Comments on: Pushing Yourself in More Than Finances

By: Beks

Beks — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:56:32 +0000

Wow, I’m glad to hear about so many people deciding to get their finances AND their health in order. They are so closely tied!

Shoshana – Glad to hear you are homeschooling the four kids. I know it’s a financial burden (my mother struggled to buy books for us) but in the long run, we all ended up doing well. I graduated college Cum Laude! My mother made fitness a requirement (like schools do) and she worked out with us. We’ve all been fortunate not to struggle with our weight much since she encouraged that discipline in us very young.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:03:42 +0000

In January of this year we realized we were in 6 figures of debt. We have created a budget and have been working it religiously since February. Also in January I began training for a 10K in April (which I completed and it was awesome!). Then I ran a 5K with a friend this month, am planning another 10K for July 11th, then a half marathon in November.

I feel like I can do whatever I put my mind to. I totally get what you are talking about. Taking control of my finances has made me realize that taking control of whatever seems impossible in my life is just about ‘deciding’ to do it. I have realized that I have been my only obstacle to whatever I have perceived to be impossible. And that is beginning to change.

By: Shoshana

Shoshana — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:31:01 +0000

I’ve wanted to train to run a race too, but nothing as ambitious as a marathon. We have just paid down a major chunk of debt and now I feel like my mind has more space to consider the goal of getting fit. I also have four kids and homeschool so it wouldn’t hurt at all to drop some weight and be more fit in order to keep up with everyone better!

By: CanadianDebtGirl

CanadianDebtGirl — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:17:19 +0000

Congratulations on making the decision to complete a marathon! Debt repayment is definitely harder than the physical endurance needed for the long run you are about to complete, so I have no doubt you will do it!

Way to go!

I’ve also decided to run one next May, so I guess I should tie those shoes on…

By: Tvents

Tvents — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:06:00 +0000

Sometimes we cannot avoid ourselves to have some debts. The important thing is that we can pay our debts at least with a regular payment. Meanwhile, we should also pay attention to our other needs including our health. We have to be balance in terms of lives.

By: Abigail

Abigail — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:58:48 +0000

I am (slowly) losing weight. It’s a long, constant struggle. I really like junk food. But I’m slowly finding a balance between crazy, stuffing my face and crazy, self-denial. I’m getting better at finding the middle road. Sometimes I have treats. Mostly, I try to find lower-calorie/fat treats so I can have them more often. But there are days I am exhausted and feel awful and want pizza. And that’s okay sometimes. I don’t have to feel guilty or beat myself up. I just have to try and walk as many days as I can and not use up my energy (I have chronic fatigue) on being angry at myself or trying to deny myself.

So far, I’m down 3 lbs in 3 weeks with the blogger weight loss challenge and about 8 lbs overall. Short-term goal: Get under 200 (hard to know exactly because my scale is inaccurate but at least it’s consistently inaccurate) Next goal: Get down to 175. Goal after that: Won’t be set until I’m closer to 175 and I see how it looks and how I feel.

I’m finding a middle road in finances, too. Not trying to bomb it out with pure privation until we get out of debt. My husband has been a wonderful, grounding influence on me in this regard. And I’ve taught him to be frugal. Kind of a nice exchange, really!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:35:19 +0000

I have discovered the same thing about myself as I work toward becoming debt free. I joined a gym and started running with a goal of a mini-marathon next year. It’s like the motivation and perseverence carries over into other parts of your life. Good luck!

By: Beks

Beks — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:38:12 +0000

Thanks for all the advice! I’m going to have an interesting year.

Jill – Thanks for the heads up! I needed to know that!

Jeff – Congrats on the 50 pounds! I hope the finances follow!

Linda B – I’ll be running beside you. I’m training for the Rock N Roll Marathon in San Diego as well. Hurray for San Diego!

By: Linda B

Linda B — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:07:20 +0000

Good luck with the marathon training. I started training last month for a 1/2 marathon in December. Got a bit light-headed after running a 5k and decided that my 1st marathon had to be run in my hometown – Rock N Roll San Diego in June 2010. So I’ve got a little less than a year, too!
Running is a bit like getting out of debt. Both are seemingly impossible. But both are attainable one step at a time.

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:53:51 +0000

Just an FYI – all marathons are the same length so there is not a “longest”. A marathon is 26.2 miles. Beyond that, are ultramarathons.

Good luck! I’d highly recommend finding a training group!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:03:22 +0000

It seems like there’s definitely some kind of correlation to getting fit both financially and physically — there seem to be at least several sets of blogs where one person will be writing a blog about dealing with their debt/financial situation and another blog about their dieting attempts! I know that I have been working on both my debt and my diet this year too — I’ve lost about 50 pounds since January, but my debt situation is still not all that great — right now I’m worried about facing foreclosure on my house, but I’m actually dealing with it instead of hiding from it like I probably would have before.

By: nancy

nancy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:22:55 +0000

Wren, if you see this, can you tell me what (family) hotel is good for the marathon weekend in Hi?

Beks, you can erase that if you want. I do not mean to be rude. I am just going crazy finding a place. Thank you Beks, and Happy Birthday.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:00:57 +0000

Dang I love rolled tacos.
Too far away from San Diego now for a road trip.
Dang.

By: Wren

Wren — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:32:17 +0000

You could also find a team that’s doing the marathon and join with them. It will require fundraising, but if it’s a cause you believe in, that’s not as hard as you might think. That will also cover a lot of the costs associated with the marathon, other than proper gear. I did one a few years ago, joining the Arthritis Foundation’s team, and spent some money on shoes, a good bra, and some socks. Then I raised a little over 3400 bucks, and spent 4-5 days in Hawaii, doing the marathon and enjoying the results of my hard work. It has its merits, all that work.

By: Rae

Rae — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:52:01 +0000

Good thought Angie. I’ve only run one marathon and spent about $500 in the 6 months that I trained for it and ran it. Between tennis shoes (which I now get on ebay and save about $20), race fees, coaching fees, and proper clothing gear, it added up.

Good luck Becks! It’s an empowering feeling — both getting out of debt and training to run that distance.

By: angie

angie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:34:56 +0000

Congrats on trying for the marathon. I would caution, however, that there is a fair amount of necessary gear needed to train for/run the marathon. It would interesting to see if anyone has tips for a “frugal marathon.” In my training, I went through two pairs of $110 shoes – that’s probably the one area you cannot skimp on!

By: mom

mom — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:44:38 +0000

I forgot to mention….. Happy Birthday. Smooches.

By: mom

mom — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:43:32 +0000

I think it’s a terrific idea Beks! However… does this mean I need to make another big time change to my dinner menus on Sunday?? Between your sister, who now eats raw, and your brother and sister-n-law, who don’t eat red meat, my menu ideas are beginning to dwindle. Maybe I should just start having everyone bring their own meals??? Seriously… way to go.

Love, mom

By: FrugalMe

FrugalMe — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:21:44 +0000

Hi Beks, Good luck you can do it. It starts with that one step. Just find the way that works for yo and does not seem difficult and daunting. People tend to have problems with exercising and their finances because they often extend and overextend themselves initially therefore setting themselves up for failure. And what do then they get? They become despondent think it’s too hard and never achieve the goal.

Keep the goal in mind and take the smalls steps we all took when we were babies learning to walk!
Congratulations!

PS Try to take part in shorter events as a build up to the half and then the full marathon.