[RunningRedHead]

Hi all, quick check in for today. I can't believe we're two weeks into November already! I'll catch up on posts tomorrow before I settle in for my homework for the day. I hope you all stay warm out there, winter seems to be hitting the northeast pretty hard already this year.

SW: 220.3
11/7: 219.1
GW: 214.4

Week 2:
11/8: 218.3 (-0.8)
11/9: 218.3 (+/-0)
11/10: 216.7 (-1.6)
11/11: 219.1 (+2.4)
11/12: 218.1 (-1.0)
11/13: 220.2 (+2.1)
11/14: 219.8 (-0.4)
Total for Week 2: +0.7
Total for November: -0.5

[shellofself]

Martine & curvynotlumpy Thanks for the well wishes! Everything happened very quick, and I was, in part, denial. A specialist found a mass in my left hand. I was scheduled for surgery the next week. Everything went well! Fast-forward to yesterday and the stitches are off, no more sling, and the test for cancer came back negative!

Martine, Winter coat for Loki?! Picture!! I used to love dressing up my furball in winter gear when I lived where it snowed By the way, are there any core programs/exercises you'd recommend? I feel it's the one thing I can safely do at the moment that's also needed. Sorry to hear about your co-worker dealing with the difficult airline company. It's sad to know that's a problem no matter where you are in the world. My father had a similar issue several years ago and the airline's response was: you should have purchased travel insurance. He wasn't even seeking a refund, just a voucher for later travel (my grandmother passed away the day before he was set to fly out of the country).

On a more positive note! Yes, Christmas spirit!! My husband felt bad about the whole surgery ordeal so he helped me start decorating the inside of the house last weekend (still no tree), but I love coming home to Christmas decorations. And this morning, I just put up the decorations in my office. Most people around me have voiced that it's too early, but the early winter weather makes me think otherwise! Have you decorated at home yet?!

curvynotlumpy Happy be-lated Birthday!! And I feel like once it's October, it's fair game for soups/hot cocoa/etc. Did you do any fun colors with your hair? You're post about the Lexus tagline made me laugh. I'm sure we're fine (not legal advice)

-------------
I've been dancing on a cloud since yesterday's results. And, after a 2.5 week plateau period of bouncing between 200-199, this last week and a half has been a welcomed surprise.
SW: 199.8 - 10/31
CW: 195.8 - 11/15
GW: 194.8

[Martine]

RunningRedHead yeah I can't believe how fast November is rolling along. Hope we all finish this month on a high note.

shellofself thank goodness the lump in your hand wasn't cancerous. Always a scary thing to find a lump anywhere. Hope your hand continues to heal nicely. It's wonderful that you have started decorating for Christmas. We plan to put up the tree this weekend, or as David calls it "our annual Christmas fight". Regarding core workouts, I know Fitness Blender has free abs workouts of varying lengths if you want to give it a try. And congratulations on being firmly in Onederland!

So on Friday I finished work on time for once and started my second week of vacation this month, but it's as if I totally shut down and did not have any energy or motivation to do anything at all these past few days. Poor sleep did not help at all and I would nap all afternoon. I was planning on baking each day, trying recipes for the treat boxes I make family members each year, but so far have only baked twice. Right now the apartment smells of cinnamon. I was also planning on continuing the deep cleaning and de-cluttering I had started 2 weeks ago, but that went right out the window.

Finally I kicked my butt into gear today and continued on with the program I am doing. I am still pushing myself and will need heavier weights for some of the exercises. And after a couple of days of not caring what I eat, I am back on track today. I'm glad that a few off days no longer mean that I totally give up.

Hope everyone is enjoying a great week!

1: 33 minutes lower body strength training
2: 33 minutes yoga/pilates/stretching workout
Week 1:
3: 37 minutes upper body strength training
4:
5: 40 minutes lower body strength training
6: 28 minutes jump rope/bodyweight exercises workout + 5 minutes weighted core workout
7: 36 minutes upper body strength training with cardio intervals
8:
9: 26 minutes lower body strength training with HIIT intervals + 15 minutes fluid stretches workout
Week 2:
10: 31 minutes upper body chest and upper back strength training
11: 40 minutes lower body strength training
12:
13:
14: 41 minutes upper body strength training
15:
16:
Week 3:
17:
18:
19:
20: 10 minutes HIIT + 25 minutes lower body strength training

[shellofself]

Originally Posted by Martine

And after a couple of days of not caring what I eat, I am back on track today. I'm glad that a few off days no longer mean that I totally give up.

This really resonated with me. I truly believe its a marker of success to be able to take a step back and not allow those days off to derail everything you've worked for. Congratulations That's certainly something I still struggle with. And thank you for the tip! I'll try it out Hopefully giving my abs attention this weekend!

