how accurate is the mileage counter on this Ipod program?  My DD has this on her Iphone and she went running with me last night....she informed me that the path where I run (it is not marked for miles) is 7 miles....not the 4-5 I guessed it to be.....

Welcome!  This is by far my favorite board.  You'll also never see those "I regained all my weight" posts here either!!

Kim

The most important thing you can do is listen to your body.  You are more prone to injury if you are tired and your form suffers....then you'll have a long time to wait for an injury to heal.

You have to find balance so you don't fall behind.  Take your running shoes wherever you go--you can usually at least get a run in at a hotel on a treadmill.  I finally got to where I travel with my running gear and a resistance band so I do not miss a beat in my workouts.

I advocate running every other day--not every day.  However, I'm older (46) and have arthritis in my knees so they need a day in between to recover.  I do weight training on the non-run days, or yoga.

Kim

Don't approach exercise as spot treatment or as a weight loss plan.  Approach it from the basis of you need it for overall good health.

The key to building a strong body is to alternate aerobic exercise with weight training and strenghtening workouts like yoga.  You have to keep the body guessing what is coming next.....if you do the same things all the time, your body will become more efficient at it and it will not be as effective.

I wouldn't back off of any particular type of exercise.  Your "booty" will slim down as you lose more weight....right now you are probably building the muscle and it is lifting the fat...but when that fat goes--and it will--you'll have a lovely booty.

If your body needs to lose another 20 lbs, it will as long as you continue to make exercise a priority and do it daily.  A year from now you will be amazed at the results--keep doing it--you are on the right track!

Kim

A couple weeks ago my husband and I were jogging on the beach and a fisherman stopped us and asked if we were the runners that he almost snagged in his line...he wanted to apologize. 

We weren't, but I turned to my husband and said "he thinks we are RUNNERS!"  And you know what--WE ARE!

It takes a long time to consider yourself an athlete.  I still don't know if I consider myself an athlete.  I do consider myself fit and active....and that is an amazing accomplishment for me and the greatest one of this journey of which I'm most proud.

I was completely sedentary and had never in my life been active or athletic.  My life is completely different now.  I am more confident in my physical abilities after 2 years of committed exercising.  My confidence really soared once I was able to do all of the workouts in my P90X series.  It took me a long time to muster the courage to take my running outdoors....I did it in the safety of my basement on the treadmill.  One day I just put on my ipod and said "I'm going out".  Once I got on the path and started running and passing other runners, it hit me--this is for me, no one else.  I just did it.  And I've never stopped.  I love running, hiking and weight training now--and most importantly I love the way I feel and look!

You are so wise to make physical fitness a key part of your journey.  I suspect those of us that do will likely not be on the "Failed Weight Loss Surgery" or "Revision" boards!

Kim

I agree--workout the whole body and make sure you do some good core workouts....there are many things you can do to build core muscles.....

FINALLY a rest day for me!

My girls trip (6 of us having been doing this for years) is August 13th--a whole week of no husbands/no kids....it is heaven.  We stay at Crystal Shores West on West Beach in Gulf Shores.

Have fun at the Beau!  I love Biloxi too! 

Gonna power walk the 'hood tonight....it is 3 miles and very hilly.  Always leaves the lower body muscles nice and sore after that walk!

Kim

4 mile HIIT run/jog/speedwalk tonight

I've lost 170 lbs and my arms were big.  I've built my arm muscles up to the point that I have good definition, but yes, I still have some skin. 

I never kept my arms covered though!  I live in the deep south and would die if I didn't go sleeveless! 

Get some weights--begin with 5 lbs and work up to at least 20 (I'm currently at 15 and 20).  Do not be afraid of heavy weight!  Good form is a must--you have to work the whole arm--shoulders, biceps and triceps.  There are tons of exercises you can find on the Internet.

Hmmm....don't have that issue but deal with arthritis in both my knees.....I'm a runner too--I had to ease into it and still only run a mile at a time (I interval run mixing high intensity bursts, jogging and speed walking).  This mixture allows me to run but doesn't tear up the knees.

Please check with your ortho before getting too into the running just to get his/her advice on how to minimize your risk of injury.  Is there a brace or stabilizer that will help?  (they don't do a thing for arthritis..........)

Girl, get your sexy on!  I'm with you--I thought I was hot before and I really like the way I look now--it is okay to be about health AND good looks!

For the mid section, you have to do core workouts--not just abs, your entire core (from the armpits to the lower hips).  Yoga is great for the core, and P90X has a really good core workout called core synergistics.  Strengthening the entire core will help, but it wont eliminate the extra skin...it will look better though.

Kim