Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Advice for a newbie runner/WW?
Hi all-
I am just starting my health/fitness journey and I have a few questions about my workouts & foods (sorry if this gets long-winded)
I am doing weight watchers points plus online, but I'm also counting calories as a companion to make sure I'm eating enough to produce breastmilk (and also because I can use the livestrong app & then calculate my points at the end of the day- easy peasy). What would be my best power-breakfast to eat before hitting the gym (about 30min-1hr later)- fruit? a protein bar? (SN: I don't eat eggs) And what would be best when I come home?
Which leads to my next question: it seems like after I exercise I am really starving, no matter what I had for breakfast. Is there a reason for this or is there anything I can do to curb it? (Again with the best pre & post-workout foods)
One last thing- for my workouts I've been trying to go at least 4x/week. I am really fond of the treadmill and I tend to do a walk/run rhythm on there. Today for instance, I walked (2.5mph) for 2', then ran 2', walked 1:30, ran 1:30, walked 1, ran 1, walked 1, ran 1 & so on until I reached a mile. This is taking me approximately 20 minutes- today it took 17 to hit one mile, which is my daily goal. My question is: How do I go from the short bursts of running to running distances? I feel like it's a silly question- but am I doing the right thing by starting with intervals like i am, and just increasing as I can? I have only been at it for about a week and have been increasing my run by a minute a day (from 2). Any tips? I am also sometimes hitting the bike for 10-20 minutes when I'm done on the treadmill depending on time.
Thanks in advance!!
Re: Advice for a newbie runner/WW?
I don't workout in the morning, but I find that the best, long-lasting breakfast is a good combo of protein and carbs. I eat 1.5 cups of high fiber cereal (Fiber One or Kellogg's Fiber Plus) with about 3/4 to 1 cup of milk. That usually holds me over. I also have a banana with string cheese around 10:30am for my AM snack. Some days I really need it and other days I don't.
As for running, I definitely recommend C25K as I'm sure others will also. Starting with intervals is a great way to build up your endurance. Couch to 5K has a specific week by week program that has intervals that increase each week, with the goal of being able to run a 5k by the end.
When I started C25k, I considered myself pretty active, I was going to the gym 4-5 days a week, walking my dog (fast pace) 2x a day, rollerblading, biking, kayaking....for leisure/exercise, but I was NOT under any circumstances a runner. I loathed even the thought of running!! &, I was convinced that there was NO way in he!l I'd ever be able to run further then down the street to save my life. Well, I started C25k July 5, 2011 & graduated (not sure the date) & I just ran my very 1st 5k on April 21 & lived to tell about it! And, I keep signing up for more races!! Who am I? Lol
What Im trying to say is that C25k works. It seriously does. If I can do it, anyone can!!! I never ever ever in a million years would have imagined/believed that I'd be voluntarily signing up for running races, giving people advice about running, or even considering myself a "real runner"! But I am! The best thing about the program is that its self paced. If you have time to run 3x a week, awesome. If you don't, no biggie, you just take longer to complete the program then someone who does. And w/what you have described you are running already, its essentially the same way the C25k program starts, so you're already on your way!
I HTH! There are a ton of people on the board who are C25k newbies, grads..etc So feel free to keep asking questions, or post when/if you need support! GL!
I do WW and I started running about 1.5 years ago with C25K. Google it, it will really help! I went from barely being able to run a mile to running multiple half marathons in the last year and a half. All while on WW.
If I run in the morning, just a short run, I do not eat first, but when I am done I will just have my normal breakfast. If I am running more than 4 miles, and especially if I am running a long run, I will have a whole wheat deli thin with peanut butter on one side and 2 egg whites with cheese on the other (eaten separately, just to be clear!). Or I will make an egg white sandwich on the deli thin with 2 egg whites, cheese (low fat), and a slice of turkey. Something with carbs AND protein to keep me full and satisfied. After I run and stretch (this is for a long run) I will then have some quick protein such as a spoon-full of PB or some sliced deli meat or a chocolate milk. But that is only after I run more than 8 miles.
I think your body is trying something new--exercising and eating right--and it might take some time for you to experiment to see what works best for you.
Blog