Your Christmas comment made me chuckle; I'm not sure what it is (probably me wanting things a certain way ) that just ensures an argument whenever its time to decorate for the holidays. And baking is too dangerous for me... I'd eat it all! I have absolutely no self control when it comes to sweets. A friend gifted me some chocolate covered pecans, and I had to put them in the common area at my office before I inhaled them all in one sitting. :/

-----
Things have calmed down at work, so that's nice right in time for the holiday season. I'm traveling next week to visit my in-laws, and it'll be the farthest we've ever driven with my toddler son (7-hour car ride). I'm already dreading it. We're normally very strict with electronics (no electronics on weekdays, etc), but I have a feeling we'll be bending the rules to maintain our sanity. My hope is that I'll also be able to maintain my weight while I'm there! My mother-in-law bakes delicious pies!

SW: 199.8 - 10/31
197.8 - 11/8
195.8 - 11/15
193.4 - 11/22
GW: 194.8 (Met! Woo!)

[Martine]

shellofself I am very much like you when it comes to decorating. David just wants it done as quickly as possible, while I analyze the perfect position for each ornament. Great job on reaching your monthly goal already! Just reading about your upcoming 7-hour drive with a young child is making me tired. Do you take breaks on the way or just take turns driving to make it through in one go? The longest we have driven so far is about 5 hours to go to Boston and David insisted on driving both ways non-stop by himself. With your penchant for sweets, you wouldn't want to be in my place right now. There are carrot cake cupcakes, cinnamon swirl cookies, maple meringues and 4 different boxes of chocolates for our homemade advent calendar

My legs we so sore yesterday that it "weighed me down" and I could not find the energy to work out, unfortunately. I had another horrible night's sleep (I've been sleeping about 4 hours then waking up and not being able to fall back asleep for another 2 hours or so - maintenance sleep insomnia strikes again), but I took the time that I was awake to reassess what I was doing and what my goals are. So this morning I got in my workout, before I talked myself out of it again. Exercising 4-6 times per week has been my real goal since June, I just need to push for it. I may go for another workout this afternoon (a stretching workout), trying to catch up on the program I am doing, if my energy level allows it.

Have a great Friday everyone!

1: 33 minutes lower body strength training
2: 33 minutes yoga/pilates/stretching workout
Week 1:
3: 37 minutes upper body strength training
4:
5: 40 minutes lower body strength training
6: 28 minutes jump rope/bodyweight exercises workout + 5 minutes weighted core workout
7: 36 minutes upper body strength training with cardio intervals
8:
9: 26 minutes lower body strength training with HIIT intervals + 15 minutes fluid stretches workout
Week 2:
10: 31 minutes upper body chest and upper back strength training
11: 40 minutes lower body strength training
12:
13:
14: 41 minutes upper body strength training
15:
16:
Week 3:
17:
18:
19:
20: 10 minutes HIIT + 25 minutes lower body strength training
21:
22: 35 minutes upper body strength training with a focus on deltoids

[Martine]

Hope everyone is enjoying a nice weekend. I am enjoying my last two days of vacation this year. We got all the grocery shopping done yesterday and this morning, so the rest of the day was relaxing (I napped part of the afternoon). I got in my workout for the day, actually 2 workouts: one was cardio and core intervals and one was stretching. My shoulders are still sore from yesterday's workout, but luckily David bought himself a neck and shoulder massage machine, so I will be using it shortly. Tomorrow we will be putting up our Christmas tree, so I think I will need to get my workout in early, or else I won't have any energy left by the time we'll be done. Off to make supper and then relax some more.

1: 33 minutes lower body strength training
2: 33 minutes yoga/pilates/stretching workout
Week 1:
3: 37 minutes upper body strength training
4:
5: 40 minutes lower body strength training
6: 28 minutes jump rope/bodyweight exercises workout + 5 minutes weighted core workout
7: 36 minutes upper body strength training with cardio intervals
8:
9: 26 minutes lower body strength training with HIIT intervals + 15 minutes fluid stretches workout
Week 2:
10: 31 minutes upper body chest and upper back strength training
11: 40 minutes lower body strength training
12:
13:
14: 41 minutes upper body strength training
15:
16:
Week 3:
17:
18:
19:
20: 10 minutes HIIT + 25 minutes lower body strength training
21:
22: 35 minutes upper body strength training with a focus on deltoids
23: 26 minutes core and cardio intervals + 27 minutes stretching workout

[curvynotlumpy]

and happy Sunday!

