Xer Wednesday ~ we've got a birthday girl!~

[Cole7626]

Yesterday: CTX All Step + Abs & Stretch

Today: GS Legs (floorwork only) + PLB (floorwork only) + SM #1

I enjoyed both of my workouts and am enjoying this rotation overall I adapted it a little bit from the April 05 rotation. I tried to keep most days at an hour because it will just be me and the little tike Here it is again:

Week One

Mon:Gym Styles BS&B (51 min)

Tue: CTX All Step + Abs & Stretch (45 min)

Wed: GS Legs (floorwork only) + PLB (floorwork only) + Stretch Max #2(56 min)

Thur: GS Chest & Triceps + SJ&P "All 4 Hi/Lo Only" Premix & Abs (77 min)

Fri: Yoga (60-90 min)

Sat: CTX 10*10*10 (49 min)

Sun: Rest or Stretch

Week Two

Mon: Gym Styles BS&B (51 min)

Tue: DM "Cardio Leg Blast" Premix (57 min)

Wed: Yoga (60-90 min)

Thur: GS Chest & Triceps + SJ&P "All 4 Hi/Lo Only" Premix (67 min)

Fri: GS Legs(standing work only) + Coremax #3 (60 min)

Sat: CTX Step & Intervals (45 min)

Sun: PY4H "Quickie" (30 min) or Stretch Max (20 min) or Rest

Week Three

Mon: PS Chest & Triceps Only (no shoulder work) + ME Abs + Stretch Max (58 min)

Tue: PS B&B + Step Blast "Combo 1,2 & 3 Add-on" & stretch (65 min )

Wed: PS Shoulders + CTX Shoulders + PS Legs Floorwork & Abs (52 min)

Thur: Rhythmic Step (60 min)

Fri: PS Legs Standing Work + SJ&P "All Step" Premix (61 min)

Sat: LIC "Cardio Blast Timesaver" Premix + "Blast Off Add -On" Premix (58 min)

Sun: Yoga (30-45 min) or Rest

Week Four

Mon: PS Chest & Triceps Only(no shoulders) + B&G SB Abs + Stretch Max (58 min)

Tue: PS B&B + All Step "Cardio Only" (58 min)

Wed: PS Shoulders + CTX Shoulders + PS Legs Floorwork & Abs (52 min)

Thur: IMAX (60 min)

Fri: PS Legs Standing Work+ HST "All Cardio" 2X+ Cool Down & Stretch (69 min)

Sat: BM2 "Timesaver Cardio Only" Premix (43 min)

Sun: Yoga (30-60 min) or Rest

Nicole

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

 

[crunchymomof3]

Wendy -- I've been working out this week in the 4-5PM range. I'm still talking myself into pushing play every day, lol, but at least I keep doing it!! What a pain about PHP, but oh, well. I'm glad your DD is behaving again. I wanted to pick your brains about IEW. I know you use it, and I have their Phonetics Zoo program that my DS uses and loves. I'm so confused about the writing program, though. It seems like it's NOT a program for the student but for the parent to learn how to teach writing, am I right? I'm so lost, lol! I'm contemplating writing programs for my DS (4th grade this year). We tried Writing Strands both levels 2 and 3 and didn't really get anywhere. I'm contemplating Writing Tales, which is similar to Classical Writing only more fun. I'm open to IEW, but with such a high price tag, I need to know what I'm getting... What are your thoughts??

Jeanette -- My DH is a HORRIBLE pack rat, lol. We have broken electronics he won't LET me get rid of (where's that rolling eyes smiley when you need it?)...

Laurie -- Nope, she's filming (or just filmed) another interval step workout and a set of weight workouts. Do you like Powerstrike KB at all?

Debra -- I really don't have much DOMS, either, after CM 3 yesterday, but I sure felt the fire when I was doing it!! Cathe always amazes me when she picks up 20s for pec flies after doing 20s for chest press :-O That girl likes torture ;-)

SandraX -- Sounds like the rotation I followed this winter I'm doing a shortened version of it and after 2 weeks of GS, I'll be switching up to S&H next week. I hope you get great results!!

