ChefChiTown's Rebirth: I'm Back, BABY!!! (In More Ways Than One)...
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ChefChiTown
New member
Well, I sort of caved a little bit tonight. I had a SHIT day at work, I came home knowing I would be having a house full of stupid, loud kids and, on top of that, it's our son's birthday and we had pizza, breadsticks, Pepsi, cake and ice cream in the house.
Guess who ate like shit toniiiiight?
Meeeee. I diiiiid.
Ugh. Stress got to me today. No excuses. Stress got to me and I drowned it out with food. Fatty, unhealthy food. Topped with hot fudge and peanut butter sauce. And shame. Lots of shame. Delicious, chocolately shame.
Guess who ate like shit toniiiiight?
Meeeee. I diiiiid.
Ugh. Stress got to me today. No excuses. Stress got to me and I drowned it out with food. Fatty, unhealthy food. Topped with hot fudge and peanut butter sauce. And shame. Lots of shame. Delicious, chocolately shame.
ChefChiTown
New member
So, today is the start of CHEAT WEEKEND. What have I eaten today? Well, I woke up and made Jen and I some French toast and bacon, I had a glass of orange juice with that, then I ate a chocolate chip cookie dough cupcake that I made not too long ago. That's it. I've eaten nothing more. Yet, I feel DISGUSTING. I got so used to eating right that my body can hardly handle FRENCH TOAST.
But, I guess that's a good thing in a weird way.
Other than that, Jen and I are just watching TV. It's a lazy day. But, I'm ok with that. I haven't had one of these in a while, so I'm enjoying it.
But, I guess that's a good thing in a weird way.
Other than that, Jen and I are just watching TV. It's a lazy day. But, I'm ok with that. I haven't had one of these in a while, so I'm enjoying it.
Cate
Long term member
No, that's a good thing in a really good way
ChefChiTown
New member
Why have I NEVER heard of this show before now? Seriously, what the fuck? I LOVE me some Madison Cowen (the black guy, if you must know).
Has anyone else seen this show? If so, EAT A DICK!!! I'M JEALOUS!!! BOOOO HOOOO!!! Ok, maybe not THAT jealous, but DUDE...what the hell, man? How have I NOT heard of this show before now when I did a random ass search for Madison Cowen? YouTube is both a blessing and a curse!!!
Has anyone else seen this show? If so, EAT A DICK!!! I'M JEALOUS!!! BOOOO HOOOO!!! Ok, maybe not THAT jealous, but DUDE...what the hell, man? How have I NOT heard of this show before now when I did a random ass search for Madison Cowen? YouTube is both a blessing and a curse!!!
ChefChiTown
New member
Well, the cheat weekend is over. I ate a bunch of crap, I drank a bunch of crap aaaaand I feel disgusting. I feel very fucking disgusting. My body hurts, my head feels rough, my heart hasn't beaten this hard in a while and my energy level is nearing zero. This feeling will certainly go away in a day or two, but you know what's really sad? I used to feel like this ALL...THE...TIME. This is how I felt every single day for the longest time. I just didn't realize it because it was so normal to me.
How sad is that?
Anyway, back on track today. Depending on how my body feels I may or may not exercise today, but I'm certainly done consuming garbage food and drink for a while. Don't get me wrong - the cheat weekend was much needed - but I'm done for a while. Back to being good. Back to losing weight and getting healthy.
How sad is that?
Anyway, back on track today. Depending on how my body feels I may or may not exercise today, but I'm certainly done consuming garbage food and drink for a while. Don't get me wrong - the cheat weekend was much needed - but I'm done for a while. Back to being good. Back to losing weight and getting healthy.
ChefChiTown
New member
Ok, our son's birthday was a few days ago and my parents bought him some Snap Tite model kits like the one pictured below.
He is really into Legos and thoroughly enjoys building things, so my parents (mostly my mother) thought it would be a good gift to get him some snap-together model kits. I built a ton of them when I was a kid and, from what I remember, they were fairly simple to construct. You just remove pre-cut plastic pieces from a sheet of parts, snap them together and VOILA!!! You got yourself a car. Easy, right?
WRONG. DEAD WRONG.
I just spent the better part of an hour putting together a model rated for children eight years old and up. It was a Level 1 model, meaning that pretty much any idiot should be able to put it together. I am a 34 year old, grown ass man and I had an incredibly difficult time putting together a CHILD'S MODEL. And, all you have to so is snap pieces together!!! No glue, no paint, NOTHING. So, either those model kits are not as easy as I remember them to be ooooor I'm just retarded and lack basic construction skills that even most kindergarteners possess. Currently, I'm leaning towards the latter.
