Getting Our Licks In!

Good morning all! The long travel-every-week period is over, for now at any rate. At least it better be :eek: I'm ready to be home for awhile, and perhaps even to enjoy a long weekend with not so much work, if I can get caught up in the next day or two :D I returned a little after midnight, from another three hour time shift.

My body is telling me, firmly, to stop abusing it and let it rest. I can tell that if I don't pay attention, there will be consequences ... So --- I did, mostly. I decided not to do my usual early morning workout so as to get an extra hour of sleep in, didn't work as late after the day's meetings, and had my daily call with my husband much earlier, which let me get seven hours of sleep each night (pretty good with the three hour time change from west to east); I switched up things and did only light workouts rather than anything intense after monday (Monday I did a cut back version of STS Meso 3 back/chest, reducing the number of sets, so even that was relatively light). Tuesday was walking in the airport and some mobility exercises from Magnificent Mobility (Cressey/Robertson's dvd), Wednesday I did one of the newer mp3 TRX workouts that emphasizes shoulder health, hip mobility and core, and yesterday stuck with just walking. Lots of foam rolling to stretch out the sore points. Eating: I decided against worrying about balancing calories and just ate what felt right from good choices. I skipped the sugars except for one very yummy muffin, had lots of fruit, veggies, and fish. Consequently I am not feeling quite so tired today, but I can see it is going to work to get some stamina back.

So, here's my plan for getting that stamina back. I am guessing it will take two to three weeks. I do very well on heavy weights fewer reps, so I'll continue STS Meso 3 and possibly modify just slightly so as to have fewer sets, and plan it over a slightly longer period (maybe three weight workouts in eight days ). Sleeping and eating focused on rebuilding, and repair. Healthy things, no alarm clock for a bit. To deal with the building tension that's crept up with ten weeks of travel, I'm going to add in some recreation with the horses and dogs, put back my TRX flexibility/back and mobility-oriented workouts, and do some gardening. That implies I need to take some of that vacation that is piling up. Continue the regular foam rolling. Cardio will be mainly intermediate, or HIIT, and not so many days of it. More hikes and general activity, less plyo :) There is only one trip planned over the next three weeks, and it is a short one in my own time zone, so that will help. How does that sound? What am I missing?

I have not caught up on personals and am looking forward to doing that :D
 
Last edited:
Good morning everyone. So nice to have our Shadowpup back with us. I'm in between phone calls with work, so just doing a quick check-in. Later today, I'll be doing a couple of the stretches from stretch max and a modified shoulders workout from S&H Legs and Shoulders. My legs will get covered with B&G on Sunday.

BBL
~michelle
 
We started summer hours at the office so i left at 2pm today.:D It's so nice beating the traffic! Yesterday i did my basic yoga practice. It went well and i felt great afterwards.

Shadowpup: Welcome back. Your plan sounds very thorough...and busy! Good idea to rest and listen to your body so you don't burn out.

Michelle: I have StretchMax but i still like to get in a full yoga practice. I like using StretchMax after other Cathe workouts for a more thorough stretch or doing all three routines when i'm not up to a full yoga session.
Enjoy the weekend on the boat.

Renee: You sound so happy and upbeat! I love that! Have a great time catching up with your friends.

Shoegal: sounds like you have your hands full with Gracie these days. I guess you just gotta try and really tire her out but from what you say she seems to have endless energy.

Have a great day everyone!
 
Day 1 of a 3 day weekend. Hallelujah!

Yesterday was YardMax and CatboxMax when I got home from school. No abs or stretch. This morning I did SJP step only and C & W cardio only. Thats nearly an hour of good cardio. Felt good. Gonna vacumm and get ready for my friends, who will be here after 12. I can't wait! I am doing a combination of two rotations. This week is week 1 of "Get ready for summer 2010". Oh, I'm ready, but it looks like a fun, intense rotation, so I will alternate that with Janie's "Intensity/STS" rotation. Tomorrow is Muscle Max, and I'll throw in the Heavy Bag bonus for good measure...my "warm-up!" LOL

I hope everybody is doing great!
~Renee
 
Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone!

This morning I wasn't feeling terribly motivated, but I did the KickMax cardio premix and felt much better afterwards. I can already feel my glutes kicking in.

Nice day here in the mid-Atlantic. Did the daily inside boat cleaning and then a little outside boat cleaning. Then after taking a shower, I lounged on the bow of the boat with my DH and enjoyed a little sun and the breeze. The marina is full, but not crazy which is nice. Looking like tomorrow and Monday are going to be much warmer which is okay--it is the unofficial start of summer after all.

Sister: enjoy your weekend with Lisa K and Eric.

