2016 Walking, Exercise, Weight Loss Member Challenge Thread

[blueboss]

Good luck to you, BEvans. It is tough, and it gets tougher the more years we put behind us after 40, I think.

For me, full court basketball starts back tonight at 7pm. I've already said I'm happy with the last position on the bench, coming in if somebody needs a one minute breather and will be happy to start that way.

I'll be the 2nd oldest player in our "league" (it's not really a league, just invited players). Three of us are way, way over the hill. The rest, hopefully, will be pretty good players in their 20's and 30's, but no stars, no college player types. Using this as my kickstart back to serious exercising.

Best kind of exercise, having more fun than hard work. Get out doing something you enjoy with people you enjoy, sweat a little bit…win, win,win. Enjoy!!


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[Darrell KSR]

Had fun. Rusty as heck, slow, huffing and puffing, but I was fortunate that this group was mostly over 50.

Had a 23-year old, a 24-year old, and a couple of 30-somethings, but rest were 50+.

Hit a few shots, made one teardrop and then tried it the next possession and got it slapped back at me lol.

Apparently this group will be good for another week or so, but when NFL playoffs conclude, the young guys come back.

[blueboss]

Had fun. Rusty as heck, slow, huffing and puffing, but I was fortunate that this group was mostly over 50.

Had a 23-year old, a 24-year old, and a couple of 30-somethings, but rest were 50+.

Hit a few shots, made one teardrop and then tried it the next possession and got it slapped back at me lol.

Apparently this group will be good for another week or so, but when NFL playoffs conclude, the young guys come back.

You got your heat check rejected?


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[Darrell KSR]

You got your heat check rejected?


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Lol. Exactly. I mean, exactly.

As the new kid on the block, not having played or not knowing any of the people other than the one guy who invited me, I was trying to be very deferential. My shot selection up into that point was very limited, and I deferred to others until I felt like they really wanted me to take some of the burden. So I hit a couple of shots, and that roll into the lane with the teardrop hit, and I thought I was Michael Jordan. Very next trip, as soon as I got the ball at the elbow extended I rolled into the lane with the same play. Except this one I ate, because I am not MJ, I'm Darrell KSR. It would have been funny if it hadn't have been me.

[blueboss]

Lol. Exactly. I mean, exactly.

As the new kid on the block, not having played or not knowing any of the people other than the one guy who invited me, I was trying to be very deferential. My shot selection up into that point was very limited, and I deferred to others until I felt like they really wanted me to take some of the burden. So I hit a couple of shots, and that roll into the lane with the teardrop hit, and I thought I was Michael Jordan. Very next trip, as soon as I got the ball at the elbow extended I rolled into the lane with the same play. Except this one I ate, because I am not MJ, I'm Darrell KSR. It would have been funny if it hadn't have been me.

Good stuff, lots of fun.


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[Darrell KSR]

Not doing a lot yet, had one day on the treadmill with glorified walking, but played another night of basketball tonight.

Fortunately I get paired up with the old guy so I run about a third of the time, and probably not that much, slow jog another third. And walk the remaining third.

One Alleve before and I'll take another before bedtime.

[KSRBEvans]

Back in a regular habit of going to the gym right after work. I've figured out that if I go home, there's no way I'm going back out.

Mrs. BEvans and I are looking forward to going to Charleston in a couple of weeks and getting our steps in.

[Darrell KSR]

Back in a regular habit of going to the gym right after work. I've figured out that if I go home, there's no way I'm going back out.

Mrs. BEvans and I are looking forward to going to Charleston in a couple of weeks and getting our steps in.

Very smart. I have fallen in the habit of putting off my exercise with the weather being cold and rainy, and thinking I can do it at night on the treadmill. Then dinner hits and I think well, I'll go ahead and eat dinner first. Then right after dinner, of course you don't want to exercise immediately, and then I think well, I'll just do it tomorrow.

I should do it first thing in the morning, but I just am not a super early type person.

Enjoy your trip to Charleston and the added fact that you be getting in some good exercise.

I did get a little worried last week. I met with a friend of mine and I was telling him about me playing basketball and he told me to be careful. Apparently a friend of his (who I did not know) was playing pickle ball, had a heart attack and died. I mean, that can happen to anybody and doesn't have to be during an activity, but it is sort of startling. He said that all he does now is walk and do light weights. In my head, I know that walking provides close to 100% of all the benefits that slow man jogging produces, with 10% of the risk.

