T-12 Check-in for November 4-10, 2007

[BelovedHeather]

T-12 Sisters:

Happy Sunday! Welcome to the first full week of November! I am fired up and ready to recharge with a restful night of sleep so I can hit the ground running with Cathe’s November rotation bright and early in the morning. Thankfully, the time change is giving me an extra hour of sleep. This will be my first Cathe rotation, and I am excited!

I have a new game plan and a new focus. I pulled the scale out of the closet an hour ago and peeked at my weight just for peace of mind. My weight is holding steady. The bloat has not departed yet, but I am not still gaining. Praise God! The scale is back in the closet again. I decided to focus on developing strength and lean muscle mass for the next 7-8 weeks, and I will be perfectly content with no weight loss on the scale until January (but am hoping to shed inches and drop at least a size). If the scale reveals a lower number on New Year’s Eve, glory to God! If not, a higher starting weight will actually be beneficial in January. Either way, it is all good! Stay tuned for details!

I hope y’all are sleeping peacefully. Sweet dreams!

Blessings,
Heather B.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

 

[PennieAnne]

Hi Heather! Happy Sunday to you too!

I am 4 days ahead of you on the Cathe November rotation and I just gotta tell ya - you will LOVE it! When I started LIS this morning, the music and those fun combinations just put me in the best mood - such a fun way to start the day! I love the shoulder work and was able to go as heavy as Cathe on most of the exercises and I love working my calves that way - they get so toasty!

I'm glad you put that scale away and I love that you are going to focus on developing strength and lean muscle mass. And, the best part is you are going to have SO MUCH FUN getting there with these workouts!

Hugs to Belinda, Alesia, Gayle, Lorrie, Amy, Kathy G, Jean and Cheryl!

Pennie

 

[BelovedHeather]

T-12 Check-in

T-12 Sisters:

I packed up my scale, stored it in a closet, and started Cathe’s November rotation this morning. Yippee! This is my first Cathe rotation, and I am so excited! These workouts are a joy and delight to experience, and I want to have fun and enjoy the journey instead of stressing about my weight. I smiled the whole time I was dancing around my step during HIS this morning. These workouts make me so happy! Other than Cathe’s Friday morning step class and the Road Trip, I have not been this excited about my fitness journey in a long time. I cannot wait for morning to get here so I can have fun with Kickbox again!

Since this series focuses on heavier weights and less cardio, I decided to modify my way of eating by increasing my protein and decreasing my starchy carbs slightly. The way I was eating was great for Cathe’s longer and more intense cardio and circuit workouts, but my body may need different fuel for these workouts. This way of training is radically different than anything I have tried before, so it makes sense that my nutrition needs to change with it.

I have faith that Cathe’s rotation as designed with all the stretching and rest days will result in strength and fitness gains. I am definitely planning to enjoy the double cardio premix on the optional cardio days just to get my cardio fix! I did the weights first premixes the first week and the premixes for a 3-day split last week. I decided to do the workouts as produced this month. I enjoyed HIS more this way. I prefer fasted cardio but need fuel before weight workouts. I did the warm-up and step segment this morning, took a quick break for part of a hemp protein smoothie, completed the weight segment and stretch, and enjoyed the rest of the smoothie after my workout. I had more energy for a better cardio workout this way and was surprised to discover that I was able to lift heavier weights because I was all filled up with warm fuzzies from the step workout! Yippee! Cardio first for me!

Pennie, I started Cathe’s rotation this morning. I am a few days behind you and a day ahead of Cheryl. The step choreography is so much fun! I laugh and smile and have such a good time with these new workouts!

Blessings,
Heather B.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

 

[dreamyjeanie]

Hi everyone. Just trying to bring us back up to the front page before the weekend. I know everyone is busy and I just wanted to say hi. I got a couple of workouts in this week. Still not back up to where I should be, but at least the weight is maintaining. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Jean

 

[BelovedHeather]

T-12 Check-in

T-12 Sisters:

Good morning! Three months ago, I was enjoying my first live Cathe step class. I am missing Cathe and my Road Trip sisters this morning! Thankfully, the weekend has finally arrived! I am ready for a restful weekend. I started Cathe’s November rotation Sunday morning, and I am wrapping up the first week with a rest day. It will be interesting to see how my body responds to 30 minutes of cardio 5 days a week with a stretch day and a rest day. This rotation feels “just right” for where I am in this journey. The way Cathe added stretch and rest days is making this series even more enjoyable for me. These were my workouts for the week:

11-04-07 Higher Intensity Step
11-05-07 Kickbox
11-06-07 Stretch Max
11-07-07 Lower Intensity Step
11-08-07 Boot Camp
11-09-07 Higher Intensity Step (cardio premix)
11-10-07 rest

I did the weights first premixes the first week I did this series on my own and the premixes for a 3-day split the second week. I decided to do the workouts as produced this month for Cathe’s rotation. I discovered that doing cardio first gives me a better workout overall. I prefer fasted cardio but need fuel before weight workouts. Enjoying the cardio first then taking a quick break for part of a hemp protein smoothie before the weight work is the perfect solution for me. I had more energy for cardio this way and was surprised to discover that I was able to lift heavier weights because I was all filled up with warm fuzzies from the fun cardio! Yippee! Cardio first for me! Boot Camp is the possible exception. It is a tough workout no matter which way I do it! That biceps and triceps work is intense!

