Jogging Daily

[Mazer]

Greetings, new to the forum just a quick personal question.

I'm 23 male weighed in at 260+ lbs as of January 1st of 2006. January to March was strictly atkins diet to begin my diet process. March to July has been moderate jogging daily and as of July 18th I'm sitting at around 195 lbs.

With that in mind, its safe to say I'm burnt out on jogging. I was doing 5 miles a day at around 5 miles an hour. This was jogging & walking together. Uphill and downhill. My 2 mile mark was timed at around 22 minutes :/

The past week I have began lifting weights mainly bench presses and calf raises. I can lift around 230 lbs 8 times without stopping. I tend to lift around 90 lbs around at 5 sets of 10 mainly because I'm untoned and flabby still

I feel like I've come so far, but I'm losing motivation to continue jogging. Its going to be a few month before I go to basic. At least 12 weeks I'm assuming. I'm still dieting intake is around 1500 calories daily mainly fruits and meat.

I will never be as heavy as I was, the diet is comming without thought these days. Which is great, but the jogging especially in this heat and ack, just losing motivation ya know? Just thought I'd share any comments are appreciated.

[andrew.tischner]

keep going with it , run every day, try to decrease your time or increase your distance.

[matthew.ritchie]

There are other exercises besides jogging that can accomplish your goals of fitness and weight loss. Look at biking, walking with headphones, stationary biking or treadmill with the TV on. If someone jogs with you, it's less boring and more motivating. Go to the library and read Runner's World or related fitness magazines for additional guidance.

[oldarmyvet]

Swimming is by far the best excercise you can get, I would do that a couple times a week to switch things up. Bike riding is also another great low impact excersise.

[Chris89]

I swim all the time. I am a Red Cross Life Guard. Swimming is one of the best exercise you can do. It works all of your body. I swim 500 - 1000 Yards a day. Like oldarmyvet said 'try to switch things up'. But you need to switch things up because it can cause damage to your body. Im not talking about jogging but when you bench don't bench everday Wait every other day. One day work on your upper boddy the next lower. So yeah

-Chris

[Smiff]

Chris.. you ever going to enlist?

[Chris89]

Yes once I pass the ASVAB everything else will be on the fast line to success.

-Chris

[Smiff]

What MOS are you looking at?

[Chris89]

M88 Transportation

[CAPCPT2B]

Hi Mazer,

Do you have the option of running on a treadmill at a gym? At my gym I can watch TV and run in air conditioning when it's hot out.

But to get stronger at running, you're going to have to do some running.

[PvtHumphrey]

Hey guys! I am exstatic today! Yesterday I only ran 1/4 of a mile, and walked the rest of the mile totaling 18:30 . This morning I said OH NO WAY & jumped on my treadmil. To my SUPER SATISFACTION I actually jogged 3/4 of a mile STRAIGHT & speed walked what I didn't jog totaling A RECORD FOR MYSELF OF 14:53! You don't know what a milestone this is for me. I really hope I can have the oppurtunity to help someone else with their jogging concerns, cause i'm jogging proof that with determination & personal motivation it CAN BE DONE! I read someone whom wrote that it's psyching yourself out that'll make you perform badly, OMG WERE THEY 100% RIGHT! I have mentioned over & over that I was scared to death because I didn't think I could pass the initial 1 mile run. This is going to be my plan. Starting today I will jog for as long as I can within 1 mile, but i'll do this 2x's a day. Then on monday i'm going to aim for 3 miles. Once that week's over, I will keep up the 3 miles per day, but then I will start aiming for speed. You guys don't know how much you've actually helped me on this one. My breathing was done much more properly & my legs didn't feel like bricks. I LOVE YOU GUYS LOL! Thank you SO MUCH for your help! I'm so proud of myself. I was scared i'd be sent to FCT. I am taking my ASVAB test aug. 25th & I am going to MEPS the middle of Oct. Now I have so much trust in myself that I can do this! I FEEL GREAT! HOOAH!!!!! Am so **** pumped now!

[Jan]

I hear ya, that's a huge improvement. Like I said, been there, done that! I was at 14:40 for my mile only 3 weeks ago. I'd love to be your running buddy~ but geographically, that won't work! I think we should be cyber-running buddies!

I know some guys who would help me out, but they can pump out a mile in 6-8 minutes leaving me waaaayyy behind.

I'm looking at shipping out probably right after Christmas. We were going to aim for Sept 20th, but that's a little ambitious. I'd rather have basic be "pretty strenuous and challenging"~ NOT a near-death experience.

Keep me posted, we can pant HOOAH together as we try not to puke !

