<p>Kicking sugar (and junk food carbs in general) is tough. I had to play the “just five pounds” game with myself, promising that I would buy a bag of sour gummy worms or red twizzlers just as soon as I lost five pounds. Then, I tricked myself by using the excitement over losing five pounds as motivation to commit to another five…</p>
<p>Eventually, I learned to live without thinking about buying the stuff. I’m still in big trouble if it’s in the house, but I can generally keep it away.</p>
<p>DebT - sometimes you’ll find local track groups by googling past aau, ustaf and masters meet results to see the clubs individuals belong to. </p>
<p>Most masters indoor meets seem to be concentrated on both coasts. I see a lot of meets in boston and SoCal. You can google masters track and field to find meets . I’m probably going to compete in the masters indoor championships in March (boston). You can google last years results to see how you might fare? I’ll run the 800 maybe 400 and mile if events are spaced out. I’m more focused on gearing up for the outdoor season especially nationals this summer.</p>
<p>More meets in masters outdoor track . Plus there are many local and state senior olympics venues this summer. This is the qualifying year for the 2015 nationals in Minneapolis .</p>
<p>I really like competing in masters track right now vs. the road races since I still have some
speed left in these legs. I like track folks . It is definitely more competitive but still a lot of camaraderie. You seem like a good candidate. Some of the speeds you are running during intervals aren’t too shabby. Plus you spend time on the stretch/core /strength which I think is critical to reman injury free especially when you will be running fast . You’ll have the same age groups like in road races. And there can be some nice medals!</p>
<p>You’ll still need to put in the miles if you want to compete nationally in the middle distance events. That’s why I’ve doubled my volume so I can hang on during the latter stages if the races. I probably spent too much time on the track last year but really felt I needed it to compete at senior nationals.</p>
<p>If you love the feeling of going fast and you like to compete you’ll love masters track.</p>
<p>greenbutton–I wish my DH would get inspiration from me. He sees me doing dumbbells & stretching and it has absolutely no effect on him whatsoever. :(</p>
<p>Woke up this morning intending to get two things done to start the New Year right. Then I remembered we have houseguests. The exercise bike is in the basement room they are sleeping in, and practicing flute/piccolo would also wake them up. Hmm…maybe they’ve slept long enough…
:D</p>
<p>Woke up to snow and a tummy that said, NO MORE BIG BREAKFASTS!!! We’ve kind of been on the two meal a day plan over the holidays with a big involved breakfast each morning. Today I’m fully happy to have my bowl of low fat cottage cheese, strawberries and a sprinkling of granola. :)</p>
<p>Gym is closed, snowing is falling. Today’s exercise will involve a shovel.</p>
<p>Started off the morning with some breakfast. Off course the cravings started back, but I’m not giving in. I’m starting some new vitamins so hopefully they will take the edge off. I’ll see in two weeks if it helps. The hardest part is waiting for the change to happen. :(</p>
<p>After cleaning up my room (poor thing has been subject to random drop-offs of excess items from my dorm room), I’ll work on some yoga and maybe Insanity before that!</p>
<p>From kicking a nicotine addiction to weaning myself off junk food, I have found that it is a better mindset to not think in terms of giving something up or resisting temptation. Rather, focus your thinking on the positive changes and benefits that you are getting from the decision that you have already made. </p>
<p>You don’t want to get into a “should I/shouldn’t I” debate. The decision is already made. You aren’t “giving up” anything that was good in the first place. So think of how great it’s going to be to fit in your skinny jeans or whatever motivation you see.</p>
<p>I’m trying to make exercise my top goal this year! I have walked three days in a row ( 3 miles per day) and I am going to try getting back in the habit of walking by setting a five day goal of Monday-Friday (any missed days to be made up on the weekend). I had several walking partners that became unreliable and I need to just go at it alone which is really fine. After I have done this for two weeks, I will add in additional exercise goals in addition to the walking. I used to swim Masters and I am considering going back to it at some point down the road. AFTER I have gotten back into bathing suit shape!</p>
<p>peacefulmom, that’s an important realization, one that I have had to come to. I love my running partner like a sister, but she doesn’t want to run outside when it’s colder than 20 degrees anymore. In Maine, that eliminates several months, since we run first thing in the morning. So I am running on my own, and will look forward to the days she goes with me. It took me awhile to figure out that the reason my running log was looking skimpy was because I was just sleeping in on the days she didn’t want to run!</p>
<p>It’s funny, though - this morning she wanted to go on a guided hike at a state park nearby - it’s in the woods, right next to the ocean. And it was ten below zero when I left my house! It was 13 above zero at the park - still chilly. But it was a wonderful hike - we saw osprey nests and lots of animal tracks in the snow. Our guide could tell us what the animals were. I am warming up a little and then will run on the treadmill.</p>
<p>Good lord, hops. You aren’t going to rope me into 400 KB swings. :)</p>
<hr>
<p>I rang in the New Year with a trip to the very cold basement for the first workout of 2014. It’s the one where I slowly make laps around the weight bench.</p>
<p>50lb KB goblet squat
50lb KB 3pt row
Step ups to the bench with two 30lb DBs
Bench press with two 35 lb DBs.</p>
<p>How did the first day of the year treat me? Not too well. Nauseous, lightheaded, headaches, cravings 'round the clock, but I’m proud of myself today. Held it out. Tomorrow’s another day. I look forward to the day when it isn’t constantly on my mind. All in good time. :)</p>
<p>I did a yoga sequence today. I wasn’t able to do anything else unfortunately because I felt extremely light headed and nauseous. Completely out of the ordinary…Maybe I’m coming down with a cold…maybe it’s quitting cold turkey. Maybe it’s my sleep schedule. Maybe…maybe…maybe. Fingers crossed it’s not a cold. </p>
<p>While today wasn’t the easiest day, I am excited for the school year to start again! That’s when my workouts really start. Any cyclists or spinners out there? I only cycle about 4 hours a week (an hate every second of it ;)) but afterwards I feel empowered and unstoppable!</p>
