Star - so you went ahead and ordered the HRM? You are so brave to drive the car hauler ---is it a long trip?

Fiona - I agree with the learning period/curve. . .It took me two weeks to learn the foundation moves on these tapes - and by the time I had the rhythm down my heart rate had settle down (by perceived exertion rate). .

My brother called last night at 9:00 to say he'd be here before noon

Julie - No I was telling Fiona with her new treadmill program she needed the HRM yesterday.......
Glad your brother is helping you out...with the VCR/CD thingy.....males are so handy....

Julie - the trip up north is 3 hours, well 2/5 - 3. About hauling the car, like I've told you before, I'm too blonde to be scared of anything......lol

Star -I wish I had that blonde trait. . . will it work if it comes out of a bottle? (Although I truly don't think I have the coloring for blonde. . .)

Yes, males are so handy - and I'm really lucky that my DB does this kind of stuff so well, since otherwise I'd be out of luck! The only problem is that his internal clock/schedule is so different than anyone elses. . .

Morning fellow getting-fit chicks. :)

Well, that that workout sucks! :( I was thinking the day we did the threshold test that my top number - the 163 - didn't seem high enough, and based on trying that program last night, I think I'm right. My resting HR is pretty high anyway - in the 70s, gotta get that down too - so trying to keep it under 130 for a third of the workout meant I had to go so slow I was practically walking backwards. And then to get my HR up rapidly, I practically had to start jogging, then it was too much - all in all, kind of a mess. And I could REALLY have used a proper HRM - the hand grips take 10 full seconds to register, and when you're doing 1-2 minute intervals, there's just not enough time to adjust the speed up/down to correct it.

I think it would have made more sense, for me, to find a comfortable walking speed and work my HR by changing the incline, rather than vice versa. And of course, these are all things I plan to go over with the PT when I meet with her this afternoon.

Definitely getting that HRM as soon as there's money in the bank.

Fiona

Fiona - I think you should talk with the personal T and tell them that you want to get use to the treadmill and how your HR ranges before trying such a varied routine....
I know you'll stand your ground......
Remember - it's all good!
I want the HRM too, I'm tempted to order it today....

Julie - I get all my blonde moments out of the bottle.....lol

Star - I just ordered mine! :dancer: Too bad you live like, 800 miles away or something, we could be workout buddies with matching HRMs. LOL!

Fiona

Okay miss smarty pants - I'm right behind you with the ordering. We could meet in the middle? Where would that put us? Julie will know, she's the traveler.....? So if we all three meet in the middle, where are we Julie?

Our little bride, Diane, is somewhere on the eastern end of Wisconsin - we could meet at her house. Wouldn't that be a fun wedding/honeymoon surprise? :lol:

Edit - scratch that, I can't read today. :dizzy:

Fiona

Just give me a couple of days to get there- from the east coast??? Actually, geography is NOT my good point - I'm getting pretty good with road maps, though..

PT said to try the routine at least one more time - I think I'll wait til next week when my HRM gets here - and if it's just not working, do whatever cardio I'm comfortable with until our next appointment (she's going on vacation so I have a week to work out on my own), then if it still seems awkward we'll do the threshold test again when she gets back.

Did that core stuff today - no actual sit ups, but plenty of modified pushups and squats. Boy did I feel it! Supposed to do 30 minutes of cardio and a whole list of core exercises 3x each over the next week. I'm going to be a tired gal!

Fiona

Fiona - just a thought, since I went through this learning curve thing on the exercise series I'm doing now - pick the complicated thing first and get it down, and then add in the easier part (or the other way around) - it doesn't have to be perfectly right the first few times.

I'm with you on the core stuff - pilates (and only 30 min once a week) kicks my b*tt. well, my abs. And the strength training - I am doing more reps each time.

