LWL #275 2nd - 8th October!
 

It's October! :yikes: It's 4 years since DF and I first started going out :love: Awwwwwww!

Anyways, the weekend has been variable. I did as best I could given the circumstances. I had chicken stir-fry at my friend's on Friday night, however she only had cereal for breakfast, but not to worry since I was kickboxing straight after. Pretty much clean food most of Saturday. Sunday was slightly less clean since I was baking gingerbread men as a trial before the wedding (we are having gingerbread men bride and groom favours!!!) and I :love: them, however I only ate 2, so that was ok! I also picked up some 60% cocoa lindt d'or balls, :T and I had 2 of them! Er.. I think most stuff was ok until I got a bit bored and started missing DF around 9pm, when I had cereal and a cherry bakewell tart thing. *sigh* :rolleyes: Damage limitation though, I turned out the kitchen light and shut the door and shut everything up for bedtime when I realised quite what I was doing!

It's NEW GYM day today! I'm really looking forward to it! I would've made an effort to go before work, but I left my gym card here and my trainers, so I couldn't. Never mind, I might make it tomorrow morning.

I miss this forum! I want to post something! But I haven't found my weights yet. I think today I'll mosey around work doing some lunge walking and push-ups off the desk and so on ... I really liked being a Lady Who Lifts :)

Morning Fru and SusanB and all the rest of LWL! :wave:
Last week was a little crazy, but I'll try to be here more this week.

SusanB-Find those weights! I can't imaging NOT being a Lady Who Lifts! You're going to lose that hard earned muscle :(

Fru- Have fun at your new gym :) Sounds like you did quite well on damage control with all the gingerbread people carousing in your kitchen.

We had a second birthday party on Friday for my ds who turned 16 last weekend. He was tired, grumpy, and generally in a fould temper due to a weekend long Boy Scount Camping ordeal, plus his grandparents were sick. Si We redid the whole thing this weekend- everyone was healthy, plus my dd was in town. BIG food on Friday, kind of crept over into Saturday. I managed to keep up the workouts and even got in an extra 3 1/2 mile run yesterday. No weighing, but my jeans are back to falling off.

Last week I quit my gym job and took a job at a new private training studio opened by my old boss. I'm VERY flattered that all of my clients have followed me and will be spending time this week contacting old clients who I've trained over the years to let them know I moved again. Some I lost when I went to that gym last January- it was just too far for some to drive and I'm back nearer the same geographical location where I started. Sooo, I'm hoping I can get some of them back. It's a huge studio- plenty of room for 5-6 trainers with clients to work, a big EMPTY space in the center for all our bizarre stability ball and other balance and functional exercises. I love it!

Today is leg day for me.

Gotta go,
Mel

SUSANJ: Take a deep breathe.....Has your head stopped spinning yet? As if just caring for your 2 year old grandson wasn't enough...If you happen to be interviewed for the show be sure to let us all know when it will be aired.

Hello 2FRU: Enjoy your new gym today. Having a new place to go sounds like a lot of fun. During vacation this past summer I took the opportunity to use a gym in the city I was visiting. Great fun. I tried all kinds of new things because I knew that no one knew me there and if I looked like an idiot, they would never see me again. LOL Oh, but wait, you will be going back....Have a great time! I also love the gingerbread idea. It's a pretty popular cookie in our house too. MMMmmmm. :chef:

SUSANB: Walking lunges too and from the water cooler sounds like a great idea. Maybe it will catch on...

MEL: Your new training studio sounds wonderful. I have no doubt that your previous clients will be thrilled to know that you are back! :coach:

Have a happy leg day!

My diet was pretty clean this weekend. I survived my 20th class reunion on Saturday. Fortunately they had chicken breasts for dinner. Once I dissected the chicken from its breadding, I was good to go. DH placed a piece of chocolate cake in front of me. I think it must have sat there for two hours before someone finally carried it away.

I'm taking the next two weeks off from the gym. I haven't done this since I began this little adventure a year ago. Hopefully my DS will let me sit on the couch to rest this stress fracture for the next ten days. Maybe if I get all the playdough he could ever want....:devil:

Wow! Chocolate cake in front of you for 2 hours! :eek: All hail Lydia! *BOW*

I am taking a chocolate cake on honeymoon with us - so I can share the love equally! :rofl:

Thanks Mel for your response in last month's forum. I know that my goal should be how good I look and how well I feel... but after having a number on the scale be my focus, it is so hard to lose that mentality and work towards a new, and actually better, focus. So I will take advantage of my six months as a newbie and see what happens.

