Changing My Life...

[madrussian]

If you hate long reads, I apologize.

So when I was growing up as a kid I was extremely fit (weren't we all? I know) and earned the nickname of shrimp as I was shorter and skinny from spending most of my days playing sports or biking. Flash forward to when I turned 16 and discovered meals in bags handed to me through a window. Keep going through college and you've come to today... a 6'4" 275lb HOSS!

Almost 2 years ago my sister got diagnosed with an incredibly rare terminal cancer. She was much healthier than I. Very physically fit, ate way healthier and was much more active. I decided that as a tribute to her, I would run a half marathon in her honor (whether she's still with us or not when I finally do run). I bought a bike a year ago to get more fit, rode for an "excruciating" 100 miles (over multiple rides) and hung it up. My gf's dad bought me shoes to help motivate me to run, it failed, I ran 1 5k and stopped.

So this year, I got a job (first time not working for myself) and matured incredibly fast compared to where i once was, and started getting into a routine. A friend of mine who is a bodybuilder, offered to help train me. The goal and commitment I made to run for my sister has consistently stuck with me and haunted me as has that beautiful bike collecting dust in my garage. For whatever reason, despite trying multiple times over and over again to get fit, it never stuck. However this time it finally did...

I started 2/13/12. It has been 10 weeks (I took a week off) and I have lost 45 lbs so far...

Lifting - Tues/Thurs/Saturday
Cardio - 6x a week at first, now about 4-5x
I eat every 3 hours, at least 5x a day.
I'm up to 4.5 miles running and 20 mile rides on the bike...

I posted this to share my story, but also to maybe help motivate some others lurking in the background here, and to help keep myself motivated (this week has been trying). I still have a ways to go, to achieve my goal of running the half marathon and getting my weight down more, but I'm proud to say I'm well on my way! Hoping to make it across that line and make my sister proud the way she's made us proud.

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Excellent read. Thanks for sharing, and keep on!

[Papa Dras]

Good for you, man! It's pretty incredible what 45lbs does for a person- you already look a hell of a lot better.

[01tj]

Keep up the good work, the more work you put in the more you will want to workout

[Steveo989]

I would suggest less running and more biking if your schedule allows. I know it's difficult since biking tends to take more time out of your day, but you can get in more volume safely. I think your knees will thank you when you are 70. I try to suggest swimming, cycling rather than running for heavier people since it is a lot more force on your joints, connective tissue, etc.

[madrussian]

I would suggest less running and more biking if your schedule allows. I know it's difficult since biking tends to take more time out of your day, but you can get in more volume safely. I think your knees will thank you when you are 70. I try to suggest swimming, cycling rather than running for heavier people since it is a lot more force on your joints, connective tissue, etc.

yeah i know, and agree. im actually not a huge fan of running. i much prefer cycling, but i don't plan on doing multiple events or becoming a long term runner (outside of maybe having the ability to bust out a 5k from time to time). however, due to the commitment i made, i will train up to running a half before i turn to concentrating on one thing full time...

i LOVE riding my bike...

thanks guys!

[SpiffyGTI]

Dude, awesome job making the commitment and actually sticking to it. Losing 45 lbs. already is great. Keep it up man.

[Papa Dras]

yeah i know, and agree. im actually not a huge fan of running. i much prefer cycling, but i don't plan on doing multiple events or becoming a long term runner (outside of maybe having the ability to bust out a 5k from time to time). however, due to the commitment i made, i will train up to running a half before i turn to concentrating on one thing full time...

i LOVE riding my bike...

thanks guys!

I don't like running, but I still do 20-25 miles a week and ride 60-80 a week on average. I would HIGHLY suggest you don't drop either and keep doing what you are doing. They are completely different on the body and your cardio benefits will be higher doing both. Try running only and then jump on a bike and see how hard it is. On the flip side, try only riding and then running and you want to die after a few miles.

[madrussian]

I don't like running, but I still do 20-25 miles a week and ride 60-80 a week on average. I would HIGHLY suggest you don't drop either and keep doing what you are doing. They are completely different on the body and your cardio benefits will be higher doing both. Try running only and then jump on a bike and see how hard it is. On the flip side, try only riding and then running and you want to die after a few miles.

I have a few Dualthon's that I'd like to try so this is where I'm headed... I've just been leary to start as I don't feel I'm excelling at either one yet.

My running pace is slow, around 10:30 a mile...

[SpiffyGTI]

Just keep at it and don't get discouraged. As you know, you're not going to drop to a 6:00/mile overnight.

[chaugner]

awesome stuff ... I had a similar story in terms of being in shape as a kid/younger and just loosing it until I had a pretty bad back injury 2 years ago. Once you push yourself, that feeling after the first 3 months is just amazing. Your body does such a huge transformation in terms of weight and overall fitness. You made it past the most difficult point ... the rest from here on out is just easy sailing and SOOO much fun.

[pops]

Awesome job. Do you have some concrete long term goals you want to share?

