All the races, talk of new goals, & awesome energy, along with the challenges, up/down, and frustration of injury has me curious about everyone's journey. Maybe others are curious, too?
So, share your H&F bio. Here are a few questions to think about.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger?
Any sports in high school or college?
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits?
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health?
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had?
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape?
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you?
Goals for the future?
Edit: Please feel free to add other detail or even disregard the questions and write your own bio if you like. Thanks for sharing!
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? None! My parents were kind of selfish and didn't enroll me in any kind of sports. I did play volleyball in high school, but was terrible at it.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I was about 40lbs overweight in my mid twenties thanks to drinking too often/too much and not working out at all. I have also unsuccessfully tried the Atkin's diet. I gained 9lbs years ago from it!
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? I am still in my bigger body, mentally. I am probably in the best shape of my life and am extremely fit, but I just can't shake it 100%.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? I own a very successful fitness studio and should be an "official" Spinning(r) Master Instructor by next month (I have one more task to complete) along with several other fitness certifications.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Gotta love burpees!
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Very well, thanks! We just adopted a little kitty and she makes us laugh. My marriage is great and 2014 is finally calming down in a good way.
Goals for the future? Keep my business running and myself healthy and happy.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Hated team sports, but was forced to do hockey and netball. I hated running, so I volunteered to be hockey goalie. I loved squash, tennis and waterskiing.
Any sports in high school or college? Again, forced to do netball. Ended up bargaining my way out of it. Was routinely 'unwell' during sports days.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? Ugh, struggled a long time. Refused to eat when I was mid teens. School staff then followed me around so I learned to throw it up. Kept doing that on and off most of my adult life, especially when I felt crap about things. Fitness has re-educated me. I deserve food. I need food. Want to eat more food? Exercise a bit more.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Diagnosed with cervical cancer 2 years ago. Had surgery to remove it. Ended up with lymphedema which means that my drainage system in the top of my legs is not great. What helps it? Keeping my legs moving. Running, cycling are awesome for it and I have had a massive improvement since taking up fitness. Getting pregnant in January this year meant I had to stop running, which upset me, but the pregnancy didn't work out so I am back and the exercise helps my mood incredibly.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Have run 9 Half marathons (minimum distance, 1 each week) in a row. Finding out how much I love cycling.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Cycling and running. Love both.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? I'm awesome.
Goals for the future? Keep doing the exercises I enjoy. Find more. Try anything. Try everything. Do a duathlon. Have another go at a marathon in the future.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Swimming. Pool swimming, open water swimming, distance swimming, and mid-distance swimming. Age group, high school, and college swimming. Free, fly, back, and IM. This was what I thought constituted "variety," and/or "cross-training." lol.
Any sports in high school or college? So, uh, swimming.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I've always fluctuated within a 10 lb. range or so, so my "struggles" are relatively small potatoes. For me it's more about moderating portion sizes and avoiding "food as a reward." I love food, it can be a problem.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? I think we all have body image concerns of some sort, mine are no more extreme than the usual. No real health or serious weight issues.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? As an age group swimmer, I was pretty accomplished, but one of the much-laughed about hobbies of masters swimmers is talking about how fast they used to be, so I try to avoid that cliche. I realized one day that my choice to keep prominently using my maiden name as a middle name, so as to retain a connection with my age group and college swimming past (which is highly google-able), was stupid. If you want to be known for being a boss, be a boss. To paraphrase Hyperbole and a Half, like maturity, it's not something you earn once and set on the mantle forever. You have to keep doing it. And so I became a triathlete, because that sounded hard to me, and I was up for that.
As an adult, transitioning from JUST SWIMMING to adding cycling and running was tough. I'm injury prone as a runner, which is common among swimmers-turned-runners. My legs just are not used to gravity or pounding. It's slowly getting better though.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Triathlon = built in cross training.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? I'm tired. Work is kicking my ass.
Goals for the future? So many. In the short term: sub-6 hr. half ironman, and finishing becoming an Adirondack 46r (37 peaks down, 9 to go.) Longer term: a full ironman (someday, when I have more time to train). A marathon. Who knows what else.