Exercise & Water Weight Gain
 

Hi, All -

I know that some of us who have started to add exercise to our lives, regardless of what LAWL says, have been concerned about muscle weighing more, maybe not seeing an immediate loss from adding exercise, etc. I came across this in Bob Green's new book, Ultimate Weightloss Makeover (I think) - anyway, I'm going to include this as a quote, make us feel a little better:

"In the beginning, as you start exercising and ramping up your workouts and as you change your eating habits, the water you body holds on to (or lets go of) will largely dictate your losses - or even gains. As you become more active and drink more water, your muscles will retain water. The primary culprit here is glycogen, a form of carbohydrate that's stored in your muscles and is the main fuel for exercise. The more active you are, the more glycogen your muscles will retain and thus the more water you'll hold on to: Each gram of glycogen stores an addtional 2.5 grams of water. What's more, the fitter you become, the more glycogen you store.

This initial water weight gain can be disheartening, but hang in there. Water-weight gain will cover up the body fat losses that you will be experiencing. After a few weeks, you will begin to see fat loss. And the reality is, this is a part of charging up your metoabolism, which will ultimately lead to an increase in your fat-burning power."

Even though I'm committed to LAWL because of the $$ I've invested, I still borrow all the new diet/exercise books from the library to see what the hype is.

Anyway, I've heard this explanation before - especially at the Firm Forum (for the firm videos - which I've had for too long to remember and used to do faithfully, now the most exercise I get from then is running the duster over them - but that's another story.) So, for years, over at the Firm boards, some people noted that when they started working out and using dumbbells, (the firm is Aerobic Weight Training combining cardio and weights) that they seemed to get bigger rather than smaller in the first couple of weeks or so, and then suddenly the weight seemed to drop off all at once.

The Firm also preaches that you have to feed your body more if you are working out, and are proponents of clean eating and I feel LAWL is pretty consistent - except for the LA Bars which to me have a lot of sugar and even some partially hydrogenated oils - with the lean proteins, fruits and veggies, etc.

I'm not saying that any of this will work or apply to everyone, but I do feel that as we get closer to our goals, we have to change things up and tweak as our bodies change. Our bodies are going to react differently to getting and being in shape, than it's reaction to our being sedentary and eating food with no nutritional value which it just stored as fat.

That's why I think, and maybe Star said this too, that LAWL needs to rethink their views of exercise. Many of the people who are featured in Thin for Life, and in that weightloss study that I can't remember the name of, all do at least an hour of exercise a day to maintain their weight.

Enough from me for now. I am home today trying to clean and as you can see, I am easily distracted!

Melissa

Melissa, thanks for adding in the expert speak! I've seen that alot in various forums - that when we first ramp up the exercise, the scale weight doesn't drop - but then will starting 3-4 weeks afterward. . . I do wish that LAWL was a little more supportive of this!

Running the duster, hmmm? Well, I cleaned my sliding glass door windows yesterday, does that count?

Me Again - HRMs
 

So soon you say!?! I do thing's backwards, I was so anxious to post what I read in Bob Green's book, I didn't read the rest of the thread first.

Fiona - Thanks for the link for that Ekho, it is really cute and the price is right. Hopefully my tax refund will be here soon and I might make the purchase.

If I may add one thing about Polar, you must send your HRM back to them to get the battery changed and that usually costs about $50-60. I had one years ago when I was seriously working out and that was the one draw back, while the battery lasted a year, to pack everything up, yep chest strap too, mail it out, when a watch battery is like five dollars was a pain in the butt.

I've heard good things about an hrm called Sigma Fit or something like that, I know a guy sells them on ebay, and you can change the battery yourself. I think it sells for about $50-60, but it is not as cute as that Ekho. Also, CardioSport hrms allow you to change the battery yourself.

If you're wondering why I am such a font of information (HA!) - my old BF was/is a fairly accomplished runner and first introduced me years ago to using an HRM because he felt I wasn't working in the zone, etc, etc, more like I zoned out. He had all those extras on his, I think it was Polar that was like $300! His last time, time in zone, out of zone, beeping, lights - danger Will Robinson!

Let me tell you when I first got one, I wore it all the time because I wanted to know my hr for everything, it can be addictive.

