Beginner Rotation - starting Monday, August 15, 2011

Susan my friend, when I read your post I had tears in my eyes. :) Thank you my friend for your support along the way . :)

Okay enough of the mushy stuff. :) Just walked 1 Mile with co-worker and I carried a 5 lbs weight in each hand, I did Bicep curls, side lateral raises, over head curls (not sure of the correct name) for the back ofmy arms. My Biceps are on fire and they look great. :)

Okay back to work, will check back this evening.
Deanna

SusanMcL said:
Deanna - I have tears in my eyes. I am so happy for you. It sounds like you and your son have gotten life back on track after a difficult few months.

Words to make a mother's heart sing... that he says he wants to go to college and get a different job. Fantastic !!!

I know you are walking on air. Enjoy !!! You have earned it. You have done a fantastic job with your son.

okay... I'm off to the gym.... before I change my mind... lol
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Hello ladies, group hug!!!!! It's so nice to hear some positive things in a world full of so much negativity!!

I got a new kickboxing workout in the mail today and previewed it, cant wait to try it out! Got home late from work today and I think I somehow sprained my wrist carrying something the wrong way at work today. I had chest and triceps planned tonight so I'm going to be on the Injured Reserve list with Susan tonight!

My stomach issues were a bit better today, only b/c I didnt eat anything until 1pm! Tonight was a grilled cheese sandwich with deli turkey and tomato. I ate some Fritos out of the vending machine at work later in the day b/c I was starving and hadnt eaten much else. Not a wise choice, but there was nothing else around, I knew I was going to be at work another hour or two and I was starting to feel light-headed :(

I'm going out of town this weekend to visit my very unhealthy family, that'll be a good way to kickstart my healthier eating!

I dont like setting up specific goals but I'm contemplating a No Processed Food Challenge. I know it shouldnt be a short term goal, but rather a lifestyle change, but still considering it nonetheless. I dont always like setting challenges in fear of "failing", but I also like setting some goals. So we'll see...

I've got some paperwork to do tonight yet, so I'll check back tomorrow, another late day at work planned tomorrow as well so hope to check in at some point!
 
Morning Ladies, I woke up this morning hoping today was Friday. :(

I think today is Abs on the Beginner Rotation. I am not going to have any fear when it comes to working out this area of my body. Remembering how I felt 24 hours later after working out my Abs last week. I just need to "STOP IT." LOL

Yesterday I only went on the 1Mile walk at work with the 5lbs weights. Today I am going to take my 2lbs and 4lbs dumbells so that my coworker and I can use them during our walks. I had borrowed the 5lbs weight from my supervisor, she keeps them in her office. If I take my two sets of dumbells to work that mean I will be forced to use my 6lbs dumbells at home, not sure if that is a good thing.

Okay let me finish my coffee and get ready for work, will check back later.
Deanna
 
Good morning ladies !!!

Bob Newhart ... lol... I haven't seen him in years and years and years. Great advice.... I should have used that therapy with my chocolate cupcakes. Thanks FnV. That was hilarious.

Deanna - you keep moving girl. With Stacy joining me on the Injured Reserve List and FnV deep in statistics studies, you are going to have to carry us all along with you. You are doing great !!!

Stacy - I hope you have a nice visit with your family and, yes, that should be a good reminder. It's why I watch The Biggest Loser on TV... I don't want to get there.....

My back is still sore and stiff but getting a little bit better each day. I ended up not doing Total Body Sculpting yesterday, I was really worried that I would have a setback and since my back injury is healing nicely, albeit much too slowly, I didn't want to risk it. But I did keep moving around yesterday... straightening up the house, doing some laundry... anything to keep moving that wasn't too strenuous. I think by Monday, I'll be back to my regular workouts.. at least that's my hope.

Stacy - re: the unprocessed food. That's my "goal." I sure am a long way from meeting that goal... but I figure if I keep the goal in mind, then I will make at least some healthier choices and hopefully those healthier choices will increase as time goes on.

In the past, I have made all or nothing goals and then I fail and then I give up... So.. this time... I'm all about Progress, NOT perfection....

off to "move around"... lol

I'll check back later....

Make it a great day team !!!

Edited to add: and my definition of "unprocessed" food is fairly strict, but not to the extent of going the extreme route. For instance, I consider Quaker Oats.. the old fashioned kind that you cook on the stove.. to be unprocessed food. Clearly, it has been processed, but I'm not about to go out in the field and harvest my own oats and do whatever one has to do to make oats edible..... so it's Quaker Oats in the old fashioned container for me.

