Talk about your exercise experience today

[morningstar55]

slow go but intense

[prettyboyreg]

It finally cooled off enought to get in my five mile run... cleared my head... refocused... Then I walked in the door to my little puggies...running back and forth to thier leashes and just had to take them for a walk...:)

[asphaltcowboi]

i lifted my coffee cup from the desk to my mouth several times before walking across the room for a refil

[DapperButch]

Moving comfortably back in the swing....

45 minutes eliptical, always at hilly, high intensity. Upper body probably same amount of time. The typical planks and core work out, too.

I love the fact that the gym is pretty empty and the fact that I am doing this along with two coworkers/friends. We have a good time.

[femmeInterrupted]

Did my regular 10km walk yesterday in really good time-- a good pace throughout -- hoping to head out for either a walk or skate today with my Butch!

[Daktari]

Feeling frustrated at not being able to ride my bike. Not sure how I'm going to cope for the next fortnight. :|

[cinnamongrrl]

I hiked my ass off today! I even got some uphill hiking in. Felt great to really expand my lungs and feel them work...now I really have to compensate with some upper body and core stuff at the gym... :)

[cinnamongrrl]

I did about an hour total of cardio, 30 on the elliptical and 30 on the treadmill with a heavy incline...it's hiking season! This amounted to nearly 5 miles....

Then did a circuit of mostly arms, and back, but also did calves and the abductor/adductor and some core...which I need to find something interesting to do for, since I'm not a lay down and do crunches type... :| I heard Zumba is good for abs...we shall see...

NOW

I'm gonna go do some work in the veggie garden.....that's gotta count for something...lol

[wahya]

My doc will only allow me to walk so my daily regimen is just that. BUT i can walk. I walk on average about 5 miles a day. When I get angry I walk. I walked 20 miles total last Tues. (very bad day) This place I live has steep hills tooI walked for hunger 20 miles 2 weeeks ago. I am ouch .I am walking tomorrow for the homeless. I will be starting swiming soon. My doc will be releasing me for that I have to have lower back fusion surgery which iam trying to do EVERYTHNG in my power not to have. But I have always loved high diving since I was younger. I want to do that too. And I still want to skydrive. sooo bad I can taste it. lol I have lost a total of 60 pds and where fat once was there is now muscle. I still am not where i want to be. I am 5'7 was 260 now iam 200 and still at full throttle ahead. o.

[nycfem]

Great time at the gym today. 1 Hour on the Arc Trainer next to Jill (the gym obsessive who looks like she stepped out of a Nike ad) watching old episodes of Amy Sedaris' short-lived sit-come, Strangers With Candy. I wasn't crazy about the movie Strangers Wtih Candy but the shows are hitting my subversive sweet spot. It's about a 46-year-old woman who is back in high school. Amy Sedaris, of course, is the sister of the famous, gay author, David Sedaris, who I also love (He has a new book out!).

I said hi to Jill and she gave me a tiny "hi" with a tiny "smile." She was wearing perfume which is not my favorite thing to be next to, given that perfume sweats itself off the skin at the gym (Ewww!). I fantasized about telling her "No more perfume, Jill!" but I knew then that would put our relationship right in the toilet so I sucked it up, literally.

After the Arc Trainer, I did weight lifting, yoga, abs, and stretching for an hour. Jill switched to the stair master. Then, as I got up from the mat to leave, I noticed Jill had left. I walked to the real stairs to go home, and what-do-you-know, I saw Jill had actually switched back to the Arc Trainer and was still going full force! On a Saturday night.

[cinnamongrrl]

Got a quick workout in at the gym early this morning...did about 20 minutes on the bike and 10 on the rowing machine (which I love as much for the stretch as the work out)

Then did some arm and back work...my shoulder is a bit achy so I took it easy on the weights for the day...

[femmeInterrupted]

Did a great 10km's on the 17th, and heading out for a good skate this afternoon :) Enjoying the sunshine even though all the city people are up for the cottage season and first long weekend! ;)

[cinnamongrrl]

I did about 20 minutes on the eliptical...did some weights for about 30 minutes or so and then another 20 minutes on the treadmill with a 7 percent incline...

Then came home and worked in the garden for about 3 hours...I don't know if that counts as a workout but I was sure sweatin' and working...lol

[DapperButch]

Did a great 10km's on the 17th, and heading out for a good skate this afternoon :) Enjoying the sunshine even though all the city people are up for the cottage season and first long weekend! ;)

What kind of skating do you do?

[o222Good]

I have been lifting 2-3 times a week. (I'm a weight slut)
I bought a rowing machine on craigslist for $25 and I
have been trying it out and getting the hang of it.
I notice in my life that I love to set and meet goals.
I think I set my weight loss/ health goals too high,
and I sometimes get frustrated...
Progress keeps me motivated!

[always2late]

Amazing experience today...yesterday started week 7 of my 10 week challenge. Today, after a grueling, yet incredibly satisfying, workout our trainer made an announcement. She began with "I don't want to embarrass anyone but...." (ah the ubiquitous "but"). She then went on to single me out by name, talking about how when I began the challenge I couldn't do a full push-up, couldn't do certain kinds of sit-ups, couldn't do some of the more difficult floor work, etc... She then went on to congratulate me on now being able to do all that she mentioned and more. She also went on to describe others in the class...and their accomplishments. After her impromptu speech, the entire class applauded and I received high fives, hugs, encouragement, and congratulations from my fellow challengers. It was an incredible experience and one I will not soon forget. Is it any wonder that I love this program and have become a self-confessed exercise addict? I'm now trying to talk a friend into beginning the next challenge in June with me. I hope she takes me up on it....it will change her outlook, her attitude, and her life.

[femmeInterrupted]

What kind of skating do you do?

I roll it old school! ;) Quadskates!
I'm much more comfortable with them than inline skating.
Apparently, rollerskating is THE most UNcool thing I can do, according to my 19 year old son. "Blading" is much cooler!

These are my fabulous skates:

http://www.rollergirl.ca/skateshop/images/691-pure-pink-500.jpg

http://www.planetonwheels.com/store/Health-Benefits-of-Skating.html#.UZz90KVKpcQ

Off for a walk now, before the rain comes :)

[Rockinonahigh]

After nearly tow months of dealing with some long lasting back and shoulder pain I got my injection yesterday,today I am doing more that I have a while,most of cleaning my house better than I could lately but not doing any heave work for another fue days just to becareful with the injection so it will go where its suposed to.Tomorrow will be better than today,so I hope to be back to the exersise grindstone in a couple of days.

[DapperButch]

I roll it old school! ;) Quadskates!
I'm much more comfortable with them than inline skating.
Apparently, rollerskating is THE most UNcool thing I can do, according to my 19 year old son. "Blading" is much cooler!

These are my fabulous skates:

http://www.rollergirl.ca/skateshop/images/691-pure-pink-500.jpg

http://www.planetonwheels.com/store/Health-Benefits-of-Skating.html#.UZz90KVKpcQ

Off for a walk now, before the rain comes :)

Nah, you're cool. I have a friend who goes once a week for the exercise. She has been skating with the same group of people for over 20 years.

[Soon]

...approx twenty minute walk to the local drugstore--only to realize at the counter that I left my wallet in another bag.

...was a lovely twenty minute walk back home without my coffee :blink:

[cinnamongrrl]

Today I did five miles on the stationary bike to warm up, about 20 minutes on weights and then 30 minutes on the treadmill...got her up to a 10% incline.. I'm not sure how high it goes..come to think of it...lol

[cinnamongrrl]

...approx twenty minute walk to the local drugstore--only to realize at the counter that I left my wallet in another bag.

...was a lovely twenty minute walk back home without my coffee :blink:

This must be one of the saddest stories I have ever heard... :(

[DapperButch]

Over an hour of cardio today and the usual weight lifting. The usual dog walk in the evening, as well.

[easygoingfemme]

Exercise today was totally thwarted by responsibilities. I got about 15 minutes in before I had to be working/schooling the kiddo/working/driving the kid to dance class. Tomorrow I'll get more time in then weekend off, have early morning bike ride scheduled for Monday morning. Taking my training friend out for a super hilly but short (20 mile) ride. This weekend calls for rain rain rain rain rain. With heavy winds. Won't be riding.

[easygoingfemme]

I roll it old school! ;) Quadskates!
I'm much more comfortable with them than inline skating.
Apparently, rollerskating is THE most UNcool thing I can do, according to my 19 year old son. "Blading" is much cooler!

These are my fabulous skates:

http://www.rollergirl.ca/skateshop/images/691-pure-pink-500.jpg

http://www.planetonwheels.com/store/Health-Benefits-of-Skating.html#.UZz90KVKpcQ

Off for a walk now, before the rain comes :)

Maybe you need to tell your 19 year old son that the Roller Derby girls all go four wheeling. And that's about as cool as it gets.

[JAGG]

Got up and ran about 3 miles. First mile was stiff and uncomfortable . Then when I started to get a good sweat going I got my second wind and I really wanted to run longer but I knew it would make me late for work.

[cinnamongrrl]

Today I did 20 minutes on the eliptical...it's getting easier now and I find it less challenging.... :(

Then did a more challenging circuit with the weights...a LOT of back, shoulder, bis and tris...some calve and thighs for good measure...I'm SO feeling my back muscles now! It's making me stand up straighter which is a plus..

Then did 15 minutes on the treadmill...got that baby up to an 18.5 incline! That's what I needed! I am now in LOVE with this machine....it makes all the right things hurt in a good way...and I feel afterward like I do after a wicked good hike, so I KNOW it is going to be excellent for training :)

I so meant to remember the name of it so I could find out how much those bad boys cost. One of those in the living room and I'd never need the gym again! Except that I really do love the muscle machines...and the sauna...and hot tub..oh and my polka lady...ok nevermind...

[nycfem]

I was on the elliptical for 50 minutes watching bits from the Real Housewives of NJ, Dr. Oz, and Judge Judy. Thank the Goddess for TV at 4pm on a weekday! I hear NYC school days may be extended for next year. I live in fear of the possibility of having to give up this good TV slot, where I have a lot of choices. And I know this all sounds a bit pathetic, but it's the little things in life that sometimes make life more pleasant. I hate watching the news at 5. No thanks. I'll take the trash please, and plenty of it.

Jill has not been at the gym the past two times I've been there. WTF?! There was one regular there today, the petite Asian, muscular, always serious looking, independent woman. She wears all black and has a long black braid and always wears weight lifting gloves. She does a routine quite similar to mine. She goes on the elliptical and then does a routine on the mats as well as weight lifting. She was lifting two free weights of different weights. I asked her why (I would never do that!), and she said the matching weight was missing. Ohhh... She always has that problem solving chip in her brain that I am missing. Then she said, matter-of-fact, "It's better than nothing." I like that she doesn't giggle when she talks to me. She's smile-free, but without any negativity either. She exudes an energy that's private. There's something about a woman who doesn't giggle that earns my respect. I'm a giggler. No doubt about it. :D

[femmeInterrupted]

Got a great 10km walk in yesterday-- today was spent gardening, which has left me feeling MUCH more tired and achy than a walk or skate! Lugging landscaping rocks, weeding, planting...plus a good walk into the forest to transplant more ferns and I scored some awesome moss for the 'riverbed' of our little gully.

Tomorrow is a skate day!

P.S. Easygoing femme!
This is me at Derby practice! :)
I'm the tall blonde

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/16459_189347049295_6708815_n.jpg

[DapperButch]

Yesterday I was good, did over an hour of cardio.

Today I dodged the weights (when I should have done them), and only did an hour of cardio.

I don't really have anyone interesting at my gym like nycfembbw does.

I did see an old school bull dyke there yesterday. I wanted to thank her for paving the way (she was in her late 60's or early 70's), but when I smiled at her, she just looked at me. Like I said, old school bull dyke. Awesome! :D Does anyone ever think about that when they see the stereotypical older "bull dyke"? What those women went through that we now reap the rewards of?

I have this wave of respect and appreciation well up in me at those moments.

(how the hell did I get from exercise to a speech on lesbian history and the strong women who paved the way for us? I may not define as a "woman", but they certainly paved my way, as well)

[nycfem]

One weekday morning when I was off work (not my usual gym schedule) I met an older butch dyke in the locker room. That is, unless I'm out of my mind in my perception of her, but I really don't think I am ;). We chatted about nothing interesting, just intro stuff and working out. She's a law professor and was facing me, sitting on a bench and wearing old blue cotton panties (nothing cute) with big white polka dots. Somehow it seemed very butch the fact that she didn't care about her underwear, kind of like she didn't even notice (I know there are metrosexual butches but she didn't seem to be one of them.). I forget her name, but I remember those underwear :|

Yesterday I was good, did over an hour of cardio.

Today I dodged the weights (when I should have done them), and only did an hour of cardio.

I don't really have anyone interesting at my gym like nycfembbw does.

I did see an old school bull dyke there yesterday. I wanted to thank her for paving the way (she was in her late 60's or early 70's), but when I smiled at her, she just looked at me. Like I said, old school bull dyke. Awesome! :D Does anyone ever think about that when they see the stereotypical older "bull dyke"? What those women went through that we now reap the rewards of?

I have this wave of respect and appreciation well up in me at those moments.

(how the hell did I get from exercise to a speech on lesbian history and the strong women who paved the way for us? I may not define as a "woman", but they certainly paved my way, as well)

[cinnamongrrl]

today....I made a token effort at the eliptical....2 miles in 10 minutes...that was a good warm up

then on to weights...I did less than yesterday..I didn't wake up sore but I felt the previous day's activities fo sho...

THEN...

I spent quality time with my new addiction....damn still forgot the name...and I stare at it the whole time I'm on the damn thing...anywho.. I did 30 minutes on that particular treadmill....Freemotion! I just had a flashback to when I had a photographic memory..yay! It looks SIMILAR to this:

http://www.fitness4homeonline.com/scart/public/database/product/images_products/933_big.jpg

But bigger and fancier and more gymie...

I used to look at it all this time wondering what the handlebars up top were for....they are for holding on for dear life when it takes you into a 21.5 incline during an interval... :| However, after 30 minutes on this bad boy it SAID, at least, that I had burned over 400 calories....and it's actually FUN...now you know why I love it soooo....... :hangloose:

Oh and I've started stretching before I leave the gym. If I wait till I get home I will A. find other things to do and B. my hamstrings will get cold and will resemble grapefruits by that time..(or at least feel that way)

[tygr_grrl]

Went to Bikrams yoga, which I hadn't been for a few weeks. 90 minutes of yoga in 105 degrees. It completely kicked my ass, but in the best way possible. Limits were pushed, and I kept going. An awesome experience when it happens.


I'm now sipping on a beet/carrot/ginger/apple smoothie and feeling amazing!

[Cailin]

the extent of exercize this week has been lifting the fork to my mouth and chewing. lol. its my birthday weekend. i'm taking a vacation from the elliptical ;)

[DapperButch]

I washed the car (and it's only a two seater, at that!). Yeah, I know, weak, but I really feel wiped out from stepping up the workouts this week.

I'm sure I will take the dog for a quick 20 minute walk later, but that doesn't really count.

I will get back in the game, tomorrow. Just need a day off.

ETA: I know a day off is an ok thing, it is just that I took off Tuesday.

[nycfem]

I went to the gym today. It was blustery weather outside, so I didn't have to feel guilty for not frolicking outside today.

First I went on the Arc Trainer for 55 minutes, watching a combination of Andy Cohen doing individual interviews with each of the Real Housewives of NJ (snooze) and other equally boring crap. In fact, that's why I skipped the last five minutes of what would have been a nice, clean 1 hour work-out. I just couldn't take the t.v. options anymore!

Special thanks to CinnamonGrrl for posting a photo of the Freemotion machine and talking it up because I was intrigued and was able to find it at my gym! Grrl, you are not kidding about those inclines. I did the Interval program for an hour and was holding on for dear life! I can so tell this is a new favorite! What a great work out! Thanks for getting me out of my regular routine!

Then I did abs, weight lifting, yoga, and stretching for an hour. I was next to the woman with the long black braid. She was doing sit-ups holding a huge weighted ball that she'd hoist over her head. I also spotted Jill first on the Arc Trainer and then later doing her classic Sisyphean stair climbing.

I had a sighting of a woman I've never cared for. She has a bubblegum-bitchy personality, and on top of that she confronted me one day during the time in which the Boston marathon bombers were on the loose. She told me that I was being insensitive for having my black backpack on. She said, "I mean, I know you're cool and all, but I am supposed to report stuff like this." I was lightly apologetic to her and groused to myself about it for a good twenty minutes (thinking prickly thoughts of irritation). Finally, I decided to permanently change my gym bag to an almost see-though small pink hand bag. I'm still very wary of her....

Great work-out today!

[cinnamongrrl]

I went to the gym today. It was blustery weather outside, so I didn't have to feel guilty for not frolicking outside today.

First I went on the Arc Trainer for 55 minutes, watching a combination of Andy Cohen doing individual interviews with each of the Real Housewives of NJ (snooze) and other equally boring crap. In fact, that's why I skipped the last five minutes of what would have been a nice, clean 1 hour work-out. I just couldn't take the t.v. options anymore!

Special thanks to CinnamonGrrl for posting a photo of the Freemotion machine and talking it up because I was intrigued and was able to find it at my gym! Grrl, you are not kidding about those inclines. I did the Interval program for an hour and was holding on for dear life! I can so tell this is a new favorite! What a great work out! Thanks for getting me out of my regular routine!

Then I did abs, weight lifting, yoga, and stretching for an hour. I was next to the woman with the long black braid. She was doing sit-ups holding a huge weighted ball that she'd hoist over her head. I also spotted Jill first on the Arc Trainer and then later doing her classic Sisyphean stair climbing.

I had a sighting of a woman I've never cared for. She has a bubblegum-bitchy personality, and on top of that she confronted me one day during the time in which the Boston marathon bombers were on the loose. She told me that I was being insensitive for having my black backpack on. She said, "I mean, I know you're cool and all, but I am supposed to report stuff like this." I was lightly apologetic to her and groused to myself about it for a good twenty minutes (thinking prickly thoughts of irritation). Finally, I decided to permanently change my gym bag to an almost see-though small pink hand bag. I'm still very wary of her....