Well, the dust bunnies are calling me.
Melissa

Melissa - thanks for the info on the HRM. I keep on thinking that there should be one that attaches to you shoes, so it knows how much you weigh, and then can calculate the calories? Now, that would probably really be Star Trekkie...

Okay, these are my exercise goals for the week. . . My VCR is up and running. I did get in workouts on Friday and Saturday - I'm going to use Sunday as my rest day. .

These tapes are based on the ProjectYou system - so the schedule is already set - I just have to DO them.

Monday/Thursday - 30 minutes cardio tape, 30 min Lower Body Workout
Tuesday/Friday - 30 minutes cardio tape, 30 min Upper Body Workout
Wednesday - 20 minutes pilates, 20 min yoga
Saturday - 30 min cardio - I've been doing a walking tape on my stepper. It also comes with ProjectYou - The tape also continues onto the second side with an interval workout, which I haven't even listened to yet. I'd love to get through that portion by the end of April.

Since I missed several days last week, I'm considering myself at week 3, still, so I still have at three more weeks at this schedule. Then there is a 'rest week', then the program shifts again for weeks 7 through 12. . .

Also, I haven't taken my measurements yet. Not sure if this is a good day to do it after a week of steroids, but have to start somewhere, right?

I may just get that HRM as a reward for following the program this week!

Julie - WOW - you are one bad chick! As of this newly posted workout schedule - you kick butt! Very impressive, is this as instructed by Project You? If so, it doesn't look like they are messing around.
As of last Thrusday, I have closed the "Star Gym" - It is a very sad time for me.
I still have afew tapes I'm doing at home, but right now I am inbetween deciding on when and which gym to go to.
I am glad to report that with all the weekend moving I was the one that complained the least and suffered no injuries or soreness......GO-Trina Go-Trina!
This coming Saturday is move day to the apartment - I'm rather excited now and anxious to be so near the fitness trail.
Melissa - Thanks for the info on weight training and so why is this all so complicated anyhow? It's just not fair.

Star - yes it is the projected plan via project you - I'm just hoping I can keep up with it. I did the lower body today, and I still can't do all the reps in each of the exercises - but I can do at least two . . Oh well - I've got three more weeks to see if I can complete the whole tape. If I can't I can always tack on another week!

So sorry that the Star gym is closed for a while. I can't believe that you are able to actually move in two weeks.

BTW - It doesn't surprise me in the least that you complained the least over the weekend. And are the strongest.

And you'll be moving on daylight savings weekend - so you'll have more light at night to enjoy your new fitness trail.

Hey chickies -

My HRM is supposed to be here tomorrow - can't wait! Also, DH and I were trying to count how many times I've been to the gym so far since I joined - need to get in 8 times a month to get the rebate from my health insurance - and realized I had been in 7 times already, and it wasn't even a full month. The counting was pretty funny, though, sounded like this: "Okay, I got a freebie the day I signed up, then the day after because I had promised DD she could go in the playroom (child care center), then there was the two times that I fell off the treadmill, and the one time I DIDN'T, and the two personal trainer sessions. Wow, seven!" :rofl:

What's great is all they monitor is your check-in, so I get attendance "credits" even if all I do is sit in the hot tub for an hour or do a session in the tanning bed or get a massage. :D

Fiona

Julie -
About your exercise program, I can't tell you anything anymore - you are one fast study! Like you said, just do as many reps as you can, you'll be at the head of the class in no time.....or head of the tape.....lol Your moving at such a fast rate I'm almost glad you aren't my workout buddy....lol Go-Julie Go-Julie!
I'll keep you posted on what my new workout routine brings, always something new with me.....sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I will say this about this program - it doesn't take much thought - it just takes DOING. And that's really what I needed right now. I needed an integrated program that worked me all over and I could just put my legs and arms in the right place. (I had higher expectations of my strength though. . .)

Once I get the basics down (and I can finish the entire tape without my supporting limbs trembling) then I can mix it up with other stuff.

Star - cannot wait to see how you construct a new program. I confess, this is still so new to me that I really had to convince myself to restart again last week when I got my new VCR.

