Workout Warriors Jan 24th - Jan 30th

littlefiretop

littlefiretop

Cathlete
Good Morning Warriors....

Just getting the thread started for this week. Will check back later. (have a good flight Mary and enjoy your trip!)
 
HOW WAS YOUR SATURDAY????

I feel I have been sinful. I must atone and accordingly prostrate myself b4 you. I missed my workout. Once????? No not once. Twice. There were however extenuating circumstances and the facts of these I shall endeavour to exhibit in deposition of my defence.


MORNING:
I have a breakfast buddy. His Mrs works alternate Saturdays and on odd occasions we have a naughty giggly assignation and go and have breakfast. Its actually incredibly innocent but deliciously secret and mischievious. So on Saturday we’d decided to go up to the Visitor Centre in the forest for a nice bracing bit of morning air. We set off and from the first were thwarted along the route as the road was closed, so we de-toured and then further along the same thing happened again. So after a series of cunningly devised improvisations we arrived undeterred at our destination. Perhaps the problematical journey was the cosmos trying to warn us that this entire venture was enrobed in disaster.

We parked the car and arrived at the Visitor Centre. It was cold and crisp and the atmosphere was thick with morning mist, the ground had a twinkling of permafrost but the cabin appeared all shuttered and dark. I would have abandoned the venture at this point, but my companion opened the gate and peeked round the side. It was like Nirvana. There was steam billowing through an open hatch. The welcoming smell of rustic bacon cooking and an array of pastries, muffins and bagels to satisfy even the most stalwart carboaholic gratified my gaze, (my spellchecker is rejecting carboaholic – it is an adjective, - I defy it not to be - and if it’s not now I shall see to it that it is entered into Oxford English by end of business today).

I was happy and eager and prepared to station myself for the duration of the morning, until that was, we discovered that only outside seating existed – this was an alfresco dining experience. It was minus 2 degrees, my extremities had begun to turn bluish-black and the enjoyment of a bacon sandwich would be no consolation if my toes started to drop like conkers in October. So we retraced our steps to the vehicle and headed towards the nearest town on our now seemingly increasingly futile breakfast quest.

My next suggestion was the quaint little attic tearoom above ‘Home and Colonial’. I announced this and a voice from the driver’s seat asked: “is that the junk shop”. I said: “I think you’ll find that on their website they describe themselves as an ‘Antique Emporium’”. We arrived, achieved parking (no mean feat) and although it was now nipping at the heels of lunchtime were finally successful in attaining a Full English Breakfast.

In the past – I’ve always returned home and done a w/o of all w/os following a breakfast excursion, but on Saturday, for some reason, that which I’d consumed did not sit easy on my tum-tum and I felt enormously queasy for the remainder of the day.

Workout cancelled.

Bye Bye w/o – I love you and I miss you, but I must forsake you just this once.

AFTERNOON:
The next thing to be endured was a trip to the camera shop with my photographer DD. They do like a drama these kids don’t they??? Never opt for a crisis if a full scale meltdown will suffice.

I’d received a call at work the previous afternoon:

From the deep concern and gravity which conveyed itself to me through her speech when she opened with “Hi Mum. Can you talk????? I really need to speak to you…………….” Led me to imagine that the situation about to be revealed was terrifying in the extreme. I imagined the possibly she’d severed a major artery maybe one of her own or even one belonging to A.N.Other as yet undetermined. Had she inadvertently set fire to an orphanage staffed entirely by kittens? Or maybe she had been duped into becoming a drugs mule for a Cocaine Baron and had innocently become embroiled in a bullion heist and was at this very moment being white trafficked across a heretofore unheard of sub-continent??? I gasped, don’t hyperventilate I warned myself, you’ll need to keep your wits for the trauma however epic, that is about to be exposed. “What’s the matter” I breathed, eyes wide with terror, vein in my temple throbbing like a Beyonce concert. “My camera won’t turn on” she replied.

We duly spent Saturday afternoon attendant at camera shop, where it transpired the camera was dead. Deader than Neffititi. Hence Goodbye all my $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ gone forever. Gone but not forgotten.

EVENING:
There was a barn dance scheduled for the evening. Now, when it initially came to my attention that my name had made erroneously made its way onto the barn dance attendance list I moved with all the alacrity I could muster to ensure its instantaneous removal. I shot across that reception like Usain Bolt on horse steroids: hollering “I can’t come, I can’t come, I can’t come. You’ll have to take me off the list, because I can’t come. I CANNOT COME”.