He is really into Legos and thoroughly enjoys building things, so my parents (mostly my mother) thought it would be a good gift to get him some snap-together model kits. I built a ton of them when I was a kid and, from what I remember, they were fairly simple to construct. You just remove pre-cut plastic pieces from a sheet of parts, snap them together and VOILA!!! You got yourself a car. Easy, right?
WRONG. DEAD WRONG.
I just spent the better part of an hour putting together a model rated for children eight years old and up. It was a Level 1 model, meaning that pretty much any idiot should be able to put it together. I am a 34 year old, grown ass man and I had an incredibly difficult time putting together a CHILD'S MODEL. And, all you have to so is snap pieces together!!! No glue, no paint, NOTHING. So, either those model kits are not as easy as I remember them to be ooooor I'm just retarded and lack basic construction skills that even most kindergarteners possess. Currently, I'm leaning towards the latter.
ChefChiTown
New member
I've had a shit week so far. I can't even make excuses - I am just battling some personal issues at the moment and I'm severely weakened by it. I need to be stronger, better than this, but I'm not right now. I won't be losing any weight this week and I know it. However, I'm not going to let it defeat me in the long term. I am not doing well NOW, but that doesn't mean I can't or won't be better in the near future. I won't let my issues keep me from getting healthy - maybe just for the night - but, not in the long run.
Anyway, in order to begin my ascent out of my current shit-storm, I figured I would share a funny story.
At work, we have mandatory fire drills every month. They vary from month to month - different times of the day, different shifts, different scenarios, etc - and none of the situations I have been put into have rattled me. Until today.
It's about 3:30 in the afternoon and the fire alarms start going off. At this point, I had no idea if it was a fire drill or if it was real. Usually we can spot our hospital's Safety Officer (I work at a hospital, by the way) somewhere in our building and we get sort of "heads up" because he often only shows up to put us through a fire drill. But, I couldn't see him from where I was at. I also couldn't hear anybody in the front office which is where our fire panel is located (a panel that lets us know where the fire is at, which fire alarm was pulled, etc). The supervisor on duty is supposed to run to the panel and check, then announce where the fire is located so everybody knows where to go. But, I couldn't hear anybody from where I was at.
Where were you at, Chef?
Oh, I forgot to mention that part. I was in the bathroom. Taking a shit.
Yeah, I was taking a much-needed shit and the stupid fire alarm starts going off. I had NO idea if it was a drill or if it was real so I started panicking.
Do I sit there quietly so nobody worries about me or is it ok if I start screaming? WHAT'S GOING ON? HELLO? CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME? IS THIS A DRILL? IF SO, I'M POOPING SO COUNT ME OUT!!! IF THIS IS REAL, LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE TIME TO FINISH!!! I REEEEEALLY HAVE TO GO!!! PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!!
Do I finish up my current task and take my time or do I cut my shit short (literally) and haul ass to the fire? If so, am I required to delay my appearance by a good minute because I still need to wash my hands or do I prioritize the fire, say "fuck it" and just start opening doors with possibly-poopy hands (you never know, I could have a sloppy wipe)?
I had SO many questions.
Anyway, I decided to finish my poop before I got myself involved in a potential fire. I concluded that I would be of no help to people if I had to hold in a poop the entire time I was hosing down a fire with an extinguisher or trying to evacuate people out of the building. I knew exactly what would happen if I held it - I would have to lift someone to carry them out of harm's way and the strain caused to my body would make me shit my fucking pants. I was NOT about to put myself through THAT, no way, nuh uh...those people can wait a God damned second. So, I finished up. And, I washed my hands. I mean, I might as well have at that point, you know?
So, I run to the front office to check the fire panel and see that one of our residents is in the office. And, she looks panicked. She starts screaming "WHERE IS EVERYONE?!?!?!" So, I immediately mutter "Oh shit" under my breathe. "This shit is real!!!" I look at the panel and it says the fire alarm near the second floor stairwell has been tripped. I sprint to the nearest fire extinguisher and grab it, turn down the hallway and head to the stairwell and I see almost ALL of our residents coming out of their rooms and they all look nervous. Not a good sign. There are also NO employees anywhere around. Also not a good sign. So, I get my hero face on and try to handle the situation. I calmly tell everybody to get back in their rooms and wait for help (all of the rooms are designed to prevent fires from spreading and getting into them for 30-minutes and it's protocol for people to stay in their rooms until we contain the fire). I then touch the door to the stairway with the back of my hand to see if it's hot - it's not, so I open it up and head upstairs. No fire in the stairwell, thank God. I sprint my fat ass upstairs and feel the next door - cool to the touch, so I open it up and walk into the second floor hallway. Once again, all of the residents are in the hallways and no staff members are present. Now I'm confused.
