<p>BC,
Did you know that everyones left ear is designed differently than their right ear? I didn’t know this until I met a nurse years ago who was taking a figure drawing class that I was teaching. We were talking about anatomy and he mentioned that our ears are shaped differently so that our brain can differentiate between the acoustics coming from different directions. I have trouble with my ear buds falling out of my left ear as well. Also, our ears stretch as we age and gravity pulls the cartilage and skin downward. That’s why older people have such large earlobes.</p>
<p>I always thought that direction was determined by the time differential and the front to back ear differences. I guess it is reasonable that there is an additional mechanism to do this. The Sennheisers are excellent - it takes quite a buildup of sweat to get them loose - but they eventually succumb. One nice thing about the Apple Store is that they carry three different types of headphones for Adidas and three different types for Nike.</p>
<p>You may have noticed that I don’t mind spending money for music whereas I do mind on clothes. I don’t think that I’d be able to run regularly without music and the Apple stuff lasts for a very long time.</p>
<p>After 11 weeks of Couch to 5k (a 9 week program). I finally did 3 miles this morning! Told myself I could go as slow as I wanted but I couldn’t stop or walk. It helped that it was a beautiful dry morning–62 and no humidity.</p>
<p>I may need to invest in some new headphones because of sweat slippage. I can’t run without my ipod–if I can hear myself breathing I’m convinced I’m about to die.</p>
<p>chintzy, I joined an online group that’s starting the couch to 5k on Sunday. I’m finding that I’ve morphed from a self motivated exerciser to someone who needs outside pressure. I’ll have to report in to the group, so that will help me keep going.</p>
<p>By the way, does anyone have a recommendation for a good sunscreen that doesn’t make you feel like you’re running in a skin suit?</p>
<p>blankmind–I saw that a big group was starting on 8/1. Good luck to you! I’ve got several friends doing the program now. I am the Pied Piper of fat lady jogging. You can’t underestimate the value of having an exercise partner or group.</p>
<p>I like the spray sunscreen. Neutrogena has a good broad spectrum long lasting one.</p>
<p>Yes polyester quality has improved greatly…but even the $100 shirts still smell BAD when they react with sweat. Anyone know of ones that don’t?</p>
<p>Watch the spray sunscreens. I love them too but I remember reading an article that said they didn’t cover as well. Not sure if I can find it online. </p>
<p>So exciting to hear about all of our new runners. A little sad for me though because I used LOVE to run but my doc told me no more (knee and back). Thankful that I like biking! </p>
<p>My ipod ear buds drive me crazy. Looking to see if anyone suggests good alternatives.</p>
<p>Toneranger I know what you mean. I would love to run - there is such a feeling of euphoria that only running brings. One of my hips has always bothered me and running seems to aggravate it so I feel I should do other things instead. Still, nothing like running for weight loss!</p>
<p>I picked up the Sennheiser/Adidas MX 680i Sports today and will give them a try on the weekend if I do my run Saturday night. I suspect that Sunday will be a tennis day. From past history, the behind the head stuff always works as far as them staying on. Sennheiser also has the style where there is skeletal piece that goes over and behind the ear. I’ve used that style before (in a cheapie Panasonic) and those worked fine until they broke. I decided on the behind the head model because it only has one wire coming from it which is simpler. The other models have one wire from each earpiece (obviously) and they are joined together later on. They come with a small plastic piece to join them together - a kind of strain-relief device. If you pull too hard, one side will pop out of the device but you can put it back on. The Sennheisers have kevlar coated wires so I’m expecting them to last for many, many years.</p>
<p>I’m having the clothes dilemma too. I bought a skirt on Memorial Day weekend that is now literally falling off of me. I bought a pair of shorts a size smaller at the Talbot’s outlet about 3 weeks ago and now THEY are falling off of me! I don’t want to invest a lot of money in clothes that I will be swimming in in a couple of months, but I have to have something to wear! I have some nice things I bought last summer that are now far too large…some of which I have hardly worn. And you would not believe the state of my underwear…think bloomers. ;)</p>
<p>Trust me, I do realize that this is not exactly the worst problem in the world to have! :)</p>
<p>Regarding workout clothes, I started out with some pants that barely fit and they are still okay, due to their elasticized nature, but I’ve been using baggy old tshirts over a sports bra on top and I think I ought to get into something more fitting every time I glance at myself in the gym mirror. Maybe I’ll go out and look at some of that polyester gear this afternoon, even though I share the anti-polyester horror with many others. :)</p>
<p>I have a pinched nerve in my back (L4-5) and a small annular tear. I am getting an epidural steroid on Monday and I am petrified. He thinks this will relieve the hamstring connector pain and get me back training. He said it is the result of wear and tear that is a combination of running, life and simply getting older.</p>
