Hi Everyone,

I finally got the book and plan on reading it this weekend.
Just have a couple Q's! Is it cheaper to buy a dumbbell set and bench or get a gym membership. I don't have a lot of cash so I thought this weekend I would go price a set but I wanted some other opinions. It will be a bit hard to do the aerobic bit in the morning because I would have no one to look after my 19 month old daughter. I think I would have to do that in the evening. For the people that are working out at home. What weigh sizes did you start out with?
Congrats on everyone's successes so far! Talk to you later.
Jenn

Hi everyone!

I know I haven't posted in a while but I just havent been able to get to typing on this computer. I tried two days ago and actually logged on but my 2 year old always interupps me and starts banging on the keyboard -- working on that .... I noticed today that I am still logged on All I can really do is scroll, click and read.

Everything is going great. On C1W3D5. I haven't missed a workout although cardio is a dislike. I was telling my DH that I can't wait until I am atleast 30lbs less which will make the cardio SO MUCH easier - jeesh.

I still have to improve my eating -- I plan well, but on my days off work find it difficult to stick to the plan. Definately need to work on that!

Got my brother to start on Monday but he is having difficulty getting up to do his workout -- 30years old, bachelor, computer guy -- generally lazy and bad eating habits -- and I mean that in a nice way. All day Saturday I was with him going grocery shopping (you'd be surpirsed how little some people know about healthy choices when shopping -- just look in other peoples shopping carts) , hit the vitamin store to get some MRP -- we went with a Canadian type MRP we wanted to avoid the aspartame that Myoplex has (and yes I read your post on aspartame Mrs. Jim but also is is quite a bit more economical and the many people who are doing BFL in Vancouver seem to be using this stuff -- good ratio of carbs to protein). He is having difficulty getting up in the am but once I get his before pics developed I don't think he will have that much of problem -- those are REAL motivators.

Well gotta run. Talk to you all soon.

Michelle.

Susanje-Glad to see you're back!

Today, instead of 20 MAS I jogged 3 miles. I am trying something a little different to try and shake up my workouts. I am on C1W6D6, still with no losses except for my tummy. I do feel so much stronger though! For my cardio the other 2 days of this week, I jumped between the recumbent, Schwinn Airdyne and treadmill. I have them all in a row, so it is easy to go from 1 to the other.

Jenn-I workout at home with dumbbells, an incline bench and barbells. I would rather be working out at a gym, though. So it is really a personal thing, if you can afford the gym and have the time to go there, that's what I would do. However, the sizes of dumbbells I have are 1.5lb,3,5,8,10,12,15,20. I also have some 3lb and 5lb leg weights, which helps if you need to add a little more poundage on your arms or legs. I added a 3lb weight the other morning for calf raises, since I don't have anything heavier than 20lbs. I also have 2 complete barbell sets, but that is something you really don't need. You can do just about anything with the dumbbells. I use a 2x4 piece of wood block to do my calf raises and squats on. The bench I have is really a situp bench that is adjustable. I would rather have just a regular weight bench, but I can't afford anything fancy right now. Everything that I have, has been gathered over the last 15 years! You can find dumbbells super cheap at any of the discount stores or sporting good stores. Even Walmart has the regular ones now. Also, I have a tall weight rack that holds all the dumbbells. This is something very useful, because you can switch them out very easily. It might be something you can get in the future, because I think I paid alot for it about 5 years ago. Hope this helps a bit!

Personally speaking, since we have very little space in our apartment, a gym works much better for me!

I'd definitely shop around - many gyms (especially the chains) offer a 'free trial period' - anywhere from 3 days to two weeks - so you can check 'em out.

Here's what I'd look for in a gym:

*First and foremost, make sure that it's conveniently located so it's not a big hassle to go. Having to travel a long distance to get to the gym can mean the difference between going and not going. Fortunately for me, my gym is about 2-3 blocks away from my house - I can walk there in less than 10 minutes!

*Lots of gyms (again, esp the chains) offer terrific deals throughout the year on memberships. Since 1994, I have been a member of 24 Hour Fitness - it's not the GREATEST place in the world but it's not bad! Every month they automatically deduct $24 from my checking account. For that $24, I get unlimited use of the facility, 24/7 (except for Christmas and Thanksgiving - actually, now that I think about it, they WERE open on Thanksgiving until around 3:00 p.m. last year). They have a really good selection of free weights and machines, as well as childcare, aerobics and Spinning classes, pool, Jacuzzi, etc. Actually my employer has a very nice employee's gym but I prefer going to 24 Hour because it's conveniently located.

