Aphil,
Yeah, I know I worked just a little bit too hard the other day, but the only muscles that are feeling it are my triceps. Do you really have to wait 48 hours to weight train again. I know you aren't supposed to do it every day because your muscles need time to rest. I like weight training. Can you do cardio everyday (I don't (haha) but I'm just curious.
I finally looked through that little book and it's AMAZING how much fat is in some things. I really didn't know that avacados have 18 grams of fat. I was wayyyyyy off in my guesstimating 8 grams of fat. Well, I'm off to my pilates class.

Melissa

Hi everyone!!!

Welcome Jenny! It sounds like you are doing wonderfully! Your calorie and diet look right on to me! The only advice I can offer you right now is on the weight training with your carpal tunnel. If you find that gripping the machines or weights is too uncomfortable-then you might want to try workouts that incorporate medicine balls (soft round weighted balls) rather than the regular dumbell type weights-they might be more comfortable for you to hold. If you are fine with dumbells for strength training-then good for you-but if not-you can pm me for more info on the medicine balls and working out with them.

Melissa-YES...you absolutely do have to wait 48 hours between strength training body parts. So that would be every other day at around the same time frame. If you like to do Pilates or strength training every day-then I recommend that you do a "split"-meaning split your strength training or PIlates into different parts. Say-do lower body Pilates (most Pilates works mainly lower back, abs//hips/legs) and then the next day do strength training on your upper body-biceps, triceps, chest, shoulders, etc.
You don't want to train the same body part two days in a row-or you will actually get LESS results. They really need the recovery time for them to progress and grow.
I do full body strength training 3 days a week-and concentrate on my cardio on the days in between. I do have dance class on some strength training days-but after doing an hour of weights I don't pound away the cardio.
You CAN do cardio everyday.

As far as the avacados and fat...not all fat is the same. Avacados are very good for you. There are some really bad trans fat or saturated fats out there-grease drippings off of fatty meats like bacon and sausage...shortening...the trans fats in a lot of processed snack foods (Little Debbies, Twinkies, Hostess, boxed cookies, etc.) basically trans fat is a little scientific thing that was invented to give these foods a shelf life. If you bake cookies at home...how long do they last? I bet you they don't last for 4 months unscathed like a box of Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies can. If you think about it in a different sense...it is scary. WHY do these processed foods have such a long shelf life...I think of them as being "enbalmed". It's true. The trans fat foods are real body killers.

I 100% think that packaged snacky goodies are the worst thing you can eat-because of the trans fats/tons of sugar combo. I have turned myself off of them by thinking about them that way. I have made them totally unappetizing to myself.

On the other hand-if you are going to get fat in your diet (which some is good for you) it is better to get it from avacados, olive oil, nuts...things like this rather than from something so heavily processed.

Yesterday went really well. I was 100% on plan...and did my hour of strength training...and helped teach a dance class last night. It went really well.
I am vending tonight at another beginning level class. Wish me "lots of sales" vibes.
Today is cardio day for me...so my concentration lies there for the day.

Have a great day!
Aphil

YES!!!!!!



Okay...my weigh ins have consistently been the same for EONS...however, I haven't really said anything to anyone-but I have sort of been really challenging myself fitness wise lately-lifting heavier, doing run/walk cardio intervals...blah, blah, blah...well, today I took my monthly measurements. (just shy of a month...but I couldn't wait 5 more days... )

My bicep/upper arm is down 1/8" of an inch each, my hips are down 3/4", and my thighs are down 1/4" each! Not too bad for weighing exactly the same, huh?

Now that is the reason I don't obsess over the scale so much.

EMBALMED LITTLE DEBBIES!!! OMG, aphil, that is so great, I will remember and repeat that always!!! and big-time kudos to you for again not caving to cravings!!! You've got so much self-control. I envy that, and want to be as disciplined!

Welcome Jenny! It really sounds as if you are on the right track already with a great meal plan and exercise. Wow, you work alot! That is such a challenge to get around, trying to fit your exercise in. Very good! Is doing videos/dvd's at home an option for you?

Univeristyprincess, YOU did amazing to gain so little during that cruise!

Lori, thanks, yes, we got heat back that night We're on automatic delivery with the gas company, but it's been a cold winter and I guess we used up more than they thought we would. A delivery driver came by 10:00 pm and we were warm again soon

amie, I WANT to be able to eat as sensibly as you do!! And the way you have your nutrition/calories spaced throughout the day, well, that is just perfect. I can see how that would keep you from getting the hungries...I've just got to try harder. With all the exercise I do, I think I should look like Denise Austin by now but that won't happen with me eating all the time!! and you burned off like 800 calories with your workout!! Now THAT will create a calorie deficity, like nothing else!!

