Hi all!

When I was in high school, I used to do "The Firm" workouts. I haven't done them in ages though. A couple years ago, I bought one of their workouts on sale but never attempted it because it was marked as intermediate/advanced. The workout appears to be pure cardio in that they cut out the cardio sections of various workout DVDs and put it into one super duper cardio workout. So last night, I decided to do it. It was difficult but it wasn't unbelievably difficult. I didn't end up doing the whole thing because DF showed up and I had to prep dinner but I was 45 minutes into the workout by the time he got home. I was also about ready to quit anyway, I didn't intend to do the entire DVD but I wanted to see how far I got :) I forgot how much I really like their workouts so I may buy a few more. Although I am a bit concerned about overtraining my muscles because even though they do use light weights during the workout, if I do it too often, I may be not giving my muscles enough rest. So I figure I'll just add them into the mix and maybe even do their workouts without weights where feasible.

Anyway, that is all for me, I hope everyone is doing well :)

Hi LWL,

Wow, everyone seems to be getting along fabulously!

Mel, 2 fru, congrats on the new gym!

I've caught some bug over the weekend. I do not feel good, stomach ache, and noticed that I ate a lot to try to feel better. But at least i did power class yesterday, and i'll try not to fall into the trap today.

I think either it's a bug, or it is worry because next week XH and myself will have a talk with the lawyers about the divorce settlements. finally. however, since I realise this I have slept badly, & I do not feel well.

have a great day all,
Rabbit

I am really interested to see how the yoga class goes this evening. It is a little tricky with the family schedule but I can make it work. I am hoping it works out for me/us.

2FRU - Great to have a new gym to jazz you up.

PAT - Ouch is all I can say, what a champ to show up and help/do T Day for someone across the country. And a new stove.

CINDY - thanks for the recipe review, I have looked at the chili recipe but never made it. Do you use frozen shrimp? I get a good price at Costco on the bagged shrimp, not cheap, but more reasonable. I have used the EFL recipes as a base for starting a new recipe. I am getting back into really cooking meals, like Sunday dinner and planning more.

NELIE - It is great to have back up exercise for those times you can't/don't get to the gym or life changes your plans. I keep the buffer band on the cable DVR loaded with some shows and the hand weights so I can feel like I can jump into something constructive.

Off to walk to Harvard Square at lunchtime, short one skein of yarn for my mom's sweater, the colar needs to be finished and it is getting chilly out ther.

Morning all. I had a good long cardio workout last night, and I'll do a full-body weights tonight, followed by a shorter cardio. I had to plan ahead to get everything in, since even though I'll be at the gym most days, some of my times are short.

I'm feeling very motivated as last night we booked a trip to Costa Rica for mid-January! :) It's an Elderhostel trip, listed as "active" with up to 4 miles of hiking a day, and other more physical activities, including a tour into the rainforest canopy, and some river rafting. I'm very excited. It's a 2 week trip, with only 16 participants, not one of their larger trips. (We did a trip with them in April to Utah, and were very impressed with the organization and facilities. Hopefully this one will be as good.) So my goal between now and then is to get into great cardio shape, as well as strong. :strong: I really appreciated my efforts in those areas when we went to England in 05, and although we won't be hauling our luggage as much, or running for trains, being in shape makes traveling so much more enjoyable.

Rabbit, :hug: to you. Is the end of the divorce proceedings in sight? I remember a little saying (sometimes even when it's appropriate :lol: ) "No matter what the problem is, the answer is not in the kitchen."

Hey Pat, what tour company are you working with? Your trip sounds great! I'm working on coming up with something for our honeymoon next fall, and would welcome some recommendations on places and tour groups. Italy is one option we've talked about, but we're pretty much open.

Sugar Cube - yes, I like to use frozen shrimp - Sam's Club has (or used to have - haven't been there in months), frozen raw, peeled shrimp - 2# for $10! I prefer to cook with raw shrimp, as I think pre-cooked shrimp can get rubbery if you heat it too long.
Cindy

:wave: Yooo hooo! Didn't get round to posting yesterday - busy day! :crazy:

