Aphil~ What type of exersices do you do to even out your leg muscles? I have over developed muscles on my outer thighs which has cause knee problems in the past.

Lara~ My Parents were upset when they saw my first tattoo as well, but by the second one I'd converted them. My Dad was even talking about getting one for awhile. He never did, but it was funny that I changed his mind.

Sounds like our Dad's are from the same generation. I want my nose peirced but I am scared and somewhat worried what others would say. I just want a teeny tiny almost invisible stone or just a ball. Maybe I will get brave enough, I work with so many people from India that it seems like a normal peircing. The belly, beautful but I would rip it out somehow and I don't have the belly for one right now.

When you were talking about the Middle Eastern dance, I could for some reason picture it in my head it would be hard on those sections of the body. I think your right about my brother, he needs to work on his back and corr probably. Let me tell you his wife would like him to work on the corr. HEHHEHEHE! He has a bit of pug going on but not much. I guess I did exactly the same thing as my brother but with my legs. I was only working a few parts of my leg and I started having major knee problems to the point I couldn't walk. I went to the doctor and he said the problem was I needed to start working all parts of the leg if I am going to work my legs because the muscles were pulling the knee caps off of where it is suppose to sit. I now make sure I work my legs all the way around and at a lower intensity because muscle started to build and I don't need any more than I already have.

Theresa ~ When I saw Talapia I thought, OH YUCKO, its fishy. I bought some that was frozed and it was horrible. The reason I bought it was because I ordered it in a restaurant and it was delicious. I have since ordered it at the same restaurant and it was fishy that time. Must be the freezing process does something to it. Fresh fish isn't always available where I shop in my town.

zenor-basically you have to look at your activity, and what is being developed first. A ballet dancer, for instance, will have very developed outer thighs and hips, and inner thighs, due to their "turn out" position in ballet dancing.

Middle Eastern dance posture develops you the opposite way-in the quads and hamstrings more-because your lower body is held in a very slight semi-squat. Not enough to require you to "sit back" like in an exercise squat, to prevent the knees from going over the toes, but enough to make you about 3 inches shorter than you normally are, and the toes face forward. If you only did this for a bit, it isn't a big deal, but since I teach 3 hours a week in that position, plus my own practice/workshops I attend/performance time, it ends up that I have to compensate and focus on inner/outer thigh work. (I still strength train my quads and hamstrings, but I put extra in the inner/outer to even it out.)

I tend to do poses from Classical Indian dance, and ballet styled strength moves, such as plies, etc. to get the inner/outer a little more, as well as some other exercises.

Is there a particular activity that is causing more outer thigh development, compared to the rest of your legs?

Lara-a tiny stone or ball is what I wear a lot. :) Very dainty-I have a handful of small ones.

Zenor ~ We must have the same knees/legs. HAHAHAHA! To develop the muscle in the back of the leg, I just stand, bend the one leg at the knee and put the tip of the toe on the floor behind me, then I lift my foot and bottom part of my leg up and down. That develops the back of the leg very nicely. Inner legs I put a pillow or something mushy and I put it between my knees and squeeze it and release, squeeze and release. There are lots of ways to work your legs but those are my to favs. The one that works the best I can't describe and not everyone wants to get down on the floor and do it.

I did SOOO SOOOO SOOOO bad yesterday....probably the worst eating day in about 6 months!! I actually stopped counting towards the end of the day when it was about 2500......Anyways, I'm paying for it today...I feel so sick to my stomach, sort of like morning sickness but I know for a fact I'm not pregnant... I think it was all the sugar in the sour gummy worms I ate...
One day wont kill the plan though...so back on track today...I normally eat anywhere from 1200-1600 calories a day..Just depending on how hungry I am.....I dont think I'll make that today though, so sick to my tummy....You know its bad when I skip the coffee in the morning and opted for my peppermint/ginger white tea....

Hope everyone has a brilliant weekend!! No plans but its my weekend with the kids...after having them home all week (no school spring break) I'm out of ideas for things for us to do!! This morning I HAD to catch up on packages, I work from home and barely got anything out this week!!