However, when you are a member of a club or a society it’s a bit like being in a marriage and sometimes you just have to bite your tongue and compromise, which is precisely what subsequently transpired on this occasion when a friend was minus her DH which necessitated my being plucked from the subs bench and lurched, kicking and screaming, into the affray.

Now I have not found my previous forays into the world of barn dancing unenjoyable, but on this occasion – deployed as a geezer, I was forced to endure the entire experience – but backwards.

It has long been my opinion that I have been clustered together on this tiny island with a society of personages whom I cannot in all conscience describe as advanced independent thinkers. They are more the embodiment of the persona that enjoys what can only be described as Saturday night telly. I know you know exactly what I mean. A pair of presenters, purveying some idea of asinine quizmastership, while the blank contestants, through glazed eyes and drooling lips haphazardly attempt responses and to excel at challenges not beyond the ability of an amoeba but seemingly of infinitesimal harshness in comparison to their low ranking IQs.

Well, translate if you will, that persona to a barn dance situation and voila you have exactly the experience to which my beleaguered self was exposed on Saturday night. On previous occasions I was partnered with other dancers. However, third time unlucky as it transpired. I was herded together to complete a set of eight, four of whom were complete novices and to say chaos ensued would be an extremely courteous and polite description of the manifest carnage. All that is required to achieve barn dance supremacy is to (1) listen and (2) to perform a simple instruction. Ergo: listen/perform, listen/perform, listen/perform. Simple and hey-presto glittering barn-dance domination is thine.

Now the non-free thinker of the Western World, it is my belief, displays (1) an all encompassing inability to listen and (2) to similarly translate and enact any basic command. It is an almost inherent deviant gene that tells the wearer that they are by far superior to such commands and accordingly such commands do not therefore apply to them, when irrefutably the exact opposite is in actuality true.

Picture then if you would a scene of pandemonium and utter bewilderment accomplished to unimaginable proportions. Against which I detected two distinct modes of behaviour which were deployed as a defence strategy to dispell this gargantuan incompetence. The first of which was: I don’t understand the command thus I shall stand sentry-like in immitation of a diligent meercat and twitch not a single fibre of my being until the surrounding malay abates. The second method for dereliction of being able to compose a satisfactory reaction to a simplistic instruction, is to race in sheer panic helter-skelter like an apoplectic lemming in ever decreasing circles, until I can return to my original position and look accusingly at my neighbour in blame for my complete and utter inability to walk 4 steps forward and two steps to the side when instructed.

This then was how I spent my Saturday evening. Witnessing confused and frantic lemmings skittering across the floor shunting with wild abandon into those participants who had chosen to adopt the frozen statue approach to proceedings and causing them to go crashing to the floor like human skittles.

I was in misery and torment and I must confess that when a delicacy of chicken nuggets and chips (fries) were besported before me I wretchedly ingested them to my subsequent great regret and this, added to my earlier breakfast, was the culprit for why I was unable to achieve w/o success on a second occasion on Sunday morning.

Workout cancelled.



There is now a fleeting glimmer of light in the distance, which is coming inexorably closer:

Tomorrow I am going to Heathrow to meet Mary and welcome her to London. She very kindly, amidst her personal sadness, offered to take delivery of STS for me to save me all the incidentals $$$$. I gratefully accepted this offer despite having no idea at that time that she planned a visit to London. Even when I knew that she was coming I never imagined that the STS would be delivered in time for her to bring it with her. Remarkably the package arrived from shopCathe after only 2-3 days which was unbelievable. We discussed posting it, or whatever would be most convenient and then decided to meet @ Heathrow. If I was honest, I’m so happy to have this opportunity to check-in with a check-in buddy that the whole STS exchange is now largely incidental and I’d go regardless just for the opportunity to say “Hi”. I appreciate that she is inevitably inbued with deep sorrow but I shall give her big HUGS and send her off with lots of love from all of us on here.

I will post Piccies of us @ Heathrow tormorrow.

Oh – yes now I remember why I’m on here I did BM2 today.
 
Happy Monday Warriors!

