Getting Our Licks In!

Hello everybody!

I am not liking the Fall...icky weather makes my knee hurt. Life after ACL reconstruction is gonna stink in the Fall and Winter! Well, it hasn't been a walk in the park in the summer I can assure you. Its been just over 4 months. Still far from 100% and I wonder if I will ever be that again. I do Basic step, Low Impact step, Step Heat, the first portion of Rhythmic Step, first portion of BodyMax 2 and have done just the intervals of Low Max, but there are some things that my knee just doesn't like. I always use my hinged knee brace and I want to do all the other stuff I used too. It gets frustrating and the weight gain has ended but its not coming off. I just do what I can, but I always do something, even if it is riding my recumbant bike.

Liz, I am Michelle's sister. I used to do karate, until I hurt my ACL in a tournament. I loved to spar and what you do sounds really fun. But I don't think at this point in my life (even if I was completely healthy) it would be something I would consider doing. I admire you though and live through your stories. What FUN!!

Janie, you've got a lot going on. Its good to be busy. And like sister, I like to be busy. My job is mostly fun but there are days when it isn't. Can't imagine sister "loving" her job, its icky in my opinion. But she can't imagine teaching little kids. Different strokes for different folks. We both love what we do, its wonderful to find your niche. A lot of people hate their job so I consider myself very lucky.

Laura, pilates just isn't my thing. I had a rehab session with a pilates specialist. She taught me a few "new" exercises to help my knee, but I'd rather be doing MMA kickboxing, or something along those lines! Just wish I could, so I do those silly exercises...grudgingly I guess they do help. But I don't like them! :D

OK, thats all for now, which, geesh, is a lot since I haven't done this in a while.

~Renee
 
Medium walk with Ripken this morning. It's warm and very humid here. Not Ripken's favorite walkabout weather. The after the walkabout, I did All Step. The last part of Cathe's September rotation is a doozy. I don't get another day off/stretch day until next Saturday. Time to double-lace my attitude and sneakers and tackle the challenge.

Liz: Wow--you spent a long time at the gym yesterday. Gosh--I'm jealous--to be able to spend that much time working out would be great. Not every day though. But once a week would be nice. I guess I kind of did that back in the summer during the Cathe Roadtrip.

Laura: Good to hear that you are back on the exercise train and chugging down the tracks. I got worn out just reading about all the stuff you did yesterday. You must sleep like a log at night (except during the full moon, right?)

Janie: your grandson's diapers sound strange. I wonder what kind of icky chemical the manufacturer has put in the diaper to make those slimy crystals appear, don't you? Sounds like he is a little guy who will need a nap during the day--maybe you can squeeze in exercise time with Joey then? Or maybe you will want a nap too!

~michelle
 
Another five hours...

What a day so far today!! Kids did not want to move this morning and naturally it was my turn to drive them and since they decided to move slow it cut things close. Anyway, I did arrive at the gym and we did an hour on cardio and speed drills, to get my agility going, than another hour on weights so I can add more punching power, we than moved on and did an hour on speed and heavy bag work and than focus mitts. After that 4 rounds of sparring.

After, I posted last night I took it easy and hubby and I went for a walk, and we'll probably do the same tonight provided it does not rain.

Renee: Pleasure to meet you! How did you hurt your ACL? I Hope you get better soon.

Michelle: Sounds like you got a good workout in today. When, I'm in training for a fight I can be in the gym from 4-6 hours five days a week training. About a week before the fight it goes up to 7 hours.

Liz
 
So I am easing back slowly, I know I will have to ramp it up soon enough, and I have been busy getting ready for the girls birthday which is this Saturday. But I did take a close to 4 mile walk while the girls rode their bikes. My biceps were seriously sore from my class last night which felt good!

How is everyone doing with their exercises?

Janey: enjoy that cutie- pootie while he is there diaper disagree and all! Did his parents leave any water diapers for you?
 
I'll have to catch up later. I have a sick grandson with a 102.6 temp. and throwing up.

Will post when I can.

Janie
 
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Didn't get to check in yesterday--just got busy. Ripken and I did short walks yesterday and again this morning. It's been pretty humid and rainy. We don't mind the rain, although the ground is like a big squishy wet sponge, but not crazy about the humidity. Yesterday, exercise was Cross Train Express Kickbox; today was Cross Train Express Power Circuits. Another day with legs, and Monday is yet another leg day. Oh boy! Cathe continues to keep the hits coming with this month's rotation.