Great work-out today!



It makes me nothing but happy to share my healthy addictions! I'm telling you, those intervals will work bun muscles you never even knew you had... The ONLY thing I don't like is the woozy feeling you have when you get off the machine...like when I used to go to all-night skates as a teen!

[Rockinonahigh]

Last week my docor set up another mri to check out my right shoulder that has been giveing me some problems with pressure and pinching pain on an on and off basic,he told me not to do any exersiseing cause I could cause more problems,well I never did do everything the doc said to do so I did a respectable work out today so lo and behold my grouchy shoulder feels better,I hope this isnt the lull before the storm.I even took a nap with no problems.All I did was shoot some hoops,ride my exersise bike then do some time on the ellipitical thing,all so I used the five pound weights a bit for anything I coluld figure out to use them for.Tomorrow is another day that will have a simular workout in it as long as I dont feel any pain I figure i'm doing ok...I hope.Have a happy holliday folks,

[DapperButch]

Planks.

Not sure this is even of interest to anyone, but I started doing planks on a regular basis for the first time when I got back into the game 3 weeks ago.

Within the first week my stomach/core really tightened up. Although I haven't measured at all (which I should), I swear I lost an inch off my waist within two weeks. It isn't from "weight loss", either. I have been doing crunches as well, but historically when regularly doing crunches, I never had this experience.

I have some nice dress pants that I stupidly bought in a smaller size when I first got off chemo 2 years ago and had lost weight (yeah...I thought I would keep the 10lbs off...why the hell would I think that?? ha!), that I can now wear (still need to lose about 5 lbs for them to be completely comfortable). THAT quickly. How weird is that?

Did anyone else see an amazing change when they first started doing planks (yes, remember back to years ago!)?

[Daktari]

Yep, had great results with planks. Got my 6pack back...then needed shoulder surgery which put an end to the planks. I was just getting back to them when I broke m'bloody collar bone. :rolleyes:

Micro crunches are fairly effective too. The ex and I used to do hundreds of them whilst watching telly. :|

Pilates is also a good way to get good core strength and fab abs.

It's good to vary the planks too...

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[DapperButch]

^^

Thanks for the vidoes. I will go through them.

Not sure if what I do is "micro crunches", or not.

ETA: Damn, that woman is amazing! If I do the above variations will I be able to skip the crunches?

Double ETA: Do others have a hard time deciding which muscle groups to work out when weight lifting since you can't get to all of them? How do you decide? Which ones are the most important to you?

Currently, all I am doing is what I used when I did a basic work out video. It seems to suit me fine, but maybe I could use a link in case I am missing some of the basics and I am unaware of it? I use free weights and have no interest in changing to machines.

Oh, and at this point, I am mainly focused on arms/chest, so these are the moves I am looking for. I am pretty comfortable with my legs/butt. I naturally have some pretty decent muscle mass in my thighs/calves which is enough for me right now. I am looking to build my upper body.

Give me what 'cha got, peeps!

Thanks!

[Daktari]

Yer welcome. :chaplin:

Micro crunches don't require much movement. Knees bent, be aware of your core and keeping the small of your back on the floor - back and tummy muscles are antagonistic muscle groups and therefore must be worked out in tandem for full core strength - then all you need to do is lift your shoulders a few inches from the floor. Easy peasy until you get into multiple sets of 200 or so ;)


eta. It's not even a few inches off the floor, more a roll your shoulders away from the floor until you feel your abs kick in...it isn't half so far as you think.

Yes, do the planks and variations then crunches will be a thing of the past.

Get yerself some kettle balls. Work those arms! ;)

eta x2 Ya don't work yer whole body in one session. There'll be loads on the web about splitting body parts - not in a Hannibal Lector sorta way :|

Don't over-train either. You need to rest those muscles for them to repair themselves properly.

[nycfem]

IslandScout and I walked three miles in Central Park around the reservoir. It was a gorgeous day: windy and sunny with a fall-type temperature. Two women stopped us and gave us an invitation for an orgasm-inducing meditation gathering. All in all, a lovely day with a wonderful friend.

[nycfem]

I went to the gym today which was quite empty because people in NYC go away for three day weekends, especially in the summer, plus it was a nice day out. It was basically just Jill and me and some others I don't know. Oh, and there was one other regular, a petite middle-aged man who walks the treadmill without any fanfare, wearing business pants and shirt and shoes. He has a dull 1950's worker look. I imagine (in my fantasy) that he had a significant medical event and a doctor recommended he go to the gym. Anyway, first I went on the Arc Trainer (similar to elliptical) for an hour; then fifteen minutes on the stair master; then 45 minutes biking while watching t.v. and lifting weights at the same time (my adhd gets itself out at the gym!); and then an hour of abs (yes, planks!), yoga, and stretching. The three day weekend is now officially over. Back to work tomorrow...

[Gemme]

Well, I was planning on going to a new gym that I have a week's free pass to, but when I got there, they had closed early for the holiday. Unfortunately, this was not documented on their website otherwise I would have gone earlier.

Boo.

However, Alex and I did walk tons today through an outdoor crafty type fair and it was beautiful and sunny and warm and just lovely.

The fair had a mechanical bull, a live band AND carnival rides. I was sorely tempted to try the bull but I saw how the operator cranked the juice up for adults and thought to myself, maybe not.

:blink:

[Rockinonahigh]

Tomorrow I go for my second round of injections on the other side of my neck and back(left side) so I didnt over do today just played some hoops,took a walk with the fur kids,did a bit of house work,baked a coconut cream pie for my son.I also worked on the old guitar I am redoing,I finished sanding the front and sides to a nice smooth finish.I'm not shure what it will look like when i'm done but i'm geting an idea in my head.Yes,this is a light day for me beleave it or not.

[femmeInterrupted]

Got the standard 10k walk in at the end of the day yesterday-- previous 2 days were physically demanding landscaping/gardening/rock collecting days! Sore muscles but the back yard looks awesome!! Plus, the patio is *almost* ready for the season :)

[DapperButch]

I went to the gym today which was quite empty because people in NYC go away for three day weekends, especially in the summer, plus it was a nice day out. It was basically just Jill and me and some others I don't know. Oh, and there was one other regular, a petite middle-aged man who walks the treadmill without any fanfare, wearing business pants and shirt and shoes. He has a dull 1950's worker look. I imagine (in my fantasy) that he had a significant medical event and a doctor recommended he go to the gym. Anyway, first I went on the Arc Trainer (similar to elliptical) for an hour; then fifteen minutes on the stair master; then 45 minutes biking while watching t.v. and lifting weights at the same time (my adhd gets itself out at the gym!); and then an hour of abs (yes, planks!), yoga, and stretching. The three day weekend is now officially over. Back to work tomorrow...

That is 2 hours of cardio? Is that even healthy? :| You be crazy. :blink:

My friend's husband works out in his work clothes (similar to the above..dress pants, etc), on the treadmill in their bedroom. He says that there is no reason to "dirty more clothes", even though she is the one who does the laundry! He evidently also cheers himself on, chanting his name over and over.

[nycfem]

Dapper, it's how I get out my nervous energy. I've always been like that :D

[Cowboi]

Did a circuit of(3) Squats on the hack machine, machine chest press, and overhead press with barbell. Doing pyramid sets (adding weight each time) for a total of 57 reps on each.
Maxed out at 200 lbs on the squats.
160lbs on the chest press
60 lbs on the overhead barbell press
Then finished off with biceps.
Preacher curls
Cable curls
Dumbell curls

[alexri]

Weights in the am, cardio in the pm.

Not sure if you New Yorkers would go to this or if anyone else in the area goes. It's the New York Front Runners LGBT Pride Run, held annually on the last Saturday of June in Central Park. I've gone for the past three years. It's a fun 5 mile run through the park; the start and finish are lined with pride flags.

http://frny.org/pride-run/

[tygr_grrl]

Hamstrings and quads are sore from back to back hot yoga over the long weekend so I recouped today.

Wondering if I pack my workout clothes for my trip, if I will actually hit the yoga studio? I hate wasting valuable luggage space!

[DapperButch]

Dapper, it's how I get out my nervous energy. I've always been like that :D

Well, that is certainly a healthy way to get rid of that kind of energy. Good for you!

[Rockinonahigh]

Dapper, it's how I get out my nervous energy. I've always been like that :D



I get the nervous energy thing,I am either multi tasking or doing things that will drive folks nutty,over the years it has either been going 90 or chilling in the recliner wich never last long..
Oh,the dizzy woosy feeling is a pain in the ass,my ent says its from calsium depopsits in the ear wich causes the inner ear to go wacko.My pcp says may be a sugar drop from not geting enough to eat before a work out plus don't drink enough water.I have done most of what she says but it still becomes a problem.I am borderline diabetic so have tested when this happends only a fuetimes has it been sugar related so I keep Oj and gtoraid or chrystle light dose help.

[femmeInterrupted]

10km in total humidity! The lake breeze did nothing to break it. A sweaty walk, but it felt great :)
Mowing the front and back yards up next.
Glamorous arm work out to follow, folding towel laundry ;)

[easygoingfemme]

Mowing! Hot humid mowing.
And rowing... but not as much as I wanted to.

[tygr_grrl]

Tracked down a Bikrams yoga studio near my moms house today, so i'm glad I packed my work out clothes afterall. Felt good stretching my bones and muscles after a day of sitting on my butt on a plane. my sister asked to join me for tomorrow's class, so i'm super excited we get to do that together.

I also managed to get sun-kissed sitting next to the pool, under the cabana thingy, from the sun reflecting off the pool. Tomorrow I've got to remember the sunscreen....ouch!

[prettyboyreg]

Off today to find a boxing gym...:)

[DapperButch]

Washed a 36 foot R/V. :seeingstars:

[alexri]

10K at the local park and then random yardwork.

I'm super excited that I have a new pair of Hokas arriving this week. They're a thicker-soled shoe designed for trail and ultra marathon running. I'm finding I wear through my Brooks very quickly and I want something with more support for longer races.

[Mopsie]

Washed a 36 foot R/V. :seeingstars:

Is it your RV? Are you planning a fun trip?

[Beloved]

I'd like to start exercising. But I hate it. I always have been interested in kickboxing and I am pretty sure I am going to try it. Anyone here kickbox? Do you like it?

[DapperButch]

Is it your RV? Are you planning a fun trip?

It is a travel trailer that stays in one place...at the beach!

It gets all moldy and nasty looking over the winter (it is nestled in a somewhat wooded area), so I try to wash it when the season starts. I actually have the process pretty smooth at this point, so it takes a lot less longer than it used to!

Being settled around a bunch of gay men who not only wash, but wax their "in place" trailers requires me to actually give a crap as to how the old girl looks!

Anyway, it wore me the hell out, so I figured that counted as my exercise for the day!

[Mopsie]

It is a travel trailer that stays in one place...at the beach!

It gets all moldy and nasty looking over the winter (it is nestled in a somewhat wooded area), so I try to wash it when the season starts. I actually have the process pretty smooth at this point, so it takes a lot less longer than it used to!

Being settled around a bunch of gay men who not only wash, but wax their "in place" trailers requires me to actually give a crap as to how the old girl looks!

Anyway, it wore me the hell out, so I figured that counted as my exercise for the day!

It definitely counts! :) And sounds like a fun place for the summer!

[Gemme]

Washed a 36 foot R/V. :seeingstars:

Well, since you had everything out....my car has a lovely pollen dusting that needs to be gone. She's only a compact, so it wouldn't take much time at all.

[Rockinonahigh]

The last fue days I have done a respectable workout about an hour after dinner,I find working out that late hepls me get rid of a bunch of energy so I can sleep better all night.One of the things I find is the hardest is the ellipiticl
when I first got it I did good to be on it for a minit or two before I started haveing tightning in my left thigh and buttock that ends up in a full on spazzam,now i'm manageing five minits without stoping so there is improvement.If I could lower the back part of the foot reast it would help but it's not made to be able to change the position,it looks easy but is not.I do use the bowflex,stepper,exersise bike plus shoot some hoops alng with playing ball with my dogs wich is a full on soccer game before its done.

[Bad_boi]

Went geocaching. Found 5 clues and walked for about 3 hours. My legs are all achey now.

[Gemme]

Today, providing it goes according to plan, will have me doing quite a bit of manual labor with sweeping and dust mopping and mopping all over the place. The floors look horrible at work.

[cinnamongrrl]

My exercise experience today will be largely upper body....

Yesterday I did a plyometrics (sp?) type cardio workout and my thighs feel like they have been replaced by concrete :|

It's a total body workout and I do love the challenge... :) I feel everything today...core,arms and especially my legs...it's a good hurt :sunglass:

[DapperButch]

Went geocaching. Found 5 clues and walked for about 3 hours. My legs are all achey now.

You reminded me that this is something I wanted to check into doing (see if there are groups around here). There is a geocaching thread here somewhere (hobbies section?), you may want to check out. Also, what is the other thing called that is similar to geocaching, I can't remember?


Today, providing it goes according to plan, will have me doing quite a bit of manual labor with sweeping and dust mopping and mopping all over the place. The floors look horrible at work.

Hey, sounds like fun. Enjoy!

Yesterday I had something scheduled after work. Didn't have time to do anything but a brisk 40 minute walk with the dog before bed.

Day before I did well following through with my hour of eliptical and 45-60 minutes of upper body. I am still trying to figure out if there is a way to configure things so that working out doesn't take a full two hours. I have no idea what that means, I am just trying to figure out how I can get the workout in that I want without so much of my day being absorbed. I don't feel like I fool around wasting time when doing my free weights and obviously there is nothing I can do about the cardio.

[Kätzchen]

So far, today, it's been nothing but use my brain day (mental olympics):
I've not kicked anyone into another galaxy; I've not cussed out one single soul; I've done nothing but contemplate how to expend all my pent up energy and have decided that going swimming, late tonight, is the best possible exercise to soothe my heart, body and soul.

My eyes will only dwell on one beautiful star in a constellation of many.

That's my Zen exercise plan for tonight.


*** it's still unbelievably gorgeous here today
(upper 70s to mid-80s durning the day,
upper 50s during the night) ***

[Wryly]

Despite my best efforts I did manage a bit of exercise today. I had to go downtown to pick up some paperwork. The parking garage was really full - I had to park on the roof - 8 floors up! Not too bad going down the stairs but brutal going back to the car.
Stupid construction shutting down the stupid elevator!

[cinnamongrrl]

Despite my best efforts I did manage a bit of exercise today. I had to go downtown to pick up some paperwork. The parking garage was really full - I had to park on the roof - 8 floors up! Not too bad going down the stairs but brutal going back to the car.
Stupid construction shutting down the stupid elevator!

You got some cardio in! Look at it that way! :koolaid:

I was incapable of anything but moving slowly with great pain today...at the time I was doing the workout it all felt good...challenging but good...now my thighs are so sore it's taking me a while just to sit and stand...lol I will remember NOT to just jump into the an intermediate work out again!

[tygr_grrl]

Swimming with my daughter earlier today, and now heading over to the hot yoga studio to sweat it out.

Rinse and repeat tomorrow hopefully!

[DapperButch]

Ok, so different day, same deal. 45mins of eliptical and about an hour of upper body. The difference is I increased the weight for almost all of the exercises.

My gym is at my job, but I have to run home at the end of the day to let the dog out and then head back for the gym. I joined the gym about a month ago with two of my coworkers to get my ass moving. Well twice this week I had to work out at home to save time, as I needed to be somewhere after the workout.

I found that my eliptical (that I never used on a regular basis since purchase), I really like much better than the one at the gym. I have the same set of free weights here that I use at the gym, as well. So, really I have no use for the gym. However, I don't want to let my buds down, though, so I think I will continue more days than not at the gym. It is also a social thing for me that I think is important I keep up.

[Bad_boi]

Walked to the library and shot some free throws. Its hard to do with my shoulder but building the muscles will help the pain if I am gentle with it.

[Gemme]

Yesterday went according to plan. Today will involve some of the same but a lot more golf cart driving. Weeee!

[DapperButch]

Yesterday went according to plan. Today will involve some of the same but a lot more golf cart driving. Weeee!

Golf carts ROCK!

[JAGG]

Ran about 3 miles . The stars were shining and the temps were mid 60's. No wind. Perfect. It felt good the whole way.

[Daktari]

Walking and more walking. Trying to do the same each day despite m'right hip still hurting from the bike accident. Going stir crazy not being able to get as far afield as I like.

[Beloved]

So no kickboxers? I bought sneakers and some clothes to wear and a pair of gloves. A friend of mine and I are trying it the week after next (because I will be in MA next week). I am a pacifist but something about beating the crap out of a bag is appealing to me. I will update after I try it.

[DapperButch]

I decided to go into the gym today just to get out of the house (I have the same equipment here I use there).

There was only two women there and one guy. I love my empty gym!

Anyway, I did the usual 45 eliptical and hour of upper body.

The :dog: = 20 minute brisk walk (lame, I know, poor guy). I am such a shitty Daddy since I joined the gym! I will make it up to him, I promise!

Would be nice if we could go hiking tomorrow, but I am getting together with my car buds to do some fun modifications to my car/stuff on their cars, so the pup must wait for another day to hike!

[nycfem]

First I went to the elliptical at the gym. While I was on the elliptical, I saw the gym obsessive, Jill, was on the Stair Master next to this other woman and that they were chatting. I tried listening but could only hear muffled words. I remain curious about Jill, and this was a rare treat to hear her have a conversation with someone besides a trainer, so I waited till I hit 15 minutes on the elliptical, and then went bounding up the stairmaster next to them and did 15 minutes listening to them. Jill said she was dating five guys in that way of casual dating. Wow, how does she have the time? It was a juicy tidbit, worth sweating it out on the stair master for. Then I did an hour of weight lifting, abs, stretching, yoga and stuff before leaving.