(Kadet) Kim – You are an amazing writer! I enjoyed every word you wrote. You MUST write for a living, and if not, you should. Simply fantastic. You are amusing, witty, engaging, observant and sharp as a tack. I am soooo happy you are receiving STS, hand delivered. It seems as though it was providence. Please post photos. Thank you, very much, for the offer of Malteser Bunnies. I am tempted, but that would mean I would fail my 12 wk no sugar challenge, so I’ll pass – this time around! The hotel, Royal Horseguards, is breathtaking. Everything in the States is so NEW in comparison. (I am sad for Mary too, but know she will love her time in England with Simon and enjoy the hotel too.)

Regina and Kimberly – Rowan is an AKC registered red standard poodle. He is 6 months old; so a new dog learning new tricks. He knows all of the basic obedience commands, and a lot of the intermediate commands too, but when around other young dogs he just wants to play, play, play…so the first class was tough on him. We are taking the class so that he learns when it’s time to work and when it’s time to play. None of the other dogs knew commands of any sorts and were rather shy and reserved. Not my guy. Here are links to recent photos of my red spoo with his siblings and parents at the poodle puppy reunion we had over the weekend.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowanredspoo/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55572337@N02/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dizzycyn/
http://picasaweb.google.com/egreenie/RedPoodleReunion#

Yes, it was sunny and warm. (sorry) Move to California – ridiculous taxes, ridiculous on many other levels – but fabulous weather. :D

Regina – Do you teach History at the University? For some reason I assumed you taught nursing.

Kimberly – How much snow do you have on the ground now? Has it warmed up at all? I agree with you about carbs and atkins…the brain needs carbs, the body needs carbs…it just does not work to eliminate an entire food group. Success lies in the choices we make, not what we limit ourselves with or by.

Cathy – I am holding you to that. As of February 8th – you are off of sugar, okay? You can thank me later.

Suzie – How good, loving, and kind of you to understand and support your husband’s passion. We all need a passion. Did he buy anything? I’m from AZ originally, so I am a wee bit jealous he was there in January, Phoenix is absolutly heaven in the winter, which they pay for with their hell-ish summers. :D

Donna – shoveling is lame! And yes, the right gloves are must. Lucky your plow guy came around, huh? I did half of Tonique Mat the other day. Wow- she is a killer. I had to do the side lying “warm up” with my hips stacked and totally on my side, as opposed to how she is doing them, which would aggravate my hip a thousand fold and both the DR and physio therapist would be appalled by. Did you notice the chapters do not list the side-lying as “warm-up”. I made it through a part of the “on the back” and had to stop because I was already fried from my other endeavors plus I was out of time. I could only run to Sheryl Crow if I was running in my sleep, I agree – way too mellow. I am on my last week of Meso 1 also. What are you doing next week? I think I am going to continue lifting, but I’ll do Total Body and Higher Reps.

Jenn – Yay, congrats on your 2# weight loss. I have noticed that logging or keeping track somehow and planning ahead make a big difference in weight loss, stasis, or weight gain. If I want to lose I just have to keep myself accountable.

MJ - Are you saturated with tennis and can’t get up? How are you girl?

Morningstar - @rogers....but I have to empty the cat box first. :eek:

Tara – are you out there dear?

Mary (keefe) - I know you are on your way to Heathrow and to Simon, but you are in my thoughts, have a safe trip and a memorable time.

As for me - I feel like I fell off of the map, it’s been a busy last couple of days. Did anyone/every one look at Allie Brosh’s blog, Hyperbole and a Half? You really should, she is very funny. Not as funny as Kim and Morningstar though.

Friday I ran on the TM following Couch to 5k plan, so about 25 minutes of slowish moderate movement, then STS Back and Tri’s…then something else but I can’t remember….maybe that’s when I did Tonique Mat. Saturday was poodle puppy lalapalooza, and Sunday I did my rehab stuff and fought fatigue all day long, which strangely felt like a hangover. Today was TM walk/run, STS SCB…I am happy to report I did 75-80% of the push-ups on my toes, and I increased my weights. I am still not lifting as heavy as I was, but I am slowly getting there.

Hope everyone is having a great beginning to their week.
:D
 
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Hey guys,

Last night pretty heavy DOMS from Saturday's slow and heavy workout started to creep in. I had expected them, which is why I went running early on Sunday- I knew the DOMS wouldn't affect me until later in the day. By this morning, I was pretty stiff, so in keeping with shaking things up for my muscles, I did a 30 minute endurance workout. I kept the weight light, only using a 27lb body bar rather than dumbbells or a barbell (until the very end). The goal was to break through the stiffness. So I did 100 squats, 100 push ups, 60 of these weird lateral raise type things that are impossible to describe because I made them up on the spot using the body bar, 50 tricep dips without weight (except my own rather considerable weight, of course!), 50 bicep curls, 50 lower ab bench thingies, and then finally brought out the 100lb barbell for two short sets of two arms rows.

