Introduce Yourself

[Dale K.]

We like to get to know our members. Please feel free to share as much or as little about yourself as you'd like in this thread.

Or, perhaps you'd like to start your own blog, make your introduction there and post us link to your blog?

Either way is fine!

Here are some questions to get you started - feel free to answer all or none - these are just to give you ideas!

What brings you here?

Do you currently have a fitness and/or nutrition program that you are following? Tell us about it - do you like it, do you think it's effective, is it easy to stick with?

What sorts of physical activity do you enjoy and/or would you like to try?

Do you have a gym membership? Do you use it? If not, why not?

What are your hobbies?

Tell us one thing about you that you wouldn't want your mother to find out!

What's new in your life?

Where can I get a decent slice of pizza around here?

Does your Price Chopper Advantage Card EVER work at the gas pump? (I'm serious, I wanna know because mine doesn't!)

What was the last thing you said that you wish you could take back?

What was the last thing you didn't say that you wish you had said?

Yankees or Red Sox?

Do you have OCD, ADD, or both?

Do you have a New Years Resolution? If so, tell us about it.

What was your resolution last year? Did you achieve your goal? What helped you stay on track, or conversely what threw you off?

[Dale K.]

OK I'll go first!

What brings you here?
Long story. I've been wanting to facilitate some sort of "challenge" for a while now. It really stems from my work with clients. Motivation is a tough thing to keep fired up long term. Cash tends to be an incentive for a lot of people. Think getting up every day and going to work. In the frigid cold. Would you do that if they didn't pay you?

So, really, this is an effort to help my clients. I also encourage people to engage in physical activity outside of their training sessions. Not everyone has a gym membership so being active most days of the week can be a challenge - especially during the winter!!! Women especially prefer to engage in activities together - so, hopefully my clients, and you, will be able to connect with people you can do things with - hiking, walking, whatever....ANYTHING. I love to hike. No one I know hikes!

It also helps people stick to their nutrition plan more consistently if they know they're going to be held publicly accountable.

The New You Challenge is a tool - for you, and for me. The whole "Fit Club" idea grew out of needing a way to help my clients be more consistent, and active.


Do you currently have a fitness and/or nutrition program that you are following? Tell us about it - do you like it, do you think it's effective, is it easy to stick with?

HA! Does sitting in this chair for the past 3 weeks building this website count? Do you know how hard it is to sit for hours on end when you're not used to doing that? I did it for 10 years and it didn't bother me.

But now? It's honestly physically painful. I can put 150lbs pounds on my back (shhh don't tell my chiropractor) squat, stand up, and repeat. (I haven't done that in maybe 4 months - that's for Dr D. & Dr Q. just in case they happen to be reading this..really I swear) But sit in this chair for 6-7-8 hours? IT HURTS!!! I'm going to need a wheelchair by time this website is built!

So, yes, trainers fall off the wagon too.

I'm not really off - I'm just not on. I'm kind of in limbo right now. I'll be climbing back on with the rest of you for the duration of the challenge. No, I'm not an official entrant. But I am going to play along. Because I need to!

Do you have a gym membership? Do you use it? If not, why not?

I have 2. Yes I use them regularly - well, when I'm not building websites!

What are your hobbies?
I like to play Texas Hold 'Em, Everquest (or Evercrack as it's often called and SHOULD have been called). And really that's it on my hobbies at this point. I used to play guitar and write music. Sadly, I just don't have time for that these days.

Tell us one thing about you that you wouldn't want your mother to find out!
I can't - if I did I'd be breaking the forum rules. Plus I had her come here and test out the site, so she might read this.

What's new in your life?
Albany Fit Club is new and incredibly exciting for me!

Where can I get a decent slice of pizza around here?
Dunno, that's why I asked! I Love NY is pretty OK.

Does your Price Chopper Advantage Card EVER work at the gas pump? (I'm serious, I wanna know because mine doesn't!)
Seriously, somebody answer me!!

What was the last thing you said that you wish you could take back?
hmmm.....gonna have to think on that one. There are soooo many options to choose from!

What was the last thing you didn't say that you wish you had said?
NO.

Yankees or Red Sox?
Yanks!

Do you have OCD, ADD, or both?
Both - that's why I was able to come up with such a ridiculous question.

Do you have a New Years Resolution? If so, tell us about it.
Nope. I do have a goal to compete in a figure/physique competition in the Fall. Why? Because I'm 44 and I can. I spent my entire life hating my body, and now I don't. And I'm 44. And by then I'll be nearly 45.