What passes for winter in Northern California has finally arrived. The temps have dropped significantly all around with our warmer than usual afternoons abating to something more "normal." I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, not sick really but I have a scratchy throat and am a bit lethargic. It's a short week with Thanksgiving in the states happening Thursday. I'm taking a vacation day on Wednesday which I'm very much looking forward to.
************************************************** ********
Martine: Your cupcakes listed in an early post sound delicious I can't believe it's already time to put up but it is. I'm not a huge decorator but each year I try to do a little bit more than the last year. I'm just realizing how much the right throw pillow cover can do for a room. It's exciting to see how such a small change to do so much. I've had my pillow inserts forever, long past their shelf life so I'm replacing those. I also bought some new holiday covers for them.

shellofself: Safe travels and good weather wishes for you and your family to and from seeing your in-laws. Absolutely fantastic news regarding your injury and negative cancer screen! So much to be thankful for!

Wishing everyone a lovely rest of your Sunday!

[Martine]

curvynotlumpy hope you enjoy the cooler temperatures. Or does it get too cool to enjoy, relatively speaking? Hope you feel better fast and that this itchy throat is just momentary. Enjoy your short work week and Thanksgiving ahead!

So for the first time in many years, David and I did not get into a fight while putting up our Christmas tree and decorations. He did not even moan too much about me putting on my Christmas music playlist while we decorated. Call it a Christmas miracle After a quick afternoon nap, I got a few meals done for the week and completed my workout. I had previewed it yesterday and I thought I wouldn't make it through. It was 52 minutes comprised of 1/3 lower body strength training, 1/3 HIIT with a focus on the lower body and 1/3 pilates. By the end of the pilates round, I could barely lift my legs off the ground.

I gained 3 pounds over the past couple of weeks of inconsistency and bad food choices. I hate that the weight goes back on so quickly as soon as I stop working my hardest. Oh well, nothing I can do about it but move on.

Now time to enjoy the glow of Christmas lights and a relaxing evening. Hope everyone enjoys one too!

1: 33 minutes lower body strength training
2: 33 minutes yoga/pilates/stretching workout
Week 1:
3: 37 minutes upper body strength training
4:
5: 40 minutes lower body strength training
6: 28 minutes jump rope/bodyweight exercises workout + 5 minutes weighted core workout
7: 36 minutes upper body strength training with cardio intervals
8:
9: 26 minutes lower body strength training with HIIT intervals + 15 minutes fluid stretches workout
Week 2:
10: 31 minutes upper body chest and upper back strength training
11: 40 minutes lower body strength training
12:
13:
14: 41 minutes upper body strength training
15:
16:
Week 3:
17:
18:
19:
20: 10 minutes HIIT + 25 minutes lower body strength training
21:
22: 35 minutes upper body strength training with a focus on deltoids
23: 26 minutes core and cardio intervals + 27 minutes stretching workout
Week 4:
24: 52 minutes lower body strength training/HIIT/pilates

[gulfmagnolia]

Hello darlings! This dope dropped by the November thread....from last year

I wanted to check in at least once in November, so I didn’t let another month go by without hope or accomplishment. Committing to exercise once again this week, then starting fresh on diet and food intake next month. Hope everyone is happy and healthy, see you all in December!

[Martine]

gulfmagnolia

After work yesterday I almost talked myself out of exercising, but I was borderline angry at the end of the day, so I used that to motivate me to work out. I’ve been struggling with sleep since last week, Monday night being the absolute worst so far. Hopefully I’ll manage to settle myself down soon.

Happy mid-week everyone!

: 33 minutes lower body strength training
2: 33 minutes yoga/pilates/stretching workout
Week 1:
3: 37 minutes upper body strength training
4:
5: 40 minutes lower body strength training
6: 28 minutes jump rope/bodyweight exercises workout + 5 minutes weighted core workout
7: 36 minutes upper body strength training with cardio intervals
8:
9: 26 minutes lower body strength training with HIIT intervals + 15 minutes fluid stretches workout
Week 2:
10: 31 minutes upper body chest and upper back strength training
11: 40 minutes lower body strength training
12:
13:
14: 41 minutes upper body strength training
15:
16:
Week 3:
17:
18:
19:
20: 10 minutes HIIT + 25 minutes lower body strength training
21:
22: 35 minutes upper body strength training with a focus on deltoids
23: 26 minutes core and cardio intervals + 27 minutes stretching workout
Week 4:
24: 52 minutes lower body strength training/HIIT/pilates
25: 27 minutes low-impact cardio + 17 minutes wore workout

[curvynotlumpy]

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful day and enjoyed good food and the company of friends and family. The month is quickly coming to a close and I wanted to make sure our new thread was up and ready. You'll find it here .

Happy Friday!