Tarazan, Spinster & Lunatic

Tarazan

Tarazan

New member
I joined this site last weekend. I've been finding time here and there to read through threads and make a few posts. I've just come from the Miscellaneous/Off-Topic threads and enjoyed one on summer reads which conjured up memories Bridget Jones' Diary (hence the "spinster & lunatic").

Prior to Off-Topics I was viewing Before, During & After posts and was really amazed at how many people are doing so well here. I'm motivated - enough to start my journal.

My goal? Well, many. I want to enter a sprint triathlon next summer. To get there? create the physical ability through proper nutrition and strength & endurance exercises/training.

As of today I cannot run for more than 40 seconds at 4.8 mph without feeling like my lungs are collapsing in on me. I cannot swim more than 2 lengths of a junior olympic pool (must change strokes between the two laps). I cannot bike well at all due to a bruised tailbone (though I can make it through a spin class if I just pedal and not try to do what the class is doing).

As of today I CAN run for 40 seconds at 4.8 mph, I CAN swim 2 lengths of the pool and I CAN make it through a 50-minute spin class by just pedaling at a standard tension.

MY FIRST GOALS: I want to jog 1 mile at 5 mph. I want to swim 10 lengths of the pool, front-crawl, non-stop. I want to make it through 3 spin classes in one week where I am working at the same pace as others in the class. I may not even weigh myself again until I reach these goals (though I am signed up on a July challenge...)

For fuel I plan on limiting myself to 1800 calories per day (though I will listen to my body as to if it needs more or less) and will stick to lean protein, unprocessed whole grains and lots of fruits and vegetables. I will enjoy adding avocados, almonds, walnuts, pecan, salmon and olive oil to my diet regularly but in moderation. I will try at least one new recipe a week so I can learn to remain healthy without feeling deprived of the "finer tastes". I will gradually wean myself from diet soda and caffeinated tea. I will carry water, a snack baggie with 1/4 cup of nuts and a pre-packaged (unsweetened) applesauce cup with me wherever I go in the event I find myself away from good food when it is feeding time.

Larger obstacles will be elminating liquor and tobacco; I have yet to determine what my plan will be there. I am hoping I will just run out of time to spend on those unhealthy, unnecessary things because I'll be so busy having fun in the great outdoors, playing in the mountains or even just listening to some favorite music while at the gym.

Now I'm going out for some calorie-burning, summertime-fun activity.

Until next time,
Tarazan :Angel_anim:
 
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I want to jog 1 mile at 5 mph
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as someone who's got a very similar goal - Might I suggest a more manageable goal -like jogging for 1 minute at 5mph-- then working your way up to 2 minutes... and so on... :)
 
:waving:Hi and Welcome! I think your targets are great! Have you posted our before pic yet?

Best wishes on your journey! Oh, and have you tried the Patch for quitting?

Cheers
ABBA
 
Congrats on the first few pounds!!! U can make your own soda with sparking water and sugar free cola flavor if it is just the flavor you miss... If it is the caffeine, then you are on your own... lol... I have never attempted a spin class... Is it deathly?
 
Welcome! Thanks for sharing your goals. Look forward to seeing your progress and achieving those goals.
 
Thanks, everyone!

Maleficent: No worries, I do plan to work up to my 1 mile jog through interval training. The 1 mile is just my first goal... with 5 miles being my ultimate goal (then I'll worry about increasing speed). I'm giving myself 1 year to get to the 5 miles, so I'll keep working toward it, mile by mile. I appreciate your suggestion!

hillbillylee: Thank you - I am one who needs to be reminded to slow it down from time to time, so I appreciate your thoughtfulness!

ABBAgirl: I don't have before pictures but will get my husband to take a couple tonight. My avatar is me on vacation a couple years ago in Mexico and doesn't really show me, least yet all my rolling glory. Also, I haven't tried the patch. I have a feeling my problem is more habit than addiction. I don't smoke all day but wait until "t.v. time" to sit on the floor and chain smoke. I just need to switch that daily activity for another and another until I find one that keeps me away from the death sticks. However, I may just try the patch - maybe it is an addiction more than habit and I just don't know it! Thanks!

Moliss22: Great idea on the soda, I've never heard of the cola stuff you mentioned but imagine I can find it if I start asking around?? It is the flavor I like, not the caffeine (thankfully). And spin class, yes, pretty suicidal. In my ups and downs with health and weight I have had bouts of successful weight loss and improved physical abilities. I remember it took me about 4 weeks of spin classes, 3 times per week, before I could push with the rest of the class. I anticipate a bit longer now that I've hit 40. I recommend you try it (buy some padded bike shorts and bring 2 bottles of water and 2 towels). It is quite rewarding because you notice improvement in yourself with each class.

nc bmac08: Thanks for posting and wishing me luck, I appreciate it


Thanks again to everyone, I'm off for some activity now!

Tarazan :Angel_anim:
 
BEFORE pictures (beware, you may need 3D glasses)

These are my before pictures taken about 15 minutes ago. I am 5'7", last weigh-in was 7/4/08 at 237 lbs.
 
cute puppy and I love your haircut... very cute...

