<p>It’s a fashion thing too - those folks at Boston looked really good in their warmups.</p>
<p>Yeah. I don’t think this study on the pitfalls of high mileage endurance sports is any big shocking news. Similar problems crop up for any form of exercise taken to extremes. For example, competitive powerlifting is not very good for your health either. Like marathon running, too much of good thing tends to break down the body.</p>
BTW, my first New Rules of Lifting for Life workout yesterday wiped me out. I was tired, tired, tired last night. Doing 15 reps per set, especially on the stuff where it’s 15 reps per side, makes the workout more “aerobic” (read “more panting like a dog”) than lower reps and heavier weights.
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I’m at my lowest 7-day average weight for the first six months of the year. It’s been remarkably stable over that period, within a range of plus or minus 1 pound, with a high of 162.3 and a low of 160.3.
I’m up a couple of pounds from my lowest 7-day average of 158.9 at the end of last summer, but I think it’s because I’ve put on some muscle with pretty consistent weight lifting since then. If anything my pants fit a little looser now.
Knock on wood, this maintenance thing seems to be working OK. I’d love to say it’s easy, and it kind of is in the sense that I don’t have to force myself to eat well or exercise. But, realistically, I have a pretty clean diet (apples are my big “sin” now) and I exercise more than the average bear.
<p>A lot of my friends who compete regularly in marathons, iron man and similar events will tell you that the challenge, rigor and structure of the training provide a lot more than the “health benefits” for them.</p>
<p>It’s no secret that many (certainly not all, but a significant number) of these kinds of athletes have battled alcohol or substance abuse, overeating or other eating disorders, emotional issues etc. in the past. So for those, the health downsides pale compare to what they see as possible alternative health risks. I am not saying that you have to have issues to commit to this kind of training as an ongoing lifestyle, but apparently it can help ;)</p>
<p>Whew! I am a sweaty mess! Walked and then worked in the yard today lugging large plant urns and big bags of potting soil. Feels good. Planning on walking a few 5Ks this summer. Will be doing the fun one at the MN zoo with my family again. D2 has had quite an adventure in running this week. First the bear incident at the cabin and then a fox ran out at her yesterday morning and then a deer at the middle school track last night when she was trying to reset her Nike watch pace. Crazy!</p>
<p>^^ Wow. She sure is attracting the wildlife! I would have run REALLY fast.</p>
<p>I’ve been having a little trouble with some Canadian geese on my route. One in particular likes to hiss and spit at me, but hasn’t shown a real interest in chasing after me for too long. It’s a little disconcerting, though.</p>
The places I go for jogging or walking I encounter squirrels, rabbits, ducks, geese, an occasional deer or snake, turtles, crows, seagulls, hummers, blue jays, and even woodpeckers. 
Oh, and that species with the cameras.
So far no bears or foxes.
<p>Around here, you could add moose, wolf and bear.</p>
<p>Wanted to share this with athletes and parents of athletes:</p>
<p>[Ohio</a> runner stops in state final to aid fallen opponent | Prep Rally - Yahoo! Sports](<a href=“Ohio runner stops in state final to aid fallen opponent”>Ohio runner stops in state final to aid fallen opponent)</p>
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<p>Now, that’s the NMINN we know and love! 
