Lurker Invitation September 2009

[Shadowpup]

Well, DH and I went to bed at 9 pm last night. We were both wiped out. Didn't do another rest day today--have walked Ripken twice, done a little cleaning, and Butts and Guts this morning. Watching college football now. Got my Va Tech alumnae shirt on--Joe has his VT shirt on--we are ready to root for our Hokies later today.

Quiet day here at the marina. A little on the cool side, cloudy, and sprinkles of rain every once in a while.

Shadowpup: if you come in November, we will definitely try again. My schedule should be less hectic then assuming DH doesn't do anymore slipping and sliding around the boat. Congratulations on finishing STS. Sister and I are still planning on a Jan 1 start with STS. If you enjoy circuits, then you should like Circuit City. Definitely alot of variety in the workouts. You won't get bored.

~michelle

Michelle, I'm hoping November works out! It's another case where I need to be two places at once It would be during the first full week of November, as best I can tell - in two weeks or so, I'll know. You've inspired me to check out at least a few circuits to see how I like them - I ordered CircuitMax used used via Amazon!!! Also, since it's an active rest week at home and then I've got a ten day trip, I've decided to spice things up with bosu and kettlebell, and see which Cathe dvds my TRX works with. Let's call it the Eclectic Playfulness Rotation, starting yesterday and going for about three weeks, where the primary goal is to prevent overtraining and burnout by changing things up! Then I'll choose something with a physically oriented goal.

In the spirit of Eclectic Playfulness, in addition to ordering Circuit Max, yesterday I did Ilaria's Bodystrikes and rode one horse (Picante - finally his turn!). And, of course, several hours on Plum Jam Max. No bulbs showed up, so I am not planting today. Monday is making me nervous ...

Hello to all, and hope everyone is having a good weekend!

 

[janiejoey]

It is wicked cold here and still snowing, the weather is calling for another 6-12 inches all the way down to 6,800 feet! Although we normally get one snow in September it is usually a few inches and then melts the next day, then we get a nice long Indian Summer sometimes all the way until Thanksgiving. So this is unusual, especially the cold!

Laura, Are your predictions correct? Are you now having good weather, or is it still snowing?

Last night - I pulled out my fall decor - and got immersed in it - how did I get so much stuff!!! So the evening got away from me and I finally go in to exercise and then decided that I would decompress a little by watching a smidge of tv - big mistake - I got immersed in a movie. It wasn't even good - but I kept watching . . . and after awhile I felt that I invested this much time I might as well stick around to see the end. Then I decided that it was too late for a really long workout -(10pm) and I should do something short or maybe I could just skip it. Then I thought - I don't want to report that I did nothing on here. So this forum does it's job. I am reporting that I did HSC (the 51 minute pre mix). This workout has always been one of my favorites - the time flew by and I was again a total sweaty mess. It think I am sweating more now that ever before. Tonight 4DS: KB is on the rotation - the last time I attempted to do this I threw my back out so I'm a little leery plus you all know I'm not a big KB fan.

Janie - you take care too - I wish I had your capacity for strength. You are so optimistic about everything - I find it rubs off on me. I was just thinking that last night. I have to be confident that I will acheive my goals - that it will all come together in time.

Ok - well - gotta go. I am on my DH about overhauling the bathroom downstairs - nothing major - but everything is such a project. At first it was just paint - now it is a new light fixtures, moving the medicine cabinet - new towel bars - doing all the little things that weren't done before when it was originally put in - so let's see how that goes.

Shoegal, What kind of Fall decor? Halloween perhaps? Or Fall blankets, dishcloths...? We got home late last night and just had a ball. I did however manage to but my Fall/Winter set on my bed. Then slept like a baby. Will post about the trip after personals. I too can be a procrastinator, but my dear, you did such a great job on the premix of HSC. after all. Awe, Thank you for the compliment. What comes to mind at this very moment is, You inspire me as well. Especially how you handled grief in your life. One day soon I'll have to overcome that, and I will think of you.

I don't know how you guys manage to get so much done in one day. I'm still pretty sure that somehow Shadowpup has managed to stretch a 24 hour day to 36. Not sure how she does that. I'm feeling right now like I can barely keep up with work and the bare minimum at home (walking Ripken, exercise, helping Joe, cleaning, sleep). Guess that's life. This morning was Rhythmic Step. It was nice to do a workout that I'm very familiar with. This is one on my favorites and always a good workout.
Hope everyone has a super day.~michelle

Michelle, It just isn't fair that Shadowpup gets 36 hours in a day and we don't! That was funny. I agree with Shadowpup though, that you have a lot on your plate too. (Here's a hug). I love Rhythmic Step too, maybe I will do that today.

Well - last night I put on 4DS- KB - and a positive attitude. I tried doing all the KB moves to the best of my ability w/o worrying how I looked doing it and putting as much energy as I could into the workout. I discovered to my shame and horror - that I was actually sore from my HSC (that was High Step Challenge - it was a timesaver premix that I did) workout that I did the night before. It was a good thing (I think I'm channeling Martha Stewart ). So my back didn't go out and I was pleasently surprised at how much I didn't dislike (double negative here) it.

I'm not sure what I am supposed to do this evening - I'll have to let you know. Right now I have to run out to the Home Improvement store to pick up items for the bathroom - it isn't major (although DH has turned it into an even more elaborate redo than I had envisioned.) We are painting, getting rid of the old towel bar (I use this term loosely - it is actually an old handrail for stairs he had converted into one - it is super long and I think looks ridiculous), moving the medicine cabinet - new towel bars, new tp holder - new light fixture - finishing off the ceiling - I'll have to explain later.