Post by emilyinchile on Jul 8, 2014 14:47:05 GMT -5
Great idea!
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Softball when I was little through 8th grade. I also rode horses from age 5-14. I was a little pudgy and much preferred reading to running around.
Any sports in high school or college? Started playing soccer freshman year - my dad had always wanted me to, and when he finally stopped asking me if I'd play and instead it was friends who needed more people for the JV team, I did it. Teenager-ness at its best. I picked up lacrosse to stay out of PE (school sports meant a free period instead of PE) and did a season of tennis for the same reason. Played club lacrosse all 4 years in college and gave up soccer at that point - UCLA's club lacrosse team is good, but I still got plenty of playing time, whereas their club soccer is amazing, and I would have sat on the bench forever.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? Eating has never been an issue for me, a fact for which I am very thankful. Right now it's more of a focus than before - I'm trying to eat more and more frequently and actually care about eating the right things to fuel workouts vs. eating whatever because my metabolism can take it.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Not many, again very grateful. I have a compressed disc in my back that gave me major sciatic pain in college and still limits me a bit, but for the most part it's manageable.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Running a half marathon. NEVER thought I'd do that, and I'm hugely proud of it. I'm also proud of all of my Crossfit weight-related PRs - my puny little spaghetti arms actually work now!
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Crossfit and recreational soccer, which I started again a few years ago
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Work is weird right now, and I'm dealing with some injuries. Other than that, life is good!
Goals for the future? I don't know quite yet. I need to get more healed before I can decide what's realistic in the short term.
Post by schitzengiggles on Jul 8, 2014 14:47:56 GMT -5
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? None. I was pretty much inactive and hated sports.
Any sports in high school or college? See above
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I tend to binge and I like junk way too much
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Yes, was varying degrees of overweight/obese for most of my life.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? I have lost 90 lbs and been maintaining that loss for the most part (except a stubborn 5-10 lb fluctuation now and then). I run half marathons, which I never.ever.ever thought possible.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? I <3 running
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Great - running, getting healthy and changing my lifestyle has been amazing. I've changed for the better physically obviously, but also emotionally and mentally.
Goals for the future? Continue to maintain my new lifestyle and level of fitness/weight loss, and do a full marathon.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Literally nothing. I was a nerd. I hated all sports. Id sit out as much as i could at camp.
Any sports in high school or college? No. But since im tall i figured id try something. Inlasted 4 days on the track team in 9th grade.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? Tons. I have portion control problems. Exercising a lot doednt help that, shockingly.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Yes. I was always thin until my late 20s whrn my metabolism caught up with me. After i lost all the weight was when i developed some fun body dysmorphia.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Just being active. I ran my first full non-stop mile at 32. At 37 im training for my 5th marathon.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running, swimming
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Not great. Some difficult people in my life causing my stress. And my therapist is away for like 3 weeks. Sigh.
Goals for the future? To be a powerball or megamillions winner. Oh wait, you meamt h&f goals?
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? I dabbled in a little of everything growing up: softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball. I was a hyper child so I think that's why my parents indulged my sports obsessions. lol
Any sports in high school or college? High school I played volleyball, basketball, and softball. It was a year round thing. I played basketball in college.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? Realizing I no longer have the metabolism of an 18 year old and if I don't balance my exercise/eating, it will stick around.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? My biggest challenge has been coming to terms with my infertility. For the last 4.5 years, its consumed my life. I'm constantly reminded of it and it sucks. Failed IF treatments suck too. I'm finally at peace with the fact that the only way I will ever get pregnant is through IVF, and taking a mental break for the summer from TTC before gearing up for our first IVF cycle this October.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Gotta be the fact that I have completed 2 marathons. Even though I played tons of sports growing up, I hated distance running. HATED it with a passion. So if you'd told me 3 years ago I'd be training and running marathons, I'd have laughed. I can't help but be proud of how far I've come.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running and hiking
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? I feel happy.
Goals for the future? Get pregnant. Dabble in biking/swimming. I'm interested in tris, but that's a post baby goal for now.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? I was the skinny kid that got picked last a lot. Honestly. I ran around a lot w/ my sisters on the farm and we played kickball and some basketball (Lightning, anyone?) in our yard. I never did much for team sports even as a kid. I knew I wasn't good and just lacked confidence.