It was just so freakin' cold again this morning that I couldn't face it and for the first time in months, took transit to work. Was damned near late for the first time too - #$%#% Toronto transit. Ran home from work, decent run, nothing interesting or special. Muscles too tight, though. The DOMS are still working their way through the hamstrings in particular.
 
Ok Janis I marked my calendar! In theory, that works out well as the 12 weeks ends just a few days before the conference. The one by which I wanted to ditch at least 10 lbs. In reality......it's winter and like some others am a definite carboholic. :eek:

Today's workout was back and then the Express premix from Cardio Core Circuit. I haven't done the whole thing in awhile and never done that premix, but I swear it was tougher than the whole thing! It does each set of cardio only once and all the ab work, all of which has a high cardio factor, but there is hardly any break between anything! I did it, but I was totally sucking air.

You know Morningstar your idea of a workout to break through stiffness would kill the average person. :p

Kim you were totally cracking me up. :D Janis is right, if you aren't a writer you need to start. ;) I'm sooooo glad that you are meeting up with Mary. Looking forward to pics and for sure give her an extra big hug from us!
 
Just a quick check in. Sunday I went to Zumba and today I did Pershing Square 2 thigh and seat work. Fighting a cold but other than that all is good.

Janis I looked at your pics of Rowan. He is so adorable.

Hope everyone has had a great start to thier week.
 
Good Evening Warriors!

Janis-- I am so saturated with tennis that I drained my 401k and moved away to Australia ;) Ok..maybe not, but it was a nice momentary daydream. lol Unfortunately, its just the same lame story of work and such keeping me busy.

In answer to your question last week on tennis dresses....I must say I cant really handle the over the top dresses. I sort of understand, but dont necessarily agree with, the whole "wanting to look more feminine" thing that some of the women do, an extra ruffle, certain cut or color. I think it is a little silly because they are women running around in short skirts to begin with, you cant get much more feminine then that. Its when the dresses start to look more like something you wear to prom, the nightclub or on stage in vegas that I start to cringe. You are top level athletes, quit making yourself look foolish already! lol (gets off her soapbox :p)

Glad to see you are keeping up with your workouts so well and the C25K :)

(Kadet) Kim - I agree with everyone else, your writing is superb. I read it at work on a break and it was a much needed laugh. I would absolutely love to go to Wimbledon, actually I would love to go to each of the slams, perhaps someday I will be able to make it. For this year though I dont think its in the cards, so I will just have to live vicariously through you. :D
Enjoy your meet and greet with Mary and receiving your STS...you will now be able to experience the pain like the rest of us. lol

Cathy- Great job on your workouts. I still have enough of a dread factor for CCC that I havent even tried it yet :eek: It is in the rotation somewhere so I will give it a shot soon enough. I applaud you on wanting to try to give up the sugar like Janis, that sounds like a toughie to me.

Morningstar - When you can do that workout while juggling three tennis balls, painting a picasso with your left foot and cooking a sugar free dessert for Janis and Cathy, then I will be impressed. :p Until then, its just an average effort. ;) lol

As for my workouts last week, I did manage to finish all the C25k runs for the week, played tennis 3 times and did all 3 of the STS workouts for the week. I didnt manage the morning cardio, I think my body still needed another week of consistent workouts before attempting the two a days, but this week I am going to try to do the tennis, STS, C25K runs and as many of the morning cardios as I can manage. It is time to step it up and get going on what I need to accomplish.

Alright, time for dozing off in bed while watching tennis. Catch up with all of you tomorrow. :cool:
 
I thought I finally had all the equipment to use my downloads of STS Shock Cardio. I have a new ipod, and I finally got the video cable. Turns out, I need a new TV!! My downloads play great in the living room, but my workout room...they do not!! My choices are to buy a new tv, or pull out my older, smaller tv -which surprising the ipod works with. I don't really need to be able to use downloads yet, I have all the Shock Cardio on DVD's. Although my husband currently has most of those out in the garage for his use. I guess I'll cross that bridge when the next presale comes around and I have to decided between DVD or downloads.