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<p>Sweaty mess is good. Right up there with bent over panting like a dog.</p>
<p>^^^ Thanks idad!</p>
<p>Turning 54 next month. I think I look better now than I did in my 30s. Although honestly I have added ~ 15 pounds to my frame since starting menopause 18 months ago. I’ve been working hard at getting rid of it, but dang, it is harder than it has ever been! 4 drop off and 2 weeks later they’re back. Anyone got any tips or hints?</p>
<p>I eat healthy food (nothing fried, no red meat, plenty of fresh veggies), drink plenty of water, don’t drink liquor (never have), don’t smoke. I suppose my portions may be larger than needed. I’ve started weighing my protein at each meal.</p>
<p>I walk 3 miles a day, minimum (50 minutes, outside, rarely on a treadmill), 7 days a week (which likely keeps me at only having gained 15 pounds and not more!).</p>
<p>2 miles but it felt crappy. I had sore quads from exercises last night and my body was sluggish. I had the time and not the pressure so I ran anyways. It’s been a productive day exercise-wise though not running-wise.</p>
<p>The key to losing weight is more outgo than income and you have to track it so that you can change one or the other to arrive at where you want to be. I think that if I didn’t have to work, that I could get to any weight that I want to be at. I can go into starvation mode for a while or crank up the tennis. Daily tennis is a surefire way for me to lose weight.</p>
<p>justamom:</p>
<p>It’s tough when you have to swim against a hormonal current, either from menopause or insulin resistance or whatever. The last thing you want to do is start limiting protein consumption. It’s easy for us middle age folk to get in a trap of losing lean muscle mass, which in turn lowers our metabolism, making it easier to store fat.</p>
<p>I would try a couple of things. On the diet front, don’t be afraid to eat protein and fat. And, look for places to reduced refined carbohydrates from your diet. Definitely don’t drink sugar: no soda, no fruit juice, etc. Cut back on the breads, pastas, and cereals. That stuff will pack on the pounds.</p>
<p>On the exercise front, walking is great. I would try to add a couple things. Figure out some way to do some resistance strength exercise a couple days a week. Can even be bodyweight type stuff (squats, lunges, incline pushups, etc.) at home. And, try to add an element to your walks that kick up the intensity and get your heart pounding – some steep hills, really pushing the pace for a minute here and there, etc. Those two exercise elements will generally kick start fat loss. Both strength training and higher intensity intervals tilt the hormonal balance in your favor.</p>
<p>interesteddad: these sound like great suggestions. I need to do some research on weight loss for the middle-aged group. Certainly expect it’ll be different than what I knew as a younger person!</p>
<p>Never drink (or drank) soda or juice. I don’t eat a lot of refined or packaged products; one cup of cereal in the morning is about it; I don’t even eat rice or pasta, haven’t in years. I’m a pretty ‘close to the source’ eater. </p>
<p>Will definitely do some shaking up of my walking routine. I own a nice treadmill and do the incline thing (level 6 out of 10) when I use it, but with the lovely weather and living/working near the beach, I so prefer to walk outdoors.</p>
<p>I was convinced into doing Insanity last night…</p>
<p>4 hours later now and I feel it! My calves and hammys are sore!</p>
<p>I’m going to try an Aqua Zumba class tomorrow morning. Outdoor pool. Trouble is, we’ve been having this lovely cool June weather (mid-70s, after 90s in May). I’m not really looking forward to being a human thermometer!</p>
<p>I remember when the kids were little. The first section of swim classes, in June, was always unseasonably cold. They’d be sitting by the side of the pool turning blue, their little teeth chattering. :D</p>
<p>We’re having the unseaonably cool stuff too. Low 50s when it’s normally 70s. My son complained about this and I just said that it’s payback for a mild winter.</p>
<p>Convenience matters a lot in working out. All of those pairs of shorts that I bought a few months ago mean that I can just grab workout clothes and toss them in my gym bag and I’m good to go. The cleared space in the basement mean that I do weights in the morning. I can get a quick ten-minute workout before I start my day - if the place is a mess, it’s easier to just skip it.</p>
<p>^So true. Two mornings in a row I’ve been looking for my 3 lb. weights and then forgetting to really unearth them. We had weekend guests and I tidied up. oops.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reminder!</p>
<p>Another real life workout today. Mowed the grass using intervals. I ran while pushing the mower uphill and walked to catch my breath going down. It was tough but kept me focused so I didn’t hurt my knee or back. And it is warm outside so need to go shower! I haven’t mowed the grass for ages! Will walk again this evening once my HR goes down. ;)</p>