Any sports in high school or college? Track in H.S. until about 10th grade. I ran hurdles and was average at best. I was more into music, speech, 4-H, and other academic extra circulars. In college I would run a few miles here and there, but I wasn't very dedicated or consistent.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I eat too much sugar. I love sugar. Otherwise I think I do ok at getting a variety of foods and trying find a balance. I totally get enough protein & calcium thanks to my love affair w/ meat and dairy. Yes, I also believe in lots of veggies/fruit.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? No more than normal. Of course there are small things about my body I have wanted to change, but overall I'm glad I'm me. It worries me that my mom has a genetic, rare, degenerative, eye condition, but I suppose there is no reason to worry I might get it unless it actually happens.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running. Running. Trying to keep working on core and flexibility. Biking to some degree. I hope to get better at it this summer, and then I suspect I'll like it more!
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Good. Most days I feel pretty happy and balanced. I know I am fortunate and blessed.
Goals for the future? - Ultra marathon - probably a 50K at some point - Triathlon. I don't know when, but I just have this need to try it "someday." I probably need to re-learn how to swim first. - BQ; someday. - More short term is a 22:XX 5K - I want kids before I'm 30. That's looking unlikely, so I want them before 32.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? - I did a whole bunch of stuff when I was young, swimming, soccer, diving and gymnastics, but I settled on gymnastics pretty early on.
Any sports in high school or college? - I was an elite level gymnast by high school. I started my freshman year of college as a gymnast, hurt my back and had to quit. I switched over to diving, and finished out my collegiate career as a diver.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? - Plenty. Battled anorexia in my early teens. Had a lovely relationship with diet pills in my early 20's. Still struggle a lot with healthy eating habits.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? - See above. I'm currently at my highest weight ever. I suffer from body image issues.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? - Lots of accomplishments as a gymnast and diver. State, regional and national championships. All-American and All-conference honors. Lately, as I've moved into aquabikes and tri's, I consider the fact that I'm back as an athlete a huge accomplishment.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? - Swimming and cycling.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? - Some things are good, some things are not. Professionally I am on fire. Health/body wise, I'm not in a very good place right now.
Goals for the future? - Get healthy. Not be injured. Figure out how to lose weight and keep it off in a healthy way. Do an Ironman. :-)
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? I played a lot of different sports as a kid: softball, basketball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics. When I was 13, I started taking tennis lessons when my parents joined a country club and it was the first sport I had natural talent with. I played tennis in middle school and high school.
Any sports in high school or college? I went to a D1 university and there was no way I was good enough to play tennis there. I became basically inactive in college. I was an engineering major and frankly didn't have time for fitness.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I started to whole paleo shtick in January 2012 after reading an article about my cousin who was a Crossfit coach in Kentucky. After graduating from college and getting married, I had reached my highest weight and I was incredibly unhappy with myself. I started paleo initially as a means to shed weight, but it soon became much more than that. From summer 2009 until the beginning of 2012, I struggled with chronic idiopathic urticaria (hives). When I initially started paleo, my hives improved dramatically. A few months later I did a Whole30 with the prescribed reintroduction protocol and realized I was allergic to wheat. Since then, I've been 100% gluten free and mostly paleo and I am extremely happy with that. When I started training to compete, I added back in white rice and potatoes and that's been a really good balance for me.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? I got really heavy the end of college and the year following college and it was a dark time in my life. Combined with the hives, I became depressed. I did lose weight after I found paleo, but I definitely have more of a focus on what my body can do as opposed to what it looks like. Don't get me wrong, I like that I look hot now, but I also like lifting heavy things.
I just accidentally deleted this question (lol), but I think my biggest accomplishment was my first comp last summer. I was so proud of myself. I also got my first real pull-up that day and that was super exciting.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? I train to compete in Crossfit. 5x per week. It consumes most of my life.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? This is the best I think I've ever felt in my life. I am happy, healthy, and hopeful.
