I'm a bit annoyed that my leg workout last night didn't make me more sore
yep, that's how I feel, too. Time to change something
I found an elliptical that I really like, and it's the same one nelie has The stores around here seem to have a choke hold on a particular brand, so there is nowhere that I could try two or three of the ones I like best in the same place. It basically came down to a way too expensive Precor or a moderately too expensive Lifefitness. Both store were having good sales, and there was no bargaining- the salesman just laughed and said they were sold out, so if I wanted one, pay their sale price and wait for two weeks Considering the mental agony I've been going through, just getting it done was a relief. The offending elliptical was picked up this evening by the inept duo, and now I'm back to my creaky, light resistance Nordic Track until the new one arrives.
I did a quick but hopefully effective leg workout at lunchtime- boy it's hard to NOT get sweaty doing legs The high point of the day was when some guy tried to slip into the leg press between my sets and had to take a couple of plates off. He looked at me sideways for about half an hour
Fran- I hope your evenings are uneventful with no trips to the ER!
Pat- Have fun skating! I was doing that for a while at lunch time. We have an 3 arena rink very close-by. It really is great leg exercise. I'm a speed demon and it's not real safe without pads!
kaw- did you get back into the gym yet?
I'm trying to talk myself into doing full body workouts. It just never seems enough, and I like to be in the gym almost every day for my sanity. What kind of workouts is everyone doing these days?
Oh Mel - you're one of the people that used to scare the bejeebers out of me at IceLine, I see! DD started her skating there and at Wilmington Skating Club, took private lessons at both. I skated in the background while she was taking lessons and tried to copy what they taught her and got pretty good at it - I can do a 2 footed spin. I'm sure we probably crossed paths on the ice without knowing it!! I loved having that and Pancott Gymnastics so close by for the kids. I miss that now. We have all of one ice rink within an hour from us and no real serious gymnastics places short of Gaithersburg, which has a quite good one.
So got my CT scan today. Never had one before - it was quite fun. Like a disney world ride without the long line. Far better than an MRI. Dr thinks it's completely stones, so I'm thankful I'm not looking at some kind of long term problem. Should have results by Weds/Thurs. Is anyone else a kidney stone sufferer with any hints to share?
I went to the gym for the first time in a week and a half (layoff due to DD getting married ) and discovered we now have a lovely row of nine brand new FreeMotion machines!! OMG, it's like Christmas in November! Ballys is in bankruptcy and we never, ever get new equipment, so I'm completely blown away.
So I went down the row and tried all the upper body machines, saving lower body for tomorrow. What I really like is the ability to move the hand positions to take strain off the shoulders, which you can't do with a regular machine. And, of course, you're not moving in a fixed plane so there's a lot more core strength and balance that comes into play than with a traditional machine.
It looks like there's squat, lift (for deadlifts, split squats, and lunges), and step up machines for lower body. I'll poke around the Internet and see what kind of workout I can put together. It's so cool to have new equipment to play with!
So I'm curious if any of you have experience with FreeMotion machines and what you think and what your favorites are?
We have the full line of Free Motion machines at my new gym, including the functional trainers. I love them! I rarely use the basic machines since I have so little time in general, but the functional trainers are wonderful. The entire line is such an improvement over basic gym machines. I like the fact that you can also use them in various positions- you don't need to sit on the bench, and there are illustrations for a variety of ways to use each machine. The step-up and squat machines are Try side one-legged step downs holding one cable.
My legs are pretty sore this morning
Have a good one!
(and Fran, that probably was me whipping past you at Ice Line! and then me in a heap on the ice.)
Just back from the gym, and boy is it ever nice to be able to go again! I missed the workouts, but also "the regulars." I feel like I spent most of yesterday chit-chatting with them! Today's workout (back) was much better, though. No PRs, but I'm slowly increasing reps on most exercises.
Mel -- I'm still doing a roughly 4-day split, which I do about 5 times a week, give or take. It's a pretty basic split, and I think I've posted it before so I won't again. I have been throwing in a couple of "new" exercises, though -- specifically, weighted Roman chair sit-ups. Fun fun!
