Bikini Body Check-in Weekend Edition

B

brenda21

Cathlete
Good morning everyone-

The baby's schedule has changed and she now likes to get up at 5:45 and stay awake until everyone else in the house wakes up so I made some coffee, looked through the paper and figured I'd check in while its quiet.

I only had time for BootCamp yesterday (glad you've tried it Sabine- I knew you'd like it) so today I think I'll do a cardio (StepBlast maybe?) and Power Hour and take tomorrow off. My eating has been fine during the day and then Thurs nite my DH brought home lasagna and fettucini alfredo so that day was shot. Then last night I had most of the frozen cheese pizza I cooked for my kids (it wasn't good but I ate it anyway) so my oatmeal is cooking right now and I'll start over today.

I think you all were right about the sudden scale increase- I got back on w/my eyes closed the other day and it was back down 4 lbs which seems to make more sense for muscle gain (2-3 lbs up?) I need to continue to drink more water since I realize that makes such a huge difference with how my body feels. Somedays it seems so hard to even look at that big glass of water w/out gagging.

Question- I don't seem to get anything out of KPC (or any of the kickboxing from other workouts) except the sequential kicks for cardio. I'm kicking high and I think my form is ok- what's wrong? Does anyone else feel this way? I'm going to get the weighted gloves and see how this is for my arms but as far as legs/glutes, nada.

Also, when using the stability ball and doing side crunches for obliques I seem to be doing that incorrectly because I don't really feel it. I'm squeezing and trying to make the "c" but it doesn't seem like enough tension or lift off the ball. ?

CinDee, let me think about it and I'll post what I'm going to do this week and see if you want to join me. I'm going to really concentrate on abs in the next few weeks since I really would like to wear a bikini without having to suck it in...

Have a good Saturday everyone-

Brenda
 
CinDee (and anyone else interested), here's the M&F Hers rotation for this week - I'll probably increase the cardio for myself just because I like it:


WEEK 2

RESISTANCE TRAINING FOCUS: HEAVY

Work on the bodyparts indicated for each day. Choose three exercises for each major muscle group being worked and do four sets of 8--10 reps. Lift heavy enough to reach muscle failure by the last couple of reps. Always use the first set of an exercise as a warm-up. This week you'll work each bodypart once in a split routine. Rest between sets will vary, depending on the bodypart being trained, but you'll probably need anywhere from 1--2 minutes to allow some muscle recovery.

CARDIO: This week, cardio sessions will remain at four; however, the emphasis is on higher-intensity training -- keeping your heart rate up for a relatively short amount of time. Three workouts will be 25--30 minutes long at 80%--85% of your max heart rate, with one long, lower-intensity day thrown in for variety.

Week 2

Sunday REST

Monday back biceps

Cardio 25 minutes@ 85%

Tuesday quads, abs flexibility training

Wednesday

Chest, triceps

Thursday

Cardio 30 minutes@80% flexibility training

Friday hamstrings, delts cardio 30 minutes intervals 1:1

Saturday cardio 45 minutes @ 70%
 
Happy Saturday everyone,

Well, I finished up the tank top arms/beach butt rotation this morning with IMAX 2. Struggled a bit in intervals 8 & 9 as my nose was running like crazy and I was having problems breathing (which is already a challenge with this workout). Overall, had a pretty good workout.

I'm pleased with the results I got from my rotation. Upper body saw some major improvements, much more muscle definition. The lower body didn't get results that were as visually impressive and my strength really increased! Doing the abs 3X/week was also really good and my stomach is definitely flatter and is much more solid. I will do this rotation again and will make a couple of modifications like no Cardio and Weights at the end of week 3 (4 upper body workouts in a week is TOO much) and maybe not put IMAX 2 right after Boot Camp in week 4.

I think I will probably take next week easier than I have been and do some of my Firm tapes mixed with hi/lo and step for cardio. The rotation Brenda posted looks pretty good. I'm considering that one, will see what Cathe posts, or may do 4 weeks of a 'series' rotation (first week, all the CTX series, second week, all Body Blast series, third week, all the Intensity series, fourth week, Slow and Heavy series with cardio thrown in). I'll wait and see how I'm feeling. Oh, and I want to add at least 2 30 minute flexibility workouts, either as add ons or stand alone workouts (like on a rest day) to work on elongating and stretching my muscles.

Brenda-I don't get that much out of kickboxing either. Maybe I'm not pushing hard enough, maybe my form is so bad that I can't feel it. I'm not sure why. I'm not a person who loves kickboxing and wants to do it all the time. I do it to shake things up and to feel that sense of power from thinking I can kick butt. So other than comiserating I don't have any advice. As far as stability ball oblique crunxhes, I think the ball allows for a fuller range of motion while making the exercise more comfortable, so maybe that's why it doesn't feel so strenuous. When doing that move, I try to work on going diagonally, both to the side and up, rather than just trying to go to the side as much as possible. See if that changes
the feel of the exercise.