Goals for the future? Muscle-up and 300lb dead lift – hopefully by the end of the year. Long term – be on my gym’s regionals team in 2016.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Ice skating lessons through 8th grade, softball through HS
Any sports in high school or college? Softball sophomore and junior year of HS but that's it. Unless you count cheap beer drinking and making out with random boys college sports, in which case...yeah.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? A big victory was losing 30 lbs and getting in shape between fall 2006-July 2008 aka when I got married. My biggest struggles now are losing the baby weight and combating my love of all the foods bad for me.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Nothing too serious. I'm a stress eater, so I put on roughly 20 lbs while in grad school...and there's always the up and down stuff that I think a lot of us go through. Healthwise though, I'm pretty lucky-nothing going on there. Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? My sub 1:50 half marathon in October 2012...which I promptly followed up with getting pg. I guess I consider running until 32 weeks pg and staying moving until my due date a good accomplishment too
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running and yoga. And spin classes.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Overall, good. Though I wish I'd gotten up to run this AM. I'm not stewing over it though, I'll go tomorrow.
Goals for the future? In a perfect world, I'd get back down to wedding weight which means losing 10 more lbs of baby weight plus another 10. But I don't know if that's possible. I'd also love to get back in sub 1:50 HM shape in the next couple of years.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Horseback riding (hunter/jumpers), tennis
Any sports in high school or college? After a devastating back injury from a horseback riding accident, I took up swimming in 10th grade, was actually pretty good at it and started swimming with a club team- qualified for state every year. Played varsity tennis and swam on my HS team, one abysmal season running JV cross country. As my back healed, I started riding again and rode for my college equestrian team.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I was the skinny kid growing up, tall and lanky. I was often referred to as "chicken legs". Through college I was able to stay at a healthy weight, eating what I wanted and exercising very little. After college, I got married and moved to a whole new place and put on a good 20-25lbs in our first year of marriage. After moving back to Georgia, I was able to clean up my diet and am back at a "healthy" weight, but not a comfortable weight.
After a life of the skinny kid, I still have cookie monster syndrome.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Body image for sure. After a few years dabbling in an industry where you couldn't be too thin- my 5'8 105lb self (at the time) felt FAT. I'm not sure I ever looked at food the same way again.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? No doubt, running a marathon.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running, most days and walking.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Good! Ready to kick some TRX butt!
Goals for the future? I'd LOVE to do an Ironman, but for now, I'd like to do another marathon and REALLY own it!
Post by derbycitycook on Jul 8, 2014 15:32:53 GMT -5
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? I was a bookworm. I played t-ball when I was a kid and did some gymnastics/cheer, but I was never that talented or coordinated to pursue it.
Any sports in high school or college? None. I did theater and read books.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I have an insatiable sweet tooth. We didn't eat super healthy growing up, and desserts were/are always around my parents' and extended families' homes. I definitely struggle with that. I am doing much better at meal planning and incorporating lean proteins and fruits and veggies in our meals, especially since DH has high cholesterol.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Absolutely. My dad has been on some kind of diet since I can remember, and it made me very aware of what I was eating and my weight. I have always thought I was on the fat side of healthy. It's been especially difficult since I have been pregnant and a new mom. I am a victim of the beauty culture, I guess. I'm short with a short torso and big boobs, and trends hardly ever flatter my body type, so it's something I've always been self-conscious about.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? I have run 2 minis. I successfully completed C25k after my son was born. I ran up a hill pushing DS in the stroller today, lol. I've lost 40 pounds so far since giving birth.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running, definitely. I'm trying to incorporate more strength workouts, too.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Eh. I'm trying to focus on being healthy and loving myself regardless of what I can do or what I weigh or what I look like, but it is really hard.
Goals for the future? I want to lose 15 more pounds to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, eat cleaner, and feel good about myself. I also want to build my running base back up and run the mini in the spring.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? When I was child, I loved basketball, softball and dance. I also loved riding bikes and roller skating. I grew up in very "free-range" not quite urban but not quite suburban neighborhoods where kids were out all day just exploring.
