LOVE the Elliptical!
 

Evidently I feel like joining in. The one thing I truly miss about the gym is the elliptical. I absolutely love them. And they are deceptive. Five minutes will totally wind a body. Take it slow! They are perfect for folks who can't run or jog because of knee problems and for folks like me who can't bicycle. When my legs needed the extra help, I'd use my arms and that would give my upper body a bit of a workout, too. I'd worked up to 45 minutes on the elliptical. It was funny watching some people try to keep up with me. They thought they'd just jump on that machine and keep up with that old lady. :rofl:

The fun thing about the gym was the people-watching.. so many go there for the social hour. They never darken a machine. They wear cute (aka expensive) gym clothes and carry color-coordinated towels and flit around and chat. Being on the elliptical gave me a bird's eye view of the gym so I could people-watch, which is one of my hobbies. They came in all sizes and ages. And there I was in one of my race t-shirts and old faded shorts, just sweating away. Not color coordinated, but being entertained! I have a theory that you can tell how serious a person (male OR female) is about their workout by how much attention they pay to their hair. If their hair is a mess, they are serious. If you want to ask them who does their hair, then you KNOW they don't sweat! :rofl:

Maybe I should get ready for work..... :D

You know, I really like you chicks in this thread. I'd post here and get to know you better if MODing South Beach didn't keep me so busy. I snoop and read almost every day. :grouphug: and a :wave: from 0ºF frosty eastern Ontario!

Snoop on Ruth :mag: -- we haven't decided to charge lurkers yet :rofl: although technically if you post occasionally you're not a lurker.

They tell me it was almost 60 degrees out yesterday. Somehow I missed that. DH went for an evening walk while I was preparing supper and said it was downright nice.

I have tried an eliptical before. Not my favorite piece but I can see it as an excellent workout piece. One of the guys on my team has positively shrunken from using it - myself I think there's more to what he's saying about his weight loss but, no doubt he has trimmed down considerably.

I found myself that it takes an amazing amount of concentration on the eliptical. Once my mind starts to wander (which is frequent), I get all dis-com-boober-rated and everything gets tangled up. So perhaps it's good if I don't do it for long. I'd rather people watch from the treadmill.

Once I join the gym it will mean early to bed, early to rise. Probably off at the gym by 5:30, certainly no later than 6. That will eliminate those wasteful minutes in front of the closet with "what do I wear to work today syndrome" this? - no - this? - no - this? Gotta wear what you bring! There is a certain satisfaction of getting your workout done first thing and that tingly feeling of all the blood pumping as your body wakes up. Not that I like getting up at Linda T's hours but it's too easy to be tired and make excuses at the end of the day.

I hope this isn't going to be another 2 hour wait in the doctor's office again. I'm taking some cards to address just to pass the time.

Make the most of your day...

Can I snoop, too?

I can't even remember how long it's been since I last posted anywhere on 3FC, but ... this is the thread with the most people I recognize. *wavies*

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :tree:

Good morning. Hugs!!

Look out Teel, Shad is after Holly's cousins!! We have a pomeranian and a little mystery black one out the back that bark like crazy everytime the kids are outside. The black one got through the fence and I didn't have to mention a thing, they quickly covered the hole... I think they were fearful my kids might attack their dog :p Fingers crossed for some work next year for you Shad, something challenging and mind expanding with people who are dedicated to getting the job done:carrot:

Cool to see new people on the thread, all are welcome. Tell us everything:smug:

I have nothing to say about ellipticals, except they look like torture machines:o I do my 4mile WATP and sweat that way:lol3:

Hello to miss Ruth and Raven Toy :wave: We'd love to have both of you.

As far as pom pom's go--I'd have to fill the whole page. CJ is a cutie. I forgot to post yesterday. Shame on me. Completed 35 minutes of cardio last night after work. I can feel it today. Not much else is going on.

Shad sorry about the job interview.

Hello to the rest. :wave:

Morning all,
 

Ruth and Raven, you are welcome to drop in whenever you feel the need or whenever you have some minutes to spare to post. We love new faces and new ideas. :welcome: Ruth if you snoop and read nearly everyday, then maybe you ought to just jump in and say hello anyway. You must know most of us by now. Or should I give you a run down on the various personalities?