So you guys use your clothes as your guideline instead of the scale? Or, do you use a combination of both? I lost my preg weight about 10 yrs ago, but didn't keep myself accountable and gained it back, plus some. So I know I need some type of measurement for accountability.

I'm very excited today! I am wearing my size 20 petite pants (finally!). I tried them on this morning, expecting them to still fill a bit too snug to wear. I was wrong! I put them on, then checked myself in the mirror and woah they look damn good. To top it off, I put on a top that I bought over a year ago but was way too tight for me to wear. It matched the pants and it looks damn good! I'm going to start throwing my size 24 pants into the give away pile when I get home :)

As for this weekend: On saturday, we were supposed to go hiking so on friday, I decided to take a rest day from working out. My legs were begging for recovery time. Then on saturday, I was so bummed because it was raining and DF said we couldn't go hiking. So we decided to go shopping. I wanted to try to find some casual pants that fit me so we headed to an Old Navy that carried plus sizes. I was disappointed with their selection and the fact that they told me they don't carry petite length pants in their store. I decided to try on some size 20, 22 and 24 pants in regular length. The legs were too long but I was surprised that their size 20 was comfortably loose. It really made my day. I ended up actually buying a pair of size 18 crop pants mostly because they cost $1 and I couldn't pass that up :) I can't zip them up but I know I will be able to some day. I also ended up buying a few tops each for $1. We then walked around the mall (which was huge) so I at least got some walking in.

On Sunday, we ended up going to downtown DC and walked, and walked and walked. My pedometer registered at over 15k steps and about 5 miles. I realized that pavement made my legs more sore than the hiking trails that we do.

My eating this weekend wasn't fabulous but wasn't too bad. We ate out a bit and I expected to weigh more today than last week but my weight hasn't changed and obviously my inches went down. Actually on Sunday, we ate out with other people and we were starved when we ate. After having walked around and only had a light late breakfast, we were looking forward to our late lunch. I noticed that my DF and I ate less than others that were with us. It seemed amazing to me. Partly because they are all really skinny and because I would say we all had about the same hunger level when we were eating. I felt like I ate so much but in reality, it wasn't all that much. I was proud of myself.

Frus - what is your new gym like? I'm glad you found one you really like. As for chocolate cake, my mom was a bit annoyed when I told her that instead of a wedding cake that we'd be having chocolate cake from the restaurant we are eating at. I want chocolate cake for my wedding damnit and I'm getting it :)

Mel - good luck with your new job. It does sound like a lot of fun. If you ever moved to Maryland, I'd be your client :)

Susan - I'm with Mel, find those weights!!

Lydia - Good job at the reunion. I never cared for the idea of reunions myself and I skipped out on my 10th reunion a few years ago.

Softballmom - The scale is nice but clothes and the tape measure are a much better gauge of your progress. I always liked the idea of buying a pair of pants that fit tight or not at all and then using them to gauge my weight loss. My wedding dress has partly been my gauge for the last couple months. It sounds kind of dangerous but the thing looks so much better now than it did 3 months ago.

I hope everyone has a good week!!

Monday and DH found my keys
 

What a way to start the week, thought I had lost my house keys, biked back to the gym and then half way home, DH calls to say they were in my gym back after all. He is so great. At least today is a school holiday so we were not trying to make the Green Turtle bus.

Gym workout was great until I pulled my back muscle, sticking to cardio for at least the next 3 days to ease it out. I took a couple of Tylenol. It was towards the end of my workout and I am thinking I was getting tired and careless.

A new yoga class is starting at 7 on Tuesdays at my gym, just have to see if there is DD coverage,. my SIL is always willing ot help out so I plan to try the class. It is on a trial basis to see if enough people show up.

Farmer's market today - those apples are great, I have to watch it though, I can really put away some serious apples. The market has all kinds of heirloom types, so the variety is wonderful.

I have decided Irish oatmeal is worth the extra money, again with an apple, but it is so good. My next food goal is to try mixing with the egg whites, everyone talks about it, but I am just not getting it yet.

2FRU - What is up with the screaming over 4 years w/ DF??

