They should just jump in; we won't bite!

Unless they want us to :D
Did I say that :o?

I remember when you started running Jo. I was so impressed! It really melted your fat away.

Are you going to run outdoors today or indoors? So you and Krystal will just run past me and leave me walking alone. -- I will get to the finish line, slowly but surely :D :D

Oh yeah right, you walk faster than I run, it will be me running over the finish line last! What was you lastest mph? I average about 4.0 walking and 5.0 running. I can run faster, but just prefer to settle right around 5.0, so I am no speedster (unless I am running intervals/HIIT). You would probably lap me. And with your poles, you are prob. burning more than me!!!
Change of plans (again), we will be out and about today and have a performance to go to tonight, kind of like a 'glee' group at the university, so I am going to spike today and enjoy dinner out tonight. So I will run tomorrow, hehe.
So my plan will be to do some kind of a fast tomorrow and try out running during that, and then hopefully back to the 24 hour Monday? What is your schedule like?

Ds has scrimmage and dd has sole and ensemble. I will have a low calorie day. I am waiting for the Bb game to start.

I average 4.2-4.3 mph now with my poles. Looking at Krystal's butt.....oh that sounds so wrong :D I think running would be a good idea.....I don't think my walking is going to give me that KK's look that Krystal is sprting around.

I saw the young American's up in Boyne last summer....dinner theatre kind of a performance. it was fun. Enjoy your spike day!!!!

Phones suck what comes to spelling.....ugh.
Just pretend it is posted with my accent I have :D

Running probably won't do it either, have you looked at runners butts? Usually nothing there :lol:. Its lifting heavy weights and the squats, lunges, etc. Have you ever seen the before and after pics of the brazilian butt lift program? They are amazing. Maybe Krystal needs to make up a program for us or let us in on her secret!

i had an awesome spring break staying home with the boys, getting random things done and taking it easy...i think my aches may be related to my back because after DH worked on my shoulders real good, the aching in my arms stopped and hasnt come back...

i decided to start running again today...it's been exactly a week since ive ran and i decided to start again on the weekend especially since i'm insanely busy this upcoming week and weekend

besides going back to work this week, there is an upcoming statewide education conference next weekend that i am a big part of...im on the board of directors for the local organization of the national organization and this conference is big statewide...i do things like pick up our keynote speakers from the airport, do the whole "welcome to alaska" bit and get them to their hotels...i have other stuff to do as well but i forget what, it's at work on a sticky note lol...the conference continues next saturday as well and then next sunday is our son's 6th birthday with possibly the whole birthday party thing on sunday...

i enjoyed this week especially knowing that next week and weekend are going to be crazy busy

i also have NEW(!) running pants....ive never had a new pair of workout clothes ever...always thought i'd jinx myself if i got new stuff lol....but the old pants fell apart :( AND i figured out how to put music on my iPhone yay!

You gyals have been chatty for a Saturday!!
Always when I'm not around to defend myself, eh!!
:rofl:

You all are cracking me up about my rear!!

I am coming back to defend myself, but it is too gorgeous here to be indoors!
I just came in long enough for lunch!

I have tips for strengthening your rear, but be prepared to change plains SLOWLY!! Even sitting on the toilet kills me a day to 2 days after a lifting session!

O
M
GOODNESS!!

reporting in after my workout :D was SO GOOD to get back into it...

i did 3.1 miles total which i think is a 5K and of those miles, i ran 2 miles total in increments of half miles....run half mile, walk a minute, run half mile etc...im running at 5.0 speed which for me seems very fast because i take short steps because of my lower back problems, makes it harder to twist my hips far enough to take long strides...i'm working on it but im not sure if it's a matter of "trying harder" or if thats just the way my hips will always work

regardless, it was good to get back at it and push myself...now for a shower and some grocery shopping

Jo, how was your date night?
Krystal, I almost :lol: took a butt picture for comparison :D my hubby is formulating work out for me now.....he knows I am a tad bit competitive...hehe

We had a great time. Haha, now I am going to have to start working on my bum again!

worked out this morning....spent 45 minutes on the treadmill...ran a mile and a half at 5.0 even though i was so sore yesterday from running that i could barely move...im sure i'll regret this today too LOL but it doesnt hurt while i'm doing it...i ran in intervals of half miles and then walked the last 10 minutes or so at a 15% incline....im dripping sweat and soaked...hard to believe the treadmill only says i burned 290 calories and (from what i read about those counters) probably less than that...sucksss but i still like running

its sunny out and about 40 degrees....springtime!!...breaking out the grill on the deck tonight LOL yes, at 40 degrees warm!