Jen38: Yup, I was lucky enough to see a thread about the KCM pre-sale so I ordered with the free shipping. Can't beat that!

McKeefe: I'm actually somewhat enjoying this 2 week Atkins challenge. I am finding that contrary to popular belief, you actually add in carbs as the weeks go by. By the time you're done, you supposedly can eat most things normal people eat. The first 2 weeks you are allowed a max of 20 carbs. The only good thing, I find I rarely feel hungry, and I have no cravings!

Littlefiretop: Do you play singles or double tennis? My husband and I have been playing for 23 years. Not nearly as much the past few years as we used to. We used to go to Arizona to a pro tournament in Scottsdale. It was a small venue, up close and personal and we could even watch the practice sessions. All the big players were there and it was so much fun!

Janis: Not sure how much snow there really is out there, but it's measured in feet, not inches! Loved the pictures of Rowan. So cute to see the whole dog family. He is adorable. He looked a little embarassed in his boxers.

Morningstar: You absolutely amaze me with your outdoor runs. WOW!

Kadetkim: That was quite the story! Enjoy meeting our check-in buddy. That's pretty cool she's bringing you STS. I bet you will enjoy it.

Ended up doing KCM step-box since I didn't want to go out to the garage to steal back my MMA boxing DVD.

Kimberly
 
This morning was shoulders, Core Max - Tough Core (aptly named!) and KPC. KPC wasn't actually what I was supposed to do, but I felt like doing it. :D I did the warm-up, and the low & high intensity drills and stretch. Ended up being about 37 minutes and made for (I thought) a much better workout than 4DS Kick Box. I'll definitely be doing that again in the future. I did realize after I decided to do KPC having already done shoulders, that they won't be thanking me tomorrow!

MJ - you really have to give CCC a try. It is hard! BUT, it is has a lot of fun factor to it. Plus, all you need is a mat and it's always nice to have something without equipment.

Kim - since you will now have STS when are you planning to start? I'm restarting on the 7th. Have you started doing your 1RM's? I'm kind of scared of mine, because the last time I was doing it I was lifting quite heavy for me. I'm hoping I can pull it off without having to back off and lower my weights.

Ok, I have a ton of things I'm supposed to get done today, but as Cathe says in L&G "I'm stalling...and it feels great." :p
 
Hello Warriors

Didn’t get to check-in yesterday. They cancelled school because it was “too cold”. Seriously! It was -7 degrees… this is Buffalo! Yeah, we don’t get many sub-zero days, but come on already… it’s like the tropics compared to the weather they’re getting around the country. Anyway, my daughter snagged my laptop as soon as I was done with work, and I wasn’t able to get on for any amount of time. I don’t think I even got to play Fast Money for my sister’s Family Feud game on Facebook.

Janis I know what you mean about Slywia’s definition of “warm-up”! The first time I did it, I was thinking…. “Uh…that’s the warm-up?!?!” Actually, I think I had that same reaction way back when, the first time I did a Cathe cardio tape... Maximum Intensity Cardio. To that point, I’d only done The Firm and I was in for a major eye-opener. I got Tonique Mat as an MP4 download from her site, so I don’t have the chapter outline. I went into it completely blind, but I’ve done it twice now so hopefully it will start getting easier. HOPEFULLY.

Kimberly I think you can get really cheap LCD TVs at Best Buy for your workout room. Smaller screens, of course – but around Christmas time, I was seeing them for about $150. Still, $150 is $150 and no fun to shell out for anything but new clothes. My dog ate yet another pair of my Bluetooth headphones yesterday and I’m seething that I need to spend another $60 to replace them. I loved those and the little stinker stole them right out of my purse.

I didn’t have a run yesterday morning, since it was “rest” day after my long-run day. My “long run” on Sunday was actually only 5 miles. But that’s what’s scheduled on my half-marathon training plan, and since running on the treadmill for any significant amount of time stinks… I’m happy enough to run only 5 miles. I did STS M1W4 C, S & B last night, followed by STS No Equipment Abs. You know, I never thought I’d admit to liking ANY sort of push-up, but I really like those staggered ones in this workout. The bootcamp ones too, where you bring your knee sideways up to your elbow. Not sure why I like those, maybe because I know they’re signaling that I’m nearly done with the workout.