[Darrell KSR]

Basketball again tonight. I skipped breakfast, had a very low calorie lunch and a quick banana before playing from 7-9. Had the jitters, needed a little more calories (eating dinner now).

Maybe coincidentally, I was pretty bad today. Hit 2-3 in the last game to 25, which we won 26-24, so slight redemption.

There were 3 old guys today over 41 (sigh). Two of us played each game so we we could guard each other, and the third guy sat out, so we each played 4 of the 6 games (I think) we played. I'm far from quick, but both of the others were generally walking to the other end half the time, so it was also my easiest basketball so far. Garmin claimed it was 874 calories spent, though.

[Darrell KSR]

Well, I have to get serious about eating. Had my annual physical Friday and weighed 234.4. Now, that is with shoes on, close on, etc. but it's still a good 230 and for me to feel even decent about myself I need to be at 210, and a healthy weight would probably be 200 or 190. In fact, I think all "the charts" would say that I need to be about 175, but I think that's ridiculous for me.

My exercise has been "decent," but not great. Last night I played basketball for 2 1/2 hours. Played eight games (we play to 15, with the last game of the night to 25, gotta win by 2), and probably played the worst I played since I began playing again. Our team also went 1-7. They don't expect much for me, but if I can add a bucket or two a game, they are very happy with me and I failed more than I succeeded last night. Just poor. Then again, Garman said I burned 1440 cal, so at least there's that. I don't believe in that calorie burn and weight loss exactly, but it has to help some.

[KSRBEvans]

That's awesome, D. I remember when I played a lot of pickup basketball in college and no matter how in shape I thought I was, I learned differently when I went to the gym.

[blueboss]

Still hanging between 223/225 depending on day and time.

I have a great excuse for taking it easy in the cardio exercise department…I’ll know more after Wednesday, and might have to find a new excuse.


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[Darrell KSR]

Still hanging between 223/225 depending on day and time.

I have a great excuse for taking it easy in the cardio exercise department…I’ll know more after Wednesday, and might have to find a new excuse.


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Wishing you the best of luck with that, blueboss. Your weight is pretty doggone good, considering your height and everything right now.

[Darrell KSR]

That's awesome, D. I remember when I played a lot of pickup basketball in college and no matter how in shape I thought I was, I learned differently when I went to the gym.

The best part about it is that you don't really feel like you're exercising. You're playing a game.

I like to run, but I went to check out a new place that's a little bit out of the way that has two basketball courts today (it is 8 miles from my office). After being so terrible Sunday, I want to see about possibly playing more basketball. It might eat into some of my running, but that's okay.

[KSRBEvans]

What shoes do y'all wear for walking/running? I usually try to go as inexpensive (Mrs. BEvans would say "cheap") as possible. Because we're starting to work up to some longer distance walking, I decided to get some Hokas. They were expensive, but others I was considering (New Balance, Saucony, Asics) were also expensive.

I guess I have to reset my expectations and be ready to pay $125-$150 for a pair of workout shoes?

[Darrell KSR]

First, you're not cheap. If anyone on the board is cheap, I'll take the "honor." Having said that, sometimes you have to bite the bullet.

I would encourage you to take the advice I have not yet taken myself – actually go to a running store (something like Track Shak), have them watch your walking or jogging gait and use their computerized equipment to see if you underpronate, overpronate, etc. Then be measured. (But caveat--read to the very end here.)

Through a variety of half-azz measures, and trial and error, I finally managed to find out that I...

...underpronate. That means I need neutral stability shoes. Overpronate, which is what most people do, and stability shoes (like the Saucony Guide, as opposed to the Saucony Ride) will make your walks/runs safer and more comfortable.

...have a wider than normal foot, and I am in between sizes of length. My perfect shoe rarely exists. I wear a 2E width, even though I have bought size D (95% of the shoes on the market, I think) my whole life. It's why my feet were more sore or hurt after running more often than not.

...I run mainly on my forefoot, rather than heel to front. This means I need a smaller heel drop (the difference from the heel to ground and toe, basically), less than 6mm. It also encourages more natural foot and ankle motion, and distributes impact force evenly.

With all of this, I either wear a 10-1/2 2E or an 11 2E. Sometimes I can get by with an 11D, but I'm usually disappointed with that. My golf shoes are 11D, and they seem to be ok.