Tig - I have to agree on the people watching at the gym. Sometimes if you are in a row of treadmills with the bikes and the ellipticals up front, all you get to see is the butts. Nothing wrong with a good butt! Mel will tell you that. At the moment the gym I am using has the ellipticals by the window. It's in a shopping plaza and looks out over the food court (how mean can they get?) So first thing in the morning I get to see the various food outlets preparing the days grub! It can be interesting!
I hear you on the no sweat and hair do's. I saw one girl applying make up and anti perspirant BEFORE she went out on the gym floor!!! Hello, aren't you meant to sweat and get mussed if you are doing it right?

Aaaah Happy and here we were telling you how to use the elliptical. And you've been there and done that anyway! My mind doesn't have to wander to get (whatever that word was) in a muddle on the thing. I only have to want to slow down. Still it gets the heart pumping and the sweat flowing for sure. I'm glad DH had a 'downright nice' walk around the neighbourhood. :kickcan:

Raven - nice to see you back again. How is your business going? Last I heard, you were picking up quite a bit of work. Are you still running the 9.5 job as well? :cool:

Morning Holly :cheer:

Hiya Meadow - thanks for the work wishes. I have been saving well over the year so some time off won't be too bad. There's always temping work I can do anyway. Doesn't pay so well but it is work until other stuff comes along.

Ceejay - Hiya, good going on that exercise. Sounds like we are all starting to look at the exercise theme this year. Well done us :carrot: :cb: :carrot: :cb: :carrot: :cb: :carrot: :cb: :carrot: :cb: :carrot: :cb:

Where is Mel anyway? Busy making paper doilies with the residents or something? Who else are we missing - oh yes Painter and Teel and Linus. Anyone else - Honey dipped are you still peeking in from time to time??

It's a hard time of the year to keep up with all the doings of the worldly chicks so maybe instead of worrying what has happened to someone, we might make a list of who is going away and who will be on line over the next 3 weeks or so. That way I don't have to watch the news telecasts!

Time to move it along. I'm getting through this pile (mainly because I have arm wrestled one of the Business Analysts to a standstill and nailed one of her feet to the floor. That way she can only go around in circles and I know where she is when I need her. Now to catch the other one. Business analyst I mean not the other foot.

Oh yes and more Christmas Lights from around the city.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b118/gunbo1/2005a.jpg

If you have the time and the inclination, the following is a link to some of the Christmas light displays which were entered into the Light Up competition. This is all done voluntarily, costs very little to view (donation usually for a charity) and brings neighbourhoods together even if only for a few days.

http://www.christmaslightstours.com/XLT-Gallery.pl

:carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :dizzy: :) :) :hug: :hug: boy am i so glad im not allowed to use gym equipment :D :cool: :love: :angel: sometimes the spinal,athritis,bone degeneration thingy comes in very handy:yikes: :lucky: :crazy: :crazy: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
hi ladies how are we all today ???? im very good actually i think i might be glimpsing a very lovely baby who actually lives inside satan junior :lol3: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: infacol{colic drops } seem to be calming him amazingly well even though my health visitor said "under no circumstances will it be colic" he had his second set of injections today and still sat on mummys knee looking at the tree lights and promptly fell asleep and shows every sign of staying so for more than an hour :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :encore: :encore: :encore: so 2 very good days on the trot or hes just luling me into a false sense of security
SHAD im so sorry that the world and there dogs seem to be intent on pi***ng you off just now ,im just glad your a really strong person and not likely to kidnap the local cop pinch his gun{do aussie cops carry guns????} and shoot the local halfwits;) cleo and benjy have been duly warned that ill manners are not acceptable but if you ever get back over here we,ll send cleo to mums just incase as shes ever so slightly naughty especially with other animals she seems to think they are chew toys?????:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
HAPPY hope you get on well with the new doc and he/she offers you some very good advice and help ive stopped listening to mine for the mo as they want me back on my pain medication but cj is just too much to handle on top of heavy duty narcs
TIG hows my liid up biker bud???? my other biker mates have a harley trike that they love like a son ,but then they are slightly barmy personally i think its the ink from all those tatoos ,my freind ang is a social worker and has a 10inch high tattoo of a pregnant fairy wearing doc martin boots sitting on a toadstool smoking weed entwined by a jade green dragon on her calf??????
MEL peek-a-boo
CEEJAY :wave: :wave: :wave: hi to you too
MEADOW my kids scare everyone and thing :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
HOLLY good evening
RUTH AND RAVEN TOY welcome and please just ignore the scatty post i have a 12 week old baby who doesnt allow his mum on the computer very much
ROSE,PAINTER,CHO DIPPED :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:
right im off and ill speak to you all later

I met with the rheumatologist today. What a great lady. I really liked her alot. She said alot of the signs point to my having rheumatoid arthritis. She took x-rays of my hands and showed me dark spots at the joints. She also wanted to run a few more tests. So they took 5 vials of blood. eeek. She said the good news is that they have much better meds for this stuff than they did a few years back.