I do consider most breads to be processed, but I have a bread maker machine and can make bread without any added chemicals or preservatives... just yeast, flour, water, oil/butter....

and I use frozen veggies a lot.. living alone it's difficult to use all fresh produce because it spoils before I can use it all up... so frozen veggies are perfect for me.

But I read the labels very carefully... I have found that Green Giant frozen veggies are full of salt.. whereas a lot of the Birdseye frozen veggies have no salt or very little... and, of course, I stay away from the frozen veggies laden with sauces....

and I eat lots of fresh fruit.. I can buy that in smaller quantities..

anyway.. my point is.. I have my own definition of unprocessed food that might differ from some others.... but I'm fairly strict about it.. just not fanatic. You know me.. lol.. I always have to do it my way.
 
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Hey Susan, I am glad your back is starting to feel better. :) You are doing the right thing by allowing it to heal and not pushing yourself. With Stacy wrist injury she will probablely be able to workout before you. But your Back is something totally different, so continue to take it easy.

This is going to be my last week on the Beginner Rotation. I am going to continue to post my progress in here to encourage you all and get encouragement along the way. We have come to far for me not to continue getting support from my workout buddies. I am just ready to kick up the Toning and Building process.

FitnessFreak responded to my request for Help creating a Rotation and she also advised me to checkout a recent Rotation she suggested for someone. (See Below).

Building Muscle , you'd do something like this:

Day 1 - GS Chest and Tri's
Day 2 - Cardio
Day 3 - GS Back, Shoulders, Bi's
Day 4 - Cardio
Day 5 - GS Legs
Day 6 - Cardio
Day 7 - Rest

If you want to tighten/tone up and not build, you'd do something like this:

Day 1 - Muscle Max
Day 2 - Cardio
Day 3 - Drill Max
Day 4 - Cardio
Day 5 - Supersets or Push/Pull
Day 6 - Cardio
Day 7 - Rest

or...

Day 1 - Pyramid upper
Day 2 - Cardio
Day 3 - Drill Max
Day 4 - Cardio
Day 5 - Pyramid Lower
Day 6 - Cardio
Day 7 - Rest

Ad ab work in at least once if not twice a week giving yourself 48 hours rest between ab workouts.

I think I am going to try the 1st one to Build Muscle, which means I need to order Gym Style dvds. I think I will also order Muscle Max, and Push Pull. I already have the Pyramid dvds.

I hope everyone is having a blessed day, I will check back later.
Deanna :)


SusanMcL said:
Good morning ladies !!!

Deanna - you keep moving girl. With Stacy joining me on the Injured Reserve List and FnV deep in statistics studies, you are going to have to carry us all along with you. You are doing great !!!

My back is still sore and stiff but getting a little bit better each day. I ended up not doing Total Body Sculpting yesterday, I was really worried that I would have a setback and since my back injury is healing nicely, albeit much too slowly, I didn't want to risk it. But I did keep moving around yesterday... straightening up the house, doing some laundry... anything to keep moving that wasn't too strenuous. I think by Monday, I'll be back to my regular workouts.. at least that's my hope.
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Deanna - I think that's a terrific idea !! You are more than ready to graduate to the next step. You have been doing so incredibly well on your workouts. I am sooo very very proud of you !!!

I have every intention of continuing to post in our thread. We are a wonderful team and I need the support and love sharing my progress as well as setbacks, trials and tribulations, fears, hopes and achievements with all of you !!! We ROCK (tm FnV).

Fitness Freak has given you some great looking rotations... hmmmmm... I have all of those except Drill Max.... geeze... I don't need to be buying any more DVDs.. but I'll go take a peek at the video clip... lol

You are going to love Gym Styles, Muscle Max and Push Pull. I have done Muscle Max and Push Pull a couple of times each and they are fantastic. I haven't tried Gym Styles yet, but I watched them all the way through and think they will be great too..

Stacy -- one more thought on food.. if you can stand it.. lol. I love grilled cheese sandwiches. I usually just have bread, cheese and tomato. I'll have to try it with a couple of turkey slices. Sounds good.

