EarthyWitch I was reading about your problem. Sounds like overuse injury. ...with a few questions I could give you better information in a private message. This stuff below is general and can be done by just about everyone without harm. You should use your best judgment of course and if your doctor as ever told you should not stretch or use ice, then don't do it. Nothing should ever be painful.

If it is the bottom of your foot that is giving you problem, to better stretch it you can use a tennis ball. Roll it with the underside of your foot while standing on it. Use a counter for balance and only apply pressure as tolerated. This should feel like a stretch and not be painful. You can do this same thing with a soda bottle (the smaller plastic kind). Fill it 3/4 of the way up and freeze it. Do the same method as the tennis ball. This gives you ice to numb it and stretches.

If it is your calf or Achilles tendon lets talk more...

It sounds as if September is ending on an upbeat note for most. Whether my own September challenge ends well depends on my official weigh-in tonight. Since I didn't lose any last week, I need to have lost 2 lbs. this week to meet my goal for September.

This means no extra eating today. And I am really hungry right now. I had a Smart Ones breakfast quesadilla this morning and it was not nearly as filling as the breakfasts I usually have.

Sure. In terms of book, I'm not sure. But, I can link to you to some of the things you can do. http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.co...inewsid=249182 I'd suggest Straight Leg March (under Dynamic Warmup),

-Under Run Form - High Knee March (with Arms),
-Butt Kicks (I'd suggest running around the entire court doing it rather than stationary though!),
-Under Movement Training - LATERAL ALLEY DRILL [basically start on white line (at the end of the court) and SPRINT to the other white line and back before running to the next closest line (and back... until you reach the original line you start at)] It's referred to as suicides by most players. It HURTS so good.... you feel/see results quickly!. This site calls it Horizontal Repeaters and shows you a line motion. I normally basically do a zigzag (a variation on what they tell you) - go wide/long width --> until you get to the very narrow end width. This way, you don't need to stop between sprints... *Don't expect to instantly be able to do 5 minutes; it's tough but so worth it...*
-Strength training: Lunges with resistance. Every time you have to pick up the balls, force yourself to pick them up that way. AND before you leave, go the entire width of the court doing that there and back. You'll be sore ... in a good way.
-Another conditioning I normally do is http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com...ty-drills.html similar to the Lateral Feet Drill/ Five Count Drill. Try doing it over just one line for a few minutes. Very tiring but once again rewarding for weight loss!

It may not help your hitting technique, but it will whip you (literally) into shape. You'll be much more agile and improve at running quickly. There is a reason why tennis players are in good condition.... the conditioning is tough. Try it and tell me how it goes. Even 20-30 minutes of this 3x a week should help expedite your weight loss... a lot.

HI Ladies

Even tho it isn't Oct yet I'm going to start today getting my act together,with finding the right calorie count and exercising a little more.I have my Nutritional & Fitness trackers ready at the spark people web site and I'm raring to go.

MISS PRISS-Playing tennis is a great way to burn calories you use almost all your muscles.Thanks,s I feeling 100% today and I on my way to get my activity done twice a day walk/bike around 3PM and than doing same stepping or weights in the evening while watching tv.

EMILEIGH-Crossing my fingers that you meet your goal of a two pound loss. I was aiming for 4 but ended up with a 2 lb loss instead.

Ugh, last day of September and I went over the amount I wanted. 1540 calories... Which is better than I've done in the past; but not good for this week! Planning on working out tonight. I can't believe it's October tomorrow!

It's uber-calorie counting time.... Starting to focus in on my goal of losing 10lbs by Halloween!!!

Beachbum, considering all the stress you have had this month, it is a real accomplishment to have lost any at all, so 2 pounds is really good!


Hope the tennis is going well, misspriss. I know tennis is one of those activities that a person can do for a lifetime so it is something really wonderful for those who are coordinated enough to play. ( I tried it a few times when I was in school but was too uncoordinated to even do a decent serve.)

I did meet my goal barely last night, so I got to update my ticker. October is now officially here so I guess someone will start a new thread soon. I have never done that so I will leave it up to someone who knows.

Good Afternoon!

Im dealing with a cold right now,im taking dayquil and it seems to be helping. I went to bed at 9pm last night. I was soooooo tired and my head was killing me.

I made myself go to the park this morning and walk for 45mins. I was actually suprised to see that i burned 340cals..not bad. Thats all im doing today. Besides the regular house chores(blah)

loquaciousjogger-Thanks so much for the tips on tennis conditioning. I printed what you typed out and im taking it with me on my next tennis match

Hey to everyone! have a great day!

Hi Ladies

We're having such lovely weather & temps this whole week,so I'm going to try to go down to the beach and get my walking done.

Only problems I have to wait until this afternoon as we're having a new septic system put in this morning and my car is parked up in the grass to get away from the bulldozer & dump truck. Don't want to maneuver around those big monsters.

Feeling good today,as my scale is moving downward again. My secret is to stop eating after supper and its working.Don't know how long it will,but until than,I will continue doing so.

My gross calories for the day is=1650
Minus 30 mins of burned calories-168
Net total of calories for the day=1482

EMILEIGH-I guess your correct, when it came to stress I did have it for this month & 2 lbs doses look good.Thanks for pointing this out to me.