Fiona - Wow - 7 times already, and that's not counting any massages! Will they report to your insurance company about your attendance? How do you get it refunded?

Jen, how are you doing on your arm exercises?

Julie - when I registered they took down my insurance number, then I guess they report to the insurer at the end of the month whether I was in 8 times, and then the insurer pays them, then the credit shows up on my bill the next month. Something like that. They are always two months behind in crediting, due to "getting you in the system," but if/when I ever cancel my membership, they will cut me a check for the two months' credit. Kinda neat.

Fiona

Julie - Well I'm really glad you got back to it after your DB hooked up the VCR. All it takes is something like 2 weeks (?) to form a habit......
You know about just watching the tape and DOING is why so many people love exercise classes, it doesn't take much thinking.....lol
Fiona - That is cool that your insurance pays part of your membership fees. BUT here's hoping you won't ever cancel your membership.....lol Sounds like your enjoying it so far and once that HRM gets to you - watch out!

Getting back to fashion - Oh that was on the other thread. Anyhow, I was wondering if you girls have cute workout clothes that motivate you to get going? I only ask becuz I truly think it makes a difference; if I look good - I feel better. :lol: What do you think?

Star - you're right, sometimes it's much easier to let an expert tell you what to do than to try to be creative and come up with something. . . I'm hoping that it'll eventually be like cooking - learn the basics, then can learn what to combine to make the best dish (me!)

About clothes - I'm not very inventive since I do it at home . . . Maybe that'll be another carrot I hold out in front of me??

Fiona - it is so cool that they'll do that for you -

I'm hoping that the upper body won't KILL me today -- those tricep dips. . .

Julie & Fiona....Hi Fit Chicks....

Well, I got back with the program today, broke down and went to my old gym....The Weight Station. It's a coed place real close to my work, I have gone there for about 5 maybe 6 years. So to do this, I packed my gym bag with all my stuff last night, then got up at 4:30am. Got some coffee, went down to the 'Star Gym' and did the bunn and thigh roller and some stretching, then got in the car and zoomed off in the dark, coffee in hand.....
Well to my surprise, several of my old friends are still pluggin away there. The women only section got all new Lady Apex weight machines and two recumbent bikes. That means the only thing I need to go to the coed side for is if I want to do the treadmill, which I will (have to keep an eye out for new hot males...lol) Anyhow the recumbent bikes have a built in HRM, which is totally cool! Today I wanted to slide in without too much notice so I choose to do cardio; 30 treadmill and 20 recumbent bike. It was just like riding a bike, once you learn you never forget. For me I'm talking more about just going to the gym, not the exercises. It's almost like I never stopped going, some things never change. For now I will be going back there M-F, cardio 3 days and weights 2 days, with hopfully doing my tapes at home prior to my 5:30am departure time. I'll keep you posted on how this all goes and if anything changes.
I am really geeked about all the new equipment and the girls there tell me they just got it yesterday....perfect timing.
Julie - your right - once you get this "Project You" plan down, you'll be tweeking it to meet all your needs and likes. At the rate your going, you might be doing this by next week.....lol
Okay chicks - have to go and do some work, check you later....

Star - you are my fitness roll model. I am still at the point where I have to say - okay, just PUT the tape in the machine. . .

It's interesting that I really thought I'd be able to zoom through these tapes and do all the reps - and I'm still not able to do all the abs reps, or the tricep dips. . . but I still follow along and do them as much as I can. Also have to remember that I'm working muscles that have only lifted a fork for a while (not exactly, but sort of). . .

And for the cardio - I can definately feel that I'm losing speed about 20 minutes into the tape. I'm thinking I need to eat sooner before I start. . . I'm eating a lite about two hours after I wake up, and then I sometimes don't eat before I work out, which can also be another couple of hours after the lite. . Still need to tweak this, I think!

first-timer
 

Hi everyone,
My name is Nisha. I have never posted anything in before, this is my first time. I'm 27 and stay home mother of 2 wonderful boys. I live in Norway and life is good except when i think about my weight. I've started excercising in a fittness center and i'm hoping to lose around 20lbs before Sept. Is it possible? Can anyone give me ideas, advice or suggestions on how to loose thoes pounds. :)

Hi Nisha - welcome. Are you changing anything in your diet (that needs to be changed, that is) along with the exercise? The non-scientific advice I've heard from the smart, fit-chick ladies on this board is that it's hard to accomplish weight loss with exercise alone - you have to pair it with eating right, as well.

