None so pure as the reformed...

...following on from Jebuz's post to the effect that he took stock after a crazy house party one night, wondering are many here who were always of the "my body is a temple" mindset, or have we any who came over from a wilder or unhealthier lifestyle? And how did the conversion happen?

Was never heavy myself, but would have gone out a lot a few years back. Particularly in the mid 2000s when there seemed to be a party every second night and had to be the last one leaving. But got kinda hooked on walking and hiking in my mid 30s and got a bit of an adrenaline rush out of it that almost supplanted the wild nights. It's a feeling I now get from a long run across the mountains. Still enjoy the odd night out - I like to console myself that that's why I don't make the top 3! - and will smoke and drink away on those nights.

rainbow kirby

Was an obese sedentary gamer in my early 20s - after I quit martial arts I basically vegetated on the couch for a few years, the most I'd do would be a 15 minute walk to the shops. Quit no-lifing it on World of Warcraft at age 24 and decided to start running to try and lose some weight because it was cheap. The rest, as they say, is history...

Ososlo

I was so unhealthy before I took up running. I wasn’t overweight but I ate really badly (all processed foods, never ate vegetables despite being a vegetarian), never drank water, smoked about 15 rothmans a day and drank over a bottle of wine a night year after year after year after year…. I’d also go out on the tear quite frequently (once at least at the weekend and sometimes mid-week) and was first into the pub and last to leave the nightclub. I’d regularly have blackouts and wouldn’t remember what happened the night before. And when I say I’d remember nothing, I mean nothing. It was rare for me to have a day/night without a drink. I dabbled in other stuff too and was generally a bad girl.

I started running to help give up the smokes and had 100% success.

Once I started running and stopped smoking I gradually started taking stock of everything else in my life and all my bad habits. I still would have drank a bottle of wine a night for the first 6 months when I started running (even the night before a race:eek:) but gradually as I got more serious about my running and improving my times, I got more serious about my diet and lifestyle in general. Now I live on fresh vegetables, eat all unprocessed foods, drink about 3 litres of water a day and a night of drinking is the exception. Now I’m still able to party and enjoy my drinks A LOT, but I’d only be out a handful of nights a year and I haven’t yet even had one drag of a cigarette in the three + years since I started running/stopped smoking as I fear if I had one then I could easily revert back to the way I was in every respect.
Running brought on a total transformation for me. I’m 100% healthier and happier. I did enjoy those nights out (well what I can remember of them:o) but wouldn’t go back to that lifestyle for ANYTHING.
One downside to my transformation is losing some friends. When I stopped doing all that stuff I felt I couldn't hang out with a lot of the same people as they were a bad influence on me. Some of them were really great friends but I had to disassociate as I didn't have the willpower not to be led astray again.

walshb

Ososlo, do you still drink alcohol regularly? If so, surely it has to impact your running and progression.

Edit: Night of drinking is the exception.

Ososlo

Ososlo wrote: »

I was so unhealthy before I took up running. I wasn’t overweight but I ate really badly (all processed foods, never ate vegetables despite being a vegetarian), never drank water, smoked about 15 rothmans a day and drank over a bottle of wine a night year after year after year after year…. I’d also go out on the tear quite frequently (once at least at the weekend and sometimes mid-week) and was first into the pub and last to leave the nightclub. I’d regularly have blackouts and wouldn’t remember what happened the night before. And when I say I’d remember nothing, I mean nothing. It was rare for me to have a day/night without a drink. I dabbled in other stuff too and was generally a bad girl.

Oh I hear so much of what you are saying...though think you actually started from a less healthy position than me and have reformed even more. Never drank at home anyway and certainly not night after night, but would have had 3 or 4 nights in the pub every week where I would go through cigs at a rate of knots, and late bars and parties on weekends. Also had lots of the not remembering nights. Still clinging to my one night out (or "out out") every week or two and a baby made me stop smoking at home, but will smoke a pack on those nights. I like your attitude of no regrets, I totally enjoyed that time...but it couldn't have kept going.

Ososlo

walshb wrote: »

Ososlo, do you still drink alcohol regularly? If so, surely it has to impact your running and progression.

Nope. Sorry thought I made that clear. I wouldn't really drink much at all these days. A handful of nights in the year or less I'd go on the tear and I'd have the odd glass of wine at home but nothing most nights.

walshb

Ososlo wrote: »

Nope. Sorry thought I made that clear. I wouldn't really drink much at all these days. A handful of nights in the year or less I'd go on the tear and I'd have the odd glass of wine at home but nothing most nights.