I pause for a moment, not understanding where this fire is at - the panel said the stairway alarm had triggered and that's exactly where I was at - but there wasn't a visible fire. So, I start checking the nearby rooms, once again telling everybody to get back into their rooms for their safety. I check like four rooms - no fire. Nothing. Then, I go to check another room and our Safety Officer pops out of it. So do three of our employees. They're all laughing and acting like nothing is going on. It was a drill. And, because I had finished up pooping, the situation had been handled. But, there I am - sweating in panic, mean-mugging it and ready to fight a God damned fire by myself - and they all see me and start laughing. Then the Safety Officer speaks up.
"Oh, THERE'S (Chef)!!!"
"Dude, IS THIS JUST A DRILL?!?!"
"Yup, just a drill."
"SIGH"
"HAHA, you ok, man? You look intense."
"A LITTLE BIT, YEAH!!!"
"Well, at least you're ready. So, what took you so long? You're usually the first one on the scene."
"I was taking a shit, Dylan. I was TAKING A SHIT."
There's a first time for everything. And, today was the first time I have ever been caught in a fire drill...while taking a shit.
Anyway, in order to begin my ascent out of my current shit-storm, I figured I would share a funny story.
At work, we have mandatory fire drills every month. They vary from month to month - different times of the day, different shifts, different scenarios, etc - and none of the situations I have been put into have rattled me. Until today.
It's about 3:30 in the afternoon and the fire alarms start going off. At this point, I had no idea if it was a fire drill or if it was real. Usually we can spot our hospital's Safety Officer (I work at a hospital, by the way) somewhere in our building and we get sort of "heads up" because he often only shows up to put us through a fire drill. But, I couldn't see him from where I was at. I also couldn't hear anybody in the front office which is where our fire panel is located (a panel that lets us know where the fire is at, which fire alarm was pulled, etc). The supervisor on duty is supposed to run to the panel and check, then announce where the fire is located so everybody knows where to go. But, I couldn't hear anybody from where I was at.
Where were you at, Chef?
Oh, I forgot to mention that part. I was in the bathroom. Taking a shit.
Yeah, I was taking a much-needed shit and the stupid fire alarm starts going off. I had NO idea if it was a drill or if it was real so I started panicking.
Do I sit there quietly so nobody worries about me or is it ok if I start screaming? WHAT'S GOING ON? HELLO? CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME? IS THIS A DRILL? IF SO, I'M POOPING SO COUNT ME OUT!!! IF THIS IS REAL, LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE TIME TO FINISH!!! I REEEEEALLY HAVE TO GO!!! PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!!
Do I finish up my current task and take my time or do I cut my shit short (literally) and haul ass to the fire? If so, am I required to delay my appearance by a good minute because I still need to wash my hands or do I prioritize the fire, say "fuck it" and just start opening doors with possibly-poopy hands (you never know, I could have a sloppy wipe)?
I had SO many questions.
Anyway, I decided to finish my poop before I got myself involved in a potential fire. I concluded that I would be of no help to people if I had to hold in a poop the entire time I was hosing down a fire with an extinguisher or trying to evacuate people out of the building. I knew exactly what would happen if I held it - I would have to lift someone to carry them out of harm's way and the strain caused to my body would make me shit my fucking pants. I was NOT about to put myself through THAT, no way, nuh uh...those people can wait a God damned second. So, I finished up. And, I washed my hands. I mean, I might as well have at that point, you know?