Yesterday I volunteered setting up bowling pins for two hours for kids with special needs as part of a field day with different stations. I think all that did for me physically was strain my back. Mentally it was a great feeling to see the look on children's faces when they succeeded in knocking the pins down, even if it just involved a slight push to the ball down a ramp, whatever they could manage. Then I'd put a little medal around their neck. They loved it, and so did I. :)

[Bad_boi]

Walked quite a few miles and found 8 out of 11 geocaches. My legs are sore as fuck.

[Rockinonahigh]

Today I rode a solid four miles on my bike,plus did quite a fue diffrent exersises on my workout stations,all told I did 45 minits with plenty of water dureing the workout to go with all the sweat that was driping off me..I feel real good about this best one yet.

[Bad_boi]

My legs were sore today but I got a golf disc as a gift so I took it out for a spin. I have yet to play at a corse but I was able to throw the disc though an improvised target pretty well.

[Soon]

45 mins on the treadmill...got up to a pretty good incline and speed. I just can't seem to RUN on it. shrug.

(and a two hour bubble bath after!)

[easygoingfemme]

Today was landscaping. Mowing and trimming hedges, cutting back some trees and freeing up a blackberry patch. All whilst watching my guy do edging and more artistic landscaping than I would ever think of doing. The girl child was planting annuals in her two claimed garden areas and working on her rock walls. We all got a good workout!

[DapperButch]

Sweating my ass off under the hood of a car for several hours. Some of the bolts were hard to get off. Does that count? :|

[easygoingfemme]

So no kickboxers? I bought sneakers and some clothes to wear and a pair of gloves. A friend of mine and I are trying it the week after next (because I will be in MA next week). I am a pacifist but something about beating the crap out of a bag is appealing to me. I will update after I try it.

I've done kickboxing. It was a little too choreographed for me at first, but I got into it for a while when I belonged to a gym. I can still strike a pose when needed :slapfight:

[Gemme]

Well, finally! I think I finally found the gym I'll call home for a while. It's a franchise gym that at least one of you goes to already and I've had positive experience with the company in the past, so they were already in my top 3 options.

The other two....well, one is a small NE franchise that has okay reviews in my area but pretty bad ones elsewhere (no consequences for not following company policy, maybe?) and the other is a very well known, national franchise but the location closest to my home is snubbed even by branches of the same company (I was told, "We don't affiliate with THEM!" by a customer who is a manager at another store). I took a tour of the NE franchise and it seemed okay. They did have classes included with one of their memberships and they are 24/7, which is awesome, but I just didn't feel 100% at home there. The national franchise...honestly I never made it inside. I did see inside from the windows and spoke with someone who works there but it definitely didn't feel like 'me' so I passed on that. Also, the entrance or ANY of the doors were not clearly marked. Wouldn't you want customers to know where to go to come inside? Apparently not.

During my tour today, I found out about the trainers they have and the individual styles of them....the "Biggest Loser: I'm gonna make it hurt so good" type versus the "kinder, gentler" guy....as well as ALL the fees involved in everything including canceling early on a contract (and that it's reasonable enough for me to not worry about), and they were honest enough to let me know that if I signed up on day A, x would be my total and if I signed up on day B, y would be my total. Most gyms would take your extra bucks and not say anything, but these guys were really nice. So, by waiting an extra day or two, I save more than $20 right off the bat AND I won't have to pay the annual fee for 2013. At all. Sweet! Plus the gym has a contraption I've never seen before and it intrigues me. I don't know if I'll use it but I can think of a few out of the box ideas for it and that kinda makes me giggle. Hopefully, I won't be staring at it, giggling like a loon, too often.

:blink:

So, I'll go back later this week and sign the contract and thus will begin a new gym journey. Woot!

But, as far as today goes, that's all that got accomplished besides a LOT of shopping.

[o222Good]

One word...

DOMS

[Rockinonahigh]

Today I hada medium workout,four miles on the bike,thirty minits of shooting hoops that involves lots of stretching and moveing around then I did some tichi moves for another twenty minits just to brush up on them besides I can relax when doing them unless I do some other martial arts moves that arent so relaxing.I know onething by working out late in the evening I sleep better at night,I was geting up a couple times at night then takeing a while to fall asleep again...a good nights sleep is priceless.

[starryeyes]

I walked 3.16 miles. It felt good to get off my butt! :)

[Bad_boi]

I did way better today with target practice. It has been 2 days and I am excelling with my disc.

[ahk]

I __________ exercising. Well actually I dislike walking on a treadmill. I will climb stairs, I will spin on a bike, I will pretend I am cross country skiing, but I won't walk on a treadmill. I just don't like doing it.

It takes a lot of umph and talking me into going to the gym. We are starting to go back today. My wife and I fell off the wagon about 4 months ago when we found out our pup was sick and basically it caused us to be homebound all the damn time. So now, we are making our way back to the gym. I'm not thrilled about going. I get so bored.

Any suggestions to help the bored feeling to go away?

And, what do you do for pre-workout (drink/food) and post-workout (drink/food)?

And, how long do you spend working out? 30 min of cardio, 15 min of stretching, 15 min of weights??? examples.

Thank you for everyone posting and for starting the thread--- moo chews grassy ass.

[Glenn]

Hiya Folks; Today I bicycled along the beach, and also went down around the park. I have been doing this twice a day, sometimes three. I am getting saddle sores lol. The Sears vintage coaster bike I restored, is holding me up pretty good. My muscles are taking the hills on the dunes a lot more comfortably now. I also hike in the woods with a bag, picking up litter. When the water warms up a little more, I will be swimming everyday. Today, when I started at the path, a young fawn I always call Babydoe met me, and I'll be darned, if she was'nt following far behind me, as I turned around and saw her, when I reached the parking lot lol!:)

[Cowboi]

I __________ exercising. Well actually I dislike walking on a treadmill. I will climb stairs, I will spin on a bike, I will pretend I am cross country skiing, but I won't walk on a treadmill. I just don't like doing it.

It takes a lot of umph and talking me into going to the gym. We are starting to go back today. My wife and I fell off the wagon about 4 months ago when we found out our pup was sick and basically it caused us to be homebound all the damn time. So now, we are making our way back to the gym. I'm not thrilled about going. I get so bored.

Any suggestions to help the bored feeling to go away?

And, what do you do for pre-workout (drink/food) and post-workout (drink/food)?

And, how long do you spend working out? 30 min of cardio, 15 min of stretching, 15 min of weights??? examples.

Thank you for everyone posting and for starting the thread--- moo chews grassy ass.



Im not sure about the bored feeling. I never get bored at the gym.
Pre workout supplements are Anavite, glutamine, and L-Carnitine. I take these about a hour befroe the gym.

I use a pre workout drink, about 30 minutes before I start my workout. Right now I am using a produt called nano vapor. It is jam packed with all kinds of goodies!!!L-Citruline, beta Alanine, creatine, b vitamins. Gives a great pump!!

Intra workout I add some branch chain amino acids to my water.. Xtend is a really good one. I like the blue raspberry flavor best.
Post workout is my protein shake, always with in 30 of my workout. Right now im using Carnivore protein powder.

I always do some type of warm up. Just what ever I feel like at that time.
When I work out with my trainer, we do some crossfit for cardio.

I hit the tread mill after my workout, usually for about 25 min. So i am un and out of the gym in about 90min tops.

[ahk]

Im not sure about the bored feeling. I never get bored at the gym.
Pre workout supplements are Anavite, glutamine, and L-Carnitine. I take these about a hour befroe the gym.

I use a pre workout drink, about 30 minutes before I start my workout. Right now I am using a produt called nano vapor. It is jam packed with all kinds of goodies!!!L-Citruline, beta Alanine, creatine, b vitamins. Gives a great pump!!

Intra workout I add some branch chain amino acids to my water.. Xtend is a really good one. I like the blue raspberry flavor best.
Post workout is my protein shake, always with in 30 of my workout. Right now im using Carnivore protein powder.

I always do some type of warm up. Just what ever I feel like at that time.
When I work out with my trainer, we do some crossfit for cardio.

I hit the tread mill after my workout, usually for about 25 min. So i am un and out of the gym in about 90min tops.

Thank you for all your suggestions.
I'm thinking the reason you don't get the "bored" feeling is with the caffeine that is in pre-workout drink. I drank a cup of green tea beforehand, and brought a homemade gatorade substance drink with me, and afterwards had a pea protein green smoothie afterwards. So far, I am not sure how I feel... it did feel good to go though.

[Bad_boi]

I got a new mid range and driver discs and took them out for a throw. I need to practice with them. I hope to be hitting up the course next week.

[Rockinonahigh]

I had my shoulder injected today not a fun experence but was nessary as the doc found I had bursitis in the joint.So for the next fue days useing my shoulder is a nono cause he said it would be Friday before the full effect would happen.All I could do was ride my exersise bike for a fue miles then use the stepper for a while as well as do some other leg work..be glad whin I can do something else.

[Bad_boi]

I had my shoulder injected today not a fun experence but was nessary as the doc found I had bursitis in the joint.So for the next fue days useing my shoulder is a nono cause he said it would be Friday before the full effect would happen.All I could do was ride my exersise bike for a fue miles then use the stepper for a while as well as do some other leg work..be glad whin I can do something else.

Could you let me know how the injection goes? I have bursitis and I am kinda scared to get a shot. Thanks in advance.

[Daktari]

The only cure for gym boredness I've found is not going to the gym. Get out and about in the fresh air. Exercise with people...it's fun to laugh even when working out.


Re. Cortisone shots in the shoulder - I had them for inflammation due to calcifications. The shots don't hurt (maybe I just had a good Doc...she was very purty which helped me be a 'big brave solider' :winky:) and the effects can be variable. In my left shoulder the shot didn't make much of a difference and I ended up with surgery in the same year. However, the right shoulder shot lasted about a good year or so before the pain came back and further surgery was indicated.

[Gemme]

I __________ exercising. Well actually I dislike walking on a treadmill. I will climb stairs, I will spin on a bike, I will pretend I am cross country skiing, but I won't walk on a treadmill. I just don't like doing it.

It takes a lot of umph and talking me into going to the gym. We are starting to go back today. My wife and I fell off the wagon about 4 months ago when we found out our pup was sick and basically it caused us to be homebound all the damn time. So now, we are making our way back to the gym. I'm not thrilled about going. I get so bored.

Any suggestions to help the bored feeling to go away?

And, what do you do for pre-workout (drink/food) and post-workout (drink/food)?

And, how long do you spend working out? 30 min of cardio, 15 min of stretching, 15 min of weights??? examples.

Thank you for everyone posting and for starting the thread--- moo chews grassy ass.

I procrastinate exercising. Once I'm there, I'm good though.

Okay, so this is my layperson style.

It's never good to go to the gym on an empty stomach. That's why gyms keeps sweets or some kind of candy nearby, for those whose sugar takes a nosedive. It's never good to go to the gym on a full stomach either. You can cause cramps, nausea, gas and make yourself just feel weighted down and miserable.

My solution is to eat a good sized banana smeared with peanut butter about half an hour to 45 minutes before I start my warm up. It's not too much and the peanut butter has staying power once the carbs from the banana wear off.

Water. Water. Water. I'm not a fan of plain water but it's all I drink when working out. It's feels more refreshing and 'clean' to me. Keeps my engine running well.

Post workout, I eat. I eat sooooo good and I eat whatever I want within reason. By the time I get home, I'm famished but I don't want to undo all the good I just did, so it's usually a good, solid protein to help my muscles rebuild and some quality carbs, like fresh veggies either in a salad or steamed and I limit the junk. Your body burns more calories right after you work out, so that's the time to get a meal in. Some says it's 60 minutes after your finish your work out and some say more. I try to eat within the hour of stopping my workout.

As for warming up, there's been so much hype, both pro and con, that's it's really up to you and what works best for you. I do know it's easier to injure yourself stretching cold muscles, so I typically will walk on the treadmill (I know, you hate that but it's what *I* do regardless of what the rest of my workout consists of) for a few minutes, with a gradual increase in speed and elevation. I usually give myself about 5 minutes for a moderate workout and about 8-10 for a difficult workout. I want to be as warm and pliable as possible when I go into my workouts since I tend to overdo it. When my workout is finished is when I typically stretch. That's a good way to calm my system down and get back into 'not workout' mode.

I can be a little aggressive when working out and I'm definitely competitive with myself. Once I reach a goal, I want to go farther or faster or longer. That can be a good, healthy mentality but it tends to backfire on me when I'm restarting a new program, so I'm trying to be very aware of that this time. The last time, I hurt myself and then I couldn't workout at all for a couple of weeks. In that time, I lost my drive and motivation and then I just didn't work out at all. So, it's best for me to take longer and build up to what I know is my best before trying to conquer it.

For me, I need to be consistent. Working out around the same time and getting into a routine with it is what works best for me. Other folks need to jazz it up and do different schedules, whether due to work responsibilities or the boredom factor. I need to switch up the actual routines so my body doesn't adapt and my progress plateaus but my time frame needs to be consistent.

The length of time at the gym is solely determined by my work schedule. Working days are either off days at the gym or very short days. Less than an hour for sure. Days off are limitless. I can meander around and do a little on all of the machines or spend an hour on one before moving on. There's no rush and I tend to enjoy it more. It feels less like a workout and more like something I'm doing for me. I mean, it's all for me. BUT when I'm able to enjoy it more, it's more fun. The rest of the time it's something I "have" to do not necessarily something I "want" to do. So, my "have" days are shorter and less fun and my "want" days are longer and more fun. I also tend to do more weight work on my days off and basically stick to cardio on my quickie days.

Clear as mud?

:seeingstars:

[Rockinonahigh]

Could you let me know how the injection goes? I have bursitis and I am kinda scared to get a shot. Thanks in advance.


Hi Bad Boi.The shot did hurt a bit at the last thiryt seconds or so,I just grited my teeth and growled like a bear then sucked the rest up cause it wasn't more or less any worse than I have delt with without the shot, I got ten cc's of lideocaine.Sofar i'm still haveing some pain so I do hope by tomorrow whatever pain I have will be gone.I hope by sunday I will be back to my old self cause my ladies 8 ball teal will be playing in the finals of the city championships,sofar we have made a clean sweep of all our games just one more will than the team is vegas bound for the national 8 ball tournaments.I give thanks to all my team mambers who are winning these games they have been awsome each and everyone of them.I have been keeping score to do my part with a pen in one hand and the rule book next to me incase we need to check rules for whatever reason.

[Gemme]

Made it to the gym tonight. During peak hours, of course, so it was pretty busy. Not as busy as Tuesday night, so I need to make a mental note that attendance probably peters out as the week progresses.

I got 45 minutes in, including warm up and cool down. Nice and easy. I'm not rushing things this time. Three 5.2 mph intervals of one minute runs paired with a jaunty walk at 3.5 mph. Just enough to make me sweat and know that I was there but not enough to ignite my 'I can do better' instinct, which often leads to an awesome workout and 2-3 days of pain and/or discomfort afterwards.

Smart is the way to go now that I'm knocking on 40's door.

I got a smidge of ab work in too. There's not enough mats in the stretching/ab area but everyone kind of worked it out. I liked that. No super loud folks or obnoxious types huffing and puffing.

All in all, a wonderful experience.

[nycfem]

Sometimes I get bored if the workout is too light. I am most "entertained" if I am drenched in sweat and putting out so much energy that I don't have room to be bored. I can also better put up with bad television that way.

I definitely agree about varying work-outs, like everyone has said, especially getting outside. It's like meals. You can find the same one interesting for a long time and then get bored and switch things up. Go with what you are really in the mood to do or give yourself something that seems especially challenging or out of the ordinary.

I also sometimes like to embrace the "bored." There's a zen quality to being bored. It makes you aware of small things around you, and the mundane becomes a bit interesting to one's self even though it's still essentially boring. I like that about the gym. The same is never really the same.

If you let yourself be bored for a while, then sometimes you enter a dreamlike zone where you are not thinking at all or unaware of what you are doing in a nice way. I felt this way swimming laps. Once I pass 45 minutes of laps I just go into that meditative state where the outer world disappears.

One way the gym becomes less boring is when you start to see results :)

And, finally, I'll end with one of my favorite Andy Warhol quotes: ""I like boring things. I like things to be exactly the same over and over again." I admit that's actually something I like about the gym :blush:



Any suggestions to help the bored feeling to go away?

[Gemme]

A quickie last night. It was busier than I thought it would be for a Friday.

I started out on the Arc but it stopped on me and started over when I was fiddling with the tv remote and my earbuds and that irritated me because I didn't know exactly where I was in the workout....how far, how many cals, etc. But I estimate that I was on it for about 10 minutes and burned about 80ish calories, giving leeway for error.

Plus, it wasn't under one of the ginormous ceiling fans. Seriously, whoever installed those knows me. Like really knows me. Not a lot of folks like air blowing on them during their workouts. I do. Hit me up with the fan like I'm in an 80s hair band video.

:blink:

So, I found Alex under the fan and I started on the treadmill. I called Alex a cheater and said that Jillian Michaels would not approve and then he said......he said.....that Jillian Michaels was a fake.

A FAKE!!!

:|

He earned those squinty eyes, lemme tell you.

So, cheater Alex went off to work on the weight machines and I got into a groove on the treadmill and then finished up with 5 minutes of stretching and abs.

All in all, about 40 minutes total, including switcheroo time, etc. Short and sweet since I work today.

Nothing for me today. Work's going to be demanding and the gym will be closed by the time I get home from work.

Sunday's looking like a good, long day though.

Oh! I forgot to mention the runner. Sometimes I'll focus on another person if I'm bored or trying to get through a difficult part in the workout and there was this girl running in the row ahead of me and to the side. She had really long hair in a pony that she kept twisting and tucking it under her bra strap and she had an unusual way of holding her hand when she ran full out....like a downward claw. She was tall and very slender and so her fingers were very slender and long and I just couldn't stop looking at her claw hand. Interesting.

In other news, I flashed my undies at a quarter of the gym while I was on the Arc. Just another reason to end that quickly.

:blink:

[Cowboi]

Today was shoulder day.

