Joseph A. Darmiento

Well its been a while since I did any updating to Couchtogym. I’ve been in a kind of writing funk for the last 2 months. It’s amazing how fast the time flies. I’m hot and heavy into the marathon training. Twelve weeks in to be exact and eight to go. Its getting tough that’s for sure. Last weeks 16 miler was an adventure to say the least. I’ve always ran alone which for the most part has been fine. To me, running is such a personal thing, but I would have to say that a little companionship might be helpful on these really long runs. I have always said that I’ve always been my own best company, but after 10 miles I can really get on my own nerves!(LOL).

As far as injuries go, I’ve been pretty good for the most part. I am dealing with a Big Toe issue (yes funny I know),But it’s not getting better. Basically I need to stay away from the hills for a while. I’m thinking of skipping this Sundays run since it’s a Bi-week, meaning no long run.

My diet, well anyone who knows me know that’s always an adventure. Last week I had White Castle twice and enough pizza to feed a small village! Lets not even talk Ice cream. I’m the only person who can work out six days a week and still put the pounds on! My goal is to lose a 1/2 pound a week and that’s not really happening. When training for a marathon losing weight too fast is not the best thing. If anything extra calories are needed to maintain energy and to keep injury free. Well I’m the best man for the job! Calories are my middle name…. Actually it’s Anthony..

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A study of more than 3,000 Long Island women found that those who did 10 to 19 hours of exercise a week had about a 30 percent lower risk of getting breast cancer than those who were sedentary.

The study, published Monday in the journal Cancer , also found that gaining a substantial amount of weight after menopause may eliminate the benefits of exercise.

The study used data from 1,504 Long Island women ages 20-98 with breast cancer and 1,555 similar women without the disease. They were part of the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project, government-funded studies designed to look at possible environmental causes of breast cancer on Long Island .

The studies haven’t identified any environmental factors that could be responsible for the incidence of the disease. The women were interviewed in the early 1990s about their exercise habits and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking and drinking, over their lifetime.
Read More @ NEWSDAY

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During the long, cold days of winter, we long for summer exercise: soccer in the park, a bike ride along the river, a hike in the mountains, or just a day in the garden. But when the dog days of summer actually arrive, it’s important to be prepared. Exercising in the heat can be risky if you aren’t careful.

Personal trainer and marathoner Carla Branch saw the danger of heat and dehydration while running a marathon in Tupelo, Miss., in August a few years back. It was the weekend before Labor Day, Branch recalls.

“It was a hot, humid day, and we were running on country roads, and the aid stations were about five miles apart,” she says. “There just wasn’t enough support.”

Because she planned ahead and placed extra water along the route, Branch was fine. But many racers weren’t so lucky. “My friend started getting dizzy and staggering, and another guy had to be put on IV [fluid] because of dehydration,” she says.
READ MORE @ WEBMD

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Read the surprising truth about 14 popular diet strategies that just don’t work—and find out which ones will actually help you take the next BIG step towards slimming down for good.

THE MYTH:
TO LOSE WEIGHT, CUT CARBS OR FAT

Most get-thin-fast plans revolve around the idea that restricting your intake of one particular nutrient, usually carbs or fat, is the best way to lose weight. But the results of a 2009 New England Journal of Medicine study suggest otherwise. For two years, participants followed one of four calorie-restricted diets with varying amounts of carbs, protein, and fat. After 24 months, all participants lost about the same amount of weight (just nine pounds). “This study proves that calories are the most important factor for weight loss,” says Tara Gidus, R.D., a Florida-based sports dietitian and marathoner. “To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you burn—regardless of what percentage of carbs, protein, or fat you’re eating.” Gimmicky diets just distract us from this simple truth. Here’s how runners can learn to reduce their total caloric intake to kick start weight loss—and still have energy to run their best.

1 FIND YOUR CALORIE BURN
To estimate the number of calories you use during daily living and exercise, go to nutritiondata.com/tools/caloriesburned. Plug in your sex, age, weight, height, lifestyle (meaning, you’re deskbound, or you’re always moving at work), and exercise regularity.

2 START SUBTRACTING
Trim 10 to 15 percent off of that calorie total—but don’t cut more than 500 calories per day. “This is conservative compared to most diets, but it’s realistic if you want to sustain training,” says Gidus. Record what you eat, and tally your calorie intake with the huge database at nutritiondata.com.

3 KEEP UP THE EXERCISE
A recent study reported that subjects who cut calories or cut calories and exercised lost the same amount of weight. But the diet-and-exercise group improved their aerobic capacity, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol, and blood pressure—without having to go into starvation mode.

Read more Diet Myths @ RUNNERSWORLD

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Motivation has become a popular word nowadays. There are motivational coaches and speakers, and motivational books and articles. What is it actually, and why do you need it?

Motivation is a driving force. In order to accomplish anything, you need a driving force, otherwise nothing will happen. A wish is not strong enough to make you take action. A wish is a weak desire. Only a strong desire can drive forward, to act and accomplish aims and goals.

In order to get motivated, you need to know exactly what it is that you want, to possess a strong desire, and to be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal.
Read More @ SuccessConsciousness
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What a great Father’s Day. Nicolas joined me for a good part of my 8 mile long run. I wasn’t sure how many miles I was going to run, 7 or 8. Smart Coach (my training program) said 8, but I’ve been trying to catch up slowly after having that strained calf and planned on a 6 or 7 max. But the Father’s day magic kicked in and I felt empowered so I breezed through 7 and hit 8 without a hitch! The cross-training has been a positive aspect of the training. The bike riding has not only been extremely enjoyable, but it has hit my legs from a totally different angle. They are feeling Strong! The weight lifting has made my Core stronger and I can definitely feel the difference as my runs get longer.

I started my fueling practicing this long run also. 2 hours before the run (5am) I got up and ate a half Peanut butter sandwich and 8 oz of h20. It’s important to fill the tank before the Run, but you need the proper time to digest, hence the 2 hours. I run the first 2 miles, then I start a 1oz (roughly a gulp) of water per 6 min until the run has been completed. 50 minutes into the run I take a sports gel to keep my tank loaded with electrolytes and carbs. As the long run starts climbing I will adjust and tweak accordingly.

There’s a lot involved with marathon training, and I am extremely focused on getting to the starting line heathy and strong. LET’S RUN!

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Cross-training is any sport or exercise that supplements your main sport — in this case, running. Whether you’re a beginner runner or an experienced marathoner, you can benefit from cross-training. Here are several reasons why runners should cross-train:
Read More @ About.com