So, I run to the front office to check the fire panel and see that one of our residents is in the office. And, she looks panicked. She starts screaming "WHERE IS EVERYONE?!?!?!" So, I immediately mutter "Oh shit" under my breathe. "This shit is real!!!" I look at the panel and it says the fire alarm near the second floor stairwell has been tripped. I sprint to the nearest fire extinguisher and grab it, turn down the hallway and head to the stairwell and I see almost ALL of our residents coming out of their rooms and they all look nervous. Not a good sign. There are also NO employees anywhere around. Also not a good sign. So, I get my hero face on and try to handle the situation. I calmly tell everybody to get back in their rooms and wait for help (all of the rooms are designed to prevent fires from spreading and getting into them for 30-minutes and it's protocol for people to stay in their rooms until we contain the fire). I then touch the door to the stairway with the back of my hand to see if it's hot - it's not, so I open it up and head upstairs. No fire in the stairwell, thank God. I sprint my fat ass upstairs and feel the next door - cool to the touch, so I open it up and walk into the second floor hallway. Once again, all of the residents are in the hallways and no staff members are present. Now I'm confused.
I pause for a moment, not understanding where this fire is at - the panel said the stairway alarm had triggered and that's exactly where I was at - but there wasn't a visible fire. So, I start checking the nearby rooms, once again telling everybody to get back into their rooms for their safety. I check like four rooms - no fire. Nothing. Then, I go to check another room and our Safety Officer pops out of it. So do three of our employees. They're all laughing and acting like nothing is going on. It was a drill. And, because I had finished up pooping, the situation had been handled. But, there I am - sweating in panic, mean-mugging it and ready to fight a God damned fire by myself - and they all see me and start laughing. Then the Safety Officer speaks up.
"Oh, THERE'S (Chef)!!!"
"Dude, IS THIS JUST A DRILL?!?!"
"Yup, just a drill."
"SIGH"
"HAHA, you ok, man? You look intense."
"A LITTLE BIT, YEAH!!!"
"Well, at least you're ready. So, what took you so long? You're usually the first one on the scene."
"I was taking a shit, Dylan. I was TAKING A SHIT."
There's a first time for everything. And, today was the first time I have ever been caught in a fire drill...while taking a shit.
ChefChiTown
New member
I had an awakening moment last night.
I mentioned before that this week has been shitty. I mentioned before that I was battling some personal issues and those personal issues beat me up to the point where I made bad choices. I have done nothing but eat and drink my feelings all week. No excuses. I just failed. And, it's all my fault.
Last night, I sat here eating and drinking my feelings again (for like the fourth time this week) but it wasn't making me feel better this time. My stress didn't go away, my anger didn't fade, my emotions were not being tamed at all. In no way, shape or form did I feel better last night. In fact, I felt worse. A lot worse. I felt guilty. I felt ashamed. I felt angry, not at someone else, rather myself. I felt disgusting. I felt wrong. My body hurt. My head was foggy. My muscles twitched and tensed up. I was hot, incredibly uncomfortable and hot. My heart pounded harder than it ever had before. My emotions manifested themselves in the form of physical discomfort. The shitty food and alcohol I was pouring into my body was not helping either. And, that was my awakening moment.
All these years I have taken comfort in food and alcohol. In a sense, it had always helped me escape from pain, heartache, whatever. Eating and drinking like shit had always made me feel better. Or, at least that's what I thought. It wasn't until last night that I realized how horrible it had truly made me feel. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Jen had already gone to bed at this point, but I stayed up and sat on the couch literally holding back tears. I was angry at myself. I was disappointed. I was ashamed. Not just with last night or the past few days, but with every single time I have ever made the decision to eat and drink my feelings away. I have done that for YEARS. And, where has it gotten me? It has gotten me fat. It has gotten me unhealthy. It has gotten me lazy and uncomfortable. It has gotten me in trouble. It has interfered with my relationship. It has hurt the people around me. It has hurt myself.
I don't want to die. Not today. Not anytime soon. I also don't want to feel like hell while I'm still living. But, if I keep walking down this path I will certainly end up walking it alone. Either I will die and everyone will trek on without me or I will continue to push away those I love and they will leave me behind. Either way, if I don't change I will end up alone - dead or alive.
I don't talk about this very often but I attempted to kill myself years ago. I was depressed, I was alone, I was scared, I was done. So, one night I slit my wrist and tried to end it. However, I stopped half-way through. I had one of those "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING" moments and I dropped my knife. I don't know how I survived that night...but I did. I woke up the following morning in my bathtub covered in blood. That morning was my re-birth so to speak. I got a second chance at life and was lucky enough to somehow find a will to live, even if it was at the last moment possible. That was years ago. Since then I have moved on with my life and have found happiness. Never again, I told myself. Never again would I ever let depression beat me. Never again would I try to kill myself. Never again.