Seated military press
2 warm up sets 10 reps
3 sets of 10/12 reps

Side lateral raises
1 warm up set 12/15 reps
3 sets of 12/15 reps

Upright barbell rows
3 sets of 21's 7 wide grip 7 med grip 7 close grip

Lying rear delt raise
3 sets 12/15 reps

Seated calf raises
3 sets of 15 reps

[Cowboi]

Today was shoulder day.

Seated military press
2 warm up sets 10 reps
3 sets of 10/12 reps

Side lateral raises
1 warm up set 12/15 reps
3 sets of 12/15 reps

Upright barbell rows
3 sets of 21's 7 wide grip 7 med grip 7 close grip

Lying rear delt raise
3 sets 12/15 reps

Seated calf raises
3 sets of 15 reps

Just threw the calf workout in there because they were calling my name!!! LoL

[alexri]

If Ms. Gemme realllly wants Mr. Alex to get into the details of why he believes Jillian Michaels is just a marketing machine, he will.

Mr. Alex is a non-cheater. When walking on a high degree incline, he holds on to the treadmill so he does not fall. In real life, he does not hold onto the road when in a race.

Though I did really enjoy the Gemme underwear flash from yesterday. And I was laughing the pony treadmill runner too for a bit until I saw her speed and how much faster she was running than I was.

So... today was a quick 10K at the local city park to break in the new racing shoes, which are very different than anything I've ever used before. I found my "rub/chafe" spots. Good to know.

I'm at a 50/50 decision of signing up for a half marathon tomorrow. I haven't done one since May and it would only be my fifth this year. It's local and a lot of friends are going it so I figure it's cheaper than going to one that's a far drive away and it calms my I-miss-racing feelings for a little bit. Plus it would make me feel better about the victory donuts I may have.

[wahya]

I haven't been able to walk for 4 days now because I made a video of myself doing some crazy dancing to make someone laugh. and I fell and bruised my hip pretty bad. and re- aggravated my lower back pain.

[nycfem]

Yesterday my aunt Mary was in town from Ohio. We walked twice around the Central Park reservoir (3 miles). We saw a large, plump raccoon in the same place both laps, animatedly pawing around at leaves or whatever. I said, "What a big raccoon!" My aunt said, "Yes, very prosperous." That struck me as kind of quaint and funny.

[tygr_grrl]

Right now the only exercise I'm getting is running to keep pace with life, and its a bit hectic. Grateful I had a week long hot yoga retreat, plus swimming and fun with family the week before. I am so looking forward to getting home and back into my normal routine!

Oh yeah, I'm supposed to start training for the MS150 bike ride in August. One hundred fifty miles in two days by bicycle...it is my favorite route in Northern NM.

[Venus007]

I have been sort of phoning it in on my walks. I am bored and have started to procrastinate walking. Therefore I invented a new game today to keep me entertained, I avoid the track or the path and most importantly stick to the shade. I try to see how far I can get by only walking in the shade, I have found stuff in the park I had no idea was there. Best discovery today a big ole butterfly bush near a giant rock, by the creek, butterflies, dragon flies shady rock, I stayed there for a little while.

I was goin up and down hills, climbing inclines, navigating tricky terrain and generally working much harder while having much more fun on my walk than ever before, oh and I got on the swings for awhile because there was one in the shade, hah!

[Gemme]

Today was AWESOMMMMME!

I spent about an hour and 40ish minutes at the gym from walking in the door to walking out.

The workout itself was really good but what makes today's workout so AWESOMMMME (must be said loudly and in a sing song voice drawing out the 'some') was that I learned something, oh yes I did. I exercised not only my muscles and my mind (because it's mostly mental anyway) but I exercised my self-control and it worked out very well for me. I also exercised practicing protecting my boundaries, even from myself, because if I can't honor my own boundaries...how can I expect others to?

:thinking:

Let me elaborate:

I started on the treadmill for a couple of reasons. I typically do it because it's a nice and easy warm up and because, frankly, it's my favorite piece of cardio equipment.

I was doing pretty well, chugging along using the random program (again, my favorite) at the level 1 setting because I'm just getting back into things. I don't want to do too much too soon. That's how I typically injure myself and/or lose motivation. I was doing my interval runs between 5.2 and 6.2 mph because, well, that's what my finger stopped at when I was pushing the button. So, I'm going along and I notice that my feet feel weird. No, not my feet....I actually had a conversation with myself about this as it was progressing (No worries, it was purely inside my head! No alarming the other worker outters.) After a second, I realized what it was. I had just grabbed the first socks I could in the drawer and I wound up putting on those low suckers with hardly any cuff to it and now the slippery things were sliding down my feet, leaving my heels rubbing against my shoes. My heels are super sensitive and it would not be long at all before I'd have a couple of nice, bubbly blisters if I didn't do something about it soon.

Easy enough fix, right? Just stop and readjust them, right? Um, not so easy. I was really grooving in my workout and I have a numbers thing. I can end a workout at 25 minutes or 30 minutes but I'll be hard pressed to end it at 18 minutes or 22 minutes. Yes, yes...I know, but we all have our idiosyncrasies, don't we? So, because of my numbers thing and because I was doing so well with the workout and feeling really strong and into it, I continued until I got to an acceptable time and then I ended the program, calculated my stats (again, a numbers thing combined with a control thing) and took my shoes off and pulled the socks so far up my heels they looked like crew socks from the back. Let's see those slip down again! Hrmph!

Round two!

So, I hop back onto T17 (because that's my treadmill's name) and start 'er up again. Why? Why not move to a different machine or go play with weights? Because when I'm grooving in a workout, it's best to stick with what I'm doing. My focus gets fractured when I switch it up when I'm in the zone. So, T17 and I go at it again and we're really feeling one another. This time I upped my level to 3 but kept with the random program because it's not boring because...you guessed it!...it's random! Since I was still warm from the first leg of my workout, I started harder and faster and this is where my lessons really began to come into play.

A few years ago, I tweaked my knee bad. Not enough for MRIs or surgery but enough to really effin hurt for a very long time and to basically bring my workouts involving that leg at all to a standstill. I do NOT want to do that again. Some lessons I need to work through a few times before it sticks. That is not one of those. So, I'm usually really on top of not doing too much too soon and really staying connected mentally to my body as I work out. I used to zone out mentally and get lost in the music or scenery, etc but that's how I bypassed several warning signs with my knee. Focus is key!

So I set a personal boundary for myself at that time. I will increase intensity or I will increase speed but I will not increase both simultaneously. Nope, not gonna do it. Prime example: I will not break into a run if my incline is more than 1.0. Will not. It stresses my knees and I start to get worried about what could happen. I don't need that mentality when I'm trying to get my groove on. Total downer, I say.

T17 and I were getting along marvelously. Incline goes up, I slow down to a speedy walk. Incline goes down and I choose whether to run. Mostly, I opted to go for it. I was in the zone! For my second leg, I opted to stick with the exact same speed on my runs. 6.8 mph. Some of my intervals were only 45 seconds and some were almost 2 minutes but I didn't count them (progress for me!). I just enjoyed them. When I began to feel too winded, I slowed down.

One time, T17 got sneaky on me. The incline went down to .4 and I got my run on for a minute or so and suddenly it felt a lot harder. I looked down at the screen and T17 had jacked that stuff up well over 1.0 waaaay sooner than the other switches had happened. Part of me reeeeeeally wanted to keep running. It was harder but I didn't feel winded yet. BUT I had a discussion with myself (again, silently as not to scare folks) and worked it out. I slowed down and honored my own boundary. After all, I created it to protect myself. Even if it means protecting me from me.

There were a few times when the old competitive me crept up and I had to exercise some restraint. After all, this was....technically....only my third official workout since starting back. I need to be the tortoise, not the hare.

That's the path, you know. First, be the tortoise. Then, be the hare. Finally, be the eagle and flyyyyyyy!

All in all, it was a lovely workout. Two rounds on the treadmill followed by ab time on the incline bench with a medicine ball and some stretching on the mat.

Good day!

[alexri]

While Ms. Gemme was being AAAAWWWEEESSOOOMMMMEEE on the treadmill, I was out at the city park doing loops. I stopped at 8 miles. I overslept this morning and missed the race I wanted to do so I did some miles on my own. I heard from friends that the race was not that good anyway. The end.

(Nowhere near as great of a story. I'm hungry).

[Cowboi]

Went to the gym with a new attitude this morning!!! I feel like im about to explode... Had a kick ass back and bi workout. I love the pump. I can feel the endorphin opioid peptides raging through my veins!!!!

[Gemme]

My workouts are coming along nicely.

Today I got up and traipsed into the gym and it wasn't too crowded at all. Nice.

I started with my trusty treadmill (under the giant fan, of course), moved to the elliptical then recumbent bike then back to the treadmill and then moved on to the ab coaster (holy crap, that works!), the ab cruncher and the stretching mat with a medicine ball. Abs and stretching finished about 10 minutes later and I was headed out the door.

During my time there, I noticed a couple of regulars and I tried to make a note of when they were there to see if they kept a regular routine or were more like me.

I thought of Jennifer when I was on the elliptical. And I wondered if she saw her regular, Jill, today.

[nycfem]

Today I walked 7.5 miles in Central Park (5 times around the reservoir). It was a beautiful day. Right when I was feeling super thirsty a family walked by me with bottles of water for sale, 1 for a dollar. The little boy was really trying to make a sell. He said, "The water doesn't look cold but it is. And it's a dollar less than if you buy it from one of the snack stands." Then, as if trying to sell me the whole park, he said, "Just look out at this lake. It's one of the most beautiful in the world." I agreed and happily paid my dollar.

[Gemme]

That sounds like a dollar well spent!

My gymercise was cut a bit short today in lieu of working with Alex on his race project, but I did get in some intense circuit training as well as a little time on the treadmill. My arms and shoulders are feeling it especially.

This was followed by 5 hours of stuffing bags and folding bags and stuffing boxes and moving boxes, bags and stuff around. A looootttttttttttttt of bending over and lifting. My back felt like jelly for a little bit there but isn't tender any more, than goodness.

It's made for a lovely day filled with meeting some nice, new to me people and doing something for myself as well as helping for a good cause.

Good day!

[DapperButch]

* Ok, so I did 12 hours of yard work in the last two days. 7 hours yesterday and 5 hours today. It did include carrying 150 red bricks by hand (twice). Does this count?

* TF and I walked (ok, more like sauntered), around our college alma mater this evening. But, then I had ice cream. :praying:

* :dog: = 15 minute walk with Dad tonight, 15 minute brisk pace on his treadmill.

Yes, my :dog: has his own personal treadmill. Shut up.

[Gemme]

It totally counts, Dapper, but you lose a point for the puppy treadmill. lol

I will say that it's a fantastic idea for when the pup has extra energy but doesn't need to go and the weather's bad. I bet you gloat a little when that happens. :sunglass:

Today was as low key as I could get. Just me and treadmill for 75 minutes. No running. Some random inclining up to 5.0 and variable mph up to 3.0 though.

My shoulders, chest and arms are still sooooo sore from yesterday's workout and the other stuff that that immediately took anything weightbearing off the table as well as anything with handles, like the ellipticals and arcs.

I've pushed myself for the past 4 consecutive days because I know that the next 5 are going to be very difficult for me to get anything remarkable done, so this will be my "recovery" week I guess since anything I can squeeze in will be short and probably not too intense.

It's a beautiful sunshiney day. Heat's up. Humidity is a little bit too. It's a good day to work out, come home, do some chores and hang with the cat. I might take a cue from him and nap a little bit.

[Daktari]

20-60mins walking every day seems to have done the trick and helped disappear that creeping middle age spread [All 8lbs of it!] :cheesy:

[nycfem]

I'm on my weeklong break in between working the regular school year and working summer school, so it's a great week for working out. Today I did an hour on the Arc Trainer (hill interval program), followed by an hour of floor exercises and weight lifting. I thought about walking in the park afterwards but it was so hot and humid, I decided to try on various sandals at the Ugg store instead :).

http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/a451/davoguemall/UGG%20boots%20Amelie%20Suede/1-4.jpg (http://media.photobucket.com/user/davoguemall/media/UGG%20boots%20Amelie%20Suede/1-4.jpg.html)

[Hollylane]

I worked on my arms doing interval weight training, during 2 breaks and a lunch. I could not believe what that did for my endorphins, and I'm a little concerned about getting my ass to sleep tonight.

Tomorrow, interval cardio training....

[prettyboyreg]

Today was abs day...I'm already sore. Tommorow it is really going to hurt. A few weeks and I'm going to have my six pack I've always wanted... :)

[Glenn]

My exercise experience today consisted of shoveling, lifting, rolling, and unloading, 4 garbage containers of wet sand that was caving in the pavement, over the main water pipe, at the front of the house. It was hot, and I was drenched, but it was a great workout! I smiled and said Hi to four women walking in bikinis on their way to the beach(usually I'm shy).They smiled back at me, and said Hi, and then looked back at me, and smiled again:)*I guess its true what they said here that theirs something about a sweat- drenched butch.*

[Cowboi]

Had to work late this afternoon. I didnt want to go to the gym at the busy time of the day. So I have been flipping the ol tractor tire, that is almost as tall as me... had a dayem good workout. Strength, and cardio all in one!!

[MissItalianDiva]

An hour on the elliptical
An hour jogging
and 350 squats..which probably means I am going to be feeling it in the morning

[Cowboi]

Today was back day..

[Chancie]

School ended for the summer about ten days ago and

I joined the Y and

I registered for water fitness classes.

Since Monday, June 24,

I have taken four water fitness classes, Zumba, and

I tried a cockamamie step abs weight lifting class.

Various parts of my body are sore as hell, but

I feel great.

:stillheart:

[alexri]

Decisions decisions. I am looking at switching gyms.

I used to belong to the YMCA years ago but I left it because the fees were just getting to be way too much. It was just too expensive- $49.00 a month for a single person in my area for the Y. While I can use any branch, one of the many things that did turn me off was the pool schedules for adult swims. I basically had either 5 in the morning, or 8 at night. Any classes I had an interest in were at really odd hours too.

I am currently at World Gym which $14.95 a month with no annual fees, no contract. It has limited cardio equipment, it's relatively clean, it does have classes (I never go/have no interest), and it's close to work, so I can shower there before heading to the office. I just don't feel like I am progressing at my current gym. It is 60% weights, which is nice, but even that equipment is a little worn (outdated stuff, torn pads/seats, etc).

I am looking at a Gold's Gym. It has more awesome cardio equipment (stuff I miss from the overpriced ymca), huge bathrooms with changing rooms, and is just as close to work, but it's a suckier drive to and from home (more traffic, greater odds of delays), and it's $29.95 a month w/ a $49.00 annual fee. I can use a sister gym that is relatively close to home. All the cardio equipment have TVs. They also have a spinning room you can go into at any time. At the Gold's the trainers will help you out on the floor; at my current gym you have to pay extra for training.

I had looked at the Planet Fitness near my work, but I am turned off by the lack of changing rooms/stalls in the bathroom. It's just two showers and the open locker space. I do not want to change in front of anyone.

Lots of pros/cons to weigh.

[Rockinonahigh]

Today i'm takeing a day off from working out,it has been a couple of weeks that In have worked out four or five days a week along with any where from three to five miles a day on the bike then the ellipitical.My right knne is getting stiffer as the days go by from the top of my calf to the middle of my thigh going up the right side of my right leg,I have iced and used heet packs a lot,it dosent hurt much when I ride but after an hour after I am done...so finaly I felt I needed to rest it.Funny thing I can walk with little pain it's just when I sit or get up the pain hits or whaen I laydown to sleep...no telling how much stress I put on the dam thing but I need my cardio.

[Mopsie]

Happy 4th of July everyone! :fireworks:

For me today is Race Day!

I signed up to do a virtual 5k to raise money for Medals4Mettle. (Swagtasticrace.com) Since I am a VERY recently reformed couch potato I have decided to do the race over the course of three visits to the gym. Today I did 1.1 miles (5k = 3.106 miles). It took me 41 minutes 32 seconds and my legs feel like jello but I DID IT! :cheer:

[alexri]

Happy 4th of July everyone! :fireworks:

For me today is Race Day!

I signed up to do a virtual 5k to raise money for Medals4Mettle. (Swagtasticrace.com) Since I am a VERY recently reformed couch potato I have decided to do the race over the course of three visits to the gym. Today I did 1.1 miles (5k = 3.106 miles). It took me 41 minutes 32 seconds and my legs feel like jello but I DID IT! :cheer:



You are off to a great start! Good job!

[Gemme]

Today was a fantastic gym day! Though the day got off to a late start, we wound up spending about two hours there. One hour for cardio and one hour for circuit training. I did a little bit of everything but not enough that I'll be super sore tomorrow. Just enough to remind the muscles where they were and that they were supposed to work a little better than they do.

[Ts_kaijira]

Spent with Tommi. 'Nuff said.

kaijira

[nycfem]

Live from our small Manhattan living room: BB and I danced together in our underclothes to Katy Perry's song "Firework." It was more exhilarating than one might expect. :)

s3P9fyJEu6E

[Gráinne]

I know I can't beat romance or dancing, but I had a 30 minute walk around the complex. This summer, evenings have been so cool, unlike a typical Arkansas summer, so I get out for "me" time.

[Rockinonahigh]

I find I couldn't just not do some kind of activity today so I apent a couple of hours doing some play time with the fur kids.First we played catch and chase till nither of us could breath from all the jumpin,runing and pitching balls or kicking king sise tennis balls playing soccer.When I could finaly catch my breath I shot hoops for quite a while.not the same exersises but still got the heart rate up and then sweated a lot...the fur kids had a ball to.

[Daktari]

Today has been about cycling as transport rather than fun 8miles is an easily managed distance - even with a pesky slow puncture!..this coupled with an easy coupla miles walking doing 'errands' will be adequate action today.

Cycling and, as it transpires, walking for shorter distances of under 3 miles-ish, for daily transport is my preferred way of maintaining twig-ness (The Space Cadet has always called me a 'twiglet' :|)

I'm crap at self motivation to do activities purely for exercise purposes but transport as exercise is somehow easy. Go figure!