Hope everyone has a great day - and Hi to you all out there.

Shoegal, So glad for your "good attitued". It does make all the difference in the world, plus the fact that you worked hard to get there. Congratulations on a great workout! Oh, show before and after pictures of your bathroom. I bet it will be great.

Quick Post here and then I am out the door to teach Ski Conditioning....I seem to be able to only post every other day right now...

Yesterday I was in Boulder running errands for my girls 9th Birthday today!! How has 9 years gone be so fast? I am so happy and such a proud mom! Than back up the mountain where I had just enough time to do my P90X Plyometrics DVD before my Pilates class, it was lots of fun, I really liked that workout the best so far. After all the Cathe DVD's I felt like I was able to hang with Tony for this and really work the workout!

We had presents this morning with Breakfast and than I ran them down to school, rushed back up the mountain and met with that weight loss support group, than off to teach my Pilates class.

Laura, Ski conditioning too. You are a teacher for sure. I'm impressed! Your girls 9th birthday sounds like it was great. Going up and down those mountains is something else. I sounds like you could get tired, but then all that beauty around you. Do you still see it, living in beauty everyday? I bet the girls had a delightful breakfast. How sweet is that? Good job on P90X, sounds like you are improving. Good for you!

Hi all,

Well, today was another busy one! Work was hectic, but not terrible, and I started earlier and ended on time, for a more normal workday. And no bulbs arrived! If none come by Saturday, I'll be sad, of course ... but since this is an active rest day, I used the evening for fun things. Harvested a tub full of plums and practiced making fruit rolls and prunes in my dehydrator. In 24-36 hours we'll discover if I did it right

Took my kid horse out - Sierra, the one who fears ducks. I'd thought to take one of the others ... but what happened was this. I walked towards the stable at the usual time. The older two horses just stood around at the top of their hill and watched. I've been digging bulbs and not riding all week, and it's pretty hot now, so they've taken to finding a good place where they can eat grass and watch me at the same time. Sierra is an optimist, though, and he came cavorting down the hill to the gate. He's been doing that all week, and looking really disappointed when he figures out that I've only got a pat and an apple, and not a halter to take him out.

And I thought ... well, all that determination deserves a reward ...

So I opened up the gate between paddocks, buckled the halter on, and we slipped out before the others could crowd around us.

You should have seen the looks on all of those faces! The two left behind were incredulous. If horse jaws could drop, that's what they did. Eyes were definitely bugging out. They were absolutely aghast at having been left behind. Sierra, on the other hand, was delighted. He very carefully walked next to me like a perfect angel - or, maybe more like Dennis the Menace on his best behavior.

We had a nice ride, though it was variable. Sierra was alternately being on his absolute best behavior, and jumping around when we'd go near something interesting. On the plus side, he decided that riding past the wild apple tree was fun, since we stopped to test the apples for ripeness (they were almost but not quite ready). On the minus side, he decided that deer probably ate horses, and since the deer are so used to me now they did not run far enough away to make him comfortable, poor boy, and were usually somewhere watching us. That might be why he was so jumpy. The owl, he thought was fine, which was puzzling to me. The quail - those were bad news. We had a lot of leaping when those flew up in our face. Still, both of us had fun

Picante took out his frustration by chasing my poor quarterhorse Atreides all of the pasture, herding him from corner to corner and periodically neighing his complaints to the world. I could hear him half a mile away. They'll get their turn tomorrow or Saturday.

It *would* be fun to have all of you visit - we could pick daffodils, share dvds, and the horses would have be delighted! But at least I will post pictures. And yes, these are the reblooming kind, and they naturalize/spread too. It's just that there is a lot of space in the seventeen acres of woods and I have this vision in my head of daffodils and crocuses and hyacinths and other flowers coming up around the paths, the trees, all in amongst the wildflowers. Can't seem to shake it, and so I order thousands of bulbs in the spring, forgetting how much work it is; start enthusiastically planting in the fall, get to the point where I wonder WHAT on EARTH I have done (that's right now), and then finish it off, and wait to enjoy the flowers. I have been doing this since 2002.

Hi to IronLady, and good vibes to Janie as you travel!

Deborah, Love your horse story. I seem to know them through you, and I have to agree, they seem like big dogs. Are they more intelligent than dogs? You just have to show us pictures of all the beauty that is there come next Spring when all the bulbs bloom. My O My!

Still have catching up to do in the next post, since there is a limited amount of words you can use. So this does continue:

Janie

 

[janiejoey]

Good morning everyone! Today is a rest day for me, although it sure doesn't feel that way. Up at 4am, left the house a little after 5am, at work at 6am for a morning meeting at the Pentagon. So, where's my rest--that's what I want to know?

Hi to Ironlady. Good vibes to our Janie who is off having fun.~michelle

Michelle, Well, maybe you are on an active rest day? LOL I don't know why sometimes/all the time, that when there is a rest day, it's more like a work day. Life? It's not easy. Hang in there Kido, a rest day is just around the corner.

