OK, after only two days (one which I didn't type) I've given up keeping track of pounds lifted. I did a weird leg workout this morning with very few conventional lifts. I'm jelly-legged, but on paper it wouldn't look very impressive or even possible to describe.

Tiki- I've given up trying to help much in the homework arena. Despite 4 years of undergrad, and 3 years of grad school, last year my son asked "mom...did you actually take pre-calc in high school?" I'm really good a correcting his grammar in essays, but that's about all.

Off to clean, grocery shop, mow the lawn and other fun weekend activities!

Mel

I can't believe it's October...and quite chilly out!

I've had a busy week or so but I've been able to at least pop in and try to keep up. I have to try to remember to try to check in here, even if I don't have time to post, especially when I'm struggling or having a busy week. It's such a great pick me up! Sometimes I think I like to punish myself when I'm "not doing well" and so I don't check out the site. Then I feel guilty if I don't have enough time to read/respond to everyone all the time...so I don't post. I think I need some therapy!

For a variety of reasons, I got in a total of one workout this week. So not good but better than zero. And...family stuff meant tons of eating. I'm just doing my best to try not to totally lose control.

And hey...all this apple/pear talk has made me wonder - is everyone one or the other? What's the other options? I think I carry my weight someone evenly but the worst parts are definitely around the middle, i.e. stomach/hips/upper thighs. I know I'm not a pear because I'm much bigger on top than on the bottom. Hmmm...what am I? I think it will stay a mystery because I'm not posting any pictures.

And I have never tucked in a top...I feel like I'm all hips and chest when I do that. Very not pretty.

tiki - loved your "full body" workout!

Mel - I love reading your workouts but yes, it looks like way too much work to try to track all that every day.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Ladies, you know squat about weight lifting!
[of course, that was said tongue in cheek]

I was surfing last night and I came across the video clip about Gwyneth Paltrow's workouts. She works out with a trainer, Tracy Anderson, and the said trainer claims (you better sit down for this) that no woman should lift more than 3 lbs. Unfortunately, she did not provide any explanation why.

Here is the clicky for Gwyneth's workout.

I like the band system - that looks quite useful. It would be nice to have such a nice private gym. :-)

Oh gosh! That clip just KILLS me! OK, first off, said celebrity trainer who said don't lift more than 3 lbs also says she trains Madonna. WHAT? Ok, already I sense someone who is a little crazy or has no memory, as M most definitely lifts more than 3 lbs! Or (shock!) do you think M looks like that only lifting 3 lb'ers? Maybe we're all missing something!!

Gwyneth whining about floor work/leg lifts. Gee, ya think if you did some squats with free weights, maybe you could get off your knees and not have to do so many reps?? Heck, forget the dumbbells, just use your OWN body weight for the squats. Duh Whatever she's paying this woman, it's too much!

I suspect Gwyneth hates cardio bc of her black lungs. The self-admitted smoker shouldn't be held up as a model of fitness for anyone. Next they'll interview SJP for her body slimming secrets.

Nice day out there isn't it! Great for mowing the lawn right Mel?

I was at the opening of the gym this morning at 7:00am, quite unusual for a Saturday. I had exactly one hour to get in some sort of a workout. The rest of the day was dedicated to my son and his cub scout troop. Keeping in mind that we would be hiking at one of the glacier parks I kept my cardio to a 20 minute run and then did a functional chest and back workout. Pullup and pushup sets over and over again. When I finally wore myself out I settled down upon a flat bench and purposefully select two 30 pound dumbbells to do my presses. All the while thinking about my little rant from last night. (Yeah, I got your three pounds right here...)

Tomato, you and I were probably watching that clip last night about the same time. When I showed it to DH he just about lost it. "Did they just say they were going to do "butt work?!"