Jo, let's do it!! We will have even hotter behind than Krystal's :D :D Little competition never hurt anyone :angel:

So, as promised, I will provide you ladies a little perspective on my weight lifting workout. Although, you have always been able to see them on MFP.

I saw this photo on Pinterest & thought, "There's a fit body! Nice glutes, not skinny, but strong!" Which happens to be the NEW skinny!!

I have never been a size 6 & there is no reason for me to think it is realistic at age 36, I will ever be there now. However, this strong/fit look is doable for me. I have a large body frame with large bones. I just didn't get the height to go along with it! :devil:

Then, I bought the NROLFW book. I've read it a couple of times already and the workouts just seem confusing for this blonde. So, I used the exercises in the book and came up with my own routine.

I have yet to be on a set routine from week to week, like most people do.
This just does not work for me with my work schedule.

On Leg days, this is what my routine looks like
Warm up on the Stair climber for 15min on an interval rotation at level 2.
Then, on to the free weights.
I have 2 different workouts
A:
Jump Rope (Skips): High Knees 50 reps
Lunge: 20lb Dumb Bells in each Hand
Angled Leg Press: Started @ 50lbs, Now 60lbs
Hack Squat: Started @ Body Weight, Now Body Weight +20lbs
Single Leg Hamstring curl: Started @ 10lbs, Now 15 lbs

B:
Jump Rope (Skips): High Knees 50 reps
Squats Using Smith Machine (Saving my back!): 50 lbs
Static Lunges: 15lb Dumb Bells in each hand (30lb total)
Step Ups on a bench: 40lb BarBell

Doesn't seem like a heavy lift, but for me--it is PLENTY! I usually cannot change plains normally for at least 2-3 days after one of these & sitting is next to impossible, esp on a toilet seat!! I do the skips to keep my heart rate up, thereby keeping me burning the cals between sets. I do 3 sets of 8 for each exercise.

I try to do one of these once a week. I try to do arms 2x a week--my batwings are worse than my glutes atm. Then, of course, the running.
It makes for a very busy week :)

This coming up week, I plan to add some of the more advanced moves from the book. I have been on these particular sets for about a month I guess. I'm keeping the lunges and the squats. They are VERY challenging for me!

A very small preview of before and after shots. I have SOOOO far to go, it's unreal!


April 2011 {165lbs}
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...G_0565-1-1.png

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_0566-1.png

December 2011 (Before Weight Lifting) {148lbs}
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_0599-1.png


March 2012 (1 Month of Weight Lifting) {143lbs}
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_0532-2.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...IMG_0549-1.jpg

Sorry I have been somewhat quiet, I am feeling pretty miserable. Cranky, tired and very crampy this month for some reason. I am hoping today is better, but yesterday was yuck. I started TOM yesterday so hoping the cramps are going to be subsiding.

On a positive note, I ran yesterday for about 30 minutes and it felt amazing. I take back what I said about the running not building your butt. When I started out I was like wth, why is my a$$ jiggling, I don't remember feeling my a$$ jiggle before, oh no, all those hours on the couch did my a$$ in? But by the end of the run, no more jiggle. I'll see on the next run how it feels.
I have a tiny bit of all over soreness today that tells me I did something different, so that is good. I looked back on my logs, and it was exactly one month since I had run, wow! Oh, and my tailbone feels no worse for the wear, yay!

Krystal, thanks for sharing your pics, what a huge difference, very inspiring to show that you don't have to lose loads of pounds to really change your body.
I :lol: when you said NROLW was hard to follow. I thought the same thing! I have read and followed other weight lifting programs with no problem, but that one is something else to figure out! I found those excel sheets I pm'd you a while back very helpful. I am not sure I am going to go back into that program either. I may do some free form too. I have lots of favorite exercises and hate to be stuck doing the same thing for weeks on end.
I hate that feeling of not being able to sit. I actually had another member tell me I needed to rethink what I was doing if I was that sore! Hello, if you are not sore from lifting weights, why do it? You need to be sore to build and strengthen muscle. And I am just prone to hamstring and buttock soreness, must be my weak areas. If someone tells me that again, I am going to show them your butt shot. See, sore muscles = muscle growth.
Your abs are looking superb also, wtg, I am impressed!

Sum, what's your plan for today? I am just going for as long as possible. I "finished" eating at around 4:30 yesterday, but not because I met my calories, but because I was crampy and miserable and just didn't feel like stuffing anything else in just to get in the calories. So I was low cal yesterday and not sure how that will make me feel today.

