6 month alumni<---->week of Nov.29

OK first of all...Can you believe this year is almost over! Man time is really flying by. I guess that is how it is when you live life on a dead line, like most of this year has been for me!

Today is a rest day for me but I am actually going to try to do something today. I guess the more time off you have the less you do. I have just been relaxing and not doing too much these few days off. (well after thanksgiving of course) I hope you all had a great holiday weekend!

Jo-How was gym styles this morning? I know this is probably a dumb Q but how does cardio coach work? I haven't ever done a spin class so I am not sure how the climbs and hills and sprints work. Do you do that your self or is it programmed in to the bike some how? I know, I should probably know this.:eek:

Cendrine-The scenic views from your lake walk sound beautiful! I just love stuff like that. Unfortunately we are miles away from any real mountains. DH and I really need to start traveling.
I think it is great that you are teaching your kids about healthy eating. It sounds like you are doing it the right way too. I think it is great that he is choosing the healthier place for his reward lunch next time...Good for you too! Last time I HAD to go to McDonalds, we were with our friends on the road and since we were in a real rural area we were running out of options! So I thought I could try to keep it cleaner, so I got a grilled chick. sandwich and some apple slices. Those apple slices were horrible! You could taste the chemical on them that they must use to keep them preserved! It is no wonder that kids want to pick the fry option!

Kim-YOu probably are already gone but I still want to say I hope you have a great time!Take lots of pics!

Gayle-What are you doing this week for your workouts? We are all getting closer to shock cardio! We are going to rock that one I think!

OK if I set here much longer I probably will talk myself out of everything I need to do!

Have a great day!

Rachel
 
Hi Girls!

Oh my goodness GS Chest & Triceps was a KILLER! I forgot how many pushups there are! I can only do about 75% on my knees...but as always, gave it my best shot! Also, again had to lower my weights from what I originally thought I could do because of the pace and sheer amount of exercises!!! I know I'll be feeling this tomorrow!

Rachel, I'm like you...I've been slacking the last few days and now need to get all the laundry done and some cleaning. We had a good time with our friends yesterday. Didn't do much, but had a really good visit, some good healthy food (except the pumpkin orange cranberry cake I ate!) and GF and I made some kale chips!

Well, I better get busy...lots to do today! BBL!
 
Oh Rachel, I forgot to answer about cardio coach. It's an audio download program that you put on your iPod or other player. It's great music and Coach Sean coaches and pushes you through the workout (it's not constant talking). The music is awesome and you can use the program on any cardio machine or walking or running. On my spin bike, there is a tension knob that you increase or decrease. There's no electronic programs like TM's and ellipticals. So for doing hills, you increase the tension to make it more difficult like if you were actually peddling up a hill and of course loosen some for sprints. I LOVE CARDIO COACH for my spin bike. Go check it out: www.cardiocoach.com I think there are samples you can listen to. Also, here is a link to a spin bike that's similar to mine: http://www.bowflexcatalog.com/bfxca...bikes/prdcdovr~100176/Schwinn+AC153+Sport.jsp I have had mine about 5 years and love it. Spinning is an incredible cardio workout!

After doing Cathe, I never thought anyone could motivate me like she does...but nobody motivates me on my spin bike like Coach Sean! He has an incredible voice and is very motivating. All the music was original for his series also. I also have about 15 Spinerval DVD's...but I haven't done any since I started doing Cardio Coach! But in actuallity they are great workouts as well.

Okay...enough talking! I MUST get a shower and get busy!!!
 
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Jo, tell me more about the kale chips! I just read about it in clean eating magazine and was wondering how it would turn out for real. How do you make yours? By the way the pumpkin cranberry orange thing sounds delish! Orange and cranberry go so well together! Did you like the Persimmon?

Rachel, what did you end up doing today? I can't believe how fast time flies either, I sound like a broken record, because I say it all the time now, at least five times per holiday...LOL! Someone once explained to me why each year seems to go by faster than the last, and it has to do with the years in memory you can compare it to. When you are a kid, you don't have many years to think back and so it seems to take forever, but the longer the timeline of our life gets that's in the past, the shorter time seems to become, even though of course it's the same lenght...
 
Wow Cendrine...that makes perfect sense! I guess I am going to google that so I can read more about it. DH is the world's worst about saying how fast time is going. Maybe if I tell him that it will put a positive spin on it for him.

I still did not get too much done today. Just laundry and straightening the house and a little x-mas shopping. I don't have much to do so i guess I am almost done.:D I did manage to cook 2 things out of the clean eating mag though. One was the chicken and squash casserole and the other was the steak as farfalle pasta dish. Both I thought were very good. I did change up the squash one a bit though. I added some spinach and some balsamic vinegar. Just a dash or two of vinegar though. I am going to try and freeze a little of the squash casserole and see how it does.