HOWEVER, I got in gym Monday lunch (UBW and 6 mins cardio :lol: ), kickboxing Mon pm, THEN a 7am workout :tired: on Tuesday morning - a rippin' leg workout, 10s on all my exercises :D Then me and my bridesmaid went to the food tasting for the wedding OMG :faint: It was unbelieveable!!!! :T We had 2 meals!!! And 2 desserts!!!! And WINE! AND CHAMPAGNE :faint: So there was beef in a wine sauce, grilled sea bream, roasted veggie lasagna, horseradish mash, pumpkin and feta salad, string beans, beef stir fry, salmon and polenta fish cakes, butternut squash and red onion salad, new potatoes, and an artichoke heart gratin which was lovely and creamy! :T THEN we had Chocolate Fondant with orange creme anglaise :T :T :T AND apricot and ginger crumble with custard :T :T :T :faint: So I had to carry my belly out in a wheelbarrow! :lol: We've decided we're having the beef in wine sauce, sea bream and veggie lasagna, with pumpkin and feta salad and string beans, then for dessert, we are going to let people choose between apricot and ginger crumble and chocolate pud. They are both gorgeous! :T

Oh yeah and after than I power-walked to kickboxing and did the class! Felt a little squiffy but I managed ok until I kicked some brute in the foot with bent toes :yikes: ow!

I'm a bit tired today :yawn: I think it was all that wine (I had about 8 sips!!)

Got gym planned for after work and a Pilates class. I may go at lunch, but I doubt I'll be feeling up to much. :yawn:

Hi LWL,

Pat - thanks for the hug, I needed that. Your trip to costa-rica sounds fabulous!

I'm much better today... day off, started with 1 hour powerclass, then 1 hour stability ball core+, and finished off with some shopping and an hour in the bathtub with a book. my back is much much better now, amazing what the stability ball can do for that.

Liza - I am slowly getting back to coocking as well. not everyday, but definitely more often.

I am finally getting back to a somewhat normal energy level. it is amazing what 2 hours extra per day c]can do for you! Not that i have that every day of course, but 2 - 3 times per week feels like a big luxury!

Have a great day all,
rabbit

Wednesdays are for planning the weekends.
 

LOVE my yoga class. It is a 6 week trial and I hope they keep it going because it is so much fun. The instructor is very relaxed and all about easing into the routine. He darkens the room which is very calming too. The best part is his accent, he has a real Boston accent so when he is naming the poses, it is a little amusing. In any case, it was lots of good stretching.

Food has been good so far. Dropped two more of the vacation pounds. My goal is to get to new weight to lose by Thanksgiving. Sounds odd but that is how I see it. Haven't been below 180 in a very long time.

PAT - Your trip sounds like a great adventure and you are so right, being in shape does help with moving around and being able to participate in everything you want to do.

RABBIT - I am not sure if I wish you had a bug or the anxiety??? Take care of yourself in any case and keep up the workouts if possible, if you are stressed nothing like a good sweat to calm down.

CINDY - I am with you on the frozen raw shrimp, sort of don't like too much handling of my food by others, like I never buy meat that is already marinated. Just odd, took me a long time to get over that to have sushi, though once Whole Foods started with the brown rice sushi and eel I was all over that.

2FRU - aren't you such a nice bride to test all that food for the wedding guests. You are so thoughtful. :smug:

We are planning a camping trip to the White Mountains this long weekend (Columbus Day for those outside of the USA). It is going to be chilly so the kayaks may be left home but lots of hiking and we may take the bikes along. Mostly just the three of us and the dog of course, we haven't really had a chance to be with ourselves this year.

Clean eats planned, I am on a French Onion Soup kick with some cheese melted in. Skipping the bread. Site visit this afternoon and I am planning to walk there, about 45 minutes.

Pat - I'm jealous of your upcoming vacation :) You will have to tell us about it afterwards, it sounds like something I'd want to do.

I think I'm going to try to switch to morning workouts but I've been telling that to myself for a couple weeks. Today, I got up a little early and did one of my workout DVDs at home. I am a bit tired. Also yesterday, I did an UBWO at home. I am planning to go to the gym tonight or do some exercise at home, we'll see.

NELIE - If you are going to switch to a.m. workouts, go slow and steady. 15 minutes at a time and you will be able to make it routine. I love being at the gym when they open at 5:30 am, there is a core group of about 20 regulars. When I went for yoga last night, I did see someone from church (didn't know she went to the gym) but there are a ton more people, really funny to me for some reason to see so many people.