I consider that a healthy choice.... you can buy bread already made in the supermarket that isn't too too processed and I consider cheese and, of course, tomato to be unprocessed (in my world.. lol). The deli turkey probably has a lot of salt in it, but if you/I/we could substitute fresh sliced turkey (from the deli section maybe???), then I would consider that to be an unprocessed food meal and a delicious one at that.

Yummy.. you are making me crave a grilled cheese sandwich... lol

okay... must get busy with housework, etc..... I'm going to go for a walk outside this afternoon. After 2 days of much needed rain, the sun is back !
 
Okay I have everthing in my cart except Push Pull too expensive $40. Everything else is $20 each, and with the 15% off + Shipping my total is $74.85. I am ready to push checkout but I really do not want to spend $75 on dvds that may have the same workouts on them. I have all 3 Gym Style dvds and Muscle Max. Does Muscle Max duplicate the same exercised in the Gym Style series?
 
Deanna - I think those are great choices. Push Pull is expensive because it also has Supersets on it.

I love love love Muscle Max. A fantastic traditional total body workout.. and there are upper body only and lower body only premixes when you don't want to do the whole thing or are short on time.

Gym Styles is totally different because you are working 2 or 3 body parts once per week but working each body part harder. I haven't tried Gym Styles yet, but I'm eager to once my back is totally healed.

So I think those are a great mix of workouts. There is repetition of course because there are only so many different kinds of exercises the body can do.

But Muscle Max and Gym Styles are sequenced so differently, that I think they will complement each other beautifully !!!

Just my 2 cents.... you have to do what your gut says is right for you.
 
Thanks Susan :)

Just came back from my walk with 4 pournd dumbbells in each arm, raising them all different ways. My arms are killing me.

Back to work will check in later.


PS: I decided to order 2 dvds at a time, so I ordered Gym Style Legs & Muscle Max. I will order the other 2 another time........BABY STEPS :)


SusanMcL said:
Deanna - I think those are great choices. Push Pull is expensive because it also has Supersets on it.

I love love love Muscle Max. A fantastic traditional total body workout.. and there are upper body only and lower body only premixes when you don't want to do the whole thing or are short on time.

Gym Styles is totally different because you are working 2 or 3 body parts once per week but working each body part harder. I haven't tried Gym Styles yet, but I'm eager to once my back is totally healed.

So I think those are a great mix of workouts. There is repetition of course because there are only so many different kinds of exercises the body can do.

But Muscle Max and Gym Styles are sequenced so differently, that I think they will complement each other beautifully !!!

Just my 2 cents.... you have to do what your gut says is right for you.
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Hello everyone! I got out of work about an hour earlier than planned which was a nice change. I bought a different brace for my wrist, so hopefully that will help some.

Deanna...good choices on the dvds, I think you'll really enjoy Muscle Max. I have GS Legs but rarely do it b/c of my knee issues. The ab work in MMx is really good ;) As far as the rotations you posted, you really dont necessarily need GS's for the first rotation you listed. You could actually do the upper body parts from the Pyramids which might be more of a step down from the quite body-taxing GS series.

Susan...glad you're resting your back. With regard to food...I think we have the same definition of unprocessed, only I also count instant lower sugar maple&brown sugar Quaker oatmeal "unprocessed" ;) I used to eat the plain kind you mentioned but ended up adding sugar anyways. I figure the kind I buy has only 120 calories, I tend to add in few almonds as well.

Today's diet....well...not too good yet. I'm in this ridiculous mindset that I'll eat better after I get back from visiting family. Watching my family's food intake is depressing. Unfortunately their idea of "healthy and unprocessed" is reduced fat frosted pop tarts or multigrain Fruit Loops :( It's like watching a train wreck. I've tried to give advice but they dont want to hear it and heaven forbid they have to eat a salad! Sad, but what can I do?

FnV....how's the stats class going?? I started out as a math major in college and I couldnt stand statistics! I changed my major!

I was thinking, with the Beginner Rotation winding down, (and again GREAT JOB on that!!!!) how about starting a new thread later maybe we could call it "Progress Not Perfection" ??? I certainly dont want to highjack the title or step on your toes Susan and Deanna, just a thought I had.

Well off to do more Laundry Max...check back later!
 
Stacy I think that is a grrrrrrrrreat Idea. :) Our group can be called Progress Not Perfection. :) Since Susan started Progress Not Perfection, I think she should create the Thead under her name and we will start posted in there. :)
 
HEY! Every time I tried to justify a bad food choice yesterday, I listened to Bob Newhart tell me to Stop It! : )

I'm off to class in a min and will check in later but I'm reading threads when I get a chance on phone, I love the ideas.

