Catching My Breath~My Life Without Oxygen

vanessa40 · July 26th, 2008, 11:49 AM

Hello Everyone..
I guess you are all wondering about my title. I was a regular at the Oxygen message boards for about three years. I wanted to come to a place that was a little more welcoming. Everyone is different and different things work for them. I'm change my plan a lot..i'm trying to find what works for me.. so i hope i will not be looked down on for that here. Life is a process and you shouldn't stay with a plan that's not working..
Ok..enough of that.
.
Here's a little about me..
I'm 43 and i live with my fiance Steve and my 19 year old daughter Brittany. Oh and let's not forget my baby Muffin..my little chihuahua.
In 2002 i weighed 220 pounds. It came mostly from being in a bad marriage and dealing with abusive parents. So i lost the weight and divorced my husband and told my family i was no longer going to deal with the abuse.
I got down to 140 my lowest weight before i started lifting in 2005. Since i have been lifting the lowest weight was 121.
My first love has always been running. But lately not so much.. I feel in love with lifting three years ago.
Since then i've been going abck and forth between running and lifting trying to find that perfect mix. But during the last month my knee and ankle have made the choice for me. All those years of training for half marathons has caught up ..so now i'm lifting 4 days a week and the only running i do now..well after this morning..i'll get into that in a minute..is on the treadmill.

Here is my starting measurments

Height-5'2
Weight-125
Chest-33
Waist-27
Hips-34
Thigh-20.5
Calf-14
Bi-10

Well time for lunch..
I'll check back in later..

**linemanpaul** · July 26th, 2008, 12:18 PM

Welcome
You have come to a Great place with really good people

vanessa40 · July 26th, 2008, 12:49 PM

Thank you for the welcome..
I look foward to meeting everyone

vanessa40 · July 26th, 2008, 01:29 PM

Today's Workout
Cardio
40 minute run outside

I think this will be my last run outside for awhile. It's just not fun for me anymore. I can't believe i'm saying this but i enjoy the treadmill more now. I love how i can control the incline and speeds. So from now on it will be 30 minutes on weight days and 45 on non weight days..

**tooncesthecat** · July 26th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Welcome Vanessa! You'll find EF much different than most boards. We're really a pretty friendly bunch

I hope you stick around and join in the discussions. And remember, the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked!

**Hans_Rachid** · July 26th, 2008, 02:58 PM

Hi to you, I hope you find what you seek in here

Don't hesitate to ask questions, people here will be glad to try to help.

About the knee and ankle problem, have you tried other forms of cardio, like eliptical machine or swimming? These two are very low impact cardio alternatives, so maybe you could include them in a rotation system allong with running on the treadmill, to avoid getting bored and/or hurt.

**A1food4U** · July 26th, 2008, 02:58 PM

Welcome Vanessa,

Congrarulations on your successes so far !!! May I suggest an eliptical as well, as an alternative to the running. After several knee surgeries I find the pounding of road work to be too much. I did a lot of research and found that you can get good resistance and cardio with the same height and direction changes as a treadmill. The beauty of the eliptical is that there is NO shock on any joint. It takes a while, because each manufacturers set up is a little different. Once you find one with the right width between the footpads and the propper stride length you'll be off in high gear in no time....

**wil** · July 26th, 2008, 04:24 PM

Howdy Vanessa!!

Welcome to EF. I'm sure you will find this a friendly place where no question is looked down on. There are a lot of very knowledgable people here who are very quick to give advice.

And congratulations on the weight loss and your determination to change your life for the better.

Hope to hear from you.

vanessa40 · July 26th, 2008, 04:33 PM

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome..
a good friend who post here..Libby..told me what a nice place this was

I wish i could use an eliptical machine..but i have a home gym and the treadmill is the only cardio machine i have..i do plan on getting a spin bike..

**Italianangel** · July 27th, 2008, 01:06 AM

wow, your title caught my eye and it made me chuckle, I am more of a lurker on O2 but post on occasion although I share similar feelings to you about that forum and find it much nicer here!!
I would love to see more of the women on there who are not aggressive - ahem....come over this way.
Linda

**Italianangel** · July 27th, 2008, 01:07 AM

Oh and a super huge welcome, your tude rocks, you will fit right in nicely!!!
Linda

**Italianangel** · July 27th, 2008, 01:09 AM

oh and also, LOOOOOOOOOVE the doggie, I am a dog lover BIG time!

vanessa40 · July 27th, 2008, 06:48 AM

Good Morning Linda..
Thank you for the warm welcome..it's nice to meet another dog lover. Since my daughter has gone to college she is my baby now. I'm really enjoying here..everyone is very friendly..

**wildstang** · July 27th, 2008, 11:53 AM

welcome aboard. always nice 2 get a warm welcoming

vanessa40 · July 27th, 2008, 12:01 PM

Sunday is always my off day no matter what plan i'm doing at the moment.
The past month has been an emotionally trying one for me. My daughter Brittany is changing majors and colleges so she will be moving out of state in a few weeks. We are very close. Since i have cut off ties with my family 6 years ago she is the only family i have. We are very close and i'm grateful and proud that i alone have raised such a loving child. The past five years have been the best for us since i met Steve my soon to be husband. I worry like all mothers do about what will happen to her when she's not here. But i know i have to let go. I have been good with not letting her know my fears. She is happy and that's all i have ever wanted for her.
So now comes the time when i have to find other interest and i can really focus on me and i what i want to do.
I have toyed with the thought of MAYBE on day doing a show...or at the least looking like i could do one. I am by nature a VERY shy person. I would love to get out of that and challenge mayself more.
I'll post some pictures i took a couple of months ago and you can tell me what you think..i know my lower body needs the most work of all.
I just need a plan that will maybe get me in competiton shape.
Thank you all so much in advance for you help..