Thanks for the welcome everyone! Congrats to the brides-to-be! I actually got started on lifting about a year ago when I got engaged. I started on the South Beach Diet, began following the BFL workout and in the course of 6 months lost 40 pounds. I went from a size 16 to a 6. (By the way, we too had a very laid back wedding and no flowers....I'm a huge cheapskate and they just want too much $$ for that stuff!)

Once we got back from the honeymoon (2 of the greatest weeks of my life), work became hectic and I took some time away from the gym and tracking the food, etc. As a result, I gained about 10 pounds and watched all that wonderful muscle turn to jelly. So, I'm getting back on track. I'm eating clean, SB style, and am tracking things on Fitday (its amazing how much that helps). This is the routine I'm using now (I've seen it on a couple boards so not sure if it made its rounds here). It's a good variety and I come away each day feeling like I've had a great workout. Plus, I've lost a few pounds and have been increasing my weight so I'm doing something right. As far as cardio, I do 2 days HIIT, 1 day SS and one day hiking:

Day 1
Full Squats
Flat Bench Press
Conventional Deadlifts
Standing Military Press
Pull Ups or Lat Pulldowns

all done for 5x6 w/ 120s rest

Day 2
Romanian Deadlifts
Walking Lunges
Flat Dumbbell Press
Seated Cable Rows
Incline Hammer Curls
Lying Triceps Extensions

all done for 2x15 w/ 30s rest

Day 3
Incline Dumbbell Press
Barbell Rows (underhand)
Dumbbell Split Squats
Reverse Lunges
Standing Dumbbell Press
Lat Pulldowns (underhand)

all done for 3x10 w/ 60s rest

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone! Sounds like a good bunch of people with some good successes. Enjoy the rest of your evening!

I've been eating carbs. I feel fat and flabby and HUNGRY! Today I had a mushroom egg white omlette for breakfast and I feel much better. I've also got a great turkey burger for lunch and some lovely CC to have with something! I was just increasing carbs for my running on Sunday and my body doesn't seem to like it, I think it's last weekend's slight overload too, so I'm sticking with what I know feels good, then I will carb-load on Friday/Saturday. I can't believe that what I eat has such an effect on how I feel and how much water I'm retaining! I hope it straightens out soon... Anyway there's just under 3 weeks till the big day, after the first big day So I will be able to get back on track and feel good again, rather than a big carby-bloated monster!

I enjoyed my rest day yesterday, I baked flapjacks (like granola bars but tastier) for the weekend, and I watched Girlfight! I've decided that after I've recovered from Half Marathon, I am going to put in SO much effort into my fighting/martial arts. I will live and breathe it, my weights workouts will be formulated for it, and I will start doing speedwork in my running. I have an application in for the London Marathon, which I doubt will come through, but if it does I shall have to rethink, but I will get a few months of good training in before then.

I'm hating tapering! But loving it too! I like having a rest! But I REALLY want to work out hard.

There must be something to these bands. My triceps and butt cheeks are nicely ache-y this morning.

Hi all

Welcome Sarynit. I'm a cheapskate too but I love fresh flowers. My total wedding budget is around $4k which seems unheard of around here. (Although that doesn't include the rings, we splurged a bit on those)

I've been in a funk lately. I don't know exactly why. I think I'm stressed. The wedding, my parents coming, what if I forget something critical for the wedding? DF's parents aren't getting along with their daughter (future sister in law) and they are threatening not to come. Really, they can stay home if they want but I know DF would be hurt if they did.

I've also recently switched BC pills and I think my hormones are so out of whack. I started crying for no reason and I couldn't stop. I've been having horrible cravings. The weather also turned humid again and I didn't feel like exercising.

So anyway besides all that, I'm struggling to regain control of myself. Last night I did a good workout DVD. I used to love The Firm workouts when I was young so I decided to order some of their newer DVDs and try them out. Well I was happily panting away last night as I did the first one after it arrived My arms and legs are sore this morning so I know I'll need to do a non weight cardio workout and figure out how to fit in a weight workout.

Oh, Nelie! You do sound a bit stressed. Hope things improve for you.

Welcome, Sarynit!

Gymn this morning. Changed my programme round a bit but still much the same (full body, cardio intervals). I'm keeping it simple as I'm just starting the physio. And my brain can't take much more stimulation. I'm sure some of you have heard me say before that I am just not a multi-tasker.

2F: good luck in Amsterdam! Tell us all about it when you get back. If Kylie is going with you, please give her a hug from me.

Hullo everyone else!

miss Kykaree is going too! We are all staying in a houseboat! I shall pass on the

Oh and a for nelie too, sounds like you need it!

Just remember, if something goes wrong on the big day, you'll probably be the only one noticing it! And the most important thing is that you and DF get married! Anything else is just the icing on the cake... If you have one!

Happy Thursday everyone, and happy BFL day 25 for me!

Had a good cardio workout this morning - still doing them at home, but nervous the whole time that the baby kitten will get into the dining room and get squished in the elliptical if I don't see him. We had the same problem with last year's kitten when we first got the thing and she was already 4 months old.... So, I really need to figure out a solution to blocking him out of the room - something he can't climb now, or jump over later. Those dang cats and their curiosity!