Given what Linus just said tho, is the best I can hope for simply to control the pain? The idea of never getting any better is rather depressing. So is the fact that the medicine they have me on right now for the moment also causes fluid retention. I'll throw the scale out the window before I see another gain. I'll throw myself out of the window too.

Linus, does it also seem like they think CJ has colic? Or not? I'm confused. If he has colic then we have to find you a way to get some rest. Don't worry about the house, bask in the glory that it was clean once. For 15 minutes. :lol:

Shad, discombooberated is an old word - like groovy. It describes the condition in which your brain no longer controls your arms and legs and they sort of go into a free form float of their own. In the 70's it was brought on by ingesting too many Harvey Wallbangers or Tequilla Sunrises. In this day and age it comes from losing your focus on the eliptical ;) Yes, I tried the eliptical before - it's a favorite piece of equipment for the personal trainers. Second only to the blasted bike! So are you looking forward to a bit of time off soon? I know it's rainy out there but how's the weather for working on renovations or will you not let that stop you? Did you ever finish the bath? I last remember something about pretty blue tiles.

Good for you Meadow and Ceejay getting the cardio in!

Welcome back Raven, I have been wondering what you've been up to the last few months. Was hoping very much that you were busy building up your horse business. Don't stay a stranger again.

Look forward to hearing from Teel again. I have an early morning meeting which means getting up at 5am. Best to get to bed now.

Hellos to the chicks of the world.

G'morning peeps. :) Thanks for the warm welcome.

Yes, I am still building up my business. I'm up to about 100 horses now, I hope to double that in another 6 months, and the magic number is 300 horses. I hope to reach that by the end of next year. I truly love my job. It's hard work, there's no doubt about that. Physically, I'm really in pretty good shape as far as muscle tone, it's just that I have this layer of fat over everything. *sigh* I've maintained my weight well, but the sad fact is I need to lose about 40-50 pounds. If for no other reason than to take the pressure off my back. So yes, I'm doing the relax and enjoy the holidays, but come the new year... I need to get focused again. It's been a hard year. And Shad - I ended up getting fired from that desk job. I guess I just piss people off too much. ;) At least in a corporate environment. Financially I wasn't sure if I was going to make it there for a while. I'm still buried under bills, and of course - this is the moment my poor old Escort chose to blow a head gasket. So we said a prayer and bid farewell to a valiant old car, and I begged money from my brother, and found a '93 Ford Explorer with only 98000 miles on it for 2 grand. Yay! I have an SUV!! It's only a 2 wheel drive, but it has clearance! And get this - I got the christmas tree home last night in it, and we didn't have to strap it to the top!! *lol*

So there are a lot of good things, I count my blessings daily. This year has been more difficult for my kids than for me, even. Their dad bailed on being in GA to be with them, and ran off to Montana to be with a chick. So much for his kids. Whatever. :(

Shad - I'm sorry, I read back but couldn't find out what was going on with your job? Those pics of the lights are wonderful!

Happy - It's so nice to 'see' you again. :) I'm really sorry about the RA though, that's a tough one. :grouphug: How long will it take to get the results from the bloodwork?

Linus - Better thee than me. :devil: I'm so glad I don't have to deal with baby things anymore.

what a chatty little bunch~~
 

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: NEVER TOO LATE FOR CJ AND THOSE ADORABLE PICTURES! THANKS SHAD.

RUTH~ IF YOU RUN OUT OF TIME YOU CAN ALWAYS COPY AND PASTE!!! AT LEAST WE WOULD KNOW WHAT DASTERLY DEEDS YOU ARE UP TO!!! :carrot: SO JUST SNOOP AWAY!!

RAVEN MY DEAR OLD FRIEND! WHAT PERFECT TIMING TO SAY HELLO AGAIN AND TOUCH BASE THAN THE HOLIDAY SEASON. 100 HORSES!! :dance: :hat: HOW GREAT IS THAT???? SORRY FOR THE KIDS DISAPPOINTMENT BUT THEY HAVE A MOM THAT ADORES THEM!! SO I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY LUCKY ANYWAY! :carrot: HOPE YOU HAVE COME TO "STAY" WITH US! LOL

PW~ CAN YOU USE ANY CREAM YOU WANT ON THELMA? THEN TRY OLAY'S QUENCH BODY CREAM ON THE TUBE! IT HAS DONE WONDERS FOR MY LEGS SINCE IT CAME OUT. I ALSO USE OLAY'S BODY WASH. THEY USE AN INGREDIENT THAT COSTS MORE SO OTHER COMPANIES DON'T USE IT. A DR RECOMMENDED IT LONG AGO.