The inner thigh squeeze can be really effective with one of the small, hand held weights that look like balls. Not the larger medicine balls (that look more like small basketballs) but the ones that are used in place of small hand weights. They work really, really nicely in place of pillows. You can get a firmer, more controlled squeeze that way. Lie on your back doing it, like you would during a crunch, and squeeze the ball in between the knee area for as long as you can. Release it, rest a few seconds, and repeat.

If you want to add a little buttocks action in there as well, lift your buttocks slightly off the floor while you do this. (Just be sure that the middle back stays on the floor.)

Aphil ~ Its just amasing at how fast that works isn't it. I can't do many before it starts to hurt. Wish more exercise that could target problem areas like that.

Have you ever seen the show Body Electric? Its a program that used to be on PBS stations and the instructor, excellent instructor, did strength training exercises for the entire body. I wish she was still on because she was good and the last time I thought to look her exercise videos are expensive but a little pricey. I don't know how the title just popped in my head because I have been trying to remember it for years. HAHAHAH!

Aphil & Lara~ Thanks for the ideas! I think I will try to find a small ball weight and try the "thigh squeeze."

As for why my outer thigh muscles are overdeveloped; genetics I think. My father had the same legs and the same problem (or perhaps we walk funny--LOL.) The muscle pulls my knee cap over when I walk up stairs and I creak (I'm not quite 30, so this is a concern.) All I've ever done for exercise is walk. My doctor did tell me to do exercises to strengthen the inner muscles, but never gave me actual exercises to do. Oh, and I was told not to run.

Zenor ~ Mine used to make the same grinding, creaking noise that your talking about until I started taking the stairs every day, several times a day. They are now happy but I also speed walk a lot which may also be adding to the over all strength of my legs.

Rockinrobin,
Yeh, I did my usuall seasoning on the fish. But, Yuk! DD did not like either. is ok. everyone has different taste buds.


Bobbo,
glad to see you back. :wave:
how were those fruit ripples? sounds interesting.


Lara, hope your dgs feels better soon! sending him an :angel: and a prayer.
I am an apple too. My nice legs... are soooo white,
I have been told to put them away! :fr: :joker: Thats what happens to some of us real redheads.
Oh, I like the banana wraps too. mmmm

Delarimi,
Yeh. fish was frozen. like you said, tasted way to fishy. I will have to see if I can find it fresh. I baked it like I do most of my fish.
I like them pretty plain. with a little Mrs. Dash. in a foil wrap. It works good on most fish.


Tatoos.... can you see that on my milk white legs? :crazy: :rofl: I always wanted one... thought it would look gooffy.

Hello All,
I've been reading here about how much the dogs love peanut butter! I have a GREAT recipe for Dog Cookies that both of my poms just love! I thought that I would share it. I mean we are all trying to eat better ---

Dog Cookies

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 TBS. baking powder
1 cup unsalted natural peanut butter
1 cup skim milk
I also add a couple tablespoons of bacon bits!

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease (I use Pam) cookie sheets. Stir together the flour and baking powder, set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter and milk. Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into shapes using cookie cutter. (I use dog bones and hearts) Place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Both Ginger and Sissy love these!! Enjoy! Karen

Hi all --

Thanks to all who sent me "light" thoughts for weigh in. I hate to say, I'm up one lb. Argh... only one more week of biggest loser at work, so that wasn't what I wanted to see. I think being a little bit PMS didn't help. Dang it.

Anyway, no time to read or post now -- I'm catching up with a friend over sushi. I'll post more tomorrow.

Happy Friday and weekend to all!