Bathroom Report: The ceiling is hard to explain - and it isn't conventional. The building (as you all know) was an old boy scout camp (the dining hall) and had very high ceilings - high enough to make 2 stories. So we have a loft - (as our bedroom)and under the loft is the bathroom downstairs (& a few other rooms). The ceiling to the bathroom house these beams that hold the ceiling up. When he built the ceiling it was difficult to manipulate around the beams and bolts - so there are these weird crevices (nooks and cranies) that are up there. We spoke of using trim to finish where the ceiling meets the drywall and where the beams meet the paneling on the celing. (anybody bored hearing this??? ) The color is this weird green/gold color - I was trying to match the matting around these pictures we have in there. I'll have to send pictures. I am covering this very very bright yellow color that DH had picked many years ago. I had really thought that - you know - slap some paint in there - how long can this take??? He is now sanding the floor, repairing other things - putting tile on the floor of the linen closet - etc, etc, etc. I didn't want this to go for years like most of his other projects. This can't even be fun reading about it. I'll keep future bathroom reports much shorter.

Janie - hope you are enjoying yourself - want to hear all about it - I'm sending happy, relaxing vibes your way.

I am going to babysit my sister's Golden (Harold) this week while she is away. Someone else gets her other puppy - Howie and that is ok with me - he is a handful!!! Hope everyone has a good day!!!

Shoegal, Your home sounds wonderfully unique. I love reading about what you can do to your home since once it was a scout camp. I would like to see pictures as well. Not boring to me at all. Thank you for the happy relaxing vibes. I'll post my adventure next, after this post.

Well, DH and I went to bed at 9 pm last night. We were both wiped out. Didn't do another rest day today--have walked Ripken twice, done a little cleaning, and Butts and Guts this morning. Watching college football now. Got my Va Tech alumnae shirt on--Joe has his VT shirt on--we are ready to root for our Hokies later today.

Quiet day here at the marina. A little on the cool side, cloudy, and sprinkles of rain every once in a while.

Okay--gotta go--DH needs me to do a few things for him.~michelle

Michelle, Can't imagine why you both were wiped out? LOL After walking Ripken and doing B&G and some cleaning, you deserve to sit down and watch football. Have a great time.

In the spirit of Eclectic Playfulness, in addition to ordering Circuit Max, yesterday I did Ilaria's Bodystrikes and rode one horse (Picante - finally his turn!). And, of course, several hours on Plum Jam Max. No bulbs showed up, so I am not planting today. Monday is making me nervous ...

Hello to all, and hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Deborah, Don't you just want a body like Ilaria's. Well, maybe in the next life. Plum jam sounds great on toast and waffles. YUM YUmmmmy! Hope your bulbs show up before you have to go back to work. I'm a little nervous for you too. Let us know.

Janie

 

[janiejoey]

My adventure:

Hope this doesn't get boring but here it goes. We left home at 6am and reached Newport in Oregon about 1pm. We made sure that we registered before we did anything. Went to the beach I wanted to desperately go to, to collect massage stone/basalt stones.

It was as I read about! Cobble Beach was full of these remarkable black stones, with a hint of blue, most as big as my fist and much bigger. When the tide came in and out, the rocks rolled with the tide, they had this most loud but delightful sound to them. It was almost mesmerizing. The view was spectacular, and one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. There were several islands made of this basalt rock. Just a little history about basalt: In Washington state there was a volcano that erupted in the Yakima Columbia Basin eons ago, it's lava spread out into the state, and parts of Oregon and Idaho. When this lava cools quickly it gets very hard and smooth and as a result you get this rock that holds heat wonderfully, like for massages. Anyway, You go down these steep wooden stairs (about 10 flights) to get to shore. Just before you get there, there is a sign that reads "No Collecting". What? It was so disappointing, cause when I looked from the car there were only sandy beaches and this is the only beach that has these remarkable stones weathered from the ocean tides.

I had to get my mind off the disappointment and walked around the beach enjoying the sound and creatures that live in the tide pools. Nearby was a lighthouse and so we climbed back up the stairs and walked over to it. There were even steeper steps and many more flights up to the light. But OH, once you got up there, the sight was just out of this world. We could see the other islands with seals on them, and pelicans, (one of my favorite birds beside the humming bird) doing what they do best. Sunbathing. Such a life. Only one problem with this though, were the flies. There were thousands of them flying around and landing on everything. Must have been the season for them. Hoping we don't have to encounter that at our campsite.

We did finally leave to set up our site. Yeah! No flies. We dropped things off and decided to take a stroll on our own beach, walking distance away from our camp. LOW and BEHOLD! Thousands among thousands of basalt stones! Almost as much and as big as the Cobble Beach had. But maybe a little more round and smoother. Since this was BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, we were able to collect as many as we wanted. And boy did I ever. What I don't use for massaging we will use in our landscape. I did collect a garbage barrel full. It was glorious!

I collected until I just couldn't see anymore, it was getting darker and time to get to bed. What a fantastic day.

The next day (Thursday), We went for a 5 mile bike ride. Got off our bikes and combed a beach. Picked up shells, and strange looking things. Went out on a chety (misspelled) to watch people fish. Nothing else was happening so decided to go to Agate Beach.

Couldn't really find it, so we went out and started walking the beach in the direction of Agate Beach. Oh, by the way, there were some more basalt stones there two, not everywhere, but they were there. We walked about 7 hours, I don't know how many miles that was, but my hips were starting to hurt. We ate protein bars and drank my special tea as we walked. We never did see a sign that we were on Agate Beach, but thought we did manage to get there anyway. It was glorious! Pelicans were resting on the beach and you could almost get close enough to touch them. All kinds of Sea life. But no Agates!
TO BE CONT'D

Janie

 

[janiejoey]

After Agate Beach, we decided to go to the Rock Quarry. It wasn't a very long walk, and when we did get there, there were seals playing in the water. Islands all over the place where they would be laying out in the sun. Big ones little ones, they are such a fantastic animal. Couldn't go as far as we wanted into the quarry because they had it blocked off. Oh well. It was still a great adventure though.

