<p>I am definitely a stress eater and can relate to all of the above. One of the tricks I’ve learned to stop myself when I’m eating quickly and mindlessly is to stop (that’s sometimes the most difficult and challenging part of the exercise) and take 10-15 deep breaths and to ask myself what’s going on. Almost always, I can figure out the cause of the stress eating, and once I do that and take a few breaths, I stop eating. There are times when it doesn’t work; however, for the most part, it’s a technique that works for me and keeps me from going on to eat more calories than I need.</p>
<p>Walked on beach this am for 4 miles. Came home and did 20 minutes of kettle bell swings, goblet squats with a kettle bell, lunges, and push-ups. I haven’t done much strength work because of my injury, and I was shocked at how much strength I’ve lost. I usually use a 30 pound kettle bell and had to go down to 20. Also, I can do 25 “real” push-ups. Today, I had to do most of them on my knees.</p>
<p>I am down 1 pound so I feel good about that with all the focus I’ve been doing on weights / strength vs cardio. Decided not to do the crossfit yet - a little scared to go so intense with my 5K tomorrow - so today just did 1 hour yoga and am going to do a 2 hr bike ride with H – the weather to be able to do bike rides is coming to an end I am afraid!</p>
<p>18.3 miles done. 5 miles with my daughter from her place to the start of the giant, women’s half marathon and then the race. I told her to run ahead in the race because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and she is running well. Honestly, my victories today were 1. getting to her place at 5:15am 2. getting to the race 3. starting the race. With all this stuff with my mother I just don’t care right now and I feel tired. Well, I wound up pushing- I am just too competitive to “take it easy” even though I wanted to, especially since this was a long run for me and NOT a “race” race. I finished only 50 seconds behind my daughter and we both beat our time from last year by a couple of minutes. There are a lot of tutus and sparkle skirts, but also some pretty fast ladies. It’s a tough course with a lot of gradual climbs and some not so gradual climbs. The medal is ridiculous. It is pretty cool, but weighs a TON. It is HUGE! That’s sort of the claim to fame of this women’s race series. Anyway, glad that is over. Went to breakfast and then walked around a crafts fair in the big park near Vanderbilt. Had some ice cream and beer. I earned it!</p>
<p>Oh- fashion report. Pretty green flowered print Nuu-Muu and my giant orange Hokas. Daughter wore the plaid Lulu skirt. Pictures of us before and after are really good. They had champagne afterwards at the race, too.</p>
<p>I cannot fathom running 5 miles TO the race! You are amazing! I hope you were able to run off some of the stress.</p>
<p>Unbelievably gorgeous day - almost October and still ran this evening in low 70’s weather - 3.2 miles - in honor of all my friends who are running the Susan Komen race tomorrow - didn’t want to fight those crowds so did it my way. :)</p>
<p>Congrats to those who are celebrating losing pounds. Unfortunately I am with those who are watching the scale creep up. Of course it’s two pounds up one day and a pound down the next, but I am worried that the trend is in the wrong direction.</p>
<p>I actually have been pretty much on track, except for sleep. Between stress and too many projects, it has become a bad habit to sleep 4 - 6 hours during the week. I have read that sleep is important for secreting some hormones that help control weight, so I am really going to work on getting more sleep and hope the scale starts fluctuating in the other direction.</p>
<p>To be candid you only really need 6-8 hours of sleep. Anymore or any less is pretty bad for your health. Just make sure to have a good diet and a cheat meal ones a week to keep sane. Some good cheat meals are coldstone ice cream, cream in palo alto, apple pie. etc. Though coldstone is a good choice trust me.</p>
<p>Running TO the race is actually a good way to get the dreaded long run in. The horror is how early you have to start- and the logistics of not having a car at the race to dump a jacket, warm up clothes etc. the upside is you trick yourself into forgetting about the early miles. Except- when you are at mile 8 in the half marathon. You are saying, “This is really 13. Oh, God, can I stop now?” :). But you get the long run done with aid stations and lots of company.</p>
<p>Kudos, Eddie, on your 5 lb party, and MomWC on your race!