Claire
(yes, Robin, please call me Claire :) )

I'll share a trick about fish that I learned from my dad... I always buy more fish than I need and freeze the rest (not the trick)... you put the fish in a tupperware type container and cover it with water and freeze it in the water. It "preserves" the freshness somehow. Make sure it is totally covered.. any ends sticking out of the water will get freezer burn. then I just defrost it on the counter. I know "they" say counter defrosting is a "no no" but I do it all the time. I periodically empty the defrosted water so that it does not sit in the water that has melted.

ps talapia
 

a very simple, but great, recipe for talapia. I put a small amount of olive oil in a glass baking dish. I put the fish in and then turn it so both sides have the oil on it (I'm talking not even lining the pan with oil.. as little as you can manage with) ok so both sides are oiled, so now you can measure this if you like I used flavored bread crumbs and sprinkle on top... then drizzle a tiny amount of oil on top of that.. bake 350 for 30 minutes (you don't need that long of a period of time, but I like it when it gets brown on top). I LOVE Vigo brand bread crumbs. You get them in Florida. When I go I stock up or progresso makes a good tasting brand. that and pan roasted asparagus (tsp of olive oil, kosher salt)roll asparagus all around. bake for about 15 minutes til tender.. and then a sweet potato... heaven for dieters

littlered-

Flaunt that redheaded pale skin!!! I spent my teens and early twenties trying to get a tan, get highlights in my hair, and basically everything I could to fight it, but once I started "embracing" it, I found that I looked much, much better. Actually, tattoos look BEST on pale, white skin. The colors in them show up 100x better than on tan skin. :) Look in any tattoo magazine, and most of the models are milk white. :D
Wear emerald green, black, or rust/spice tones in your clothing, and wear dark nail polish. Dark nail polish looks fabulous on pale, pale skin. (While french manicures look wonderful on tan or dark skin tones.) I usually wear a dark, dark brown metallic, or a deep darkest red-burgandy color.
Make the best of what you've got naturally!!! :D

Aphil,
Got to show off something!
hope to show off a curvy shape soon. No round is not the shape :D .

I do tend to where dark greens, dark burgandy, (close to red.)
Red is my new fav.color.
Growing Up I was NOT allowed to were anything in the red family. Never wore red till I was preg. 21 yrs ago. At the age of 28!!! Love it now.

As I age, My hair just keeps getting Lighter. LOTS OF pure white showing up. Plus its already got lots of blond in it.

Want to hear something funny?
When My hubby was a kid... he told his mom...
" I won't ever marry a red head and she can't be short or wear glassed either.!!! " :D ;) Look at my pic in my profile. I am all 3!!
My mother inlaw told me this, years ago.



here is my list for today. busy day. was not as good.


Cal: 1334
Fat: 27%
Carbs: 52%
Fiber: 62
Protein: 21%

Theresa

Calories for today: 1573

Not too bad (although I'd prefer lower.) Tomorrow is the day I actually record my weight, so we'll see... With no exercise and a few high days I'm not keeping my hopes up, but as long as I haven't gained I think I'll be okay. Right?

Littlered~ Aphils right! Us pale girls need to flaunt our white legs not hide them! I may not be a redhead, but I'm sure I could rival you for who "glows" the brightest. :lol: She's also correct about the tats. Mine are several years old and look new. No fading at all. BTW, your new avatar is adorable!

Only 1340 cals today, which is crazy since I had two huge burritos for dinner. I'm not really hungry for more, but I did have a pretty lazy day with a long nap.

Good morning everyone.

Friday's calories, same old, some old - about 1200.

Have a great Saturday ladies, healthy and safe.

Zenor,

The avitor is my dgd. Jessie. 1st grandchild. Can't you tell, Her pic is EVERYWHERE. ;)
She already has a thing for hats.
Oh, your calories is what I try to get.

Theresa

BATHROOM SCALES


Two youngsters were closely examining bathroom scales on display at the department store.

"Have you ever seen one of these before?" one asked.

"Yeah, my mom and dad have one," the other replied.

"What's it for?" asked the first boy.

"I don't know," the second boy answered. "I think you stand on it and it makes you mad."

:lol: :spin: :joker:

Cute joke!!