SHAD~ I WILL BE HOME ALL THE TIME!!! BUT WAS SO BUSY AND TIRED THESE LAST 2 DAYS I ACTUALLY FORGOT ABOUT POSTING AND THEN WHEN I REMEMBERED IT WAS LATE!! :p :o :hug: <----FOR THE BAD INTERVIES. ME THINKS YOUR MIND WAS OCCUPIED BY OTHER'S PROBLEMS MAYBE. YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL WILL FIND YOU SOMETHING EVEN BETTER!:carrot: :carrot: I SAY AGAIN....THE DB2 IS LUCKY TO HAVE YOU!! WHEN I MAKE MY FIRST $10,000, I'LL SEND IT TO YOU! :lol3: :lol3: PLEASE DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH CAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO LOSE YOU!!!:(

HAPPY~ I TOOK ALL THE CLEANER BAGS AND TOSSED THEM. I DID IT RIGHT AWAY. IT SEEMS LIKE I DON'T HAVE ORDINARY ACCIDENTS BUT THINGS THAT ARE STRANGE AND RARE! :rofl: :rofl: SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME YOUR LIST!!! I WOULD HAVE HAD IT DONE BEFORE SUMMERS END!!! LOL WE ARE TRYING "SIMPLE" OVER HERE AND I HAVE CUT WAY BACK ON EVERYTHING! WE'RE TRYING THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY THIS YEAR. I THINK I AM REPEATING MYSELF FROM LAST WEEK!! LOL GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW DR AND DON'T GIVE UP TILL ALL THE "EVIDENCE" IS IN AND THEN GO TO WORK ON SELF-HELP. :hug: :hug: THANK GOD FOR GOOGLE!! IT HAS HELPED ME MANY TIMES. I NOW GO TO THE DR'S OFFICE ARMED AND READY!! LOL

TIG~ I LOVE MY HOT TODDY AND LOOK AT HIM EVERY DAY....MAYBE THAT'S WHERE ALL THESE DREAMS ARE COMING FROM!!! WELL IT BEATS THE **** OUT OF THE NIGHTMARES THEY REPLACED!! :rofl: :rofl: SOMEDAY I WANT TO GO TO A GYM AND ASK IF I CAN JOIN SO I CAN PUT MY WHEELS ON A TREADMILL AND MAKE THE WHOLE ROOM EITHER FAINT :faint: OR CRACK UP :rofl:

MEADOW~ WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT ON MONDAY AND YESTERDAY I WAS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOWS ON THE BUS AND TELLING EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THIS DECORATION AND THAT!!! I AM A MOST ANNOYING PASSENGER I THOUGHT BUT NOW I READ YOUR POST....MAYBE NOT AS ANNOYING AS I THOUGHT!!!:p :p

KIRSTY~ THE WEEKEND SOUNDED EXHAUSTING TO ME AND EVERYTIME SOMEONE TOOK JENNIFER I WOULD HAVE LAIN IN THE BATH OR ON THE COUCH LIKE CLEOPATRA!!! :rofl: HOPE THE DROPS WORK. :hug:
LOVE THE PICTURES SHADDIE PUT UP!! HE IS THE CUTEST I'VE SEEN IN AWHILE!:carrot:

CEEJAY~ :wave: & :hug: BACK TO YOU!!! NICE EXERCISING!!! MORE THAN I HAVE DONE IN A LONG WHILE!! BAD MEL!!:devil:

HOLLY~ :wave: TO YOU ALSO. I SEE A LOT OF THINKING GOING ON OVER THERE. HOPE THE HOLIDAYS CONTINUE TO GO SMOOTHLY FOR ALL OF YOU.