What was your resolution last year? Did you achieve your goal? What helped you stay on track, or conversely what threw you off?
I had planned on doing the competition this past year but a pinched nerve in my neck took me out of the gym - right before the contest. Not good!!

[nadiambe]

What brings you here?

I'm here because I know that sometimes I need to be held accountable to someone other than myself, and that I do best when I have support for my goals. So when I came across this challenge, I figured it was a good place to start.

I'm in my 20's, am very overweight, and was recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I'd always *tried* to lose weight and be healthy, but only started to see success when I put people around me to support me. That support system fell away, and after the diagnosis, it was a kick in the pants to get back on track.

Do you currently have a fitness and/or nutrition program that you are following? Tell us about it - do you like it, do you think it's effective, is it easy to stick with?

Yes. I keep a food journal, just basically listing what I eat and drink, and then if I'm ambitious I'll look up and include the calorie, fat, carbohydrate and protein counts. This is helping me with my pre-diabetes, because I can see how different foods affect me in conjunction with testing my blood sugars regularly. I don't like eating processed foods, and believe in cooking with whole foods, and wholesome ingredients (I like to know where my food comes from). I also take pride in cooking healthful, nutritious meals, so meal planning gets thrown into it all. I've taken what I've learned through reading and going to nutritionists and just sort of put together a mish-mosh that works for me. But I think the key is watching the calories, and making sure what you eat is good quality (Would I rather get my calories from some juice and chips, or from a rounded out snack that's likely going to satisfy me better?)

As far as fitness goes, I've started wearing a pedometer, because I do a lot of walking and take public transit, so I want to know how much I'm doing routinely. I was training for a 5k, and completed one in December, and so I'm hoping to pick up with that again with daily walks/jogs. And once school starts up again, I'll be swimming weekly. I'd also like to get back into some other things I'm interested in (hiking, biking, diving, pilates), but time will tell how well that all works out!

Do you have a gym membership? Do you use it? If not, why not?

I did, but I didn't use it because the location ended up being too far out of the way (because I don't have a car). Instead, I'm utilizing the free gyms I have at school and work, and the sidewalks of Albany! lol Once the weather warms up, I'm hoping to hit the trails and do some hiking too.

What are your hobbies?

I'm a bibliophile and spend what free time I have reading. I'm also into knitting and crocheting, cooking and baking, and I'm hoping to get into gardening!

What's new in your life?

2009 brought a lot of challenges in my life to the forefront, so 2010 will be all about facing them. Dealing with those challenges is what's new and consuming my life currently, lol. Albany Fit Club will hopefully be helping address some of those challenges!

Where can I get a decent slice of pizza around here?

I don't know either! I've lived here for nearly a year and a half, and have had very little pizza. I Love NY is good (my ex-roomie swears by them) and Trios is good if you like cheesy pizza!

Does your Price Chopper Advantage Card EVER work at the gas pump? (I'm serious, I wanna know because mine doesn't!)

Yep, mine does. It has to be the full sized card.

Do you have a New Years Resolution? If so, tell us about it.

I've never set resolutions, but I do re-examine my goals at the start of each year. This year, my health (physical, emotional and spiritual) is at the top of my list. So I have lots of mini-goals in that big umbrella goal. An example of some are: Complete another 5k and/or a 10k (I'd like to do a half-marathon Spring 2011), Bike to work daily come spring time, Plant a vegetable garden (maybe doesn't seem like a health goal, but I figure it'll provide me good, healthy food, an outlet for stress, a physical activity, and it seems to have a lot of other benefits)

What was your resolution last year? Did you achieve your goal? What helped you stay on track, or conversely what threw you off?

Last year was actually the first year I did not re-examine my goals, which actually may be part of why my year was so tumultuous and unfocused. I didn't stay true to myself...

[Dale K.]

Welcome Nadiambe!

I'm very happy you found us! You have some great insight and experience that will be of great benefit and inspiration to those just starting out!

The whole learning how to cook and eat real food was key for me. It was a heck of a struggle and my progress was minimal until I was able to do that. It also helps that you like cooking. I still don't. I "just do it" anyway! And yeah, planning, time management - all things that trip people up.

I commend you on the 5K! That is awesome!! I would struggle with that for sure. I wouldn't even attempt it in December! Did Patrick send you here? He's the only person I know that likes to run outside when it's so cold that your sweat freezes your eyes shut.

Patrick and Tera, two trainers I work will be sending people here. They both do a program called, "Run Fit", so they are connected with lots of people who like to run. I also just emailed someone this morning who might be interested in training and/or doing something like that with you as well. In fact, your stories are eerily similar, so much so that I'm thinking you are her - and if you are - you better call me right now!