These workouts make me so happy (especially the cardio kickboxing and step choreography)! Other than Cathe’s Friday morning step class and the Road Trip, I have not been this excited about my fitness journey in a long time.

I believe I have experienced my “breakthrough” with this series. When all is said and done, I believe I will testify that gaining 10 pounds when I started this series was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Why? Because it convinced me to pack up my scale and start enjoying the journey again instead of stressing over my weight. I feel so free! The pressure is off! Yippee!

I know from flirting with the Slow and Heavy Series for a few weeks last year that heavy weight training makes me tired and hungry. I miss the natural high and feeling of bursting with energy that an intense cardio and circuit training rotation gives me, but I am having so much fun with these workouts. I need to have fun now because it appears that Cathe is going to start cracking the whip in 2008. I am enjoying every minute of these fun and dancy step workouts because the party will be over when the new Shock Training System arrives! I love the thought of having a series planned by Cathe for results!

I enjoyed the chat with Cathe during my lunch hour yesterday. Good news! She has not given up on the boxing series or Rhythmic Step 2! I just need to be patient! It makes me happy to know that she will continue producing the Cathe workouts I know and love in addition to the STS workouts. Yippee!

My eating has been stellar this week. I have been eating 5 times a day in addition to a hemp protein smoothie after my weight workouts. I added a little extra protein to my menus this week in the form of organic air-chilled chicken. I am listening to my body and feel good about my way of eating, so I decided not to make any other changes at this time. I will feel even better next week after my body adjusts to the time change. This time change wipes me out every year even though we gain an hour. I definitely like sunshine and warm weather!

Jean, thanks for keeping the thread warm. I have been tired this week, and sleep has been taking the place of my computer time.

Blessings,
Heather B.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

 

[banslug]

RE: T-12 Check-in

Hey guys! I didn't even see this check-in earlier in the week! Sorry!

Heather, yes! I am very pleased to hear RS2 is still in the plans. I really LOVE LOVE LOVE Cathe's all-step workouts. Sounds like YOU are doing very well, my dear! I'm SOOOOOOOOO proud of you for not letting the darn bloat ruin your game plan! GAME FACE, GIRL!!

OK....HI AND HELLO and I MISS YOU to every single ONE OF YOU! I really miss you guys! Has anybody SERIOUSLY thought about a get-together reunion party for us??? Maybe something we can plan far enough ahead of time so I can budget it out??? Jerry (aka eagleboo on these boards) and I have been in contact and when he gets back from his trip to Florida, we're going to arrange a day to meet at Cathe's gym for a live Cathe Class! I'm excited about that! I have quite a few days off of school in Dec due to early dismissals, so I'm going to use one of those days and make a day trip for ME ME ME!

Tomorrow closes out WEEK 6 for me! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! So far, I've lost over 13 pounds and SEVERAL inches (more than halfway to my beginning goals)! My wardrobe is getting rebuilt, as I begin to fit into clothes that have been tucked away for 2+ years. I'm feeling VERY CONFIDENT and VERY STRONG! I'm taking tomorrow's Free Day, and I'll be writing down revised goals for the second half of my 12 week challenge! I'm LOVING IT!!!!!!!!!

Dave and I are doing well! HA! Thought you might want to know. On the days that he takes his kids to school (also the days that he works from home), he swings past my house to say Good Morning to me and the boys. He bought P90X and burned a copy of each DVD workout for little ol' me (yes.....it's not necessarily legal, but he has a special Computer Nerdy software that gets around the blocks, lol). I'm going to begin using the core/ab workouts as well as the Yoga ones.

I'm still patiently waiting on the new Tracey DVDs. Her last update shows SHE should be getting them Wednesday of next week, and will turn around and ship them right out to US! Who else besides me and Lorrie bought them? Curious?

OK.....HOW ARE YOU FINE LADIES! Have I told you YOU ALL ROCK!!!!

KEEP ON TRUCKIN!

Gayle

p.s. I'm checking into different fundraising events with LLS again. The Grand Canyon will be somewhere around $4,000, in case anybody else is still considering it. I'm toying with several options!

 

[Utah Gal]

RE: T-12 Check-in

Heyyy, ladies!

My rest day for my first week of the Cathe Nov. rotation was yesterday. Today was a nice 75 min run, and tomorrow is Boot Camp. Woo hoo!

Jean, thanks for keeping us moving here. I'm so glad you're doing well.

Heather, what great news that plans for the new RS2 are still alive and kicking. So happy to hear your breakthrough news. Yes, putting that scale away was a very good thing.

Wow, Gayle, down 13 pounds!! Maybe more, since it wouldn't surprise me if you've added at least a little new muscle into the mix. Ah, what love will do (combined with a whole lot of hard work!!!! Just kidding you, girl!) :+ :+ :+

Can't wait for that STS to appear. I just got the book-on-CD of 4 Day Wins by Martha Beck (recommended by our RT girlfriend Kathy/Annabelle) and will let everyone know how I like it. Self improvement books on CD in my car have been a good thing of late.

No kids this weekend - some PR work to catch up on, but Vic and I will also get in a nice date (and I'll get in nice workouts, of course!) Have a happy weekend, everyone!

Cheryl