KellyAnn

Ha haha. I love it. Good one. Thanks for sharing.

Ok. I'll add you.

Yay Caitlin... My MFP is kellyannbarr1

Hi Chi, Well, Welcome here. Proud of you for starting to begin with. That is a huge step in beginning this. Hang in there. Remember, walk if you have to and do not force yourself too hard. Your mind will give up faster than your body will. I found this article below about being itchy. Hope this helps. Good luck to you and keep us posted here. Happy running! http://liverunloveyoga.com/2011/10/27/runners-itch-what-causes-those-itchy-legs/

Hi Caitlin, Welcome on here. This is a great support group here. So which app are you starting with? These apps are such a great motivator. Keep me posted and record your workouts in the Accountability Topic under General Chat! Happy Running!

Hey LaShaye, Yay for you on your next week. You are doing great. Yep, we are all here for you cheering you on. We DEF need it too. Sometimes it is hard to get motivated myself. I ran yesterday and today it is too cold yet outside. Maybe later. SEE?? I need to push myself. lol Or a kick in the pants. ha! Happy Running to you and Post your daily workouts in the Accountability Topic under General Chat. Hugs!

Hi Candace, You are so Welcome. Atkins is making frozen meals now too. They are pretty good. Good Luck and Keep us posted.

So. Today. I'm in Week 5, Day 1. Super Cold out (40 degrees), high altitude. Which I am used to. 2nd running session and my right side was killing me. It's from lack of oxygen. I was so stiff running today because of the cold. Major stitch in the Side. Started walking and breathing deep. Not through your mouth. Through your diaphragm. Hold your tummy and breathe through your chest with your mouth closed. Do this a few times a day too and this will help. I set a timer for 3 x a day and breathe deep for a few minutes. At first you will get dizzy but it will subside. Do you you realize how much we don't breathe DEEP????? It will increase your metabolism too. Breathe in , out. Breathe in 3 times, let it out the same way. 3 times in, blow out. keep doing it. Also breathe in, hold, hold, hold, let out. Look up Oxycise. It works. We never use our lungs to capacity. Are you sitting here ? Are you breathing?, not deep enough EH??? Now breathe deep. It oxygenates the blood. Which increased circulation, which increases metabolism. Try it.

Hi there. Awesome Alska. This is what I do. I first open MapMyFitness, turn the coaching on, then select my workout, then I go to My music (Pandora), and turn that on, plug in the earbuds to my ears, then I turn on my 10k app. So when I am done with the coaching on the 10k app, I save my workout and post, then I keep on going with the MMF app. When I run they both are talking to me but i know which one is which. So hoping one day that these apps will have that feature too. Love it. You all are doing amazing.

Hi there. Awesome Alska. This is what I do. I first open MapMyFitness, turn the coaching on, then select my workout, then I go to My music (Pandora), and turn that on, plug in the earbuds to my ears, then I turn on my 10k app. So when I am done with the coaching on the 10k app, I save my workout and post, then I keep on going with the MMF app. When I run they both are talking to me but i know which one is which. So hoping one day that these apps will have that feature too. Love it. You all are doing amazing.

Hi Maria. Well heck yeah you can. Go for it. Just remember that when you hit the pavement it will be different as a the treadmills belt propels you forward. Welcome by the way and have fun. Happy Running!

Oh Lissa, You are so funny. I love your posts. You deserve that Starbucks.. WooHoo, Go Girl! I am waiting for the sun to come up and it to warm up and i am nervous for the Week 5, Day 1 of the 10 k app. I will post when done in the Accountabilty area.. Yikes. Have an awesome Day!

Hi DV, Yowza, a torn ACL? Ouch. Hope you are ok now and have been cleared to run. You can start anywhere you want to. If you have not worked out for awhile, then start at the beginning, if it is easy, then go forward. You know your body. Your time is great. Keep me what you do. These Forums are great motivators. Also, there is a Topic called General Chat, under that Topic there is an Accountabilty Topic, post there your workouts. Good Luck and Happy Running.!

Hi Nina, Welcome here. You got this! Also, Post in General Chat and there is an Accountability Topic. Happy Running!

Hi JAMEE, Post away, You can do it. When you are done, go to General Chat and there is an Accountabilty topic where you can post your workouts. Good Luck to you and post away ! Happy Workout!