MEL - so happy to hear your upbeat tone this morning and the new place sounds great.

SUSANJ - How was the weekend??

SBMOM - I use clothes and scale as indicators to my size. Right now, it is more a matter of getting rid of my gut which is really driving me crazy. I don't think my stomach stuck this far out when I was 9+ months pregnant.

NELIE - You are doing damn good in those 20's wahoo. Size 18's for a $1, what is not to love, unless of course it is those seix 16s that are in your near future.

Off to get some protein drink, thought I had some in my desk, but don't, so am off to Whole Foods for a packet.

I was screaming over it being October... :lol:

My new gym is luvverly, I used dumbbells that had what weight they were printed on them, rather than having to count up the plates. I used a lat pulldown machine that has a little shelf to rest my workout notebook on, and a wicked cable seated row machine. I used the assisted dip machine too! Then I did an eliptical trainer for a few minutes while my friend was finishing - it had no arm thingies though :dunno: The BEST thing about my gym is that I can stroll there, do my workout and have 10 minutes spare to do some random cardio before I have to stroll back to work! :D

I am going to go to a Pilates class there on Wednesday after a good workout. Oh and there's also a bosu ball thingy that I find hard even to get on, let alone do any squats or anything on it! :rofl: They have a vibroplate too, but it costs £5 for 20 minutes!

Afternoon all. It's a crazy day here at work - basically we're shorthanded, and will be most of the month. :eek: It means that I spend more time working on the circulation desk and my admin work gets pushed aside. :(

Had a good weekend. Did a great cardio workout on Sat morning, then a square dance demo (about 40 min dancing) at a Fall Festival in the late afternoon. It was a glorious day and there were a lot of folks there. Not sure how many were interested in seeing us dance :shrug: but it was fun anyway.

Ended up taking yesterday as a rest day as when I was planning my week, I realized that I have nothing to prevent me from going to the gym every day after work this week! :) I have one meeting at 7:00 on Thurs, but that's still enough time for a weights session, and a possibly a short cardio. Just need to pack some food....

Frus and Mel - new workout settings! Whoopee. They both sound loverly.

Softballmom - I watch the scale, but I am much more aiming for a clothing size. I know from long experience that as long as I exercise, I can wear a smaller size at a higher weight (does that make sense?) It means that at ~170 I can wear a size 12 and look like this.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...h_patdress.jpg


This was taken when I was last at 166, which I'm shooting for again. At 61 this makes much more sense to me than being a wrinkly, out-of-shape 135! :lol:

Liza - sounds like me getting halfway to work and trying to remember if I turned off the curling iron! Grrrr. Whenever I go back it's off, but I'm just afraid that someday it won't be.

Lydia - hope your leg heals with a couple weeks off it. My SIL stepped in a hole over the weekend and broke both bones in her lower leg :eek: She's seeing an orthopedic guy today and find out what has to be done. She's hosting Thanksgiving for all of DH's family (in Maine) and I've sent off a quick note to let her know that I can do the work - but as we've already got plane tickets, we're going! :)

Okay, time to eat before my lunch hour is up - leftover flounder and beans, with an apple for now or later. I love apples too! And there are such good ones this time of year.

Frus, I can't believe it is October either... time goes by so fast. Last October, I moved in with my DF :) I only have a a month and half until my wedding and any weight I need to lose before then! I'm going to shoot for 249 because I'd love to be in the 240s. I already know I'm going to be in the 250s.

I also had a very exciting thought today. The thought is merely: Size 16. I would love to wear a size 16 pant. I've never worn one before. I know I'll need to lose 30 lbs or so before I get there but I am excited at the thought! I also know my current size 20s will be baggy when I'm a size 16. I'm shooting for early next year :)

Uhm. Yeah. I DONTthink so. Trust me had it been the right kind of chocolate cake then I would not have been able to pass it up. This was just your standard issue chocolate sheet cake. Not so hard to do. Now. If DH had placed a piece of german chocolate cake in front of me, well that would have been different. Besides, I was far too busy "working" the room so to speak. Most of the people at the reunion I had not seen in ten to fifteen years. I'm also glad to hear the new gym scene is going to work well for you. Being able to walk there from work is also a great bonus. Less time traveling means more time sweating! :moped:

NELIE: You must have found the sale of the century this weekend. How fun. And congratulations with your new pant-o-meter. You will be sporting those new crop pants soon too. I hear you with the whole petite sizing thing though. It is sooo hard to find pants that are short enough. I sometimes even put on petites and find that the legs are dragging on the ground. You can often hear me grousing in the dressing rooms about someone else's idea of petite. :censored:

SUGAR CUBE: I really hope your back is feeling better this evening. Waking up in the middle of the night with muscle pain is not fun. Enjoy the apples at the farmers market. Heirloom apples sound wonderful. I just rarely make it to our farmers market but when we can it is worth the effort.