I edited my post after I posted it. Your story is crazy, in an interesting way. Fair play on the turn around, because that's what it is. A great turn around. You would have burned out badly had you kept that lifestyle up. Bravo!

kit3

Bit of a mixture for me - had spent 22 years doing nothing exercise wise (from 19 to 41) having been very fit as a dancer up to then. Three kids & three progressively worse periods of postnatal depression (yes it does actually exist :cool:) saw me a bit overweight & on medication for about 2 years. While the medication (fairly light dose in fairness) kept me on the straight and narrow I didn't like the way it made me feel so chucked it & put on the runners. Haven't looked back since

walshb

kit3 wrote: »

Bit of a mixture for me - had spent 22 years doing nothing exercise wise (from 19 to 41) having been very fit as a dancer up to then. Three kids & three progressively worse periods of postnatal depression (yes it does actually exist :cool:) saw me a bit overweight & on medication for about 2 years. While the medication (fairly light dose in fairness) kept me on the straight and narrow I didn't like the way it made me feel so chucked it & put on the runners. Haven't looked back since

You know, being a dancer and being fit in your teens to late teens would still have benefited to you when you got to 41. The old saying that your fitness in early life will stand to you in later life is so very true, even if you have taken long breaks.

I don't really have a story to tell. Not like you guys. Steady and predictable is me....

kit3

walshb wrote: »

You know, being a dancer and being fit in your teens to late teens would still have a benefited to you when you got to 41. The old saying that your fitness in early life will stand to you in later life is so very true, even if you have taken long breaks.

I don't really have a story to tell. Not like you guys. Steady and predictable is me....

Yes, I suppose it would - very different type of fitness to what I'm at now though - all short sharp bursts with emphasis on intricate foot movements etc. Leaves you with very strong legs though because you develop the ability to lift your body just using the power of your legs alone if that makes any sense (it was all hands by the side at that stage - pre Riverdance :rolleyes:). Having said that, I consider myself lucky to be able to walk at all after it - I did it to a fairly high level and would have had official classes 3/4 times a week along with what you did yourself at home. We never had a warm up or cool down regime, invariably had classes in someones cold garage & just battered our legs into the ground :eek: Believe it's improved since then but wouldn't put my girls near it - much as I loved it at the time the whole wigs, make-up, tan stuff that is there now is ridiculous - any activity for a little girl where how you look yourself is not good enough can't be right (rant over )

walshb

kit3 wrote: »

Yes, I suppose it would - very different type of fitness to what I'm at now though - all short sharp bursts with emphasis on intricate foot movements etc. Leaves you with very strong legs though because you develop the ability to lift your body just using the power of your legs alone if that makes any sense (it was all hands by the side at that stage - pre Riverdance :rolleyes:). Having said that, I consider myself lucky to be able to walk at all after it - I did it to a fairly high level and would have had official classes 3/4 times a week along with what you did yourself at home. We never had a warm up or cool down regime, invariably had classes in someones cold garage & just battered our legs into the ground :eek: Believe it's improved since then but wouldn't put my girls near it - much as I loved it at the time the whole wigs, make-up, tan stuff that is there now is ridiculous - any activity for a little girl where how you look yourself is not good enough can't be right (rant over )

Very salient points. The flipside to any strenuous activity and passion is that it can weaken the body. The whole what doesn't kill you makes you stronger is horse sh!t. But in your case I would think that it gave you core leg strength and balance and coordination; all naturally there for you I would think. But for running it's more about bones and muscles being in good shape, and if years and years of dancing has hurt your legs then that would be difficult when running.

PDCAT

For me, weight was'nt an issue, Alcohol, social smoking, recreational Drug use, poor Diet and no exercise in approx 18 years was.

Played some soccer for local soccer team when 18/19 years of age. Gave it up as it interferred with my drinking. For about 6/7 years drank virtually all weekend (Friday evening, all days Saturday & Sunday), some Mondays.
Worked and studied hard also and was successful with work. Basically worked hard, played hard.....
Drinking habits improved a bit about aged 25, but still had 1/2 sessions a week.
Very poor diet and no exericise until i left my old job at 35 years of age. Started hiking/hillwalking for 2 years and loved it. Then to get fitter, started to run. Again loved it. Running now about 5 years, drink about once a month, have a few cigarettes when having a drink.
Haven't touched drugs (Coke, E & Speed were the main ones) in about 7 years.
Diet has improved a good bit, but still nowhere near where i want it to be....

