Diet/Exercise/Health/Wellness Support Thread

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41541

I generally used the calorie counter on exercise equipment as a rough guideline. What do they say - you can’t outrun a bad diet?

I’m not running nearly as much as I was in the fall but am still eating what I consider to be a lot - probably 2000-2200 calories a day. I’m not gaining but I’m also not losing and I would like to so I’ll probably have to go back to tracking. H is not doing well on his diet and I must tell you it is frustrating to prepare the healthy meals at home that I like (at his insistence - I’m not making him eat it) but when he is at a business dinner or the like all bets are off.

BB, you’ll have to give us a shoe report. Took the dogs for a nice 2 mile walk after work. Mr. Sabaray is supposed to walk them on the mornings that I run - it doesn’t seem they’re getting all the exercise they’re used to. 23 degrees - feels like 14. Brrr.

41542

I got the same color, Bunsen! It’s a gorgeous shoe and I did a few treadmill miles in them. I love the Launch and think this version is even better. It’s a faster, less cushioned shoe than Hoka, but still good.

41543

After missing indoor cycle because of the snow, I went to the gym and did some body weight exercises and worked with the free weights for 20 minutes. I also did 30 minutes on the Cybex arc and pushed myself–doing some intervals–HR up, rest, back up. After that, I did 30 minutes on the treadmill at 3.8/3.9. Not running, but a pretty fast walking pace.

Ksm–good luck with your training program. Most of the women in my cycle class wear capris or yoga tights. There are only a few who wear bike shorts. Most people wear bike shoes. I invested in a pair after a few months and I do think the shoes make a huge difference–it makes the ride so much more comfortable. I have noticed some women have covers for the bike seats. I really don’t have a problem with the bike seats. It’s only an hour, but I can see if you were riding for 3 hours that seat comfort might be an issue. Also, the calorie counters on the exercise equipment are almost always incorrect. Keep using your heart rate monitor–that’s a better measure.

41544

ksm – first question I have is whether you inputted your weight into the heart rate monitor. How many calories you burn is dependent on how much you weigh. The heart rate monitor I use is totally off, even when I put in my weight. There’s no way I could rely on it as a weight-loss calculator. There are calculators online that will give you estimates of how many calories you’ve burned based on your weight and the exercise.

Second factor is that while theoretically 3500 calories is one pound, we’re all designed differently. If you have a low metabolism, then your results might be different. This is especially true of us older folk.

Also, studies have shown that we are often hungrier when we exercise, so it’s possible you’ve eaten more after burning all those calories. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep track of your food intake. Studies have also shown that doing weight/strength training in conjunction with cardio helps with weight loss.

Many of us here have lost weight, so I’m sure you can do it, too!

41545

momofwildchild-which type of the snuggbuds do you like?

41546

Using heart rate alone to estimate calories burned is generally both inaccurate and unreliable. Some devices are better than others and the better ones enable you to manually input age, weight, actual max hr, resting hr and a setting for the level of your fitness. In the last few years, a Finnish company called First Beat www.firstbeat.com has developed an algorithm for use on hr devices that is remarkably accurate and reliable. Both Garmin and Suunto use this algorithm in many of their devices. I had the opportunity to field test the First Beat algorithm on my Garmin 800 GPS on my bike side by side against measured kilojoules utilizing a Powertap wheel. The Powertap has a strain gauge in the rear hub that measures actual power output. In the world of biking, 1 kjoule is the equivalent of 1 calorie and the Garmin GPS enabled me to display both kjoules and calories side by side. The read outs were very close and on some occasions, the calorie read out was even lower. If you are using a Garmin or Suunto hr monitor that has First Beat technology and you input your personal metrics in the user set up, you can rely on the calorie burn with a high degree of confidence.

41547

MKat:

I wear Brooks Spartan “running pants” for winter workouts. They are loose fitting “track pants”. Really nice slightly stretchy fabric. And they make them in Short, Reg, Tall, so I could get the right length. They do have elastic waistbands (with a draw cord), but it’s not aggressive. About the same as running shorts. Zipper front pockets, so I can keep the iPod from falling out when I’m doing bench press. Mine have a zipper ankle cuff (or taking them on or off over shoes). Can’t tell if the current version has that.

http://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/mens-spartan-pant-iii/210683.html

The snow here is just ridiculous. I woke up to a fresh four to five inches to shovel. It’s getting to be like groundhog day with another big dump this weekend. 2 degrees right now, headed to below zero tonight. The amount of snow on the roads, parking lots, etc. is really insane. Four wheel drive in the car is getting a good test right now. There’s just no place to put the snow and it’s been so cold that nothing is melting.