I really, really, really don’t like the one ab exercise where you lift your legs in an L, and then crunch with your arms extended down towards your legs in the 1, 1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4 rhythm. HATE it! It really bothers my neck, especially since it’s in the routine right after another one where your neck isn’t supported. I usually end up taking one of my hands and supporting my neck, but I wish this one got tossed in the “exercises of the past” pile. I know, “quit yer whinging and just do it, ya big baby!” Fine! I’ll do it, but I won’t be happy.

This morning was a 40 minute easy run on the TM – no Sheryl Crow. I woke up to Lenny Kravitz and decided I wanted him along for the run. He’s so sexy. STS M1W4 Back & Triceps is on for tonight. I may throw medicine ball abs in, since it’s not a shoulder day… or I may just rest them and do the abs on Thursday. Free will is wonderful, isn’t it?

Have a great day!
 
Peaceful Rainbow said:
Kim - since you will now have STS when are you planning to start? I'm restarting on the 7th. Have you started doing your 1RM's? I'm kind of scared of mine, because the last time I was doing it I was lifting quite heavy for me. I'm hoping I can pull it off without having to back off and lower my weights.

:p
Click to expand...


Cathy

I can see where you're coming from re dropping your weights. When I was a heavy lifter I'd have hated that too.

I'll need to check back in with about that, ie starting on 7th.

OBVIOUSLY I'm itching to go.

However, in so far a 1RMs are concerned I simply - at the time of writing - do not have sufficient equipment to comprehensively complete a cycle. Mary wanted us to do it together, but she's on the back foot due to injury, so she's on hold for now. Therefore, I was wondering about a kind of gentle trial run through first time without having to outlay $$$ on loads of kit.

Or even do Meso 1 + 2 and start again and join in with Mary - loads of options.

What would be peoples' thoughts on that plz peoples????

It's not like I've not got it now and can do it repeatedly (and thoroughly) later on.

Kim xx
 
Hi Warrior Princesses

It's Tuesday - rehab day for me, which I followed up with Alisa Wyatt's Advanced Pilates. This is the most advanced Pilates dvd in my arsenal, and the best, tough too. I highly recommend Alisa Wyatt. Then the super curly cutey dog and I went for a 3 mile hike. Suddenly the day is over and I'm wondering where all the time went. Why is the sun setting? God, I hate winter. Albeit, the days are getting longer, and what do I have to complain about, it's warm here. :D

Cathy - Ok - we're on. :D:D

Kim - You might not need much extra equipment to do STS. The program is fairly easy to modify. What are you missing? Maybe we can help you figure out how to make it work with what you have. Waiting for Mary is sweet. Yes, you can do one round of M1 or M2 and then comeback and do it again -like I said, it's a very adaptable program.

Donna - "I really, really, really don’t like the one ab exercise where you lift your legs in an L, and then crunch with your arms extended down towards your legs in the 1, 1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4 rhythm. HATE it!" I hear ya on that, sista! I hate them too and do not do them either. I just do a variety of low ab lifts while Cathe and crew crunch away. I think my fave is Weights and Plates. Free will is a good thing. So - what are you doing for your active recovery week?

Kimberly - I read, with interest, your comments about Atkins, and how the higher protein has abated cravings and curbed your appetite. Very interesting and very cool. The twenty carbs you are allowed, how is that measured? In servings? If so, how many grams per serving? I'm glad you liked Rowan's pics, I'm shameless, huh? He is talking in his sleep right now, grumbling, actually! Have you listened to the shock cardio downloads on your ipod? It might be fun to do the workout without watching the t.v., downloads make it highly portable. I know it's too cold right now, but I immediately thought of a high school track or a grassy park. :)

Awww - MJ - When do you get another vacation? I think you need one. Can you go to tennis sleep-away camp again? Remember how much fun you had? Maybe there is a warm, sunny, tropical locale you can jet off to in the middle of February. St. Thomas would be a fairly easy flight. On to tennis dresses - did you see the one the Russian girl was wearing (can't remember her name at the moment) the skirt was almost like a ball gown - too billowy, almost a parachute. Looks dangerous to me too, what if she got tangled up in it? lol. Congrats on getting your C2 5k's in, tennis, and STS - that's a huge accomplishment. I'd be happy with that for now if I were you.:):)

Jenn - I am sorry you are sick with a cold. Winter is tough enough, but then you add a cold...bummer. What is Zumba like?