Improved Diet and quit smoking when out having a pint, would be the two things i'd still like to change.

PDCAT

PDCAT wrote: »

For me, weight was'nt an issue, Alcohol, social smoking, recreational Drug use, poor Diet and no exercise in approx 18 years was.

Played some soccer for local soccer team when 18/19 years of age. Gave it up as it interferred with my drinking. For about 6/7 years drank virtually all weekend (Friday evening, all days Saturday & Sunday), some Mondays.
Worked and studied hard also and was successful with work. Basically worked hard, played hard.....
Drinking habits improved a bit about aged 25, but still had 1/2 sessions a week.
Very poor diet and no exericise until i left my old job at 35 years of age. Started hiking/hillwalking for 2 years and loved it. Then to get fitter, started to run. Again loved it. Running now about 5 years, drink about once a month, have a few cigarettes when having a drink.
Haven't touched drugs (Coke, E & Speed were the main ones) in about 7 years.
Diet has improved a good bit, but still nowhere near where i want it to be....

Improved Diet and quit smoking when out having a pint, would be the two things i'd still like to change.

That's me that is...except for the successful at work bit!

Incidentally I have heard of ultra runners who are not completely adverse to cannabis...

johnruns

Played sport as a kid and during my teens but once I left school at 17 and started working I very quickly developed a 40-50 jp blue a day habit and went out drinking 5 nights a week and the nights I stayed in I drank maybe 2 bottles of wine at home this went on till my mid/late 20s,made friends with a new guy in work who was into fitness and he encouraged me to get fit,gave up the cigerettes cut back on alcohol as I work beside the phoenix park I decided to start running and havnt looked back:)

walshb

The amount of Oliver Reeds on AR is unreal!

walshb

walshb wrote: »

The amount of Oliver Reeds on AR is unreal!

I'm thinking my excesses were pretty tame.

Maybe I should show this thread to my wife and say "there, I told you I wasn't so bad after all" and demand a second night out every week or 2!

averagejoe123

Use to be 18.5 Stone and smoked 10 a day for years. Most of the weight was put on from 17-24 from drinking 3-4 times a week, eating terrible food and doing little to no exercise. Was back when online poker was booming and I was making a fair bit of cash while studying so had a silly disposable income for a student. Use to have 10-15 hours of lectures a week and play poker 30-40 hours a week staring at a screen eating sh1te, when I won I ate to celebrate and when I lost I ate to console myself.

One day saw a promotion for 3 months for a local gym. I had started losing interest in the poker as was getting much harder so I ended up going to the gym 91 times in 91 days. Running seemed like the best way to burn the calories the quickest so I spent most of my time on the treadmill doing a version of the couch to 5k and beyond. I got up to 10k by the end of the 3 months and was delighted.

It wasn't until I started working that I began running outside. At the start I had big difficulties because I started off running way too fast which resulted in having to walk for periods while I caught my breath but after a while I got better with pacing. Kept running 2-3 times a week with no plan in place just to promote weight loss.

2 years ago, while I was still smoking, I started training for DCM with no real plan in place. A mate ran his first marathon in 3.5 hours so for no reason whatsoever I thought I should be able to do that as well....this led to me attempting all my training runs at 8 m/miles. Needless to say I didn't make the start line.

Last year I found boards and became a full time lurker reading pretty much everything I could find on running. This helped me get a decent enough marathon plan together which finished up last week with my 1st marathon. During this training I decided to give up the smokes and cut down dramatically on the booze. Running has really helped me gauge how much of a negative impact excessive drinking and smoking was having on me. The guilt of missing a run due to being too hung-over was too great. There was also the knowledge that if I was to go out on a big night out which usually ended up in a chipper I was looking at a needless 2,500-3,000 calories being consumed in a few hours.

I’ve been off the smokes for over 6 months and while I doubt I will ever give up booze completely at the moment I'll take 20 miles over 20 pints any Sunday!

Joe

A 12 stone non smoker

averagejoe123

Deleted User wrote: »

Incidentally I have heard of ultra runners who are not completely adverse to cannabis...