By then it was getting to be rather late, so we decided to go back to camp. I couldn't resist collecting yet more stones. I was obsessed, and literally couldn't stop myself. I came back tired and hungry. Fried eggs and potatoes and had them for dinner. Joey went to sleep about 6pm, I read until about 8pm and went to bed. Hey, I usually stay up until midnight at least.

After breakfast, we went to the Aquarium. Oh my, they had the most wonderful things to see. Better than the Seattle aquarium, which I thought was the best. We even got to touch the animals that live in homemade tide pools. What a fantastic experience that was.

There was a hiking trail we wanted to go on, so that's what we did next. It was only about 3 miles, but the view, was spectacular. We were above the ocean and could see it from a distance. God must love man to give us such beauty! That's when I'm most close to him, when I'm in the mist of all this awe.

Went back to camp, and yes, you guessed it, I COLLECTED AGAIN! What is wrong with me? It wasn't so much this time around and got back to camp, made dinner and went to bed early. We plan on getting up and head back home.

Had the most wonderful time. Hope you all didn't get bored, but you asked for a report.

Will be doing Rhythmic Step later today, and washing and putting away massage stones. Can't wait to give Joey a massage. Will have to wait though until I come back from Florida.

Today Chasie will come to visit until Wedn. then we take Chasie back and to Disney World we go, the next day. Joey will stay with Sid until we come home.

But until then, I'm home, will be posting and getting more excited as Disney World approaches.

Talk again later,

Janie

 

[ladubose]

Ok so I think the last time I checked in was Thursday! September is a busy time for us! Friday ended up being a day off, as there was a Michaelmas assembly at the girls school and it was the first time their class performed. It was a wonderful assembly, I love the girls school so much! Then after that the whole school comes together for collective & co-operative games (not competitive games) and a school picnic, than the girls went with their Nanna while I worked with a client and then had my hair done, highlights and a much needed cut! We went out to dinner and me and the girls stayed in an adjoining room at the hotel. We went out for breakfast yesterday before saying good-bye to Nanna & Clifford and heading up the mountain. I was able to sneak in the Kenpo P90X workout which is basically a kickboxing workout before getting ready to head to Denver for a friends 30th birthday party at a Moroccan restaurant complete with Belly dancers! It was fun, but I feel like all I have done in the past 48 hours is eat and Drink! UGH! So time to clean up the diet again and get focused! Today is P90X Yoga and maybe a hike, it is a beautiful fall day, and yes it has warmed up again and snow has melted!

I read all the personals and enjoyed all the stories and hearing what is happening for everyone.

Michelle did you see the pictures on FB of the dinner?

 

[ladubose]

Hi Everyone! So the good news is that I did receive a finical gift this year and so I can justify buying STS! I just ordered it and can't wait to get it!

So I am planning on doing a rotation starting Jan., can I join you and your sister Michelle with a rotation? I will use the Shock Cardio with it and I am thinking of doing the 6 month rotation.

For those who have done it what do you think about the squat rack options?
Is there any other equipment you needed?


well time to get busy on those 1RM!!

 

[ladubose]

Shadowpup: just did the P90X Yoga for the first time and it was tough! 1:30 hours and a good balance of starting with standing flowing movements, balance poses, abdominal work and stretches. You might like it,since you already own it. It is a more athletic approach to Yoga but none the less a good routine.

 

[Shadowpup]

Shadowpup: just did the P90X Yoga for the first time and it was tough! 1:30 hours and a good balance of starting with standing flowing movements, balance poses, abdominal work and stretches. You might like it,since you already own it. It is a more athletic approach to Yoga but none the less a good routine.

Thanks, Laura, I think I will try it then! 90 minutes sounds quite tough, so 'try it' probably means starting in stages, like the Rodney dvd.

BTW, I saw your great news about STS! That's terrific! Since you and Michelle and Michelle's sis are starting in January, I think I'll figure out a way to do another strength oriented routine in the Nov/Dec months (so as to use the extra calories for muscles, is my reasoning), and then join you. Probably a three month rotation for me, except perhaps for Meso 1.

For equipment, I would love to have a squat rack but can't fit one in my space until we get the new area set up (holiday season). Was looking at a power cage, actually. In the meantime, I absolutely love my Ironmaster bench - but you don't have to have one, since a step and the stability ball will see you through. I found I needed a barbell for Meso 2 and beyond for deadlifts (I bought the one from Walmart rather than the one others seem to prefer, for a variety of reasons including the max weight it will hold) and I bought a 40 pound vest to use for squats, and kind of wish I'd bought one that went higher, though that's getting to be quite a strain on the back. I had a 20 pound vest, but it turns out that isn't enough for Meso 3. Depending on how much stronger your legs are than your arms, you might consider the heavy vest. Some people have been using backpacks. Personally I would worry about going much heavier than ten pounds in a backpack. The weighted vest was pricey but worth it.

You can use paper plates for Meso 2, or you can purchase glides. Some people used furniture movers! It depends on your flooring. If you can find one of those inexpensive pullup contraptions, such as they use in p90x, that's really handy - as long as it fits in your door - and I've seen good deals on those in stores and on ebay from time to time. And, of course, resistance bands.

