Alena, that's an awesome reading!

Cheryl, congrats on the scale low I think the scale is a VERY poor measurement of how far you have come.

Actually, that goes for all of us. Not sure which smilie is more appropriate, so I'll use them both:

I did 50 squats and 50 dead lifts today in sets of 10, with walking lunges holding a 10 plate high overhead in between. Happy 50, Alena!

Shannon, your workouts sound quite creative as well.

Dh was not a happy camper after our crossfit workout on Saturday Seems that ice hockey and occasional lifting is not as tough as he thought

Mel

Thanks Mel.
(And by the way, thanks for the BD wishes everybody, I forgot to acknowledge that [I have to hide at work if I peek here so I always type in a hurry]).

On my way home, I was racking my brain trying to figure out how that could be that I dropped 0.8% of BF if I lost one pound of fat and gained 1 pound of LBM. Well, I looked at the printout more carefully and I actually gained 2.8 lbs of LBM. (I looked at it only quickly as she went over it with me [of course, for her the more important values are the intra~ and extracellular water mass etc.] and then I had to rush back to work). 2.8 lbs, that's much better!

Not that I feel like doing any exercise (I slept absolutely horribly last night) but I am going to do Kenpo X. Today is NOT a day for plyometrics.

Cheryl, I agree with Mel that the scale doesn't properly reflect your progress and accomplishments. You are indestructible! A real Amazon queen.


Alena

BTW, Mel, your 50 buckets of weeds DO count towards the Filthy 50 workout. It was hard to just breathe here yesterday and today is only a smidge better.

Hmmm, yes. My DH has sort of abandoned the gym for the summer. He's doing some occasional hiking, but not more than 1 x week, sometimes less. He does do a lot of physical activitity - like digging and refilling the trench for the new wires to our well pump - but in the end, his aerobic capacity which he needs for hiking (his favored activity) is lower. I've been trying to get him back to WL for a year now, but haven't peaked his interest.....

Happy Birthday Alena!!

Lydia - don't know whether we can discuss the PN nutrition here or not. I'm doing fairly well with it - with some slips like all of us. My biggest hangup is the time of dense carbs - only within 3 hours after workouts. It means that most days I can have dense carbs for breakfast, then the rest of the day carbs come from fruit/veg, not grains. We can have small amounts - like 1/4 cup brown rice - for another meal if we feel it's necessary. It's pretty protein heavy, and all meals have protein. I am however, losing a little weight, but importantly it's in my abdomen! It was enough to get me into smaller pants. But saturday I put on a L t-shirt instead of an XL and while it was certainly more form-fitting, it wasn't obscenely tight, and I could tuck it into my jeans!

So here's what I spent the weekend dreaming about.... I'm retiring in April or May 2010, and what I'd like to do is a road trip across the US - and back - stopping to visit friends and family. I would take my CRV, and a tent, staying in motels occasionally (when there were longer stretches between house visits ). I'm still in the "will this work" stage, and haven't actually broached it with DH. I'm thinking he'd do the west coast with me before he needed to be home to get the garden going, etc. I don't know if this will happen as I can envision it taking 2-3 months, and do I want to be away that long? Hmmmm. Fun to think about though.

Wingo - I think that the Redwall and Warrior series would be good. The Warrior books are thinner, though the earlier books in the Redwall series aren't too thick....

Cheryl - Mel's right, the weight certainly doesn't tell the whole story for you!! I get worn out just reading your workouts.

Oh and the big news - my gym is now open on Sundays!!! Just 10-4, but it's a start...... I had the whole place to myself yesterday (there was the gal working, and one guy on the treadmill). I had a dynamite upper body workout, was able to do bench presses with the regular bar - though without any plates - and I can now lift it and move it to a corner (the only one is right by the doorway into the new "big boys" weight room, but if you're alone, who cares? ) so I did "real" lumberjack presses and rows. ANd new highs for the cable rows and the assisted dips (I guss that's a new low weight for assistance, eh? )

Gotta get back to work. I didn't get up this morning to it's off to the gym after work for lower body stuff. DH is in Anchorage for a dentist appt and to visit his wayward friend, so I'm on my own as it is.

Alright, did my at home version of the Filthy 50...
Time - 44:29
50 squat tuck, no box to jump on
50 Jumping pull-ups
50 dumbbell swing, 15 lb
Walking Lunge, 50 steps
50 Knees to elbows - well, knees to more like waist.
50 dumbbell press, 15 lbs per - no barbell
50 Back extensions - swiss ball
50 Wall ball shots - DSS's basketball sized Tigger & Pooh ball, only one I own
50 Burpees
50 Double unders, uh, no... 100 really fast single jumps, can't do a double under to save my life....