You would need to be high to consider running some of those distances!

Hannibal Smith

I was overweight, smoked, drank, had an awful diet and was nothing more than a couch potato.

I was shopping for Christmas clothes 2 years ago and a size 18 blouse was tight on me....meaning I was venturing into size 20 territory. I had high bp after both pregnancies and gestational diabetes. I could see my future of pill popping lined out for me. My gp lossed the will to badger me.

Anyhow Christmas 2013 I decided to loseweight as a new years resolution I was doing cChristmas shopping in easons and saw the bok Run Fat Bitch Run. Read the first page and it gave me the idea to add running to a diet change.

I've posted a million times before but I love saying it so I'll say it again...I had 2 kids...one I dropped off to montessori and the other I chucked in a buggy and ran upbbohernabreena hill 3 times a week. The aim was to get to the summer where I could throw on runners and run on the main roads. ..amongst other people!

It killed me...I thought I'd damaged my lungs lol. But I loved the post run feeling. I was so afraid that I was so heavy that id give myself a heart attack lol...that I've taken it steady and slow and 'progressed'only when it was time

Im not in anyway proud of the state I got into...but im amazed I've keptnit up and that my mentality has changed so that I no longer smoke..unless p*ssed but I rarely get pssed anymore.

Im 5 stone lighter now and am so amazed that the human body can take such abuse and yet recover so well when you call on it!

Ososlo

walshb wrote: »

I edited my post after I posted it. Your story is crazy, in an interesting way. Fair play on the turn around, because that's what it is. A great turn around. You would have burned out badly had you kept that lifestyle up. Bravo!

Thanks.
Something came back to me at lunchtime that I'd completely forgotten about for the last few years.
A friend from that time one day held me by the arms and he looked directly into my eyes and said to me, 'A... you're a mess'. I remember laughing it off at the time, but really, I think that was the start of my turn around and was something that badly needed to be said to me.

Interesting thread!

PaulieC

Ososlo wrote: »

'A... you're a mess'.

Did he really call you Alan ?

eviltwin

I was 5 stone overweight, smoking 10 a day and drinking far too much when I started running. I wasn't even thinking of my physical health when I started, I'd had a breakdown and my doctor told me I needed to get out of the house and do something and I started C25K as I liked the structure and gradual nature of it. Now I run 3 times a week, I'm off alcohol and cigarettes, I'm down about 3.5 stone and my mental health has much improved. I'm not running for glory or to achieve pb's or to be at my physical best, I'm doing it to stay sane. I'm still not completely well mentally and have low periods which can see me off the road for a week or two at a time but the gaps between those episodes grow all the time. Running has given me a life I feel I can live and I'm glad I found it.

walshb

eviltwin wrote: »

II'm down about 3.5 stone .

I got an awful fright reading this.......

Mimojo

I could write some of the other posts on here! I was relatively fit from playing GAA till I was about 18 or 19, and then spend almost 10 years being a total pig! Once I went to college started drinking a lot, which continued throughout my twenties. It was never just a drink or two, it was an all out binge, every single weekend, and sometimes during the week as well. On top of that was eating the biggest load of junk ever, all processed food, no fruit and veg, no water, no exercise. I was piling on weight, I suppose I just kind of ignored it, but when I had to get what I can only describe as a blue bin liner dress to wear as a bridesmaid for my friends wedding in August 2012 I really realised how huge I was, and started getting pretty depressed. I was buying clothes in Size 20-22, and it was only going up and up.

Long story short from Jan 2013 to April 2014 lost 8 stone, and thankfully have kept it off between this and then. I started off with the couch to 5k, and kept going from there, and have never looked back. Now I have plenty of progress yet to make, but absolutely love running and wouldn’t be without it, and really enjoy the gym too.

Cut out alcohol hugely since Jan 2013, have the odd night out but other than that don’t really drink at all, and cant say I miss it one bit. Had a night out this week, and didn’t feel right for a few days after it, just find that its not worth it anymore, and hate to think of missing a run/gym visit because I am feeling like crap. I think I am getting old....but wouldnt have it any other way now!

walshb

Jesus, the women are leaving the men in the ha'penny place here. Forget Oliver Reeds.......Olivia Reeds more like.

adrian522

I think we should start an AA running support group or something.

TFBubendorfer

adrian522 wrote: »

I think we should start an AA running support group or something.