Liza,
One of the problem with night workouts is I don't care for people and the gym is always crowded at night. I like to go late but then I need to try to get to bed at a decent time so it doesn't work. Although it worked very well when I was single :)

I also notice that I am extra tired in the morning after a weight workout. I'm guessing my body needs rest even though I try to give it plenty. So I wonder if switching to AM workouts would mean my body wouldn't be as tired in the morning? I don't know. I think I am also going to try to take it slow, like you suggested. I mentioned to my DF the thought of getting up before 6am to go to the gym and he laughed at me :) I think I can get there though.

Morning all. It's a much less blustery day here today, thank goodness. The wind yesterday just sliced right through you (or rather me! :) ) I had a great full-body workout last night, followed by a 20 minute :tread: Tonight I'm going for the longer cardio, and then weights again tomorrow or Friday.

Cindy - our trip is with Elderhostel, so while you might like the trip, I don't think you make the "55 or over" age requirement! :lol:

Nelie - I'll be posting photos, don't worry! Froml the pictures in the guidebooks the scenery is wonderful. In fact this morning I was wondering if I should get another (a 3rd) card for my digital camera!

Frus - that foods sounds devine!! Your guests should be happy.

I was posting somewhere yesterday about morning exercise. I have tried numerous times to do this. It would really work so well for me. The drawback to mornings is the same reason I have problems with evening workouts - I have a life that involves evening meetings for work, for church, for other interests. That means that I sometimes have to skip my workouts or squeeze them in at lunch or the 1.5-2 hours between work and the meeting. But, if I were to switch to getting up at 5 or 5:30, I'd need to go to bed earlier, and some of the meetings, esp those connected with work, often go til 10 or later. What to do, what to do? :shrug: Right now evenings are working for me for the next few weeks. After that I'll reevaluate again. I'm going to a work conference 10/18-21, at a nice hotel about 2 hours south of there. They have a pool and a small workout area, and I'll have to do mornings for that as the meetings run through dinner and beyond. Same thing with my vacation to Houston the first week of November. 3 GFs and I are going to the International Quilt Festival, and it includes evening events. The hotel there also has a workout room, and I can do mornings there without getting up at 5, since the show doesn't open til 10! :)

Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement last week everyone. I’ve been lurking a bit but mostly have been too busy to keep up with things here much lately.

I’ve noticed that my arms have turned to absolute jelly since I haven’t done any lifting in about three weeks. You used to be able to tell there was muscle under the fat, not so much anymore. Sad really. Also the scale is up three pounds.

I am leaving early Fri for WI, I’m kind of calling all bets off till I get back. I just want to relax and enjoy the wedding and seeing my friends and family and hopefully make some headway on the job front during the three days I’ll have in Madison. Then it’s back to work, and I mean business. My shoulder still has its issues but I’m hoping I can ease in with some light weights when I get back.

Drive by posting, I hope to be back full force after Oct. 15.

PAT - I hear you on those evening meetings and yes, when I am at the office until after 11 pm, I do not get to the gym in the morning. I do make real efforts to workout out even if it is walking during the day, or picking up my "baby" hand weights at the office. Those meetings can get to me.

Dinner was good tonight, flounder, couscous and brocoli. Keeping to under 1400 calories a day and by working on quality carbs and food choices, I am not hungry and don't feel like I am running on empty.

I did notice today that after only one session back with the yoga, I was walking and standing more tall. Amazing.

SHAN - First read your post as you were going to weigh in:dizzy: I hope you have a great and safe trip. And your shoulder gets better.

Bath time for DD. Bubbles all over the place.:D

:wave: Hello!

Yesterday was a bust! I think I'm fighting off DF's cold bug! He's at home in bed, I'm feeling better but yesterday I was exhausted so I took my sorry self home to bath and Shrek on the sofa :D so no gym time, but pretty decent food. I haven't been sleeping at all well and I think it's down to the small piece of 70% choc I've been nibbling before bed. Don't worry the box will be finished soon, mum and dad are coming to stay tonight so they'll finish that off! :lol:

Today I've got a workout planned at lunch, I think a light full body routine, using some cool machines and some funky dumbbell things with steps perhaps. Then it's double kickboxing tonight and home to the 'rents.

I've got tomorrow off work to go shopping, and hopefully we will be able to eat healthily - Mum is dieting still and I am NOT giving in to tea and cakes in the middle of the morning AND the middle of the afternoon, like we did last time they came to stay!!! I've got plenty of fresh food in the fridge to eat up - cooked turkey, salmon fillets and a cooked chicken breast and a few veggies left, so I should be able to satisfy them in the evenings too. I think we just have to not eat out, which is hard when our flat is so small, but I think we will cope. :)