Janie: Hope your little guy breaks that fever fast. Sounds like you have your hands full.

Liz: wow, that's alot of time in the gym. It's so cool that you get to dedicate the time to training.:cool: Now, I really am jealous.

Laura: another birthday for the twins? Where is the time going? Hope everyone has a great time at the party.

Well--it's Saturday, so that means college football. VaTech is playing Marshall today at 3:30. Go HOKIES!
Michelle
 
Our grandson was much better the next day. He left today and I felt a little lost without him. We did enjoy his visit very much. Now we are getting ready for my dad to visit us for 3 weeks. I sure hope everything will be happy for him during his stay. One day at a time. We've never spent that much time together since I was a little girl. And then we didn't know how to communicate with one another. It's a good time to catch up.

No exercise at all since our grandson, but starting Mon. will continue with our exercises.

Looks like you all are doing really well. You seem to have so much more energy than I do lately. Whew! Taking care of a baby is a lot of work. No time at all for anything else.

Have a good one ladies,

Janie
 
Last day with Cross Train Express: Step Intervals and Chest today. I think this is my favorite on the Cross Train dvds--love the step part. No break or rest day --- the rotation rolls right into the last week of workouts, featuring Slow and Heavy. And Cathe is staying true to form on this rotation--yesterday the legs got a little extra love in Power Circuits and tomorrow is Slow and Heavy Legs and Shoulders. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

Janie: taking care of a baby is lots of work. All of sudden, their schedule is your schedule. Glad to hear the little guy was feeling better. Now time for your dad to visit. I hope you have a great visit with him. Look at this as your chance to talk to him about the things you never got to talk to him about before. Enjoy the fishing.

Hello to everyone else: Laura, Sister, and LizBoxer. Thinking good thoughts for Shoegal, ElleP, and Shadowpup.
~michelle
 
Hi,

Sorry, for not being around but my youngest came down with a cold Friday, so we have been busy with that, and he is feeling better today.

Training is going good, but I got my dates confused on my fight I thought it was the 14th turns out its the 7th!! Anyway, that means I'll probably sleeping at the gym the week of the fight!! Training could have been better Friday my trainer was not happy with my sparring and, bag work, and I got to the gym late and he ripped me a new one!! I needed it!!

I did about 45min of just pure weight work today and my oldest could not believe how much I could lift! He said, “Wow mom, your strong!”

Sorry for the fast post I hope everyone is good.

Liz
 
Today I picked up my dad and got him settled in here. It's so good to have him around. He brought all kinds of tomatoes, zucchini and butter squash. Dad and I will be very the next several days baking bread, freezing tomatoes and cooking the butter squash for parts of our dinners. When and if tomorrow Escrow calls, we'll drop everything and go over there to sign the final papers. Then it will be ours. The plan is to get the things we found damaged, repaired before we go there to clean it and make it ours. So, between all that will be a very busy few weeks.

Michelle, I will look at this as a time to bond. It's going to be great. Great job on Step Intervals and chest. Sonds like the rotation is very strenuous. Good for you!

Liz, we all get absorbed in life and can't post sometimes. It's OK, and it will happen again. Just come back when you can. I also had a sick grandson, so I know what you went through. Sounds like you are doing really well with the training even if you got the dates mixed up. Cheering for ya! Also great job on 45 min. of pure weight work. How much can you lift?

Have a good one everyone,

Janie
 
Quick check-in: Ripken and I did a medium walk this morning. Very humid and icky here right now. Then I did Slow and Heavy Legs and Shoulders. I'm trying to inch my weight amounts up a little on everything these days because I feel like I should, but boy when I got to the shoulder military presses which is the next to last exercise on the workout, my shoulders were screaming. Had to go down a couple of pounds on the last 4 reps on the second set, but I was happy.

Liz: I think it's great that your sons are growing up seeing that their mom is mentally and physically strong--as well as disciplined. They will have such a healthy perspective on women. You are such a great role model for them.

Janie: have fun with your dad. You certainly are going to be busy. What an exciting time for you. I imagine your dad is very proud of you.

Okay, as Cathe would say: "time to work, work"--
~michelle
 
Another day of working out and working hard! I was lucky today that it was not my turn to drive the kids to school so it allowed me to do some much needed house work and a home workout. Before I headed to the gym I did Firm Not So Tuff Aerobics to keep up on my feet for my fight.