I wear Hoka Hupana Flow 10.5 2E shoes (might be discontinued now--not a very popular model). They weigh 8.9 oz, and have a 5mm drop and Saucony Kinvara 13 Wide (also 10.5 2E), with is a crazy less than 7 oz (in size 9), with a 4mm drop.

Before buying those, I generally wore Asics as my shoe of choice. Whatever Academy Sports had on sale. A few years ago I went to a podiatrist to get a "check up" on my feet, as I intended to start an "every day" running routine and wanted to make sure they were healthy enough to do that. I asked the doctor if there were any particular shoes that were healthier for my feet, and that I generally wore Asics. He laughed, and raised up his foot. He said he was a runner, and the shoe he showed me was Asics, and he said that's what he ran in, too.

So who knows? I should add that I have three pair of Asics I still have, and I randomly will wear one very occasionally when I run. It's not in my "rotation," but maybe once a month I'll throw it in. One of the many articles I read suggested it was a good idea to vary your gear occasionally--I don't remember why--and the Asics, if I recall correctly, had a fairly standard 10 or 12mm drop. Oh--and I have a pair of Asics trail shoes I bought a couple of years ago before doing a Thanksgiving day "Wobble Gobble" 5k through the woods with my son. Those are actually a 4E width, but it's usually cold, and I wear thick wool socks with it, so it turned out to be perfect.

Buying guide for "bargains" -- really, not many bargains in the shoe area you're shopping. If you know what shoes you want, you can also set up a "Slickdeals Alert," and you will receive an email from the slickdeals website if that shoe gets posted on their site with a deal. I have bought a few things over the years from such an alert, and I have a generic "running shoes" alert where I get emails periodically from them for various brands.

Also, I've bought my last couple of pair of shoes from Running Warehouse online. I like that place; they have a no questions asked free return, even after you've worn the shoes. Shoes can be worn for up to 90 days (I wouldn't risk it that long, but that's their policy), and returned for free. If they've been worn, you get a store credit. If unworn, you can get a full refund. I wore a pair of Hoka shoes and ran a track that was part road, part gravel, part through the woods (the Veteran's Park 5k track), and the shoes hurt. Turned out (one of my trial and errors), using a size D width just was the wrong size. Even though the sole of the shoes were very beaten up, no questions asked, they took it back without question, and then I bought the Hoka with 2E width.

Also, they have free shipping over $50. If, for some reason, you needed shoes right away, they will overnight it for a $15 charge. Not a bad deal if you found yourself somewhere out of town and your shoe sole came off, or you forgot to pack shoes for a trip, etc.

[KSRBEvans]

Thanks, Darrell. Mrs. BEvans went to a running store and got a fitting, and she "encouraged" me to do the same. I'm a big-time supinator and I have some gait issues from my accident, and I went with their recommendation (Hoka Bondi 8). It was actually a little cheaper than if I'd just bought them through Amazon, plus I got some expert assistance in the process. Anyway, that's how I justify in my mind spending $150 on a pair of shoes.

[Darrell KSR]

Thanks, Darrell. Mrs. BEvans went to a running store and got a fitting, and she "encouraged" me to do the same. I'm a big-time supinator and I have some gait issues from my accident, and I went with their recommendation (Hoka Bondi 8). It was actually a little cheaper than if I'd just bought them through Amazon, plus I got some expert assistance in the process. Anyway, that's how I justify in my mind spending $150 on a pair of shoes.

I view that as health and medical expense. You got a free pair of shoes in the process. (If I can justify it that way, anybody can ).

[Darrell KSR]

By the way, the Hoka Bondi 8's come in 2E sizes, too, and have that nice 4mm drop that works well for me. The toebox is snug, which is usually a problem, but not for a 2E size. Lot of cushion in that shoe--I like it a lot. I have a $110 credit at Running Warehouse (courtesy of a data breach--I was shocked at clicking "in" on a class action would give me that much benefit), and that shoe is one that is in my cart as a possible purchase.

Funny how those Hokas used to be the gosh-awful ugliest shoes around, and now everybody likes their look.

[blueboss]

Holy moly! I had no idea…Now that I have completed the above masters program in running shoes, I guess I need to go buy some shoes (the good ones) and start running.

… or, as soon as I get this damn tube out of my back, throw on some sneakers and get back on the elliptical.


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