[o222Good]

Still cycling my carbs and lifting, but I have added
the one thing missing from the equation:
Cardio!
I bought a heart monitor and rejoined a gym for
the summer. My goal is to stay in my fat burning zone.
Starting slow with
treadmill 3.1 mph for twenty minutes
elliptical 3.5 mph for ten minutes
bike 12+ mph at level 10 for ten minutes
I will increase the overall time to an hour.
So far, this is an every day workout, and I DO
BELIEVE it's working!

[Gemme]

I spent an hour on the treadmill walking a hill program at level 3. I wanted to take it easy today. Tomorrow's going to be a toughy and I didn't want to go into it tender from today.

The gym was nearly deserted, as it was close to closing time on a Saturday afternoon. It was nice to not have the music blaring so loud. I didn't have to turn the volume on my MP3 player up once!

[nycfem]

I can identify with your experience tonight, Gemme. The gym I go to was wonderfully empty. I even was able to fart out loud twice while doing yoga without anyone in hearing distance! What a luxury! Combine a Saturday night with it being a holiday weekend in NYC during the summer, and you've got only me and Jill there, on our own private missions. First I did an hour and forty minutes on my favorite Arc Trainer (similar to the elliptical), interval program, highest level. I watched the reality show Long Island Princesses. Then I did 50 minutes of abs, yoga, and weight lifting. When I am not doing cardio, I like to exercise in total silence save for the rich resonance of a fart of my own.

[Gemme]

I can identify with your experience tonight, Gemme. The gym I go to was wonderfully empty. I even was able to fart out loud twice while doing yoga without anyone in hearing distance! What a luxury! Combine a Saturday night with it being a holiday weekend in NYC during the summer, and you've got only me and Jill there, on our own private missions. First I did an hour and forty minutes on my favorite Arc Trainer (similar to the elliptical), interval program, highest level. I watched the reality show Long Island Princesses. Then I did 50 minutes of abs, yoga, and weight lifting. When I am not doing cardio, I like to exercise in total silence save for the rich resonance of a fart of my own.

Bwahahahaha...I'm not a yogi but I have that issue too when I stretch sometimes. Hey, it's natural and we do it an average of 16 times a day!

Luckily, when it usually happens during a workout I'm on the treadmill and the music is really loud so I don't get many looks.

:passinggas:

[Rockinonahigh]

For whatever reason I have crashed and am out of energy.I know my right knee is bugginbg me then so is my tail bone from to much bike rideing,not far from hear we have bike trailes that are nearly obstical corses so I have been rideing on the easyer parts of it as it is more chalengeing than a normal bike trail..the crash is bogging me cause all I want to do is sleep in the bed or recliner i'm out like a light.At the moment I have a vertago thing makeing me feel like I have a good buzz on fro to much to drink so I am doing the rotational exersises I did last tile...getting older is a bitch...but if I dont keep moveing I shurly will turn into a slug.

[Mopsie]

I worked a lot Friday and Saturday (32 hours) and I was too tired to go to the gym.

I went this afternoon and had a really lovely time. There were a few people there but it wasn't very crowded. And there is some sort of surfing competition on the TV. So if I scrunched my eyes just so it was like I was walking on an air conditioned beach in Fiji.

:cheesy:

Today's time = 1 mile in 40 minutes and 45 seconds.



Happy 4th of July everyone! :fireworks:

For me today is Race Day!

I signed up to do a virtual 5k to raise money for Medals4Mettle. (Swagtasticrace.com) Since I am a VERY recently reformed couch potato I have decided to do the race over the course of three visits to the gym. Today I did 1.1 miles (5k = 3.106 miles). It took me 41 minutes 32 seconds and my legs feel like jello but I DID IT! :cheer:

[Gemme]

Awesome workout today!

I got oodles of sleep last night and it really showed. I had more stamina and my interval runs were longer and less stressful on my system. 45 minutes of treadmill followed by about 30-40 minutes of circuit training.

Booyah!

[Kelt]

I haven't been in here much because frankly my exercise is the same every day which doesn't really lend itself to daily reporting. I'm going to begin a new workout program either mid August or 1 September that will involve me trying to gain some lean muscle. Before I can do that, I have to drop a few pounds of fat tissue that I picked up over the last few months as a direct result of just plain eating more than I needed.

So, yesterday I embarked on some changes to drop this bit of fat before moving onto the next phase. I have increased my slow cardio distance by about 35% and am dropping about 200 – 300 cal per day off of my intake. Basically, I'm staying on the beach until I'm about ready to drop. Right now that equals 9 – 10 miles per day.

I have been shopping gyms the last couple of months. It has been about three years since I used a gym and that last time I only went for a couple of months because it just wasn't the right place for me then. I really want to go someplace that has a decent pool. When I was touring facilities I made an interesting discovery. I thought my only phobia was going to be getting into a pool (can't swim), but I discovered a whole new one.

This one is mostly for the butchs, although any input is welcome. Throughout my life when I have used gyms it would seem that I have never needed to use the locker room. I guess I always just showed up in workout attire and then would go home afterwards. Is it just me? Or are locker rooms sort of like a public restroom experience except an order of magnitude worse? When checking out places I wanted to check out the locker rooms too, I know that if I'm going to try swimming this will involve showers and honestly I am quite modest. I was wanting to see if the showers were private. They either aren't or are only semi-at best. Whole other level of freak out for me, and apparently other patrons also.

This is really weird because I live in a very friendly and accepting community. I can only think that because they are sitting around nekkid and only see me for a quick second the 'sir' affect must kick in and make them uncomfortable.

I know this probably sounds odd to other people but I am really quite uncomfortable showing myself under any circumstances and this ain't gonna to make it any easier. I bought the swimsuit that covers down to my knees and elbows, and up to the neck. It's the business of getting in an out of it and showering that has me trippin'.

I will have to get over it obviously, but was wondering if anyone else has this problem. (I know lots of folks have some modesty issues, what I'm really asking about is the "you're in the wrong place fella" effect)

[nycfem]

Ditto for me. Well, I didn't get good sleep but went to the gym in the morning so it didn't matter. The gym was still pretty empty due to the holiday weekend effect, and I got my favorite Arc Trainer and did an hour and fifteen minutes of high level interval while watching "Snapped." Then I did 45 minutes of abs, yoga, and weight lifting. I love the feeling of picking up a weight and realizing what once felt so heavy now feels so light. I left feeling very Zen which is why I adore the gym and all exercise :)

Awesome workout today!

I got oodles of sleep last night and it really showed. I had more stamina and my interval runs were longer and less stressful on my system. 45 minutes of treadmill followed by about 30-40 minutes of circuit training.

Booyah!

[nycfem]

Kelt, great to have you in here. Besides likin' ya a whole lot, you are always so interesting and full of knowledge.

I only shower at the gym if I have gone swimming because I'm usually eager to clean my swim suit by wearing it in the shower and then to get the chlorine off my skin as well. Otherwise I wait until I get home because it's a much nicer experience.

I find people don't pay attention to each other in the locker room and shower if I don't make eye contact and give off a "busy" vibe. Or if I'm clearly wearing headphones that also helps. Of course, I'm not a butch so I can speak to that. I did once have a bad experience with a gym staff person in the locker room telling me to use the back of the locker room because I'm heavy. I immediately burst into tears and reported it. I haven't had other looks-related issues, and the showers at my gym are private (though they have sucky water pressure so I use home anyway.).

So, how long does it take you to do 9-10 miles and what do you do for those 9 to 10 miles? What does your exercise walking involve (what type)? Do you do other things along the way? Do you just listen to natural sounds? What time of day do you do it? Do you wear sun screen? Just interested to hear more.

I haven't been in here much because frankly my exercise is the same every day which doesn't really lend itself to daily reporting. I'm going to begin a new workout program either mid August or 1 September that will involve me trying to gain some lean muscle. Before I can do that, I have to drop a few pounds of fat tissue that I picked up over the last few months as a direct result of just plain eating more than I needed.

So, yesterday I embarked on some changes to drop this bit of fat before moving onto the next phase. I have increased my slow cardio distance by about 35% and am dropping about 200 – 300 cal per day off of my intake. Basically, I'm staying on the beach until I'm about ready to drop. Right now that equals 9 – 10 miles per day.

I have been shopping gyms the last couple of months. It has been about three years since I used a gym and that last time I only went for a couple of months because it just wasn't the right place for me then. I really want to go someplace that has a decent pool. When I was touring facilities I made an interesting discovery. I thought my only phobia was going to be getting into a pool (can't swim), but I discovered a whole new one.

This one is mostly for the butchs, although any input is welcome. Throughout my life when I have used gyms it would seem that I have never needed to use the locker room. I guess I always just showed up in workout attire and then would go home afterwards. Is it just me? Or are locker rooms sort of like a public restroom experience except an order of magnitude worse? When checking out places I wanted to check out the locker rooms too, I know that if I'm going to try swimming this will involve showers and honestly I am quite modest. I was wanting to see if the showers were private. They either aren't or are only semi-at best. Whole other level of freak out for me, and apparently other patrons also.

This is really weird because I live in a very friendly and accepting community. I can only think that because they are sitting around nekkid and only see me for a quick second the 'sir' affect must kick in and make them uncomfortable.

I know this probably sounds odd to other people but I am really quite uncomfortable showing myself under any circumstances and this ain't gonna to make it any easier. I bought the swimsuit that covers down to my knees and elbows, and up to the neck. It's the business of getting in an out of it and showering that has me trippin'.

I will have to get over it obviously, but was wondering if anyone else has this problem. (I know lots of folks have some modesty issues, what I'm really asking about is the "you're in the wrong place fella" effect)

[Soon]

45 mins on the treadmill...hoping to keep this up!

[Kelt]

Kelt, great to have you in here. Besides likin' ya a whole lot, you are always so interesting and full of knowledge.

I only shower at the gym if I have gone swimming because I'm usually eager to clean my swim suit by wearing it in the shower and then to get the chlorine off my skin as well. Otherwise I wait until I get home because it's a much nicer experience.

I find people don't pay attention to each other in the locker room and shower if I don't make eye contact and give off a "busy" vibe. Or if I'm clearly wearing headphones that also helps. Of course, I'm not a butch so I can speak to that. I did once have a bad experience with a gym staff person in the locker room telling me to use the back of the locker room because I'm heavy. I immediately burst into tears and reported it. I haven't had other looks-related issues, and the showers at my gym are private (though they have sucky water pressure so I use home anyway.).

So, how long does it take you to do 9-10 miles and what do you do for those 9 to 10 miles? What does your exercise walking involve (what type)? Do you do other things along the way? Do you just listen to natural sounds? What time of day do you do it? Do you wear sun screen? Just interested to hear more.

It's hard to imagine someone being so cruel as to comment on another person's body. I'm really sorry that happened to you. Some people just don't understand that sometimes words can hurt more than blows, and they don't heal nearly as quickly.

Nobody actually confronted me. All I was doing was going in and walking through to have a look at the facilities. It was the stares and glares, nudging a friend and point me out kind of thing. Every. Single. Place. I will just have to get over myself, and do the usual pretend I don't notice anything. I'm hoping that if I go the same time on the same days that after a while it will just be regulars who will get used to seeing me around. The place with the best pool also noticed me the least, unfortunately it is 5X as expensive and the other amenities are not very nice. I will just have to see what happens when it is time to decide.

My game plan is that on gym days I will do both weights and swimming and on non-gym days I will continue at the beach for cardio. My current beach walk takes about three hours for the walking portion which I do with walking poles. Frequently I stay longer and socialize with people that I have met down there and will sometimes go for lunch with one of them afterwards. It really is my other home which is probably why I have been doing too much of that and not enough resistance and flexibility exercise.

Just a lot of new and different things to get used to. It will be hard for me to tear myself away from the beach on most days, but it will be a term length experiment and I really need to do it. It is still quite a ways off so I will have time to make the mental shift, I hope. I have a trip to take an early August and when I get back I will settle the details.

Thanks for the tip about the headphones, I don't usually use them when working out because I like to interact with people around me, but it might really help me out in the locker room.

[Kelt]

There is something else that I ran across while trying to figure out the parameters of the work out I will be doing. Jennifer knows what I'm numbers freak I am so this article (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/exercise-calorie-counters-work/story?id=9966500#.UdokdT54a3k) caught my eye.

The upshot is that when using some of the machines like elliptical, treadmill, etc. that the part of the program that counts your calories is usually fairly inaccurate. This study which was based on VO2 analyzer readings found the following discrepancies:

Treadmill: Overestimated calories burnt by 13 percent.
Stationary Bike: Overestimated calories burnt by 7 percent.
Stair Climber: Overestimated calories burnt by 12 percent.
Elliptical: overestimated calories burnt by 42 percent.

Sorry...:scared:

A fellow that I follow in the quantified self community found a handy calculator. It is interactive and you can just plug in your machine reading for correction.

You can use it here (http://instacalc.com/3217).

Another thing that I discovered the last time I was using an elliptical and the gym while that was that I had problems with the built in heart rate monitors that utilize the hand grips. There was a lot of variation from machine to machine and even while exercising on the same machine I would get wildly variant readings.

I like having all the numbers spit out it once at the end of my workout instead of having a separate wrist monitor although of course the separate monitor was the accurate one. I found that I could just wear the chest strap from any Polar heart rate monitor and it would communicate with the equipment in the gym as long as I did not use the silver groups. That way I could still use the readout reference at the end and just write it all down at once.

Of course if you are using an all-in-one activity tracker this is entirely moot.

I know I am probably the only one in here that is that fussy about numbers. But I thought if there were any other data geeks in here it might be handy.

:cheesy:

[DapperButch]

Kelt, I am struggling a bit with understanding what you are saying. Are you saying that your experience in the locker room is worse than in regular bathrooms? I wonder if you are just noticed it more because since you were looking around the locker rooms (to assess the spaces), you grazed over people's faces and typically you avoid looking at people in the bathroom?

To be direct, I personally would never do the pool thing just so that I didn't have to deal with the whole shower/locker room thing. I would suspect that locker rooms would be worse for butches for two reasons:

1) women are probably even more conscious of their environment because they are getting undressed
2) the amount of time I had to spend in that space would be longer than in a public restroom which just means my discomfort would last even longer. I suspect it would become intolerable.

However, I would bet that yes, if you went the same time every day people would get used to you and also you will learn to do whatever it is you already do psychologically to get through public bathroom experiences. Perhaps it won't be as bad as you think?

Good luck.

[Kelt]

Kelt, I am struggling a bit with understanding what you are saying. Are you saying that your experience in the locker room is worse than in regular bathrooms? I wonder if you are just noticed it more because since you were looking around the locker rooms (to assess the spaces), you grazed over people's faces and typically you avoid looking at people in the bathroom?

To be direct, I personally would never do the pool thing just so that I didn't have to deal with the whole shower/locker room thing. I would suspect that locker rooms would be worse for butches for two reasons:

1) women are probably even more conscious of their environment because they are getting undressed
2) the amount of time I had to spend in that space would be longer than in a public restroom which just means my discomfort would last even longer. I suspect it would become intolerable.

However, I would bet that yes, if you went the same time every day people would get used to you and also you will learn to do whatever it is you already do psychologically to get through public bathroom experiences. Perhaps it won't be as bad as you think?

Good luck.

Dapper, you hit both points exactly. When I was in the locker rooms the women who were undressed had a more pointed reaction to my presence. Yes, significantly more than the restrooms. Point two is probably what's been holding me back from my original start date a few months ago. Combined with the fact that I myself would have to be visible (hell, I don't even let my doctor see me), I'm not really sure how I'm going to pull this off.

I have been trying to figure out someway to get in and out without having to use that space while still being able to do a weight workout and a water session in the same visit.

I have postponed too long and I want to be able to get in a good 12 week run before January when everything will get all clogged up. I was then going to take January and February as a period for maintaining my gains from the fall and assess at that point whether or not I need to do another 12 – 16 week run at that time.

So far, I think I'm just going to have to tough it out. Part of why I am writing all of this in here is to hold myself accountable, so that I won't chicken out again. I hate that it has to be like this. Just when I think I've got it all figured out how to move around in this world I run into another brick wall. It is tiring after 50 years.

Thank you for being able to articulate that succinctly.

[Mopsie]

Dapper, you hit both points exactly. When I was in the locker rooms the women who were undressed had a more pointed reaction to my presence. Yes, significantly more than the restrooms. Point two is probably what's been holding me back from my original start date a few months ago. Combined with the fact that I myself would have to be visible (hell, I don't even let my doctor see me), I'm not really sure how I'm going to pull this off.

I have been trying to figure out someway to get in and out without having to use that space while still being able to do a weight workout and a water session in the same visit.

I have postponed too long and I want to be able to get in a good 12 week run before January when everything will get all clogged up. I was then going to take January and February as a period for maintaining my gains from the fall and assess at that point whether or not I need to do another 12 – 16 week run at that time.

So far, I think I'm just going to have to tough it out. Part of why I am writing all of this in here is to hold myself accountable, so that I won't chicken out again. I hate that it has to be like this. Just when I think I've got it all figured out how to move around in this world I run into another brick wall. It is tiring after 50 years.

Thank you for being able to articulate that succinctly.

This might not work for you but one butch I know puts on her bathing suit and then puts on her workout clothes on top of that. She does her land workout (weights or whatever) then goes into a bathroom stall and takes off the clothing. Her gym has a bathroom that's not in the locker room so she never has to go in the locker room at all. She has a towel in her car to sit on since her suit is wet from swimming. She then goes home and showers.

I really hate that butches have to go to such lengths just to use a public gym. It makes me so sad and frustrated. Good luck to you Kelt whatever you decide to do.

[Gemme]

Kelt,

I am also a numbers person when it comes to my workouts. I like to have tangible proof of what I did, although I did know that the readings were overestimated on the machines and I adjust accordingly.

But....seriously.....42% on the ellipticals? Wow. That's a tremendous difference.