I thought that's what we already are ...

tunguska

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

I've posted a million times before but I love saying it so I'll say it again...I had 2 kids...one I dropped off to montessori and the other I chucked in a buggy and ran upbbohernabreena hill 3 times a week. The aim was to get to the summer where I could throw on runners and run on the main roads. ..amongst other people!

It killed me...I thought I'd damaged my lungs lol. But I loved the post run feeling. I was so afraid that I was so heavy that id give myself a heart attack lol...that I've taken it steady and slow and 'progressed'only when it was time

Im 5 stone lighter now and am so amazed that the human body can take such abuse and yet recover so well when you call on it!

I know that hill really well, used it for hill repeats on the bike a lot over the years. Seriously steep so great work running up that with a buggy.
5 stone is amazing weight loss, Fair play.

Firedance

eviltwin wrote: »

I was 5 stone overweight, smoking 10 a day and drinking far too much when I started running. I wasn't even thinking of my physical health when I started, I'd had a breakdown and my doctor told me I needed to get out of the house and do something and I started C25K as I liked the structure and gradual nature of it. Now I run 3 times a week, I'm off alcohol and cigarettes, I'm down about 3.5 stone and my mental health has much improved. I'm not running for glory or to achieve pb's or to be at my physical best, I'm doing it to stay sane. I'm still not completely well mentally and have low periods which can see me off the road for a week or two at a time but the gaps between those episodes grow all the time. Running has given me a life I feel I can live and I'm glad I found it.

well done you, am so glad you found running, like a lot of us here I'm sure, it works wonders for mental health improvements.
I was 3+ stone overweight, smoked 20 a day, ate rubbish, had IBS and was always sick. When my mum got sick and was dying I found running, it saved me, its still saving me. Likewise while I like to see improvements in times I'm doing it to stay sane. I'm 3 stone down, IBS gone, given up the fags, pretty much off the drink and eat clean as much as possible. Running did that.

Pacing Mule

This is quite interesting to see so many similar stories.

I was slim and fit in my youth. Done a lot of sport, martial arts etc. Picked up an injury which laid me up for a while, got a full time job doing lots of hours (60+) and never went back training. Gradually over time fitness was replaced by weight gain. Brief flirtations with getting myself sorted ensued but never took off.

Fast forward to a doctors office a little over 3 years or so ago. Myself and Mrs M trying to conceive at the time. One of the main things that could be blocking things simply put was me being a fat bastard. The swimmers were lazy to coin a phrase ! Added in to a trip to hospital with chest pains where again weight was an issue and it was time once and for all to get sorted. Joined a gym - started to do a couch to 5k program. Couldn't run for even a minute at a time.

Fast forward again. Heading for 5 stone off. Can run for hours. My son was 2 yesterday.

Chivito550

Different background for myself.

No background in athletics as a child or teenager except for the annual trip to Santry, but always loved the sport, with Sonia being one of my favourite sports stars as a kid.

Was always active as a kid and teenager, but never much good at anything. I was fairly scrawny throughout my teens.

Haven't smoked a cigarette in my life, don't do drugs, and didn't really drink until I was close to 19, and even then it wasn't much. Enter college, and the drinking levels go up (though being a lightweight I still didn't consume much). I ate well enough but ate my fair share of crap also (particularly on my J1). Didnt participate in any organised sport in college but did do some gym, bit of 5 a side etc. but I was fairly lazy at times, preferring to get 2 buses home from college rather than walk 10-15 mins after getting off the first. Never put on weight though, as I have fast metabolism, but also didn't over eat. Was still skinny at under 10 stone.

First few years after college I drank more than I ever had in my life. It was just the culture of the line of work I was in. Fortunately at the same time I took up fun running, and ended up running races over various distances from 5k to marathon, including triathlons. My training was awful. Sort of made it up as I went along, not knowing what I was at. After the marathon I was probably at my lightest ever as an adult.

Post marathon I did nothing for about 4 months. Lost the drive to run long distances. Then on a warm Saturday night in Barcelona, something incredible happened.

I witnessed Derval O'Rourke claim a European Silver from the front row, by the start line. The buzz was incredible. I was inspired to try track running. I was leaving Ireland not long after so I looked into the athletics scene in Melbourne and it appeared very welcoming so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to try out all the T&F disciplines.

