Joseph A. Darmiento

Its 5 o’clock in the morning. Here I am sitting at the edge of my bed eating half a banana and peanut butter sandwich that I made last night and placed on my nightstand. A Sunday morning ritual that happens 2 hours before what is called “The long Run”. I’ll wash it down with 8 oz. of water and lie back down for about 2 hours and hopefully fall back asleep. Today’s long run is 18 miles, so filling that gas tank is crucial before getting out there. It will be close to 4 hours of running around the town, multiple neighborhoods and at some point getting myself back home. What has gotten me here? Anyone who knows me is familiar with my journey. I’ve lost huge amount of weight and through that I discovered the joy of running. It’s not that I love every moment of running, but I love the idea of doing something I never thought I would have the ability to do. So that brings me to “The Marathon” They say the marathon is “The Everyman’s Everest”. I never thought I could come close, but here I am, rope in hand. Well if the rope was made of peanut butter!

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Its nothing unusual that when I have some soreness or l pull a muscle, it’s time for burgers and fries and cake, cookies, ice cream. I could just keep going. It’s like im a runner one day then hurt myself,then im a loser. The mind is a wicked thing. But I know better. Once again tomorrow ill put it in gear and kick butt. The foot feels better today. Tomorrow im swimming laps. Tuesday time for a light run. 55 days till my first full Marathon ..tick tock tick tock!!
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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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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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