Jo-Cardio coach sounds like a lot of fun and from the way you describe it, very motivating! I think it is great when you find something that can get you going like that. Some people have that quality and other's just want it! I don't really have room right now for a spin bike but one day we hope to add on to our gym room and maybe then. A girl can hope , right!
Did you get all you needed to do done?

Cendrine- So what are you planning to make out of this issue of the magazine? Jo peaked my interest with those kale chips too. I have not gotten that far yet. I really need some good healthy cookie ideas. I make cookie boxes every year for the shop we work out of and it is always the really bad ones...That doesn't really say a lot about me though. I kind of wanted to do something a little different this year but since these are people that never eat healthy, I did not want to make them something they would not eat! So I need some recipes that don't taste too healthy if you know what I mean.

I guess I am off to do the last load of laundry and get ready for work tomorrow. Now time will really fly because we have another deadline!

Have a great night!
Rachel
 
I'm planning on doing the Squash and Chicken casserole this week too! I'm glad you liked it! Tell me how it freezes!
I am also dying to try the spaghetti and Quinoa Goat cheese meatballs! Dh is also out of healthy baked goods that I keep in the freezer, so I will be trying the Honey Almond Sunflower loaf (making a batch for my gluten intolerant friend as well) and the Citrus scones, as well as the Apple Drop Biscuits. It's nice to have a bunch of stuff in the freezer, but the citrus scones better not be too yummy, otherwise I'll be in touble! LOL!
This issue has a lot of good stuff in it, so I will be using it for my weekly mealplanning a lot!
 
Hi Again! From reading all your food suggestions I see I need to get a freezer!!! LOL!

Kale chips - Cendrine, I have to laugh as I thought you were the one that originally told me how to make them! Maybe this was something I read somewhere. Anyway, I've made them here, at home, but I just had regular green or red kale. They were good but kind of fragile after cooked and crumbled very easy. My GF had some really firm kale that was almost bluish color and the leaves were very firm - almost leathery - I hadn't see this variety before. This is what we did:

1. Cut up entire bunch of kale into approx 2" or so pieces (doesn't really matter but not too small) We destemmed as the stems were really big.
2. Put cut pieces in bowl with approx 1 tblsp of extra virgin olive oil and make sure to coat each leaf (again this worked better with the kale we had yesterday). I just used my hands to mix.
3. Put on cookie sheet and season with sea salt
4. Bake for approx 15 minutes at 425
5. The edges get brown and crispy.

Everyone loved them!!!

Now, when I made them at home before, I also added chopped garlic but since this was spur of the moment (we just happened to be talking about kale and everyone wanted another snack!) she didn't have any. They were a big hit! Is this anything close to what was in your magazine?

So I did laundry today and we had to make a Costco run. Oh Cendrine, they were giving away these really nice cookbooks so go see if they have them at your Costco. They were at the checkstand and were free. It's a collection of recipes using Costco products. I haven't had much time to look at it yet so don't know how healthy it is, but it's full of pictures (I love pictures) and when I flipped it open, it went to a persimmon bundt cake! It's a sign! LOL! (A sign of what I don't know! :eek:) Anyway, it's a softcover, a couple of hundred pages and beautifully done! I think there's a picture for every single recipe!

Tomorrow is Kick Max - another workout I haven't done in a long while. My chest is really tight tonight so I can only imagine how it's going to be over the next two days. Good luck guys with GS tomorrow!
 
Rachel, I was surprised to discover I love spinning as much as I do. I used to ride bikes alot but have never been a hard core biking enthusiast. When I first tried spinning I was very surprised how much I clicked with it. But at the time I tried it, I was looking for a running alternative and when I realized how cardio intensive it was, I got hooked! So, it became my running replacement and it is absolutely a great way to cross train! Also, it takes up way less space than a treadmill! So the spin bike is in our bedroom and the treadmill is in the dining room! :p

Last thing girls...in case your interested, my HRT seems to be kicking in. Today was two weeks since I started taking it and the first day I noticed I had way few flashes...maybe only about 5 (compared to 25!). So I'm excited! I may be able to wear sweaters again after all! The Dr had told me it would probably take 3 weeks before I felt a difference. And, now that I think about it, I think I slept all night last night without throwing the covers off! HA!

Talk to you all tomorrow!
 
Jo, you are so funny...It is a good thing you can get back to your sweaters since you probably have a closet full!

I just can not believe how much the gym style chest and tri's got me going! I guess since I had not done a work out like this in a while my body had forgotten about them. Now I see why you seemed so invigorated yesterday, Jo! I had only done this work out once and I just love it. I had totally forgotten what a pump I get from work outs like these!