Yesterday (friday) did very good...about 1250 calories. No workout though...my whole body hurt from gardening on Thursday (I ONLY GOT HALF DONE TOO!!! AHHHH) still a bit sore today. Kids are supposed to go fishing with grandpa and I may go out and finish the garden.....

I have 1 pair of shorts that fit me right now!! Its getting pretty hot out already and I need to find more soon.... I'm gonna tough it out a couple more weeks and maybe be able to buy them all in sz 10...right now I'm sort of between sizes...

Morning.

I have a question for all of you.

What do you do or eat to BOOST your energy levels?

I have been trying to eat correctly and at least walk nearly every day.
I still seem to have NO energy! :(

Am I doing something wrong?

Theresa

Good morning ladies (and I believe we have a gent -- Jman, are you still out there??),

I have a few hours before I go to another baby shower. I had one last Saturday too. I have 3 friends due to have baby boys in the next month! VERY exciting, but I have a tendency to overdue it on shower food (dips, sweets, etc.). I am going to eat something healthy before I go and try to stick to the veggies mostly. Last week I did well at the shower, but then totally went hog wild at the St Patty's party I went to (combo of alcohol and food). Ugh. I'm glad I don't do that TOO often.

Let me jump in to the white legs conversation and say my legs do NOT look best pale white, but I agree that red heads do. BTW, I had dinner last night with one of my best pals who is a very pretty pale red head, and she had on a deep red shirt that looked great on her. I, on the other hand, was a very tow headed child with dark brown eyes. My hair is now dark blonde/lt. brown with some gray sprinkled in. I get it colored, but only about 2x a year because it's so expensive. And I will occasionally touch up the gray roots myself. Anyway, my pale legs look better with a little self tanner.... I use one of the brands that is more like a lotion (there are several brands for about $5), so there it's very gradual and natural looking with no streaking. I actually just bought some last week to get a little color for spring (I don't care in winter). I also don't have the naturally shapely legs like Lara, so a little color helps.

Lara, I also wanted to ask you about your home improvements - I think you were the one who mentioned doing some painting, etc. (it was a couple days ago, I'm sure). I am trying to get motivated to do some painting this spring. What all are you doing? I like hearing about other peoples' projects in the hope that it gets me inspired to do something to my house ;)

Well, I'm going to read a bit here and then head out for a walk. Hubby has agreed to either bike with me or go to the gym after the shower (it's like pulling teeth to get him to exercise with me, so I'm happy).

Hope everyone has a great day... make healthy choices and get moving! :exercise:

Claire

thanks for the info.
Yes I probably do have a health issue with my sleep. I get about 7-8 a night.
I hear that I snore terrible. :shrug:
My family has complained for years about it.

The only reason I don't want to do the sleep test.. Heard if you have Apnea, that you have to sleep with a machine?
Maybe I need the surgury for it. I won't sleep with any thing on my face. Yuk!

I am going to get some B vitamins.
I already take a Centrum. No extra calcium, even though the Dr. did say I need it for my Osteoperosis. I makes me (not move) miserable.


Hope some one else has more ideas!

My Dad has sleep apnea, and yes, you have to use that machine. He's loosing the hair on the back of his head because the strap has to be tight enough to keep the thing on his face (he's always been proud to not be going bald, and now this at age 85!). And the machine is very loud--they keep it in a different room so that my Mom can sleep without hearing the noise.

But if it is sleep apnea that is causing you to get a poor night's sleep, it is worth it for your health to have it checked.

Thanks Theresa for the special prayers for DGS he is up and running today full speed ahead. We slept in the living room on an air mattress just incase. I didn't need that mess all over my bed again.

Walktolose ~ We torr a room out a couple of years ago and I have been living in a mess every since. You could see where the room was because we used to smoke. DH is slow at doing projects and to add to it he works out of town. I just couldn't take it anymore and took matters into my own hands and decided to paint the ceilings in the living room and kitched, rooms are connected. Next is motivating him the short time he is here to either just let me paint over what is already here or do his part and redrywall. I can't see him doing his part any time soon. Paint isn't that much so I just want hime to let me repaint and he can drywall when he is off for an extended period of time. Hopefully I can convince him to do things my way.