Elle-P: tell us more about summer hours. Is this something that is just specific to where you work or a more common practice in Canada? Sounds interesting.

Hi to Shoegal, Laura, Shadowpup, and Janie.
~michelle
 
Hi all,

Sounds like we are by and large getting Memorial Day weekend off to an enjoyable start! Our weather is still on and off rainy/cold here, but it honestly doesn't matter, I'm so glad to be back :D I have been doing fun tasks that I'd been putting off for weeks - our new garden shed/potting room (nicer than it sounds, it has glass walls and overlooks the horse pasture) is almost done, so we have been moving my potting materials, dozens of pots, all kinds of garden supplies, up into it. Really is looking good in there. Also, got a good start on paper clutter that has been building up ... all kinds of nice mundane household activities.

The dogs loved their walk, but I had to start by playing with the horses. They are very excited to have something to do besides wander around their pasture (now that they've been on grass for awhile, that's become boring), but it was too slick to ride. On the other hand, it wasn't too slick to play a kind of running-herd game. I ran full blast from the top pasture down to the barn (on the outside of the fence), and the whole crew blasted around after me. It must have been very funny looking - a woman in jeans and a jacket, with two border collies and a labrador, and a calico cat too, running pell mell through a garden, then down a gravel road to the barn. Three horses pounding after her as best they could, inside their own pastures, kicking and bucking and generally speaking acting like crazed children on four legs - these interlock so that they are covering much more ground than me. Everyone was very happy and snorty and barky (and panting) by the time we stopped. I can't do this too often as it is kind of hard to keep the dogs from chasing the horses, but once in awhile is okay.

This all reminded me of Gracie :) Shoegal, it is a shame you don't have a hill or something around your house. We used to wear out my German Shepherd when she was a pup by kicking a slightly deflated soccer ball down hill and making her wait til it was at the bottom before letting her chase it. That kind of worked on the Border collies too, though they tend to ignore tiredness if there is work to be done so it doesn't matter if you exhaust them - they just keep on going.

Yesterday's workout was STS Meso 3 shoulders biceps triceps. I cut it back somewhat, as my shoulders really hate doing that many reps of anything, weighted or not. What was nice is that I was able to use the predicted weights again. That means that I really *did* manage to maintain strength during that long period of travel! Today, I decided on Ellen Barrett's Barefoot Cardio. It is kind of a moving, stretching, Pilates, barefoot workout. It is a nice one after travel because it includes quite a few moves to stretch and relax the back.

Hi to all, hope you continue to have a wonderful long weekend ...
 
Had family over Saturday and will go to another daughters house for dinner tonight. No exercise yet. Will do a long one tomorrow.

Deborah, You are doing really good slowing down and taking it easy. Yet I still see you are very busy. I don't know how you did it when you were as busy as 4 people. Good for you. Gotta love the foam rolling. It's like a deep massage, "Hurts so good".

I eat like that too, healthy, and not worry about it as long as I do my exercise and go out walking and cardio, what can be better than that? I use to also worry about calories and wrote them down plus tracking calories burned. It just got to be so obsessive to me. So, now I do what you do, and just do what is necessary to be healthy and wise. So far no weight gain and no worry and it's good.

After working so hard as you do, your stamina will be back very shortly. I love the way you realize that your body needs a break/pampering and adjusting to what needs to be done. Good for you! You will live to be at least a centenarian the way you are going now. Very proud of you.

Michelle, Don't you just love the way a stretch makes your body feel? KickMax cardio is a great workout, good for you. How is the weather for boating these days. I think that is so cool at your marina. Continue to have fun with that boat and your hubby.

Elle, Got to love the yoga. I sure do. Good job.

Renee, Where do you find the energy for all that? You go girl! Most of all, have fun doing it!:D

Deborah, The garden shed sounds so lovely. Would love to see a picture of that.

The game with the horses and dogs and cat, I can imagine that in my minds eye, and it sounds like so much fun for all of you. Whew!

Great job on Meso 3. Barefoot cardio, hmmmm, too bad I have flat feet. Sounds like a great workout.

Have a great day everyone,

Janie
 
Another lovely day at the marina. Very warm here today: felt like it got up to about 90 degrees. Thank goodness we had a little breeze blowing which made being outside nice. Did a little housekeeping on the bridge this morning and then did my regular Sunday exercise: buts and gutts. Seeing people in bathing suits makes me determined to stay in shape. Sadly, we really are an overweight and out-of-shape society. I really hate it when I see young people who are overweight. Provides me with inspiration to work harder and do more push-aways when I'm eating. I remembered my ankle weights for the floor work segment--and boy having those puppies on really kicks up the intensity. I was so happy to take them off when that part of the workout was over.

