Since I went on FOREVER in that last post, I have to put my update here!

Update:
*Sorry to say I must report a bad day -- instead of going home + getting in my Lower Body workout, I shuffled home + got into my flannel jammies + wrapped myself in a blanket and felt sorry for my crampy self. Oh well. Had chips (1oz) + a cookie, but lowfat soup + multigrain bread for dinner to make up for it. The rainy days haven't been helping my general mopiness either -- I can't wait until next week! Farewell cold rainy days! Farewell annoying hormones! Hello regular workout schedule!

Bio:
Also, since rblackstripes + Nettie were so kind as to introduce themselves, I thought I should return the favor and share some info about my own self, since even though I'm a re-run, I'm new to them!
I'm 25 (26 in 11 days!), and live in NYC (Brooklyn) with my DH and one poorly behaved ferret. I've NEVER been an active-type person -- much more the bookworm type -- and can't say that I ever had any interest in anything remotely resembling exercise. 2 years ago, I had had enough (+ was extra motivated by the weight I'd put on since moving in w/DH), and started dieting + doing Tae-Bo regularly for several months, and ultimately lost 20 pounds. By the time I got married in September, however, I had gained 10 of it back, and the other 10 came back on the honeymoon! I finally started moving again in February of this year, starting with the Firm Basics tapes, and have lost 10 pounds thus far. Recently DH and I joined a gym, so I've been struggling to fit that in (in the form of exercise machine cardio) my program.
I have also been on a plateau for about 5 weeks. Despite that, I like the changes in my body and life that exercise has wrought, and feel much better about my attitude towards exercise this time around. I'm hoping that perhaps my new fit lifestyle is here to stay. This time I am not dieting, which I think ill-prepares you for a lifetime of "real" eating, but just keeping a general eye on my diet + trying to keep it low in fat + high in veggies and whole grains.
And that's my story!

Just wanted to say "hi" to everyone and thanks for all the welcomes -- made me feel all warm inside (mmm like a warm oatmeal cookie). .. (smile). okay I'm weird I know

Thanks for the welcome Marvin-- by the way -- what is Curves? I've never heard of it before? Also, I do hope your sunburn feels better. My friend at work has just started itching and peeling from her sunburn. (I get to watch her wiggle all day cause she wants to scratch -smile).

Re: tapes - I must admit I do get burned out with my exercise tapes, as I am not a workout person at all -- I love movies and romance novels -- but when I workout I not only feel better physically but also mentally (my mind just seems more focused and I have a better attitude about myself throughout the day). I have just noticed that even this week, I'm not beating myself up that much about the weight. I even feel like I look better in my clothes (and I know I haven't even lost a pound - smile). I actually like the gym, but the area that I'm in there's one gym (and for some reason it's a party-pickup gym). I used to go and try to workout on a machine and a guy would be leaning or sitting on the machine I needed trying to pick up a girl, or better yet lean on the one I'm working out on (smile).

So I've been trying to buy a variety of tapes to keep me motivated. I have used The Firm tapes before and have lost quite a bit of weight with them (in the old days). I don't know how it will go this time though cause I notice as I get older it doesn't seem to come off as fast. Also, I've started turning down the volume on my tapes completely and playing my own music (that also helps me make the workout a little different). Still if anyone can recommend any other good tapes -- I am always looking for new tapes to make my workouts seem a little more exciting. Right now I have Billy Blanks Tae Bo, The Firm Series, and I just bought Kathy Smith's Aerobox and Aaron Lankford's Power Kicks (haven't really gotten into those yet), but will let you know once I do. Hopefully they won't kill my knees, but so far the Tae Bo ones are not too painful. The Firm tapes do hurt my knees at times though I just have to change the routines on the tapes. And - I have a Yoga for beginners (one thing I totally suck at -- STRECHING (smile).

Anyway I did workout today, but I don't want this e to be too long - I just wanted to thank everyone for the welcome.

Copperblu -- thank you so much for your e's and your intro -- your story is very encouraging! Hopefully I can stick with my fitness goals and maybe change my lifestyle 2! Also this may be a dump question but what are pilates?

Anyway wishing everyone on this board a wonderful evening (or is it midnite yet??) Maybe I just better say "Happy Friday"

Good Morning!

WooHoo!! Tonight is date night! I get to spend time with my husband without having to worry about diaper bags or potty training or Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. Of course when we are on our date, all we will talk about are the children and we can't wait to get back to them.