Claire and Theresa ~ I have energy cycles also. I do find just pushing myself to get up and just move, doesn't have to be cardio or anything, just getting up and moving helps. Stroll down the halls, cleaning house, dance, just anything brings my energy back up. Since starting my change I have all kinds of sleep problems so I hear you there. I take vitamin B complexes and natures way vitamins for woman. I can definitely tell when I don't take them but I can't say as it cures it for me. I can't say as when I was on any diet plan that it was better. I have been on one that no processed foods at all and you ate every two hours and still I had ups and downs.

Allison ~ You may want to have your parents check into a new machine for your Dad's sleep apnea. I finally got DH to go take the test and he has severe sleep apnea. They woke him up during the test and put a machine on him because they did want him to die on their watch. HEHEHEHE! His machine is very quiet and we are not the only ones to think it because he has to room with other guys and they said it doesn't bother them either. It is amazing the difference it has made for my DH's energy level.

Well I did great yesterday until DD ordered cheese bread for dinner. I ended up having one. Calories: 1695 so still not bad.

Better get going because DGS is up from his nap and wanting me to play with him. He gets very upset when Grammy doesn't play with him. DD just had to change his sewer butt, really stinky today for some reason.

Talk at you all tomorrow if I don't get back on today.

Energy-
I make sure that I eat cleaner when possible, and if I have a small treat-like a bit of chocolate, etc. that I keep it to about 100 calories a day, and try to have it in the evening, so I don't have a sugar crash from it if I had it early in the day. I try to have protein and carbs at meals.
I also do regular cardio. I also strength train 3x a week, and teach 3 dance classes each week. Early in the day cardio helps me most with my energy levels. :)

Projects/Decorating-
This has been part of my life for the past year. We bought a brand new (just built) house last February when we relocated, and I have spent much of that time on the kids rooms, the nursery, and my dance studio. (Our home had a living room, and a family room-but we converted one into a home studio for my practice and private lessons, with full length mirrors, etc.)
I am going to start our bedroom soon, and I am working on landscaping plans for the yard right now. Last year I could not do anything, because the yard was being graded, and sod added, etc.

Good Morning!

Friday:
Calories...1,078 ( I was so proud that I hit 1200 calories then noticed today that I entered one item twice)
Carbs...204grams or 51% (Higher than usual)
Fiber... 67 grams
Protein... 77 grams or 29%
What percent of carbs/protein are we suppose to have?
Excuse me if I'm behind in comments, that one day my internet was down messed me up.
Lara... Yes, the Tomato/Spinach soup was homemade. DH and I both love to cook and we always make everything from scratch with the exception of pudding mixes, etc.
I have a tattoo on my calf that I've had for years. We owned Harley Davidson's for years, went on many trip, poker runs, parties, etc. When I went in for a tattoo DH was with me and was urging me to select a tattoo with eagles/Harley Davidson sign. But I found something perfect, it was two green leaves with 3 red cherries. I'll try to shorten the story, I was 5 or 6 and never had a dress purchased just for me. I had hand-me-downs from my two older sisters. (family of 7) My mom bought me a mint green dress with a white yoke and cherries across the yoke. I loved that dress, my tattoo shows it. My daughter was the one that protested about my tattoo. She said I would have to cover it when she got married. I didn't!
I put it right out in the open for all to see.
Grammy... DH and I used to exercise every morning with Margaret Richards (Body Electric), and she was good. I liked it because she mixed it up and they were different each morning.
Theresa... Fruit Ripples are crispy baked real apple pieces, each bag equals one fruit and only has 50 calories per bag. The Cinnamon apple is very good!
Karen... Thanks for the dog food recipe, I sent away for a dog food cookbook. It included 3 sizes of cutters shaped like dog bones. I make up batches of the deluxe (Has a package of hamburger in it) biscuits for Christmas gifts to my friends with dogs.
Delarimi... Thanks for the tip on freezing fish!
Justme...

