I'll be there with bottles of water and pom-poms!

I once participated in a 32K/20 mile walk/run event (fund raiser for March of Dimes). I walked the entire distance and it took several hours. But that was more than 25 years ago and I was at least 40 lbs. lighter back then! Although 5K comes out to about 3 miles, doesn't it? I used to walk 3 miles on a fairly regular basis, not too long ago.

Hm, April 16th, you say? That creaking noise you hear in the background is the sound of the wheels turning in my mind! I honestly don't think my knees could take running, but perhaps I can walk, instead? I have all of Feb. and all of March, plus half of April to train?

OK, ladies, I think, you might have to find someone else to do the cheering! I think I'd like to join you on Apr. 16th, for a 5K/3M walk/run! I'd better start stocking up on Epsom salts for a soak afterwards!

Definately join us and walk! (or dance LOL) Yes ~ after running 1/2 of it last year when I hadn't planned/trained for it ~ I needed the Epsom salts too.

Have a (not so) sick (anymore) child home with me ~ I'm waiting for her to get out of her jammies so we can walk to the post office and the drugstore. Its been gorgeous outside the past few days and I've been stuck indoors...

You should definitely start training now for an event on April 16. As I recall from two years ago, I told myself afterwards that I should have run more in the later stages of training. I'd been walking a lot and covering quite a bit of distance, but not only is one's time faster if one runs part of the way, it probably is better for one's heart, etc. ("cardio").

Yes, 5K is about 3.1 miles.

THANKS, Canadagirl, for running with me, and Bless, for being a cheerleader. Now I have the motivation I need to get with the program. Personally, I wish the race were a week or so later in the year, such as the end of April, because it would allow more time to train in better weather. I've been told that it's where it is on the calendar because Easter most often falls in later April (although it changes each year).

Right now we have snow on the ground, but I should be able to at least walk a bit.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted of progress, and of my time when I finally do the race on April 16.

I'm trying to improve my immune system along with overall health. I'm going to try and do this too. I'm not very strong (lung wise) but this might be what I need to do.

Think I'll join this board as I want to make this a healthier year for me. Need to change my ways as it were as I am a real chocoholic and would prefer to eat chips and dip to real food.

I had already started to change my ways (to an extent) but have a long way to go.

The problems:
- Need to lose 50 lbs.
- Exercise (of any type) is an issue
- Love sugar, chocolate, chips, etc.
- Fruits and veggies are in the "yuck" category
- Heavy smoker

Goals for 2011:
- Lose half the weight
- Find some type of exercise that I can do and enjoy. (Thinking of putting maybe a treadmill on my wish list.)
- Cut back on the sweets and salt
- Add more veggies and fruits to my diet
- Quit smoking

So far (for January)
- Lost 6 lbs. These were the easiest, have been the same weight for two weeks, but not unusual for me
- Trying to eat a salad for dinner at least once a week, aiming for twice a week in February
- Already cut back by an average of 1/2 pack a day smoking

February Goals:
- Lost 2-5 lbs.
- Plan weekly menus to add fruit and veggies, add fish and poultry more often
- Cut back another 1/2 pack of cigarettes by the end of the month
- Find at least one exercise I can do and like

Well, there's my start. Now if I can just keep my goals (I'm a great starter, lousy finisher) I'll make my goals.

Joanne

Wow Jlavelle, those are some ambitious goals. Even teeny babysteps will make remarkable progress. I'm very impressed with your lists and how you want to get from where you are to where you would like to be. Keep up the good work!

Joanne, glad to have you join us here! Congratulations on the weight you've already lost and for cutting back on the smoking! I, too, have a lot of the same goals as you - I am trying to incorporate more veggies into my diet (I eat plenty of fruits, but don't care too much for veggies), want to lose 5 lbs. in Feb. (I, too, have 50 lbs. I need to lose), exercise more and eat less sweets and salt!