Off to work out now (Wendy, won't you come over and press play for me? ;-) )

Carol

 

[Cole7626]

Sorry I never popped in yesterday. DH was home and we had a birthday dinner to go to for a friend. I felt so out of touch

:+:+:+:+HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like you have a nice day lined up! Enjoy and relax!!!!!

JeanetteX, How fun to have your sister visiting. Where is she from down this way? Are you taking her camping or does she not like that sort of thing? I keep hearing about all of these pictures but I haven't see a one yet I am the same way about my workouts, no one disturbs them! Maybe it will be cooler next week and you can get extra cycling in then

Cheryl, Sounds like your eating is going well. Does your DH eat well also? We have been eating cruddy and late recently and it's killing me! I told DH today that dinner is at 6:30 and if he is home past that I'll keep it warm for him.....period. I hope it helps me lose the weight I've gained. I'm due for TTOM any day now. It's taking it's sweet time. I've been bloated for 2 weeks!

Jenn, How are you doing? LOL, My DH would love it if I couldn't talk!! Just like I told Anointed, "STEP AWAY FROM THE DOUGHNUT!!" Hope you get CF in today

Traci-X, Thanks for the pep talk on DM Cardio Legs Blast!! I have that one on my rotation}( Good luck with your client today! How exciting, you are on your way!!!! One more day till pictures, one more day till pictures!!!!

DebraX, How are you today? You should be feeling good since you were finally able to get out on your bike Soon you'll have all the kinks worked out and you'll be set to go! So glad DD is liking school. It must be tough for her with all of the changes lately but at least the people are familiar. Ooooh, a massage? I need to get one of those! Hey if you want a good laugh look at the link from Wendy and check out the ladies blog too. About half way down on the first page is a You Tube video of a laughing baby that is just too cute! That should help

WendyX, I was ROFL at the ebay page!!!! I went to her blog and got quite a kick out of it. She is hilarious!! Did you see the You Tube laughing baby? That was soooo cute! Thanks for brightening my day Hope your DD faired well through the butt bopping Poor Phil, he sure does deal with the little stuff well. My DH would have just laid there and told me to leave him be I wish DH and I could ride together but I do think it's best for him to have his alone time away from me The kids don't start school until September 4th. By the way, what's rain?

TracyX, Sounds like work is back into full swing, fun parents and all Sounds like a stressful job. I don't know if I could handle a whole bunch of ungrateful parents with unrealistic demands about their childs education. ^5 to you for keeping a level head. It must be all of the good food and exercise!

CarolX, Glad to hear your lifting weight has increased! I posted my new rotation above. It was a lot of fun to make up. Since I did the X it has really motivated me to focus. I am better for it. Now I just have to work on my eating

SwiftyX, Wait for me! I am not doing another X rotation until November. I need company

Anointed, You should get the latest copy of Reader's Digest. It has a whole article on tooth problems and how bad they can be for the rest of your body. I hope this removal makes it all better That could be why you're so tired too.

LaurieXX, So glad you'll have a workout partner. That would be so fun! Maybe you'll have to have her do a round of the X and make yourself an XXX'er. Oh no, that doesn't look too good

SandraX, GREAT workout today! Was it fun? Are you trying to burn off the birthday cake or what? Are the kids out of their cages? Hope you have a relaxing yoga session!

This just took me 2 hours on and off to post! That'll teach me to skip a day!!
See you all later,

Nicole

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

 

[aschendell]

Nicole...I thought of you while I was getting my massage today...I realized, (as I am lying on the massage table) that I didn't mention you in my first post today! I am so sorry! I felt really bad! You are the only reason I logged on this afternoon! Okay...enough of my guilt. Glad you are enjoying your current rotation. Are your older boys back in school now? The massage was wonderful. I have noticed that if I get regular massages that I don't have to go to the chiro nearly as often. In fact, I can't remember the last time I went to the chiro. I was thinking I should check out that lady's blog...I got such a hoot out of her description of the grocery store. Just out of curiosity, why did you separate out the standing and floor leg work in your rotation? Is is a time thing? Or an enjoyment factor? Or something else? Just wondering what your motivation was.