Any sports in high school or college? No. I got lazy
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? My struggle has always been portions. I was taught that cleaning your plate was necessary and a compliment to the chef. We always had home made stuff (no bottled sauces, no processed/premade mac and cheese etc.) we just ate WAY too much and lots of pasta and bread. Senior year of college I went an a diet with extreme exercise and 1200 or fewer calories a day, no fat at all, and lost a lot of weight but it was not healthy.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Sigh. I gained a lot of weight in between pregnancies. I lost our son at 17w pg. in 2010, for no reason at all, and this took an enormous toll on my health, both mentally and physically. We had issues TTC as well so I had a lot of hatred for my body, and I blamed the loss on myself and my damaged body. I've posted on here about my tubal ligation and ablation. For me those operations we more than medical, they were about me taking back my body and getting rid of those feelings of damage forever. It has been the most liberating thing in the world to know that my $%$#- up reproductive history is just that. HISTORY.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? My sub-2 hour half in 2012 and maintaining my 40 lb weight loss from my non-pregnant high between children, 3 years + now.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running, TRX and weights. I'd have to say weights, lifting heavy and challenging myself and getting rid of the notion that I will bulk up, or that all victories are proven on the scale, has done wonders. Consistently lifting has allowed my body to be more forgiving to my sometimes egregious eating habits. And I look SO much better.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Pretty darn great.
Goals for the future? Right now I am trying to lose a little body fat. I am working with a trainer and really pushing myself to try new things.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Surfing, basketball, tennis, running
Any sports in high school or college? Surfed competitively in high school. In college I started getting more into running.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I love sugar and I love chips and I love to eat my stress and I live a fairly stressful life. So, it's hard. I'm lucky that I'm healthy enough to be as active as I am because I can compensate for my not always awesome eating habits.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Somewhat. I've never had a full blown eating disorder but I have definitely flirted with fairly disordered approaches to food. It's worse when I can't exercise normally.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Running in general. On the 4th of July 4 years ago, I ran 7 miles for the first time. I was training for my first half. I think I was somewhere around a 10:30/mile. 6 months ago I ran a 3:51 marathon. I can't even believe how much I've improved, and I can still actively see myself getting faster. Even as the weather heats up.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? In an ideal world, I'd do a ton of running, yoga, and surfing and supplement with cycling and lifting. Unfortunately I definitely don't have that kind do time (or a bike, or access to a beach) so I pretty much stick with running and lifting.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Aside from this goddamn tooth that is still sitting in my mouth (til Friday), I can honestly say I am doing awesome. I'm a doctor, I finally have an income, I'm loving my work, and I'm still putting in the miles.
Goals for the future? Boston! It's definitely on my radar now, and it's starting to feel pretty achievable. I won't be giving it a shot for a couple years thanks to time constraints right now, but it's going to happen. In the interim I'll be trying to do any shorter races I can fit in just to help me stay motivated. After I finish residency training and have more time (and money) I want to do some of the big international marathons, probably at least one ultra, and eventually an ironman. I also want to settle down somewhere with a beach so I can get back into surfing at some point.
I mainly lurk on this board..but here's my story..
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger?
I danced for years.
Any sports in high school or college?
softball
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits?
I've gained and lost over 80lbs three times in the past 20 years.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? My challenge has been keeping the weight off. I was never heavy until my twenties and having children and I have struggled the past 20 years.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had?
I have lost 90 lbs since Sept. 2012, I am in the best shape I've ever been in and feel fantastic. I've completely changed my eating and exercise habits.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape?
I weight train 3 x a week, Interval training once a week and I walk an hour a day every day.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? FANTASTIC!!!
Goals for the future?
Keep working on my weight training. I want definition and to be in a bikini next year.
Post by libbygrl109 on Jul 8, 2014 16:18:11 GMT -5
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger?
Mostly unorganized - pick up games of kickball and wiffeball, swimming games in the neighborhood pools, hitting a tennisball against the chimney wall in my parents' garage.
Any sports in high school or college?
Basketball until 9th grade, tennis through high school, and was a walk-on for my college team
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits?
I've learned that when life gets busy, I get complacent with my eating. Planning falls off, and I just grab whatever is there.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health?
