2014 Official Chaz Fitness Challenge

I just started doing My Fitness Pal--does anyone else do it?

Infrequently... I need to use it more because I still have trouble eating enough food, but I'm still in that "if I don't SEE how low the numbers are I can PRETEND they're not that low!" mode. I get really good about tracking for a week and then I'm like "la la la tracking food sucks" and I stop.

I also hate that it automatically adds your exercise calories for you to "eat back." If I were doing lean gains or something, yes, but I'm not... so no please. There's no way to turn that off either. Urgh.

Did probably around 1.5 miles of mostly walking, but some running. My in-laws live at the end of our road, so I went to their house. Had plans to come back, but ended up being very sore in my lower back and opted for a ride home. Any ideas on what could cause the soreness? It happens every time I try to work out and that's part of the reason I never stick with it.

Lots of possible reasons. I would recommend finding a good sports doctor and getting it checked out medically. It could be as simple as your core is weak (lower back is part of the core) and needs strengthening. Or you might have something more serious going on, like something could be slipped or pinched. Whatever it is, they can pinpoint it and then help you figure out how to strengthen for it OR what you can do that won't aggravate it. A good physical exam is important, possibly an x-ray if they find anything of concern.

I will have to see what I can find! I haven't had a general health exam in about 2 years. Will I need one of those first or can I see a sports doc without?

Since getting "out" of horses/regular riding/barn chores, I've lost most of my strength and fitness. Equine activity was definitely a physical exercise crutch for me. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that my core was very weak, but I agree that a checkup is in order. Would a physical therapist offer something similar or is that normally the next step?

PS- Beanie, move here and be my personal trainer?

You wouldn't need a general checkup before seeing a sports doc, and I'd personally skip straight to a sports doc... since you're talking in terms of exercise specifically, not just general pain, I would seek out their advice. There are certainly general practitioners who would be skilled enough, but doctors with a specialty in sports medicine will just be getting straight to the point. My GP is a runner, so I went to see him the last time I had a running related injury because I knew he would get me when I told him "it's four weeks to the half-marathon and it hurts," but if I hadn't known he was a runner I would have gone to a sports medicine clinic here.

If you don't need a referral from a doctor to a PT (some states/insurances require you go to a doc first) you definitely could go straight there. The only reason I suggested sports doc first is because a PT is (usually) not a PhD and technically can't diagnose most things. Also rarely do they have access to x-ray/MRI equipment should you need it, so they'd refer you back to a doc if they felt it was necessary. X-rays can also sometimes give extra information to a PT, but it's not required.
For my running injury, I went to my doc first because I thought for sure he was going to want to order an MRI. He didn't, but he did prescribe me a short round of steroids and recommend me a PT who was also a runner (we like to stick together, you see, LOL.) Honestly, you could probably go either way... the sports medicine clinic here is actually mostly staffed by PTs and OTs and they handle most of their clients.


I'm not personal trainer certified so I can't LOL.
I've thought about it before though. There's a program at the local community college and it's only a year. But I can't afford it and the only financial aid I qualify for is a loan... which I am not on board for debt. =P

Beanie, is there a 24 hour Fitness near you? They train personal trainers in-house. I've been contemplating a similar move for something new.