Cendrine-Don't you just love the clean eating mag. I too am scared about those citrus scones. Of course there are only two of us here to eat them so you can see why I fear them so much!

Today its back to work but we had a good break and I think we are ready...So wish us luck!

I hope you all have great work out!

Rachel
 
Well x-nay everything I said about the HRT. I no more than posted that message than I had about 5 flashes before I went to bed and then one every hour last night. Consequently, I did NOT get a decent night sleep and am very tired. I attempted to do Kick Max but only got through the first 15 minutes as I just don't have the energy. (I need to go back to bed!) So I may give it another shot after work but we'll see.

Rachel, I glad you had a good workout and enjoyed GS like I did! I'm going to have to check out the Clean Eating magazine you and Cendrine are talking about. Have a great day at work!!!

I'm off to the shower and work! Hello Cendrine and Gayle! Kim, I'd hello you but I know you're gone! I'm thinking of you though!
 
Jo, that Kale chip recipe is almost exactly like the one from the CE magazine. The Kale you mentioned is available at my Whole Foods, they have about three or four different varieties!
Clean Eating is great magazine and I picked up my first copy at Costco before I started subscribing. I got a Costco cookbook about 3 years ago, I'm like you, I love pictures with every recipe and it is a very nicely done book! However, it's one I can't look at too often because it gets me in trouble, because needless to say, most recipes are not healthy by my standards, but oh so yummy sounding! :( I know I could probably modify most of them, but I still am in trouble for just seeing the stuff they use...LOL!
Sorry about the hot flashes! Not fair!

I'm no the sidelines as far as workouts go. I have had trouble all week last week, and I started to think maybe I wouldn't be in this place right now if I had taken a break to heal last week! So, I decided to take a good break until I'm all better not just a little , because I pushed it from there last week! I'm going to also try to see the chiropractor today to see what she can do to help me. I've never been down this long, so it's bugging me, especially because I was looking forward to doing the Gym style series for the first time. If I'm well for next week, I am going to just sub this week in for next week.


Hi Rachel and Gayle!
 
Oh Cendrine! Yes, take a break! You don't need to push yourself more than you should! Let us know what the chiro says! I feel for you and know how you don't want to miss your workouts but your body will appreciate it!

Next time I go to the book store or Costco I'll look for that magazine! I'll look for that kale at my Whole Foods. I've just been getting the other kale at Albertsons. That's some STRONG leafed kale I tell you!

I am really tired today so will forgo trying to complete Kick Max tonight. It's really dark and dreary here today - it makes me want to get in my flannel sheets! LOL!

BBL!
 
Oh man...Poor Cendrine and your back and Jo with your hot flashes...That's just terrible. Don't worry I will carry the torch for us!

Cendrine I think it would be better if you got yourself a rest before we start the sts rotation in January so I think now is a good time for it. Just like jo said...your body will let you know when it is ready for you to start up again.
I don't think I will have any squash casserole to freeze...since it was only me eating it, I only made half the recipe and I have just about finished it all. I will be taking the last of it in my lunch tomorrow. But it was really good!

Jo-I think you would really love the clean eating magazine. It has a lot of info other that just recipes too. I think that Cendrine would agree though, that the recipes are great. They come up with some of the funnest ideas. Lots of things that I just never would think of putting together. The best thing is that all the recipes are clean so I know I am safe when I cook out of it!

Ok ...work was work so nothing new to report there. All in all it has been a good day. Work out started the day out great and dh stayed upbeat all day. So all and all the last day of November was great! Now I am anxious to see what the Dec. rotation has in it so I can see what I am getting myself for christmas!

Hope you all are getting rest. Have a great night

Rachel
 
Good morning YALL!

I know Cathe has a method to her madness but today was a killer doing kick max after chest and tri's . My upper body is worn out and I barely made it through it!
I could not do the whole thing which I realized about half way through that that was probably the whole point of this week. Doing upper body, then kick max with the leg drills then legs tomorrow and then Max int. cardio...a total layering effect. I just did not have the time this morning. I was setting there on the couch getting ready to go in and get started when Iheard the cat growl and I looked back and she ANOTHER mouse. (remember the one a few weeks ago) This is not a trend that I want to keep repeating! Of course she kept letting it o so she could have the thrill of the hunt over and over again and freaking me out! Finally I had to break down and get dh up to help because I just could not figure out what to do! I was so afraid she was going to lose it and then get it while we were gone and then I would have another mess when I got home. Dh was not happy to be up at 4:30 but he saved the day pretty quick and then went back to bed. Leaving me under and hr to workout I just did the Kickbox/bootcamp challenge...I think that was enough for me today though! I think my heart rate got up enough before the work out! I know I live in the country and I do not mind animals and bugs and things ...when they are outside!
Now I need to google and find out how to keep mice out when you have a cat. I do not want to put poison out because if one gets in and has been poisoned she will eat it and I just can not let that happen!

