For motivation, I highly recommend watching Brittany Runs a Marathon. 
This is a great place to get support. Don’t think about what you used to do - think about what you’re going to do. Download the Couch to 5K and report back!
And Brittany Runs a Marathon is a GREAT motivational film.
@cypresspat I’m sure you can get some good support right here in this thread. Welcome back to the pavement! The start may be hard but I think you’ll be up and running -pun intended - and feeling successful - maybe a different level of success - before too long.
I’ll take a look at that sugar challenge. I know it’s an area I could use a kick in the ____.
@orangepurple I agree with the others that I don’t know that food is needed for a workout < than an hour. What I DO think is more important is HYDRATION. Don’t drown yourself but hydrate some before heading into your exercise.
I will also look at the sugar challenge.
As for the running, do you live in an area with a running club? If so they might have a group of runners or run/walkers who are beginners/getting back into it/etc. I find it motivating to run with my group.
@MomofWildChild - no Strava/Lulu challenge this year. It wasn’t showing up in the run club and per their FB page, not happening. Might be in Australia and NZ. Sorry for the digression!
@sabaray It finally showed up on Strava for me to join it 2 days ago. Search Challenges on Strava and you’ll find it. Starts Jan 13.
@cypresspat I totally agree with Sabaray: don’t think about what you used to do. Start with where you are now. I thought Couch25K was a good start; even if I ended up switching to something else instead of running! Especially coming back after an injury, starting small and alternating days at first seems wise.
Sugar is not my nemesis. I am considering doing a Dry January & observing how resistant my brain is to the idea!
Sugar is definitely a problem for me at this time of year. I am still eating all the Christmas cookies!
I intend to lay off the cookies soon…as soon as they are all gone. I looked at the NYT challenge and was immediately discouraged by the thought of skipping grains for breakfast. It might be too hard a challenge for me! I think I would rather skip breakfast entirely.
@Midwest67 I know lots of people who have been doing a Dry January reset for a while and they swear by it. If you’re going to do it, here’s a good website: https://forum.moderation.org/
They have a special dryuary forum in addition to the rest of the moderate drinking info.
@orangepurple I don’t know if that means no grains the whole week - isn’t that just the tip for the first day? To eat a breakfast without sugar - which means largely no grains. Correct me someone if I’m wrong!
I signed up for the tips at minimum. We will see what I learn.
I think the idea is to build on the habits - so probably no grains for breakfast all week. I personally think there’s a big difference between steel cut oats and fruit loops, but it’s only a week.
MOWC, I don’t think that challenge is sanctioned/affiliated with Lulu. Prizes only available in Australia and NZ. Clicking on terms and conditions- tries to get you to log into Google Drive. I’m going to pass this year.
I see that now. I wonder what “prizes” means? I’m still going to do it in case they come through with the discount.
I am not a sweets person. I can pass a plate of cookies or a bowl of chocolates (did so today), and I can stay out of chocolate croissants and danishes, but a freshly baked savory butter croissant or a slice of good cheese… mmmm… that is tough. Crusty bread is also my downfall.
I subscribe to the NYT digital as well as their weekly Running email, so this morning I received and email for Day of the sugar challenge. Definitely going to read and try to follow as much as possible.
“One of my biggest (no pun intended) struggles is that while I eat a pretty good breakfast - a banana and either 2 scrambled eggs or oatmeal I am starving at work at 10:30 or 11:00. Any suggestions?”
Question first: What do you do when you are then hungry at 10:30 or 11?
^^^ I missed who asked this breakfast question. But my solution would be either to have two of those items for breakfast (a banana alone would never do for me!) Or just have a healthy snack at 10:30 or 11 - a piece of cheese, 1/2 apple w/PB, a handful of baby carrots.
Or in the morning add to those items:
Banana with 1 T PB
Scrambled eggs with added ham, veggies.
Oatmeal with fruit and nuts.
I had to look for it too, @abasket! It’s a 2009 post from FallGirl.
Breakfast is a big meal for me. I feel better and am less likely to overeat when I have a meal of protein, carb and fat - much like @abasket’s described. I didn’t do so well today on the sugar challenge - as I had a chai latte post-run. It was worth it though.
I was listening to a few episodes of the podcast Taking a Break, and I’m going to go for a Dry January.
My reward centers are not gonna be happy!
For January, I’m going to focus on getting back to my core habits - eating slowly to 70% while controlling portion sizes. Colorful fruits and vegetables at every meal along with some form of lean protein.
I had a really good run this morning. 6.2 slow miles but HR was well-controlled. Running with friends makes a big difference.
I would like to do a dry January but I have 4 business trips and while drinking is not required, it is a fun part of our trips, which can be quite challenging otherwise. One of the trips we are actually staying at a small winery. I may try to do a “dry at home” month. I’m not a heavy drinker, but it is part of our social life… Sugar is where I need to get control. We, too, have candy all over the workplace and it seems so innocuous to just dip my hand in! The pieces are small, right?
I do run every day, so if I could just eat like a normal person and not someone who might never see food again, I think I would feel better and maybe lose a little of the belly fat which creeps on there. I’m 67 and in good shape, but that should not mean I ignore healthy eating.
My exercise/running goal for 2020 is actually to cut BACK my mileage. My 2019 was really too high for me to not get over-tired when combined with a difficult job that involves travel and other life stressors.
I ran (well, after today’s run) 1921 miles in 2019 and I think 1700 is maybe a better level for me. I ran 7 races with no full marathons this year. Except for falling on my treadmill and getting some very bad abrasions, I remained injury free.
In 2020 I need to get serious about some strength training. I have trx type straps in my home gym and access to some decent (not great, but enough) equipment at the work gym. I do have osteoporosis and strength training is very important and I don’t ever seem to make it enough of a priority.