I worked out to my 20 min. RS video last night. I added the two pound weights again. This time I made it all the way through with the weights, except for the 3 min. cool down. Four pounds does not sound like much, but when you are constantly lifting them and pumping them over your head, they really work your arms and chest. I didn't do my abs tape last night because I wanted to give them a rest. I plan to do those exercises about three times a week. Now that I have upper body with my weights and abs with my tape, I need to get a lower body tape. I think I am going to try the FIRM tapes. Do they sell them in the stores or do you have to order them?

rblackstripes: Here is a web site that reviews fitness videos:
http://www.exercisevideosreviews.com/jstart.html
I found it very helpful. This way, when I buy a tape, I can check out the review before I pull the plastic off the box. She also has some very good tips about tapes and how to do exercises properly. There is also another site for reviews and these are written by regular people:
http://www.videofitness.com/reviews/

MarvintheMartian: Thanks for the welcome. Hope your sunburn is getting better. Since we are going to an outdoor concert this evening, I will be slathered in baby sunscreen. I am as white as you can get, and don't tan at all. Unless you count freckles. Unfortunately, people in Florida can't comprehend that I don't tan, can't tan. That's great about the yoga class. I see a lot of people are doing it now. I've never tried it. What does it do for you?

copperblu: Happy Birthday to you in ten days! Please send some of your rain this way. We are in a serious drought and Florida is on fire again. We are surrounded by water (the state is darn near an island) and we stay on fire. Luckily, none are close to Jacksonville yet.

Your plateau may be you losing fat and gaining muscle. Right now, I am depending on the scale to measure progress. Once I get to my goal, I am going to give up the scale and start measuring. As long as I have a healthy body, I don't care what it weighs. (I don't think anyone is going to have to pick me up in the near future.) You are right about the not dieting. Due to these message boards, I am convinced I am doing the right thing by not dieting or taking pills or juices. I am making a lifelong change. I have never done that before and have never had the success I am having now.

Hope everyone has a successful day and weekend! I usually post while I am at work, but I may sneak in over the holiday weekend and see how everyone is doing.

231/209/170

So great to hear from everyone!

rblackstripes: You may not be imagining things! When I started working out again in February, after a few weeks people started telling me I looked like I'd lost weight -- when the scale hadn't moved at all! I was befuddled, but it was very encouraging!
I like going to the gym too -- although I don't like classes, because I get self-conscious. Currently I'm only using it for cardio because I don't have that much time in the morning and also, I am, perhaps, maybe, just a little nervous about trying all the machines for the first time. My gym has a special deal for a one-time meeting with a personal trainer though, so I might take advantage of that -- just so that I can get a feel for the weight machines without feeling like a big bumbly dork.
I have to use a LOT of different tapes to keep me from getting bored, so I know where you're coming from! It can be a very expensive habit, trying to keep one step ahead of my boredom!
About Pilates -- it's an isometric (using your own muscles as resistance) muscle strengthening + stretching program based on a program developed by Joseph Pilates for people who wanted to stay in shape w/out equipment or while bedridden. Some Pilates studios use equipment based on his old system of pulleys + slides, but the majority of the work is mat based, like yoga. A lot of people find that it really works the muscles in a different way, and creates a longer leaner look than weight-training -- so I think it's a good counterbalance to my usual weight-training, and helps keep my muscles from feeling "tight." Still, I'm pretty new at it. I'm going to try to keep it (& yoga) in my plan though, because like you, I am not good at stretching -- I have always been remarkably unflexible!
About oatmeal cookies -- believe me, I know. Yum...

Nettie: Congratulations on getting your workout in!! I know what you mean about light weight feeling like a lot when it's going over your head -- I always feel very strong during my workouts....until I have to do
"military presses" over my head! I have to pyramid down to my lightest weights for that!
About the Firm tapes -- they do have them in stores -- I've heard that Target, Walmart, + Suncoast video sometimes have them. You can also order them directly from The Firm at their website, www.firmbelievers.com. However, there are a lot of other online stores that carry a selection of the Firm videos, like:
www.buy.com
www.collagevideo.com
www.half.com
Often much cheaper than you'd find at the Firm website or at the online book/media stores like amazon and bn.com. A great deal going on right now is at www.musicgraveyard.com, which is currently selling about 10 Firm titles for about $5 each. You can also buy them from other Firm users on the forum that is maintained on the Firm website, but unlike e-bay, there's no monitoring of this activity, so it's at your own risk. I'd personally recommend the three "Firm Basics": Sculpting w/Weights, Fat-burning workout, and Abs, Buns + Thighs. These are labeled as Basics, and have solid color covers with the instructor on the front. They are a great way to get into the Firm, as most of the other tapes are in my opinion WAY too hard for a beginner or someone who hasn't been exercising for a while. I have a bunch of Firm tapes at home that I can't even use yet, because I'm not ready for them!
Phew! Long post!
Okay, onward -- about the plateau -- I measure too, and I know I've lost inches, but I don't feel like I'm losing inches very quickly right now either. I know that eventually both the weight + the inches will start moving downward again -- it's just SOOO frustrating while I'm waiting! I'm at one of those points where you just have to remind yourself to enjoy the journey + not think about the destination so much. And luckily, I have some good travel companions!
Have fun on your date -- you definitely deserve it! -- and a great weekend!