I have been gaining losing the same 25-30 lbs for the last 15 years. I pretty much hate the way I look right now. I developed hypothyroidism about 2 years ago, and have found that losing the weight and keeping it off a bit harder, especially when my levels are off and I'm not feeling too great. I'm happy with the strength that I have developed, but not the package it comes in right now.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had?
Finishing 2 half marathons. I hated running for running's sake until about 2 1/2 years ago, so just getting started and staying with it was also huge.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape?
Running, tabata, other fitness classes. I'm trying to like swimming laps, but that's been pretty slow-going.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you?
Not great. Life has been pretty crazy, so I let myself put on a lot of unnecessary weight, and need to do a major overhall of my eating so that I can get it off. I think because of that, my running has really suffered because I have to carry around so much more baggage. It's left me pretty grumpy lately. ETA: I should edit this to say that my family life and work life are great. I'm an idiot and tend to forget that my weight is not the only thing to focus on in my life.
Goals for the future?
Continue exercising for as long as my body will let me. Helping my son learn about good choices for eating and staying healthy, and helping him find activities that he enjoys.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? I was a competitive gymnast in my youth. My Dad was an upper level coach, so I was doing cartwheels at 3. I started getting afraid of tricks that were easy for me and freaking out about performing, and ended up quitting cold turkey. I used to love practices, and no surprises here, my favorite was conditioning exercises and running.
Any sports in high school or college? Nope.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? Challenges with weight and body image? I eat like crap. My weight is up and down, but usually within 5 pounds of my goal weight, thanks to my running. I was quite a bit heavier in college and lost 25 lbs with WW after I graduated.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Huge time improvements. I went from a 5+ hour marathoner to a 3:21. Hitting a sub 20 5k for the first time ever at 36 and after 3 kids is pretty cool too So far I've improved with age, and I hope it continues.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running and classes at the gym.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Good.
Goals for the future? I have marathon 10 coming up in Oct, and am pretty sure 11 will be my victory lap. One last time just for fun. I like the shorter races and it fits better with my family life (grade schoolers have busy lives!!) If my kids continue to love running and racing, I hope to be able to keep up with them as long as possible.
All the races, talk of new goals, & awesome energy, along with the challenges, up/down, and frustration of injury has me curious about everyone's journey. Maybe others are curious, too?
So, share your H&F bio. Here are a few questions to think about.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? My mom almost drowned as a child, so she made sure we could all swim- so I was swimming at a really young age.
Any sports in high school or college?In high school I was on soccer, basketball and softball teams. It wasn't like today with club teams,etc. so I was limited to the one sport per season that my school offered. I swam for one season in my senior year of college, mainly so I could go to Florida during the winter break, lol! I was in the slow lane but the breastroke was my event and I was able to at least place 2nd a few times for my team. Had a blast.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? Struggles: going from a "I can eat anything and not worry" younger person to an adult with a desk job and a slower metabolism. Enter high blood pressure and a family risk of diabetes- Scared me straight. I also LOVE food, wine and beer. Bad combination. Victories: finding a balance that works by not denying myself much (i.e. the old eat less, exercise more) and losing 26 pounds over 2.5 years (i.e. slowly so hopefully will stay off).
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Yes, see above re. weight and health. I had a horrible body image in my teens, but now am in awe of my body and what it can do/will do for me. I still wish certain things could be different, but I think I have a healthy image now.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Running a marathon. It was 7 years ago and I have a goal to do another in the next couple of years.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running and bootcamp/body weight type exercises/rowing/yoga. I also love walking and enjoy it every night with my dog.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life and in better balance than at any other time. Good marriage, healthy weight, good job and good friends. Everyone laments getting older, but I'm really enjoying this phase of life.
Goals for the future? H&F-wise- another marathon, and bucket-list? Boston Marathon. But LOTS of speedwork to get there, lol! Also some active travel, which is why I need to keep this bod in good shape until we reach retirement :-)
Edit: Please feel free to add other detail or even disregard the questions and write your own bio if you like. Thanks for sharing!
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? I played basketball and softball through school. I could have played in college but opted for academics over sports. I hated running!