Shadowpup: I can just see you running up and down the lane with all your animals running after you. What a sight that must have been.

Janie: enjoy your time with your family. Hope they are all doing well.

Hi to Elle-p, Shoegal, and sister.
~michelle
 
Sounds like everyone is having a great weekend.

Friday i did 40 minutes on the treadmill and StretchMax routine # 3

Saturday i did all the Add on's from Basic Step/Body Fusion (UB, LB, Abs) and i'm happy to put this DVD on the shelf for now and move on to my new rotation.:)

Today i did yoga and i'm feeling really good now.

Shadowpup: Your new potting room sounds great and it sounds like you are enjoying being back home.

Michelle: Nothing like seeing people in swimwear to motivate you! Summer hours is something that some (not all) companies do for their employees. Essentially you work a little extra Mon-Thurs and then get to leave early on Fridays and get to enjoy the afternoons off during the summer starting from Victoria day weekend to labour day. So, i've arranged my schedule so that i'll be able to leave by noon on Fridays.

Renee: Have a great time catching up with your peeps!

Janie: Seems like you have found a good balance for a healthy lifestyle. I agree with you that it's so easy to get caught up and obsess about it all (exercise, food, the scale) and there's no fun in that!

Hi to Shoegal & Laura and enjoy your holiday everyone.
 
Joey and I will be doing TBS, and afterwords I will be doing a very intense cardio. I'll let you know later.

Michelle, It sounds really nice on your boat. And I envy your weather.;) Have to love those B&G. Ankle weights for the floor work, O my. You are good!:D

I agree, it is sad to see so many many people out of shape. :(

Elle, I love the treadmill, it takes the thinking out of the routines. Just get on and walk/jog/run. You did all the add ons from Basic STep/BF? Wow. I'm impressed. Hmmmmm, should I do that today too?

Have a great Monday everyone,

Janie
 
Happy Memorial Day Everyone! Sorry to be MIA, just super duper and busy, missed a few days of workouts, which I figure is ok, due to this low energy cycle I am going through. I did squeeze my leg workout in on Friday morning.

The girls had their Ballet rehersal Friday night, and their recital went well on Saturday, then we spent a few hours at the Boulder Creek festival..then several parties over the weekend, kicking back today getting stuff done around the house before heading out to one last BBQ. Sure looking forward to being on more of a routine again.

I read most of the post that I had missed,,,I will catch the rest later, I have two giant loads of laundry to tackle before trying to squeeze in back and bi's before th BBQ and as much as I would like to do personals I really NEED to get my workout in so I am not one more day behind!!!:D:D:D:D
 
A nice laid back day. Did travel fit this morning. I'm thinking I might do circuit workouts this week. Maybe one of Cathe's high step dvds. I'm feeling the need for a super duper cardio workout first though. I've kind of got an inch to do CardioFusion (uh-oh) but the trouble is finding a day where I have enough time to do the who thing. Not sure what will be on the docket tomorrow.

We are having incredible summer weather here in the mid-Atlantic and it looks like we are going to be in the "very warm to hot" category all week. At least we had a good stiff wind blowing out of the southwest today. Went to the pool for the first time this season. I believe the plan is dinner at Stoney's this evening. I'm thinking some kind of fish for dinner, but we'll see what they have left after a long weekend.

Hope everyone has enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend.
~michelle
 
Hello All -

Had a lovely weekend - starting Friday afternoon. I went on a long shopping trip with my mother and 2 sisters. This is our annual trip we take in honor of Mother's Day. Usually give Mom a little excursion - somewhere relatively close - some activities planned - this year it was more low key and we basically just shopped - not too far from home - not that close though - and we all stay together in a hotel. Mom's birthday is in May as well so it was always so difficult to give her gifts on Mother's Day and then gifts again for birthday. So we always just do this trip. Saw Sex & the City 2 as well - ate out - played games and goofed off - it was nice.

We returned home Monday afternoon - and the entire family came over and we celebrated Mom's birthday. So very busy - no exercise - but if shopping counts then I'm good.

DH bought and installed a wireless fence system while I was away and Gracie is a changed pup. Learned the fence in a flash and has the run of the grounds - discovered that she loves to sit in the flower garden crushing the plants and also loves to roll around in mud puddles. :rolleyes: She comes when called and the pressure is way off. You gotta love her - she is so precious - I want her for myself. When I came home she followed me around all over the house.
We also have had tons and tons of inquiries on Gracie - she is on PetFinder and the rescue site. Everybody wants her - it is hard to sort through all of that and choose the proper family for her new forever home but we'll get it done.