Before I left I did some time trials with one of our posters here brianderunner, mainly over the mile, but I also tried the sprints. I did a 67 second 400. He had told me his PB was high 53 which I remember thinking was crazy fast.

Fast forward 4 and a half years, and I've a PB of 54.8, and am targeting 53 this year. Won't be easy but we'll see how it goes.

So not the same type of story as most. 67 seconds was not exactly a super slow starting point to an event in comparison to other people's stories, but at the time, the mere thought of running under 60 felt light years away.

Had I never moved to Melbourne and experienced the great grassroots culture in T&F then I certainly would never have taken up sprinting, and who knows what type of athletics I would be doing.

Nowadays my drinking levels are much reduced, though there's always room for a cheeky beer mile. I walk to places a lot more. My attitudes to different things have changed. I'm a different person because of athletics.

Prob not the inspirational transformation story of others but thought I'd share it anyway.

walshb

Super stuff, Chivito!

Hannibal Smith

tunguska wrote: »

I know that hill really well, used it for hill repeats on the bike a lot over the years. Seriously steep so great work running up that with a buggy.
5 stone is amazing weight loss, Fair play.

Lol it wasn't pretty. I only ran from the car park up the path to the reservoir and it took forever to be able to do that non stop..when I copped it was all as much a mental game as a physical one!

I'll never forget the first run without the buggy..bat out of hell!!

Itziger

walshb wrote: »

Ososlo, do you still drink alcohol regularly? If so, surely it has to impact your running and progression.

Edit: Night of drinking is the exception.

I 'drink' 7 nights a week. That is I have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner every night. Some nights we'd have the whole bottle between the two of us but mostly would be about a quarter of it left. Saturday I might have a glass at lunchtime too.

It's not dinner without wine. I lived in Spain for 9 years and my wife is Spanish. Also I quite like the stuff. Will have a glass or two of beer from time to time. Having one now, getting dinner ready for the family (plus 4 friends of daughter having birthday!) Last week, before a Half Marathon a good friend invited us round for a dinner and this lad is BIG into the wine. I couldn't say no but I did take it easy - you can't say no to a 1989 Meursault!!

Hannibal Smith

Pacing Mule wrote: »

This is quite interesting to see so many similar stories.

I was slim and fit in my youth. Done a lot of sport, martial arts etc. Picked up an injury which laid me up for a while, got a full time job doing lots of hours (60+) and never went back training. Gradually over time fitness was replaced by weight gain. Brief flirtations with getting myself sorted ensued but never took off.

Fast forward to a doctors office a little over 3 years or so ago. Myself and Mrs M trying to conceive at the time. One of the main things that could be blocking things simply put was me being a fat bastard. The swimmers were lazy to coin a phrase ! Added in to a trip to hospital with chest pains where again weight was an issue and it was time once and for all to get sorted. Joined a gym - started to do a couch to 5k program. Couldn't run for even a minute at a time.

Fast forward again. Heading for 5 stone off. Can run for hours. My son was 2 yesterday.

Did you do couch to 5k with others or by yourself? Did you join a club?

Im always so jealous of those who started in or around the same time as me and are doing marathons and the like. I think i took it waaaaaaay to easy on myself and didn't push on more. But looking back I don't think I could have done anymore than I did.

How did you get to marathon/half marathon stage?

Sorry for all the questions lol

Pacing Mule

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Did you do couch to 5k with others or by yourself? Did you join a club?

Im always so jealous of those who started in or around the same time as me and are doing marathons and the like. I think i took it waaaaaaay to easy on myself and didn't push on more. But looking back I don't think I could have done anymore than I did.

How did you get to marathon/half marathon stage?

Sorry for all the questions lol

Will drop you a PM !

TheGreenMile

World Cup Willie, 7up and every other football game for 6-7 hours a day on the street from as young as i can remember to bout 12 years of age. Very active as a kid through soccer, jumping walls and generally acting the maggot. Played a decent level in Tallaght until my new manager would never start me even though i was one of the better players only because i hung around near his house with my mates. Same time i discovered girls and Fosters. Dabbled with a bit of GAA as we got to kick the ****e out of one another. Late teens sport ended and drinking twice a week Mon to Thur and Fri to Sun. Some serious benders. Had a kid at 18 so a job followed soon. Even though the drinking and a year or two of hash, coke and E continued i chanced my arm with a local Tallaght team. Banged in 29 goals first seasongettin player of the year. Drugs stopped as my job introduced random drug testing. Drink continued till 27-28. Needed a new challlenge after a few successful years in soccer. Jumped into DCM 2009 and blew at mile 17. Training for DCM 2010 i caught the bug. Drink is left to occasions now and there is plenty of them. This year havent touched a drop and im seeing the results in my running. Always been competitive in nature. Iv its drinking im going to be the best drinker, soccer im gonna be the best, now its running, iv had my successes but now i want more.

annapr

Wow, what a thread. I'm suffering through a 4 year old birthday party longing for a night out like some of the ones mentioned above... No not really, actually very emotional reading these posts.