Hi Tara, Regina, and Melissa!

Tomorrow is: walking/run on TM, STS M1W4 legs, and abs of some sort.
:D
 
Staring at the bottom of what used to be a glass of vanilla vodka on the rocks and feeling my leg muscles continue to rebel, I gotta say, if DOMS are your measure of the effectiveness of a workout, my Saturday workout ROCKED! Three days later, I'm still skipping a swim because my damn legs just hurt too much.

Any old way, I ran to work this morning and walked home. That was it. Clearly no swim tonight. I did stretch after my run (I never do that anymore!) in the middle of a high rise business building lobby (gotta love Toronto- no one glanced twice at me in downward dog) but damn, these DOMS are on a rampage and there's no end in sight.

Another rampage- my hormones. Feelin' bad, feelin' glum, chum, and apparently, the only response I have is to eat every carb in sight. Hold close to your children, white bread, they aren't safe around me. Chocolate, I'll be seeing YOU later, lady. I refuse to step on the scale. I just refuse. It's not like it won't be there later when I'm ready for it. Say, 3-4 days from now and about 10 channa rotis later.

On a somewhat more serious note, you probably won't hear from me for a few days. I have a lot of huge meetings happening and lots of crazy late hours at work (I try to keep the vanilla vodka at a minimum at work). I know y'all will miss me terribly (really, I shoulda bin suthern; I think I was switched at birth).

Why am I talkin' to y'all? There's vanilla vodka to be had!
 
Hi Janis,

On the Atkins website is a list of the food "allowed" in the first two weeks. One ounce of cheese is one gram, 1/2 cup mushroom is 1.2. It all does sound like a pretty good plan, but I freely admit that I am pretty gulible. Whatever I'm reading sounds good, at the time! I only committed to two weeks to give it a try, the jury is still out. But I do have to admit it is nice to not have all those food cravings. Plus, meat and vegetables are extra good when that's all you have to eat.

No workout for me. Rest day.
Kimberly
 
Hi Donna,

Hey that's not playing fair for your dog to take stuff out of your purse! My older dog takes anything of mine that's out of place. If it's where it belongs, it's off limits.

I also just read on the nutrition forum that you share your fruit with your dog. My younger dog LOVES bananas. No one can crack open a banana and not expect to share. She's a heartbreaker.

Good job on the running and STS workouts. Sometimes when I treadmill, I like to do an I-tread and watch Young & Restless with just the captions. I don't enjoy running, so I need more than just music to get me to stay on there!

Kimberly
 
Just as I suspected would happen, the State of the Union speech kept me up late last night in “debate” with my BF. He loves to talk, and politics is one of his favorite subjects. We’re not completely on the same page with our politics, which makes the conversations fun – but he embellishes his opinions in an attempt to get me riled up. Unfortunately for him, I’ve figured that out and it no longer works. Still, the bottle of wine we drank while watching and debating, and the late night made 5:45 a.m. come around way too fast this morning and I’m fighting unconsciousness.

My training program had me scheduled for a 40 minute 75% max HR run today. I have just popped up to 40 minute mornings after 4 weeks of 30 minutes, and while 40 minutes is not difficult for me at all… I liked the shorter runs and how it allowed me to sleep later. Because I was so tired this morning, I originally thought I’d just blow it off. But then I remembered it’s Wednesday and I had to take the garbage out. OK – I’ll get up and do 30 minutes on the treadmill. After I got outside into the cold and woke up a little, I decided I’d decide at 30 minutes whether I’d stop or just do the last 10 minutes. Well… I found a nice new strategy for running when I really don’t feel like it. I broke the run down into 5 minute markers. So instead of thinking, I’ve still got 30 minutes to run, I thought “let’s see how I feel in 5 minutes”. Before I knew it, my 40 minutes was over, and I’d increased my pace without going over my 75% max HR. This is the main thing I dislike about the treadmill vs. running outside. If I’m running on the treadmill, there’s too much of an internal fight to keep running because, let’s face it – it’s boring. Running outside, you’re forced to keep going or it’s going to take forever to get back home. Only 2 months until spring!!!!

No weight work scheduled for this afternoon. Have to do some surface cleaning because I have Bath Fitters coming tomorrow to do an estimate on my shower/tub. Keeping my fingers crossed that it isn’t going to cost more than my tax refund.