Alena, I put more effort into honoring your birthday than most members of my family!

Now, time for bed... tired... Good night all!

Shannon, awesome job, scaling and modifying the workout. I think you get bonus points for doing the squat tuck jump thingies! Remember when you used to just do the Weider? Now look at you, with your crazy DB workouts and your Filthy 50 bad self!! (virtual high 5, since neither of us can raise our arms in real life after that workout! )

Mel, I was dreaming of deadlifts today... I'm hoping to see some in the WOD this week, otherwise I'll just put them in my warm-up.

Pat, I think the trip is a fabulous idea...but I think, forget about the relatives, just do the "3FC gym tour", and stop by to have a workout with each of us. No problemo, right? Just kidding. The trip sounds really cool, and I hope you can figure how to make it work!

Alena, LOL on the "amazon queen"! Maybe next year! Seriously, though, if I wasn't trying to get down into the lightweight class for strongman, I wouldn't even care what the scale says anymore. If it weren't for that, I'd be calling this maintenance land, since I'm happy with my clothing sizes and all that.

Well, miracle of miracles, the van repair went without a hitch! It was just a cracked rubber fuel line, and it was only about a foot long, so I didn't even have to follow it halfway around the engine or anything! I did have to run to the auto parts store for the right sized hose, but I took that as an opportunity to get Gracie (the little red dog) out for her first scooter run of the season, since it was cool and raining, which is good weather for running dogs. She enjoyed the run, and it was more fun than taking the bike. Anyway, I put new hoses on the fuel pump, where the leak had been, and voila, no more fuel leak, and the van seems happy, so I can drive it to the gym in the morning as usual.

The boy spent some time today picking blackberries for me, and cutting back the blackberry runners that were trying to sneak through the fence into the front yard. I got the hard floors mopped, but did not get to the vacuuming.

Well, I've done it again, and stayed up way too late. Better get myself to bed!

Morning! All I've done is a bit of cardio and stretching ... no tyres involved or any CF stuff. Am I a wimp?

Consistency is one of the keys, isn't it? That's what I'm aiming for. So I got up early and went to the gymn.

Planning. I didn't get back the other day. But I read this from mandalinn in the Maintainers' Forum:

Something in that spoke to me! I do plan but I don't usually do it the night before. I'm going to prioritise that and see how far I get.

Pat - that is just excellent, excellent news about your abdomen and the t-shirt. The PN process seems to be working for you. Um, why can't we talk about it? Because of 3FC or because of PN?

Have a good day, all. We are spray-painting an old linen chest and going to the supermarket. Plus all the usual.

Hellloooo people! (self portrait)

Lydia, Cheryl, silverbirch, Pat: OMG you have no idea how much you just helped me! In this tiny town I live in now (population 700), I was beginning to think I was the only one with this book problem. SO nice to know there are others *right here* that went through or are going through the same phase with their boys. I have taken in all the suggestions - it is great that I can finally compare notes with others in the same boat! And I think I will buy him the Warrior series for his birthday. We will be taking a trip to the library this week and I am just going to let him have at it. Part of the problem is that I homeschool my kids, and despite being a former elem. teacher, I felt I was out-of-touch with current books for his reading level... especially because of his chronological age/reading level dilemma. When I taught fifth grade (nine years) I would constantly push my students with books like "The Giver".. but I just didn't think he was ready for that kind of book. Perhaps I am underestimating my own child (a little embarrassing to admit!). My daughter is a tough one, too (she is 6 and reading at 3rd grade level).. but when in doubt, anything "girly" works for her. I have decided that this year we will work just on reading skills & expanding their knowledge of different genre (poetry, biography, etc).. but as far as fiction they will choose their own. You have helped tremendously! Thank you!

Alright, confession time. Despite being on plan, I lost no weight on my Friday weigh-in. I felt like I was retaining water all week, and really don't know why (no sodium changes, no TOM, & drinking plenty of water). I was so disappointed (especially since it is so early in the game ). That, combined with my left hamstring hurting, led me to an exercise rebellion for 3 days. lol! Bad dog, no biscuit! (Thank you for being my drill instructor, Shannon!) I kept on my eating plan, but that was it. I did, however, start fresh on Monday.. did my cardio.. today is strength and maybe some Wii Active later.