Last night I realized that is exactly what I have been doing though. I've been killing myself. Slowly. Eating and drinking like shit isn't putting a gun to my head or a blade to my wrist, but it's certainly suicide. It won't kill me today but it will damn sure kill me in the future. I am incredibly disappointed in myself for letting it get this far, but I can make a change. I beat suicide. I can beat this.
Today is a new day. I can do this.
I mentioned before that this week has been shitty. I mentioned before that I was battling some personal issues and those personal issues beat me up to the point where I made bad choices. I have done nothing but eat and drink my feelings all week. No excuses. I just failed. And, it's all my fault.
Last night, I sat here eating and drinking my feelings again (for like the fourth time this week) but it wasn't making me feel better this time. My stress didn't go away, my anger didn't fade, my emotions were not being tamed at all. In no way, shape or form did I feel better last night. In fact, I felt worse. A lot worse. I felt guilty. I felt ashamed. I felt angry, not at someone else, rather myself. I felt disgusting. I felt wrong. My body hurt. My head was foggy. My muscles twitched and tensed up. I was hot, incredibly uncomfortable and hot. My heart pounded harder than it ever had before. My emotions manifested themselves in the form of physical discomfort. The shitty food and alcohol I was pouring into my body was not helping either. And, that was my awakening moment.
All these years I have taken comfort in food and alcohol. In a sense, it had always helped me escape from pain, heartache, whatever. Eating and drinking like shit had always made me feel better. Or, at least that's what I thought. It wasn't until last night that I realized how horrible it had truly made me feel. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Jen had already gone to bed at this point, but I stayed up and sat on the couch literally holding back tears. I was angry at myself. I was disappointed. I was ashamed. Not just with last night or the past few days, but with every single time I have ever made the decision to eat and drink my feelings away. I have done that for YEARS. And, where has it gotten me? It has gotten me fat. It has gotten me unhealthy. It has gotten me lazy and uncomfortable. It has gotten me in trouble. It has interfered with my relationship. It has hurt the people around me. It has hurt myself.
I don't want to die. Not today. Not anytime soon. I also don't want to feel like hell while I'm still living. But, if I keep walking down this path I will certainly end up walking it alone. Either I will die and everyone will trek on without me or I will continue to push away those I love and they will leave me behind. Either way, if I don't change I will end up alone - dead or alive.
I don't talk about this very often but I attempted to kill myself years ago. I was depressed, I was alone, I was scared, I was done. So, one night I slit my wrist and tried to end it. However, I stopped half-way through. I had one of those "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING" moments and I dropped my knife. I don't know how I survived that night...but I did. I woke up the following morning in my bathtub covered in blood. That morning was my re-birth so to speak. I got a second chance at life and was lucky enough to somehow find a will to live, even if it was at the last moment possible. That was years ago. Since then I have moved on with my life and have found happiness. Never again, I told myself. Never again would I ever let depression beat me. Never again would I try to kill myself. Never again.
Last night I realized that is exactly what I have been doing though. I've been killing myself. Slowly. Eating and drinking like shit isn't putting a gun to my head or a blade to my wrist, but it's certainly suicide. It won't kill me today but it will damn sure kill me in the future. I am incredibly disappointed in myself for letting it get this far, but I can make a change. I beat suicide. I can beat this.
Today is a new day. I can do this.
Cate
Long term member
Chef- you can do this. It is good that you are able to be open & honest with yourself & have this self-realisation. Thank you for sharing your feelings with us. You are strong enough to make the necessary changes & you are a good person who deserves to be happy & healthy. Are you able to see a counsellor to talk things through with. It's very hard I know but I found it very helpful about 7 years ago. Take good care of yourself Chef. Try to see the good in yourself & treat your body like it deserves to be treated. Nourish & nurture yourself Chef. You are a good person xoxo
ChefChiTown
New member
Thanks for the support. I CAN do this.
Thanks, Cate.
I always have the option of counseling but I don't think it would help the issue at all. I already what my problem is and I already know what I need to do in order to fix it. It's just a matter of doing it.
I think what will help me the most is finding an outlet I can use when my emotions become too much to handle. Using food and alcohol as an outlet might be satisfying in a very shallow, selfish kind of way, but it doesn't actually do any good - it just keeps me fat and unhealthy (not to mention it pisses off my wife). Back when I played baseball that was my outlet - every time I stepped onto the field each and every one of my negative emotions immediately went away. It was beautiful. That's what I need again - I need that 'thing' I can do that takes away the crap I can't handle on my own.
