<p>MOWC:</p>
<p>I don’t see anything particularly informative one way or another from your finger prick test results. Certainly nothing alarming. Cholesterol tests can vary quite a bit. I’m not an expert on non-fasting glucose levels, but that sounds pretty low for a measurement an hour or two after eating.</p>
Haven’t posted lately. Still working out. Alternating running and walking. Still struggling with the running. Having trouble with my breathing and it’s not getting easier. Feeling pretty discouraged actually.
And I got blisters on the top of my big toes. I’m convinced they are from the blister preventing socks that I got free from thorlo. Sigh!
<p>deb922, I apologize but I don’t recall from your earlier posts whether you raised any medical issues that may be relevant to the breathing difficulties you are having. If there are some medical issues, have you been cleared by a doctor to engage in a fitness program and if so, has the doctor prescribed any exercise limitations or is the problem more that you are just de-conditioned and struggling to get into shape? The answers to these questions would greatly inform any suggestions that could be offered to help you get out of the doldrums of your frustration. I’m sure there are many on this thread who would be glad to offer suggestions that you might find helpful. If you would like to send me a PM, feel free to do so.</p>
<p>Deb922, I don’t know how it is for you, but I often find the first 5 mins of running are some of the toughest moments for me - I get a little anxious and all I can think is “how am I going to keep this up for 30 mins?” If I have one of those times, at 5 mins , I walk for maybe 30-40 secs. The brief break lets me pull it together and then I find I usually MUCH better with my breathing. Do people develop their own breathing style? Because I k ow my habit is to let out these slow breath releases - it calms me. </p>
<p>No medical restrictions. Just went for my annual physical and everything was in great shape. </p>
<p>I did have asthma and allergies but I seem to have outgrown them and have had no problems in years. </p>
<p>I have been trying to run for a year now and other than a random time where I’ve taken time off I’ve run 3 times a week. All winter I’ve ran on the treadmill.</p>
<p>Now I am running outside and having so much trouble breathing. I have to think about each and every single breath. Breath in, breath out. Going up even a small hill, I have to really concentrate on the breathing and my heart rate goes up into the 170 range. Yesterday I quit after 1.5 miles. Running doesn’t seem that it should take this much effort. It is suppose to get easier right?</p>
<p>I’m a 50 something women, not overweight. Trying to run 12 minute miles. </p>
<p>Some of the problem is that I signed up for a 10k Memorial Day weekend. I am having problems running 2.5 miles currently. I feel all this anxiety and pressure. I think that if I didn’t have this race I’d feel ok about running 2.5 miles in April. We are vacationing with the most competitive people ever and they are all running the half. I thought a 10k would be no problem. I could run 4 miles last summer, it shouldn’t be a problem, right? </p>
<p>I am seriously thinking of bagging out on the entire weekend, the whole weekend is going to center on this race. And all these crazy triathletes, who think a half is just a training run. </p>
<p>Sorry so long, getting all my frustrations out. My H thinks I need to find a running coach. Not sure where to find one but I desperate enough to try anything right now. </p>
<p>Deb- running can feel really hard. I’m sort of there right now myself, if it makes you feel any better. You sound like you might be a great candidate for the Galloway method- maybe 3 minutes of running and 1 minute of walking. It might not be something you do forever, but it could get you over the hump. It sort of resets your body and your breathing when you get the walking breaks. My son in law has to do this to be able to stand running, and his pace isn’t bad at all even with the walking breaks. </p>
<p>deb922:</p>
<p>I have just accepted that I was never a runner and probably never will be a runner. I played goalie in high school soccer because I hated running even as a teen. The only reason I ever run at all is because it’s a very effective way of interval training for me, with the whole goal to drive my heart rate through the roof and get me panting like a dog in three minutes or less! Doing walk/run intervals gives me a way to turn my little neighborhood walks into an effective workout in a way that I used to be able to get just walking up hills. As my fitness improved, I was no longer able to jack my heart rate on a neighorhood walk, so I started throwing in short running intervals.</p>
<p>I hate it so much that I can’t bear to slow it down enough to control my heart rate/breathing, which is what I would have to do if I wanted to actually become a runner. Then, it’s just torture, shuffling along. Since I don’t really want to be a runner, there’s no fitness reason to go out and exercise like that. I’m just not cut out for it. I’m sure that the toll from 38 years of smoking isn’t on my side when it comes to endurance aerobics…</p>
<p>Fortunately, there are all kinds of really good ways to exercise, so there’s no need to pick one that you hate.</p>
<p>I do face a similar challenge with the uphill hiking where I have had to work really hard to slow it down enough to keep the heart rate down. But, somehow, when I’m trudging up a mountain with 25 pounds on my back, I don’t mind going really, really slow! :)</p>
<p>I’ve also been concentrating on longer intervals on the Airdyne lately, specifically to improve my muscle endurance in the three minute range.</p>
<p>Deb, a lot of it is mental. If I get out to the trail with the plant to run 15 miles, I better be not thinking about cutting that run short. A slight thought about bagging the last mile turns my legs into jelly. If something like this happens to you, mixing running with walking is a good way to reset both your body and mind. You might still have EIB even if you say that you outgrew the asthma issues, so that’s one more reason to look into the Galloway method. </p>