I, too, sometimes dread all the water required every day. First, I swear that the more water I drink the thristier I feel. I also don't like going to the restroom so much in the course of a day! But when I don't drink enough I REALLY notice it in a bad way so I drink up, although sometimes unwillingly.

Hellos to everyone!

P.S. Do we want to change thename of the check in for April?
 
Hey everyone, hope you're all doing fine this weekend. The house is quiet and I'm alone. It's the perfect time to work out, so I'll make this quick.

Today is leg day. I'm thinking of doing CTX Power Circuits without the step and doing modifications for the weighted leg work that Cathe does. Then some floor work.

Brenda, I don't have a good answer for your kickboxing question. It has been working pretty well for me. When I do the kicks, I do the move from the heel and keep my knee a bit bent to protect it. At least, this small bend in the knee joint was Elizabeth's suggestion. I think this is why kickboxing doesn't bother my knees. I don't do those jumps, but widen my range of movement in my arms instead. I do feel it really well in my glutes and abductors afterwards. Elizabeth teaches martial arts. She may have more suggestions for you.

Also, I've skipped rice and pasta for almost two weeks now. I eat only limited amounts of whole wheat bread and oatmeal in the morning and afternoon. Evenings, I'm back to my lean meat and vegetables, which is great because I can eat all the vegetables I feel like eating and not feel deprived. My stomach is flat and I can see my abs -- at least the 4-pack. And I haven't done much cardio at all with these bum knees. Most evenings I do yoga either for my back or legs, and this is keeping me from putting unnecessary things in my mouth at night while relaxing my body before going to bed.:) I hope I can keep this up while on vacation. It's been tough getting to this point, and I don't want to fall off hard again. The thing is, and I've said this before... this DOES get old.

I'll try to check in again later. I'd love to see what you guys have in store for April. I may not be able to join you but I'll check in just the same, as often as I can from halfway around the planet.:)

Pinky
 
Hi Guys,

Well I'm feeling soooo much better and I'm ready for a new rotation On Monday .
Not sure but I may end this month with the Timesavers.

The sun is out and it 81° at the moment. Gonna go for a long walk in my neighborhood and maybe get some landscaping ideas.
 
81 degrees! I'm happy when it reaches 60 (and that won't happen today, sadly!). Ahhhh, the northwest.

Brenda, I've just finished up week 2 of the M&F Hers rotation since I had done circuits for a couple of months. I have really noticed a difference by going MUCH heavier, so I'm going to repeat week 2 with the PS series this week before moving on to the endurance week. Today will be CTX UB plus cardio, and tomorrow will be PS legs. The scale numbers have also gone down a bit and I feel better. Water is hard for me, too, so I supplement with herbal tea. As for kickboxing, it wipes me out and I love it. It seems to me if you don't like all or part of it, just do what you like! Pinky, I agree this can get old, and trudging through fitness just doesn't seem right.

Well, gotta go. If someone changes the name for April, can you put an "aka bikini body" so I can find you?! I probably won't be able to check for a couple of days and I'd hate to miss out!

CinDee
 
Hello everyone!

Been busy this week and yesterday came down with some tummy troubles and felt a bit feverish so I'm taking a few days off. Hope you're all enjoying your weekend- it's gorgeous here, sunny and warm. DH and I are going to take a ride in the country in my convertible- it's a great time to unwind and enjoy each other and the weather.

Brenda- about the kickboxing. Sounds like you're doing a pretty good job, maybe a little tweaking here and there. Your kicks or punches should start *pretty loose* and tighten alot at the *point of impact*. For example, in the hook, your arms are in the upright, guard position, the fist is tight, turn your torso slightly in the direction of your hooking arm, turn your torso back the opposite way, your arm moves with the torso twist (your arm at this point is slightly tensed) and just before you get to the point of impact(the midpoint as directed by Cathe- centerline down your face), your arm tightens even more. So there is increasing tension in the arm from start to finish. For the kicks, I would lower the kick down a bit (about torso to chest level) and focus on the tension as described above. HTH and pm me or post here if you have any other questions.:) BTW, your rotation looks great and congrats on your results.

Sabine- congrats on your results, too! Bet you look and feel mah-velous!:) Thanks for your suggestion about doing the oblique work on the ball- I'm going to put that more diagonal move in. About the water- it was hard for me at first, too drinking all of that water, but now I drink at least a gallon a day if not more (I sweat profusely) BTW, I don't know if you got my pm (I'm not too computer-savvy) about your thread. I wanted you to know that from my interactions with you on this board and reading your other posts that I find you to be kind, considerate, compassionate, understanding and insightful. Your comments to your friend was your own inner dialog and though she got upset it served to help you become more aware of your own self-perceptions and how it can affect those close to you. It was wonderful you two were able to sit down, talk and gain more understanding about each other.