[PvtHumphrey]

Hey...Well today I feel like ****. I somehow gained back 3lbs & I stopped exercising over the weekend. I will start up again today. I bought some running shoes, although I also started smoking again so I doubt i'll be running today. God this has been so rough. I was so ambitous & motivated, I don't know what happened to me. Plus i've been having some family issues with my extended family, that doesn't help matters. All that I want is to be able to be comfortable with my body by the time I go to BCT.

[WIBecky74]

When you excersise you gain muscle, muscle weighs more then fat. Maybe the weight gain is from gaining muscle?

[PvtHumphrey]

You guys are going to think i'm INSANE! LMAO! Today I pulled a 13:25 minute run/walk for a mile out of my behind. That beats yesterdays 15 minute mile. I weighed in today and to my surprise my weight's back down again. Everyone yells at me at home because I weigh myself a good 3 times daily. It's addicting though. Also you wont believe this... I just got a knock at my door, it was the army reserves recruiter I had spoken to a while back! My phone was turned off, and he (somehow) found my address & wanted to talk to me. I told him how I changed my mind to go into the ANG, because primarily it would be easier because of the issue with temporary gaurdianship of my kids. The army reserves would've made me go to court & pay $145 to do it, when the ANG would be as simple as just signing a form. I was lmao because I never gave him my address, and my phone numbers private. THEY HAVE WAYS I GUESS! It was good to see him though, he's so nice. I felt bad because I know he wont make points because I didn't enlist through him, but I have to look out for me. Tomorrow i'm aiming for a 12:30 mile. I aimed for 13 today (well yesterday I made the goal) and I cant believe I beat it! Oh i'm so pysched!!!

[WIBecky74]

Good job girlfriend!
My recruiter has had a couple suggestions about pt for me and thought I would share them. One was that the body does need some rest. Of course my pig-head-ness wouldnt allow me to believe him. Not working cardio or muscles for a day cant help so I would do both each day of the week. But i've found he (along with tons of other professionals) are correct. Suggested was m/w/f do the running, t/t/s do the stregth training and take off on Sundays. There is reason to that madness. The other suggestion (and I have to be honest and say I havent used this one yet) is to go 5-6 days without timing, counting, or watching form. That way when you do number crunch, you see a great improvment. I know first hand that is hard. I still use my stop watch and count each time. Its a motivation to do better each time. But if you work yourself, as he suggests, to muscle failure (body cannot physically do anymore push ups, sit ups, or run anymore) each time, you are bound to do better as time goes by. Also, all NCOs are trained at better ways to get your number of push ups, sit ups, and running improved. Tricks of the trade as he called them. I havent taken him up on it yet, but likely if you ask yours, he/she can give you some pointers also.
-Becky

[collingj]

Don't forget that it's all about cardio. It's being in your targeted heart rate for at least 30 minutes. You need to drop the heavy weights. If you want to keep running, try doing sets. Shorter distances at a faster pace. incorporate speed workouts into your program.

[Jan]

Way to turn it around!!! I've been looking at your post from 08/21 and I thought...hmmm... sounds like she's getting down on herself and she's letting herself be dragged down! I didn't know how to say "snap out of it!!!" without sounding like a nag! That's the wonderful thing about a support team, they are there to cheer you on, but they are also there to give ya a little loving kick in the butt when they see you need one to keep ya going.

Remember, PvtHumprey, that we can be our own biggest supporter, but we can also be our own worst enemy. I call them "the little voices in my head"~ NOT to be confused with an actual psych condition!!!~ but they are the same voices that tell me to give up, to take the easy way out, to give in too easily and make me lose sight of my dreams.

From your earlier posts, I can tell you are pretty spunky with a lot of ambition. I KNOW you can do it... and you do, too! Focus on the finish line, cuz it's all worth it!

[PvtHumphrey]

You guys are the FREAKIN' BEST! LMAO! I know im an azz. I'm just nevous as all **** because the countdown begins, and I certainly do not want to be embarressed at reception when I fail the run. Today my run was so slow, 1 mile took me 14:40. To be honest I havent even practiced the push & sit ups lately, cause I know I can do them, so i've been trying to focus on the running. I have always been best at sprinting, but even jogging is a struggle with the time. I will try the new system you guys informed me of, the every other day thingy. I understand smoking doesnt help matters much. I've been using my treadmil & sometimes i feel like im gonna fall off if i step over an inch to my side, and then i get all jaded. I do at least 35 minutes of running/jogging/walking a day. I do at least 2 miles a day also. Should I consider continuing this or breaking it down to every toher day? I am technically overweight, however i pass the tape test. Plus to add i've been on a strict diet, for 4 months now, and ive dropped 26lbs. I love this room because you guys are so understanding with me, but I give it my all, and my all doesnt seem to be enough by the military's standards. Just frustrated a lil.

[WIBecky74]

Another thing to think about. Once you go to drill, or BCT, doing your PT with other soldiers really is a motivation. You naturally push yourself harder and have tons of encouragement. Also running with cadence helps with your breathing and motivation. Everyone is in step and it really is easier.