* When you go check out a gym, go during the time YOU would be most likely to show up. Understand that weekdays after work (5 pm - 9 pm) are going to be the most crowded. Make sure that all the equipment looks well maintained and everything is clean.

* The salesperson is really going to pressure you into signing up that day - that's their job, after all but I'd suggest that, if you have a trial period, to use at least part of it before signing up. So many people (especially after the holidays!) sign a big fat contract, come to the gym regularly for about a month and then just never show up (this happens every year between 2 Jan and Valentines day - then the population takes a real dive - must be all that chocolate!!).

*Oh, make a list of the things you're looking for in a gym. Childcare? Make sure that it's offered when you need it - most gyms that do offer childcare usually do so only during daytime hours. Lots of free weights? Precor ellipticals - make sure there's more than just a few - the ones we have are always busy - very popular machine. Yoga classes? Whatever, write them down and take the list with you when you check it out.

And of course, if you DON'T want to join a gym, I hear the Bowflex is really great! And as Shelly said, dumbbells can be had fairly cheaply - check your local PennySaver or whatever you call those free classified ads they always seem to dump in our mailbox every day! Good luck!

Shelley -- don't worry, I didn't start seeing visible results until later in my first Challenge - but I really FELT changes!!! Susanje said she didn't see any changes until Week 11! But as www.hussman.com/eas says "You Really DO Change from the Inside Out!" Just persevere!

Mrs. J-Do you take Omega 3 oils? I have 1000 mg capsules. The label suggests taking 2 capsules 2 or 3 times per day. Do you think 2 once a day is enough? I just took 2 and keep tasting it. I don't think I can handle more than this.

Free day today! I am not going to fly off the handle, though! I want to start showing some results. Yesterday, the kids and I went school shopping for the entire day (it is tax free week in Fla.), so I was only able to get in 3 meals. As a result, of course my weight is down today. It's just water, I know. Couldn't find any food where we went that was legal for me.

I am definitely feeling my jog and shopping from yesterday! I hurt all over, especially my feet!

Shelley - I take the Udo's Choice Perfected Oil Blend capsules (but next time I order, I'm getting the liquid oil - less expensive). I don't taste anything - just swallow them down with water.

I know that many of the people at L&S mix their EFA's with their Myoplex, or make salad dressing with it. If you heat the oil (i.e. use it for cooking) the good stuff in there breaks down. After reading articles on how good EFA's and Omega oils are, I couldn't resist giving them a shot.

Free day for me today too - I am definitely NOT going to go as nuts as I did in C1...but looking forward to our now-traditional breakfast at Stacks'. Our apt is a disaster area (since I had been spending every weekend at that ranch all day) so Jim and I are going to spend a couple of hours cleaning after we come back from the restaurant (of course HE doesn't know that yet!). Today is Festa Italiana in our downtown area which is always a lot of fun so we'll probably walk over to see everything.

Yesterday Jim and I drove up to Portola Valley and found a really nice stable for me to take lessons at - VERY professional but nice people working there - happy horses and very few flies! My first lesson is in two weeks. We went to another place before that (the one I checked out on Sunday) but the owner's rule of not touching any of the horses didn't sit well with Jim - and I want him to feel welcome too even though he's not taking lessons himself (not yet anyway!).

Afterwards we were starving so went to McDonald's for lunch. You are probably wondering exactly what I ordered - I got the chicken McGrill sandwich without mayo (had them put mustard on it instead) and a Diet Coke. As I've said before I usually don't eat bread except on Free Day but can't stand McD's salads...the McGrill is only 340 calories w/o the mayo and the chicken breast is the exact size of my palm!! (There was an article in a recent Muscle Media issue about what to order at restaurants that highly recommends the McGrill as long as you specify no mayo).

Have a great day, all!

Shelley - YES! Arnold's book does definitely have a lot of BB and DB exercises...I would recommend checking your local library for this book. It must be the essential book on the topic of bodybuilding...

For example, here is a list of JUST the shoulder exercises in the book that use BBs/DBs:

Arnold Presses
Behind-the-neck Presses
DB presses
Military Press
Clean and Press
Push Press
Standing/Seated Lateral Raises
Reverse Overhead DB Laterals
Front DB raises (seated and standing)
Seated Bent-Over DB Laterals
Standing Bent-Over DB Laterals
Upright Rows
Heavy Upright Rows
DB Shrugs
BB Shrugs

With great photos as well...