I think perhaps we should start a hiking group. I would LOVE to have someone to go with. No one I know hikes - well aside from you!! I've only done it a handful of times. I love it though! When it's not winter that is!

Anyhoo, I have to get back to recruiting some playmates for us!

Thanks so much for being here!

[nadiambe]

The cooking thing was pivotal for me. I had such a terrible relationship with food (emotional eating) throughout middle school and high school, so reshaping how I viewed food, and healthy food at that, became crucial for me in college. Now I see it as a creative outlet, so I don't feel like it's a chore. I'm really excited for spring to come, because if I can get my garden going, I think about all the things I can prepare using ingredients from my own back yard! I guess cooking has become a bit of a pride point for me, lol.

I don't know a Patrick, sorry. The 5k thing was entirely my own idea. A bit before getting diagnosed with pre-diabetes, I was toying with the idea of running a marathon, and then a few days after my diagnosis, I decided that running a marathon was exactly the kind of goal I needed to work towards to keep me motivated through the various lifestyle changes I need to make to have a healthy life. So I set the goal to run a half marathon Spring 2011, and run a 5K Spring 2010, but when I heard about the December 5k, I signed up, just figuring it would be a baseline going ahead. I actually have hated running most of my life, and so for me to go from nothing to being a runner (which I still don't consider myself) is kinda a big deal. So thanks for the thumbs up, and wish me luck going forward!

Oh! And I'd love it if anyone wants to train with me. I'm still basically a walker with a few bursts of jogging thrown in, so my pace is still very beginner-ish. And I'd love someone to go hiking with. I've lived in the Albany area for a year and a half now, and we have all these awesome trails around, but I never have anyone to go with, and therefore I don't go. I belong to some other hiking clubs, but so far there's always been a conflict in schedule, or I chicken out because I don't know anyone.

I'm definitely excited about this thing, and I really hope to make some friends along the way. Supporting one another is going to hopefully help us all reach our goals, no matter how varied they are!

Yay! Here's to starting 2010 on a good note!

[Dale K.]

Do you know how many people chicken out of the first time doing one of the hiking clubs & the like? Many! I've done it and so have others I've talked to!!

That's actually one of the reasons I started this group and set up the message board, and the Challenge. Hopefully people will participate online and get to know each other a bit. That makes the meeting in real person thing a bit easier sometimes!

I decided that running a marathon was exactly the kind of goal I needed to work towards to keep me motivated through the various lifestyle changes I need to make to have a healthy life.

Keep setting goals like that and you will get to be wherever you want to be.

Have you read "Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz? He talks about how the brain is a basically a goal seeking mechanism.

Without a goal we have no where to go and no reason to do anything differently than what we're doing right now.

That's why goal setting - short and long term - is a major aspect of the Challenge

[RebTerry]

Hi! My name is Rebecca. I'm a 33-year-old, married, stay-at-home, mom of three!

What Brings Me Here?

I followed a link... Seriously, I've been on a yo-yo since, well, forever! I have diabetes (type II) developed in late adolescence and discovered in the last trimester of my first pregnency. I've battled with it for years - pills, injectiions, pumps, more pills, different injections... I'm tired. Tired of always worrying about it, tired of being tired. My children are soon to be 15, 10, and 4. My oldest daughter had to have her gall bladder removed in October and it was a real eye opener to our lifestyles. I don't think much in terms of myself, but the illness of a child, an illness related to her dietary consumption, was a wake up call like no other. So, here I am, trying to make the positive, life-long changes necessary to being a better me and a better role model.

What sorts of physical activity do you enjoy and/or would you like to try?
Do you have a gym membership? Do you use it? If not, why not?

My oldest daughter and I started running in July 2009. Well, she runs, I plod...lol. We do pretty good, 2 miles in 40 minutes! She can outdistance me easily but we stick together. Our goal was the Troy Turkey Trot 5k. Her surgery interfered but we did do the Arsenal Fun Run (1mile/km?). It was fun! It was a great sense of accomplishment to finish that in just under 10 minutes. Mind you, I am over 200lbs. and have never been able to run in my life. Even as a "healthy" teenager it was beyond me. I'm out there trying. I can now jog for 10 minutes at a time. We joined Planet Fitness at the end of December when they promoted their $1 sale. Its just too cold to run in the Northeast during winter (my opinion) though there are some really devoted men and women out there who do! YOU ROCK! We try to get to the gym at least 3-4 times a week.

What are your hobbies?