I'm thinking of trying to use exercise as an outlet - running, for example. I HATE running but I always feel better, physically and mentally, when I'm done. And, if I'm angry or upset or stressed or frustrated, working out comes naturally to me because I can use my emotions as fuel - especially when I'm running. So, I think I'm going to do my best to get into running. Like, actually GET INTO it...not just go for a jog every once in a while, but actually work at it. I'd like to get some running gear, set up some sort of running schedule for myself, maybe start a Couch to 5K program, I don't know. I just know I need to stop leaning on unhealthy lifestyle choices when things get tough. Instead, I'm going to try and lean on healthy lifestyle choices.
I need to do it for me. For my wife. For my kids. For everybody in my life.
cowboy48
Well-known member
I know exactly how your feel Chef. I have been there as well. I didn't have any alcohol problem but the food problem- ding ding ding. I was stopping at drive-thus and eating before I went home for supper. So I hear you. I am a big time emotional eater. Sad, happy, mad, bored,- didn't matter- I ate.
That being said, you are right. You need to find the outlet for your feelings. That is the key. Like I said before- running worked for me. Thank God I found something. You will find your outlet too. I hated running to begin with but the more you do it- the better you get at it and I started to not mind it and now I love it. You just need to find what works for you!!
Couch to 5K works well if you are self motivated. I did a learn to run clinic at The Running Room up here in Canada. I think you have Team in Training down there. Something to look into for sure. They have programs you use to help you get to your goal. Plus there is a support system built in because you are doing this with others learning to run too. I have made many friends this way. It will help you cope with the feelings you are having.
I am not endorsing anything here. Just letting you know what worked for me.
Stay strong. You can do this!!
That being said, you are right. You need to find the outlet for your feelings. That is the key. Like I said before- running worked for me. Thank God I found something. You will find your outlet too. I hated running to begin with but the more you do it- the better you get at it and I started to not mind it and now I love it. You just need to find what works for you!!
Couch to 5K works well if you are self motivated. I did a learn to run clinic at The Running Room up here in Canada. I think you have Team in Training down there. Something to look into for sure. They have programs you use to help you get to your goal. Plus there is a support system built in because you are doing this with others learning to run too. I have made many friends this way. It will help you cope with the feelings you are having.
I am not endorsing anything here. Just letting you know what worked for me.
Stay strong. You can do this!!
Cate
Long term member
Me too. We do just have to do it. Our health is much too important to not do what we know we need to. Running may just be the thing for you chef.
ChefChiTown
New member
I did a little bit of research on "running for beginners" and learned quite a lot about how I can approach my introduction to serious running. I researched methods, programs, equipment (shoes, shirts, jackets, etc) and even how to use running as a method of stress-relief and relaxation. I think what I'm going to do is take it slow and put myself on a very basic beginners program for the first two to four weeks. I'll run three to four times per week at first and increase my frequency as time goes on. I'll start with running a moderate pace for two minutes and then walking one minute, running for two minutes and then walking one minute and so on, until I total twenty minutes of activity. Then, I'll increase the time of my intervals (three minutes running, one minute walking - four minutes running, one minute walking - five minutes running, one minute walking, etc) as the weeks pass by and I become more physically comfortable with the stress I put on my body. Then, as time goes on and my body becomes used to the increase in highly physical activity, I'm going to increase the intensity of my running workouts and shoot for the goal of entering some races sometime within one year from today. I would love to say I'm DEFINITELY going to enter some races before the end of this year but I already have a lot on my plate as far as yearly goals go and I know I would easily put "entering a race" on the backburner should even the slightest scheduling issue arise. So, to be realistic, I'm setting my goal as one year from today.
Anyway, I never realized there was SOOOOO much running gear available - holy fucking shit, dude - SERIOUSLY. I had absolutely no idea where to even begin!!! But, I researched necessary and recommended gear for a person who wants to get into running and I found a bunch of stuff I actually like. Today, I ordered some stuff to help me get started. I wanted to be smart about it though - I don't NEED a bunch of shit right away - I'm just starting out and I'm not going to be an idiot who drops hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a bunch of crap I've never used before. So, I bought some necessary things - necessary for me and my goals, anyway.
FYI - I'm not endorsing any of the following products (like, who the fuck am I to endorse running products anyway, right? HAHAHA) - I just thought I'd share in case anyone else considered themselves a "beginner" with running (just like me) and had an interest in knowing what gear other beginners were using/buying.
