in the plank. Instructor kept time told us when we could rest. My HR was up for all of the workout. Came home and took a shower, ran errands and then took the dog out. There’s a conservation trail right by the house–I walked pretty slowly and probably wouldn’t have done the walk if I hadn’t signed up for the 3-day. I know from experience that i need to start walking more.</p>
<p>Meh used above in my post meant mediocre. Pushups are <em>not</em> my strong suit.</p>
<p>Yes, I am scattered today…</p>
<p>Bromfield, I just got an email about Foam Fest. Maybe they do this out your way too. The email showed a few different locations that are western US, but I didn’t look it over very carefully and it could be more places. It looks like this could be fun for somebody who wants to do a Tough Mudder. </p>
<p><a href=“http://5kfoamfest.com/index-obstacles.php[/url]”>http://5kfoamfest.com/index-obstacles.php</a></p>