Other things I love for STS: weighted gloves, my platemate magnets - the half pounders are more useful than the one pounder, I discovered. You may find that you don't have heavy enough dumbbells, and though I love the adjustable ones for the convenience, you can get an inexpensive set that lets you use the same plates as your barbell, and just switch. You'll be frustrated by that in Meso 1, perhaps, but Meso1 uses the lightest weights. If you have ankle weights, you can wrap them on your wrists and that's another alternative (though since I bought the platemate magnets I don't often have to do that any more). These are luxuries in a way - what you are looking for is a way to adjust a barbell or dumbbell by anywhere from one to five pounds, basically. The small weight increments are part of the secret of STS! You're always wanting to use 38 pounds, or 14 pounds, or an odd size like that.

oops, meant to keep this short but got all excited about STS all over again!!! I'm off to ride a horse, everyone; hi and hugs to all, and thanks for checking in Janie!!!! I read all of your great stories and loved them. More comments later!

 

[janiejoey]

After I went back to see other posts I realized how much space I used up on my postings. Sorry about that, I think I must have been too winded.

Ok so I think the last time I checked in was Thursday! September is a busy time for us! Friday ended up being a day off, as there was a Michaelmas assembly at the girls school and it was the first time their class performed. It was a wonderful assembly, I love the girls school so much! Then after that the whole school comes together for collective & co-operative games (not competitive games) and a school picnic, than the girls went with their Nanna while I worked with a client and then had my hair done, highlights and a much needed cut! We went out to dinner and me and the girls stayed in an adjoining room at the hotel. We went out for breakfast yesterday before saying good-bye to Nanna & Clifford and heading up the mountain. I was able to sneak in the Kenpo P90X workout which is basically a kickboxing workout before getting ready to head to Denver for a friends 30th birthday party at a Moroccan restaurant complete with Belly dancers! It was fun, but I feel like all I have done in the past 48 hours is eat and Drink! UGH! So time to clean up the diet again and get focused! Today is P90X Yoga and maybe a hike, it is a beautiful fall day, and yes it has warmed up again and snow has melted!

I read all the personals and enjoyed all the stories and hearing what is happening for everyone.

Laura, When I was young I remember the feast of St. Michael. Sounds like you have a special school. You are so lucky. All that play and still time for exercises. I'm speechless. How do you do it? Sounds like such a lot of happy birthday fun for your girls. The Moroccan restaurant must have been a hoot. Bet you had a great time. Good for you.

Hi Everyone! So the good news is that I did receive a finical gift this year and so I can justify buying STS! I just ordered it and can't wait to get it!

So I am planning on doing a rotation starting Jan., can I join you and your sister Michelle with a rotation? I will use the Shock Cardio with it and I am thinking of doing the 6 month rotation.

For those who have done it what do you think about the squat rack options?
Is there any other equipment you needed?

well time to get busy on those 1RM!!

Laura, I can't wait for you to receive the STS Series! I'd like to join in the rotation, but not sure if we will be home at that time. Things change all the time around here, so you never know. I have a Smith Machine that has a squat rack that spots us. That's what I've been using. It works really well, but it is expensive, we just happened to have that for many years and can gratefully use it in the series. Shadowpup has great advice with the weighted vest. I've used that too. It's surprising how much weight a person uses for squats.

Janie

 

[Shoegal]

BR Report: It is painted!! Twice. I'm not sure about the color - a little dark - and in a small space with no window - I don't know. I think I'll use white everything - towels, shower curtain - that might help - and it will pop. It is like army green - I liked that it was an unusual color - and thought it would work. It is too early to put in a verdict. The fact that it is painted - I can't tell you how monumental that is. DH wanted to take a nap while doing the project - in his defense - we had the neighbors over the night before and he had way too much wine!!! Now - maybe we will finish the rest of it before the end of the year!!!

Janie - glad you had a nice time - wow - how many stones did you come home with!!! I'm thinking collecting these stones is not a bad thing - and you had a great time doing it. I can also imagine not being able to stop myself with something like that - in fact we all can relate. We all collect workouts. I still don't think you can have enough. Now all you have to do is gear up for Disney - I think that should be great fun!!!

Laura - Congratulations on STS - you deserve it. How long does P90x last? Will you be done in time? Well - since everyone is talking about doing STS - I'm thinking I should jump on the bandwagon and do it too. This might be the kick in the arse I need to finally just start and finish it. I can't tell you the slack I get for waiting. Glad things are warming up there. We had the most cold and dreary weekend.

Shadowpup- I can hear in your post that you know my pain about home improvement projects. Yes - my DH sounds just like yours in that department. I was indeed, shocked that it was going to be way more work than I anticipated. You should hear him talk now about how it is going to take days and days for things to dry and to sand - etc, etc. - and even spoke of sanding the wall - and repainting because some fuzz got on it while it was wet. He told me not to get paint on the ceiling in the closet - because it would look bad if someone opened the door and saw it!!! But what do I know.

Tonight I will do 4DS - HIS - I love this workout. I will finish out the week with the rest of the 4DS workouts and whatever else is on the rotation. I think I am going to change how I do things - and not wait to workout once I get home. I'm just going to jump on it right away. That way - it will be done early and I'll have the rest of the evening for other projects. I'm thinking of painting the vestibule right after we finish the bathroom!! But that is going to be a hard sell.