The suspended bands are interesting. I spoke with someone two weeks ago who attended an IDEA conference where she was able to test these out. At the conference she said that the bands were made of fabric not elastic. The concept of lowering herself to the ground from these suspended pieces disturbed her. All she could think about was the "what ifs...you know if it rips"

Fran: I'm not buying it for one minute that M has built her body using only three pound dumbbells either. She is too smart and too powerful of a character to waste her time doing 100 reps per side. I mean really...

Elisa: You are always welcome to the party here even if you've had that week from and can't post. No worries and no guilt. I'm glad though that it makes you feel more connected to be able to log in and see what's going on. I'm certain it is what keeps me on track most of the time too. Just knowing I'm not the only one doing this makes all the difference.

Which reminds me, on my way to this hike we passed a young woman driving a small four door sedan. On the back window was the telltale sign of a tribe member, a 26.2 sticker. But what really caught our eye and why this makes honorable mention is because her car was filled to capacity with giant 5 gallon orange Gatorade coolers and she was tapping into her cell phone while barrelling down I-70 obviously in route to support a marathon somewhere. Too cute. :

Have a great afternoon everyone.

Madonna uses a lot of yoga/body weight stuff. She does the intense yoga which includes handstands and what not.

I went on a hike today after my physical therapy. My legs are a bit toast and I wanted to do my run today. We'll see how the legs feel in an hour or so.

Monday, Monday.... Boy, it's dark out there!

I had a good weekend. Bizarre leg workout on Saturday and food totally off plan (I need to plan better), but Sunday was a good day. Biked in the morning, then went shopping at the outlets with a friend, then an intense interval run when I got home. Food was on.

Cardio done, food packed. DS is sick again...sigh...so I don't know if I'll get to the gym at lunch or will be driving back and forth to either home or the high school.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Nelie- How's the running?

Mel

Mel - it's dark and quite chilly here too! But it supposed to warm up a bit as the week goes on.

My food was so-so over the weekend but I did get outside for my usual 5k. I'm such a fair weather runner that I'm not sure how much longer I'll last outside. I was buying some running pants and the guy said something about how "we" run all year long outside. I laughed and said maybe "you" do but "we" don't. I hate the cold too much but if I could make it a little longer that would be nice!

I had seen that clip from Gwyneth Paltrow when it was on Oprah and I too cringed. I can't help but wonder though...is it at all possible to get into Madonna's shape with only those type of workouts? Believe me, I'm not putting down my big girl weights but it made me wonder. Or do you think that woman was full of crap?

Happy Monday...I'm off to have my coffee and my Fibre One muffin!

Running is good! I went running yesterday near the dog park while DH took the dogs to the dog park. It was a little hilly and had to push through some small hills but I really liked it. Today is running again. It seems to get easier everytime I go out. I also did NRLW 1A workout yesterday.

My calves are killing me though from physical therapy. stupid calf raises.

Yep. Here too. I'm feeling a little silly ending my workouts with the sun salutations when the sun is still no where to near the horizon. It used to be perfect a week or two ago. I'd wrap up right at 7:00am with the salutations, the light would just begin to brighten the sky and I would be out the door to see the rest of the sunrise on the way home. It's going to be a few months before that happens again.

Hey Mel I went biking Sunday too! My ride didn't begin until around three in the afternoon. I had so much anxiety that day and just couldn't shake it. I think it was too much caffeine in the morning and no cardio session. I felt like I was about to burst.

I've ridden this trail once before but didn't complete it because I ran out of time. Yesterday I had an hour and half to explore so I was ready to see what was on the other side. The trail was somewhat clear of the storm debris. My concerns were the crunched up leaves that are beginning to cover the trail. They hide all the spray painted potholes on the path as well as all the tiny twigs. At one point in the path there was a patch of black walnuts that had fallen from an overhanging tree. Those were fun to dodge. In spite of all of that it was still a great time and I was disappointed when I ran out of pavement to follow. I got off my bike walked around looking for a pick up for it from somewhere but nope, that was it. Overall it was a 24 mile ride so I suppose it was enough to burn off a little steam. Still love my bike. : We grabbed some frozen custard for the boys and then drove back to Columbus just in time for me to wipe the bugs off my face and change for my Yin yoga class. Life just couldn't get any better.