As for the showers, I don't like to shower in public at all. It's a 'stuff' preference rather than a 'person' preference. I like my stuff in a certain place and when I have to do that kind of stuff outside of my usual routine, it throws me off and I'm uncomfortable. I'm definitely a creature of habit, so even when I was at the Y that had a pool and jacuzzi, I never changed there. I waited until I got home.

[Kelt]

Kelt,

I am also a numbers person when it comes to my workouts. I like to have tangible proof of what I did, although I did know that the readings were overestimated on the machines and I adjust accordingly.

But....seriously.....42% on the ellipticals? Wow. That's a tremendous difference.

As for the showers, I don't like to shower in public at all. It's a 'stuff' preference rather than a 'person' preference. I like my stuff in a certain place and when I have to do that kind of stuff outside of my usual routine, it throws me off and I'm uncomfortable. I'm definitely a creature of habit, so even when I was at the Y that had a pool and jacuzzi, I never changed there. I waited until I got home.

Gemme, I am also an absolute creature of habit. Routines drive pretty much all of my behavior. I am sure that is why this never came up for me before, in fact, this is the first time I've really thought about it. Big surprise for me!! I just always did all of my stuff at home. The only reason for this is wanting to try getting into a pool. For orthopedic reasons I think it would be a very good idea for me, both now and in the future. So, yeah I'm going to have to figure this one out.

The numbers, especially on the elliptical, we're pretty disturbing for me too. I figured that at least this way I won't be head-scratching if something doesn't turn out the way I planned it to due to an error in somebody else's calculations.

I have been investigating some of the full on activity trackers but sadly, the two that hold the most interest for me are not available yet. That's okay, the system I have in place now has been working pretty well. I will just stick with that.

Off to the beach!!

:theisland:

[DapperButch]

This might not work for you but one butch I know puts on her bathing suit and then puts on her workout clothes on top of that. She does her land workout (weights or whatever) then goes into a bathroom stall and takes off the clothing. Her gym has a bathroom that's not in the locker room so she never has to go in the locker room at all. She has a towel in her car to sit on since her suit is wet from swimming. She then goes home and showers.

I really hate that butches have to go to such lengths just to use a public gym. It makes me so sad and frustrated. Good luck to you Kelt whatever you decide to do.

The above makes sense to me. I assumed that there was some rule where Kelt was/is where you had to shower first, get wet or whatever before you got into the pool. I dunno, I remember we had to do that when I was a kid before we could get into the private pool where our family was a member.

Is there a reason why you must change in the locker room, Kelt? I am not sure that you were even talking about changing, just maybe you were talking about putting your clothes in the locker?

Sorry, Kelt, I still need more clarity!

[Soon]

The workout attire is on (oh, for about two hours now); if only I could begin the actual WORKOUT! :blink:

[Soon]

How Exercise Can Calm Anxiety (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/how-exercise-can-calm-anxiety/?ref=health&_r=0)

In an eye-opening demonstration of nature’s ingenuity, researchers at Princeton University recently discovered that exercise creates vibrant new brain cells — and then shuts them down when they shouldn’t be in action.

For some time, scientists studying exercise have been puzzled by physical activity’s two seemingly incompatible effects on the brain. On the one hand, exercise is known to prompt the creation of new and very excitable brain cells. At the same time, exercise can induce an overall pattern of calm in certain parts of the brain.

Most of us probably don’t realize that neurons are born with certain predispositions. Some, often the younger ones, are by nature easily excited. They fire with almost any provocation, which is laudable if you wish to speed thinking and memory formation.

But that feature is less desirable during times of everyday stress. If a stressor does not involve a life-or-death decision and require immediate physical action, then having lots of excitable neurons firing all at once can be counterproductive, inducing anxiety.

Studies in animals have shown that physical exercise creates excitable neurons in abundance, especially in the hippocampus, a portion of the brain known to be involved in thinking and emotional responses.

But exercise also has been found to reduce anxiety in both people and animals.

How can an activity simultaneously create ideal neurological conditions for anxiety and leave practitioners with a deep-rooted calm, the Princeton researchers wondered?

So they gathered adult mice, injected them with a substance that marks newborn cells in the brain, and for six weeks, allowed half of them to run at will on little wheels, while the others sat quietly in their cages.

Afterward, the scientists determined each group’s baseline nervousness. Given access to cages with open, well-lighted areas, as well as shadowy corners, the running mice were more willing to cautiously explore and spend time in open areas, an indication that they were more confident and less anxious than the sedentary animals.

The researchers also checked the brains of some of the runners and the sedentary mice to determine how many and what varieties of new neurons they contained.

As expected, the runners’ brains teemed with many new, excitable neurons. The sedentary mice’s brains also contained similar, volatile newborn cells, but not in such profusion.

The runners’ brains, however, also had a notable number of new neurons specifically designed to release the neurotransmitter GABA, which inhibits brain activity, keeping other neurons from firing easily. In effect, these are nanny neurons, designed to shush and quiet activity in the brain.

In the runners’ brains, there were large new populations of these cells in a portion of the hippocampus, the ventral region, associated with the processing of emotions. (The rest of the hippocampus, the dorsal region, is more involved with thinking and memory.)

What role these nanny neurons were playing in the animals’ brains and subsequent behavior was not altogether clear.

So the scientists next gently placed the remaining mice in ice-cold water for five minutes. Mice do not enjoy cold water. They find immersion stressful and anxiety-inducing, although it is not life-threatening.

Then the scientists checked these animals’ brains. They were looking for markers, known as immediate early genes, that indicate a neuron has recently fired.

They found them, in profusion. In both the physically fit and the sedentary mice, large numbers of the excitable cells had fired in response to the cold bath. Emotionally, the animals had become fired up by the stress.

But with the runners, it didn’t last long. Their brains, unlike those of the sedentary animals, showed evidence that the shushing neurons also had been activated in large numbers, releasing GABA, calming the excitable neurons’ activity and presumably keeping unnecessary anxiety at bay.

In effect, the runners’ brains had responded to the relatively minor stress of a cold bath with a quick rush of worry and a concomitant, overarching calm.

What all of this suggests, says Elizabeth Gould, director of the Gould Lab at Princeton, who wrote the paper with her graduate student Timothy Schoenfeld, now at the National Institute of Mental Health, and others, “is that the hippocampus of runners is vastly different from that of sedentary animals. Not only are there more excitatory neurons and more excitatory synapses, but the inhibitory neurons are more likely to become activated, presumably to dampen the excitatory neurons, in response to stress.” The findings were published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

It’s important to note, she adds, that this study examined long-term training responses. The runners’ wheels had been locked for 24 hours before their cold bath, so they would gain no acute calming effect from exercise. Instead, the difference in stress response between the runners and the sedentary animals reflected fundamental remodeling of their brains.

Of course, as we all know, mice are not men or women. But, Dr. Gould says, other studies “show that physical exercise reduces anxiety in humans,” suggesting that similar remodeling takes place in the brains of people who work out.

“I think it’s not a huge stretch,” she concludes, “to suggest that the hippocampi of active people might be less susceptible to certain undesirable aspects of stress than those of sedentary people.”

[Kelt]

The above makes sense to me. I assumed that there was some rule where Kelt was/is where you had to shower first, get wet or whatever before you got into the pool. I dunno, I remember we had to do that when I was a kid before we could get into the private pool where our family was a member.

Is there a reason why you must change in the locker room, Kelt? I am not sure that you were even talking about changing, just maybe you were talking about putting your clothes in the locker?

Sorry, Kelt, I still need more clarity!

Logistics:
I will be doing a two-part work out when I go to the gym. The first part of it will be a weightlifting workout which if done properly will leave me quite sweaty, I will need to shower off before I get in the pool. I will also need to shower the chlorine off of me when I get out of the pool so that I can put on dry clothes and not ruin my car. Wearing the suit underneath of my workout clothes would be impractical because a.) It would be very hot and, b.) Should I need to use the restroom I would have to completely disrobe anyway. Restrooms are in one end of the locker room.

Unfortunately the first place but I looked at had a very generous locker room with completely private showers and I thought that was what they would all be like. The other two places not so much. The first one is an insanely expensive tennis club so I will not be going there and choosing one of the other two instead.

I will likely walk softly and carry an enormous towel.

[Kelt]

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming:

Today's workout, 9 miles Nordic walking in sand.

Three hours walk time, one hour chat with friends.

:cheesy:

[cinnamongrrl]

Today... I laughed so hard my abs hurt!! Watched The Heat with Teddy.....lol

[Daktari]

Yesterday...hour and half walking with purpose and a long day doing stuff.

Today...an hour walking with purpose and a long day doing stuff



Kelt, might I venture that women in various states of undress might be uncomfortable just having someone they've never seen before and who is fully dressed in outdoor wear regardless of the sexuality and gender presentation of that person. Just a thought.

I've not used public facilities for any changing for a lot of years. Actually, not since the Space Cadet and me had an adventure staying with local friends and using a(public) hammam (bathhouse) in Marrakesh. We had to persuade the indomitable women on the door that I was indeed female bodied and qualified to use their side of the hammam...and all this in halting French. I've never been so closely scrutinised by a large group of women ever, before or since.

Ah wuz traumatised I tells ya! :|

[Chancie]

I use this website (http://www.nutristrategy.com/activitylist4.htm) and this website (http://www.prohealth.com/weightloss/tools/exercise/calculator1_2.cfm) to help me calculate how many calories I've burned during my workouts.

I am not advocating obsessing about calories, not at all. But, my weight loss plan already includes a two pound weight loss every week, and I want to be sure that I am eating enough to be healthy and so that I don't feel deprived and hungry and so my body doesn't go into starvation mode.

I don't work out so I can eat more because that feels like obsessive behavior to me. I work out because it feels good and I want to be healthy and strong.

What was the question? I've been taking Zumba classes and water aerobics, and today I tried a 30 minute stretch class and a one hour weight lifting class, woof.

In general, people at my Y are very nice and very helpful but there is a lot of fat phobia and people talking trash about their own bodies and their own food choices.

[DapperButch]

Logistics:
I will be doing a two-part work out when I go to the gym. The first part of it will be a weightlifting workout which if done properly will leave me quite sweaty, I will need to shower off before I get in the pool. I will also need to shower the chlorine off of me when I get out of the pool so that I can put on dry clothes and not ruin my car. Wearing the suit underneath of my workout clothes would be impractical because a.) It would be very hot and, b.) Should I need to use the restroom I would have to completely disrobe anyway. Restrooms are in one end of the locker room.

Unfortunately the first place but I looked at had a very generous locker room with completely private showers and I thought that was what they would all be like. The other two places not so much. The first one is an insanely expensive tennis club so I will not be going there and choosing one of the other two instead.

I will likely walk softly and carry an enormous towel.

Oh, ok, Kelt. Gosh that would be hard :-( I hear you.

[Soon]

treadmill--one hour

swimming--half hour

I joined the community centre pool for laps!

[Gemme]

Nada.

Total bupkiss.

Maybe tomorrow.

[nycfem]

Kelt, might I venture that women in various states of undress might be uncomfortable just having someone they've never seen before and who is fully dressed in outdoor wear regardless of the sexuality and gender presentation of that person. Just a thought.



I was going to say this too. Sometimes in our locker room a man will accidentally walk in, and there is a big reaction or even a new woman who is not one of the regulars, and so everyone's curious (and, as Daktari said, sometimes especially defensive during tours when they are partially undressed and the person coming in is dressed). I think once you become a regular somewhere people will not give you as hard a time. I feel a sense of family/connection with all the regulars, even if we are different and/or don't care for each other. There's still the commonality of having all this time we spend next to each other at the gym! Speaking of which, I did an hour next to Jill on the Arc Trainer today. She did level 15 and held the sides instead of doing the arm motion. She was extremely quick (like a fox I tell you!) and was texting and watching Ellen Degeneres. I was doing a high intensity slower session and using my arms and legs while watching Judge Judy. Then I did 30 minutes of yoga, weight lifting, and abs next to the serious, older, petite, muscular Asian woman whose name I do not know, though I do know her whole exercise routine, and I'd venture to say she knows mine :).

[Kelt]

I was going to say this too. Sometimes in our locker room a man will accidentally walk in, and there is a big reaction or even a new woman who is not one of the regulars, and so everyone's curious (and, as Daktari said, sometimes especially defensive during tours when they are partially undressed and the person coming in is dressed). I think once you become a regular somewhere people will not give you as hard a time. I feel a sense of family/connection with all the regulars, even if we are different and/or don't care for each other. There's still the commonality of having all this time we spend next to each other at the gym! Speaking of which, I did an hour next to Jill on the Arc Trainer today. She did level 15 and held the sides instead of doing the arm motion. She was extremely quick (like a fox I tell you!) and was texting and watching Ellen Degeneres. I was doing a high intensity slower session and using my arms and legs while watching Judge Judy. Then I did 30 minutes of yoga, weight lifting, and abs next to the serious, older, petite, muscular Asian woman whose name I do not know, though I do know her whole exercise routine, and I'd venture to say she knows mine :).

I completely agree that the women who are already in there have a heightened sense of vulnerability because of their own state of undress. I get that and I'm okay with just having to grit my teeth for a little while until they get used to me, and they will. I play well with others and make friends easily.

I think that especially in the US we are all sort of conditioned to be uncomfortable with our own bodies in a public space. I understand that people are uncomfortable in their own skin and I am also. I think the monster in my head is that I'm in the wrong skin at all, and additionally do not care for it.

I think the other patrons will get over it faster than I will.

[Daktari]

In such situations folks often take their lead from us. If we're awkward and embarrassed they're more likely to tread on eggshells around us. My personal way of dealing with this is just to be extra smiley and friendly. I never take offense if folks make mistakes and call me Sir etc., being offended can just alienate and make them feel embarrassed at their mistake.
It just takes a little time for folks to get over themselves and their preconceptions of female bodied folks who don't look like them.

Infact I took more offense at a femme calling me 'she' at weekend when she really should have known better. :sunglass:

[Kelt]

Nordic walk in sand 9 miles. *copyandpaste*

Going from 6 miles to 9 for the last four days = sore legs in the morning.

:theisland:

Last weekend while on my walk I was talking to a friend when we noticed a huge plume of black smoke across the water and were trying to figure out what it was. Turns out it was the Asiana plane crash. Strange stuff out there some days.

:praying:

[nycfem]

Can you give us a quick description of what Nordic walking involves, Kelt?

[easygoingfemme]

I've been struggling with the intense heat and humidity! So I'm still inside a lot on the rowing machine. It's supposed to be in the 80s this weekend though, woohoo! I have a Sunday ride scheduled with a friend I am training with. Her longest ride of the season has been 22 miles so I'm hoping to push her to about 35 on Sunday. With hills.

[Kelt]

Can you give us a quick description of what Nordic walking involves, Kelt?

It's an adaptation that came from off season cross country skiing training. Very popular in northern Europe, and being incorporated into a lot of rehab programs in hospitals. It looks kind of like this, I just do it on a beach.
It's basically a very fast aggressive walking with upper body recruitment, but no impact. I think of it as an outdoor elliptical machine.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4CaowU0jODB0xCeor35LyxwSWvzOyi EGhRkqk_M407I4uWuVN

I ran into one of my friends this morning and she was sporting a brand new set of poles. She is from India, everybody who thought I was a little touched a year ago is drinking the koolaid. She is #7. :cheesy:

Thanks to you asking I found a picture of it underwater!! I could seriously get into that! Unfortunately the only picture I found is one that I cannot transfer into here.

[Mopsie]

Today was a crappy day. I had a migraine this morning which made me feel exhausted all day. And I had several unpleasant experiences at work. :(

I did not want to go to the gym tonight. I argued with myself for quite a while. But I had a race to finish dammit! So I trudged off to the gym.

I'm so glad I went. I feel so much better after my workout. :)

And I had the fastest time I've walked all week! :cheesy:

Today's time = 1 mile in 40 minutes and 1 second.


I worked a lot Friday and Saturday (32 hours) and I was too tired to go to the gym.

I went this afternoon and had a really lovely time. There were a few people there but it wasn't very crowded. And there is some sort of surfing competition on the TV. So if I scrunched my eyes just so it was like I was walking on an air conditioned beach in Fiji.

:cheesy:

Today's time = 1 mile in 40 minutes and 45 seconds.

[easygoingfemme]

Today was a crappy day. I had a migraine this morning which made me feel exhausted all day. And I had several unpleasant experiences at work. :(

I did not want to go to the gym tonight. I argued with myself for quite a while. But I had a race to finish dammit! So I trudged off to the gym.

I'm so glad I went. I feel so much better after my workout. :)

And I had the fastest time I've walked all week! :cheesy:

Today's time = 1 mile in 40 minutes and 1 second.



Don't you just love when you can turn a day around like that?!

[Gemme]

It was an abreviated workout for me tonight. 45 minutes total. 5/5 warming up and cooling down and 30 in 'let's go' mode plus 5 for stretching.

The gym was pretty full tonight and there was a nice buzz and energy about the place. I still got my favorite spot though, so I was a happy camper and came in over 250 calories burned (taking Kelt's post about percentages being off into consideration). Not bad for a quickie.

[Chelsius]

Today I decided to use my resistance bands rather than free weights. It was a nice little switch up. Really need to get back to yoga on a daily basis.

[Daktari]

Yesterday was a full day being active. Walking to and from most places = 4 miles + cycling a short coupla miles. All good.

Today starts with walking round to the workshop, more walking to and fro other places and finally a 3mile ride (not long enough for exercise, it's just for quick transport) to the meeting tonight.

[DapperButch]

Yesterday was a full day being active. Walking to and from most places = 4 miles + cycling a short coupla miles. All good.

Today starts with walking round to the workshop, more walking to and fro other places and finally a 3mile ride (not long enough for exercise, it's just for quick transport) to the meeting tonight.


Any kind of moving is exercise, my friend! It is great that exercise is built into your way of life.

[Daktari]

Any kind of moving is exercise, my friend! It is great that exercise is built into your way of life.

You're right mate!