Where is Michelle?? - tell us what you have been up to. I wanted to tell you that Harold is trying to fit in with us at home. He is out of his element - needs his "people" badly (his parents) and has issues with the spiral staircase. He wants to sleep up there with the rest of us -I'm telling you 3 dogs in a bed is one crowded bed!!! - but he can't do the stairs. DH carried him up 2 nights - but last night I decided to sleep downstairs with him. He liked that - but was shocked when he didn't want to get up in the guest bed with me. Dot stayed downstairs too for awhile - quite unusual for her - but then she headed upstairs to sleep with Dad.

Well - gonna go - hope everyone is having a great day!!

 

[ladubose]

!

Hi everyone!
Today is my 3 classes, so won't do my own workout. Also have a private client who is prego's so that is fun and a new challenge to work with. I taught one pilates class this morning, I have an intermediate pilates mat class this evening followed by a weight lifting class. Than I am going to a friend's house to watch last weeks Biggest Loser, she recorded it for me, and soak in her hot tub! I think I will need it after today, plus my obliques are so sore from the yoga yesterday as well.

Shadowpup: thanks so much for the input on STS. I was going to order the vest from Cathe's shop but I don't think it has enough weight. I really need o keep the investment to a minimum. I have been paying bills all day and it is a reality check on how quickly the money will be gone! I need to show some restraint and only get the absolute essentials. I will need some heavier dumbbells for sure, I have up to 20 and need I would think up to 40? I have a barbell already. I can do chin ups on my cadillac so I don't need the STS tower for those. I may look at the magnet weights they maybe especially good for the shoulders I think!

Shoegal: P90X is set up for a 90 day rotation but you could use the individual workouts however you want. At first it took me awhile to get used to Tony, but now I like the workouts. It is basically a 3 day split with different types of cardio in between. Similar to STS in that aspect but I think a very different approach to working out, so I like it for muscle confusion. I am glad your bathroom turned out! I like your idea of getting your workout in earlier. I have been impressed by your will power for some of your late night workouts! Me, I am ready to veg. after the girls are to bed!

Janie: I am so excited as well for STS! I don't think you are long winded at all, so please don't feel like you need to share less with us! I don't think a smith machine is in my future but it does sound like a wonderful option if only I could afford it and had the space for one! I am on the low budget for now and will investigate some options, first seeing if what I have will do the trick!

Hi Michelle!

 

[Shoegal]

Last night - I went home and didn't work out immediately. First - as my usual thing - I had grapes and some non-fat yogurt which led me to sit down for a bit. I headed on into the bathroom and hung the pictures to see how they would look up against the new color - they looked really nice. This then led me to tape around the trim to the closet door for some touch ups. I washed my face - put on my workout clothes and then I worked out. I did
4DS-HIS - and as expected I loved it. The step portion goes by super fast though and I wanted more of it. Afterwards I did AB Hits the MIC/PLB abs. Then I was going to paint some more - the door, some shelves - but DH came in an said, "I wouldn't hold it against you if you didn't do anything tonight." Despite that - I was going to do something anyway but he had pulled the truck into the shop and it was kind of difficult to work then. Being done early with the workout though - It left a lot of time to think about food and believe me - I don't need that. I spent the rest of the evening convincing myself not to eat another thing and then I half heartedly went to bed. I am telling myself repeatedly that I have to be responsible for the things I stick in my mouth!!!

Harold took up all the space again last night - he didn't climb into bed right away. It was strange - he came into the living room - and I coaxed him into the guestroom - which opens out into the laundry room. He went and stood by that door - I opened the door and he went in and drank from the water bowl that is in there - drank all the water there was. Came back into the bedroom - then out into the living room again - then back into the bedroom to just sit there. I shut off the light - and then a couple minutes later -turned it back on to find him still sitting there. I patted the bed and he climbed up. He spent the rest of the night in bed with me but eventually spread out so he was taking up most of the bed.

I have a couple of things I need to do - so I'm gonna run - Hello to everyone!!!

 

[janiejoey]

BR Report: It is painted!! Twice. I'm not sure about the color - a little dark - and in a small space with no window - I don't know. I think I'll use white everything - towels, shower curtain - that might help - and it will pop. It is like army green - I liked that it was an unusual color - and thought it would work. It is too early to put in a verdict. The fact that it is painted - I can't tell you how monumental that is. DH wanted to take a nap while doing the project - in his defense - we had the neighbors over the night before and he had way too much wine!!! Now - maybe we will finish the rest of it before the end of the year!!!

Janie - glad you had a nice time - wow - how many stones did you come home with!!! I'm thinking collecting these stones is not a bad thing - and you had a great time doing it. I can also imagine not being able to stop myself with something like that - in fact we all can relate. We all collect workouts. I still don't think you can have enough. Now all you have to do is gear up for Disney - I think that should be great fun!!!

Tonight I will do 4DS - HIS - I love this workout. I will finish out the week with the rest of the 4DS workouts and whatever else is on the rotation. I think I am going to change how I do things - and not wait to workout once I get home. I'm just going to jump on it right away. That way - it will be done early and I'll have the rest of the evening for other projects. I'm thinking of painting the vestibule right after we finish the bathroom!! But that is going to be a hard sell.

Well - gonna go - hope everyone is having a great day!!

Shoegal, Army green and white go together beautifully, you'll enjoy it. I think I came home with a half garbage can full. I know, but I'm sure glad I did it. They are beautiful stones, and will most likely do the same thing the next time we go there.LOL Picked the outfits and stuff to where to Disney, just have to pack now. I'm getting so excited. I agree, 4DS are awesome workouts.