Gym training could have been better and could have been worse. I did good with my cardio and my agility drills, and my bag work but I did horrible on my weight work today. Sparring was not good to, about two weeks before a fight we go up a notch on the sparring and I spar with men that have a good 10 to 15lbs on me. We do that to still keep it safe but to get me ready for my fight because when I'm in the ring for the real fight it is NOT a sparring session!! Anyway, my opponent had a good 20lbs on me and he was a but rough on me. I complained to my trainer and he ripped me a new one again!! He was VERY upset about my weight work today. Tomorrow is a new day and we start swimming.

Michelle: Thanks for the complement! Hopefully some of it rubs off on them! I know when I first took up boxing and got in the ring they were surprised but now they have a new respect. Good job on the walk and workout today.

Janie: Well with free weights it depends on the exercise but I like to keep it at 15lbs but on the machines it varies I like to bench press about 170-180lbs

Liz
 
Spent all day on processing tomatoes, squash and zucchini. Most is in the freezer and ready to use when we need it. It was so generous of my Dad to bring all those vegies here.

I found out by talking with him, that he wants to move out of my sisters and back into an apt. He's not happy there, seems my sister is very controlling and she picks fights with him and makes him feel bad. He seems fine enough to me to do this. He's not an invalid by any means. I think my sister is a do gooder, and manipulated my father to stay with her and her hubby. It just is too early yet for him to do that. He's very independent still. He's got one of my brothers searching for an apt. so when he gets back home in 3 weeks, he may have an apt. to live in. My sissy just couldn't leave well enough alone.

My Poor Dad. Of course he's not remembering as well as he use to, and it's very hard for him to communicate (always has, he's dyslexic), I'm hoping he'll be happier in the apt. I love him so much and I want him as happy as can be for the rest of his life. That might be 3- 5 years or so. Cooper's (that my maiden name) live around 90-91 years.

Joey, Dad (very little, but it's a start) and I did TBS, with abs and stretching. Dad mostly watched and was very impressed.

Tomorrow we sign Escrow! Yea!

Michelle, Great job on the med. walk with Ripken and S&H legs and shoulders. Seems you are doing very well with the weight lifting adding a little more weight. Good for you.

Liz, Wow! benching 170-180lbs is awesome. You are very strong. Great job on The Firm and at the gym with cardio, agility drills and bag work. Not every time you do a workout will it always be a good one. I think you are doing very well in deed. Keep your concentration going on sparing. Yep, tomorrow is a fresh new day.

Janie
 
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So humid this morning, it felt like it was raining (but it wasn't). Ripken and I did a long walk. God bless my old pup--he hung right in there--he does love his walks. Then I did IMAX2. Day 6 of continuous workouts since the last "break day" and 3 more days to go before I get a break day. Cathe's September rotation is really good. I feel like I'm seeing some differences in my endurance and strength in this rotation. After cleaning up, both Ripken and I went to get our hair done. We are synched up on our beauty days--lol!

Janie: If your dad can live safely on his own, then he should. Will he need someone to check in on him regularly? What about a community where there are steps from independent to assisted living? Is something like that available where he lives? It's pretty cool that he joined in the exercises with you and Joey.

Liz: wow--170-180 pounds bench press! Those are numbers I wouldn't even dream about. I think the last time I did STS, I bench pressed about 55 pounds for my max. It seems like such a small number.:eek: Sounds like your trainer is working on your mental and physical training. Somehow, I think you are up to the challenge.

~michelle
 
We signed at Escrow. The beach house is now ours. Or at least until it gets to court. For sure by Late tomorrow or early Thurs. Yahoooooooooo! Oh, we measured how far it is from our house and for sure it is 1/2 mile exactly. So sweet.

After that my Dad took us out to the fishing village and bought us lunch to celebrate. Real Fish & Chips. Ummmmmmmm. Tomorrow I'm going to try to make a squash soup. we'll see. We exercise tomorrow too.

Yep, Dad says the place he will try to get into does indeed cater to the elderly. Everything is working out so nicely. Happy days.:D

Michelle, Yea, I think someone should on occasion check up on him, and call him regularly. Humid still? You poor things. Great job on walking in spite of the weather. Also fantastic job on IMAX2. You are doing so well. You should feel proud of yourself for seeing some differences in endurance and strength. That is so wonderful. Glad to see you both had a hair doo.