Sounds as if everyone had a fabulous weekend. Have so much to sort through to get back in the groove. Hope you all have a great day & Happy June!!
 
Shoegal: Gracie sounds like such a joy. All that energy. She clearly is going to need a home where she can run and play freely but safely and receive lots of love. I don't envy you guys the job of trying to find her a new family, but being foster parents seems to be a natural for you and your DH. You are truly blessed with a special quality.

My pup is enjoying a nice snooze in the air-conditioning. We stayed over at the boat through today. Will go back home sometime this afternoon. I'm thinking if I exercise today it will be after we head home. Maybe Body Fusion. It is very quiet here at the marina which is nice. It is also incredibly windy. It feels like a thunderstorm could blow up at any time which was the way it was yesterday. We never got a storm, though.

DH and I had a nice quiet dinner last night at Stoney's: DH had steamed shrimp and I had crab balls and 4 fried shrimp. Woke up in the middle of the night with a slight touch of indigestion from the fried shrimp. My body just won't tolerate fried food very much. I don't know if it's an age thing or just that we don't eat deep fried food, in particular, except on a rare occasion.

Ah, little Rippy just popped his head up and is smiling and Joe and me. I often wonder what he is thinking. We've had two really nice walks this morning which as everyone here knows is one of my favorite activities. I think Ripken likes the walkabouts as well. Even if we don't go very far, the exercise is good for him and it is good for me to stretch my legs.

We've had enough sun over the past few days, so we are staying low key, inside. I might work on my Cathe exercise spreadsheets. One of these days, I will get all the worksheets just the way I want them.

Hope everyone is having a lovely Tuesday.
~michelle
 
quite moment before the girls get home to check in before the whole dinner, homework, violin practice, bedtime routine...

I did my Pilates class this morning, followed by my last round of Meso 2 Chest, Shoulders, & Triceps!:D:D I don't know why but I am really struggling with my pushups, especially the tricep pushups. It was causing a sharp pain in the front R shoulder right where the collar bone and shoulder comes together.:(

Michelle: sounds like you are in full swing of summer!! Back on the boat and doing the marina scene. Fried food can upset my stomach as well! Ripken sounds so cute, I have been noticing all these beautiful Golden's in Boulder and they make me think of him!

Shoegal: sounds like you and I had a similar weekend of more partying than working out! Got back in the saddle today though! Sometimes it is so hard after a break from it even if it is just a few days to get back to it!!
 
Hi Ladies,
Monday i started my new rotation and did LoMax. I was debating between a premix or the whole thing since i haven't done this in a while. I decided to try the whole thing and see how far i could get. I managed to do it all taking a few breaks during blasts 5,6, & 7.

Yesterday i did Muscle Endurance...my own wimpy version using light weights. :p

Shoegal: Gracie sounds adorable. I hope she finds the perfect new home where she will be very happy. It sounds like you had a great girls weekend as well.

Laura: You always sound so busy. I don't know how you fit it all in! I hope the pain in your shoulder isn't anything serious. Go easy on it and get it checked out if it persists.

Michelle: Sounds like you had a nice relaxing long weekend. I'm not sure what your spreadsheets are all about but i'm really liking having all of my workouts scheduled into my phone and organized ahead of time. It has helped keep me on track since i started working out again.

Hi Renee & Janie.

Have a great day.
 
Yesterday did HiiT Double Wave Pyramid. I thought this was a perfect workout to do - still hard - challenging but SHORT. I just needed to do it - that's all I was aiming for - so I was very happy with my performance - I performed better on the 2nd wave than I did on the first!! Drenched afterwards.

So - the girls have discovered that along with crushing the flowers in the garden - they also love to dig up the bulbs I have planted there :(:confused::mad: - not a good year for my garden. DH has been off all week long on his own self imposed vacation. Well, who knows if it is a vacation but he is doing projects around the house all day. So far - he has installed the new storm door we bought - I like it. Interesting to look out the front door now - throws me and the girls for a loop - they bang into it everytime I open the door to let them out. He is also putting in a railing around the deck. I like that too - although it is not finished. (Secretly hoping he'll finish that ALL THE WAY - he has a way of getting mostly done and then losing interest and walking away! :( - so then it never gets done.) Well - since he works all day - when I get home he's finished and wants to goof off - causing me to goof off with him - I planned to work in the garden but he was keeping me from it. Oh well - he did make me dinner though.