Okay...I will be back tomorrow sometime to catch up with everyone else...I just felt guilty leaving out Nicole this morning. I have a new parents meeting at school in the am and then a couple of errands to run. My chair still isn't here...GRRR! So maybe it will come tomorrow too. Who knows! I don't know yet if I am going to do yoga or SH Chest and Back...but I imagine yoga will win out!

Have a great evening ladies!

Debra

we do not remember days....
we remember moments
--Cesare Pavese

http://www.picturetrail.com/aschendell

 

[Cole7626]

Hey DebraX, Don't EVER feel guilty about not posting to little ol' me You have enough on your plate as it is. I am so glad you enjoyed your massage today! I have a coupon for 1/2 off a massage at my massage therapist and I've yet to use it. I think once the boys are back in school I'll get it done more often.
As for the seperation of leg work, Cathe had it that way in one of her rotations and I thought it sounded good so I added it to mine. I think it gives you more energy to focus on either the floorwork or the standing work. I definitely put more into my floorwork today doing it like this. Usually I am so worn out from standing work that I'm toast by the time floorwork comes along. I'll let you know if my legs think so too come tomorrow
Thanks for coming back just for me, I feel so special

Nicole

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

 

[6Swans4me]

I appreciate all you ladies bearing with me here. I promise to email further homeschooling related epics. Thanks!

Carol,

IEW vs. CW. Lucky you. I own BOTH plus Writing Tales! :7 Don't you know this is a [font color=red]HOT[/font] topic over on the WTM boards? I used to be the IEW advocate till I grew weary of posting there. The consensus on which is best tilts back and forth between the two.

Really, it depends on what you're looking in a writing program, your educational theory, what your son's needs are and, most importantly, and how he learns. Ask yourself what are his chief complaints. Does he moan about not knowing what to write? Does writing come naturally to him? Are his sentences short and lacking any variety? Or, is he a free flowing, uncensored Wendy in the making?:7 Does he go on and on affecting his ability to logically structure his sentences or paragraphs? Picking the best writing curriculum depends on your answers to these and other that I have failed to mention questions.

Prior to buying CW and IEW TWSS, dd used BJU English (writing was included) and WS. We hated both of them! I do NOT like BJU English. It's a traditional writing curriculum, only dumbed down. It frustrated dd to no end when they asked her to use colorful words instead of adjectives. So, dd was listing words like blue and white until I realized what she was doing. sigh It was an easy fix since I already taught her what adjectives were in WS. However, WS wasn't a good fit. I forget the exact reason why I didn't like it. Honestly, it was so long ago that I ditched it and sold it on ebay. I would have been content with the writing in R&S English had I not already purchased WT, IEW and CW Aesop A&B.

For the most part, Writing Tales are used by IEW users, not CW users. WT teaches keyword outlining (KWO), vocabulary and rewriting. If you use WT, you are not getting the full benefit of IEW.

We dabbled in WT for a bit before I purchased IEW's Teaching Writing: Structure & Style dvds and accompanying course syllabus. It is an overwhelming undertaking at first. So much so, I didn't use it for an entire year. Instead I loaned it out to my gf to digest. The following year, my eldest son watched the dvds with me. His comment after watching all of them, "Wow! I knew my writing sucked, but I didn't realize how badly till now!" LOL Going through the steps with an 11th grader was easier for me than with a 3rd grader. So, I stayed with using KWO and oral narrations for awhile.

I decided to go ahead and purchase IEW's Student Writing Intensive A last year. Loved it! It's a dvd course where Andrew Pudewa teaches 3rd to 5th graders 4 of the 9 units including a banned word list and sentence variety (referred to as dress-ups). Watching the SWI dvd really helped me to see IEW in action.

Let me back up and explain IEW...