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Idad, I feel for you b/c that’s what last year was like here…had to climb mountains of snow just to get to the hot tub because every time we raked the roof there was nowhere else to put the snow. This year has been much more manageable in that regard and I am grateful. You should book out on a last minute cruise to make an escape :wink:

Welcome to the forum, KSM!
I’ve used mynetdiary.com to track calories, and frankly, need to go back to tracking despite 18 mos. of mostly behaving, partly undone by six months of not really behaving :wink:

But I wanted to mention something that sounds counter-intuitive but for me is a real phenom, if you’ll accept tips from a chronic backslider :wink:

While there are many reasons why “diets” fail, one is actually that if your caloric intake is below your actual baseline metabolic rate, your body will not burn calories as efficiently and holds onto the weight. By spending a bit of time tracking and getting familiar with the optimal combo, you’ll stand a better chance of keeping yourself in the optimal range with some sort of consistency…the way to loose a pound a week is actually to globally reduce your caloric intake by 3500 a week give or take :wink:

For me, I can blow that global weekly approach in a single night out with several glasses of wine, appetizers, cocktails, or a lone steakhouse dinner :wink: (And I’m real good at blowing a week, let me tell you…)

The other sneaky thing that happens is the notion that healthy food is calorie free. Trail mix and hummus snacks are deadly to me…my brain loves the xtra protein and dense nutrients…how can a little handful make me fat? I snowshoed up the hill today…what the hell?

But it all counts. I regularly watch my sister eat a thousand calories of healthy, organic, avocado for a snack and ponder aloud why she doesn’t loose weight :wink: The sad truth is its a numbers game, and healthy food is often both nutrient and calorically dense. At the end of the day, its not really the food that’s good or bad for a particular diet so much as the proportions and portions, offset of course, by caloric use.

That said, its easier to loose weight if you “save” your calories for healthy, nutrient-dense foods :wink: Sugary carbs, for example tend to just make you want more, especially if same causes an overproduction of insulin that then signals hunger.

At any rate, best wishes on your journey. I’m optimistic you’ll find the right combo, and it helps to hang around here for great tips and support.

41549

I don’t get the Snuggbuds with the control on the cord- I just don’t need it. I think mine are called SB-X.

4.1 miles yesterday and 2 this morning before an early meeting and then a trip to the “mountain” up in Monteagle/Sewanee for a weekend retreat. I will get to run up there and the weather should be decent.

41550

Ran a treadmill 5K in my new Launch 2. I really liked the gorgeous look and the feel (light yet just enough cushioning), but I think I should have got a 10 instead of my regular 9.5, because I’m afraid that my left foot toes might get blisters during longer runs.

I have not yet tried the new Bondi. Th shoe feels stiffer than my other Hokas, but it is very light. It might need a little bit of breaking in.

41551

Why don’t you go ahead and exchange the Launch? I wear a full size bigger than my street shoes in most running shoes, but I like space in the toes. Hokas I wear 1/2 size larger. Most people report that Hoka break in takes about 4 miles into the early runs.

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Thanks, MOfWC! Unfortunately, I got them from Zappos. No returns or exchanges of worn merch. :frowning: The funny thing is that when I press on the toes, there is so much room that they feel a half-size too big, but when I run, the toes rub against something. I will try to stick my Superfeet in the Launch and see if it solves the issue. Definitely the prettiest shoe I’ve had. If nothing works, I think I will pass the pair as a hand me down to one of the kiddos and order a 10.

That is very good news about the Hokas! If this cats and dogs and pitchforks nonsense stops pouring out of the skies, I will take them to the Beer Trail on Sunday.

41553

Zappos has great customer service. If you only wore them for a couple of miles, and something is rubbing, that could be a defect… I would call them.

41554

Thanks! I will give it a shot. The soles look brand new - it was a 5k on my clean treadmill.

41555

So I was at my favorite local bike shop on Tuesday night. Some of the staff, all in their late 20’s and early to mid 30’s started cajoling me about doing a ride with them on April19. I should have been suspicious from the start. I can’t even pronounce the name of it. It’s 2 hours away from our area and starts at 9:00. There are 50, 75 and 103 mile options. It’s in the Scranton PA area i.e. all uphill and down hill with few flats. It’s 25% dirt and gravel roads. They assured me it would be great fun, including knowing that we will hate ourselves for doing it about 1/3 of the way in. The game plan is to sign up for the 103 and then cut off onto the shorter routes as we start to fall off our bikes. There really is something wrong with me. I signed up for it. I have this delusional belief that it will be just one big, long party from start to finish; the ride does end at a brewery that is hosting the after the ride party :). Here’s the link for this hunk of lunacy: http://www.llwh.bike/ Oy! Between this and the Hell of Hunterdon ride I’m doing on March 21, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m in the throes of some overdue mid-life crisis. Why couldn’t I just go out and buy a Corvette like my neighbor???

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God, Michael!

Bunsen- that’s just trying them on!

41557

Lol, MOfWC! Mr. B’s conspiracy theory is that I decided to get back into running because it gives me an excuse to buy more shoes. :smiley:

Michael - don’t kill yourself!

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Lol, I hope not BB! With a ride like this, so early in the season, it will be all about a very relaxed pace, thorough ride nutrition prep and hydration. Will be traveling with lots of Cliff Blok gels, Endurolyte electrolyte capsules and protein/carb bars. Hydration will be important too. Unlike the Hell of Hunterdon ride, with this one at least I’ll have some opportunities to do long outdoor rides before April 19. And the Hell of Hunterdon will be a good training ride for it ;).

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MNKat - never ever grow up!

41560

I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to stay on a plan for running, but now I have to get in gear. My company is going to be part of a race on Memorial Day race, and they want me to run the half marathon. I don’t think they realize how long it actually takes me to run a half marathon. They will have packed up and gone home and I’ll still be geezering along B-)

I’m still getting used to my new garmin, but I am warming up to it. It has so many settings, and I’m having a little trouble figuring out how to work with some of them. I wish I could take a class on it!