Workouts while on vacation...

[SirenSongWoman]

Today, I decided to try some of the many dvds I've never gotten around to. Has anyone done any of these?

Patrick Goudeau's ABC Workout (45 min): If you're uncoordinated, he is IMPOSSIBLE to keep up with - and I kept losing my ball. If I could keep up, I imagine it would be a great cardio workout. Very different than anything I've ever done.

Winsor Pilates / The Back Workout (25 min): I have a Gaiam stability ball back workout I got from Target that's gives a much more effective stretch.

Winsor Pilates / Ab Sculpting (22 min): Holy cow! This was ridiculously challenging and I'm going to be in horrible pain tomorrow. My abs need a lot of work and this one hits everything so I'll be rotating it in with my Cathe ab workouts. If your abs are in awesome shape and you have trouble finding workouts that challenge you, get this one.

Since getting back to working out (while on vacation, no less) I've been really kicking butt. Last night, I did all of Butts and Gutts and have been rabid about working out since 6/4, after doing nothing for months (I know about overdoing it...). I recently lost A LOT of weight and everyone was all impressed and stuff, until I came to work in SHORTS. Two separate co-workers remarked in the same day "ummm ummm, look at those BIG LEGS." They thought they were COMPLIMENTING me! How's that for motivation?!

 

[tneah]

Well it depends on who commented on your "big legs' in alot of cultures-actually every single one (except our anorexic one) that is actually quite a compliment! And it sounds like that is what it was...a compliment!:7 Good for you, keep up the good work, and never let anyone bring you down!

 

[chefkate]

Thanks for the reviews!
Glad you're doing so well! ^5!

 

[Sunshine 1528]

It might have sounded better if it was . . .

"look at those large muscular legs !".

I'm so definitely sure that is what they meant, aren't you?;-)

How about you let us give you the correct compliments and just remember they aren't your cyber Catheite friends }(

 

[jonahnah]

Good for you getting back on track with your workouts! I agree with the other posters, the co-worker comments were intended as compliments so accept them as such! Please continue to post your thoughts on the workouts you haven't tried previously. It's great to get opinions from other Catheites. I'm doing the same thing with my ever expanding collection. I just tried Amy Bento's All Pump Xtreme and love some of her moves, especially the "push away push ups" using the step. Man, those are pec fryers!

Jonahnah
Chocolate IS the answer, regardless of the question.

 

[Miss Lee]

Now look who's providing the inspiration!

That's awesome! Wow, how did you ever find the motivation to workout during your vacation!?

And I agree with everyone else -- take that "legs" comment as a compliment. You've worked hard and I know you look GREAT!

 

[cakebaker]

I would be insulted if someone said, "ummm ummm, look at those BIG LEGS." What were they thinking? I'm self conscious about my legs anyway, so I would not have taken it as a complement.

 

[SirenSongWoman]

My legs actually aren't muscular... they're still fat. In fact, as the weight came off I was really dismayed when it seemed my thighs were slimming down but my calves weren't budging. I've wracked my brain trying to remember what my legs looked like before I got fat (I do recall my legs being complimented by grown men when I was 13... yet another reason I never became a mom... grown men making inappropriate remarks to teenage girls). Now, though, they're just plain ugly. My closest buddy at work tells me the "big leg thing" is "cultural" (I'm white, she's black and the flattery is coming from black co-workers who DO mean it as a compliment and seem confused when I look like I'm going to cry). But here's the cool thing: the "flattery" inspired me to finally get off my butt and get moving again. I haven't gained back any of the weight I lost when I was working hard and watching everything but it's obvious the progress has stalled and I think all the co-workers who rooted so hard for me really want me to get going again. Especially the fat girls - who want proof it can be done by a "sister" before THEY put forth the effort. I remember thinking that way, back when I was real fat. But my stalling has made them wary, I think. While I was taking my break (and working a lot of hours) I could see myself getting soft but, dig this, since I started back to serious weight training (with cardio) it's like I'm seeing immediate, accelerated changes. Almost like my body has been waiting for me to get back to work - and it FEELS good. My diet isn't clean, by Tosca's standards, but I haven't spent ONE DIME on fast food or take-out in about a month (I used to get fast food at least 3 times in 2 days). I do all my own cooking (no frozen entrees, either) and, even though I'm not cooking clean and my portions aren't as small as they should be, I didn't gain weight. What started out as a spending freeze has been good for my body. Pretty soon, I'll need to clean up my diet but right now my focus is on working out and learning to cook stuff that tastes as good as all the fast food so I leave that (admittedly tasty) overpriced junk alone for good.

But I'm working hard at getting smaller, leaner, and tighter all over, especially in the legs. I was just laying in bed one morning wondering how to get the fat off my legs (I was half-asleep) when I thought 'Hey, if you build muscle ANYWHERE on your body you lose fat EVERYWHERE... I know that.' So back to weight training... As for being disciplined about working out while on vacation, gasoline is so ridiculous it's become too expensive to go anywhere so it's 'Watch tv, read, hang out at Cathe.com, write, draw, workout, clean house... tv, read, hang out at Cathe.com, write, draw...' You get the picture. I'm not doing anything that costs anything. Good thing I ordered STS before my self-imposed spending freeze!

I can't thank you all enough for your support. The supportive family here is the reason this is such a great place to be. Even when we disagree amongst ourselves it's always cool.