My Quit Smoking & Start Running Thread

[Philosophickle]

princesa, have you thought about a way to keep track of your progress? If you have an iPhone, you can download some nice software that will follow distances/times more or less automatically.

I've used one for a few years now and it pushes you to beat previous distances/times/etc.

[princesa]

princesa, have you thought about a way to keep track of your progress? If you have an iPhone, you can download some nice software that will follow distances/times more or less automatically.

I've used one for a few years now and it pushes you to beat previous distances/times/etc.

no i don't own one but you've just given me a great idea, there must be some sort of device that can track the distance you jog/walk...there is a bike trail i walk/jog on and i don't even know the distance i've just completed. when i got home i felt great but i couldn't tell you if i jogged a mile or half a mile so there's no way for me to check if i better my pace. i will look these gadget up, thank you for the idea Philo!

and thank you Alcy for your support! :)

[Alcoth]

a pedometer!

I think Wal-Mart even carries them, if not something like Academy Sports

[Raphael]

no i don't own one but you've just given me a great idea, there must be some sort of device that can track the distance you jog/walk...there is a bike trail i walk/jog on and i don't even know the distance i've just completed. when i got home i felt great but i couldn't tell you if i jogged a mile or half a mile so there's no way for me to check if i better my pace. i will look these gadget up, thank you for the idea Philo!

and thank you Alcy for your support! :)

if you have an iPod nano, you can get a Nike dongle which will track things like that (my sister-in-law uses one).

That data can then be uploaded to http://www.mapmyrun.com/ for you to be able to keep a record.

Otherwise you can use a pedometer to keep track of distance, and use the Google map on mapmyrun to draw your routes.

[Philosophickle]

Pedos make me run faster too.

[Sparko]

I think I am addicted to air. I need to cut back.

[princesa]

I think I am addicted to air. I need to cut back.

what the heck!?!?!

I am getting the pedometer! soon.

i like checking on amazon.com reviews for that type of thing.

thanks for the advice guys.

[princesa]

been doing terribly

[themuzicman]

Well, start up again. Kicking addictions and starting new habits are almost always fraught with stumbles along the way.

The key is to get up and start again!

[princesa]

thanks muzicman, i will, it's just other things now. i'll keep posting when things are better.

[themuzicman]

Don't let life define your priorities...

[QuantaFille]

Oh my goodness, I've been away from TWeb for so long I totally missed this!

I do have some advice.

The single greatest motivator for me to get up and walk every morning before work was my sister's Jack Russell Terrier. Seriously. They will destroy your house if you don't walk them at least 4 miles per day, preferably more. Some people even get treadmills for them. Insane little dogs, and too smart for their own good.
If you don't have a dog, or don't want or can't have one, you still need a reason to run and just keep reminding yourself of why you need to run. Many mornings my alarm would go off and I would think, "Oh, not today..." and then I'd get mental images of Leah incessantly running in circles downstairs, barking at everything. Then I'd get up, eat breakfast, and be out the door in 20 minutes, Leah beside me with her backpack full of sand on her back, my dog on the other side of me, and two water bottles and a dog bowl in my pack.

Getting running clothes helps. I lived in a very hot, humid climate at the time and tried running (well, speed walking, actually) in a cotton t-shirt and denim capris, but it's a lot more comfortable to have proper gear. It has a psychological effect too, it helps you prepare mentally for the excercise. Plus, it just looks cool. I think I got mine on clearance or on sale. Look for deals online too, eBay is a good place to start.

As far as tracking time and distance, I got a cheap watch that had a stopwatch function, and tracked my distance using Google Maps. I'd pre-plan my route (I had several regular routes, and would change based on what I had time for that day (I always got up at the same time)) so I always knew exactly how many miles we'd gone and how long it took.

You mentioned putting a picture on the fridge door for inspiration. Try also putting a calendar on the fridge, and fill it in when you excercise with what you did, how far and for how long etc.. Seeing it on your phone or a gadget once a day is one thing, seeing it every time you go into the kitchen is another.

Shakes are good, if you know what to put in them. Try looking up recipes online for healthy shakes. During the time I was walking every day, I had a protein shake for dinner most nights. Being in a hot climate I didn't want a hot meal, so I would make a shake with pineapple juice, vanilla protein powder, and various kinds of frozen fruit.

Sadly, I've gotten out of the habit of walking every morning. I've been meaning to get back into it, but haven't yet. I live downtown now and am dogless. I do walk to school every weekday, but it's only two and a half blocks total walking distance so it probably doesn't count. I do walk home for lunch sometimes though. I want to get a bike so I don't have to drive to Walmart any more, and I think that's a start.

[princesa]

QuantaFille;3100306]Oh my goodness, I've been away from TWeb for so long I totally missed this!
I do have some advice.

thank you

The single greatest motivator for me to get up and walk every morning before work was my sister's Jack Russell Terrier. Seriously. They will destroy your house if you don't walk them at least 4 miles per day, preferably more. Some people even get treadmills for them. Insane little dogs, and too smart for their own good.
If you don't have a dog, or don't want or can't have one, you still need a reason to run and just keep reminding yourself of why you need to run. Many mornings my alarm would go off and I would think, "Oh, not today..."

yes!

and then I'd get mental images of Leah incessantly running in circles downstairs, barking at everything. Then I'd get up, eat breakfast, and be out the door in 20 minutes, Leah beside me with her backpack full of sand on her back, my dog on the other side of me, and two water bottles and a dog bowl in my pack.

i read eating after the run is good, (?) i don't have a dog and need to find my motivator

Getting running clothes helps.

i have a totally hot running outfit, all black, all nike, even bought new running sneakers and it motivated me for one weekend unfortunately


As far as tracking time and distance, I got a cheap watch that had a stopwatch function, and tracked my distance using Google Maps. I'd pre-plan my route (I had several regular routes, and would change based on what I had time for that day (I always got up at the same time)) so I always knew exactly how many miles we'd gone and how long it took.
You mentioned putting a picture on the fridge door for inspiration. Try also putting a calendar on the fridge, and fill it in when you excercise with what you did, how far and for how long etc.. Seeing it on your phone or a gadget once a day is one thing, seeing it every time you go into the kitchen is another.

