The Swamp

Posted: **Tue Nov 12, 2024 11:39 pm**

Thanks! It feels great. That being said, I did a similar thing a few years back, and gained a lot of it back.

Last time, while I did get into a good exercise routine, I lost a lot of the weight by going into calorie deficiency. And I was still drinking. Which meant not enough good calories. Which meant much less energy and sleep. Which made it harder to keep up.

I'm hoping to break that cycle this time. We will see if/when I start drinking again, how it effects my progress.

Posted: **Wed Nov 13, 2024 7:17 am**

sancarlos wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 10:44 pm
garyclark wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:15 pm It's November 12th and I'm reporting back, as promised, since today marks three months of my non-alcoholic-eat-better-exercise-daily personal challenge. Good news is that I'm now down 29 pounds in those three months.

Planning on reporting back on December 12th, as my goal is to do this for at least another month. I'm not planning on losing as much weight in the next month as I have been as I want to focus more time on building muscle. But another 5 pounds dropped would be great. We'll see.

New things in my routine:
-Running some (I average about 1 mile a day, with at least 4 more walking; the most I've run straight is 3 miles).
-Running in a race - Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving - 4.4 miles
-Introducing protein powder into my daily meal plan (Transparent Labs)
-Working on upper body muscles 3x a week (nothing major, just a 30 minute circuit)

Things I'm looking for advice on:
-How to build balance and flexibility
Losing 29 pounds in three months is impressive! Good job!

Hang out, Brian may come by and tell you why you’re an idiot for your opinion.

Posted: **Wed Nov 13, 2024 7:58 am**

Nice job catch. I'm mostly impressed by the three mile run (and the no drinks). I know there are tons on here that do way better but I'm quite sure I couldn't drag my almost fifty three miles unless it was all downhill

Posted: **Fri Nov 15, 2024 12:11 am**

HaulCitgo wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2024 7:58 am Nice job catch. I'm mostly impressed by the three mile run (and the no drinks). I know there are tons on here that do way better but I'm quite sure I couldn't drag my almost fifty three miles unless it was all downhill

Thanks. Replacing alcohol with non-alcoholic drinks I actually enjoy drinking has been a big help.

Posted: **Thu Nov 21, 2024 8:19 pm**

I’ve noticed recently that stroopwafel is being marketed as a health/energy product. Someone deserves a raise for that.

Posted: **Thu Nov 21, 2024 8:22 pm**

Rex wrote: Thu Nov 21, 2024 8:19 pm I’ve noticed recently that stroopwafel is being marketed as a health/energy product. Someone deserves a raise for that.

The Dutch have always been resourceful.

Posted: **Thu Nov 21, 2024 8:36 pm**

I swear, there was a commercial during the TNF game for “energy fuel” and it was stroopwafel. Why didn’t Oreo think of this?

Posted: **Thu Nov 21, 2024 8:36 pm**

Rex wrote: Thu Nov 21, 2024 8:36 pm I swear, there was a commercial during the TNF game for “energy fuel” and it was stroopwafel. Why didn’t Oreo think of this?

Stroopwafels are definitely a thing in the running community right now.

Posted: **Fri Nov 22, 2024 2:16 pm**

Posted: **Fri Nov 22, 2024 2:57 pm**

That's amazing

Posted: **Fri Nov 22, 2024 5:13 pm**

govmentchedda wrote: Fri Nov 22, 2024 2:57 pm That's amazing

Lol. Mine are mostly ovals. Much shorter ones at that.

Posted: **Sat Nov 23, 2024 2:31 pm**

garyclark wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:05 pm
EdRomero wrote: Mon Nov 11, 2024 5:51 pm
garyclark wrote: Mon Nov 11, 2024 5:02 pm Do you have a goal apart from get in better general shape? (FWIW, seems like you're in pretty damn good shape now)
I struggle with that. When I committed to running, something that helped was I graded myself on pass/fail -- if I kept showing up I achieved my goal, and that's why I continue to go to so many of my group's run (which the group jokes about). I just get competitive with myself; I want to PR at different distances and I want to put myself in position where I can try another marathon or even an ultra. I just turned 50 and I don't know if it's a midlife crisis thing (I guess I'm beyond midlife), but I feel like I want to chase after a tougher goal. On the other hand I don't want to lose the positives of running by going for goals, which is usually caused by overtraining or life getting in way.