I have long believed that exercise should be part of every mental health program. Running is the best therapy!

the achievements of everyone here are inspiring. Thanks for sharing them.

ThisRegard

Jesus, I'm a puritan compared to almost everyone on this forum.

As I said in the other thread as a kid I was a club runner, mostly cross country. We were never off the streets running and climbing around. Got bored of the running around 11 or 12 I think and became a hurler. Play hurling from around under 12s to under 21. Only reason I stopped playing was because when I was in college I worked weekends and that's when most of the games were on so saw no point training for games I could never play in.

We were always going on hikes over open mountain though with nothing but a cheese sandwich to keep us going for the day. I remember some of the neighbours kids came with us one day and they did nothing but whinge, thought we were lost on a number of occasions and just wanted to get home.

But I was never off my bike by that point, I cycled to work all around Dublin at any time of the day or night, I never thought twice about it being an effort or anything. I'd walk the half hour or so to college and back. I'd drink during college but nothing out of the ordinary for a student or someone in their early 20s. Never even tried a cigarette, I thought, and still do think, why anyone would.

It wasn't until my mid 20s that I got a bit lazy. But that was mainly due to being sent off to the west coast of American on an expense account. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening snack were all eaten out and I'm sure everyone knows the size of the servings over there. It was only when I came back to renew my visa and saw the new photo on it I realised I got quite pudgy so when I got back I went to the gym in our apartment complex daily to sort that.

Ever since then I've simply been ticking over, 5 years ago I was at my fittest I reckon when I was doing multi sport races almost every other week during the summer, mixed in with the IMRA races weekly.

Now I'm blaming my two kids for not being a able to get out as often as I'd like, but I'm fairly mellow when it comes to strict training regimes, I'll do what I can but know I'm not at the level I want to be or have been in the past.

After reading this thread the title is very apt, None so pure as the reformed. Would I be close enough in assuming that some of the people who lead unhealthy lifestyles are now the most vocal and, I dunno, I suppose enthusiastic, in sticking by training programs and generally healthy eating ? And just for contrariness sake, those most likely to comment on other peoples training or running queries, good or bad ?

walshb

So nice to read a post that doesn't revolve around vomit and pizzas and alcohol!:)

kit3

walshb wrote: »

So nice to read a post that doesn't revolve around vomit and pizzas and alcohol!:)

You just can't help stirring it can you :D:D

walshb

kit3 wrote: »

You just can't help stirring it can you :D:D

You got me, bee$%c%.....

Pacing Mule

ThisRegard wrote: »

After reading this thread the title is very apt, None so pure as the reformed. Would I be close enough in assuming that some of the people who lead unhealthy lifestyles are now the most vocal and, I dunno, I suppose enthusiastic, in sticking by training programs and generally healthy eating ? And just for contrariness sake, those most likely to comment on other peoples training or running queries, good or bad ?

Interesting point. Must take a look back through the thread and see if anyone here hogs the logs

Laois_Man

I was pretty fit when I live in Laois. No running, but a lot of cycling and regularly got remarks about being too skinny – which I wasn’t. Smoked 15-20 per day. Then my parents both died and I couldn’t wait to get away and so I moved to Dublin in 2002 and was suddenly getting the bus everywhere and then got a car while the bike got rusty. Weight crept up slowly to 14½ stone when I started running in June 2012. I'm sure I'd be something approaching 16 stone now if I hadn't taken that long threatened step and headed out the door - maybe even more. While 14½ stone is not a deplorably bad weight, it looked worse. I've lost more than 2 stone since then - which could be better - but a lot more than 2 stone of fat. My body composition is way different now - even just in the last 3 months. So it looks like I have lost a lot more than 2 stone. The funny thing is, my diet has never changed very much (other than the fact that I very very rarely touch alcohol anymore) so there's still plenty of room for more improvement.