LOTS OF ISSUES OVER HERE BUT NOT IN MY HOUSE THANK GOD OR JEN'S FOR THAT MATTER. JUST THE BLDG AND OFFICE. I AM TAKING THE DAY OFF FROM LIFE TODAY TO GET BACK ON TRACK BEFORE I WANDER TOO FAR OFF BASE. SELF-PRESERVATION SEEMS TO BE COMING EASIER NOW AND I THINK IT IS THE SIGHT OF THE ROSACEA THAT HELPS ME TAKE BETTER CARE OF MYSELF....FUNNY HOW THINGS WORK. :dizzy: MY CARDS SHOULD BE GETTING MAILED TODAY. WILLY TOOK THEM YESTERDAY TO HIS WIFE. HAVEN'T EATEN YET, FOSAMAX DAY, SO I BETTER GET GOING AND MAKE BREKKIE.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! :moped:

I feel as if I'm crashing a private party
 

But I'll do it anyway if no one minds. If I get annoying just shoo me away the way you would any annoying insect! :D

I would like to add my :cheer: :cheer: for pictures of The Wee Man. He really is a beauty.

Happy, I really like early mornings at the gym: it seems to have a lower Fashion Queen quotient and nobody wants to socialize at 6:30 in the morning. And the benefit is getting your workout over with first thing - before life intervenes.

Tig - Your gym hair theory almost made me spit my coffee since I was laughing. Never thought of it that way but you are so right.

Shad - love the lights. I was just hearing about a guy on the West coast of Canada who had a display that was probably that big... until the local council complained about his Christmas music so he pulled the plug on the whole display. Bah humbug! But I find myself sympathizing with his neighbours. :joker: One man's Christmas spirit is another man's noise, I guess.

Raven!!!! It is so good to see you again and wonder news about the job. Sometimes getting toasted from a desk job is just the push ya need. It's always something, isn't it? Darn vehicles! BTW... you quote me?? I'm honoured!

Everyone else. :wave: :wave: Thanks for having me.

Ok, BTW, so here is the news (or no news) on the wedding, since people did ask. It’s slated for Friday May 5th… but we have made absolutely NO PLANS other than picking the day :lol: :lol: and we only picked a Friday so that we can take a charter flight (which flies Saturdays) to London for our honeymoon. Hmmm… what makes people think I’m having a certain lack of Bridal Enthusiasm?? Wedding at city hall and a reception at a local McDonalds is now sounding reasonable. If I can get a digital picture I’ll post a photo of The Ring (which I have nicknamed Fang the Nylon Killer).

I have to go do some work now

Christmas is getting a lot closer. Sure am glad I’m not having to stress over buying gifts--shopping is done.

45 minutes of aerobics was done after I got home last night. Seems to me I can do this around 8:30 p.m. instead of being an early bird. Then I took a bath and went to bed. Exercise bothers some people if they do it late but it never has me. Seems to help me wind down.

It’s raining here today and that makes it dark and gloomy.

Have brought healthier food with me today. I tend to eat more calories when I get home than I should and I get home after 7 p.m. This is probably why I can’t loose any more weight. My pants are getting a little snug and I don’t have a bigger size to fit into so its a priority to get back down to the lower end of 180. I also decided last night that I would weigh at night. Yes I realize that you weigh less in the mornings but I feel like this is the best time for me. I weighed last night.

Shad-- If you give a run down on our personalities make it nice.

Madcat--good to see you. I don't think any us will shoo you away.

Ruth-I agree with both Shad and Mel.

Raven--You mentioned in your journal that you'd been to Arkansas. An inquiring mind wants to know what part of Arkansas since I live in this state.
I have a distant relative that has been in the equine business for most of his adult life.

Mel--Wondered where you'd been? It can get a little hectic this time of year.

Happy--ewwww, I hate having blood drawn. The most they draw from me is 2 viles but 6 viles. Hope the doctor can help.

Linus--Sounds like CJ is beginning to get a routine. He sure is a handsome little fellow.

hello to Meadow, Tig, and Teel. :wave:

YAAAAWWWWWNNNNN!!!
Need more coffee!!

The Christmas concert was brilliant!!! My DD sang the loudest out of everyone, LOL!! May have a rockstar on my hands.
DS also did very well. Damn ,these little guys are cute.

Just got DS on the bus. Time for coffee. 4 kids here ,2 more coming.
Made some caramel popcorn for the first time yesterday. It vanished. My family loved it. Will have to make more for gifts. Made fudge too. Will put 1/2 away and let my vultures have the rest.
Had a great night with hubby. Stayed up too late tho. I dont have a book right now and I watched TV til 1.
Need to get some orders out and pick up some baking supplies and lunch meat. I have a couple parcels to build and get in the mail.
It is quite cold but fresh and clear. -14C.

No great epiphanies today.

HUGS!