I'm not a gym rat, even though I'm paying for planet fitness black membership. I go to martial arts a few times a month and I stole The Rack, from my Dad.

I just get really frustrated very easily with workouts- I HATE pain.

I've never been particularly athletic.

I don't really know what I'm doing.

Congrats on playing well in a higher division, Ashnod! Paradox and I had a nice hit around today. My serve is slowly coming around and he's starting to learn how to serve as well.

I wouldn't mind hearing folks' answers to Florence's questions, either.  I'm running fast enough -- 7:30 miles is fast enough for me -- but I have plateaued at four of them at a time and I want to do thirteen.  I run three days a week.  I use music and unashamedly own that it enhances my performance.

I don't feel particularly qualified to answer running questions, as I'm certainly not an expert. Take all of my answers with a grain of salt. Or two. Or 50.

1.) I've been running 5 days a week, managing only minor injuries. However, my runs are never speedy or long enough. How do I fix that?

I wish I knew. After talking with my PCP and a Cardiologist and various other expensive MDs, I've "decided" I probably have some mild sort of exercise induced asthma or other respiratory deal. I should see someone again, but I've seen so many doctors for this lately and it's racked up enough charges (and has no bearing on any of my life outside of running) that I just shifted workouts away from running and towards lifting and other forms of cardio that don't seem to bother me. So I was never really able to get to a nice fast or long place with my runs in the end. For now, at least.

2.) Is running every day bad? If so, what other activity can I sub in between runs so as not to affect the later runs but still give me the boost?

I'd give my body some breaks. Running extensively probably isn't quite the same thing as repeatedly lifting heavy weights every day, and it's a different sort of exercise, but you're still definitely putting a lot of impact on your body when you run (and you're still definitely working out those muscles). I have no clue what the best breakdown of a running schedule would be, and I suspect the answer differs entirely based on your ability and your goals (are you just trying to fit-up, or are you training for a marathon you have serious aspirations of winning, etc). I suspect even just taking like, two days a week off would have your body thanking you though.

If you just want a cardio work out, you could probably mix up some rowing with your running. That still uses your legs, but in a much lower impact way and not to the same extent. I've heard runners talk a lot about using cycles to train when coming off of injuries as well, so a spin bike might be a good low impact alternative too. An eliptical is also low impact, and will manage to burn more calories/hour than the previous choices if that's your thing.

3.) Caffeine: should I be taking it? It feels too much like performance enhancing and seems like cheating to me.

If caffeine is cheating, I cheat to manage every single day of my life....

I wouldn't worry about having caffeine at all, as long as you're getting your real nutrition and real energy sources along with it. That's what matters, and you need that to repair the tissue when it's damaged from lots of use. So don't use caffeine as a substitute for sustenance or anything.... but unless you're trying something silly like that, hey. Millions of people take it to get up. God knows I do. There's no reason you can't too.

4.) Music: should I be cranking it? It feels too much like performance enhancing and seems like cheating to me.

Music as cheating? Really? You're way too concerned with cheating, especially if this is coming from an individual fitness improvement perspective (where you're only competing against yourself in the first place). At any rate, what matters is the effort you're putting in your workouts, and the nutrition and recovery that you're getting. That stuff will impact your results. If music is able to help you psychologically work harder, then great. The work is what matters, and if you aren't putting in 100% effort without music than you're not getting 100% out of your time. And I guarantee music isn't able to magically put you over 100% effort somehow. But music can definitely help your mood, or distract you from minor pain or boredom, or get you in a rhythm. There's a reason music is used in a billion gym-classes, from zumba to spin-cycle and everything in between. Don't deprive yourself of reasonable comforts just for the sake of depriving yourself. If music lets you have more fun or enables you to work harder, those are both hands-down pros.

Last edited by Valeli (10-24-2013 01:11:58 AM)

So I joined a gym last week, and went in this week and did 3 days of cardio, with bonus eye-fucking cute buff men who were flexible multitasking for the win! 

Can any one suggest and really good fast running/walking/dance music? I need all the help that I can get to keep going, 

TheOnlyFlorence

....

1.) I've been running 5 days a week, managing only minor injuries. However, my runs are never speedy or long enough. How do I fix that?

3.) Caffeine: should I be taking it? It feels too much like performance enhancing and seems like cheating to me.

4.) Music: should I be cranking it? It feels too much like performance enhancing and seems like cheating to me.

Ok, I agree with Valeli's points and I just wanted to add a few things. Congrats on exercising! Listen to your body regarding the minor injuries, a small change in shoes or location might help. Also consider what you eat or don't before you work out, it can impact your exercising.

Regarding the caffeine and music, those are not cheating and in all honestly you, I, and a lot of humanity would not make it to the gym with out them. I really could not see going to the gym and being on the elliptical for 1hr with out my Ipod and my uppers. As long as you are not over-caffeinating and destroying your ear drums rock on!