Quote:

No workout though...my whole body hurt from gardening on Thursday (I ONLY GOT HALF DONE TOO!!! AHHHH) still a bit sore today.

I'm jealous, we can't wait to get out and plant our garden. Unfortunately that won't be until May. We eat from it all year, today we're going to use up the last of the winter squash. We put in about 36 tomato plants and pig out on them in the summer. The excess I take the stem off, wash and freeze whole in zip lock bags. (Use just like you would canned tomatoes)
DH is out preparing a whole chicken for supper tonight and he wants Green bean casserole. I love it but rarely make it because of the salty canned cream of mushoom soup it requires. Does anybody have a recipe than elimanates the soup? I do have homemade dry ingredients mixed up, you just add water to it for creamed soups. I tried using that once and it just doesn't taste as good.
Gotta go, DD just called and is coming over to pick up my old Dell Cp for the boys. Catch ya later.

Hi Bobbi,
Your recipe with the hamburger in it for dog biscuits sounds pretty good. I was wondering if you would like to share it? I really spoil my two little girls terrible (good) and also like to give "presents" at Christmas time.
I'm anxious for nice weather to get here so we can go for walks outside but it isn't here yet! In fact, this morning it is snowing again and we have a bout 2 inches on the ground all ready! Winter just isn't ready to give up yet.
Hope you all have a great weekend. Karen

:carrot: So the kids are with grandpa fishing even though these is a MILLION things I could be doing I'm just goofing off doing nothing around the house...(SOOO QUIET here today!!)

So I was a little extra hungry after lunch and didn't want to snack so I went and tried on my skinny clothes to keep my mind off food...I do that every once in awhile, it motivated me...and I still have smaller clothes that I grew out of after I quit smoking...jeans I barely wore before I started putting on the weight...So I pulled down the infamous sz 10P levis....tried them on...THEY FIT!!!! I only wore them a couple times 3 YEARS AGO!!! :D I've been bouncing around 168-172 for a couple weeks now and obviously even though the weight is about the same, my body is changing....

Justme.
congratulations :congrat: Keep up the good job. !
I can't wait for that to happen.

:woohoo: Today is my official day to record my weight and I've lost two more lbs! :carrot: Which means I'm half way there and I'm only 1 lb away from a BMI of overweight (vs. obese.) YAY!

I FINALLY got the gist of fitday and will now be recording my food in there. It's really time consuming right now because I have to put in all sorts of custom foods. Does anyone know of a site that lets you input your own recipe and it'll calculate nutritional info for you? I cook a lot and I'm always adjusting recipes to suit us, so I have to guesstimate calories most of the time.

Littlered~ You dgd is so cute! I loved (still love) hats, but my niece (would that be dn?) hates hats. She's three and looks so cute in them, but she'll tear them off after 5 mins.

I used to have low energy levels too. I actually had a vitamin deficiency, but I can't take the hard kind of vitamins (my stomach.) I had really good energy when I took a liquid vitamin, I think my body was able to absorb more of it. Of course, as always happens, they discontinued the liquid I liked, so now I take an adult chewable and that seems to work well too. I also sleep 9 hours per night.

Walking~ Did you ever try the first kind of self tanners they came out with? I thought the idea was wonderful and slathered it all over my legs (thankfully I didn't put it on my face.) I turned bright orange!:lol: I wish someone had taken pictures. I didn't think it was funny at the time, but now I think it was hilarious. I've been scared of self tanners ever since.

That is awesome! :yay: I can't wait till I can get into a size 10.

Still here! ;)

My first week's going pretty well. I went 200 calories over my limit last night thanks to two very good beers, but as long as I don't make that a pattern, I'm not going to beat myself up over it. However, it's already twice since Monday. :( Got to get a little more strict with myself. I played two hours of basketball twice this week, lifted once, and I'm going to lift again today and maybe put in half an hour on the elliptical.

Hope everybody's doing GREAT! Or even just okay. Or just not as bad as usual. :D Any improvement is an improvement!