Hi Candace, I am so sorry you have Lupus. First, have you been cleared for running by your Dr.? If you have, look online for resources for exercising with Lupus. That is the most important thing you need to do FIRST. Research. Then when you are ready, I worry about you and want the best for you to continue on. I was tested for Lupus years ago and all is well. I am really baffled as to why your family would make fun of your weight when it is not your fault at all, that is very hurtful. My heart goes out to you. Do not ever let anyone get you down at all. They are not in your shoes. ON A VERY HAPPY NOTE, You go this. You can do it. You can do anything you set your mind to. Congrats on starting and Welcome here, we got your back. Get great shoes, a cute outfit (kidding), and go for it. Walk if you have to and at least you are moving. I am nervous about the 10k app this am as I am on Week 5, Day 1 today and I am waiting for it to warm up this am, and the runs are longer now. Yikes, but I can do it. My mind will give up before my body will. ABOUT FOOD: It is what you want to do. I am a high protein girl, so I love Paleo. I have food ideas on Cavegirlcancook.com, there are so many out there and your body is different than mine. I hate dieting, period.... Change your eating habits to a Lifestyle change. Avoid Processed foods. Anything not made by nature, uh gross. So, tell me what you like and I can help you out in the Food area. Good Luck and can't wait to hear from you. HUgs!

Hi Penny. Welcome here and congrats to you too. You can do it. The apps are great for making us move. I Sooo love the coaching as I don't think I'd do it either. Keep me posted. Happy Running!

Hi Hope, Congrats and welcome here. Congrats on your child. Chasing kiddo will burn some calories too. Lol. Way to go on the Week 1, Day 1. Sounds like you are pretty excited about it. Proud of you. Write down your goals and your accomplishments. Keep me posted on here. Happy Running.

Hi Twin, well, First thank you for signing up and we appreciate your Service to your Country. You gotta be so proud. I'm sure your training will be pretty rigorous so you might need to step it up a notch too. Which app are you going to be starting with??? I'd like to help you. If you've already been working out then I would go with the 10k app. If you haven't been working out, start with the c25k app. There is also some military apps out there for workouts, that use your own body weight. You will be training pretty hard so let me know what you need help with. We are here for you. And Welcome. Keep me posted. !

Hey Charlie. Don't dread it. Think of it as the first day to a healthier you and a better life. Chris and the Guest above hit it on the head. You can do it. You are doing it for YOU and your loved ones. You got this girl. We are here cheering you on. I'm running tomorrow and when I get back I'm checking in and you post in the Accountability Group in the General Chat area. I'm going to look for you. So proud of you. You can do this. Go !!!!! Happy first day tomorrow and a hug!!!

Then it should be working then. If you save your workout in the and is posts, it should be in your MFP? Right now, I think the c25k app is the only one that posts there. I usually use another app that posts and have it running in the background.

Hi There I think we all feel the frustration when we think we are working our butts off and the frazzle mazzle weight does not fall off like it should or how it did when we were younger. My clothes are way looser and I REFUSE to weigh myself. One thing you have to think about is what you eat. If you are doing all the right things, then you should lose weight. I have to change things up for myself as i get mad at myself. Time to change it up get serious. Do not be hard on yourself. You can do it. Download MyFitnessPal so you can keep track of all that you eat. Sometimes when I add up my calories for the day, I forget the creamer in my coffee, that tbsp of butter I sauteed with, etc.... So think of that too. BUT you have to enjoy life and not let it get you down. You are lapping all the couch potatoes, so you are AWESOME! Happy Running!

Hey there, It is ok. We all have things once in awhile that slow us down. Slow down your run a little bit and see if that helps. Sportsmedicine.com had this to say: Most runners have experienced a side stitch or side ache at one time or another during exercise. That sharp, localized twinge of pain just below the rib cage that usually occurs on the the right lower abdomen. It is particularly common in runners and has been known to slow some athletes down to a walk until the pain subsides. Today, researchers refer to this nagging abdominal pain by the much more technical and scientific term, "exercise-related transient abdominal pain" (ETAP). Regardless of what you call it, the pain is often enough to stop runners and swimmers in their tracks and hold their sides in agony. What Causes a Side StitchWhile there is still no definitive explanation for the cause of a side stitch, there are several very convincing theories. The majority of the researchers believe that it has a lot to do with what we eat before we exercise. Several studies agree that ETAP is most common in running and swimming. The pain is described as well-localized in the right or left lower abdomen. The pain of the side stitch often interfered with performance, but wasn't related to the athlete's gender or body mass index. ETAP was far less common in older athletes. The most important factor in developing ETAP seems to be the timing of the pre-event meal. One study reported that consuming reconstituted fruit juices and beverages high in carbohydrate and osmolality (a measure of concentration), either just before or during exercise triggered the onset of a stitch, particularly in susceptible individuals. The symptoms didn't seem to be related to the amount of food eaten (gastric volume). A more complicated explanation put forth by some researchers is that a side stitch is caused by stretching the ligaments that extend from the diaphragm to the internal organs, particularly the liver. The jarring motion of running while breathing in and out stretches these ligaments. Runners tend to exhale every two or four steps. Most people exhale as the left foot hits the ground, but some people exhale when the right foot hits the ground. It is the later group who seem more prone to get side stitches. Exhaling when the right foot hits the ground causes greater forces on the liver (which is on the right side just below the rib cage). So just as the liver is dropping down the diaphragm raises for the exhalation. It is believed this repeated stretching leads to spasms in the diaphragm. What to Do for a Side StitchIf you develop a side stitch when running, stop running and place your hand into the right side of your belly and push up while inhaling and exhaling evenly. As you run or swim, try to take even, deep breaths. The stretched ligament theory would argue that shallow breathing tends to increase the risk of a stitch because the diaphragm is always slightly raised and never lowers far enough to allow the ligaments to relax. When this happens the diaphragm becomes stressed and a spasm or "stitch" is more likely. Some other ways to alleviate the pain of a side stitch include: Tips for Preventing a Side StitchTime your pre-race meal to allow it to digest prior to the event Avoid drinking reconstituted fruit juices and beverages high in carbohydrate and osmolality before and during exercise Stretching may relieve the pain of a stitch. Raise your right arm straight up and lean toward the left. Hold for 30 seconds, release, then stretch the other side. Slow down your pace until pain lessens. Massage or press on the area with pain. Bend forward to stretch the diaphragm and ease the pain. * If you continue to experience pain, see your doctor.