I know I'm very fortunate to live in a place and be in a position where, barring real bad health or weather days, I can get out in the open air and move around. However I do have to make myself do this stuff and turn down motorised lifts in favour of human powered transport; velo or Shanks' Pony [please see my personal translator for clarification about Mr S and his equine] now I got old and can't be effortlessly thin anymore :sigh:

[Soon]

thirty minutes of laps -- 10 mins front crawl / 10 breaststroke / 10 front crawl

[Rockinonahigh]

Even with sore knees I have kept rideing the bike just not as for or as hard,it feels like cheeting but I can still get some cardio in my work out.I have done thiryt to fortyfive minits day working out with weights and playing basket ball plus useing the bowfles till I just give out.For the next three days I have pool games to go to so my program will be much easyer but not forgotten,so when i'm done will get back to what I am doing.I am starting to drop a fue pounds again,I was thinking it wasnt going to happen again so I am pleased just wish I didnt have to crunch the workouts so hard cause I dont want to blow out something then cant workout at all.

[Kelt]

Another 9 on the beach, a beautiful sunny day.

I should probably crank up the SPF tomorrow.

:tanning:

[Bella~Vita]

3 hrs at the pool, swimming, walking, and water arobics.... legs feel like jello.... I will sleep good tonite!

[Gemme]

A mixed afternoon, exercisers! Half an hour of cardio (low speed and high incline) followed by about an hour of circuit training and some quick stretching.

I saw the Amazonian claw-handed goddess again. Man, that lady can run! And her legs are so long, it makes her look like she's just loping along, even though I know how fast she's going.

I have a love-hate relationship with how I think of her. She makes it look so easy and she's lovely to watch....like a long-legged foal getting his feet under him or maybe a gazelle boinging through the tall grass....but dammit, she makes it look so easy....and it's totally not. Dammit.

Well, the important thing is that I got right under the fan again today and it felt delicious while I was on the treadmill.

[Gemme]

OMG!

Amazonian claw-handed goddess ran on the treadmill next to me tonight! My head ALMOST reaches her shoulders.

:blink:

And she runs at 6.4 mph.

And she barely breaks a sweat, except on her shoulders, which are always bare.

And she still made it look super easy.

Bitch.

:mohawk:

BUT

I kept up with her tonight.

Sort of.

Sometimes.

I ran intervals between 1-3 minutes and when I was actually running, I kept up with her, step for step (though my speed was usually slower than hers). The rest of the time, I was just trying not to pass out.

:blink:

It felt rough tonight, fellow exercisers. So I didn't push too too hard but I didn't slack on myself either. I slowed down or stopped when it felt like I just couldn't continue at that speed or intensity but kept pushing through my preset time.

Completely ignoring Kelt's statistics because they would annoy me now.....I burned 413 calories and walked/ran almost 4 miles in 60 minutes. I also did some light ab work and stretching afterwards, which totally makes up for any discrepancy in the reading.

*smug*

[Kelt]

My exercise experience today completely SUCKED.

Mostly because it didn't happen at all.

Nor is it likely to for a while. It finally happened, after three years of daily beach walking, I finally hurt myself. I have kept going through a lot of things like chronic pain, epic blisters, nasty weather, and a bunch of other crap I can't really think of right now.

This one has stopped me in my tracks. Mean little fucker. I have had systemic problems with tendons in various body parts for years now, but this one is a place that has me more screwed than usual. The top of my ankle, and it keeps me from being able to pick my foot up. Seems it is called the anterior tibial tendon.

I don't really know how bad it is beyond the pain, but I do know to respect soft tissue injuries, they take forever to heal. I figured out how to deal with planters fasciitis in the bottoms of both feet, but this is the opposite. Still trying to puzzle it out. I almost went out to do some testing this morning, but thought better of it. Then just trying to do laundry put me back in my place.

Oy vey!

I think I can be okay in a gym, as long as I stay away from the cardio stuff. I am not sure however, about swimming with all that kicking. (pointing toes is a no-no)

I am tempted to just move up my timetable for starting the gym, but I have a road trip coming up and hate to pay membership fees for something I am not using while I am gone.

Bother, I hate being around me when I'm all pissy like this.

:badmood:

[nycfem]

Oh, no, Kelt! Innjuries are the worst! And they happen just-like-that and do throw us for an unwanted loop!

I vote for gym, Kelt. You can do a great back stroke without moving your feet at all, and that's great cardio. Take advantage of the weightlessness of water for your ankle, and the resistance it provides for your arm strokes. You can also do front crawl by swimming with a kickboard under your thighs and not kicking at all (can use the kickboard in same way when on your back if you need it). Just using arms will have you working hard! Also, on the gym floor, there's a guy in a wheelchair with a prosthetic leg, and he does his cardio by going to the machine where you essentially bike using your hands. Where there's a will there's a way! Or you could take a rest. But I think you are like me, and having to go a day without play is no treat! Many years ago when I broke my foot and went a few months without leaving my 4th floor apartment, I was also careful to eat mostly all homemade healthy and less because without movement it's hard on the body, especially when we're used to so much movement. Keep us posted, and I hope that things improve soon! My mood plummets when I get an injury, and you just gotta know that things will get better.

Today at the gym I did 140 minutes on the Arc Trainer, Interval program (drank a full liter of water during that!). While doing cardio, I watched the Real Housewives of Orange County go skiing in Whistler, Canada. Then I did 40 minutes of abs, stretching, yoga, and weight lifting. It all left me feeling fantastic.

My exercise experience today completely SUCKED.

Mostly because it didn't happen at all.

Nor is it likely to for a while. It finally happened, after three years of daily beach walking, I finally hurt myself. I have kept going through a lot of things like chronic pain, epic blisters, nasty weather, and a bunch of other crap I can't really think of right now.

This one has stopped me in my tracks. Mean little fucker. I have had systemic problems with tendons in various body parts for years now, but this one is a place that has me more screwed than usual. The top of my ankle, and it keeps me from being able to pick my foot up. Seems it is called the anterior tibial tendon.

I don't really know how bad it is beyond the pain, but I do know to respect soft tissue injuries, they take forever to heal. I figured out how to deal with planters fasciitis in the bottoms of both feet, but this is the opposite. Still trying to puzzle it out. I almost went out to do some testing this morning, but thought better of it. Then just trying to do laundry put me back in my place.

Oy vey!

I think I can be okay in a gym, as long as I stay away from the cardio stuff. I am not sure however, about swimming with all that kicking. (pointing toes is a no-no)

I am tempted to just move up my timetable for starting the gym, but I have a road trip coming up and hate to pay membership fees for something I am not using while I am gone.

Bother, I hate being around me when I'm all pissy like this.

:badmood:

[Kelt]

Oh, no, Kelt! Innjuries are the worst! And they happen just-like-that and do throw us for an unwanted loop!

I vote for gym, Kelt. You can do a great back stroke without moving your feet at all, and that's great cardio. Take advantage of the weightlessness of water for your ankle, and the resistance it provides for your arm strokes. You can also do front crawl by swimming with a kickboard under your thighs and not kicking at all (can use the kickboard in same way when on your back if you need it). Just using arms will have you working hard! Also, on the gym floor, there's a guy in a wheelchair with a prosthetic leg, and he does his cardio by going to the machine where you essentially bike using your hands. Where there's a will there's a way! Or you could take a rest. But I think you are like me, and having to go a day without play is no treat! Many years ago when I broke my foot and went a few months without leaving my 4th floor apartment, I was also careful to eat mostly all homemade healthy and less because without movement it's hard on the body, especially when we're used to so much movement. Keep us posted, and I hope that things improve soon! My mood plummets when I get an injury, and you just gotta know that things will get better.

Today at the gym I did 140 minutes on the Arc Trainer, Interval program (drank a full liter of water during that!). While doing cardio, I watched the Real Housewives of Orange County go skiing in Whistler, Canada. Then I did 40 minutes of abs, stretching, yoga, and weight lifting. It all left me feeling fantastic.

Thank you for the ideas!

Yes, one day cabin fever = cranky pants.

Trying to run errands this morning *snort* I stopped by the thrift store and picked up some gym togs, gotta do something. (that was all kinds of fun, using a cart as a walker)

:thinking:

[nycfem]

Also, Kelt, if you decide to lift weights at home or at the gym, make sure to do so sitting down so that you don't have any pressure that could affect that ankle. I agree with you that healing needs to be the utmost priority.

[Mopsie]

Okay so I'm pre-posting to make myself go to the gym tomorrow. :blink:

I really enjoyed the virtual race I did last week! :cheesy:
(Thanks Alexri and Gemme for the inspiration.)

Somewhere on this thread or the healthy weight loss thread I found a link to Sparkpeople. And guess what? They have weekly virtual races!

So I signed up for another 5k. I am planning to do the first leg of it tomorrow. :)

[Gemme]

Mopsie, I'm so proud of you! Way to go, girl!

Kelt, I feel your pain. Not quite literally, but near enough to really make me wince. I, too, am experiencing something that may or may not resemble an injury. Or a pre-injury.

Basically, it's something I am taking very seriously even though I don't know what it is. The past few days I've had some weird soreness in my lower legs (not really my calves but not my shins but in between somewhere deep in the muscle). Mainly the left leg but today's it's been the right as well.

Alex and I have talked about it a little bit, since he's a former volunteer EMT and runs a lot, and we've come up with some options to see if that helps and we'll progress from there because I don't go to the doctor unless I'm dying or bleeding excessively from some orifice or I think I'm dying because I'm bleeding excessively from some orifice.

Alex took me to his running store in Providence (shout out for Rhode Runner) and they assessed my gait (I over pronate!) and fitted me properly for new shoes. So I have some lovely shoes that I now have to break in (but not at the gym according to Alex.....the first few wears of new shoes sets the fit and he recommended I walk somewhere where my gait would be the most 'normal' so I may be breaking them in at at the mall with its even, smooth walking surface and not stopping and starting and running on a piece of equipment) and that cost what feels like a fortune to me.

Did I mention I'm a cheapass when it comes to a lot of things?

:blink:

So, I have new shoes because my old ones....which still look okay to the naked eye and aren't even really dirty.....are several years old and even though I ONLY wore them for gym activities, they have probably surpassed more than 500 miles on them over the years. Not to mention that when I pulled them out this last time, they were a little tight. Seems my feet got nice and plump this time around with the weight gain. They're wide normally but now I have new calluses developing and these suckers are a bit on the painful side.

So, that's change number one. I'll be looking at replacing my work shoes too, as I wear sneaks there too and it feels like those are beyond their proper usage as well.

Then, since my legs felt pretty bad today (I've been on my feet and moving ALL DAY with only a break for brunch and a shower and finally dinner....my poor tootsies!), he loaned me his compression sleeves to wear for a couple of hours and they seem to be helping. I may have to borrow them until I can get a pair of my own. Those suckers are expensive....to me....too.

BUT

I can only be a cheapass about cheapass stuff. My gear and my legs are mondo importante and I had to suck up and just do the damn thing.

For the record, today's been a good day for me regarding health. Despite working out regularly now and eating better, I really put off anything else related to health (I know....bad me!) so I'm working on that. Today I also got 'scripts in for new glasses and sunglasses. I just *might* be able to read the fine print on food bottles now. Probably not, as it's in -5 font, but maybe.

I did get in a workout this morning, though. I did the treadmill and some running intervals until it just really didn't feel right, so I walked the rest out and finished with some circuit training, ab work and stretching.

I think I don't like the weekend warriors so much at this gym. I saw two people....within minutes of one another....go from machine to machine without wiping them down. Big issue for me. In WA, I was getting sick and when I felt better I would go back to working out and then get sick again. I finally figured it out. If I wiped down each machine before I got on it, I got sick less. Actually, not at all after that. Sharing is caring and all that, but I don't want your nasty sweat, buddy. Promise.

So that's my day in a nutshell. A big nutshell, but a nutshell nonetheless.

P to the S~Am I the only one in absolute complete AWE of the dedication and stamina that Jennifer has??? OMG, girl. Kudos to you!

[Daktari]

Save yer money Kelt and invest (less money than an ongoing gym membership) in a triceps bar and some weights. The idea behind the triceps bar is that it gives multi hand positions for different exercises.

Or...

You can do a light upper body work-out with little to no kit. It's possible to do cheat press-ups from your knees. Triceps presses on a chair/bench. Flyes - for chest and shoulders can performed sitting, holding onto things like food cans/bags of sugar etc.

When I'm being obsessive about exercise then it's harder than ever to have an enforced lay-off. The lesson for me is balance. :hangloose:


Yesterday's exercise...I've not even poked my nose out of the door yet today...was...now I've calculated it properly on google maps...roughly 12miles return cycle trip down the coast to visit with friends. There was a headwind on the return but it still didn't feel like too much effort was expended sadly. M'poor shoulders and wrists are struggling to cycle right now so I'm a little reluctant to take a longer trip, although, on the other hand, maybe that's what they need :sigh:

Wishing ya'll a super day moving yer body around.

[DapperButch]

<Gemme's long ass post>

No, you are not the only one in awe of Jennifer. She freaks me out. Seriously, I woke up this morning thinking about her. I don't think she's normal. She's super human physically being able to go that long on cardio and super human psychologically and/or fucked up being to go that long without wanting to shoot herself in the head. I am going to go with super human because it freaks me out less. (Kelt of course is a total freak as well...)

Anyway.....I am glad that you listened to Alex/people at store and accepted how important good shoes are. It is hard to spend that kind of cash and honestly, since I do the eliptical only and not the treadmill, I picked up some cheap(er) Nikes. When I played sports I put out the money. If you are on your feet during the day you SO need good shoes. They say that can make an incredible difference in fatigue.

So, like Mopsie, I am going to say out loud that I am going to work out today. I got behind and let it go this past week. I actually did better when I was down at the beach the week before. In fact, I felt a need to take a picture of the front of my soaked shirt and texted it to people with the question, "And how hard did you work out today?" 'Cause I'm funny like that. My friend texted back, "Please, you know you sweat just walking outside". Which is SO true....haha

I get jammed up with exercise because I am just not a morning person, which means I do my workout after work. If I have something going on in the evenings (which I did several days this past week), I don't work out that day. I don't have an excuse for not working out after coming home from said activity (I do have an eliptical at home, too), I just don't like working out after dinner. Anyway, I need to shut the hell up with excuses and become disciplined like that crazy Jennifer....

[DapperButch]

... I did spend 3 hours detailing the exterior of my car yesterday, so that was movement/exercise. Being that I am sore from the twists and contorting of my body, it certainly did something for my body. Today should be another 1.5 hours on the outside of the car because I didn't get all of it done. I am going to work out first, or otherwise I may talk myself out of the gym.

[Miss Scarlett]

Most of the exercise I get is from walking...yesterday I met a friend at this HUGE mall near where I work. Wish I'd been wearing my pedometer but think I walked at least 1.5 miles and my legs and back are telling me all about it this morning. Thank the Goddess for my Shiatsu chair massager thing...LOL

I confess that I haven't read much in this thread, so please indulge and forgive me if this topic has already been dicussed...is anyone doing any body sculpting? I need to tone, tighten and strengthen and want more definition to my body - get my hourglass back if you will. I love having those curves.

[Kelt]

Save yer money Kelt and invest (less money than an ongoing gym membership) in a triceps bar and some weights. The idea behind the triceps bar is that it gives multi hand positions for different exercises.

Or...

You can do a light upper body work-out with little to no kit. It's possible to do cheat press-ups from your knees. Triceps presses on a chair/bench. Flyes - for chest and shoulders can performed sitting, holding onto things like food cans/bags of sugar etc.

When I'm being obsessive about exercise then it's harder than ever to have an enforced lay-off. The lesson for me is balance. :hangloose:


Yesterday's exercise...I've not even poked my nose out of the door yet today...was...now I've calculated it properly on google maps...roughly 12miles return cycle trip down the coast to visit with friends. There was a headwind on the return but it still didn't feel like too much effort was expended sadly. M'poor shoulders and wrists are struggling to cycle right now so I'm a little reluctant to take a longer trip, although, on the other hand, maybe that's what they need :sigh:

Wishing ya'll a super day moving yer body around.

I completely agree with you about working out at home with minimal equipment. Regrettably, my body isn't on the same plan. I am unable to pick up and manage free weights with some of the orthopedic conditions I am dealing with. This is why the routine I have been doing has had a fairly limited range of motions and was something I could do entirely upright. The result is that I am now a classic case of "chronic cardio". That is not to say there isn't a way to do this.

I have a very specific set of outcomes in mind that plans for an exit strategy from the gym and transitioning into my home. The end goal will be to do full body weight exercises as part of a revised maintenance routine. In the gym I will be using the equipment that most closely mimics free weights/bodyweight. The reason for going to a gym is that I am just not strong enough to do the things that I want to do at home and need to gain some muscle in an assisted way.

There will be a series of checks and balances built into it so that I should be able to retain my gains from the gym. I have an annoying tendency to reverse engineer everything, and this is just one more example.

:weightlifter: <<< Soon...

[Chancie]

I took a professional development class last week so I couldn't get to water aerobics so I decided to try the early morning exercise classes. Part of my motivation was to check out whether I'd be able to keep going to the gym once the school year starts.

In order to make this work, I packed breakfast and lunch and iced coffee, which Pete made for me after she did the dishes the night before. I mostly wore gym clothes to my class, though I won't be able to do that once school starts, and I'll have way less driving but I can't figure out when I'll eat breakfast. I felt like all we did all week was cook and wash dishes. I did remind myself that plenty of families focus on taking care of their families and their homes.

Without torturing you with many more details, I'll just report that on MWF, I went to a stretch class, 5:30 - 6 am and a group weightlifting class, 6 - 7 am. On T/Th, I took a core class, 5 - 6:30 am. My next goal is to add cardio to my workout.

[easygoingfemme]

Very hot, sweaty, fun, therapeutic bike ride with my best friend.:hangloose:

[Kelt]

... I did spend 3 hours detailing the exterior of my car yesterday, so that was movement/exercise. Being that I am sore from the twists and contorting of my body, it certainly did something for my body. Today should be another 1.5 hours on the outside of the car because I didn't get all of it done. I am going to work out first, or otherwise I may talk myself out of the gym.