Right now, I do about 25-30 miles a week doing 4 to 5 runs with social drinking after, so I'm toying with doing 3 to 4 per week for the same mileage, but keeping the social somehow. I might write a lot as I figure this out. My schedule:
Monday: 4-6 miles with fast people and drink at a brewery after where a bartender sometimes hooks us up with ridulously discounted beer.
Tuesday: I lead that run and it's 4 miles with slower people followed by an empty pub with overpriced beer but 50% off tater tots
Wednesday: 4 to 5 miles, 400 to 600 feet elevation and very challenging but helps a lot. Great group after and a bad sports bar, but it's where I met Zdeno Chara.
Thursday: 4 to 6 miles, varying course with the biggest and most social group with some fast runners with a great bar with $3 Coors Lights
Saturday: Try to do a long run in addition to joining a group 4 mile run followed by coffee with more good people

So I'm thinking Thursday or Monday can be pace and Saturday can be distance. Maybe throw in a morning track workout before doing the Tuesday or Wednesday night run, although doing doubles might not be smart,
I turned 50 this year and my plan is that I'm not yet at midlife. Lol.

That's an impressive amount of running and socializing.

Your posts are inspirational to me, so I hope you keep updating us on your thinking.

Week one, very mixed results. Monday night I ran much faster on a hilly course and it felt great and my watch for some reason thought it was a light run. However, Tuesday morning, I felt like shit and skipped the gym (not sure if was because of running harder or stopping at McDonalds on the way home from the run). Instead of runnning on Tuesday, I walked to the liquor store to buy Whiskey and instead of running on Wednesday I drank 3 glasses of whiskey. Thursday night I ran much faster than usual, but again skipped the gym the next morning. This morning I did a miserable hungover 6 mile run which is about half the distance I wanted. So my issues are by taking days off, you have to run on the other days no matter what happens with weather or life, whereas it's not as big of a deal to miss a run if you're running several days a week. Other issue, is not being a lazy drunk on the days I don't run. Good news is I think I can run faster more often and I hope that results in improved times.

On a different note, I'm loving Poppi Soda. It's very expensive on Amazon but I found out Market Basket sells it at a reasonable price. It satisfies my soda craving without much sugar or the chemicals in diet stuff.

Posted: **Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:24 am**

Poppi is great. It's also expensive. Need to find a Market Basket.

Posted: **Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:34 am**

My oldest fucking loves the faux Dr. Pepper they make. I can't decide if its really expensive or just expensive through the lens of "when I was young a can of generic soda cost like 15 cents.

Posted: **Sun Dec 01, 2024 11:48 am**

Ran a half marathon this morning. The training block was filled with distractions. Still got it done in 1:56:17. Feel really great about that time. About a mile in a woman I'd been running near asked me what my goal was, and I told her I wasn't sure what I was capable of today. She said she missed breaking 2 by less than a minute last year, and she wanted to break 2. I told her I was fine sticking close to her and work in pair with her. We took turns leading each other and just steady ripped off 8:45ish miles. As we turned one of the last corners I got a boost seeing my family and picked up the pace a little. I realized I had dropped my running bud and looked back for her. I finished in 1:56:17 and she was two seconds behind, beating her goal by more than three minutes. There's no way I would have finished that fast without her sharing half the work.

Posted: **Mon Dec 02, 2024 8:45 am**

Nice job. Creating good running karma is a good strategy.

I signed up for my nemesis race, Stu's 30K, and I just read my old posts about the last 2 times I did it. What the hell am I doing to myself? This will be your last chance to ever do this race. Here's the link if you want to enjoy a rolling 30k in the middle of nowhere, Massachusetts when it could be icy, snowing and freezing or 60 and sunny: https://cmsrun.org/races-events-3/stu-30k/

Posted: **Mon Dec 02, 2024 9:06 am**

EdRomero wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 8:45 am Nice job. Creating good running karma is a good strategy.

I signed up for my nemesis race, Stu's 30K, and I just read my old posts about the last 2 times I did it. What the hell am I doing to myself? This will be your last chance to ever do this race. Here's the link if you want to enjoy a rolling 30k in the middle of nowhere, Massachusetts when it could be icy, snowing and freezing or 60 and sunny: https://cmsrun.org/races-events-3/stu-30k/

Hard pass, but I look forward to hearing about it.

Posted: **Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:35 pm**

So, we had loads of guests staying at our home over the past 2.5 weeks. Lots of drinking, lots or rich, caloric food. No brakes. Not enough exercise. But, now, they have all departed, and the scale says I gained six pounds in that short period of time. Time to readjust the diet and exercise regimen, now!

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:08 pm**

Eh, this fits?