[madrussian]

Awesome job. Do you have some concrete long term goals you want to share?

i have some loosely drawn up goals. weight wise, im aiming to be 195. when i started i wanted to be 200, but i really feel 195 is feasible. though its not concrete because its really about where and when i feel/look good. im lifting, so im hoping i can offset some of the weight with muscle and being a bit more lean/defined.

as far as accomplishments:
run a half marathon.
do a 100 mile bike ride.
do a triathlon.

i also would love to be able to use my story to motivate those who mean the most around me to lose weight (family). my mom has diabetes and despite my progress hasn't changed her lifestyle. i guess thats also why i shared on here. the difference in energy, happiness, outlook, confidence, etc. is so much better.

[Steveo989]

yeah i know, and agree. im actually not a huge fan of running. i much prefer cycling, but i don't plan on doing multiple events or becoming a long term runner (outside of maybe having the ability to bust out a 5k from time to time). however, due to the commitment i made, i will train up to running a half before i turn to concentrating on one thing full time...

i LOVE riding my bike...

thanks guys!

Alot of cycling fitness carries over to running as well, so if you are doing 5 cardio sessions a week I would do 3 cycling 2 running. You will still get your time improvements running.

Also, are you familiar with different types of running training, and are you using a hear rate monitor to help stay in certain training zones? I am a huge believer in heart rate training. Pairing perceived exertion with heart rate training will work wonders. Plus, if you read up on tempo, lactate threshold, long runs, etc. These will help you a ton, and keep you healthy as well.

For example, you say you are at 4.5 miles. If you do that daily, run 2 miles your first two running events for the week, and on your third(on a weekend) run your first 6 miles. Since you will need to recover longer, schedule your active-recovery day on the bike, and do a 60% max heart rate ride, a day off after, and one normal cycling day. When you come back to running the next week you should breakthrough in terms of pace, RPE, etc.


I suggest picking one of these up, it will work well for fueling/hydrating you when you are running your long runs, as well as when you start needing more than one water bottle while running. It will distribute the weight better than the two water bottles on a belt, and other similar hydration systems.

By far, the Fuel belt, or the hand strap water bottles are the best route to go for hydration.

Avoid at all costs, the water bottle on the belt. I had one that had two water bottles on a belt and it bounced like crazy and I actually had bruising where the bottles were hitting me in the back near my kidnies. The fuel belt distributes the weight much better, and is pretty darn secure.

As it warms up, don't be too hard on yourself when your times start to slow a bit. Your body will use more blood to cool you and you will have less available to supply your working muscles with oxygen and also to flush out all the waste products of running. As you get acclimated to the heat this will resolve itself. Your sweat will also change in it's concentration. As the body gets used to sweating much more you will lose less sodium and other substances with your sweat, but you will likely sweat MORE water out to cool you, and this is a good thing. Just hydrate more.

Keep us updated and I look forward to following your progress!

[madrussian]

Alot of cycling fitness carries over to running as well, so if you are doing 5 cardio sessions a week I would do 3 cycling 2 running. You will still get your time improvements running.

i try to break it up, so i do a couple runs and a couple days of biking. not always 3/2, sometimes its 2/3.

Also, are you familiar with different types of running training, and are you using a hear rate monitor to help stay in certain training zones? I am a huge believer in heart rate training. Pairing perceived exertion with heart rate training will work wonders. Plus, if you read up on tempo, lactate threshold, long runs, etc. These will help you a ton, and keep you healthy as well.

For example, you say you are at 4.5 miles. If you do that daily, run 2 miles your first two running events for the week, and on your third(on a weekend) run your first 6 miles. Since you will need to recover longer, schedule your active-recovery day on the bike, and do a 60% max heart rate ride, a day off after, and one normal cycling day. When you come back to running the next week you should breakthrough in terms of pace, RPE, etc.

i like this idea. i havent done anything like this yet. so a rough idea is something like this:

mon. - bike - 20 miles
tues. - run 2 miles
wed. - run 2 miles
thurs. - bike - 20 miles
fri- rest
sat. - run 6 miles
sun. - bike 60% rate? or less miles?

I suggest picking one of these up, it will work well for fueling/hydrating you when you are running your long runs, as well as when you start needing more than one water bottle while running. It will distribute the weight better than the two water bottles on a belt, and other similar hydration systems.

By far, the Fuel belt, or the hand strap water bottles are the best route to go for hydration.

Avoid at all costs, the water bottle on the belt. I had one that had two water bottles on a belt and it bounced like crazy and I actually had bruising where the bottles were hitting me in the back near my kidnies. The fuel belt distributes the weight much better, and is pretty darn secure.

As it warms up, don't be too hard on yourself when your times start to slow a bit. Your body will use more blood to cool you and you will have less available to supply your working muscles with oxygen and also to flush out all the waste products of running. As you get acclimated to the heat this will resolve itself. Your sweat will also change in it's concentration. As the body gets used to sweating much more you will lose less sodium and other substances with your sweat, but you will likely sweat MORE water out to cool you, and this is a good thing. Just hydrate more.

Keep us updated and I look forward to following your progress!

i actually am bad about water on both aspects. i usually run or ride and then stop and drink water at the end, never during. sometimes on the bike ride, ill stop for a quick drink. im not sure if im at a long enough distance where this really makes a difference yet? runs dont go over an hour, and my bike rides are around the 1:30hr mark.

this may also have to do with the fact that its only recently starting to get hotter and hotter w/ more humidity. i do however think that belt is awesome, going to look into that.

appreciate all the feedback.