Denise (Iron Mom)- I've got a question for you

[Tri Girl]

Not train for an IM? You might as well just grab a sock, some bars of soap, and start beating yourself to death and pocket the hundreds (thousands) of dollars you'd spend on equipment and race entry fees. How ridiculous. You must admit tho- if you actuallly finished one with no training you'd be a stud (but that's extremely unlikely). I saw quite a few hundred DNF's at IMAZ. Sad...

Have you read Slow Fat Triathlete by Jayne Williams? It's a hilarious book about a normal person, like me, who is an overweight triathlete in a world of "skinny mini" athletes. She is a humorous writer, and I loved all her tips and stories about her races. My favorite tip is to soak in a hot bath w/epsom salts after a tri. Mmmm... my muscles hardly get sore and it really relaxes me. Someone here mentioned a bath fizzy that is similar to that. What is the name of that? I may have to check it out.

Anyway, your stories of "thick" athletes made me think of her book. I'm a bit thick myself, and I may not be fast or skinny, but I can outlast about anyone. I've got endurance like the Energizer Bunny.
And, so true about athlete size. I like to think my rather ample hips and thighs are what get me up and down those hills and give me my power.

[Lifesgreat]

I recently read somewhere (I can't remember where) that triathlon is indeed "in vogue". It is something that is done just once so it can be checked off of the "to do before I die list" (Now, I am not dissing a list like that, I have one )

To me, triathlon is a lifestyle. Yes, I still have 25 lbs to go to get to my goal weight, but I feel better than I did when I was in my 30s. I can thank triathlon for that.

I hope that those who do tri for "the list" will get hooked and make it a lifestyle.

[Nanci]

I think the reason you see a few people in every IM that that's their first tri is they watch Kona on TV, and have a mental life-changing experience by it- so for them, it HAS TO be the IM. They aren't interested in triathlon as such, but by the IM and what it stands for, how it changes others, and they want to experience that life-change in themselves. I believe there are plenty of them that take it seriously and train. I think it's more the habitual triathletes who've been doing oly's and half IM's for a while, and been fine, just can't seem to squeeze in the extra training for the full distance- some of them are the under-trainers.

Nanci

[Lise]

Have you read Slow Fat Triathlete by Jayne Williams? It's a hilarious book about a normal person, like me, who is an overweight triathlete in a world of "skinny mini" athletes.

I love Jayne! Her book has helped me a lot. We emailed several times last year. She and Susan from TE helped me feel better about not being skinny, yet wanting to be a triathlete.

Jayne just did her 1st marathon last month. The race report was up on her website.

[Running Mommy]

Yeah Lise, Pringles make a great salt replacer! They have single serve packs now - little plastic tubs- that fit great in a Bento box. PLus when your riding they kind of melt in your mouth, which is a nice thing. I hate chewing and riding at the same time.
You know lastnight I was thinking back to when I remember seeing Kona on tv for the first time. I think it was around 1994. I was walking on the treadmill at the time, and I remember thinking how cool it was that people could do something like that. I also remember thinking there was no way in hell I could EVER do anything remotely like that. It seemed so hard, so out of reach.
I started crying.... Because I did it. It may not have been Kona- but it was hot enough! ...
I've been through ALOT over the years- cancer, major weight gain, etc. And I don't really think about it most of the time. But lastnight it hit me that what I did was kind of amazing. Esp. considering that growing up I was never encouraged to be active. And as a teenager I became a party girl and was addicted to drugs for a few years.
If you knew me growing up you'd probably be shocked that I did an Ironman. It just was not who I was. But I guess people change. Because now it *is* who I am. I'm already planning #2, and looking at ways to improve. I went to the doctor yesterday and she is referring me to a dietician. So hopefully I can get my weight down. I do know one thing. I am totally turned off by sugar since the race. And for a sugar hound like me who's trying to kick the habit- that's good! Maybe if I don't eat it long enough I'll lose the cravings. I can only hope!!
I guess it's not such a bad thing that triathlon is in vogue. It brings more exposure to our sport. I just want people to realize that IM is something to be respected.

[Blueberry]

RunningMommy-

I can't imagine that anyone would think an ironman *easy*. I was tired just watching the feeds for updates during the course of my regular day - I can't imagine being about to actually *do* one!

However, I do have to thank you for inspiring me! I've struggled with my weight for about 10 years (a peak weight of 210 and I'm 5'4" tall) and I'd been putting off biking goals "until I lose a few pounds." Now, thanks to lots of inspiration from you and others here, I've almost decided to commit to a century before the end of the summer - and I'm counting on a *lot* of training for that! I can't fathom adding an extra 12 miles of biking, swimming and a marathon to the mix. EEK!

I'll keep eating healthy, I just went to a doc, who did a full blood panel to make sure there's no *medical* reason I can't seem to lose weight - but I'm not waiting any more (not that I should have in the first place, but you know how it can be...) My mother is telling me I'll blow out my knees (I do know how to spin, thank you) and my grandmother is telling me I'll have a heart attack (I'm 27 with no known health problems - I keep trying to explain to her that biking - and hopefully losing weight - will help prevent a heart attack!). So - thank you! (and if you do IM Florida, I'd be honored to travel to come cheer for you!!!)

[Lise]

You go girl!

I'm so glad you saw your doc, and will go forward safely. I'm looking forward to hearing about your journey.

BTW--what is your avatar? I can't figure it out. Thx. L.

[Running Mommy]

CA/NC
DO NOT PUT OFF YOUR GOALS!!!! Yeah, I mean't to yell!
If I put off my goals till I lost all the weight I would have not done anything that I've accomplished in the last few years! Don't let your weight dictate how you live your life! Get out there and live life! Get sweaty, revel in the fact that you are MOVING!
I still have these dreams that if I do this or that maybe I'll lose weight... But if training for an IM doesn't wake up my fat cells... well... UGH! I have no idea what will!!
All I know is I can't wait to see the dietician. I have my food logs ALL ready for him/her!!!!

[Blueberry]

Lise- The avatar is a pic of my golden (when he was a puppy) and my (rather large) orange tabby cat. It was one of the few moments my dog sat still the entire first year of this life?!

Running Mommy- You are right - it just took me a long time to realize it Maybe the weight loss will follow, who knows.

I gave up on dieticians - the last one I went to looked at my food logs and told me there was nothing I could do better. Hmmm...don't know if that's good or bad, but certainly didn't help me make changes Hopefully you'll have better luck!

I'm probably going looking for a new doc too - I've had a really hard time finding a GP (have a *great* obgyn) - at my appointment, he asked if I'd ever successfully lost weight. I mentioned an ill fated run on Atkins which did work, but made me feel really yucky and didn't allow for biking (no carbs doesn't work so well on a long ride). He said I should go back on it and limit the biking to what I felt like on the diet. Ummm....NO!!!