I am out onthe deck aging a coffee and surveying the aftermath of mcson’s birthday party. Inquiring minds would like to know how the cake remnant ended up in the towel hamper ;)</p>
<p>I have righted and extracted the cake and am now staring dolefully at same. In the past, I would eat it. I think instead I should just throw it out :)</p>
<p>Kind of sad to see how work can truly affect the way you feel - the stress, long hours, crazy bosses and demands - the pace seems to be more and more demanding so often these days. </p>
<p>If you work, does your employer offer any health-wellness-exercise options to be proactive for your health and counteract some if the work-related unhealthy stuff???</p>
<p>I work in health care/education arena. We have a fitness center on campus though there is a fee - very reasonable IMO - I pay something like $25/month for a family plan. The campus is also very pretty and walkable and often do walks at lunchtime, but don’t see many people out. Most people don’t take advantage of it. Our cafeteria is sub par - some healthy options but many unhealthy and the cost is high- just easier and better to pack my own. They did institute a small farmers market every other Wednesday this summer that I loved! Fresh produce to pick up right at work!!! Honestly I think that many people would say they are “too busy” working to take advantage of these perks - my schedule is flexible so I’m lucky that way.</p>
<p>D’s company seems fitness orientated. They pay for all of their employees to belong to a health club which has multiple branches. D had one on her way to work which she stops usually 4 times a week. They also paid the entrance fees for anyone who wanted to run a race they sponsor, D says they pay for 2 a year. They also have a cafeteria which it sounds like they have healthy options. </p>
<p>H’s company preaches health but don’t seem to back it up. There’s is to lower their insurance rates. But he works in a place that has salaried and union employees, it makes things a bit more difficult as how the union contract is written.</p>
<p>Our company is about to embark on a wellness program. I have been involved in wellness programs over the years at various employers, including one who was a true pioneer of corporate fitness (Texas Instruments). Many times these programs are pretty much worthless. We’ll put out a basket of fruit in the break rooms and the next week have cupcakes… It is really hard with a diverse workforce and facilities ranging from a corporate HQ to distribution centers to stores or manufacturing plants. I had one CEO who was insistent that his plant managers institute a fitness program at their plants and each manager had to make a presentation at the managers meeting. One, um, larger man got up and talked about how he bought two “Swine” (Schwinn) Air Oh Dynes for this plant! It was pretty hilarious.</p>
<p>Current employer is supportive and we do have a company running “team” which competes in the corporate challenge series and encourages runners and walkers of all levels. They pay our entry fee, which is a nice benefit. We have small locker rooms at the corporate office which do have showers. We can run/walk at lunch. Not many do. We are building a new corporate HQ across the street which will have a good fitness facility, nice locker rooms and a daily offering of some healthy lunch choices. I can’t wait. Next summer completion date. Management is generally fit and we don’t seem to have many smokers at the corporate office. The rest of the company is a different story.</p>
<p>Checking in after 4 days in NYC. Every time we go there we walk way more than we do when we’re at home, not to mention all those stairs up and down to get to the subway & make transfers. We did 3–6 miles every day, and I was feeling it every night!</p>
<p>And we ate pretty well. Did NOT have pasta in the restaurant when we knew we’d be having son’s birthday cake at their place afterwards. Did not have ice cream or gelato, though it wasn’t for lack of trying. We passed this adorable building, The Brooklyn Ice Cream Company (Factory? whatever) but they were not open yet. :(</p>
<p>Our local custard place is now advertising their seasonal PUMPKIN custard. I suppose if we WALK there and back we can have it… :D</p>
<p>And we had a great lunch at the Google office where our son works. He has not gained the “Google 15” but he is a “hard gainer.” And he does eat properly. It’s just that there are so many options in their cafeterias, I guess you have to learn to restrain yourself!</p>
<p>Edit: Not to mention the snack foods and coffee drinks available all day long…</p>
<p>Did the course in 37 mins - which is fine, my goal was to not walk at all which I didn’t. Lots of fun though. These Color Runs aren’t to everyone’s taste but they are to mine, so I’m sticking with what works. Amazing how much is mental though. In the very beginning I felt heel pain and thought - oh no this is plantar fasciitis - then I concentrated on my music and forgot about it. I’m not really sure the course is a strict 3.1 mi / 5k - but whatever, I had fun. And am not winded - first Color Run I did I went home and went to bed, and now I feel energetic.</p>
<p>Sounds like a good run PG- absolutely agree that you should do there’s that float your boat. But also good to keep your radar open for new possibilities!</p>
<p>I guess that falls into the Even a Blind Pig Finds an Acorn Every Once in a Whilecategory, huh? The old fat guy probably had the best initiative of any of the managers, although I can’t imagine hopping on an Airdyne at work! Kind of like the way I stumbled in my Airdyne. I didn’t have a clue what would be a good exercise machine for a 250 pound fatty. I was looking at ellipticals.</p>
<p>Just a stroke of luck that the first iPod nazi workout program I did pushed interval training. And, a google search for interval training led me to Airdynes, specifically a Mike Boyle article recommending Airdynes as the best safe way to do intervals (sprints being the most effective, but not safe for fatties). That article also led me to state pf the art strength training workouts (especially for geezers). </p>