I've been wondering about this too. It may be possible to further refine our shape using these kinds of methods. But I do not think that it is the right way to begin a strength training program. I think that if a person has a lot of bodyfat to lose and is truly deconditioned that it is best to go heavy. I'm also thinking that a specific body type or perhaps the way someones muscles may be attached to their framework may also further enhance this method to make it appear more successful for some and less so for others. Just a hunch. One thing is for certain. At my highest weight, there is no way on this earth that doing a hundred reps with three pound dumb bells would have ever given me my current shape. Not only that but my mindset then was so focused and determined that I needed to balance that mental energy with an equal strong/heavy weight in my hand. If that makes any sense. I needed to feel it.

Nelie: I'm so glad your running is going well for you. I'm your cheerleader over here. It's such a great feeling isn't it? You go girl!

I think they are crazy. I take advice like that and toss it in the same pile as "you little women shouldn't worry about money. Just sit there, look pretty and let us menfolk make all the decisions!" I've lost weight in the past withouth lifting but never have I looked as good or felt as good about myself as when i was lifting weights.

I can't run in the cold either, Elisa. Sucking in that cold air makes my lungs feel like they going to split wide open.

Lydia, maybe you can do moon ministrations until we set the clocks back?

I have my first head cold of the season courtesy of the Crew! I thought about you Mel, and kept my cooties out of the gym. Instead I rode my stationary bike at home and between sneezes, got in a decent workout for a sick chick.

Happy Monday all! Make this week count!

OH! THAT'S RIGHT! I forgot all about setting the clocks back. I'm so excited that I might be able to leave the gym in broad daylight again soon. (I'm such a dork)

Tiki: How kind of you to stay home today. As a fellow gym goer who picks up everything in the air I thank you! I do hope you are feeling better tomorrow. I'm already loading up on the vitamin C and the l-glutamine. Last year was a doozy.

Tiki- Hope you feel better. Your fellow gym members thank you for staying home

Lydia- It was freezing here this morning. I thought of you out there saluting the moon when I scooted out (dripping) to get the paper.

I did a few one on one sessions of power yoga with an instruction with whom I bartered training. I have to admit that 1) I really didn't enjoy it but might have learned to like it and 2) it was HARD. I was drenched after an hour and incredibly sore the next day. I think you can develop muscles like that (along with a very clean diet and fantastic genetics), but I question the actual strength, functional fitness, or endurance. Fitness is adaptive; how can you get truly fit by NOT MOVING? Really, it is body weight training taken to an extreme.

Off for another day in the trenches. Cardio done, food packed, legs lite at lunch.

Mel

Mel - you know I love my Power Yoga and I'm glad that you agreed that it's no walk in the park! I think your comments are fair though and that's why I keep to just a part of my workout. Just once a week and it feels like a great complement to the other workouts. I do feel stronger and my balance and flexibility has greatly improved. But it's not for everyone, I guess.

I'm off to my Power Yoga at noon today!

tiki - hope you're feeling better. I had a hint of a cold coming and have been loading up with Vitamin C and Cold FX (not sure if they sell it there). I'm not certain that it works but it has seemed to have warded off the bad colds a few times. Doesn't seem to hurt so I'll accept even the placebo effect.

That's how I felt this morning when I crawled out of bed to go to the gym. I thought perhaps a good cardio session might cure it. Somewhat better but not quite. When I laid down on the bench to lift the room began to spin and I could not pick a spot to focus upon to save my life. I did about three reps and put had the good sense to put the dumbbells back on the rack. I walked over to the mat put my head between my knees till things calmed down and then went home. Wierd. Maybe I just slept kind of wrong or something. I'd go back to bed but I have family coming from out of town today so I'm on for the rest of the day.

Make it a great morning everyone