Ivanna,

Don't be afraid of bulking up, it takes the right hormones (testosterone) and years of training for bulky guys to look how they do. It usually takes steroids for a woman to bulk up so unless you are taking steroids... I would add more weight. Personally, I have used heavy weights throughout my weight loss and I've only lost inches, never gained them. Besides, muscle builds up your metabolism and its easy to lose muscle, all you do is stop using weights or use less weights. If only getting rid of fat was that easy...

As for exercise, I went to the gym yesterday and had a good leg workout. Today, I was going to go but I have a date. I'm damn nervous, oh well.

Monday
2 mile WATP for abs

Tuesday
3 mile WATP for abs

I've been told that you are actually better off to have the higher weight and do slower reps to help build you tone.

Sunday: Nothing
Yesterday: Yoga sculpt video

Amy Jo, I HATE weight lifting, but have found yoga to be very good at sculpting my arms. When I did it regularly, I had the best shoulders! You're using your body weight for resistance, so it's definitely strength training, but you don't get bulky. I think there are yoga videos specifically for upper body. I just started Karen Armstrong's Yoga Sculpt, which is pretty hard. Or else I'm pretty weak!

Hi, everybody!

I'm back to exercising, so I thought I'd post today's exercise here.

Tuesday: 2 mile WATP

I feel lame posting just that, but it's tougher now than it used to be. Gee, I don't know why! Anyway, I'm going to try to make it a regular thing going forward, and I'll try to post it here!

Amy Jo, Nelie is right about the testosterone. Women don't bulk up unless they're on steroids, so you really have nothing to worry about. Lift heavy -- it's the best thing for you and absolutely will support your goals. This question comes up all the time, particularly over at the Women Who Lift forum here at 3FC, and the response is always the same: You're not going to bulk up, you'll just get leaner, stronger, and more defined. And may I congratulate you on your continued loss?! I'm so happy for you!

Great Job to Everyone!

Sarah - That's great that you're back to excercising! How does it feel?

monday - didn't move the kaboose
tuesday - 30 minutes of cardio and abs.

It feels good, but exhausting. The biggest thing with the chemo is fatigue -- the meds take care of most of the nausea. I'm just so wiped out -- and, now, out of shape -- that doing anything strenuous is just a real challenge these days. I'm worried about it getting harder, but I'll just see how that works out! I know that there's a real cumulative effect with this high-dose chemo, so I'm just going to get more tired with each treatment....and then there's a period of recovery afterwards, but I'm hoping that if I can keep up the exercise during the chemo, it will help with the energy.

Thanks for asking!

4 mile WATP superchallenge this morning.

Still wanting to try and get in the tae bo to see how far I can make it.

Another 2-mile WATP for me tonight.

Sarah you are doing awesome and you should never feel lame for posting your exercise. I'm sure the strength it takes you to do that is more effort than most of us are putting in.

Today was my 8th weekday in a row of swimming. I can really tell it's helping. I've had two people say that I am walking straiter now. I have this hunched over kind of walk because my back hurts. I think it is getting much better but it still hurts for now. I know after I get out of the pool I just feel so energized. I wish I had done this 10 years ago. Oh well can't look back now.

Thanks for the encouragement, Amy Jo and Howie!

Amy Jo -- YIKES!!! You are just a BEAST, girlfriend!! You go on with your bad self!

Howie -- I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to hear that you're swimming regularly!!!! That is just so awesome -- just totally wonderful news, my friend!! And I'm really ESPECIALLY glad to hear that it's helping with your poor back, your posture, and your energy. That might be the best news I've heard all day! I'm really, really happy for you.

Thanks Sarah, Is that you I see in that avatar? Do we finally get to put a face to the words? Nice picture. If that is you, you look great.

Howie - You took the words right out of my mouth... Sarah, we've been waiting forever to see a picture of you... You look fantastic! Beautiful...

You're doing great with the excercise, you are truly an inspiration my dear! I'm oh so proud of you!

Today, I did Let's Salsa (Dance Aerobics), 10 Mins on the cross-trainer, and upper body weights!