As of last night, The Bird is officially GONE. Not sure what we'll do for X-mas dinner this year, but I can pretty much guarantee it won't have wings.
Maybe I need to head back to my gym to see if they have any new machines...
For my workouts, I'm basically doing a 3 day split. Upper body split into 2 days and then lower body is 1 day. I do feel limited a little bit by my leg workout because I am doing it at home. I do squats, lunges, resistance band stuff, etc but still it is hard to get really sore. I also use the stairs to very my squats and lunges.
Mel - I hope you like your elliptical. I think yours is an updated version compared to mine (they told me they were trying to clear out the older version when I bought mine). Although they told me that the only update in the newer one was the display so I don't know. If you want a kickbutt workout, Extreme Heart Rate is the way to go... that workout kills me every time.
I'm also back to the gym - feels good. I did my knee exercises last night, along with some other lower body stuff, including the ball-against-the-wall squats! I feel them today, but not like the las time. I finished up my time with a great HIIT workout on the elliptical.
DH has figured out that it's 100 days until our Grand Canyon hiking trip, so he's upped his gym time (of course that's easier when you don't have to be at work 9 hours a day!). I'm still trying to get him back to doing weights. Maybe I'll take home the New Rules to encourage him. He doesn't need to lose anything (quite the opposite) but given his prior osteopenia, he needs to strengthen stuff.
Re: ice skating. I am so not a speed demon! I can go around at a moderate pace. I cannot skate backwards at all, nor can I do any kind of a stop other than either slowing down or hitting the wall! It was still fun, and didn't make my legs nearly as sore as I had anticipated (nor did it bother my knees - yay!) so I'm planning to go on some lunch hours. Like everything else in this town, it's quite close to work, and I can be there in 5 minutes.
Mel and Nelie - I'm jealous of your ellipticals at home. We have no room for one, and we do own a stationary bike, which even though it's really old (20 years?) is a really good one with a flywheel - not just a bike on a stand. DH uses it some, but I almost never do anymore.
Meg: New gym equipment is very exciting. Our gym received some new cardio equipment last month. I'm still recovering from my test drive...We also have the FreeMotion equipment. It was how I became introduced to strength training almost three years ago. I'm a big fan of it. I noticed right away that it did require some core stabilization. After a few weeks on the equipment I found my posture improved significantly even when I was relaxed and just going about my daily things. You know, sat a little taller, shoulders squared without thinking about it...I also think that it helped me develop great form when I did begin lifting with free weights. Anyway, enjoy them. It's a great thing to incorporate for a little change in the routine.
Mel: So glad that you went with your gut instinct and got rid of the damaged elliptical. No need for negative feelings every time you begin a cardio session with a piece of equipment that has bad memories. Hopefully it won't be a full two weeks but either way you'll be "running" before the holiday hits. Enjoy!
Kaw: Glad you were able to get back to the gym. Sometiimes a little break is good and in your case well deserved even if it wasn't planned. When these things happen I use it as time to get everything else done that I've been putting off because I just have to get to the gym.
Okay, to everyone else. Happy skating everyone. I gotta go DS1 is looking for me at school.
I've been kind of lurking but reading this week. Workouts were a little spotty for a couple weeks before Thanksgiving, but I feel back in my groove now. Had to take my run inside on the treadmill last night, it's just too cold and windy here! Feeling pretty tired after power class this morning, might just take a rest day tomorrow.
We have FreeMotion machines at my gym, I rather like them.
I went ice skating once last winter and hadn't been at all for years before that, but I had been rollerblading a lot the summer before so that helped. I can't do anything fancy and I don't go too fast, but I can usually avoid falling down. I plan to get out cross country skiing a little this winter, I was rather disappointed with myself that I didn't go even once last year.
