The Duck Pond

[[old] CookieMonster]

Well I'm getting back into my rowing routine and it feels good! My health is slowly returning to normal which makes me very happy.<br /><br />I'm having some family health issues (father and brother) which are really stressing me out so I'm trying to channel that stress into my rowing to work it out. <br /><br />I have lost 10 lbs though and did not re-gain a single pound of it while I wasn't feeling well so I feel very good about that!<br /><br />Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend!<br /><br />Cookie

[[old] woolsmith]

Hey Cookie Monster!<br /><br />Glad you're back and things are tracking in a more positive direction for you. Sounds like you avoided having surgery, I take it? Hope so.<br /><br />So we'll be watching your meters climb on the team page, hey? <br /><br />I've traded rowing for eating when it comes to dealing with stress. It's a much better way to go, but those chocolate things just sneak right in there every once in awhile. <br /><br />Hang in there!<br /><br />--jen

[[old] CookieMonster]

Hey Jen!<br /><br />Yep I was able to avoid surgery <br /><br />When I'm stressed I eat major junk food - pizza, ice cream, pizza, cookies, pizza, did I mention pizza? But when I'm extremely stressed I go the exact opposite and stop eating entirely because my stomach gets so upset. Right now I'm somewhere inbetween...I'm having to tell myself to make sure I eat, but when I do eat I want comfort food! <br /><br />Comfort rowing. Now there's a novel idea! <br /><br />-Anne

[[old] judyg]

Hi Fellow Ducks,<br />I've been contributing meters, but I'm afraid I haven't contributed much to the conversation in a long while. Life just gets so busy. But every so often I check in and it's great to read what you are all up to.<br />Here at Concept2 we are working on our Fall newsletter, and we want to include a story about The Ducks! The idea is to introduce a couple of our amazing virtual teams - probably the Ancient Mariners (because they started the whole thing), the Ducks, and maybe one more. We'd like to talk about how the groups got started and then include some quotes about what it means to be part of a virtual team, as well as some photos of members. <br />First, I wanted to be sure you guys would be OK with this. Let me know. Second, if you're OK with it, I'd like to invite you to try to summarize in just a sentence or two what it means to you to be a Duck. You can either post it here, or e-mail it to me at judyg@concept2.com. We envision including a collection of photos of Ducks with the story...so if you have any preferably high-res digital photos, it would be terrific if you would send them along, too.<br />Let me know what you think and keep up the great rowing.<br />It's a beautiful Fall day up here in VT...a little on the warm side for October, and the colors are a little late in coming out - but it's lovely. A great day to pull the rower outside!<br />Judy

[[old] woolsmith]

Hi, Judy!<br /><br />I think it would be an honor to have an article about the Ducks in the fall newsletter. IMHO, I think this is a great group! I've learned a lot from the wonderful members of the Ducks and other contributors to the C2 forums.<br /><br />I can't tell you what an inspiration and support the Ducks have been for me. I love hearing the stories, the trials, the successes, etc. that the other women in this group have to tell about. Because many of the Ducks are experiencing the same things in their lives, the stories create a great comraderie and true team spirit. I feel that it's all a very positive thing that keeps building on itself--kinda/sorta "what goes around, comes around." And I think that's pretty amazing considering most of us have never even met or seen each other in person!<br /><br />Go Ducks!<br /><br />--Jen<br /><br />

[[old] rspenger]

Warning to the Duck Pond. The zippered sternum gang is closing in on you (if I am back on keel and can stay there). Not in total meters of course, but in meters per member.<br /><br />regards,<br /><br />Bob S.<br />Member, Row Hearty

[[old] Canada Goose]

Judy,<br /><br />I think that it would be great to have a mention of Ducks in a Row in the newsletter!<br /><br />Joining Ducks in a Row was what got me to start using my rowing machine more regularly. I have lost 13 pounds since then and have improved all my rankings so much! I am training partners with three members of DIAR, two of whom I correspond with almost daily. Our entire family is involved with virtual teams, the females with the Ducks and the males with The Eh Team. We like to have a little friendly banter about which team is best! Of course the answer is obvious - it's the Ducks!<br /><br />Shannon

[[old] Bufflehead]

Hey - Great Idea, Judy!<br /><br />Being a member of the Ducks has meant a lot to me. I expect all of us have lots of stories to tell!! I rarely miss a day checking up on the Ducks just to see how everyone is doing. Even when I'm not rowing as much as I'd like to be, I find that the stories out there give me the extra push I need. It's not the competition against other teams that makes the difference for me. (Okay, well maybe that does push me a little, too! ) For me it's the idea of communicating with so many other women out there from all over the world with similar goals.<br /><br />I'll email you later (when I get a little more time) to throw in my two cents worth on how the whole thing started.<br /><br />Thanks for thinking of us!<br /><br />The Buffle

[[old] judyg]

Buffle, Shannon, Jen,<br />I'm glad you like the idea of the newsletter story! And thanks for the great "statements about being a Duck" that you have posted. They're terrific fuel for the story. Bufflehead, it would be wonderful if you would e-mail me some more info about how DIAR got started. I'll look forward to it. I got a great photo from Krysta, too. Thanks, Krysta. If anyone else has photos, please don't hesitate to send them along. I don't yet know exactly how many I'll be able to include, but for now the more the merrier.<br />And now it's time for me to take a break from writing and head to the C2 workout room to row some meters!<br />Happy Rowing Ducks!<br />Judy