My choices are the same as the poster’s: mile, dunk, black belt, with the caveat that “dunk” means something more than full stretch one-handed Jalen Brunson-style dunks. I gotta be able to bring the house down.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:13 pm**

Feels like one of those things in a video game where you choose attributes and the character's body style changes accordingly. I want to see the one that's made of squat, marathon, and dunk. Dude is like 90% thighs.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:45 pm**

Rex wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:08 pm Eh, this fits?

My choices are the same as the poster’s: mile, dunk, black belt, with the caveat that “dunk” means something more than full stretch one-handed Jalen Brunson-style dunks. I gotta be able to bring the house down.

Yeah, I'd pick the same 3, although at 54, quibbling over how well I dunk is a non-issue. I'd just love to have those knees again.

BTW, all three of the running ones seem way more elite, superhuman than the rest.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:51 pm**

Anyone else read this totally wrong, like you had to pick the 3 you think you could find a way to accomplish at this stage of life?

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:53 pm**

Anyway, the ironman is the obvious #1 pick because it means you're somewhere between really good and elite at three different things.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:54 pm**

Last three for me. I am with D on the Ironman.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 3:27 pm**

mister d wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:53 pm Anyway, the ironman is the obvious #1 pick because it means you're somewhere between really good and elite at three different things.

and if you're running a sub 2:20 marathon (a 5:34 pace roughly) you're going to be more than capable of getting a 4 minute mile

I'm also 6-1 and have been able to grab the rim. had I specifically trained for a year or so I probably could have dunked. there's no level of training that would have gotten me to a 4.49 40.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 3:57 pm**

see, i would be bored running a marathon, let alone an Ironman. Running a 4 minute mile is fun and practical at the same time.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 4:38 pm**

duff wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 2:54 pm Last three for me. I am with D on the Ironman.

I think this is the winner.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 4:48 pm**

You see, if I could squat that much I think I'd be able to dunk just from that. I have dunked before, but it's been a minute since I even attemped to see how high I can get these days.

I see no reason to bench that much. Don't need another cardio activity that takes less than four minutes. No desire to run a marathon. No idea what that bike thing is but I assume it's some kind of power output. I'd pick the swimming if I had to have three because if I could do that I'd probably be able to do it to stay in shape as well. Ironman: see running. Also: sharks! I think BJJ is Brazilian Ju Jitsu. Who I need to whooop up on?

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 7:50 pm**

Nowhere does it have to say you have to run a marathon or compete in an ironman race. It just says you can do these things.

Posted: **Wed Dec 18, 2024 8:59 pm**

The bike w/kg ratio would mostly be relevant to climbing mountain passes. It would be cool to climb the Alps like a pro, but not practical unless you are going to be in a bike race. And racing bikes is for insane people.

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 7:20 am**

Easily the last three for me too. Two for survival and one for fun.

I can defend myself, I can swim, and I can make the crowd go wild.

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 7:34 am**

DSafetyGuy wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 7:50 pm Nowhere does it have to say you have to run a marathon or compete in an ironman race. It just says you can do these things.

**at a party**

“Hey Dsafe! If you could have a super power what would it be?”

“Do I have to use said power?”

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 9:48 am**

Flawed hypothetical. Without the aspect of how the abilities are employed, it's just preference. It's like listing ice cream flavors and saying "you only get 3, choose wisely this is so deep lol".

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:40 am**

Coffee oreo (JP Licks) and sour cream blueberry (Milk Sugar Love) and basic chocolate (lets say Van Leeuwen).

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:48 am**

JP Licks is "Jamaica Plain" Licks, correct?

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:17 am**

govmentchedda wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:48 am JP Licks is "Jamaica Plain" Licks, correct?

Huh. Never knew that.

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:27 am**

Jonathan Papelbon Licks, a Mr. D favorite.

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:32 am**

mister d wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:40 am Coffee oreo (JP Licks) and sour cream blueberry (Milk Sugar Love) and basic chocolate (lets say Van Leeuwen).

Zita’s forever!

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:47 am**

Fancy fux... Brighams and friendlys... Though I'd go for the cow place in Sharon (named crescent ridge apparently)

Posted: **Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:49 am**

The Sybian wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:32 amZita’s forever!

If PDX didn't limit me to three, their one with the graham cracker base would be on the list.

garyclark wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:17 am
govmentchedda wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:48 am JP Licks is "Jamaica Plain" Licks, correct?
Huh. Never knew that.

This is correct, I looked it up a very long time ago and it stuck.

The Swamp

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