Apples are great right now, I love Honey Crisps and Pink Ladies and Galas. Fuji are a little too sweet for me sometimes and Red Delicious make me MAD! (I think they look so beautiful and promising but they usually taste bitter and are often mealy, to me). Seriously, they downright p+++ me off!

Stacy, can you eat apples ok? What is everyone's fave? BBL~
 
Morning TGIF :)

Core Max on Stability Ball this morning. I was hesitant but I got it done. This evening I may do some type of Total Body workout.

No hand weights during my walk at work today, arm muscles need a break.

I will be participating in another 5K/1Mile with coworker Saturday morning. Upon my return home I am going to try to get all my house work done so that I can enjoy the remainder of my weekend.

Susan where are you?

Will check back later :)
Deanna
 
Good morning ladies !!!

I'm here. Was helping my next door neighbor first thing this morning and just got back to have my coffee leisurely.

Stacy - it does sound like we think alike on the definition of unprocessed food!

Deanna - smart move on the DVD purchases. Lots of time to spread them out. I'm glad you got Muscle Max first... I know you will love that one..

FnV - you aren't the only one who heard "Stop It" in your brain yesterday... lol

Apples.. yummy.... love them.. my favorites are Cortland... grown in upstate NY and New England. My ex-husband and my stepkids and I used to go pick them from the tree in central Massachusetts. We'd always pick a ton for eating and I would make apple pies... yummmmmmmy....

My local supermarket here has been selling Cortlands for the last couple of weeks... I am in heaven !! I've been eating one a day... sometimes two.

I LOVE the idea for a new thread called Progress, Not Perfection !!!

Perfect.... how about if I start it Monday morning when we start with a clean slate and Stacy is home from her weekend with her family and will be inspired and Deanna will be off the Beginner Rotation and ready to start her Intermediate program and I, hopefully, will be able to exercise again and FnV will, hopefully, be conquering statistics and ready to start working out again?

lol.. how's that for a run-on sentence???

anyway.. let me know.. if you agree.. I'll start our new thread Monday morning !!!

This has been a wonderful thread. It has served our little team well.

Make it a great day everyone..

Not sure what's on my agenda today..... I'm tempted to do a workout, but I had decided to lay off til Monday, so I really need to stick with that.. sigh... I miss my workouts.... stooopid back.

Don't get old young 'uns... I don't recommend it at all :p
 
Susan, I think that is a great idea to start on Monday 10.24.11. I will not have received my order but you know me I will be doing something. :) It's kinda bitter sweet knowing that I still did not finish the Beginner Rotation (again). However, I am still at it working harder and getting stronger with every exercise.

Susan, give us an idea of the possible Introduction you may use when you create the Thread?

Deanna

Ladies, I ran across this and wanted to share it with you.

Please understand losing weight and becoming healthy is not about just you. It's about you doing these things and being a pathfinder for someone else. You may never know that person and they may never say thank you. But you must know that someone is watching and depending on you. So stay in your lane because you are changing someone else life beside your own.
 
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Deanna, my friend...

do NOT think of it as not finishing the Beginner Rotation... that is NOT what happened.

What happened.. is that you were so dedicated to doing this, that you were ready to graduate to a more challenging program before the 12 weeks was up.

That is NOT a negative... it is a HUGE positive.

Think of it as skipping a grade in school because you are too smart and too motivated and too ahead of the class to be stuck doing work that is no longer challenging.

You not only moved to the head of the class, they had you skip ahead....

You are doing fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I'll have to ponder the intro to our new thread over the next couple of days... lol.

I think a little bit about our history will be appropriate... not too much .. just a brief overview....:p
 
Good evening ladies !!!

TGIF !!! I know how much I always enjoyed Friday afternoons :D

Deanna - have fun at your 5K/1 mile event tomorrow.

Stacy - have a great visit with your family this weekend.

FnV - hope you don't have too much homework this weekend !!!

I had a nice quiet day puttering around the house and playing with my 2 beautiful cats. I wasn't real great with the food today however. I didn't feel like cooking, so I ended up snacking and that's never a good thing....

Have a wonderful evening. See you for coffee in the morning.

Remember...... Progress, not perfection........:D
 
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