Actually for SURE I will exercise ...and I thought we ought to have a thread to discuss our exercise plans, progress and struggles.

So my plans for the month...

Jump Rope! I am going to work my way up to 4x15 minute sessions a day...I doubt this will all happen in one month but thats what I'm working toward. At the moment I'm at around 4x5 minute sessions.

I also have a small weight routine that I will do 3 times a week.

Bellydance hopefully everyday...I feel silly putting that in exercise since its more entertainment...but every bit of a more active life counts I think.

And starting today I will be out in the garden! Again...see above.

Anyone else want to share their plans?

Casey

I take a bus with a transfer to get to work every day, so I've been using the two 20-minute transfer times for walking. If I drive to work or am able to catch an earlier bus without a 20-minute transfer time, I either walk outside on my lunch breaks at work, or I walk in my neighborhood at home. That's worked out so far for the past few months, but I can see that I'll be getting bored with it. I need to shake it up.

I try to call on friends to go for walks or bike rides on weekends. I have belly-dance tapes, a hula hoop, and a jump rope, so I can get exercise in my garage at any time.

I ride my stationary bike to help in my weight loss, and I dance quite a bit and mainly just move move move!! I would like to add some yoga moves , I think it would help my bad knee.

SW 256 / CW 220/ GW 150. I am 5'6"

I love the thread title, Casey!

My plans…

So far I have been working on making cardio a DAILY enjoyable habit. My goal since March has been to walk or jog at least 2 miles with incline on the treadmill each day. Now that this has become habit more or less (more because some days I do more than 2… less because some days I don’t do any… ) My personal goal is to get 150 mill miles in before June 1st. It appears as if I will just make it.

I’m working on integrating other types of cardio in addition to the mill. So far I’ve only worked with the jump rope and trampoline. So I am open to ideas.

I also have make yoga a weekly activity. I attend a class once a week and have been trying a little at home. So far it is going fine.

Weight training is coming slowly.. I do lunges and crunches … but nothing really structured and no working schedule yet.

Last but not least, like Casey mentioned, I’m trying to get out in the garden regularly. I want one activity each day to be outdoors even if it is only for a few moments.

Well after today I can highly recommend shoveling for both cardio and strength training! I spend about an hour outside today shoveling red shale out of what will be a flower bed. I really dislike red shale so I'll be glad to see if go but I am pooped!

Oh or you can load 60 pounds of whatever in a wagon and hoof it down to the store and post office...I used my children...if you don't have kids I'm sure you can find something similar that would work...

And...just a little brag...I made it to 56 skips in a row on my jumprope today!! I also rapped my knuckles three times with the little metal turning thing-ys...ow.

Casey

Casey! I said FUN cardio!!!!! The other stuff I'll do.. when I gotta.. don't plan on putting in in my regular schedule! Unless you are coming over to help each week!

56 skips! You must have been elated! And exhausted!
Careful careful, don't overdo it.. at least don't try to pass me yet!

Ohhhh! FUN cardio...well bellydance of course! There are actually some good dvds out there...and I once saw a hula dvd and I still kick myself for not buying it! E-bay is a good place to check for stuff...or if you want social the YWCA in a city near us offers both hula and bellydance classes.

So I tried today to beat my 56 skips and I just didn't have it in me! I really am quite clumsy when it comes to jump rope. My husband used to box so I'm going to have him give me lessons...he is really good at it!

Casey

What kind of jump rope are you using? 56 jumps is great! Don't try to join the Olympics so quickly!! You'll improve.. bit by bit..

Belly dancing.. still in the back of my mind.. um... hmm... um...

The jump rope is my husbands from way back when he boxed...its just a white rope with metal swivel things and wood handles...I think its pretty good.

The 56 jumps in a row...total fluke...I haven't been able to make it to 30 since! But I really like challenging myself to see if I can make it to a certain number or beat my last number in a row. It sort of has to be a game for me or I probably wouldn't do it.

With the bellydance...I would really encourage you to give it a try...it may not be for you but I kick myself because my SIL tried to talk me into doing it a year ago and I thought I wouldn't like it so I didn't go...now I kick myself because I could have had a whole 'nother year of enjoying it. It just makes me happy...doing it and watching it. I also really love the costume aspect of it. I'm getting to be quite interested in tribal style bellydance and I'll probably go broke buying dvds! These are my current favourite links...

www.cleopatrasbazaar.com

www.tribalbellydance.org

Even if its not bellydance I'm sure you'll find something new to get enthusiastic about!

Casey

I'm seriously thinking about getting a pedometer. Not to count miles in place of my workouts but as a way to encourage more daily walking.

I do quite a lot of walking on the school campus as part of my job, but once summer comes I don't want to become a backyard sitter either.

Visions of myself cardio-prancing among the May-blooming flowers are fading fast. My hula hoop and jump rope (and bike) have been collecting dust in the garage for the past few weeks.

Hey, someone told me that skipping is great exercise ... it's good for between walking and running, and is a great leg exercise. I just can't seem to get myself to go out "skipping" in public, though ...

I found a decent pedometer for like $12 at Target recently. I love it.

Maybe I'll look at Target for a pedometer. Thanks, Phantastica.

You need to dust the bike off and put that jump rope and hula hoop to use. Don't you hear them calling you?! I do.

Today was filled with movement and lots of fun. It was play day at out school. Towards the end of the day the fifth graders went into a friendly competition against the teachers... Those kids are STRONG and FAST! We came ahead in a few things but were creamed in others.

I think I'll be a little sore tomorrow.

I gotta say I can join the lazy club as far as exercise goes for the past week or so...however...I've been cutting back my carbs and I've lost three pounds!! I hate that thats what works for me. I feel like as long as I eat healthy and whole grains I should be okay...but the fact of the matter is if I limit carbs to a couple servings a day (still eat all my veggies don't worry) I lose weight much faster than if I don't.

Now if I can just figure out how I change my ticker...

Jayde, that's a great idea with the pedometer...I wonder if I could find one that played something embarrassing if I sat around for too long...maybe that "I like big butts" song...THAT would get me moving!

Phantastica...I bet you I can do more skips in a row than you!! I'll post tomorrow and let you know how many I did...probably not til the evening so you'll have all day to get some skipping in! Do you remember any of those kids rhymes for skipping...maybe that would make it more fun...the one where you marry and Indian, Lawyer, Doctor...oh shoot...I don't even remember that part! Anyone remember them?

Casey

Casey, don't fret over cutting your carbs a little. You know what works for you. Actually, if you haven't been very active lately it makes sense to cut your grains a bit. I find that I want more grains when I've been working out a bit more than usual.

But Casey... get off your behind. You know you wanted to hear that!

Changing your ticker? You have one from 3FC. Just go to "Quick links" at the top of your screen. Click on change signature. Edit. Then save.



Skip rope rhymes.. We used to sing "Lizzy Borden". We didn't even really know what it was about but sang it anyway. YIKES!

Actually, I wanted to hear all of that...Thanks Jayde! Ticker is updated...now I can't gain or I'll have to move it up!

So I did get off my butt last night and do my jump rope. Phantastica...you have a very good chance of beating my in a row jumps if you just picked up your rope...I gave myself three shots at it and got 17, 10, 13. So who wants to join a friendly competition? Its nice to have goals to push towards. Maybe I should invest in a hula hoop and we should have a longest hula competition too...what would posess me to say THAT?? I'm a HOPELESS hula hooper!

Casey