OK sorry about the scary stories this morning:eek::rolleyes:...Time to eat and get ready to go ...Yeah Tuesday!

Have a great day!

Rachel
 
I'll help Rachel carry the torch! SO SORRY to hit and run, but I'll catch up SOON, promise! My Aunt finally left yesterday and left me with a TON of stuff to do!

I took today off of school/work to do my Christmas shopping, and I'm leaving in 10 minutes. I have a cooler packed with food to stay clean.

Workouts for the past few days:
Sat: CCPP
Sun: GS Legs
Mon: S&H Chest/Back
Tue: CTX Step & Intervals (cardio only)

LOVE YOU ALL, and AGAIN, sorry to hit and run! Life will calm down SOON, right?

Gayle
 
Oh, I'm just sick! I typed this giant post and lost it!!!! Now I have to run. CRAP! I'll come back later and try to recapture what I wrote.

But I did say I FEEL GREAT today and got GS Legs done and STS Abs Weights and Plates but only had time to do the Weights portion.

The other thing I said was Rachel, you can be flame and I'll be flash!!

Okay, got to go and like I said I'll get back later and retype everything else I lost...BOOHOOO!!!
 
LOL Jo!
Woo it got cold today! There is a chance of snow tonight...Can you believe that! DH will be saying burr in the morning and I will be calling him a wiener! :p

I have the most intense DOMS...dare I say almost too much! wrapping up extension cords today at work was murder! I wonder how GS legs will treat me tomorrow!

Gayle-I hope you catch a break to catch a breath! Way to go on the cooler packing.

Jo-Oh I just hate that when that happens. Esp. when I have just poured my heart out over the keys and then it is all gone! It makes me feel like I will never be able to recreate that post nor do I feel like it! So I know how you feel!

Cendrine-How are you doing? I hope you are getting a good rest. I think it is good to take some time off. It did me a world of good when I took that week off!

Ok I am off to get in some reading and maybe a little extra sleep.

Rachel
 
Hi Guys,
the rest week seems to be working, my back is already responding. It used to be so bad last week to the point where I could not lean over and grab a cup of water from the table while standing up without a shooting pain, and I can do that again now! Yay! I am feeling lazy though so tomorrow I might do a walk, since that does not seem to hurt anymore.

Jo, so sorry bout your post, that frustrates me so much when it happens to me!

Rachel, I have not idea what to tell you about the mice.... Sorry! I'm sure you'll come up with something! I made the squash casserole yesterday as well and the whole family loved it. We still have enough for lunch, nice! I might try your balsamic vinegar for the chicken next time. It might be rather tasty!

Gayle, did you get your shopping done?
 
Okay, I'm back...part of my big post was about the mouse! So I'll do what I can to recreate....

Rachel, I couldn't help but laugh over your mouse experience and not because it's funny but because I've BEEN THERE! Every year we have to set traps in September when it starts getting cold. The mice are getting cold too! We had more problems when we were remodeling but now they only get in the garage. And mind you, it was just usually one little mouse that would get in the house...but so aggravating! But part of why I was laughing was because the stupid mouse would always show up when DH was gone...I'd be sitting in a chair reading or something and then the mouse would come running up the stairs, look at me...I'd freak out and then he'd run back down! But he'd NEVER show up when DH was home! Anyway, DH always puts traps out now (in the garage) and we usually get one or two and that sends a message to their cousins not to come around or bite the dust!!!

So, we use these traps that are like little boxes and just put cheese in them. Then if we see a tail sticking out, we've caught one! DH always messes with them, not me, so I don't think the cat can get a paw in or anything but you might go to your hardware store and look at them. I'll ask DH when he gets home, but I think they are made by DCON. The good thing is that there's no poison involved. Of course I don't have a cat, but the only time we've used any poison was after our dog was put down and we only used it in our garage so none of the neighbor animals could get into it.

Okay...that's MOST of my long post. And, I was in a very good mood this morning and very animated and I'm sure I was quite cute and clever! Now you get end of the day, best I can remember post!

Okay, time for TBL! Must go! Tomorrow is MIC! I'm shaking in my boots!!!

Oh, and, did I tell you how sore I STILL AM from chest and triceps????? Mamma mia! Hope my legs can take MIC tomorrow after doing Legs today! Wish me luck!!!!
 

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