I hope everyone has a fun (+ healthy!) Memorial Day weekend, and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday or Tuesday!

This is great!

My Update: My shoulders have finally stopped burning! Thank goodness.... the only parts of my that are peeling are my nose (very faintly) and a wee bit on the very tops of my shoulders... it's not even noticeable! I guess that's what you get for "bathing" in aloe vera gel!

I didn't make it to Curves last night (again!) but I did get out in the garden again for a while last night, so not a total loss. Today, I will have no time, as I leave for the city right after work, and probably won't get home until late...sigh....

And here's a re-run of my life story... I am 25 as well, but won't be 26 until October 5th. I am very happily married to my dh, for two years on the 12th of June. We are parents to a herd of animals, with 1 dog, 11 cats (one preggers!), 2 budgies, 40 chickens, 8 turkeys, and two tanks full of fish! We're in the process of setting up the building of a new house, after which I will become a SAHM, which is my dream. I work fulltime right now for a local municipality, and like Copperblu, I am an avid book-lover and couch potato. I joined Curves with my mom and our coworkers at the end of last November, and I've lost some weight, and inches along the way. It's a really, agonizingly slow loss for me most of the time, because I didn't change my diet at all, and I don't plan to. I generally eat pretty well, but I don't deny myself anything. It seems to work for me.

rblackstripes ~ Curves is a women's only fitness and weight loss facility. Basically, It's set up with a number of stations, each of which work a different set of muscles using resistance. In between each machine is a recovery station, where you jog in place. You stay at each station for 35 seconds, and circle to loop three times. It takes about 35 minutes to complete, and you get a total body workout, cardio and resistance, and it's fun too. Their website is www.curvesforwomen.com and they might explain it a little better!

Nettie ~ Date night? At this time of year, I'm lucky to see my dh before sundown! He's an agricultural mechanic, and, actually, seeding is pretty much done around here, so it's not too bad. But, during haying (late June/early July) and harvest (Sept-Oct) I rarely see him. When I do, he just wants to eat and sleep! Men!

I've never actually done yoga, except for one early morning attempt, that left me sweating and gasping after 10 minutes! I really want to learn the proper way to do yoga, as it seems like a great and relaxing way to tone up. We'll see!

Darn you, Copperblu! We're cross-posting again! Nothing important to say, but have a safe and fun and healthy weekend, or else!

Anyway, I better hustle! I've got a busy day ahead, so have a good long weekend, you Yankees you! I'll see you all next week!

Greetings everyone and Happy Friday! by the way, thanks Nettie for the tape info. I will definitely check out the site.

Also Copperblu thanks for the info re where to purchase tapes. I bought my first set of Firm tapes years ago when they first came out and they were OUCH around $45.00 -- now the price has dropped drastically and I have seen them at amazon around $13.99, but it takes them a few days to deliver them to you, and you still have to add on taxes and shipping. I have purchased movie tapes from half.com, but never thought about exercise tapes.

Re: workout - I actually had a decent workout day today -- I tried my Aaron Lankford Power Kicks tape -- it was okay -- although right now my knees are killing me so I know I will have to adjust my workout when I use the tapes. Also, I have decided that this Monday I will finally weigh myself and see just how bad the damage is. I have a feeling I will never know if I'm losing or how well my workouts are going if I don't weigh in, or at least take measurements.

Now the hardest part for me - its the weekend and I want to kick my beau off the couch and have him take me to dinner -- now if I can just be healthy this weekend!


I wish everyone a great day!

Just had to say " I JUST LOVE THE WEEKENDS!!"

I slept in this morning, but as soon as I got up, I did my Firm Basics tape this morning so am feeling pretty darn good. Knees are killing me though -- that's what I get for buying a tape entitled "Power Kicks" -- okay I'm not the brightest exercise guru out there (LOL)

Have a great day all!

It's Sunday and I just can't get motivated. I have my exercise clothes on at this very minute, have been staring at the tv, then logged on here for motivation. I've been reading quite a few e's and that's helped a little, I guess I need to just do it

Have a great day all!