Hi everyone!
Today is my 3 classes, so won't do my own workout. Also have a private client who is prego's so that is fun and a new challenge to work with. I taught one pilates class this morning, I have an intermediate pilates mat class this evening followed by a weight lifting class. Than I am going to a friend's house to watch last weeks Biggest Loser, she recorded it for me, and soak in her hot tub! I think I will need it after today, plus my obliques are so sore from the yoga yesterday as well.

Janie: I am so excited as well for STS! I don't think you are long winded at all, so please don't feel like you need to share less with us! I don't think a smith machine is in my future but it does sound like a wonderful option if only I could afford it and had the space for one! I am on the low budget for now and will investigate some options, first seeing if what I have will do the trick!

Hi Michelle!

Laura, Enjoy the Biggest Loser and the hot tub. You deserve it form the great workouts you did.

Last night - I went home and didn't work out immediately. First - as my usual thing - I had grapes and some non-fat yogurt which led me to sit down for a bit. I headed on into the bathroom and hung the pictures to see how they would look up against the new color - they looked really nice. This then led me to tape around the trim to the closet door for some touch ups. I washed my face - put on my workout clothes and then I worked out. I did
4DS-HIS - and as expected I loved it. The step portion goes by super fast though and I wanted more of it. Afterwards I did AB Hits the MIC/PLB abs. Then I was going to paint some more - the door, some shelves - but DH came in an said, "I wouldn't hold it against you if you didn't do anything tonight." Despite that - I was going to do something anyway but he had pulled the truck into the shop and it was kind of difficult to work then. Being done early with the workout though - It left a lot of time to think about food and believe me - I don't need that. I spent the rest of the evening convincing myself not to eat another thing and then I half heartedly went to bed. I am telling myself repeatedly that I have to be responsible for the things I stick in my mouth!!!

Harold took up all the space again last night - he didn't climb into bed right away. It was strange - he came into the living room - and I coaxed him into the guestroom - which opens out into the laundry room. He went and stood by that door - I opened the door and he went in and drank from the water bowl that is in there - drank all the water there was. Came back into the bedroom - then out into the living room again - then back into the bedroom to just sit there. I shut off the light - and then a couple minutes later -turned it back on to find him still sitting there. I patted the bed and he climbed up. He spent the rest of the night in bed with me but eventually spread out so he was taking up most of the bed.

I have a couple of things I need to do - so I'm gonna run - Hello to everyone!!!

Shoegal, Good job on 4DS Hit. Husbands are like that, yeah they are. Poor Harold. Maybe he needs more attention. Although, how much more attention can you give him? Dogs are like that, yeah they are.

Got to go to bed and finish packing tomorrow. Will leave as soon as I'm packed and ready to go. That will be early in the morning. Then, off t0 Tina's and Sid's for the night and very early the next day fly out to Orlando. Wow.

I'm going to miss you guys.

Janie

 

[Shoegal]

Where is everyone? MIchelle? Shawdowpup? Laura?

Last night I did 4DS-LIS and I worked out at 10pm. I decided to do some chores first and then to workout (a switch from what I decided earlier in the week) - my DH said it made more sense to him and I sort of agreed with him. However, the more the evening wears on - I feel like I have less time and I want to just wrap it up and usually my workout suffers. But I got it done and I actually had a great workout. Tonight I will do BC-4DS. I have said once before that when I do the drills I don't feel as if I'm putting everything I have into them - I'm going to try harder but maybe the drills don't agree with me. I'd like to give it another shot - though. I'm finding it is more and more important to customize workouts to accommodate injuries - weaknesses -boredom, likes/ dislikes - I used to put myself through some workout I didn't care for or were hard on my back. But I've learned - that isn't right or smart and it is not fun.

After those 4DS step workouts I'm itching for new step - I've pinpointed workouts by Seasun Zieger and Tracy Staehle as potential purchases. All I need now is for someone to stop me.

Janie - glad you checked in before heading off to Disney and we are all going to miss you too. But have a great great time and don't worry about anything. Say hi to Donald Duck for me!!!

Hope everyone is well - and just busy. Hello to everybody.

 

[Shadowpup]

Where is everyone? MIchelle? Shawdowpup? Laura?

Last night I did 4DS-LIS and I worked out at 10pm. I decided to do some chores first and then to workout (a switch from what I decided earlier in the week) - my DH said it made more sense to him and I sort of agreed with him. However, the more the evening wears on - I feel like I have less time and I want to just wrap it up and usually my workout suffers. But I got it done and I actually had a great workout. Tonight I will do BC-4DS. I have said once before that when I do the drills I don't feel as if I'm putting everything I have into them - I'm going to try harder but maybe the drills don't agree with me. I'd like to give it another shot - though. I'm finding it is more and more important to customize workouts to accommodate injuries - weaknesses -boredom, likes/ dislikes - I used to put myself through some workout I didn't care for or were hard on my back. But I've learned - that isn't right or smart and it is not fun.

After those 4DS step workouts I'm itching for new step - I've pinpointed workouts by Seasun Zieger and Tracy Staehle as potential purchases. All I need now is for someone to stop me.

Janie - glad you checked in before heading off to Disney and we are all going to miss you too. But have a great great time and don't worry about anything. Say hi to Donald Duck for me!!!

Hope everyone is well - and just busy. Hello to everybody.

Hi Shoegal and all - I've been buried under BulbMax. What's the gardener's version of DOMS? I think it has to do with "delayed onset plant arrival - DOPA". And DOPA is what we've got I sort of forgot orders from two different places, and so it turns out even more are coming than I thought 150 pounds are due today. Over FIVE THOUSAND are already in the ground. That is less impressive than it sounds, since only slightly under ONE thousand are daffodils (with their 8-ish inch holes), and the rest are smaller bulbs such as muscari, crocus, and eranthus - those need only three-four inch deep holes. Much, much easier to manage.