:wave:
Jo: I am pre-TOM with you and as a gift, yet another 5lb water balloon for my belly! UGH!
I'm cranky. I feel bad, & I can't force myself out of bed!
Luckily for me, I do my routines at night. I have plenty of time to medicate today before I go strengthen the batwings!

I was glad to read you status about running yesterday. I didn't think it had been a month already. WoW! Where does the time go??

I know, time flies when your being lazy like me :lol:

I am worried about Sum, she usually checks in by now. I am hoping she is just busy and not succumbing to TOMs evil cravings!!!!!!

Funny you say this...My cravings are SEVERE about 5-7 days before TOM. But the closer it gets, the more they taper. I was STARVING last Thursday-Saturday....today I am not so hungry, but I have to eat something because I am crampy/achy, and I need a Goody's Cool Orange!


I wasn't feeling IT for breakfast, so I waited for lunch. 15hr fast for me today.
Totally unplanned! I'll take it :)

I am hiding from life and TOM. I busied myself with bfast for kids and laundry at first. Then I I waked 122 minutes. Now I am window shopping.

I wanna gorge. But I won't give in. I am day dreaming of boiled eggs and avocado. Hehe.

Krystal.....that was me at 165!!!! Except my belly button frowned more. I kinda regret that I have no pictures. I think it is still not too late to get honest ones. You look great at 148....I still have so much goo.... I look pretty nice with clothes on, without.....not so much.

:hug: glad you are doing okay and checked in, I was getting just a smidge worried that you did a face plant into a heap of nachos or something :rofl: Okay, maybe that is my daydream that I am projecting onto you. . .

What??? You are shopping without me???

Kidding. Good for you for finding a great distraction!

Hehe Jo. -- I actually had a few nachos this afternoon :) -- I did not log my eating today, but it was very low. I was hungry earlier on and now I have no appetite. I fasted 24 h; I have a very tight feeling on my chest and I napped from 3:30-7 pm, I think I am getting sick :(

I have not stepped on scale; the willpower :)

We have a large outlet mall called Great Lakes Crossings 5 minutes from my house. I popped in to see spring/summer clothing. I love all the colors this year!! We would have fun shopping; we would do some power walking and some retail therapy!

Krystal - You look amazing!!! What a huge difference for your before and after!!!! It's not a huge weight difference, but what an amazing shaping difference!!!! I am so proud of you :D Great job! :woohoo:

Hi girls, hope everyone is doing well today.

I am pretty tired today, not sleeping well this week.

I also feel a teeny tiny bit under the weather, hoping it doesn't turn into anything major. My youngest is sick with sore throat, and stuffiness. He hasn't felt bad enough to stay home from school, but enough to feel icky.

Pretty much the usual for me today, walk and then my list of other crap to get done. I was going to try to weight lift this week (all because of Krystals butt), but haven't gotten down there yet. I am sure once TOM is gone, I will get my energy back, especially if I can get some good sleep under my belt. Thankfully, I think the cramps are gone today, and (I am hoping) that black cloud over my mood might be starting to lift.

I will probably do fast 5 today if I can.

We are on the same food wavelength!
Uh oh, power walking through a mall with Kristiina, I might have to jog to keep up :rofl: Remind me to wear my running shoes!

Good for you staying off that scale. Just get through this week and it will be smooth sailing for a while again. You can do it.

My plan today was to do a 16hr fast with only a GU before my a.m. 5 miler @ 0730.
Boy, did I fail miserably at that attempt.
I didn't crawl out of bed until 9, by 0915 I had downed the GU (100 cals), by 0930 I was ready to run--my brain was ready to run. The rest of me was screaming--go back to bed!!!
Worst Worst WORST 3 miler of my life!
Since I knew it was pretty much a wash, I came home, got my K9s and headed to the park for some hill intervals. I managed another mile.
I doubt I even burned off the cals from the GU!!!

Came home--showered--and what--hello--who's that???
TOM!!
I've been unpleasantly expecting you!!! :devil:
No wonder my run was lousy.
It is interesting to me how hormones play such an integral part of our overall health and wellness. They effect our mood, our emotions, our energy level, our sleep, really everything.
I am really glad I have you ladies to learn new things about myself that I may or may not have learned in nursing school (there is only so much info you can retain) :lol:

But seriously, last year, I didn't know so much about water weight, scale fluctuations, hormonal shifts, energy deposits during certain times of the month after ovulation, etc...
I remember losing it over a lb of water weight. Now, I expect to gain 5lbs before TOM and to lose those same 5lbs after ovulation.
I can look forward to wearing my skinny scrubs on week 2 and putting them up for future use on week 4. That's just life as a woman--at least it is for me.