[Rhughes]

I have been keeping up with you ladies and your successes. Congrats . Now it is confession time for me . Running is not my strong suit. Oh I can and will knock out the push ups and sit up. but I have never been a runner. Not to mention I have smoked for the last 20 years. Well been trying to run at least 3x's a week and so far every day I can make it alittle farther.

However, I am not looking to beat the clock. I am looking to build up endurance and stamina. My reasoning is while passing the AFPT is extremely important so is being able to keep up during drills and ruck marches. So you gals keep it up because not only are you motivating yourselves you are a motivation to others

[PvtHumphrey]

You guys are the best(how many times have I mentioned this lately in this room? )! I feel like i'm doing lousy, and then I read on where someone tells me to keep up the GOOD work? LMAO. My ANG recruiter just came by my house about 10 minutes ago. He wanted to make sure we were still on for fridays asvab. He's so nice! Pertaining to the sign on bonuses for the most critical MOS's, he told me you get half of it after BCT/AIT & the other half after your' 3rd year of enlistment, so that's good to know. You were 100% right when you mentioned training in BCT with others is a ton of motivation in itself, I try to tell myself this when i'm down in the dumps, because how really motivated are you when you are alone? Everything you guys/gals have mentioned is on point. I will have to go to MEPS in sept. or I may forfeit the bonus, so I will schedual this with him for the last possible week of september. I am also going to continue my 2 miles per day, and I am going to push for a faster time for the 1 mile run. I just want to make it past reception you know without the embarassment of having to go to FCT. THAT'S my main goal, other than that i'm in like flynn. Take care you guys & keep leaving messages! I'm in RI...how about y'all? Take it easy & HOOAH!

[WIBecky74]

Not sure if you were referring to me, but i'm a lady and i'm working on my jogging. I too was/am (kinda like an alcoholic-will always be a smoker but recovering lol) a smoker. 14 Aug I cut waaaay back. I had been smoking about 23 cigarettes a day for the past 14 years. I started out cold turkey. Then a few days later I was smoking 1/2 a cigarette in the morning and half before going to bed. I also was a regular Marlboro smoker, I switched to the cheapest menthol brand I could find. UCK!! I then had a huge stressor, my boyfriend broke up with me after four years. We all live together, him, his three kids and myself. We are still living together. Maybe we will make up, maybe not. Its not the first time he has done this to me. I started smoking (still menthol and a cheap brand) about ten of those gross menthols a day. Even in those few days I cut down to one per day, I could notice a huge difference with my jogging. I decided yesterday was my last day with cigarettes. I just will not have another. Mind over matter and this matters to me alot. I want my body to be the best it can be for the military. If you feel like cutting back or quitting i'd love to be a support for you. Of course it would help me also. I am training on some large hills and do my two miles on these hills every other day and am down to twenty minutes. I'll be 32 soon. The benifits my cardio gets from not smoking is huge! And its only been a little over a week. I'm doing it for the best reason, for myself. It's only 13:57 and i've been craving all day for one, but WILL NOT give in. You cant just give up a habit, you need to replace it. My replacement has been excersise. I dont go jogging each time I crave, but do sit ups or push ups. Luckily I dont have any weight issues. Hopefully because of the extra excersise I wont gain weight from quitting. I really do feel better physically and emotionally for doing this. Wanna give it a try? During my push ups, sit ups, and jogging I could really tell the difference on days I was only having one cigarette and the days I was smoking 10. Of course I knew this information, but until I actually experienced it I wasnt such a believer. I challenge you to give it up for just 24 hours. No need to panic, its only 24 hours. Go jogging and notice the difference.

[Gio446]

hey i also have trouble with running i'm great also with push ups and sit ups i can even do pull ups without flinching or a single problem, i love rock climbing and cliff jumping so that's probably how i have really good upper body strength and even though my calf muscles are rock solid... i need some help building up my endurence in running so if anyone has some idea's for me on how i can do this i'd really appriciate it. I try to run at least 3 times a week if not more, and although im starting to run alot further then what i could before i'm worried I wont be able to get my speed up enough to pass the evals. so like i said any suggestions would be really helpful. thanks

[Rhughes]

As far as the smoking goes I haven't had one sense Sunday. I am back on the patch and so far I haven't hurt anyone . I have tried just about everyother method in the past and always have started up again. I like you am trying to push myself not only to get into shape for WTC but when I go back to my real job in two weeks, I work security in a high school. So needless to say this is benefical to me in both areas. I am able to run a little over a mile with out stopping. My problem now is working past the Latic acid pain.

Becky, sorry to hear about your stress but using excercise to deal with it is great. And how in theworld can you stand smoking even one menthol cigeratte yuck .

Let's keep this thread going to incourage each other and to report our progress.