kit3

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Interesting point. Must take a look back through the thread and see if anyone here hogs the logs

I must confess to hogging the original Rant thread until it was brought to my attention by Beepbeep67:

Top Ranters




Can't quote because the thread is closed. Reformed instantly - all sweetness & light from then on :rolleyes:;)

MrWalsh

I had my first kneecap dislocation at 12 years of age and around 100 more over the next 3 years. Eventually they operated on me at the tender age of 15 and thats where the problems really started The knee was never right after the surgery and would sublux just by me moving my leg. Consultant after consultant told me there was nothing they could do and eventually I stopped going to the yearly appointments and trained myself to move very slowly and not risk it.

Fast forward to my 30s and I decided to go back and see was there anything could be done. At this stage I was starting to suffer compensatory problems elsewhere. After more useless consultant appointments I finally found my champion. He operated and turned out that all my problems were being caused by an old bucket handle tear of the meniscus - a tear that likely happened within a year or two of the original surgery.

Immediately my knee felt different. My whole leg and hip muscles were horribly wasted from 20+ years of not being able to use my legs properly.

I also smoked for 20 years.

I decided to try Couch to 5K - Im not sure why. It took 4 months before I could run for a minute. For the first 2 months I kept falling because I couldnt control my legs, it was like a child learning how to run, my legs would go too fast for me and Id lose control and fall over.

The first time I ran for 20 minutes, when I stopped my legs unhinged and I collapsed on the ground.

Anyway, I kept it up. Never got past 8k and my knees hurt if I run on concrete so I eventually moved to a treadmill.

But for someone who couldnt use my legs properly since I was 12 years old I am delighted to be able to hop on a treadmill and even run for 10 minutes!

PaulieC

kit3 wrote: »

I must confess to hogging the original Rant thread until it was brought to my attention by Beepbeep67:

Top Ranters




Can't quote because the thread is closed. Reformed instantly - all sweetness & light from then on :rolleyes:;)

Haha, we're a right pair of many holes

kit3

PaulieC wrote: »

Haha, we're a right pair of many holes

Speak for yourself - totally reformed now me :rolleyes:

PaulieC

kit3 wrote: »

Speak for yourself - totally reformed now me :rolleyes:

goddamn autocorrect. I mean moany holes. Buy many holes is actually more amusing...

In fairness there's a few on that list who don't even exist here any more. That's impressive.

kit3

PaulieC wrote: »

goddamn autocorrect. I mean moany holes. Buy many holes is actually more amusing...

In fairness there's a few on that list who don't even exist here any more. That's impressive.

Ha, was afraid to ask what kind of holes you were talking about - yes, some quality ranters have bitten the dust but their legends live on

rom

Was always a bit wild growing up but lived a sheltered life out in the sticks. Parents decided to move to the city so we could walk to school rather that them driving 100 miles daily to drop and collect us.

In new school fell in with the wrong crowd. Started smoking at 10, drinking at 12 ...... never made it to class A drugs for some reason. Don't know why but it wasn't for lack of availability as all my friends were. Perhaps I had a fear from watching your one OD in Pulp Fiction I can only imagine.

During this time was quite sporty 4 nights a week martial arts, Soccer and school XC team who we won a lot with. In my infinite wisdom I stopped all sports so I could study for my Junior Cert. Big mistake as didn't do anything sporty again until after college.

At 15 drank shared a liter Poitín with my partner in crime. He ended up getting his stomach pumped. I should have too. Was getting sick up my stomach lining for 3 days. Still have the scars from that night. Brother was working as a porter in A&E when my friend came in and left work as he knew I would be in a similar state at home.

Drank 27 500ml of bud at a house party at 16 another night. Nothing to be proud of looking back at it as I had a serious problem.
Similar pattern continued until after college where I would still drink 4/5 times a week but not as much as my teens. Obviously weight ballooned also coupled with the complete inactivity.

Had enough in 2010 and turned it all around a lost a few stone. Would only run at night as too embarrassed. Now I have zero modesty with my 1 inch running shorts and pooping outdoors if needed on a long run. Drink would be like 4 small beers now or two glasses of wine. Married with two kids now and you would think butter wouldn't melt in my mouth compared to my teens where I was a menace to society along with everyone I hung around with.