Mel - Glad you got your elliptical issues worked out
I'm having fun this week playing on stability balls in addition to my regularly scheduled program. Nelie's post about planks reminded me of it. My latest stupid gym trick is to do a plank with my toes on one ball, and my elbows on another. It takes a while to get the hang of it and you need pretty strong abs, lower back and balance to do it (that's a bit of an understatement), but I can finally get up there and hold it for about 20 seconds without putting the ball for my elbows against a wall or bench. The progression is to learn to do a plank with your toes on the ball and your elbows on a bench (arms placed so that your thumbs are UP and not gripping the bench). I call it "bows and toes". I'll see if I can find a picture somewhere and post it.
I had a bit of a crummy workout this morning. I hadn't done any lifting since last Tuesday and apparently all my muscles atrophied. I was shaking and sore doing relatively light squats and made no progress at all towards my goal of doing unassisted pullups. I hate days like that!
Mel - ooooh, I love that Bows & Toes. I'd be afraid to try it though without a wall. What would you say is a good progression of planks from the regular to something like that. I have a weird love for them! I really do. I know it's nuts but I feel so strong and I love holding them for as long as I can. I've done them with just the toes on the ball and maybe that's enough for now.
Another exercise that many hate that I also love? Tricep dips! Love, love, love them! Why? I don't know!! But I imagine that it's just also because of the way I feel and knowing that I've always wanted "nice arms". So, I'm a bit nuts...I think that makes me fit right in.....right??
So, I've been lurking more than posting this week too but I'm still sticking to my routine and praying to keep the pounds in check as I begin my cookie making this weekend. I know this came up recently and lots of you admitted to giving up the fattening cookie making for healthier choices but I just can't! It's once a year and it makes me so happy to do it. I know that no one needs the calories but everyone loves them and I love doing it. I just have to try not to taste too many.
I need to go for a physical soon so I think it's time I mentioned my shoulder issues which, as I've said before, have been an issue since high school (and that's a long time ago!) but I think are getting a bit worse with the lifting. I need to know if there's things I should or shouldn't be doing.
Shoulder Questions:Just looking for anyone's opinions...I can't figure out the logic behind what exercises hurt and which ones don't. Anyone with more knowledge want to take a stab?
What never hurts my shoulders: shoulder presses and military presses. What causes an ache sometimes: chest presses, tricep pullovers and even pushups. What is never a good idea with any more than a very light weight: straight arm raises, lateral raises and upright rows. What oddly hurts when it's already sore: bicep curls with a barbell.
Since I do a power class there's lots of different exercises and the instructor is great at giving suggestions for alternatives but I really have no idea what to always skip and what to maybe work on at a lower weight.
Sorry for the long post...guess I should come by more often!
elisa- Your shoulder and what's generally called the "rotator cuff" is comprised of lots of muscles, tendons and ligament. You could have damage in one of the parts of the front deltoid, put not anywhere else. From what you've described it doesn't sound like a rear delt injury. Do they both hurt? Were you the high school swimmer? I seem to remember that someone here was.... The only way to know for sure is an mri.
The latest thinking about shoulder exercises is that upright rows are really not a good idea with heavy weight...and fairly useless with light weight. If you have shoulder problems, don't do them! They are known rotator cuff killers.
Meg is our shoulder injury expert, tho I'm sure she'd gladly trade that crown with someone else. Maybe she'll see your post.
yep, that's how I feel, too. Time to change something 
The stores around here seem to have a choke hold on a particular brand, so there is nowhere that I could try two or three of the ones I like best in the same place. It basically came down to a way too expensive Precor or a moderately too expensive Lifefitness. Both store were having good sales, and there was no bargaining- the salesman just laughed and said they were sold out, so if I wanted one, pay their sale price and wait for two weeks 
Considering the mental agony I've been going through, just getting it done was a relief. The offending elliptical was picked up this evening by the inept duo, and now I'm back to my creaky, light resistance Nordic Track until the new one arrives.
The high point of the day was when some guy tried to slip into the leg press between my sets and had to take a couple of plates off. He looked at me sideways for about half an hour
Try side one-legged step downs holding one cable.
Morning all!
I finished up my time with a great HIIT workout on the elliptical. 
I hate days like that!