[[old] holladay]

I started rowing the day before Thanksgiving 2004. I was able to complete 101K in the HC. I have had problems with my feet and although I couldn't stand or walk for long periods of time, I could row for 45 minutes without aggravating my feet. I enjoyed rowing and did so consistently until March when I had surgery on both feet. Eight weeks in bed eating comfort food and I gained back all I lost. (Good news, much less foot pain, and I am much more mobile!) <br /><br />Started a new STRESSFUL job in June and battling depression (yes, I am getting help) and I just don’t “feel” like I have the energy to do anything, least of all rowing. <br /><br />I know exercising will help with the stress and depression (and energy) but … (insert excuse here.)<br /><br />Glad I found ducks in a row. I commit to rowing tomorrow (Tue10/11) hopefully before work. If not, before supper.<br /><br />Susan

[[old] Bufflehead]

Hi Susan!<br />We're glad you found DIAR too! You've come to the right place to find that extra push you need. I'm no stranger to the "issues" that can make great excuses for avoiding exercise. I still struggle with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.<br /><br />Hang in there and let us know how you're doing. How about a few updates from some of you other Ducks out there? You never know when something you have to say is just the very thing one of the other Ducks needs to hear!<br /><br />The Buffle

[[old] holladay]

I did it. Not this morning. But I went home for lunch and got in 2000 m.<br />One day at a time. Tomorrow--I promise to do it again <br />Susan

[[old] woolsmith]

Yay, Susan! <br /><br />Keep it up, girl! Just promise yourself to do at least 10 minutes, then I'll bet that once you get on the rower, you'll be inspired to keep on rowing for a longer time. <br /><br />Depression can be such a baffling thing, hey? It's not just a matter of being able to "pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get going." Lots of folks just have faulty neurochemistry that needs adjusting with medication--sorta like an underactive thyroid that needs thryoid medication. And sometimes depression is due to what I call the "jerk factor," and I think you can imagine what that is. Jerks are, well, jerks. <br /><br />I'm such a procrastinator, but once I get on the C2 beastie, I'm soooo glad I did. I always feel so much better afterwards (gotta love those endorphins!) that I can't fathom why it was so hard to get started. And then the next day, I do it again. On days when I work, it's actually easier to get up and get going on the rower in the a.m. I have to get up at 4:30 or 5:00a to row, and because I'm under a time crunch, I can get going without too much dawdling. I seem to do my best work under pressure! <br /><br />I didn't start a faithful exercise program until last November when the hubba got his Schwinn Airdyne. We acquired our rower in mid-May, and I've been keeping up pretty well since then. Fell off the wagon a couple of times, but that was due to having to make some out-of-state trips. So I'm about to celebrate my first year of healthier choices! And I feel SO much better. Now I think I'm a tad addicted to exercise, but what the heck. That helps to balance out the chocolate addiction, yes? <br /><br />A good aerobic workout will make those endorphins start hopping around in your system. You probably know this already, but those good ol' endorphins are great mood elevators! They're kinda like having your own built-in antidepressant. <br /><br />Anyway, I'll join Buffle in welcoming ya's to DIAR, Susan! Keep us posted on how you're doing.<br /><br />--Jen in WI

[[old] edollar]

I have looked forward to this day for a long time. I got ONE MILLION METERS today and have 7,645 meters toward my second million. I knew it would feel good but I just didn't realize how good it would feel until I saw the total cumulative meters say 1,000,145 meters after I did a 2500 meter row this afternoon. It just looked terrific. Just wanted to say how much belonging to DIAR means and the honor board where I just keep trying to work up to the next page all the time. Truly appreciate Concept2 for having this wonderful website where we can all inspire each other. Love the competition with Shannon who keeps me rowing. <br /><br />Ellen

[[old] woolsmith]

<!--QuoteBegin-CookieMonster+Oct 2 2005, 09:31 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(CookieMonster @ Oct 2 2005, 09:31 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hey Jen!<br /><br />Yep I was able to avoid surgery  <br /><br />When I'm stressed I eat major junk food - pizza, ice cream, pizza, cookies, pizza, did I mention pizza?  But when I'm extremely stressed I go the exact opposite and stop eating entirely because my stomach gets so upset. Right now I'm somewhere inbetween...I'm having to tell myself to make sure I eat, but when I do eat I want comfort food! <br /><br />Comfort rowing. Now there's a novel idea!  <br /><br />-Anne <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hey there, Cookie Monster!<br /><br />How's your "comfort rowing" doing? <br /><br />When I'm stressed, I eat. When I'm really stressed, I eat MORE! Aaaarrrgggh! <br /> <br /><br />And like you, I do like my comfort foods--chocolate anything, homemade chicken and noodles on mashed taters, pork roast and baked acorn squash, homemade oatmeal bread with butter and cherry preserves...any of those things individually or all at once. I'm not picky. <br /><br />I just got home from work and haven't had dinner yet, can ya tell? Long day, complete with couple of "train wrecks." I need to hop on that rower and work off some stress and frustration. <br /><br />Ah, endorphins, take me away.... <br /><br />--Jen