<p>Re: earphones – I can’t use earbuds since they always feel like they’re going to fall out, even when I’m walking. I cut out an article about inexpensive custom “covers” that fit over the ear buds. It’s made to fit your ear exactly – you have to send close-up photos of your ears. Don’t think I have the article with me here at the beach, but will post info if I find it. I’m currently using Sony earphones with an adjustable clip that goes over your ear. The earphones are connected by a cord. Works quite well, even when I’m sweaty.</p>
<p>Gotta run – I’m off to play 18 holes of golf with H and friends!</p>
<p>The Sennheisers come with different-sized pads and those are far better than the Apple-supplied earbuds but they still fall out under heavy sweat for me. The over the ear style will definitely stay on.</p>
<p>I asked the folks at The Apple Store if they sold pads to go over their ear buds and they said that they used to. I imagine that someone sells aftermarket pads in different sizes but I haven’t looked.</p>
<p>I did an inventory of my running shirts. 5 are L and 3 are XL. So I’m good as long as I only run five times a week. I think that shorts are about half and half so I have to be careful to reserve the Ls for running only. I’m also bringing my running stuff on my overnight trip. They have a treadmill at the hotel so maybe I’ll do a few miles. Treadmills at hotels are usually awful but we’ll see.</p>
<p>MOfWC, ouch! But at least you know the diagnosis, so now you can deal with this issue. Locally injected steroids will relieve the inflammation that is causing the pinched nerve and the resulting pain, and the tears tend to heal with time - that’s what my neurologist told me. At least you do not have to give birth after this epidural :)</p>
<p>I refused epidurals for childbirth because I was too afraid of them. My anesthesiologist son in law says this won’t be any problem. I know I’ve had worse injections, but I still hate the thought…</p>
<p>I have been suffering from a pinched nerve, probably sciatic, for several months now. It has ranged from excruciating to annoying, and has gone away, mostly, and then come back. Then I recently developed what my dr says is a muscle spasm between my shoulder blade and spine which not only hurts like a toothache, but sometimes causes pain that radiates down to my left forearm. I’ve been dealing with these nagging-to-severe pains since mid-May. A short course of some kind of prednisone-like thing helped tone down the sciatic problem, but then the other one popped up. It is unbelievably wearing, and the pain meds knock me out unpleasantly. I haven’t been able to get effective treatment because of being away for a month…hoping to get something done before I have to go away again, and that will be soon. </p>
<p>It sounds scary, MOWC, but I hope it works for you. I was actually fantasizing that a dr would be able to inject a steroid right into my pain center and knock the damned thing out! :)</p>
<p>MOfWC - no epidurals for chilbirth for me either. I still refuse to be completely knocked out for dental work. My dentist said I was one of the rare patients who insisted on local anesthetics only for tooth extractions. But I will accept anything, even nasty injections, if it is required for healing. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Shape up or pay up
More employers peg workers’ insurance premiums to health</p>
<p>SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (MarketWatch) – Employees have a new reason to drop the donuts and stop smoking before benefits enrollment season begins in a few weeks.</p>
<p>As companies put the final touches on their health care plans for 2011, more of them say they are planning to penalize workers who decline to participate in disease management or lifestyle behavior programs, who smoke, or who do not take part in voluntary health screenings offered by an employer. </p>
<p>I kicked up the iPod workout a notch this afternoon. Did the step presses on a taller step. Did the squat presses without the exercise ball. Did five intervals (20 seconds hard, 40 easy) on the AirDyne, all at Cardinal Fang pace (75+ rpms), with my heart rate at 90% + for all five. Then, I threw in a bonus interval at 85 rpm to finish off the workout, and saw a 100% heart rate for only the second time ever.</p>
<p>It was so gorgeous here that I went for 3 mile state park walk with my wife and daughter after that.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear of your disk problems. I’ve had a pinched nerve in my neck and it was the worst week of my life. Hopefully, the steroids will kill your inflamation and fix you up. No more crunches.</p>
<p>On sizes:</p>
<p>I took back three pairs of slacks this morning that I bought 30 days ago and are now obviously going to be too big. I just don’t take the tags off stuff until I have to wear it, now.</p>
<p>One mile on the hotel treadmill today. I came to the exercise room twice but both treadmills were in use so I did some weights for a while. They did have a good freeweights setup but I hate those all-in-one machines and they had one. I was able to use the freeweights for lunges and shoulder presses but I had to do everything else on the left hand because of tennis elbow. At least it’s possible - it’s a lot harder with a barbell.</p>
<p>The treadmill was dreadful. I felt like I was going to fall off the end or off to the side. There was a television screen about two feet from my nose mounted on the top of the treadmill. I turned it off but it was annoying just watching a blank TV screen while running. After that I walked outside the hotel in the cool, evening breeze - that was more invigorating than the run.</p>