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I gained quite a bit of weight after I married. I have never been small or petite. I can carry weight and people are often surprised how heavy I am. In 2010, I rejoined WW and lost 118 pounds. In the past 12 months, I have gained about 40lbs back. I am struggling with that now. I just cannot seem to find the balance again like I did 2 years ago. I know what I am eating but it just does not seem that much to gain the weight. I am struggling with it. I know this will be my life, my mom has been on WW my entire life. But I know I need to the balance
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Running my first 5K. I came in 2nd to last and really had no idea the accomplishment it was until I look back. My first Half marathon; I cried during it. Mountain biking with my DH. That was really for me the biggest accomplishment. To go from watching him on the sidelines to being able to be in the woods, riding with him, still makes me proud of myself.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? I run, though inconsistently. We bike about once a week. I need to find a routine with strength training once half marathon training starts next week. Thinking about spin!
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Good but struggling with the weight gain. Received a really positive performance evaluation at my job which helps me. Still coming off vacation glow with DH.
Goals for the future? Running with my 15 year old niece at her first 5K on Sunday! Second half marathon in October Century bicycle ride with DH Regularly incorporating strength training. Lose about 30lbs to feel more comfortable with body but know the reality of my life and health.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Any sports in high school or college?
I didn't, really. I was limited by my heart condition (a limit that really shouldn't have been placed, but they didn't know that at the time), family income level, and having to watch my 2 younger sisters.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health?
I like to say that my mom gave me a lot of issues, but bad eating habits/body image issues aren't one of them. I've got a few pounds to lose, but they don't really bother me.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had?
The 10k I completed in May.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape?
I'm loving my Cross Train class, mainly the lifting portion.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Meh, but that's what I have therapy for.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? I was in music, not athletics. I was a skinny, sickly kid with no coordination.
Any sports in high school or college? Nerp.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits?
I am a celiac, so I spent a fair number of years being sick and miserable because I was poisoning myself with food, but that's all taken care of now. I have a horrible sweet tooth. If there is candy or ice cream in the house I cannot rest until I have eaten it ALL.
However, at the beginning of June H and I went full-on clean and plant based (his cholesterol was so bad that his blood was basically gravy). I do not say vegan because I will opportunistically eat sushi and I still use a little half and half in my coffee. But my day to day diet is pretty good. I feel great about it, and it has been so easy to maintain after the first week. I eat almost no (added) sugar, which is great.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health?
I have no serious health problems, just a number of piddly annoying things that keep nagging at me. Also, I have been injured for a year now and have pretty much given up ever getting better. Honestly, I don't even know why I come to this board anymore. Wishful thinking, I guess.
I got fat in grad school because of stress eating and drinking, but I lost that all a few years ago.
I struggle with body image because my legs are disproportionately huge. HUGE. I have troll/tree-trunk legs. And my mom was always talking about how fat she was, when she was actually thinner than I am now. I kind of have a problem with my self-worth being tied to my body fat percentage.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Running a half marathon was pretty great. I went from never having run in my life to doing a half in just a couple of years, and felt really proud. Later, I found out that I was really anemic when I ran it so I felt even more bad ass about it.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape?
Right now I am lucky if I can get 4 days a week on the stupid elliptical. This week I can do nothing.
In my previous life, I loved spin, running, lifting, and yoga.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you?
In general, pretty good. I hate where we currently live, but we moved here for a job in April and taking this job was the best decision ever. I am loving my new job, even when it is stressful. My injury is bumming me out a lot. This weekend I almost threw all of my workout stuff down the garbage chute in a fit of pique, but H talked sense into me. I am sure I will snap out of it and try to be positive again soon.
Goals for the future? I would really, really like to be able to work out regularly again. I think running is out of the question, but I dream of working my way back into spin.
Sorry that I am a debbie downer today. Kind of a rough day + stress cocktail.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Swimming, swimming with about a 3 year stint of ballet, then back to swimming
Any sports in high school or college? Swimming, and swimming
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I have trouble with portion size.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? Yes. I think I'm fat and have thought that for a long time. Just the other day I was looking at videos from a few years ago and I was not fat. I need to stop telling myself this.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Gong from barely able to run 10 feet and bike 8 miles (7 years ago) I completed my first full Ironman.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? Running, but I'm not ready for speed or much distance. A few more weeks and I'll start adding some of those things in. I can't wait to get back in the pool.