Running Shoes - ASICS GT 2000 3 (Green Gecko/Silver/Black)
The shoes in which I currently exercise are not dedicated running shoes. They are athletic sneakers that I have completely destroyed by being so hard on them. I am not exaggerating when I say this - they are literally breaking apart at the seems. I NEED new shoes. So, I researched well-reviewed running shoes and picked something in a comfortable price range. I'm a beginner - no need to spend $200 on one pair of shoes, you know? However, I do need something decent because my calves always feel destroyed after running and I know a lot of it is because of my shitty shoes. And, since I'll want to run sometimes when it's dark (either at night or in the morning), I picked a color scheme that was bright and easily seen.
Compression Sleeves - McDavid Reflective Compression Calf Sleeves (Black)
As I stated, my calves take a beating when I run. And, the weird part is that my calves are probably the most muscular part of my body. I'm not joking when I say they are HUGE - like bodybuilder huge (they're not defined as much anymore, but they're still big ass balls of muscle). Anyway, when I go running they cramp really bad when I'm done and they stay tight and sore for daaaaays. When I was doing research I found that many runners use compression sleeves to help during their recovery. The science behind them is 50/50 (some science proves they work, some science proves they mostly give runners the placebo effect), but I wanted to try them. So, I found a highly recommended pair that wasn't out of my price range. I got ones with reflective material on them to help me be seen when I run in the dark.
Running Jacket - Zoot Sports Men's Wind Swell (Black/Orange)
I have a lightweight jacket that I often use but I wanted to get myself a dedicated running jacket for two reasons. 1) My current lightweight jacket is blue and isn't that visible in the dark. I wanted to get a jacket which would be more visible at night or in the early morning when I'm running down a road that isn't lit with street lights. 2) My current jacket isn't BIG on me by any standard, but I plan on losing enough weight in the near future to warrant needing a new one. However, I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a high-tech, lightweight, breathable, water-resistant windbreaker made from highly reflective material so I found a good starter jacket. It was inexpensive and fits the description of what I need right now.
Heart Monitor - Polar FT7 (Black/Silver)
I need to monitor my heart in more ways than one. I need to eat healthy and exercise, but I also need to avoid putting my heart in a dangerous situation by working it too hard. There are many types of heart monitors but I wanted one that was both accurate and comfortable. I found that many athletes and medical professionals use Polar products to monitor heart rate so I researched their products and found one that will give me everything I need. This one is perfect for me. You wear the monitor on a comfortable chest strap and it sends the information to the wrist watch included with the kit. The wrist watch not only shows you your current heart rate though which is why I thought this one was so cool. You enter some personal information which includes your maximum heart rate and, as you exercise, the watch will tell you exactly which range your heart is currently working. There are different settings on the watch and you can pick what you want to track. For instance, if I want my heart rate to stay in the "fat burning zone," all you have to do is look at the line graph on your watch (which displays your current heart rate in comparison to your safe minimum and maximum heart rates) and it will show you if you need to increase or decrease your heart rate. How cool!!! It also wasn't super expensive which was definitely a plus.
Anyway, my stuff should arrive in about two weeks (the heart rate monitor isn't due to be in stock until February 26th and I chose to have everything shipped at once, so I have to wait a little bit). I'm excited to begin this new adventure!!!
Thanks for the advice, Cowboy. As I stated already, I'm going to start off slow and then go from there. I'm sure there are all types of clubs or groups I could join up here (outdoor activity, including running, is quite popular where we live), but I'm going to wait a while until I even think of committing myself to a team of some sort. I just don't want to be that guy who shows a bunch of good intention and then never shows up, you know? So, I'm going to get in decent shape first and then look into joining an athletic club of some kind. Exercising in a group, especially when everyone is supportive and is ultimately working toward the same goal, is extremely beneficial.
Anyway, I never realized there was SOOOOO much running gear available - holy fucking shit, dude - SERIOUSLY. I had absolutely no idea where to even begin!!! But, I researched necessary and recommended gear for a person who wants to get into running and I found a bunch of stuff I actually like. Today, I ordered some stuff to help me get started. I wanted to be smart about it though - I don't NEED a bunch of shit right away - I'm just starting out and I'm not going to be an idiot who drops hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a bunch of crap I've never used before. So, I bought some necessary things - necessary for me and my goals, anyway.