WATERRAT: YOUR POOR SIL. She broke BOTH of her lower leg bones? OMG. I hope you make a mean pumpkin pie because I bet the job will be yours this year. :chef:

Wow, if she has to have it pinned... YIKES.

Yup, both bones. We're waiting to see what the ortho has to say about pins/plates, etc. I do make a mean pie crust. Thank goodness it's a skill like riding a bike. I make only a few pies for DH these days, but they still come out fine! :) I'm more than willing to run the kitchen on T-Day for her - it's what I'd be doing if I stayed home, plus she has this cool new stove! :lol:

Morning gang! :coffee:

Cardio done, chest and hammie workout on tap later. :strong:

Back later for personals!

Mel

Good morning gals!

I'm doing well - feeling great after this morning's cardio. I didn't get any in this weekend due to a bum knee - I have a very tight ITB (iliotibial band) on the left leg, and it pulls my kneecap out of place. If I happen to bend my knee while it's like that, the knee becomes irritated, swells some, and puts me out of commission for any repetitive activities for a few days. I'm working on getting it more flexible, but could use more ideas - does anyone have any good ways to stretch your ITB? It's pretty hard to isolate and thus hard to stretch!

Food was pretty good this weekend - only a few snacks, so no real free day! Hurray for me!

My engagement ring is feeling a little looser these days, which is a welcome sign that I'm moving in the right direction - my hands and feet always would get a bit smaller first, then my body would follow.

I made Dad's Great Green Chili from the EFL book this weekend - if you have the book and haven't tried the recipe, do! It's wonderful! I only use half the green chilis and no jalepeno, and it's nicely spicy for me. If you like spicier food, by all means add what is suggested.

Speaking of the Eating for Life book, are there any other recipe favorites out there? I used to make the Singapore Shrimp a lot, but the shrimp prices are ridiculous lately!

Well, time to get to work - I could spend all day online if it weren't for my job!
Cindy

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. :)

Hi all!

Today was day 2 of waking up early and exercising. I'm a bit tired but better than yesterday. I did a cardio workout (Taebo Cardio) which was interesting and I had never did it before. Someone gave it to me a while back. I actually thought it was quite a bit easier than the cardio workouts that I have been doing but I was sweating. Also, I have a doc appt this afternoon and I packed a gym back to go to the gym after the doc appt. I plan to do a LBWO if I have enough energy :)

2FRU - good luck on eating well with company. Don't let them lead you astray.

NELIE - Half the battle of getting to exercise is being prepared, sounds like you are doing it.

I have been walking all over the city yesterday and today and plan to continue. I still am feeling the afteraffects of the yoga, and will do some tonight as well.

We are all home tonight so I am going to be able to make dinner for the three of us. I am going to try the soy noodles, they are fresh in the dairy section with the tofu, not sure how they will be but anything with fresh tomato sauce should be good.

Hi LWL,

No workout today. I had a meeting with my lawyer to discuss the meeting with XH and his lawyer next monday. left me extremely tired. Funny how worriiing wears you out.

Also, I will not be able to go to the gym for my yoga and power class tomorrow, as I have to be at home for a delivery. As I was griping about that, DS said: then you just do it at home, and of course the boy is totally right, so i plan now to do power firsat and yoga after, at home.

I ordered 2 new DVDs, one yoga and one with the stability ball to occupy myself & DD over the next weekends. Gives her ome much needed opportunity to limber up, and gives me some much needed excercise.