As for your goal of losing 20 pounds in 5 months, that's 4 pounds a month or about 1 pound a week - very doable if you make a plan and stick to it.

Again, welcome!

Fiona

Julie - I think it is very flattering to be anyone's 'fitness roll model'.....I am snickering as I type......But I don't feel like a roll model, I'm just very lucky to love exercise (fat or thin).......Doing it for so many years, I have learned alot (despite being blonde&old).

Julie you said: "I really thought I'd be able to zoom through these tapes and do all the reps - and I'm still not able to do all the abs reps, or the tricep dips. . . but I still follow along and do them as much as I can. Also have to remember that I'm working muscles that have only lifted a fork for a while (not exactly, but sort of). . ."
Julie about that statement, You HAVE made huge strides, I'm impressed with your total spirit of 'just do it'... First of all, you are using muscles that haven't been stressed in awhile. Second you are building muscle, this doesn't happen overnight, BUT once you have built muscle you never lose it, it might go unused for awhile but it has memory. Therefore, you are in the process of a very important and time consuming phase, building a foundation. So with all that in mind, just remember what's happening right now and maybe you can think of the light at the end of the tunnel.........

Hi Fi
And Welcome Nisha! Fiona has given you some very good advice....

Okay gals, I'm looking at the suggested training schedule for the MS Walk I'm doing in September, and I'm trying to figure out how I am going to come up with time every weekend starting in about June to walk 12-18 miles a day! Just for your amusement, here is the suggested 18-week schedule (I've separated the weeks with "----", the # is how many miles per day):

0-3-0-3-0-3-4-----0-3-0-4-0-4-5-----0-4-0-4-0-3-6---
0-4-0-4-0-3-8-----0-4-0-4-0-4-10----0-4-4-0-3-4-8---
0-4-0-4-0-4-12----0-4-4-0-3-4-10----0-4-0-4-0-4-14---
0-4-4-0-3-4-12----0-4-0-4-0-4-16----0-4-5-0-4-5-12---
0-4-0-5-0-4-18----0-4-5-0-5-6-12----0-4-0-5-0-4-20---
0-4-5-0-5-6-12----0-4-0-4-0-8-10----

0-3-3-0-0-20-20-10 (The big weekend itself!)

It's insane! Just to meet the miles for the first week, I'm going to have to increase my cardio from 30 minutes to an hour-plus. (Not that that's a bad thing, it's just kind of a scary thought.) And I know I will need to switch to training outdoors at some point, but I think I'm going to stick with the treadmill for the first several weeks until I figure out how to pace myself for those longer distances. Hmmm.

Fiona

Star, thank you for your words of encouragement. I do agree with you about the muscle memory - there are certain moves that I recognize from other tapes (LONG AGO) that I can follow much easier. And, I have to be honest, just doing something that is a challenge is carrying over to OTHER areas of my life. And thanks for reminding me that even though it is not easy and certainly not 'fluid', it still counts (now that is also a good lesson!)

Fiona - the training program for these things are a killer. That's why I asked if there were local groups that you could train with. One thing I did when I was training for the Avon was to find a 3 mile circuit and did it most mornings before work. And then on weekends I'd do it 3 times to get the mileage up. And truthfully, I wasn't ready. I should have done many more long walks before the actual event, mainly because I was so sore after I was done. BUT, I did finish the walk. I walked every mile. So you don't actually have to follow the exact program. The other thing is, is that you don't have to go for speed - go for endurance . . if that makes it any easier. They kept on telling us that it wasn't a race.

Also, you can do the treadmill, but I found that it really helped me to do the streets around my house - I got used to hills, uneven pavements, the whole thing.

Julie

Hi Nisha!