Pinky- have a wonderful and safe trip! We're going to miss you around here and will be happy to see you back soon! Are you going to have lumpia and pancit (my next door neighbor is Phillipina and occasionally sends one of her kids over with some of these goodies)?:) Andrew is going to have a blast and I know you're going to love showing him around Cebu. The trip to the far east is pretty long- we went to Korea with about two hundred other black belt instructors- but it sounds like you've got a handle on how to keep Andrew occupied and happy. Bring plenty of goodies for him, too!...:9 Glad to hear your knees are doing better. Take care!

Lisa- congrats to Michael for a job well done on his project. It's also good to see that you're getting back into your w/o routine- I know you've missed it.

Well, sorry for the long post...:) Take care all and hellos to Shywolf, Judy, Joy, Cid (hello and welcome), Tracy and Kim- sorry if I missed anyone.

Elizabeth
 
Good Morning everyone,

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday.

I've decided that on my official rest days I will try to do a 30 minute stretching or yoga workout to help with my flexibility. This morning I did Tamilee Webb's Total Body Stretch for Beginners. It felt wonderful. I can't believe I've waited this long to incorporate stretching into my workout routines.

Elizabeth- yes, I got your email and it was wonderful. Thank you for your kind words and for your great reply in the thread itself. Sorry to hear that your stomach is giving you issues and so impressed that you are listening to the grumblings and taking it easy!

Pinky- how are preparations for the trip going? Ready to board the plan and head to the beach? I'm soooo jealous!

Brenda- did you wind up doing the double workout yesterday? Yowza if you did! That sounded tough!

Hellos to everyone else I may have missed. See everyone on Monday morning!
 
Hi everybody, I did CTX-UB split this morning. I must be tired because I couldn't match my usual weights. So I took everything down a notch or two, paused the DVD a lot to stretch and drink water. I'm traveling tomorrow. I want to be strong but not too wiped out that I can't drag my baggage to the airline counter.

Sabine, I just finished packing all the stuff we need to bring -- lots of sunblock, my son's water shoes, Off lotion for those horrible mosquitoes, lots of tank tops and shorts for us both. I have to remember to slip a journal in my overnight bag for those insomnia-ridden nights when I'm forced to face myself in the dark, in the very spaces I could not wait to escape from in my teens. I know there will be some of those. I have children's Benadryl and Sudafed in my overnight bag in case my son's ears tighten during the trip. Benadryl would also help him sleep. Of course, I'm bringing my Cathe DVD's with me. Not all of them, but those I use most. I'm also bringing my son's favorite DVD's with me -- the Wiggles, Jimmy Neutron, Lion King -- in the hopes that the airline (Cathay Pacific) has portable DVD's to rent out during the flight.

Elizabeth, I'm tickled pink that you mentioned pancit and lumpia. Pancit is just a Filipino version of lo mein, and lumpia, of egg rolls. Yes, I will surely have some of that when I get back, just not too much.:) My mom actually asked me what I wanted to eat as soon as I arrived. She suggested lechon. I don't know if your neighbor introduced you to that, but if not, that's roast pig. I told my mom I didn't want to fill up with lard so soon.:7

I hope to be able to check in occasionally next month. I don't think I can follow the thread's main rotation but I'd still like to see what you guys are up to.

Pinky
 
Gosh, Pinky- now you did it, I'm drooling all over myself here.:9 I LOVE lechon- I grew up with alot of Cubans and Puerto Ricans in my teens and some of my most memorable meals were lechon, arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), frijoles negros( black beans) and platanos (fried plantains)- yummm! Sorry folks, got carried away and I just *remembered* this is a fitness board...:) Have a terrific time with your son and family- look forward to hearing about your trip!

Hope everyone else had a great weekend- see you next week.

Elizabeth
 
Hey everyone,

Just a quick check-in; I haven't even got time to read everyone's posts! I did Push Pull yesterday, and went heavier on just about everything (a few exercises I was able to do last week with Cathe's weight, and for those I didn't increase). I also did a little Lotte Berk for my abs and rear. Today, I just finished Rhythmic Step all the way through. I had forgotten how much more complex combos 2 & 3 were than the warmup and #1, but I did pretty well, and made it all the way through. Yea! I think I'm coming back pretty quickly on the cardio. I'm now going to do some Pilates.

Hey, that David Kirsch tape I did the other day was amazing in terms of making my inner thighs and hamstrings sore. They were still sore yesterday, and I did the workout on Thursday.

Pinky, have a great trip, we'll miss you! Elizabeth, good to hear from you again! Everyone else, hello!

Talk to you later!
 
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