It is the flavor I like, not the caffeine (thankfully
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there are a couple of different brands that sell the soda flavorings - usually called an italian soda - that are available in sugar free.... coffee shops will sell them - and I've also seen them in the gourmet food section of marshalls and tjmaxx...
 
I found the cola flavor at my health co-op... A great place if you have one near... lots of little "treasures" for the vertically challenged trying to change... LOL

Will have to let the spin class sit on the back burner for a while... think I would be SO EMBARRASSED to die of a heart attack in front of 25 other people!
 
Hey girl!

Hey lady! I'm not as brave as you and I don't know if I'm going to post pics until I reach a mini-goal, and then show the before! Your puppy is outrageously cute!!! I just want to play with him/her! haha

I'm so glad that your goal is to do a sprint triathlon, that is my goal also!!! We can do it!! Also, I think you will be surprised with your running on how quickly it comes along. I would recommend downloading the Couch to 5K podcast on iTunes (free!!) to get you moving towards your goal. Your diet is a great one, keeping you with the amount of calories you will need to workout as much as you want while not being too limiting. You will be shocked at how easy it is to stay within your limits when you substitute for fulfilling, healthy food.

I basically stopped drinking. I still go out with my friends for the social aspect of it, but I will only drink tonic and lime now. They were confused at first what was going on (usually I am one of the biggest drinkers in the group) but they quickly got over it since now they have a DD wherever we go! Smoking, however, is a vice of mine that is difficult to give up. I quickly learned that I have no desire to smoke when I'm alone. It was just something I did to pass the time, and now that I am active I really don't have the time to do that. Sure, when I'm bored I really do want a Parliament Light now and again, but I think of when I work out I want to be able to run as far as I can with the only thing holding me back being my body, which I can change! Socially, however, is another thing. When I go out I bum a few from friends, but I never buy a pack for myself.

Well, I'm just rambling now but keep up the good work and congrats on spinning class! One of my faves!!!
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I quit smoking last September. I read a book called "The Easyway to Stop Smoking" by Allan Carr (I don't know if the authors name is spelt correctly). His book is great because it eliminates every psychological reason that we come up with to smoke. He makes smoking very undesireable. I recommend it to you.

Anyways good luck on your journey.
 
BUCKEYE: Thanks for joining my diary. I did see your couch-to-5K plan on your diary and was impressed. I've been to beginnertriathlete.com and played around in there and saw their free training plans. I do have an MP3 but not and ipod, so don't think I can download from itunes (can I?).

I think that's great about your tonic and lime and how your friends appreciate what you're doing for your health (or, as you said, for being their DD! too funny). I'm going to try the book Adeon recommended regarding smoking (or not) - I'm sure that will significantly help with my interval training!

And I do love my doggie (Kraut Dog). He's a good boy!

Good luck, keep it up, and CHEERS with a choco-banana sin shake!

ADEON: Thank you so much for the recommendation. It might be just what I need. I really, really appreciate you taking the time to read my plights and offer a next step!

Best,
Tarazan :Angel_anim:
 
hahaha I like it, sin shake. I'm going to store that into my memory and whenever you see me listing my food intake it will read Lunch: sin shake. hahahaha Too funny!

I know you can still download it to an iTunes player (which are free) but I don't know how to transfer to other MP3's. For being 22 I am EXTREMELY computer illiterate on some subjects! I will check out that website. Right now I'm following the book I bought earlier at Border's called "A Triathlete's Bible" or something like that (it is in my diary). It lists different training options and it was well worth the price. However, it is technical and it works well with my "science brain" so I'm more partial to something that reads like a scientific paper. To each their own! Good luck and keep up the great work!!!!!!!
 
I'll look for the book, Buckeye, thanks!

Adeon: It's a secret, our choco-banana sin shake recipe. I'll give it to you but you have to swear to not tell anyone the magic recipe....

8 oz unsweetened chocolate almond milk (Blue Diamond makes it, make sure you get the unsweetened!)

1 small, ripe banana

1 scoop protein powder

4 ice cubes

Blend away, pour into your favorite cup, stick a straw in it and enjoy!

It might not sound like much but when you're eating a ton of vegebtables, plain oatmeal and boiled chicken breasts the sin shake is an explosion to the tastebuds! It's also a GREAT pre-workout meal!

Ciao!
Tarazan :Angel_anim:
 
The title of your diary attracted me right away.

I have my own version of a "sin-shake." It's Mango Lassi-- an Indian yogurt-based smoothie. I feel like I am cheating, but it is high in fiber, high in calcium... and frankly, just abberantly scrumptious. In case you are interested, .
 
Thanks, Wordslinger - it does look sinfully delicious. Do you use the orange-flower water or leave that option off?
 
I opt to forgo the orange-flower water; I'm not entirely sure where it could be purchased. When I think of orange-flower water, I cannot help but recall the fops portrayed on the English stage during the restoration. "Would you like the essence, or orange-flower water?" "I will smell as I do today, no offense to the ladies' noses."

... Wow, I really wished I could turn my brain off. The semester is over! Why can't I rest? I have no need to be quoting 18th-century British stage plays.
 
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