FYI - I'm not endorsing any of the following products (like, who the fuck am I to endorse running products anyway, right? HAHAHA) - I just thought I'd share in case anyone else considered themselves a "beginner" with running (just like me) and had an interest in knowing what gear other beginners were using/buying.
Running Shoes - ASICS GT 2000 3 (Green Gecko/Silver/Black)
The shoes in which I currently exercise are not dedicated running shoes. They are athletic sneakers that I have completely destroyed by being so hard on them. I am not exaggerating when I say this - they are literally breaking apart at the seems. I NEED new shoes. So, I researched well-reviewed running shoes and picked something in a comfortable price range. I'm a beginner - no need to spend $200 on one pair of shoes, you know? However, I do need something decent because my calves always feel destroyed after running and I know a lot of it is because of my shitty shoes. And, since I'll want to run sometimes when it's dark (either at night or in the morning), I picked a color scheme that was bright and easily seen.
Compression Sleeves - McDavid Reflective Compression Calf Sleeves (Black)
As I stated, my calves take a beating when I run. And, the weird part is that my calves are probably the most muscular part of my body. I'm not joking when I say they are HUGE - like bodybuilder huge (they're not defined as much anymore, but they're still big ass balls of muscle). Anyway, when I go running they cramp really bad when I'm done and they stay tight and sore for daaaaays. When I was doing research I found that many runners use compression sleeves to help during their recovery. The science behind them is 50/50 (some science proves they work, some science proves they mostly give runners the placebo effect), but I wanted to try them. So, I found a highly recommended pair that wasn't out of my price range. I got ones with reflective material on them to help me be seen when I run in the dark.
Running Jacket - Zoot Sports Men's Wind Swell (Black/Orange)
I have a lightweight jacket that I often use but I wanted to get myself a dedicated running jacket for two reasons. 1) My current lightweight jacket is blue and isn't that visible in the dark. I wanted to get a jacket which would be more visible at night or in the early morning when I'm running down a road that isn't lit with street lights. 2) My current jacket isn't BIG on me by any standard, but I plan on losing enough weight in the near future to warrant needing a new one. However, I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a high-tech, lightweight, breathable, water-resistant windbreaker made from highly reflective material so I found a good starter jacket. It was inexpensive and fits the description of what I need right now.
Heart Monitor - Polar FT7 (Black/Silver)
I need to monitor my heart in more ways than one. I need to eat healthy and exercise, but I also need to avoid putting my heart in a dangerous situation by working it too hard. There are many types of heart monitors but I wanted one that was both accurate and comfortable. I found that many athletes and medical professionals use Polar products to monitor heart rate so I researched their products and found one that will give me everything I need. This one is perfect for me. You wear the monitor on a comfortable chest strap and it sends the information to the wrist watch included with the kit. The wrist watch not only shows you your current heart rate though which is why I thought this one was so cool. You enter some personal information which includes your maximum heart rate and, as you exercise, the watch will tell you exactly which range your heart is currently working. There are different settings on the watch and you can pick what you want to track. For instance, if I want my heart rate to stay in the "fat burning zone," all you have to do is look at the line graph on your watch (which displays your current heart rate in comparison to your safe minimum and maximum heart rates) and it will show you if you need to increase or decrease your heart rate. How cool!!! It also wasn't super expensive which was definitely a plus.
Anyway, my stuff should arrive in about two weeks (the heart rate monitor isn't due to be in stock until February 26th and I chose to have everything shipped at once, so I have to wait a little bit). I'm excited to begin this new adventure!!!
Thanks for the advice, Cowboy. As I stated already, I'm going to start off slow and then go from there. I'm sure there are all types of clubs or groups I could join up here (outdoor activity, including running, is quite popular where we live), but I'm going to wait a while until I even think of committing myself to a team of some sort. I just don't want to be that guy who shows a bunch of good intention and then never shows up, you know? So, I'm going to get in decent shape first and then look into joining an athletic club of some kind. Exercising in a group, especially when everyone is supportive and is ultimately working toward the same goal, is extremely beneficial.
jen_renee
New member
I can attest to the fact that they are very nice.
Oaks
New member
I'm fully on board with another runner around here! Regarding the tight calves, the best thing I've found for that is stretching on the stairs. Face up the stairs with your heels off the edge, and lower your heels. I go one at a time for a deep stretch. It's helped me a bunch, I do it before every run and then just whenever I randomly think about it.
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