If you're already going to a health center, you're already ahead of the game! You're beginning to change your habits (as long as you GO - I haven't always taken advantage of all the exercise options available to me).

Maybe your health center has some help on how to modify your diet? There are several ways to track things, but it all seems to come down to calories in and calories out.

I think you've got the big thing straight, though, life is good! Starting from there, with that type of positive outlook, just by modifying your activity and your foods, you should make your goal of 20 pounds by September. That sounds really doable!

Julie

FI - More power to you girl! I have never done such a long walk or jog. Back in the day when I jogged 3 miles a day, on weekends I could double that with no trouble. I would suggest that you just get your miles up there, not meaning up to 20 but just start with like 3 a day and maybe more on the weekends if you can. Let me ask you this, why did you commit to do this? lol

Star - ha! Actually I'm doing it because I attempted it 3 years ago (2002 - interestingly, one of my dearest friends was diagnosed with MS two months AFTER I signed up to do the Walk that year) but DIDN'T train properly and ended up hurt and didn't finish. And it's always bugged me, but the last couple years it has always been on the weekend that DH and I celebrate our anniversary so I've used that as an excuse - not anymore!

Oooh, my new HRM is here! It's so RED and SHINY!!! :lol: The directions are clear but definitely translated from another language. Oh, this is hilarious - I ordered it from some place in New York, and the brand's distribution center is in Minneapolis. I don't know why, but I find that funny. :lol:

Ah, thank you website - it figures calories burned based on the stats of a 25 year old, 150 pound male. Take it or leave it, I guess! :rolleys: If you get the slightly more expensive one, it allows you to input your height, weight and age to get a more accurate calorie count.

Okay, quickly doing some work, back in a few...

Fiona

Fiona - I think your next HRM must be so cute! Now, will you get workout clothes to match???

I had a look at my April budget, and I think the HRM will have to wait until May.

ARe you going to show the training schedule to the trainer? And when are you planning to start training? In June?

Of course I'll have to get workout clothes to match! :D Red/black/white/silver. Maybe some navy blue. Yah, I can see DH's reaction when I tell him I need all new workout gear to coordinate with my watch! :lol:

I'm starting "training" now - assuming that 8 weeks from now, around the beginning of June, is when the weekend training routines really start getting up there in miles.

Anybody know what is an average minutes-per-mile for a fit chick workout? I fee like I need a goal, or something...

Fiona

Okay, answered my own question. Apparently, the average person out for a stroll walks at about 16 minutes per mile, a moderately fit person who walks for exercise would be at around an 11-minute mile, and a very fit "race walker" probably averages a 9.5-minute mile.

Now my mind is wandering, and I'm wondering, from a purely philisophical point of view, how my being on the short side will affect my training - because since my stride is shorter, it takes me more effort (more steps) to walk a mile than, say, my DH who is 6 inches taller than me. It's more work for me to walk a 15-minute mile than for him. Interesting.... :chin: :lol:

Fiona

Fiona - Ofcourse you need color matching workout clothes. Okay you and Julie laugh at me, but honest when you have some nice workout clothes you will want to workout even more. (And Fiona in your case with training - you'll need all the time you can get).
As for your speed for walking a mile - I never checked that...and I did when I jogged but that was sooooooooooooo long ago......Besides since you are taking all this on so fast, just get walking, remember you have to stay at your target heart rate and that will dictate how far you can go in how many minutes......right?????? You two are taking this way too seriously.......lol
I did put the treadmill on incline 3 this morning, even though my foot doctor said not too (don't tell) and it seems that I was going at 3.8 and my THR was correct there. I know all machines are different and so that might not seem right to you.

Star - you are definitely in better shape than me (plus you're taller, I think?). I can't even GO 3.8 without almost doing a :tread: :lol: That speed is about where I need to switch from walking to jogging, and since the thought of trying to RUN on a treadmill scares the crap outta me, I don't go there if I can help it. :D

I know, I'm thinking too hard - I tend to do that. :yes: It would help if I knew what the heck I was talking about, too. :p

Fiona