Michelle - I haven't been out on the boat since we've put it in the water!! I wonder if you could live on the boat all week if necessary? Can't do that on the sailboat - well, I guess you could but it wouldn't be that comfortable - more like camping. Ripken is a hoot - you have to adore his personality - he sounds like a special puppy. Unfortunately, I seem to handle fried food just fine - had some fries over the weekend - was sorry I ate them but they didn't make me sick.

Elle - I would love to leave by noon on Friday - that sounds fabulous - what do you do with the rest of your day? I always modify if I don't think I'm going to make it through a workout -and I think - well next time - I'll do better next time. The point is - you're doing it - and programming your workouts in your phone sounds like it is really working for you. You have to stick with what works.

Laura - There wasn't a workout room in the hotel we stayed in - I suppose I did have some downtime where I could have fit in something - but didn't plan on it - so inevitably I didn't do anything. Shadowpup is a little better at fitting in her workouts while traveling than I am!!! - well, obviously. But I'm right back on the wagon so to speak.

Shadowpup - glad you are home - enjoy yourself - nothing better than the feeling of coming home.

Hello to everyone - hope you guys have a great day.
 
After a wonderful 3 day weekend, school is back in full swing, but winding down. Which is always a frenzy. 2 days left for this week and only 3 half days with kids next week. Ah, life is sooooo goood!!!!

Yesterday, while not hectic, was busy. After school, I had to get my haircut, grocery shopping, and then finally home. Had the intense pleasure of STS 20...Leg tri-sets. OY! That was killer! Then I was on the phone with a friend, and grilling chicken and chops for the rest of the week. Finally got to have a restful moment after 8 o'clock. Drives me nuts when my days don't seem to end.

This morning I got out a new toy for the cats. It is for Tiki's first year, I got him last year on June 2nd! My little black "cat-dog". Any how all 4 cats had a good time chasing the butterfly thingy this morning. I can't wait to play with them this evening.

This afternoon I get the pleasure of doing LowMax! I love that dvd and can't wait to do it. Its been about a month. Love the slam-its!

Hope all is doing A-OK this second day of June.

ttfn

~Renee
 
TBS today with Joey. I will get in a cardio and yoga today as well.

Michelle, The weekends at the marina must be very busy compared to the weekday. When will you all go back for more boating?

Your indigestion could be because you don't eat it very often. Anyway, that's what happens to me sometimes too.

Sounds like you enjoyed the walk with Ripken. Who wouldn't? ;)

Elle, Congratulations for completing LM! You are getting stronger.:D Light weight or not ME is a hard workout. Good job.

Shoegal, Great job on DWP. That one is very hard to do. Love it when men work around the house and get things done.

Renee, Life with kids is grand, that's for sure. Enjoy I know what you mean when the days of working hard ends so late. Whew! But, you got a lot done.;) Enjoy LM, I like that one too.

Laura, As always you do such a good job on your workouts and Pilates class. I don't know why you are experiencing pain with push ups. Over training comes to mind, but I doubt that is it. Do take it easy until the pain is gone.

Have a great day ladies,

Janie
 
I am going to be doing Cathe's June rotation. I'll have to do different workouts when we are on the boat, but when we are at home, I'll be sticking to the rotation, which is a combination of Cathe's pre-STS workouts. This morning was Muscle Endurance. That is a tough workout. I keyed on the word "endurance" which usually means the reps are pretty fast which means lower weight amounts. I went with the weight amounts that Cathe used on the dvd and did well. My only issue was with the barbell bicep curls. Had to slow the reps down. Just LOVE all those leg presses. Tomorrow is Rhythmic Step.

Elle-P: Never feel bad about doing lower weight amounts. Safety is always first and you don't want to push too much and risk injury. If you used lower weights on ME and kept up with Cathe then you did great as far as I'm concerned. I found that using the medicine ball on the core work put a strain on my back so I just put that puppy to the side and proceeded without it. Still killer core/ab work there at the end. Pushing through those workouts with little breaks is the way to do it. Before you know it, you'll be getting through low max with no breaks at all.

Shoegal: yes, we could live on the boat--all the time quite frankly. Not sure I'd want to. But during the summer, we easily can go 10-14 days. Most folks we know who live aboard are on powerboats, usually trawlers, although we get a good number of transients at the marina who are on sailboats and living aboard. Sounds like your garden has gone to the dogs this summer (pun intended).

Janie: sounds like you are kicking up your exercise again. That's great!

Laura: are you guys thinking of getting another pup anytime soon? I remember that the breeder wanted to give you all another pup. Just wondering if one might be on your not too distant horizon?

Sister: Last day of school with kids is only one week away. How are you liking the new rotation so far? Too soon to tell?

Hi to Shadowpup. BTW, I've been diligently recording my workouts on the President's Challenge.
~michelle
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top