That's a great idea, i think i will start doing the calendar thing. The picture thing didn't work. I just called her names and threw her away.

Shakes are good, if you know what to put in them. Try looking up recipes online for healthy shakes. During the time I was walking every day, I had a protein shake for dinner most nights. Being in a hot climate I didn't want a hot meal, so I would make a shake with pineapple juice, vanilla protein powder, and various kinds of frozen fruit.

I wish I had a running partner like you, (you're not in nyc are you?, queens perhaps) my grocerly list includes 90% veggies and fruits with the rest meat and dairy. I still have fresh rosemary, broccoli, kale, baby spinach, carrots etc.... I wanted a (literally) green healthy shake so i bought all these green veggies to blend. didn't do it yet though. I'll just throw it all in with some ice and hope for the best.

Sadly, I've gotten out of the habit of walking every morning. I've been meaning to get back into it, but haven't yet. I live downtown now and am dogless. I do walk to school every weekday, but it's only two and a half blocks total walking distance so it probably doesn't count. I do walk home for lunch sometimes though. I want to get a bike so I don't have to drive to Walmart any more, and I think that's a start.[/QUOTE]

Bikes are great. I wish you the best in your fitness plan and thank you for your wonderful tips. My children take up almost all of my time on the weekends and i struggle finding an hour to run. I told my son he is going to join me in running. My daughter doesn't need it as much. I had an idea to play tag in our yard since we have that open space, i figured its a great excersize for the whole family. I do miss jogging though, i did it once and it was the most exhilarating feeling i've ever had. My son jogs in the yard! (sometimes I don't even realize these things until i type) and he even said how great he feels. The weather is getting cooler and my marriage and faith is rocky now so I'm a bit down, maybe what I need is a good jog in the mornings.

[QuantaFille]

i read eating after the run is good, (?) i don't have a dog and need to find my motivator

I would eat before and after I walked, I have an unreasonably fast metabolism and hypoglycemia. I would not be able to go walking or running without eating a good meal before and after.

i have a totally hot running outfit, all black, all nike, even bought new running sneakers and it motivated me for one weekend unfortunately

For me it wasn't so much the look and mental aspect (although this did play a part), it was just the weather. The day would start out absurdly hot and humid, even before sunrise. I just couldn't wear the cotton stuff anymore.

That's a great idea, i think i will start doing the calendar thing. The picture thing didn't work. I just called her names and threw her away.

I wish I had a running partner like you, (you're not in nyc are you?, queens perhaps)

No, I'm not even in your time zone. Sorry!

my grocerly list includes 90% veggies and fruits with the rest meat and dairy. I still have fresh rosemary, broccoli, kale, baby spinach, carrots etc.... I wanted a (literally) green healthy shake so i bought all these green veggies to blend. didn't do it yet though. I'll just throw it all in with some ice and hope for the best.

One of my sisters took that approach and ended up with something that tasted entirely of celery and nothing else. I would experiment in small batches so you don't end up with a large serving of something you can't drink.

Bikes are great. I wish you the best in your fitness plan and thank you for your wonderful tips. My children take up almost all of my time on the weekends and i struggle finding an hour to run. I told my son he is going to join me in running. My daughter doesn't need it as much. I had an idea to play tag in our yard since we have that open space, i figured its a great excersize for the whole family. I do miss jogging though, i did it once and it was the most exhilarating feeling i've ever had. My son jogs in the yard! (sometimes I don't even realize these things until i type) and he even said how great he feels. The weather is getting cooler and my marriage and faith is rocky now so I'm a bit down, maybe what I need is a good jog in the mornings.

How old are your kids? If they are old enough, take them with you. Your kids may be the running partners you need, and your motivation.

I also forgot to mention, if the warm milk isn't working for you, try adding a little nutmeg to it. It's supposed to amplify the effects of the milk, and it tastes good also.
If you are like a lot of smokers where part of the addiction is doing something with your hands and/or mouth, try to find something to fill that gap. Try knitting or crochet. Many nights when I get home late from work and it's been a stressful day, I have to knit for a while before I can sleep. The repetitive hand motion is very relaxing to me.
If it's just having something in your mouth that you need, try a little sucker (like a DumDum or similar). You can probably even find some healthy ones at a health food store.

[Rational Gaze]

When I started smoking, it was only two cigarettes a day, then one. Now it is something like one cigarette every few weeks. At one point I went up to 3 a day, but that was because I felt like it, not because I was becoming hooked. I prefer Cigars though, but they are pricey. Then again, I don't inhale the cigarette smoke, so it is doubtful I am even getting the nicotine into my system. It is purely for taste purposes. One Marlboro Red, plus one piece of Wrigley's Extra spearmint chewing gum, plus two spearmint Tic Tacs followed by one cup of Nescafe Black Gold Coffee with three sugars and a slpash of milk = one heck of an amazing taste in your mouth, at least for me anyway. I got the idea from watching The Terminator, as Lt. Traxler does something similar.