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? Still trying to heal up this injury. It's been rough. But I'm trying to think of this as a fresh start. I kind of feel like I know how to get back, get faster and get stronger.
Goals for the future? Drop some time on my next 140.6 (Whistler 2015, duh!)
Edit: Please feel free to add other detail or even disregard the questions and write your own bio if you like. Thanks for sharing!
Post by reginaphalange72 on Jul 8, 2014 20:20:26 GMT -5
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? Any sports in high school or college? As an adult?
I've been all over the place with sports. I've always loved them.
In junior high and high school I originally thought I was going to play field hockey, but then the cross country coach got to me. I ended up running track (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 4x1 relay, and pole vault), and cross country, and playing soccer.
In college and grad school (the first time), I was on the crew team (coxswain) for a brief stint, played rugby (scrum half and fly half), and competed with my university's taekwondo team. I basically didn't run at all.
As an adult, I tried to continue with TKD, but it's stupidly expensive (says the triathlete), and I could never find a dojang I liked. I also continued with rugby and actually built my own team from scratch back in NY. But in 2009, I broke my ankle in a tournament and went into early retirement when a blood clot formed in my leg from the combination of BCP and a cast.
At that point, I was looking for something to do, so I decided to go back to my roots as a runner. I signed up for my first marathon, and never looked back. Since then I have completed four marathons (and had two others that I was sick/injured for), and have now transitioned to doing Ironman triathlons. Currently less than a month away from my third Ironman (Boulder, August 3rd).
I also came back out of rugby retirement this past fall. I only played for a couple matches since my schedule was nuts with school. I had to take the spring and summer off since I couldn't afford to get injured for Ironman, but I may play again this fall. We'll see. I love rugby. What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits?
I love food. I have major problems with bored/habitual eating, and am constantly struggling with this. I also have a huge sweet tooth and have absolutely no off-switch when it comes to sweets. If I eat one, I will eat them all. It's something I struggle with on a daily basis. Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health?
Every day. On the surface, I look very fit and healthy. But I definitely have some body image and weight issues going on. I always hover between 10-20 lbs above my ideal weight, and it droves me bonkers. It doesn't sound like a lot, and I'm still within an acceptable weight for my height, but all the extra weight that I carry is in my midsection, so I have a lot of frustrations surrounding that part of my body. Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had?
Completing two Ironmans (so far). Third is on August 3rd. What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape?
Swim/Bike/Run, baby!
Also, I live in Colorado, so hiking, climbing, and trail running.
And drinking beer. (Carb loading!) How are you doing today - the WHOLE you?
Meh. I just got done with an hour on the bike, so that was good. But the past few weeks I've been in a major funk and just feel like I'm not getting anything done (this is very accurate - it's not just my imagination). So I'm getting stressed and frustrated and that just makes the cycle continue. I get paralyzed by it. Goals for the future?
Have a good day at IM Boulder in a few weeks. Have fun and enjoy the course. Possibly PR, but that won't make or break my day.
Next year - IM PR, run my first ultra, improve my eating habits, and be more consistent and deliberate with my training, so I can actually see it pay off.
What activities did you participate in or enjoy when you were younger? None, I hated sweat, running, gym, and all the things. I suppose I liked roller skating.
Any sports in high school or college? Nope, still hated sweat.
What struggles or victories have you had w/ your eating habits? I'm a binge eater, when I start eating I can't stop. I also give into indulgences really easily.
Have you had challenges with weight, body image, or health? I've struggled with weight most of my adult life, I gained a lot after college. My health, fortunately, did not suffer. As for body image, honestly, I've never had issues. I wasn't always happy, but I always stayed realistic.
Biggest H&F accomplishments you've had? Completing 3 triathlons, a half marathon, and losing 85lbs.
What are your current favorites for exercise & staying in shape? CrossFit!
How are you doing today - the WHOLE you? We're awesome, me and the duckling.