I had a nice Back & Triceps workout last night. The only thing that irritates me about STS is the incremental weight changes that I can’t make with my equipment. The final 3 sets of triceps is 3 drop-sets of 10 reps. My calculated weight is 18#, 14#, 11#. I have the micro-load gloves, which are only 2 # each, and my dumbbells are 15# or 20#... so I have to put those gloves on and then put my wrap-around 1# gloves on top of them. My hands get so hot! I should get some of those Platemates, but they seem so expensive. Doesn’t seem worth it to me. I wonder if I got some magnets, could I attach my cast iron 2.5 # plates to my dumbbells… hmmmm… might be worth an experiment…

Janis I haven’t really gotten into Weights & Plates. The one time I did it, I got annoyed at how my plates kept snagging on my carpet. I’ve moved my work-out space to a different room where the carpet is berber, so it might work better. I’ll give it a go on my next ab workout. I haven’t figured out what I’ll do for Active Recovery week. Maybe I’ll check out that Alisa Wyatt?

Kimberly I wish my puggle understood “off limits”. He’s the biggest pain in the butt dog I’ve ever had. He’s definitely gotten better as he gets older, but he’s a slave to his beagle nose and his need to chew. Everyone I know with a puggle has the same issue. He’s cute and he’s sweet, and has loads of personality – but he’s the only puggle I will ever have. The dogs love pretty much all food, I can’t think of anything that they won’t eat. I haven’t tried them on citrus, but for all the work I have to do to get my oranges open, I’m not offering any up to them. Bananas are easy, and I don’t like them when they’re too ripe, so they get them. They also love salad making day. I toss them pieces of the bell pepper and cucumber while I’m cutting them up. When they see that knife, they come running. Then again, they’re always stuck to my side like lint, so it’s not much of a run. It’s more of a sit down next to me and wag their tails like crazy, in an attempt to look so cute I can’t resist them. It works every time.
 
Good Afternoon All,

Sorry for not posting in a few days but I have been busy getting back to the semester.

Janis - I teach history at the University. I have a Ph.d in history. Your phots of Rowan are soooo cute!!How is your 12 weeks of no sugar going?

Kim- You are a great writer. I enjoyed your post. I have completed STS 3 times. Let us know how your STS journey unfolds

Morningstar- I so admire your running to work.

workouts yesterday- Styler- Cardio Dance and shoulders, triceps, biceps ( my workout)
workout this am- Katami- bootcamp 4x4

Donna- have you tried plate mates for your dumbells and barbells for those incremental weights? I use plate mates and love them.

Kimberly--- I don't follow Atkins exctly but I almost always eat low carb.

Have a Great Day! It is snowing here again! I have had enough already!
 
Just got back from hanging out in a guys locker room. :p

Ok, reality was that the boys had to go for their baseball uniform fittings and they were using the boys high school locker room. But, I was in the locker room. ;)

This morning I did Lower Body Blast. No cardio today. Need to figure out what I'm doing next week. I've been doing one part per day and doing 3 sets pyramiding up for each exercise. I'm thinking maybe 2 sets at the heaviest weight I can manage and then doing a back-off set for the third set.

Regina - I love history! Unfortunately, neither of my boys seem to and whenever we do history I'm the only one that really gets into it. We do a once a month class at the Michigan Historical Museum that if very well done. The one docent is simply fantastic. I've learned a great deal from him. :D

Donna - the State of the Union is always after my bedtime, so I went on line and read it this morning.

I understand about all the weight changes for STS. Sometimes the flinging off and on (ok one doesn't fling on!) of the wrist weights gets rather frustrating. When I remember, I set up my workout the night before and figure out exactly what weights I need and make notes on my workout card as to what I need to add. I have the gloves that can be 1/2 lb or 1 lb and the 1 lb wrist weights and 5 lb adjustable ankle weights that work fine, though cumbersome, on my wrists. I found that having it all planned out ahead of time helped a lot.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a dog that sits and salivates when I'm making salad. Sparty loves greens and when we first got him I was amazed at how much he foraged in the backyard and ate. He will eat romaine, but dandelion greens seem to be his favorite. He loves carrots and will eat other stuff as well.

Since Ab Circuits got brought up, what is everyone's favorite? Janis said Weights and Plates. I like that one, but Stability Ball Abs is my favorite. I also love the Butts & Guts Stability Ball Abs.

Hope everyone is having a good week!
 
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