Oh! I hope this works out...last night, my husband was sprawled on the couch, in front of tv (EVERY night same) and I asked how his day was. He said OK, but he was feeling run-down. Now, he just switched jobs back to the not-as-stressful, closer-to-home, less-money job a month ago. And he has a desk job. I fail to see how one can get run down there (again ).

Anyway, I gently said, "well, you know, I would happily exercise WITH you in the evenings if you wanted company; you know it would make you feel so much better." He sighed, and kinda said "maybe." Then, this morning, as I was letting him enjoy lingering in bed () I took the opportunity to bring it up again, as he was in a good mood and getting his way I said, "you know, I don't want to nag, but you WOULD feel so much better if you got some regular exercise." He said, "I know, I know, I've exercised before." (well, yeah, in our early married years, 25 years ago.) and I replied, "it is SO good and especially important at our ages now, to keep our range of motion and mobility." Well, he didn't disagree, but didn't say anything else, so maybe it'll happen.

It would improve my frame of mind SO much if he just did ANYTHING besides sit in front of the TV. Again, there's my resentment and it comes through for me by grazing at stuff in the evening, 'cause why should I try to look nice and take care of myself, when he has let himself grown to a size 48 pant. I know that I will continue to take care of myself for my own self-benefit...but life would just be so much better for me if I didn't hear his sighing and groaning about being tired all the time. And some of my respect for him would come back if he made an effort. AAACK, okay, thanks you all for putting up with my whining!!

oh, and Lori, about my tanning....I also never actually get nice and goldeny tanned, I just turn these deeper shades of pink, like a big roasted piglet but yes, I love that warmth, and I love tan lines. I think the smaller white area on the butt makes the butt look smaller, and the bigger white area around my bust makes those look bigger Last year, I did buy some "bronzing" lotion at the salon (expensive!!!! like $22.00 ) but it gave me nice color, more tan than roasted pink.

Well, I've let my breakfast ( 1/2 cup oatmeal and an apple mooshed together) settle, so I'm ready for 30 minutes of cardio (haven't' chosen which yet) and then lower body death-workout I have off Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, so lucky me!!!

Have a great day!

YAY!!! congratulations on getting smaller and tigher all the time, aphil!!!!!

Your EXTRA hard work is paying off!!

Morning Ladies,

Holly, you just crack me up, "big roasted piglet" thats what I look like when I come out of one of those tanning booths I may try the bronzing lotion and see what happens! You sound to me like your doing good on your excersise and eating, better than me anyways I hope you dont mind, and I am not sticking up for your hubby, but I have a desk job and at the end of the day, I to, feel so run down. Not because I have been running around like a mad person, its just sitting here all day long doing quotes and orders and filing and opening accounts, it gets tedious. I have to MAKE myself get things done in the evening, casue I just feel BLAH...That is why I want to get more involved in the cardio aspect of my excersising with an elliptical and a treadmill, I know it will boost my energy level. I think you should keep naggin him to workout with you cause it will prob boost his to my fiance actually made the comment last night that he would prob use the elliptical to cause he has started to get a belly (trust me its small) he weighed himself and has gone from 155 (when he met me) to 165, he's 5'9..I think he looks fine, but hes one of those guys that really takes pride in how he looks, and I love that about him, but I only wish my tummy was as small as his I am just happy that he finally weighs more than me now
Amy, I am so happy for you that you have lost those inches I use to go to the gym (last spring)with a friend and they measured me when I started and after 2 months I didnt really see a big weight loss but the inches I lost...WOW...I was so happy! I thought all the excersise I was doing wasnt doing anything until she measured me. I was a very happy girl And on your sales tonight!!
Well the wonderful boss just gave me a couple of orders to do, he's so nice Have a wonderful day everyone...OH Jenny, if you dont mind me asking when are you getting married? My b-day is in May and I am getting married in Aug. of 06!! How cool for us

Lori

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the compliment, I should look at it as ONLY having gained a little bit because I know from experience it could have been much worse. I'm so excited to see peope losing weight and not doing "unnatural" things to do it. Aphil, big congrats on your inches lost, maybe I should use my tape measure and see if anything changes when the scale wont move.

Melissa

Lori, I love everyone's input and opinion..sometimes I think I speak/write too harshly, especially when it's about the dear husband I think he and I get "competative complaining" he says how tired he is, and I have the 8+ hours on my feet, the only chance I get to sit is when I go to the bathroom

Yes, anyone here who hasn't measured yourself yet, do it!! (as I go look for wherever I stashed MY papers that have that info ) I need to get back into that habit, once a month; I remember myself getting psyched about it and so wanting to see a change in the measurements, that would help me along.