WooBoy Farmgirl, I would freak out with zombies running after me, scary enough. So proud of you for signing up. I found this on Popsugars website: Get Your Z's Two Nights Before. Pre-race jitters tend to strike the night before the race, interrupting your sleep. When it comes to running for beginners or even experienced racers, trust that this is normal and will not influence your race. Prepare yourself instead by getting quality sleep two nights before the race and taking that day completely off from any activity. Keep It Light. During race week, your running mileage should decrease. At this point, your training is really about "storing up" rest so your legs are ready on race day. During the week, include two to three short runs with a few, small pick ups — short, snappy segments that get your legs moving faster and prepare you for the faster tempo of the race — to keep your legs fresh. Two days out from the race, take a day off for total rest. The day before the race, do a short (20-minute) run with up to five pick ups under 45 seconds to sharpen your legs. Fill the Tank. On race morning, be sure to eat the breakfast you've practiced in training. Aim to eat about two hours prior to the race. Keep it simple — a bowl of oatmeal with dried fruit, a sports bar, bagel with peanut butter. Eat something high energy and easily digestible. Be sure to include hydration — water, sports drink if it's warm outside to give you the electrolytes you need, and coffee if that's part of your normal routine. Get There Early. There's a lot to be done on race morning including parking, packet pick-up, waiting in line for the restroom, warming up. Arrive at the race site 60 minutes prior to the start — knowing where you can park, what time packet pick-up closes (if you couldn't do it the day before), and where to go for the starting line. Warm It Up. About 25 minutes prior to the race, get warmed up. Start with a 10 minute easy jog, then slowly build your pace for five minutes. Then, include up to five short pick-ups under 30 seconds at race pace. Gently stretch any tight muscles after your warm up. Get in line. The starting line can be crowded and nerve-wracking with so many people and different paces. Starting in the middle to back of the pack is safe for most beginners. You will start with those around your pace and you will have many more ahead of you to chase down. Pace Yourself. Most racers give their best effort in the first mile leaving two more to go! Aim to negative split your effort on race day — that simply means finishing the second half of the race faster than you ran the first half. Start conservatively and build your effort throughout the run. When you start out too fast, your body works too hard too soon and fizzles after the first mile, making your overall time slower, not faster. In the last quarter mile, kick it in to the finish line to finish strong. Keep It Positive. When things get tough, it's common for the little voice in your head to start telling you all the reasons why you will fail or why you should slow down. Often, having a positive mantra for the race — such as "I can do it" or "fast feet to the finish line" — will distract you from any pain and keep you focused. Practice these affirmations during your harder training sessions so they become automatic on race day. Breathe. On race day, let go of any comparisons to other runners and release any worries or doubts. You've done the training and if you have the desire to get to the finish line, you will arrive. At the starting line, take a few deep breaths and assure yourself that you have what it takes to cover 3.1 miles. Revisit your best training sessions to find the confidence you need. Capitalize on the High. The post-race high can be exhilarating. Capitalize on it to keep your momentum going and set new goals for the next finish line, wherever that might be. Sign up for another run race a few weeks later to keep yourself motivated to continue with your new habits, to test your progress or just to have fun. Good Luck and PLEASE let us know how it goes!

Hi Denise, It is ok, a lot of people struggle with that day. Repeat and then move on, do not be hard on yourself. You go this. Good Luck!