Unfortunately, most of my hobbies are sedentary. I read voraciously. I write. I do a lot of needlecrafts - crocheting, knitting, quilting. Dabble in scrapbooking and jewelry. I love being outside and walking and hiking but it isn't something I often have the energy for or the company to enjoy it with. I have to send the kids to school sometime!


Tell us one thing about you that you wouldn't want your mother to find out!

My mother always knew I have a yen for romance novels, she used to throw them away if she found them! She has no idea I write them too! She'd be mortified!

Where can I get a decent slice of pizza around here?

Seriously? 25th Street Pizza and The Purple Pub - both in Watervliet!!! Rustey's in Wyantskill... Dante's in Troy (Dante's II in Rensselaer)

That's all I have time for right now, laundry calls....

Reb

[RebTerry]

Feels a little strange "welcoming" the designer, sponsor, etc of this site but...why not!

70lbs is amazing. Years ago, while my husband was away at BCT (the first time), I lost 40lbs, while working full time and taking care of two kids. I had so much...MUCH...built up all the time with him being away and the stress of the unknown and doing it all myself that the gym became my outlet. I spent 40 minutes a day, 7 days a week, on an eliptical. Those 40 flew off in about 5 months. While I was eating healthy, I know I wasn't eating enough, and I think a lot came off just in nervous energy. I did feel better and look better but I gained it all back pretty quick when life returned to "normal".

EVERCRACK!? The stories I could tell.... not personally but I know so many people who are absolute addicts. My household is strictly FPS (I can't stand any of them but I go with it, less stress ;P) My husband runs a huge website for a league....

GO YANKEES! My oldest roots for the Sox just to be difficult but the rest of us know where it's at!

I think I came into this too late for the challenge, but it's exciting to be here anyway. Hopeing to meet some "real" people and make some friends that aren't virtual and that is probably what attracts me most about the potential of this site.

Reb

[RebTerry]

Hi Nadiambe!

School? What are you studying? Knowledge is such an unbelievable gift...

Looks like we both share a love of reading too! My favorite author's are Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts, Maggie Shayne, Terry Brooks... I could go on but that kind of defeats the title of "favorite". I think women in general have a need to create things. Beautiful things, useful things. It's that finished project that I've created from yarn and willpower that is so exciting - feels accomplished! Do you keep any of it? I never can...I always have to give it to someone!

Gardening! We don't do vegetables but my kids and I do flowers. Easy care stuff like sunflowers and tulips and zinnia's. It's very theraputic I think. And again, it really gives you a sense of accomplishment when you see everything grow and know you did that.....

Best of luck in this new year! I hope we can all work towards our goals and make new and lasting friendships here!

Reb

[nadiambe]

Hi Reb,

I've got an undergraduate degree in Biology, and I'm taking a mix of undergraduate and graduate coursework as a non-matriculated student while I prepare to apply to medical school. I agree that education and knowledge is the most incredible gift, and I also believe in sharing the gift, and using it for good. I'm so grateful that I've been able to go to school, and that I've accomplished what I have.

Reading is soooo awesome! I don't have any favorite authors, because I like you can list on and on and on...I used to read a lot more when I was younger, and then fell out of it in undergrad, but I've been reading for pleasure with a resurgence, although most of it has been non-fiction. Lots of it is related to crafts, cooking, nutrition, and other things that are relevant to my life right now, so it's a sort of self education. I always believed that the library was your best friend if you wanted to learn something new.

The few items I've completed I've made as gifts. If I start a craft project for myself, it ends up sitting there (I'm the type that needs deadlines I guess.) But I'm known for making baby blankets for friends who are expecting, and I've made a few scarves. But it's so wonderful to see the finished product. It feels amazing. When I learned to knit, I'd get super excited when I completed a row!

The funny thing about gardening is that I used to HATE it! There was always so much weeding to do in my mother's garden. But even so, I put out sunflowers, and I had a little corner just for pansies. It's funny how I crave that feeling again, of accomplishment, because I put attention and care into something and grew it. I may not be able to go all out with a vegetable garden this year, as my family wants to landscape the back yard. But I intend on doing some potted plants and such, and an herb garden. We'll see how all that pans out!

It sounds like you've had a long journey with all of this health stuff too. I wish you the best of luck, and as a fellow "plod-er" keep it up! I've never enjoyed running, ever, and I'm significantly heavier than you, but I have to tell you, the pride I felt when I crossed the finish line in my first 5k was immeasurable, and every little victory motivates me to do that much better. It's hard to make lifestyle changes to be healthy, and to stick with them, especially when everyone else (our society) is so lax about those things. But slowly, and surely, and with a network of support, we'll all achieve our goals!