You are correct. It teaches parents a method of how to teach writing. You could purchase the SWI dvds and have Andrew Pudewa do it for you. But, you wouldn't understand why he's doing what he's doing unless you watched the TWISS dvds or maybe if you read Blended Structure & Style in Composition by Dr. Webster, the book on which IEW is based. I like to watch the unit on the TWISS before I teach the unit to dd or have Andrew do it for me. I have a bad memory.;-)

IEW teaches 9 units of structure and a variety of stylistic techniques. Each unit teaches a different writing structure. While you are teaching each unit, you continually add on new stylistic techniques (adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrase openers, etc...). The idea is to have students play with their sentences while learning how to structure their thoughts in a logical, cohesive manner.

Units 1&2 teach KWO and writing a paragraph. Unit 3 teaches story sequencing (narrative) and how to rewrite a story. Unit 4 teaches summarizing a reference. Unit 5 teaches how to write using pictures. Unit 6 teaches writing reports using multiple references and library reports. Unit 7 teaches creative writing (short expository, descriptive essays, personal letters, etc...) Unit 8 teaches formal essay writing for college prep. Unit 9 teaches critique writing.

You don't have to teach unit by unit. You may only teach units 1-3 and skip over to unit 6. You may quickly move through units 1-2 and stay parked at unit 6 for a few months. It all depends on your child's needs.

On the surface, CW seems to be similar to IEW. They employ different methods while striving to achieve similar goals. CW is based on the Greek progymnasmata, a sequenced series of writing patterns and outlines starting with the simple retelling of fables and ending with writing original complex compositions.

Now, CW Aesop integrates grammar, vocabulary and spelling into their writing program. It can be quite time consuming, especially if you are already using another grammar, spelling and vocabulary curriculum. I found it to be a bit overkill. The spelling analysis isn't going to work well for you if you aren't using Spell to Write and Read or The Writing Road to Reading.

The beauty of CW is how it teaches students to play with tone of voice by analyzing a particular model (fable, myth, fairy tale). So, they might add dialogue using direct quotes to their rewrite or indirect quotes using the narrator's voice to tell what the speaker says. The student might take a declarative sentence and rewrite it as an interrogative and imperative sentence.

CW has a less expensive initial investment than IEW. You have the option of downloading the books online.

I'm not sure if all the CW books are finished. However, your dc are still young. You shouldn't have a problem waiting for books when you're ready to tackle higher levels.

Is this clear as mud?

IEW is criticized for having students employ a certain number of stylistic devices to the detriment of the finished product. Here is where the art of teaching should also be employed. During the editing process, the teacher/parent needs to guide their student/child instead of putting a check on the To-Do List.

Another criticism is that IEW doesn't teach the child to be creative or find their voice. I find that comes with maturity and can be achieved through literary analysis as well.

IEW's outlines are not the same as your traditional outline. I teach both as I believe both are worthy. I see the genius of KWO as a step towards organizing a sentence which is the first step towards organizing a paragraph. I teach R&S's traditional outlining methods in case she's required to use it in college.

The reason I chose to use IEW instead of CW was based on my dd's needs and learning style. She likes IEW's straight forward presentation of information. Personally, I find it easier to implement writing across the board using IEW vs. CW. In fact, dd outlined and rewrote the entire Apologia Astronomy book last year. I also find it easier to implement CW's ideas into IEW and TTC (Teaching the Classics) rather than the other way around.

If you'd like to continue this conversation, send me an email. I didn't realize how long winded this post had become till now. That's what I get for not making an outline first. LOL

Hope this helps!
Wendy

 

[Netta]

Hi Nicole!

I PM'd you.

Jeanette

 

[Utah Gal]

Sandra, everyone - here's my favorite HIIT workout on the spinning bike. The exercise physiologist who developed it calls it S.H.I.T. (Standing Hill Interval Training) and it does live up to its acronym, although it's over in 25 minutes.