I'm rambling.....
I work tonight. I should be sleeping, but my adrenaline is roaring still.

Kristiina: you'd be so proud of me...I ALMOST talked myself into going for :jeno: for lunch today. Then, I remembered--"If I even grace the front door, Kristiina will be right over my shoulder making fun of me & saying 'Look at me, I'm 143! Want another slice?? You could see 150 by Friday if you do' :devil: "

Gosh, we are deranged!!

Sorry you had a crappy run because TOM was riding on your shoulders the whole time. I hate days like that. I do what you do, just call it and try again another day.
I sure have learned a lot about myself through this process too. If I knew then what I know now. . . .Ugh.
Great job avoiding the pizza!!!

Ladies, I am officially sick :( fever,chills and super sore lungs. Yuck. And TOM should get here tomorrow, double yuck. So we are all on same cycle now, very interesting!! We need to add some new dance partners to see if we can pull them into our cycle as well :) you are right Krystal, hormones are one mysterious world!

Nice to see you Itsmyturn!!

I hope you are not getting sicker Jo!

That sounds cruddy and then TOM on top of it? :faint:
Get some rest and keep those fluids going!

No, I feel alright, I think I am just overly tired at this point :crossed:.
DS is still feeling just under the weather, but barely. Still going to school. His started out with light cough, sore throat and his chest hurt. Now he just c/o slightly sore throat and stuffy nose. Hoping that's all it is going to be and then it goes right out the back door with TOM, after I kick them both from behind :kickbutt:

Sum - Awww, thank you! Always a pleasure to see you all too!!!!

I have learned a TON in the last year. And OMG!!!! I am due for TOM at any moment!!! Hormones ALL over the place today! How the heck did we all get on same dang cycle? I haven't even been active on this thread! LOL!!!!

Haha, the power of women when they band together! Must be from rubbing elbows with us on mfp.

You should pop in here more often, we are always good for a laugh or two!

Except right now, we are all a bunch of hormonal witches:witch2:.

Hows the weight loss going for you? I haven't seen you posting statuses on mfp quite as much, but I think I did see you say you have been busy.

Hope all is well, keep on fighting the good fight!

I went to bed early, and since kids have a late start I was able to sleep till 8:15 :woohoo:, I feel 100% better!!

I stepped on scale last night and I was 151.5...I was a bit bummed out. This morning, after 10 h sleep I was 149! -- How much does sleep affect our weightloss? I feel I am walking around in constant sleep deprivation mode. I wake up each morning at 6 am make b-fast for the kids and usually, 99% of the time, the alarm wakes me up. I get average maybe 6 h per night. -- I was thinking since kids grow the most during summer months and they say because they get the sleep they need, could we possibly shed more weight if we slept more? -- I remember one lady at MFP talking about that most of the fat is burned at night anyways.

Spring break is coming up and I intend to see if I can drop more weight that week by sleeping more :D

ETA: TOM is here and I survived under 150 pounds this month :D :D I am proud of myself :) Goal met!

Okay, on the sleep issue, I do wonder about this a lot. I would like to know how much, if any this affects my weight loss.
I am up at least a couple times during the night and sometimes have a hard time falling back to sleep, worse when hormones are at play. I am lucky if I get 6 straight hours. Usually 4 and then another 2-3, on a good night. When I was younger, I liked at least 9 hours. Less than that and I didn't function well; those were the days!
I look forward to sleeping a little more during spring break too. Maybe we will see some losses next week with all the sleep we get?

I sure wish I knew more about the sleep and weight loss connection.

Jo - I have been super busy lately actually. I am starting to get over being sick, plus DH has been sick and out of commission for like 2 weeks... so on top of being sick, I have had to pull all the weight at the house for both of us. Moms/wives can't have sick time, :lol: There's not much to tell on weight loss front though - still on same plateau since December... oy! Keep gaining and losing same dang 5 lbs...but... have been taking off inches, so not a total wash. 4 1/2 " off waist alone since start of plateau... 1.5" off hips, etc - they add up. Just be nice when the scale catches up, LOL.

Sum - great job meeting goal! You are right, sleep totally effects weight loss. The sleep provides a fuel for the body, just as food does in a way. The sleep is where the body resets itself though, and when we lack (as I do most times), it really does slow and complicate the process of weight loss and muscle building. My wellness coach is who has lectured me about this relentlessly - however, unless he is willing to take over with my kids, I don't have much for options, :lol:

Have a super day all!!!

:rofl:

Awww, :hug: Wish I could make it go away!