Food was pretty good yesterday with the exception of rolls (yes, plural) with butter with dinner. I bought them for DF, then ended up eating 2.5(?) of them myself. We had the "authentic" goulash I made, inspired by the goulash I'd had at Cheesecake Factory a few weeks ago. It was quite good if I do say so myself. Let me know if you want the recipe - basically stew beef, tons of onions, tomato paste and lots of paprika. Oh, and caraway seed, which is key to the flavor.

I've finished the first chapter of the Tom Venuto BFFM book. It's all about goal setting, in order to facilitate visualization, so I'll be working on that the next day or two. What he has to say seems to make sense, so it's worth a shot.

Welcome Sarynit - where in the desert are you? And where was your wonderful honeymoon? I'm still working on where we should go.

Speaking of which, Nelie and 2frus, where are you guys going? That adds to the wedding $$ as well. I would love to do something for under $5k total myself - I hate to spend much more on one day!

Well, I should really get back to work - I'll check in later!
Cindy

Cindy - for our honeymoon, we are doing something local. We are going to Baltimore and staying on the harbor. Partly because we weren't planning on getting married this year and we had already been various places including China, Montreal and Florida. Also, I am short on vacation this year due to all our travelling. Although I had looked at various ticket prices and I was able to get cheap tickets to Florida where we could go to the keys again ($200 per person) or New York City (less than $200 per person, although we could drive if we wanted), we decided we wanted to stay local. Next year we are planning on taking a trip or 2 somewhere but no decision has been made as of yet.

Morning all. Still unseasonably warm here, and showery, but the winds of the past couple days seem to have stopped. I ended up having to go out in it and ended up looking like the wicked witch of the north! My hair was sticking straight out and totally frizzed!

Nelie - sounds like a combo of new bc pills and wedding stress. Hang in there. I love the Baltimore harbor - lots to do there.

Frus - be sure to give Kylie from me too. I hope she's doing okay. You and Helen will be great in the race. Oh, and look what I found in the new smilies -

Sarynit! Good work getting back to And catching things at 10 lbs, instead of (like me) waiting til it was more.

Silverbirch - glad to see you! I've missed your Welsh self. How is the boy?

This has turned out to be a week from the underworld. I had great plans for exercise, getting a ton of stuff done at work and home, and so far it just has not happened. Lots of fires to put out at work, came down with a cold which shot exercise on Monday, computer problems on Tues kept me here til nearly closing time at the gym, and on it goes.... Eating fell apart yesterday, but has been okay the rest of the time, and I'm back at it today. My exercise today will be moving furniture since the carpet cleaners are coming in the morning. I will also go for a walk at lunch!

Nelie calm down...maybe you need to recheck with your doc about the new bc pills. This line made me laugh:

I don't really think of you as aged and infirm at this point! Ahem...you are one of the young'uns here!

Fru- Have a grand time in Amsterdamdamdam!

Hi SB- Nice to see you back again

Sarynit- I like the variation in that workout scheme. I'm printing a copy for my files. Thanks!

Hi Cindy!

Did a back workout and 50 minutes of ADD cardio: 11 minutes in a stationery bike, then the rest jogging on a treadmill. I thought I was running, but one of the other trainers was razzing me about needing a calendar rather than a watch at my pace Phooey on him!

Mel

What is ADD cardio?

hi LWL,

Not much of a workout today. I managed to do half a "yoga for dummies" DVD, then I had to drive DD to gymnastics. I sat too long at the computer yesterday & today so my back is aching. The yoga did help though.
Tomorrow I'm going to see my financial advisor on fiancing options for the house. I still can hardly take in that I am actually going to buy it! I am still on cloud nine (and enjoying it!) about that.

I met a mutual friend of XH and myself in the canteen at work todday. He was acting a bit coolly and when i asked if he had seen XH since monday he said yes, and made a remark to indicate that XH told him that I ripped him off with the settlement. So much for that friend. I'm glad in a way, because that indicates to me that I did not settle too cheaply!

I think I'll spend part of the settlement money on the backlog of work in the garden. it seems heavenly to think that big strong men will be doing a lot of very heavy work there, and not myself (I'm 1.57 m, which is about 5 foot 3 inches I believe.

fru, kylie - have a great time in amsterdam! The weatherforecast is good for next sunday !

Pat - unseasonably warm ? It was 20 C here today!!

nelei - I hope you are feeling better. Maybe treat yourself to an afternoon of non-wedding related thoughts & relaxation?

SusanB, Silverbirch - i'm glad you are back!

have a great day all,
rabbit

Goodness, Rabbit! That's a good summer temperature for us! It's about 9 C here right now, and raining - blech! At least it's not snow, which we often have in October. It's only been below freezing a handful of times yet this year. All this is fine with me, as I don't like cold weather or winter snow! I know, I know, I live in the absolute wrong place! We are going to Costa Rica in mid-January, and I will be sooo ready for warmer weather - and daylight - by then.

ADD Cardio = Attendtion Deficit Disorder Cardio or the inability to stick with one thing for more than 30 minutes or so without becoming bored to death!

Music helps, but sometimes I just give up and switch from elliptical to treadmill to bike to running and back again.

Mel