I just finished 1/2 hour of step aerobics (which I do with ankle weights) then Gilad's Hip Thigh and Buns tape (that's the Lower Body Death Workout ) and then 10 minutes of ab work. Feels good!!

Good morning, everyone

Aphil, thanks so much for the warm welcome! It's amazing how knowledgeable you are about all of this.

Sometimes my grip on the weight machines is a bit painful, but much better than free weights. Usually, I can adjust the placement or angle of my hands and get through it. Eventually I'll have to do something about the carpal tunnel, but I've been putting it off.

CONGRATULAIONS on the inches lost, that's great! I hope you know how much your dedication helps all of us here, as well as yourself.

Hi Holly! It's great to meet you I'm glad you're all warm and toasty now, and wtg on your workouts! Yeah, I do work a lot, unfortunately. It makes for very little sleep, which I'm worried is counterproductive, but I'm doing what I can. I don't really have room at home for floor exercises or anything, at least not in front of any television, but I'm still hoping to be able to buy a treadmill sometime soon.

I completely know what you mean about your husband. It's frustrating to me to hear people complain about things, and then make no effort to change them. My fiance has been pretty good about going to the gym with me (even though he skipped out on it last night), but he lets other things slide. What does your husband enjoy to do? Maybe you can incorporate some of that into exercise of some sort.

Lori, our wedding date is 5/12/06. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It's exciting, isn't it? How are the plans coming? We have the venue, but that's about it. I went dress shopping once, and had an absolutely awful experience, and haven't been back. Hopefully, I'll lose some weight before I have to try again.

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So, I was completely "on plan" (is that the right term?) yesterday, from meals to exercise. I ate pretty much exactly what I wrote before, except I cut out the luncheon meat. My fiance mentioned that he thought I was eating too much protein. Is that possible? Dinner was Pasta Primavera, a Cooking Lite recipe. It was yummy, and full of good vegetables. And, I managed to do 45 minutes of cardio, the bike this time. I got my heart rate up quickly, in between the fat burning and cardio zones, and kept it up there the whole time.

My one true struggle so far has been with drinking enough fluids. It isn't that I drink bad things, I just don't drink anything. I have my tea in the morning (haven't been able to cut that out, but I cut down on the sugar and milk I put into it), and then after that. . . I'm just not thirsty. And to be honest, I really don't like water all that much

Tonight will be strength training (I think we're doing legs & abs tonight), and then 30 minutes of cardio.

Have a great day!
Jenny

Hi Ladies

Well yesterday was our 10th anniversary. We did not have plans and want to do an over night thing in a few weeks when my mom gets here from Maine. We decided to go to dinner last night with DH and Taylor and I felt like I did alright only eating a salad with grilled chicken on it and a diet drink. Now it was a fish camp and they did not have light dressing and I splurged and ate reg. ranch Then I ate two small hushpuppies with some tartar sauce on them I felt like this was not to bad and I was OP all day .....Well after jumping on Fitday and putting in the 2 1/2 serv of ranch and the tsp of tartar sauce along with the two little hushpuppies it put me over 400 cals and 35g of fat for the day I skipped my evening snack too! I was at 1800 cals and like 80g of fat! I did at least do my Pilates last night. I felt sick too after eating that dressing and the cheese on the salad becouse I have been eating so good. It kinda upset my stomach some. I just hope this doesn't stop me from at least loosing one pound

Holly, My DH is 31 and has gained about 20 lbs he is a 36 at about 215lbs but is only 5' 10" I get on him all the time about working out with me and sitting in front of the TV. He has had back surgery so he has that to deal with and works a hard job on his feet, but I know how you feel! It drives me crazy to watch him sit there for hours!

I am OP today and hoping for a loss this week...."Way to go Amy!" I still forgot to measure my self this week...Maybe this weekend. Have a great day!