AND, big breakthrough.... drummroll please...I have noticed last wednesday that I now actually do NOT think anymore in terms of on which days i have workouts, but "on tuesday and thursday I have NO workout". Small step, but a tremendous shift in perspective! I'm working on keeping it that way. Now for the magic moment where i remember in the kmiddle of the afternoon NOT to go for the sweet stuff...

have a grea day all,
rabbit

I feel a bit insane :) After work, I went to the gym. I did a leg workout. Although I have been doing BFL style workouts, I decided to mix it up a bit. I tried doing some slow reps in my last set. I also did some squats on a bosu ball. I was shaking and everything. I then did 20 minutes on the elliptical. So I had an hour total of working out plus 40 minutes from this morning.

I also went to the doctor today to discuss my knee problem that hasn't gone away. He says I have patello-femoral syndrome. Basically, my knee cap hurts and it is out of whack. He gave me a better anti-inflammatory than ibuprofen and I will be going to physical therapy. I told him about my weight training which he liked. Hopefully my knee will get better as I don't want to go the surgery route.

nelie- do you do many hamstring exercises? One of the causes of patello-femoral syndrome is an overdeveloped quad muscle and underdeveloped hamstring. It's a common complaint among runners who don't crosstrain.

I feel sore and beat up today. Tuesday's chest workout is now making itself known. Each year I try to do my age in pushups, but I'm getting so old that I have to do it at the beginning of my chest workout. I finally remembered to do that on Tuesday. I cranked 'em out pretty quick through the 40's, and eeked out the ones in the fifties. I'm not having any more birthdays! After that I did my standard slightly insane chest workout. Later in the afternoon, it was trainer goof-off time. One of the younger ones (very young hunk) competes in strong man contests. The last part of the competition is how many reps can you benchpress at 60% of bodyweight for women or 80% of bodyweight for men. So we all tried. I got 24, my boss got 36, but I swear I could have beaten him if I hadn't done the bleepin pushups! Of course, he did a chest workout that day, too. Today was back day. I think I need to re-arrange my split to get a light day or a cardio only day in the middle of the week. Anybody who has read this far is most likely bored to tears! Get a life, folks :lol3:

Food is eh- never great when I'm this tired. Cardio only tomorrow so it will seem like a rest :)

Mel

[QUOTE=Mel;1429557]Each year I try to do my age in pushups, but I'm getting so old that I have to do it at the beginning of my chest workout. I cranked 'em out pretty quick through the 40's, and eeked out the ones in the fifties. I'm not having any more birthdays! The last part of the competition is how many reps can you benchpress at 60% of bodyweight for women or 80% of bodyweight for men. I got 24, my boss got 36, but I swear I could have beaten him if I hadn't done the bleepin pushups!

Mel, you are my hero!!!! I think eeking out over fifty pushups is just fantastic!! One day....I'll be able to say that too. Thanks for the inspiration. :hug:

Oh, and Mel, I did read your entire post and still have a life. ;)

I agree Mel - over 50 pushups - you inspire me, too. I'm just trying to catch up with my kid's quantity. When they got in trouble for minor offenses they had to do pushups for punishment - now they are up to 30 or more, just for fun. They haven't had to do any lately --mmmm, what's up with that? Are they really angels, or getting better at not letting us figure it out?

Running around getting ready to go camping and hiking this weekend in the White Mountains, it will be so much fun and I am really looking forward to it.

NELIE - You are really the workout queen or maybe it is the wedding kicking in. Sounds like you have a good plan for dealing with your knee, plus losing the pounds must help.

MEL - I do the best on those weeks where Wednesday is cardio only. I somehow use it to coast the rest of the week I guess. Not bored at all, totally impressed, I don't think I could do the push ups for the age of my goddaughter, not two until February.

SOFTBALLMOM - Your kids doing pushups for punishment, my DH did them for money from his dad, ex marine. That was amusing. We did laps around the house - outside - there were four of us and my parents always felt we were misbehaving because we had too much tied up inside, probably right. I still send DD to run up and down the street when she is acting out.

The scale is looking good this morning, almost at 195.

Mel - Actually I know my hamstrings are weaker than my quads! I used to not work my hamstrings out as much but I have been trying to make sure I do. Last night I did the hamstring curl/press machine/whatever it is and then I did deadlifts.

Liza - I wish I was the workout queen :)

This morning I didn't exercise as I had to fast for a blood test. I meant to pack a gym bag so that I could go to the gym right after work but I forgot. Doesn't matter as I have to pass by my apartment to get to the gym anyway.

Hi everyone http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_29_125.gifI would like to join in with the group if that is OK. I am a LWL, it is actually my favorite part of working out.