Glad to have helped with books.

LOL! Yes, ma'am! Thank you, silverbirch - I will be off to do my dumbbell sets now. One question - should I be doing some kind of warm-up before I do these - I am thinking not warming up might have caused the irritation to my hamstring. Will any kind of warm-up do?

I am somewhat grumbly this morning and incompetent customers just irritate me.
I had to take a sleeping pill last night because I simply had to sleep. I set the alarm to 5:30 a.m. but I actually forgot to move the slider into the alarm position. So, I woke up on my own at 6:30 sharp, the usual time I get up when I don't exercise. Hrrrmph. So no exercise this morning, but at least I slept 8.5 hrs.

Did I mention I got Beetle Bug a small bamboo sofa for her birthday? Here is a picture. Now that I am officially old, you will have entertain my idiosyncrasies. LOL Although I know Cheryl will understand that I am crazy about my dogs. Cheryl, is Gracie yours? How many fourleggers do you have?

Shannon - awesome job on the Filthy 50!
Pat - congrats on the looser Tshirt! I have lost an inch at waist, that makes me happy.

Alena

Alena, I understand completely (great puppy couch, BTW!)...my dog Beorn has his own racecar bed. He's so big, and I saw the toddler racecar bed at a yard sale...voila! I have 2 dogs, also, Beorn and Gracie.

Hotwings, I homeschool my son as well, so I can totally relate. Yes, a warm-up would help..no time now, but can talk later!

I've got to run, but will check in and finish with the replies after the gym this morning. I am praying for a "focus" day, and not another metcon!

Tomato your pups are soo cute!!

When we had our deck sprayed and resealed, we had to move in our outdoor loveseat. Our dogs loved it. It stayed inside longer than we meant because they enjoyed it. Eventually though we did move it back outside.

Dumbbell sets complete! w00t! I did do a little bit of a warm-up - just marching in place for a few minutes using arms as well. I did feel like that helped. We will see about the Wii Active later in the day.

Cheryl! You homeschool! yay! I am the only one in my area homeschooling. Makes it hard sometimes, but I get my kids out with other kids whenever possible. This year DD will be in her third year of ballet. Both will take TaeKwonDo (DS did that starting at 6, he liked it but was not disciplined enough at that time and only made it to yellow belt). This year both kids want to take it. DS will also be doing cub scouts this year. I really wish I was in an area with more homeschoolers. People look at me funny. lol People where I live are not much into doing anything that isn't status quo, but with their levels I really didn't think the local school would know what to do with them, much less be able tailor a program for them. (not their fault, too many kids & not enough higher level programs to keep them moving forward). BTW - those blackberries sound very tasty!

Good morning, all!

Definitely feeling the beat down from yesterday's workout this morning... Glad I have some time before I have to decide if I want to do the Filthy 50 on my own 50th - It might take me that time to recover... Got up and did 45 mins on the elliptical machine before work - I find it easier to make myself keep going on it than on the treadmill...

Alright, catching up on everyone's posts...

Pat - cool on the t-shirt! Woo hoo! And your roadtrip in your CRV sounds like a fantastic idea... I would definitely dream of that as well... There would be some details to work out, but I think totally doable.

Cheryl - High five on the 164! Another woo hoo! Thanks for the high five on the workout, definitely virtual as my shoulders are screaming pretty loudly still... I do remember when I just used the Weider, and found it intimidating. And now, I find myself doing all kinds of crazy things I would never have pictured! I like it.

Alena - that is neat about losing fat and building LBM! And, high five on turning down all the birthday goodies! Sorry you are grumbly today, but glad you got some rest. Hope you feel better!

Mel - I'm not sure ice hockey and occasional lifting could prepare anyone for crossfit... DH feeling better?

Birch - I tend to buy books rather than go to the library, too.... We have books and magazines on virtually every flat surface in the house, and I have a large number of EBooks as well. DH & I are both big readers, and DSS seems to be showing the same appreciation for books so far... We do need to get library cards though, and start taking him to pick some books out from time to time... And, no, not a wimp for not doing any crazy crossfit stuff - all that yard work you are doing is plenty!

Wingo (I just love the way that sounds... ) - good job on getting back on track with your exercise Monday! Be careful with that hamstring! And more than happy to be drill instructor any time! I need people to do it for me sometimes, too! Will likely need it this weekend when I find myself wanting a carton of Ben & Jerry's for the third weekend in a row... I'm going to be strong this time.

Have a great day everyone!