Amie

Hi Aphil, Amie, Holly, Lori, Melissa and welcome to Jenny!
It's FRIDAY!!! Woohoo!
Aphil, it's wonderful about your measurements! You muscle-woman, you.
Holly and Amie, boy do I know about the DH being a couch potato! Mine says that he wants to start exercising but hasn't yet. He is too wrapped up in his job and playing Halo 2 on xbox live right now. He stays up to like 5 am in the morning playing that game and when he comes home from work the next day he eats and conks out on the couch...no time for exercise there. Hopefully soon he'll get tired of playing Halo....one can always hope.
Jenny, you look like you have a super plan, but wow, you really don't have a lot of 'you' time at all. My hubby is also a network administrator (network engineer). The weeks he is on call, he can work very very late at times and get calls at all hours.
I must say that I have grown to love Fitday! I've spent about an hour off and on getting all my custom foods put in. Now it is smooth sailing - so easy. My calorie range is from about 1600-1800 per day and my aim is for 50% carbs, 25% protein and 25% fat or thereabouts - definitely fat under 30%.
I have finished all my 'trial runs' for the weight training plan I'm going to do so now I know where to start the weight settings for my real workout next week. It is so neat when your muscle fatigues...you push and push and the weights don't move and your muscles get all quivery and shakey...you do that for a count of 10. It really makes you feel like you've busted tail even though you've only lifted for about 20 minutes - I never felt that worked when I would spend 30 or 40 minutes lifting before. Of course the people in the gym give me odd looks because I am going so slow....but when I get so buff and toned they will see what it was all about hehehe!
Everybody have a great weekend!
Amie, I hope you guys don't get that freezing rain that they say is coming to the southeast this weekend! My family lives in Georgia about an hour north of Atlanta and they are supposed to get walloped! Stay warm!! Oh and happy anniversary!

Del-
I vary my weight lifting routine a lot. I go for a few weeks lifting lighter weights to fatigue doing a few sets of 12-20 reps...and then a few weeks later I will go for a while lifting heavier weights to fatigue with one set of fewer reps. Then for a while I will lift using a pyramid-changing weight size for each set-a way of squeezing out more reps that would normally be doable with one weight of dumbells.
The reason I do this is to surprise my muscles-and the change in weights does different things-and it can also produce more "definition" as well in the muscles-or the muscle "lines" that you can see on your body.
I also vary what I do for each body part-one day for biceps I may do standing bicep curls, and angled bicep curls-and the next time I work my biceps I may do hammer curls and concentration curls-all work the same muscle-but do so at slightly different angles and work it a little differently.

Wow-last night sales went really well. I sold a cd, a veil, a velvet choli top, an anklet, and a handful of coin covered hip scarves. I got to help the beginning class as well for the hour-so it was a nice evening.
Yes-I am pretty happy about my measurements going down like they are...even with the scale not moving any. I would like it to go down some more by spring-and I am sure that it will eventually-but heck...as long as I am getting more muscle and getting smaller measurements-I'm not complaining!
The kids are going to spend the night with my mom tonight-and Jason and I are going out to dinner this evening after we drop them off. I am already planning on what to order because I know the handful of places we usually go near my mother's house...so I can sort of prepare a little bit.
Well, I better get moving! Everyone have a wonderful day!
Aphil

Just curious......
Yesterday I was starving. I actually had 1300 calories before 1:00pm! I felt like I could eat all day long. I was looking at my calendar and realized that it is about 4 days before my TOM (time of the month) - ah ha! PMS monster. Also I had done heavy weight training the day before.... Do any of you notice increased appetite either before TOM or after heavy weight training? What on earth do you do about it? EEEEK!

Amy, I know you might know about this - you are so in tune with your bod... (oh and congrats on the sales! )

muchas gracias,

Del-I actually am pretty regular...and I PLAN on eating extra calories (usually 1700-1800) during pms and the first day of my period. I am starving those days as well...and knowing that I can have a little extra keeps me from "wanting it...not eating it...and then finally binging at the end of the day".
I also try to eat a lot of really low calorie foods that take a long time to eat on those days...like apples, baby carrots, mini rice cakes, grilled chicken and salad...stuff so I can "munch" a lot with the calories pretty low-so I can eat throughout the day without calories going overboard.

Hi Ladies,

I did my Pilates last night and its weird, I went out and bought an excersise mat and, figure this one out, with me having that I was able to do some of the moves that I couldnt do with out it!! I was happy about it though, definately going to continue to use that baby
I am SO happy it is Friday I cant remember a week that has gone by so slow!!
to you Amy for having a good night of sales! And have a good night tonight out with the hubby! My kids are going to their dads for the weekend so its just the fiance and I Its nice to have a little time to yourselves every now and then. Were thinking of going bowling, that should be interesting, I am not a bowler,but of course he is, and it would be my luck I am the one you see fall flat on her face and go sliding down the lane still holding onto the ball but hey Im tough and up for the challenge
Jenny, my b-day is the 13th, you guys were close I havent gone looking at dresses yet. They are having a bridal show here a week from sunday, I may go to that. I am waiting for Amie to get up here from S.C. and then we are going to look. I asked her to be my Matron of Honor and her little girl to be my flower girl. I cant think of anyone else I would want standing up there next to me (except for Doug, he BETTER be there)
Oh and Holly, thank you for not taking what I said the wrong way! I think I am going to go this weekend and check on some tanning prices, they usually arent that bad. I want to go and get my hair cut this weekend to. When the kids go to daddys, its mommytime
Well I guess I should get this little bit of filing done. I hope you all have a great day!
Lori