That's actually not terrible.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHe … rticle.jsp

Paradox is developing a six-pack. It's drool-worthy. For my part, I've lost all of the weight I gained when I started working full-time in 2009. I've still got quite a bit of body fat to get rid of, but it's been a steady, nice improvement over time.

Our typical workouts:
Monday - 30 minute circuit training or strength training DVD
Tuesday - Run 30 minutes
Wednesday - 30 minute circuit training or strength training DVD
Thursday - Ride exercise bike 50 minutes
Friday - 60 minute circuit training or strength training DVD
Saturday - 5k run in the morning, 50 minute bike ride in the evening
Sunday - Rest

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays vary a little. Week 1 I run Tuesday & Saturday (AM) and ride on Thursday & Saturday (PM). Week 2 I ride Tuesday & Saturday (AM & PM) and only run on Thursday. I've alternated these through the winter, although once it gets warm enough to run outside, I'll probably start running twice a week every week (keeping the weekday run on the treadmill). I've got problems with my IT band and so I can't run very often or it starts causing me problems. My increased speed has helped a lot recently, but running outside almost always aggravates it at least a bit.

I also walk during my AM and PM breaks at work (15 minutes each).

Our current challenge is to halt Paradox's weight loss. He's at what looks to be the perfect size for him, so we're stocking up on healthy and caloric options for him to snack on. Meanwhile, I've still got some weight to lose, so it's a little bit of a challenge finding the right way for him to eat more while I continue to eat at a more restricted-level. Even when I start maintaining my weight it'll be a challenge since he's got 8 inches on me and needs more fuel than I do. We'll figure it out though! Paradox joining me in my workouts and sharing my improved eating habits has made all the difference the past 6 months.

I haven't been to the gym in forever. Maybe I should cancel my membership, so I don't waste so much money on something I don't even do. I just keep telling myself that I'll start working out again, but I can barely find the motivation to leave the bed lately, so it's hard to find the motivation for anything else.

I'm such a waste of space, etc.

satyreyes wrote:

Another thing you might have heard: sometimes social accountability helps.  We have a thread going, here, where you can sign up for a (free) website called HabitRPG that gamifies your routine and goals.  You're welcome to join IRG's in-game "party" -- just post or PM me your user ID -- and not only will we all fight dragons together by doing our chores, but I'll also create an optional exercise challenge, and anyone who joins will be able to see how the others are doing.

Good luck

Oh, I've been playing RPGhabit for a while, actually. I keep dying, though. >_>

Also, feeling like I need to be social to be motivated to do anything doesn't give me much comfort, but that's another problem.

Last edited by Lurv (03-18-2014 01:29:25 PM)

I have run a 5K on ten days out of the last twelve.    My workout buddy has been, and remains, zombies, but I've also been going to a group run on Thursdays.  I haven't really talked to anyone there yet, but there is a solidarity among runners that helps push me forward.  Yesterday I am pretty sure I finished fourth out of a group of about sixty people, and that was spirit-lifting.   It was almost fifth.  A girl was ahead of me for most of the run.  She's a fast and determined runner, and last week she beat me.  This week I passed her during a zombie chase and put some space between us.  She caught up, and we pushed each other pretty hard for the last two or three minutes.  It's not a competitive run at all, but if a little competitive spirit helps me run better, well...

Lurv wrote:

Oh, I might want to get some new shoes to jog in too. Don't find the ones I have now that comfortable.

Running shoes should always fit well and be comfortable.  Important for avoiding injury as well as looking forward to putting them on.  Definitely get a better pair!   If possible, go to a real shoe store with staff who will help fit you.  Hopefully they will let you go outside with the shoes and take a quick jog up the sidewalk to test the fit.

TheOnlyFlorence wrote:

Don't most running shops let you hop on a treadmill for a few minutes to feel it out? That's my experience, at least.

I know one that does, but I got my running shoes at an ordinary, if large, shoe store.  They have a better selection than the specialty stores I know, plus employees who know about shoes specifically.  No treadmill, though.

Also, training for a marathon in 7 months. I think this is an obtainable goal. I've worked up to 13 miles a week, and the program I'm on allows for recovery weeks, as well as a month or so of sprints towards a plateau-y time. So.. yeah? Please cheer for me?

Wow!!  Train hard.  This week I'm all proud of myself for running forty miles in seven days, but I didn't do more than eight at a time -- and I've never run more than a half marathon in one go.  You have, literally and figuratively, a long journey ahead of you.  Good luck!!  No slacking. 

Lurv wrote:

Hmm, I could try that, but I'm not sure if I know anyone I could work out with. Don't really have any real life friends I usually interact with outside of meet-ups.

Oh, I might want to get some new shoes to jog in too. Don't find the ones I have now that comfortable.

Keds are your best friend when it comes to running shoes. They last a long time.

I did my first cardio workout yesterday and I swear I felt it in my right glute the whole time. It was awesome.  Plus I've lost my first pound.