More soon, but I did want to say hi and thank you for all the great stories. Very impressed by the painting (Shoegal) and the collecting (Janie)!

And, um, Shoegal? You are relying on ME to talk you out of a fitness purchase???? You are kidding, right? I think you absolutely positively need that step workout. Yes, and perhaps some Barre, too. And I'm enjoying my eclectic active rest week ... that Forza workout was terrific for my shoulders, and there was no kicking. Perhaps you'd like that too? . To make matters worse, I was listening to a podcast earlier today about nonstandard equipment, and they were discussing sandbags ...

BTW, I've heard of Tracy Staehle, very good things. Who is Zieger? Are these going to have tricky choreography, or simpler moves?

Maybe someone else better step in here, and help with the restraint part of this mutually supportive group

Hopefully more later tonight, depends on the weather ... we expect rain soon.

PS. The UPS man came during lunch. My big (though not last) order came in. The good news? It's all small bulbs, needing smaller holes. The other news??? Well ... there are over ten thousand of them. Looks like I will not be needing sandbags to enjoy a different kind of workout, seeing as I need to carry all of them down into the woods, and some are going to be planted about a half mile walk from the house ...

 

[MDolfiniReed]

Hi everyone--kind of got overwhelmed the past couple of days with work and household stuff but have managed to get the workouts in. Yesterday, I did the Bootcamp everything but core premix and the ab work from muscle endurance. Today, I did Power Hour. For some bizarre reason, I just couldn't do 25 pounds on my barbell for biceps--took it down to 22.5. I've got some kind of nagging muscle thing going on in my right elbow. Not sure what is up with that but it tends to bother me the most on bicep work.

Sister and I would love to have everyone join us for STS starting on Jan. 1. I've been leaning toward the 6 month rotation and she wants to do the 3 month version. I guess it doesn' matter which one as long as I do it.

Shoegal: Harold sounds like he is very connected to his people. He is probably happy to be with you, but he just wants to be on the first floor ready to hit the door when his mommy and daddy come to get him. That's all I can figure. Ripken does the same thing when he stays with Joe's son. He loves Rob but will not go up to the second floor to sleep in the bedroom with Rob and his wife. He stays downstairs, on his bed, by the front door. He moves around the first floor of their place just fine, goes on walks, but will not go up to the second floor. It's not because he is afraid of stairs--he goes up and down ours all the time. Does Harold cry when he sees your sister after she's been away. When we come back from a trip to get Rip, he gets all whiney and vocal for a few minutes and then he settles down. Oh yeah, if you need a new step, you should get one. Eventually, I guess they just wear out and you've got to think about safety.

Shadowpup: all those bulbs. I'd lose my mind. You must really like gardening. And I'm more than happy to vicariously live through yours and Shoegal's purchases.

Laura: woohoo! Way to go on purchasing STS. Did you get the ab circuits too?

Janie: Have fun at Disney world--you should have great weather this time of year.

And I can't remember anymore, did we all pre-order Shock Cardio? I did.

~Michelle

 

[ladubose]

!

Gosh what is up with the new log in every time you come here? Is that happening to everyone else? I hate having to do that extra step...same thing on the Workout Manager Page.

Can't believe it has been 2 days since I checked in! Where do the days go? Tuesday I had a kind of off day, but did manage an 1:30 minute hike and to sneak in the Shoulders and Arms from P90X, Chest & Back was scheduled but my pecs were already so sore from my classes the night before I thought it would be better to let them rest.

Today I got a facial, which was heavenly and my skin does look the better for it. It was way, way(read years) over due so I didn't feel guilty for indulging myself. Than I taught my Intermediate Pilates class, than I stayed and took the Cardio Burn class that my friend teaches after my class to see what she is doing, and then we both did about 30 minutes of P90X Plyo. I wish we had finished it, but the Rec. Center was closing and the desk people do not like to stay one minute past closing time. I don't blame them either.
Anyway got a good workout in.

Actually I think my body may be showing signs of over training, it is hard fitting in the workouts I want to do for myself with the ones I have to do for my 'work". I think an active rest week is in store for me very soon.

Shoegal: I love, love 4DS! At first I just liked the cardio parts but the last time I did it I began to get into the weight work as well. I still can't seem to master the tricep dips with the fee on the ball and the hands on the high step, can you do those? As far as figuring out the best time to workout I find I make myself schedules but end up fitting it when and where I can in the day. Over time the times that work best will present themselves.

Janie: Have fun! My Mother-in-Law lives close to Orlando and I think there might be a future Disney trip in store for us, maybe even next year. If so I will consult you for inside tips!

Shadowpup: Girl you are on a mission! I think you are right about not needing sandbags, and at least you get a product for your efforts! I think since the Biggest Loser last season trained with monster truck tires, sandbags and other such things to win the season finale that type of workout is getting more lime light. Jillian even had a sledge hammer and monster tire on the show last night, first time ever! My husband, who does lots of hard physical work, always makes fun of me 'going to work out' he says everyday all day is his workout! Oh and he does look good I have to say!!!

Michelle: you and me on the busy track! At least we are still working out. I would love to do the STS 6 months and yes I also ordered shock cardio. I forgot, have you done your 1RMs yet? I have no idea when I can fit those into my life??