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! 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!

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....

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 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.

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

Fiona

FI - You are too funny! I am 5'7" so yes taller than you.
My advice - the benifits from exercise come rather you over-think it or not. The great part is - you don't have to think at all, all you have to do is get on the treadmill and start walking. It's really pretty simple.

You and Rusty would make a scary pair - she thinks way too much too.....lol

Fiona and Star - about cals and walking, etc. . . It seems to me that taller people burn more cals than short people doing anything -however, to cover the same distance a short person would have to work harder, therefore they would burn probably about the same amount of calories as the tall person . . .(this is probably how they come up with the rate of about 100 cals burned per mile)

Fiona - I never really got that much faster than a 20 minute mile when I was doing my training - don't worry about the speed, you need the MILES. However, you can increase your speed if you start to shift your legs from your core - I found that it really didn't work that well to increase my strides by moving my feet further, but to move them faster from the hips. I actually tried to watch the walkers to see how they did it. You may already be a pretty quick walker. . .I'd have to see you!

Anyway - I'd also keep up the strength and yoga training, since it helps if your back is stronger, too.

Anyway - got to go - see you all tomorrow!

Hi ladies: Haven't visited here much. I did read about Fiona and the speed of the treadmill. What I was told at my gym is it's not the speed that you should worry about, it's your heart rate. And, I was told that the guys who get on the TM and run their hearts out are not getting the full benefits as sweat does not equal calorie burning. The TM at my gym if I choose the Heart Rate option, it asked for age, weight, time and speed. Machine tells me my heart rate should be at 120. There there is a chart also on the TM that shows the fat burning guidelines.

Hi Sy - Welcome over here to the yard! I agree with you about being at Target Heart Rate and that's also what I do.....If I walk too fast my heartrate jumps past my burning range and then I just have to slow back down, so why bother? lol......
Julie -Your right - you really do study something before you start and sounds like you really think things out. What a great trait.....I just get on and go........I know it's a fault!
Hi FI - you other 'over-thinker' lol
Hey, went to the gym again this morning. Did weights on the new Lady Apex machines, they are so awesome.. they have about 15 of them and they are numbered as to what order to work them. I made an appointment to meet with the trainer next Thrusday at 5:30 to go over my program on them. I have worked with him before, his name is Richard and he looks exactly like Mario Lopez, that guy that used to be on Saved By The Bell and is now host on some animal show, know who I mean? Anyhow he is really cute and a fun trainer to boot. (Life's not all bad at the gym). Actually now I'm thinking it's a good thing I was forced to go back.

Hey star - glad you're pumped about getting back into the gym routine. Ah, I remember Mario - I was addicted to Saved By the Bell! Can't remember what his name was on the show, though! But I digress...

I wore my HRM when I took DD to the park last night. We walked (well I walked and she rode her bike) so I got to play around a little bit with walking faster or slower and checking my HR. It's a great little toy! But anyway, at one point DD got ahead of me and I tried jogging three or four strides to catch up with her - OMG, am I not ready for running yet (if ever, but that's another topic)! My HR jumped about 30 points in four seconds and even more importantly...just between us...it totally grossed me out the way my fat (specifically my butt) bounced around. So, yeah - gonna stick with the walking for a while longer.

That's my moment for the day.

Fiona

Good morning, chicks -
Today I'm scheduled for pilates and yoga - I'm looking forward to a more gentle workout today. There's a section on the cardio tape where you do glute squeezes, and I could really feel my glutes last night!

On the plus side, I still haven't taken my measurements, but I put on a freshly washed pair of pants yesterday and they were definately LOOSE in the waist! And the last time I put them on, I could see my socks (if you know what I mean) this time, they broke over the shoe! So this is a good, non-scale, sign of progress.

Star - the new gym sounds fantastic. I think this will be great for you and your new gym - you'll have a whole new insight to being a trainer. . . My crystal ball shows this in your future. .

Fiona - quite interesting about your little toy. Now, have you started a spreadsheet showing each day and exercise and heart rate? I think it would be quite interesting to see how your heart rate improves as you go along - start off each day with your resting rate (this means strapping it on first thing in the morning!)

About heart rate, etc. . From stuff that I've been reading, it also seems that one should add interval training (short bursts of speed) into cardio - makes the heart stronger? boosts metabolism? shakes things up?

About heart rate - for me right now, it's all about doing the work - that's my first obsession, not the rate. . I expect that the heart will get stronger as I go forward. .

FI - About the junk in the trunk - it will only get smaller now. Like I said before there is really now advantage to jogging. Actually there is more stress on your joints and the injury level rises. It is just a personal choice. Your HR will improve with time and continured exercise. Unless we get in the shape of a professional workout model/athelet, there will always be 'alittle' jiggle to our wiggle. But now all you'll see is improvement and that feeling of progress/pride.
Julie, I just made an appointment with Richard for Friday at lunchtime. About interval training - yes it is suppose to be very effective. When I trained with Richard before he had me do it. The way I view it, is if you can either do it and make your heart stronger or have a heart attack while attemping it...No, really it is good, but hard at the same time.
Well at the nursing home I did have hopes of being the aerobics instructor, do you think there will be a need for a personal trainer there too? I would still have time to get my certification.....

Fiona - From what I've read on various forums, etc, to get rid of all that jiggle, you got to eat really clean. . . It's more effort and thought than I want to put in it -

Star- I think I'm doing too much reading about this stuff. .
I think you should be a personal trainer! I think you'd be great - esp since you treat this as a lifestyle not an end product (does that make sense)?

Julie - to get rid of the jiggle you have to have a BMI of like 20. I think you have to be at the real low range of the weight chart. That's not really something I can talk to Richard about....lol And Julie, you can never read to much on how to get healthy. Plus you share it so well with all of us! Thanks.
I should be a personal trainer, I love the gym. It would be a joy to go to work everyday. Actually I have been thinking about making a stretch tape for fun.....I have this really cute outfit I could wear.

Star - thanks- I'll keep on reading and posting. . .Right now, I'm shooting for a BMI of under 30 ;(

Now, about the stretch tape - what a terrific idea. Now, we just need to do the Clint and Stacy thing to get the right workout clothes - I think you should talk to your local PBS people, set it up . ..