He did a study on 10 middle age athletes. Had them do nothing different but add this workout once a week and within 6 weeks all of them had improved their 10K running times by 10%. Big stuff to runners - I can't recall what he said about weightloss/leanness, but this is VERY good for metabolism purposes as well:


Spinning bike
Seated, low resistence, go fast (90 rpm, which is sprint tempo) for 5 minutes for a warm up.

For HIIT intervals - stand up, lean forward 10 degrees (like downhill skiing posture) and concentrate as much on the "pulling up" as the "pushing down" on the pedals. For the speed intervals crank the resistance up as high as you can stand it to still maintain the 90 rpm tempo going all out.

Speed intervals (in seconds)
30
30
45
45
60
60
45
45
30
30
One minute recovery, seated and low resistance/high RPM between each interval. Cool down as needed after the sequence.
You can complete the entire workout in 25 minutes and it will KICK YOUR BUTT. x( x( x( ;-)

I have neglected this one for a long time, but I need to re-introduce it. It's killer for weightloss. You'll be dripping.

Have a great night everyone!

Cheryl

 

[Netta]

Whew! Finally got that nasty bathroom cleaned. Dear Sister hasn't arrived yet. Got a feeling they stopped in Reno and did a bit of gambling. Hope they get here soon as I've got to go to bed.

Okay, finally on to personals.

Teddygirl, how's that tooth feeling? I walked on my lunch hour today and got to listen to Volume #7, almost made me cry in parts. I've got to do that workout sometime. Just haven't yet. I was thinking that Saturday morning would be good as there are a bunch of ladies doing it, but think the whole family is going for a 4-wheeler ride fairly early so don't think that will work. How was the seminar? Pick up any good pointers? I usually buy high and sell low, story of my life with financial stuff.

Debra, glad you got the bike ride in. Re: the mirror, I attach it to my sunglasses and push it as far to the front of the side piece of the sunglasses as is possible. When properly adjusted, I think all you will have to do is just move your eyes to the left to catch a glance in the mirror. Wish I could be there and help you with it. Odometers are great, you usually have to set it at the beginning to the correct tire size for it to measure accurately. There should be instructions that came with the computer that state the tire size. Your daughter is such a cutie and am sure that she will have tons of friends in a very short time. I don't know of any websites in particular that talk about form, all I can say is that a strong core helps a lot. Did you get the new chair? What does it look like? Hope you really enjoyed the massage. Sure wish I had those to look forward to again. Maybe I'll skip the highlighting of my hair and go back to massages, who knows?

Sandra, you're right, no cycling for me and I'm already missing it. I did ride for 3 days straight up in Oregon so got my fix in. Probably won't ride until Sunday.

Wendy, how is that foot healing up? Mine took a while but no longer bothers me. Yours sounds much worse than mine was. My bike is a Trek 5200 and is now about 4 years old I think, back when Team Discovery was US Postal and rode Trek bikes similar to mine. Mine says US Postal on it. It's made of carbon fiber, is fairly light (around 18 lbs) and is all the bike I'll ever need. I think that it ran me around $2500 when I got it. Thanks for not noticing the 3 lb. weight gain, I think if I turned around, you'd find it LOL! That was some expensive Curves session!!!

Carol, LOL about the broken electronics. My DH is not a whiz when it comes to anything electrical so those kinds of things usually get tossed. I did take apart my hair dryer once and clean out the lint so it would work better. That really was pretty satisfying LOL! Yep, I may collect some little things, but they don't take up much room like a 1969 Dodge Power Wagon or a flathead Ford motor (just a sample of some of the items on our property). I could go on and on, but sounds like I'm preaching to the choir.

Nicole, I emailed the Hood River pics to you and some of Tillie and the tile job. My sister is from Atascadero (north of San Luis Obispo). We will all be taking the quads out on Saturday (big family group) and riding up to a beautiful little lake, and then on to the ghost town and mine. I may do another P90X rotation in November too. That's when I did the last one and it worked out well with the holiday eating, or at least helped me to stay fairly good in my eating.

Traci, how did the PT session go? I'm dying to hear!!!

Good night all,

Jeanette