Hello Girls ...

Thought I'd start the thread this week... It's been a good weekend food and exercise wise... I ran 10.5k on Saturday and yesterday I made it to the gym and had a good back and bicep workout and biked an hour on the new bikes they have at the gym. These bikes are soooo cool, they each have their own TV they are awesome... It was nice for a change from running...

Well gotta go already day is full today... TTFN

Good morning,

I hurt my back again on Friday, this time during concentration curls, of all things. I think I'm going to have to take a week or so off lifting to see if it helps. If my back is still being problematic after that, I guess I'll have to see a doctor. It's just so frustrating!

Anyway, congrats to WaterRat on finishing her challenge - you're probably better off without the material prize.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

Go Ilene with your big run, that's wonderful. JCH, sorry to hear about your back. Do you do yoga or any kind of stretching routine? I know friends have had a lot of help when they had a back-specific stretching routine to do.

Nelie, congrats on losing inches, that's great.

I'm back to normal with my work schedule (thank goodness) so I've got the usual exercise stuff planned - today is Nia, tomorrow and Thursday walking (it should be not raining so I'll be able to do the 2.5 mi loop at the park), Wednesday pilates and lifting, and Friday lifting. Yahoo.

Also got a BodyMinder journal (memoryminder.com) and am starting to use it as my journal this week. It's very complete but I'm hoping that writing everything down will help me with sticking to the plan.

Well I'm off on the right foot this week, today was leg day and I had a really good workout first thing this morning. I love getting my workout done early in the morning, it really makes me feel like I've accomplished so much. Also took a 3.3 mile walk during lunch so this evening I can kickback and relax totally guilt free.

TTYL,
Evangeline

hi LWL,

The snow is gone and I have enjoyed a free weekend... So I did NOT do excercise, AND I did not eat al that well. Yesterday had anotherappointment & did not eat well or excercise either. BUT... Today is OK, I have a clear conscience because the appopintment is done for the week, and I will do better on the eats today.

Also I feel much cheered because a lot af activity this weekend also involved dragging the furniture around and I really love to have a "new" room.

Cardio for today: 20 mins row, 30 mins jog and 40 mins bike.

Have a great day all,
rabbit

I never made it to the gym last night - a combination of working late and the old "I just can't face this today" But I leave tomorrow noon and will be gone until Sunday night, so I've declared this a rest week. I've now worked out faithfully for 7 weeks, and I think both my mind and body could do with a rest.

I'm off to Barrow, Alaska (look at the very north shore of the state) for the state library association conference. The high temp prediction for the rest of the week is minus 10! Then add the wind. . . In any case, there are no workout facilities at any of the hotels. In fact just getting around is going to be an exercise in itself! I'm packing snow pants, down parka, and insulated boots. Trust me, even for Alaska, this is a COLD place.

Hi LWL,
I'm baaaack! I had a good week-end in Columbus, OH visiting with dd and "doing the Arnold" again, but it just wasn't the same without Meg This year, I showed much more restraint and did not eat myself sick on protein bar samples I ate fairly well over the weekend, but other than trudging around, it was a gym-less weekend. I think I needed the rest, but the first thing I did yesterday when I got home in the evening was head to the gym. Driving 1100 miles in 4 days made me I couldn't wait to lift! Did chest and some light cardio yesterday, then shoulders and will do some more cardio today. DD and I though about going to her gym on Sunday, but went apartment hunting and shopping instead It looks like she's going to be there for at least another 3 years.

waaaaa! It's winter again here Yesterday was a balmy 65 degress while I was driving, but today it's snowing again. Pat, I really don't think I could cope with Alaska! Congrats on your challenge, BTW!

Ilene- Cool bikes! Thanks for starting the thread
Rabbit- I need to do some "furniture dragging" too. I used to regularly re-arrange rooms for my own entertainment, but I haven't done that in years. Maybe I should do that again- eeew, I can't imagine what I'd find!
JCH- I hope your back is feeling better.
Laura and Evangeline- Sounds like your weeks are off to a good start

Ok, that's it for me, back to the gym! Ugh, did I mention it is snowing out there AGAIN!

Mel

You know, I grew up in New England and we had plenty of cold weather and snow there. Alaska - at least where I live - has similar winter weather, it just lasts longer. I've lived in Seattle twice, for about a year each time, and I must say I enjoyed that climate a lot more! The older I get, the less I enjoy cold, dark and snow. DH is beginning to feel that way too, esp now that he's retired and home all day. THere are just too many days in winter here that you cannot enjoy being outside. We continue to explore where we might move to when I retire (planned for Aug 09 )

I'm new here, but I'm a lady who lifts too!

Yesterday I did legs and 45 min. of cardio, plus another 30 min. walk in the afternoon.

This morning I did 45 min. on the elliptical and a 45 min. walk.

Tomorrow is a long walk (5K) and upper body.

Hi to you all!

Hi girls and a special welcome to Athena we luvs newbies

Today I did legs for about an hour then I did 45 mins on the new fancy shmancy bikes... Then I did my good deed of the year, had my annual medical exam, all blood work came back good, and all is well in the world for Ilener for another year!

Mel if it makes you feel any better it's still winter here too ! We had a heck of a blizzard and freezing rain last night, I thought for sure we'd have another snow day but the weather cleared up by this morning... I'm getting pretty tired of the stuff too, it can go now ... Good to hear that you had a good weekend with Ahnald ...

WaterRat -- I feel for ya in the GREAT white north , hang in there... How long is your summer?

4rabbit -- I love moving furniture around too, the last time I had it done by a decorator and I've liked it so much that I haven't moved them around since, it was well worth the $80.00 to have someone come in and all the thinking and choosing the paint colour, I will loose sleep over choosing a paint colour...

Evangeline and LTKS on the great start of the week!

2sw33t -- Take care of that back now ya hear?

Hey, tomorrow is hump day already where does the time go ??

Hi LWL,

Mel, Pat, Ilene: It looks like winter is over and done with for here. Today is above zero, and if i look out of my window I see light blue sky with white small clouds and the crocuses are coming out. SPRING !!!!! Finally!!! I'll try and think some your way.

As Ilene says: its hump day already!. I am doing fairly OK on the excercise, but less so on the food. I think I will go and look at Mels protein muffin recipe, maybe try some this weekend. otherwise, I'm trying to hold on to the spring mood.
Today I did LBW. I just bought a long barbell to do the squats and deadlifts and I can sense this is better fro my arms. I used to do them with dumbells, but that way I overloaded my arms. Now with the bar more or less on my neck /back I can do the LBW without overloading my arms.

Apart from that I did 10 mins row, 40 mins jog and 30 mins bike.

have a great day,
rabbit

Ok, on a day like today I must, I say I must brag. This is the weather that you live in Arizona for, you endure the dreaded heat of the summer just because you have days like this in March.

Tucson, AZ

It breaks my heart that so many of you are still stuck in winter but I mean today is not a nice day, it is G O R G E O U S out there.

TTYL,
Evangeline

Hi LWL,

Artmaker, good to see you back! Pity about the knee... Would using a bike or a reclining bike maybe be better than slow jogging because it is not weight bearing? Also maybe sit for a while at the painting class? Because if the knee is stiff maybe a little movement could be good as long as you don't overdo it. Speaking from experience, these knee injuries can really take a frustrating long time.


Evangeline, I think I get the point. Enjoy the great weather!.

Spring is in the air out here and I'm getting out to run errands and enjoy it.
Did UBW today, and 5 mins row, 35 mins jog and 15 mins bike.

Have a great day,
rabbit