Have a good one ladies,

Janie
 
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Humidity and low pressure systems are making me nuts! I need a high pressure system, some sun and little humidity. Feast or famine in Virginia. No rain for weeks, then rain, rain, rain, low pressure, humidity...ICK!

I tried CTX Step and Intervals as sister suggested. I made it through the whole thing, but barely. 30 minutes of step, and at an advanced steppers tempo. Used to be a breeze for me but not anymore. Oh well, at least I did it. Also has chest exercises, which was just right, bench presses, flys and push-ups. I really enjoyed the stretch at the end. (thats surprising, huh?)

Janie, congratulations on the beach house. What exciting and fun times you have ahead.

Liz, you sound like a "stay at home mom" because I don't know how else you could do all that training. Very lucky!

Middle of the week, come on FRIDAY!!!

Keep working hard everybody.

~Renee~
 
Good morning everyone. Still humid and raining here. Ripken and I have lucked out during the past couple of weeks and have not gotten caught in any down pours. This morning when we walked I knew that it was going to storm--luckily the lightening/thunder and downpour waited until about 10 minutes AFTER Rip and I got back to the house. My neighbors who were walking their golden retriever were not so fortunate. They were headed out just as Ripken and I got to our front porch. Maybe they were able to take cover up at the elementary school. Sure hope so.

Exercise this morning: slow and heavy chest and back. I used my paceweights this morning to push my weight amounts up on my chest presses and flies. I started with 22 pound dbs, then dropped to 21, then to 20 on the chest presses and did 17 pound dbs and 16 on the flies. Love those paceweights.

Sister--glad to hear that you gave Step Intervals a go. I know that you can work through this period of building back up your endurance--bet it was nice to feel a little more challenged. Now you have another workout to work on. You'll be back to where you were before your ACL tore in no time. You might try the Xtrain Kickbox cardio too. Just keep your kicks low.

Janie: congratulations on your successful closing on the beach house. Fish and chips sounds so yummy. Nothing like good fish and chips. Sounds like the visit is going well so far with your dad. Good stuff all the way around.

Hi to Laura, Liz, and Shadowpup.
Michelle
 
Joey, Dad tried, and I did TBS, abs and stretches. Dad & I went second handing and went to 3 stores. He made out like a bandit with his purchases.

Renee, Sorry about your weather. Our rainy season is coming about 2 weeks too early. Great job on Step and Intervals along with the weight workout. You did really well. Ah ha, great job on the stretching as well.;)

Michelle, Great job on S&H chest and back. And you must be gaining strength and improving with those paceweights. That's fantastic! Glad you and Ripken missed the storm while you were out walking. Good job by the way.

Have a good one,

Janie
 
Super busy day--late checking in. Today I worked at home so Ripken and I slept an extra hour. The electricity went off last night about 10:15--we were just falling asleep. I would have rolled over and went back to sleep but it is not that easy for Joseph because without electricity his cpap machine doesn't work. I think we finally both dozed off and the electricity came back on about 12:30. I got up, reset the clocks, and then woke up Joe so he could reconnect with this cpap. This morning Ripken and I had a nice walk and then I did HIIT 30/30 and Ab Circuits no equipment abs. Worked at home this morning, the I went to the dentist, then back home to work some more.

Janie: sounds like you had another nice day with your dad. And he is hanging in and exercising with you and Joey. Sounds like ya'll are having fun.

~michelle
 
This was such a beautiful sunny day! My Dad & I did a little shopping in it. He stayed in the car the last half of the shopping. His knees are very bad. But, had a lot of fun.
I got him (my Dad) into "The X Factor". We can't wait to see what happens in Boot Camp next week.
I walked Rolly for about 30 min.
We turned on the electricity for the Beach House and got appt. made to get the things that need fixen. Yea! Hopefully in about 1-2 weeks we can start moving some things in.

Michelle, Dad is mostly watching us exercise, but he starts it off OK. Doing pretty good for an 87 year old.:) I'm glad the electricity went back on for Joe so he didn't have to be without cpap machine. Great job on the the nice walk with Ripken and HIIT 30/30 and Ab Circuits. How did you fair at the dentist?

Take care,

Janie
 
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