<p>MOfWC - I saw this in a magazine ad. Looks like a great idea. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BBFXBF4?pc_redir=1397019292&robot_redir=1”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BBFXBF4?pc_redir=1397019292&robot_redir=1</a></p>
<p>YES, Bunsen. That is exactly what I am trying to get for the new office. I’m trying to figure out how to approach asking for it. I mean- I know I’m special and all, but will I start something???</p>
<p>iDad- I disagree with you on this one. I think you aren’t a runner in your head, but I’m convinced that you could learn to embrace a little running just as you have some of the other aspects of your fitness program. It’s all about getting past initial hurdles. Of course, you don’t need to, but I really believe you could mix that in at some point and learn to appreciate it.</p>
<p>Ran mile warmup/warmdown . 8 x 200s on the track tonight before hs meet that I clerked tonight . Probably got more of a workout during the meet running back and forth plus schlepping starting blocks around . Love being on the track with the boys and girls. Keeps you young.</p>
<p>MOWC:</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m sure that if I set my mind to it, I could probably get as far as actually running a 5K. But, I really don’t enjoy it very much (about like the dreaded Airdyne intervals), I think it carries a higher injury risk than any of the exercise I do, and I’d have to cut something else out of my “exercise schedule”. I’m pretty committed to doing these 60 minute comprehensive mobility, core, strength workouts two to three days a week. That worked for me day one, it’s worked ever since, and I really believe it’s the ideal foundation for geezer fitness. </p>
<p>I really enjoy my hiking, on average once a week or at least once every other week. Great workout, but also terrific from a mental standpoint – sense of accomplishment, making lemons out of winter weather lemonaid, enjoying the beauty of my surroundings. Mountain hiking has it all – endurance cardio, weight bearing, core, balance. Awesome geezer exercise. That only leaves time to fill in here and there with the occasional Airdyne interval or burpee intervals. Even my usual walk/jogs got squeezed out by hiking last summer/fall. </p>
<p>MomWC, with your good cholesterol so high, I’d think that would still make you lower risk with a low ratio. Sendin ya the mojo for informative testing and continued great health :)</p>
<p>Deb922, my first h was asthmatic. Even though you’re not currently symptomatic, its possible the prior asthma restricts your capacity a bit in terms of VO2max. In which case the training is actually a wonderful way to improve.</p>
<p>I know a trainer who likes to send her clients to a place for vo2max testing to get a baseline – she’s a client of mine and I’ll see her tonight at a function. She trains both elite triathletes and regular ole “casual” hobbyists, so if you’d like a referral, please send me a pm. While she is south of GR, she has clients all over and uses remote training tools after baseline testing etc. where called for. I know youre north of me but it might be worth the drive to attend one of her clinics to get a feel for her style. She does clinics for GR tri etc. pro bono too.
Let me know and I’ll hook you up ;)</p>
<p>(PS…a friend a mine went to her last year to go from non-runner to winning his age group of his first race when he was only hoping to finish. She had him down 40 lbs and in awesome shape in no time, so he likes to sing her praises. 
He’s one of those brewery aficionados from these parts, so I consider this quite a feat :)</p>
<p>My last total cholesterol was 202 and it was marked as high (in abnormal range). My HDL is very high and my LDL is low (both normal), but D. (med.student) said there are other cholesterols that we do not see on the resport that count in total cholesterol. My cholesterol completely depend on my weight and absolutely nothing else. It went up after I gained, it would go down if I loose, and it could be very few pounds. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Today is a rest day for these stupid blisters but I will try the Galloway method next. Sounds like a good plan. </p>
<p>Kmcmom, thanks will shoot you a pm soon. Right now I can’t really get to Grand Rapids but that will change soon. H got permission to go back to work but he can’t drive for another month. So I will need to be closer to home for awhile. GR is not that hard to get to and I’m thinking my vo2max is off. Due to lingering asthma or who knows. My D suffers from exercise induced asthma so it wouldn’t be a stretch that I have problems also. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t say I’ve been out of shape, but I’ve never been one for intense cardio until lately. </p>
<p>Deb, do you not have the breathing problems on the treadmill?? Do you think you are trying to go too fast out on pavement?? </p>
<p>Interesting:
<a href=“Hate Exercise? Maybe You Were Just Born that Way”>Hate Exercise? Maybe You Were Just Born that Way;
<p>I’ve read that being slightly overweight is healthier than the contrary <a href=“http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/01/01/could-being-a-little-overweight-help-you-live-longer”>http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/01/01/could-being-a-little-overweight-help-you-live-longer</a>. Works for me :)</p>
<p>Gaining weight in my case means all measurements up. They are completely in synch with my weight. All - cholesterol, BP, Blood sugar, then, of course, much less energy. I am talking about gaining within normal range, not getting into overweight situation. Caring additional weight cannot be possibly good for your heart / lungs. Just take 10 - 15 lbs and cary it with you everywhere. Would not you have less energy, feel tired all the time?</p>
<p>I was following up BB’s post about being genetically predisposed to dislike exercise. These are tongue in cheek.</p>
<p>LOL, jym. One can always find published research to support their lazy habits.</p>
<p>Re: genetic predisposition article. That’s where the term “gym rats” came from… ;)</p>