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

I was wondering what to do with my gimpy self today. This meets the criteria;

1) Burns off some physical energy
2) Outdoors
3) Doesn't require much walking

Bonus round = clean car

Although I won't take it to this level, it fits the bill.

Thanks Dapper!

[alexri]

Yuppers on the shoe discussions.

If you are doing regular walking/small distance charity events, regular walking shoes like New Balance are fine. But if you are getting into seriously regularly doing running, lots of walking, or race walking, then yes, one should invest in properly fitted running shoes.

As a coach we even tell our half and full marathon walkers to side to running shoes because they are built with more support and cushioning for the long distance events. The discount stores/mall chains just don't know how to properly pick the right shoe for someone, and it might even be a trial and error process at the local running store to find the right shoe. Price and looks should not be the two top reasons you get a running shoe. Better to spend the money now on a better shoe than at the podiatrist's office. The staff at my local running store are runners, and actual half and full marathon winners. They know what they are talking about, and if the shoe you got turns out to not be right, they take them back up to 30 days for credit and then re-size you. Now once I find the pair I like, I may order extras online for cheaper, and often to get Southwest rewards points through their mall.

And yes our feet change sizes for several reasons. When I started running and race walking years ago I was size 8.5. I am now a size 10. So every year or every other year you might even find that you need to be re-sized and re-checked for a change in your gait. Most running shoes will last 300-500 miles (lots of factors in this, including the surface you train on, your weight, etc). I tend to rotate pairs, especially if I am doing two races in one weekend. And my race shoes are for racing/training only, they're not the around-the-house shoes or work shoes. Once they are retired from racing, they become yardwork shoes, or they get recycled at any Nike store or outlet (they'll take any brand of exercise shoes and recycle them).

Yesterday was an exercise rest day. Today was 9 fluffy bunny miles (the term many of us use when we're putting in low/no extra effort) to get acclimated to the heat and humidity here. I've barely raced this year and I want to pick up some more really good local events.

Racing is a very addictive, and can be a very expensive hobby, but if you manage it right, you can do a lot of events for very cheap. There are two local race directors that will give you a free entry for their events if you volunteer at another one. I am looking to do that. I've got two freebies for next year so far.

[Mopsie]

I made it to the gym today! Woot! :cheer:

I walked 1.1 miles in 44 minutes.

That is two and a half minutes slower than last time. *frustrated*

I had to keep reminding myself that I was following doctors orders. My asthma has been bothering me for several days. When I talked with my doctor about working out and my asthma she advised me to walk slower for longer. It keeps me from having an asthma attack. BUT the competitive side of me has a little tantrum every time!

And now, in my post workout glow, I'm feeling good. :cheesy:

Thanks for the support everyone - it really helps! :)

[alexri]

Nothing wrong with walking, or walking slowly!

The female world record holder for the most marathons in a year is a walker. Just sayin.'

[DapperButch]

Heading to the gym now. Going to get some weights in before my friend comes to meet me to eliptical together. Then beer drinking! ha!

[Mopsie]

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

I was wondering what to do with my gimpy self today. This meets the criteria;

1) Burns off some physical energy
2) Outdoors
3) Doesn't require much walking

Bonus round = clean car

Although I won't take it to this level, it fits the bill.

Thanks Dapper!


So how did the car cleaning exercise go?

[Mopsie]

Nothing wrong with walking, or walking slowly!

The female world record holder for the most marathons in a year is a walker. Just sayin.'

Really? That's awesome!

BTW - I didn't know you were a coach. That's also awesome. :)

[Chancie]

<snip>

Without torturing you with many more details, I'll just report that on MWF, I went to a stretch class, 5:30 - 6 am and a group weightlifting class, 6 - 7 am. On T/Th, I took a core class, 5 - 6:30 am. My next goal is to add cardio to my workout.

Ha, ha, ha. The core class met from 6 - 6:30.

[Kelt]

So how did the car cleaning exercise go?

It was great! Sunny and 70, two neighbors saw me outside and wandered over to sit on the stoop and keep me company also.

Since I live on the top floor, everything goes up and down three flights. Really didn't bother the ankle either.

And a clean car to boot.

:cheesy:

[RockOn]

Does this count as exercise? :)

Pulled into my driveway. Noticed 70ish year old neighbor woman sitting on the ground by another neighbor's door. She had fallen. I went over and picked her up, set her back upright on her feet. This is the second time this week I have had to pick her up. I do not mind helping her like that but I have grown to realize how manipulative she is so otherwise I keep my distance.

[Mopsie]

Ha, ha, ha. The core class met from 6 - 6:30.

Was that a Freudian slip? :blink:

Did it FEEL like a really long class? ;)

[sierragirrl]

I am finally able to get in enough water and protein to be able to start getting my bum into gear..waiting for it to cool off a bit then off to the school to walk around the track with the lil dog in toe and the child can play.
hey we all gotta start somewhere right?

[Mopsie]

I am finally able to get in enough water and protein to be able to start getting my bum into gear..waiting for it to cool off a bit then off to the school to walk around the track with the lil dog in toe and the child can play.
hey we all gotta start somewhere right?

Hell ya! We do all start somewhere. Good for you. :)

[Gemme]

Most of the exercise I get is from walking...yesterday I met a friend at this HUGE mall near where I work. Wish I'd been wearing my pedometer but think I walked at least 1.5 miles and my legs and back are telling me all about it this morning. Thank the Goddess for my Shiatsu chair massager thing...LOL

I confess that I haven't read much in this thread, so please indulge and forgive me if this topic has already been dicussed...is anyone doing any body sculpting? I need to tone, tighten and strengthen and want more definition to my body - get my hourglass back if you will. I love having those curves.

A lot of us use weights in one form or another.

:)

Good evening, exercisers.

Today was an off day. I thought better of it after the leg issues yesterday and Alex did his running outside at the park so no guilt for not bringing myself to the gym. Wee.

Wore my new shoes around the house today. It took me a while to get fully comfy in them but they seem to fit really well and I didn't have to use Alex's compression sleeves again but I think I will tomorrow. I didn't find the shoes I wanted to use for my work shoes, so I'm either going to have to wear my workout shoes to work, which I'd really rather not do, or suck it up one more day with my older shoes.

I'll figure it out tomorrow.

[Mopsie]

A lot of us use weights in one form or another.

:)

Good evening, exercisers.

Today was an off day. I thought better of it after the leg issues yesterday and Alex did his running outside at the park so no guilt for not bringing myself to the gym. Wee.

Wore my new shoes around the house today. It took me a while to get fully comfy in them but they seem to fit really well and I didn't have to use Alex's compression sleeves again but I think I will tomorrow. I didn't find the shoes I wanted to use for my work shoes, so I'm either going to have to wear my workout shoes to work, which I'd really rather not do, or suck it up one more day with my older shoes.

I'll figure it out tomorrow.

So good to hear that a good pair shoes seems to be the solution to your problem. :)

[Gemme]

So good to hear that a good pair shoes seems to be the solution to your problem. :)

A big part of it for sure. Giving my body an off day was definitely needed too.

I felt an occasion twinge today but not nearly as bad as it's been. The compression sleeves helped a lot. When I can get myself a pair, I will. Alex said they're good for wearing on the plane too, so we'll likely wear ours to Little Rock.

[Kelt]

I miss my food! :eating:

All this sitting around is forcing me to cut back on my food fun.

Bummer

[Daktari]

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010/01/running-barefoot-vs-shoes.html

http://www.chrismcdougall.com/barefoot.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/technology/4314401

[DapperButch]

I miss my food! :eating:

All this sitting around is forcing me to cut back on my food fun.

Bummer

But, how awesome is it that you actually think about calories in + activity level = weight/body composition out?

I am curious to know if you think of your body as a "machine" so to speak and food as fuel? Do you track all your calories? Where/when does it cross over to obsession would you say?

I think that people who having the ability to see their bodies as machines have it right. The discipline is impressive. I just wonder if for some of them they can drive themselves nuts with it.

[Chancie]

I went to stretch, group power, and I weeded for about 20 minutes this morning.

Every few weeks, the regular classes get a revamp, and today was the first day of the new group power class. The teacher just learned the combinations herself, and every few exercises she would say, Uhoh, that wasn't what we were supposed to do!

We use bars and free weights and steps in that class and we work every major group of muscles, and I just started last week, so I'm generally one third of a set behind as it is. Weights on, weights off, heavier weights, lighter weights, but I'm sore in a few new spots today.

It was probably silly to weed when I got home, but it's probably going to be too hot later, and my garden looks terrible.

[Daktari]

On Saturday I broke m'self cycling just 12/13miles. Dunno what went wrong. I'd eaten, was well hydrated, yada yada yada.

Exhaustion was so deep yesterday I could barely think, let alone move :| This can happen, for me, after several days of 'big busy', not just a measly little bike ride to see friends. Although I guess that messing about at the bike workshop for a portion of each day last week must also be counted as it's not 'usual' activity for me...yet.

Even though it was the first proper ride...it counts as a proper ride if I put m'padded cycling undershorts on... over 10miles since getting back in the saddle after injury but I really didn't expect to be so wiped out. Mebbe it was the heat...the hottest day thus far this year for us (late 20s C in shade). Mebbe it was all the above factors.

Yesterday a short walk to and from town was as good as it got, which was followed by hitting m'bed by 6pm and being asleep before it was dark.

Still suffering from a total lack of energy today, two days later. Does anyone else get this totally debilitating tiredness? Does anyone know what causes it?

[Chancie]

I went to stretch, group power, and I weeded for about 20 minutes this morning.

<snip>

It was probably silly to weed when I got home, but it's probably going to be too hot later, and my garden looks terrible.

I weeded and raked for another hour, oy.

My triceps are sore, my tush is sore, and some muscle in the front of my underarm is sore.

Have I always had that muscle?

[Kelt]

But, how awesome is it that you actually think about calories in + activity level = weight/body composition out?

I am curious to know if you think of your body as a "machine" so to speak and food as fuel? Do you track all your calories? Where/when does it cross over to obsession would you say?

I think that people who having the ability to see their bodies as machines have it right. The discipline is impressive. I just wonder if for some of them they can drive themselves nuts with it.

Hey Dapper, yes I think we are pretty much biological internal combustion engines. According to Gemme and Jennifer a couple of days back some days are more combustable than others. :fart:

I do track the heck out of pretty much everything and would guess that obsession set in about three years ago 10 minutes after I started. But then, I am a born analytic, not a creative.

It doesn't make me crazy, more like a hobby. :jester: :nyahnyah:

The analogies I use most with myself I think you specifically would enjoy. I liken it to finances. Balancing the accounts, ROI, dividend payments, and my current 'portfolio diversification'.

I test drove the ankle just a little this morning. Hmm, not so much. Guess I'll go check out yet another pool that is up for consideration.

[Kelt]

On Saturday I broke m'self cycling just 12/13miles. Dunno what went wrong. I'd eaten, was well hydrated, yada yada yada.

Exhaustion was so deep yesterday I could barely think, let alone move :| This can happen, for me, after several days of 'big busy', not just a measly little bike ride to see friends. Although I guess that messing about at the bike workshop for a portion of each day last week must also be counted as it's not 'usual' activity for me...yet.

Even though it was the first proper ride...it counts as a proper ride if I put m'padded cycling undershorts on... over 10miles since getting back in the saddle after injury but I really didn't expect to be so wiped out. Mebbe it was the heat...the hottest day thus far this year for us (late 20s C in shade). Mebbe it was all the above factors.

Yesterday a short walk to and from town was as good as it got, which was followed by hitting m'bed by 6pm and being asleep before it was dark.

Still suffering from a total lack of energy today, two days later. Does anyone else get this totally debilitating tiredness? Does anyone know what causes it?

Ha! I like your definition of a 'proper ride'. :cheesy:

[Kelt]

Excited/Fraidy cat

Well, I bit the bullet and scheduled my first swim lesson for Wednesday.

This is at neither of the places I discussed, it is a really nice outdoor pool.

The other choices were:

1) Great gym - crummy pool
2) Good pool - crummy gym

I have decided to go with the less convenient option of two different facilities. The pool is just a pool, but a really great one. And I will use the gym with the best equipment starting mid-august when I get back from a trip I have to take. This way I can start with swimming before I chicken out again, and the whole thing will be the most affordable option + the best facilities. It isn't on the island so I will have to drive 30min each way. I have the time for extra running around so I will use it.

I drove up there this afternoon to check it out. I knew I would have to go there at least some as the coach I want to work with is there. I know I need the Jennifer seal of approval before buying a full on pass (Jennifer, I put a picture in my gallery for you :)). Pending approval and me completing a couple of lessons without drowning, that will be a hang out for me.

:theisland:

Finally, a decision!!

Stats:
Temp 80 degrees
Lanes 20yd long
I can choose the depth I want all the way across, anything from 3.5 feet - 13.5 feet.

[Gemme]

Engines, indeed.

I opted not to work out tonight. It wasn't a stressful day and I did do manual labor, though not enough to justify skipping the gym, so it's part laziness and part trepidation.

I tried new shoes for work today and there were only a couple of tiny twinges during the day. Good news!

I've got the compression sleeves on tonight and I'll tackle the gym tomorrow but go slow for the rest of the week. Walking only for now and no crazy inclines.

Like Kelt, I'll have to adjust my food intake accordingly.

[DapperButch]

Typically, I try to work out 5-6 or so times a week with weights thrown in 3 of those times. It just ain't happening. I have lost my drive. It is hard when there is only so much time in a day to give 2 hours to the gym.

So, my plan is on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (possibly Sunday), I will do one hour of cardio. On Tuesdays, Thursday, and Saturdays, I will do an hour of weights.

The above I think I will follow through with.

Anyway, today I did a hour of cardio and did only 45 minutes of weights yesterday.



The analogies I use most with myself I think you specifically would enjoy. I liken it to finances. Balancing the accounts, ROI, dividend payments, and my current 'portfolio diversification'.



You know what Kelt? If you were a femme I would so be in love. Concours events and retirement talk. Hot. :drool:

[nycfem]

Today I did 60 minutes on the Arc Trainer (similar to elliptical), Interval program. I watched Dr. Oz and his tai chi expert talk about and demo tai chi. Here is some of what I learned:

1) Tai chi is super popular in China, and if you go outside in the morning everyone's doin' it.

2) Tai chi massages the inner organs.

3) Tai chi has been clinically proven to boost the immune system.


Pretty cool. Here a little handy dandy summary of tai chi:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tai-chi/SA00087

After that I did a half hour of yoga, stretching, abs, and weight lifting, while looking up and watching CNN now and then on the T.V. Sometimes it's impossible to get away from televisions at gyms!

Kelt, your plan sounds great to me. I love outdoor swimming! There is nothing more fun to me. It's a hundred times nicer than indoors for those of us who love the sun and outdoors! That was such a smart idea to separate the gym and the pool. Great call. I also travel a long distance to my gym, even though there is a gym every block in my own neighborhood. It's completely worth it to me, after having tried out just about every gym and pool in NYC.

Daktari, I usually always rally during a work-out unless I am getting a cold. Usually even if I'm tired from lack of sleep, the gym pumps energy into me, particularly by lifting weights. Sometimes I go to the gym on several nights of not enough sleep and can't really enjoy the work-out the way I normally would. I call that (in my head) a "struggle" work-out, and I say to myself, "Maybe this awful feeling will remind you to prioritize your sleep next time." It's the boot camp coach in my head :D. However, it's extremely rare that I am too tired for a long work-out unless I can relate it back to lack of sleep or am getting sick. When it happens without either of these factors (maybe once or twice a year), I just listen to my body and go home!

[Kelt]

You know what Kelt? If you were a femme I would so be in love. Concours events and retirement talk. Hot. :drool:

I knew you'd go for dirty talk. :tease:
A bromance built in car heaven, yes, Saturdays are made for detailing.

I also know why that shift console trim piece had to be leather. *wink*

[RockOn]

Yes, like you, I sometimes feel I suffer from lack of energy. I think I push myself working outside on weekends that by the end of the day (7-9 p.m.) on SAT and SUN, I am about to flop. I went into work exhausted this morning sort of hobbling around. Then after work, I went out on the back patio and worked on a 5 tier wooden storage shelf until 9:25p.m. Also created a man-pooch-cave under lowest tier for Kevin. Kelly, my female bully, is sometimes selfish with the fort I built for them and won't let him come in. Now he will have his own space when she acts out. I am puttting a two inch wooden platform down for him so he won't be on the concrete. Kevin seems pretty excited about it. It's not finished and he keeps going in it. I have to make him get back, afraid I'll drop a board or drill on his head. I think he will like it.

I'm rambling .... sorry!

[SometimesSweet]

I have decided to join Curves tomorrow along with the swimming because I really need the strength training. I feel a little silly about being told when to move from machine to machine but hey.. it has worked for thousands before me and it will work for me too!!
So... I am nervous and excited at the same time. Wish me luck :)

[Daktari]

Yes, like you, I sometimes feel I suffer from lack of energy. I think I push myself working outside on weekends that by the end of the day (7-9 p.m.) on SAT and SUN, I am about to flop. I went into work exhausted this morning sort of hobbling around. Then after work, I went out on the back patio and worked on a 5 tier wooden storage shelf until 9:25p.m. Also created a man-pooch-cave under lowest tier for Kevin. Kelly, my female bully, is sometimes selfish with the fort I built for them and won't let him come in. Now he will have his own space when she acts out. I am puttting a two inch wooden platform down for him so he won't be on the concrete. Kevin seems pretty excited about it. It's not finished and he keeps going in it. I have to make him get back, afraid I'll drop a board or drill on his head. I think he will like it.

I'm rambling .... sorry!

Hey Brock, thanks for engaging on this one. I'm pleased to hear it's not just me! :)
In retrospect, as a chap with a very closely shaved head, I should have worn a hat for a portion of the weekend...that would have helped. I'm gettin' old too but I also try to forget I'm a chap of fluctuating health status tooand after a week of 'unusual' activity I was gonna be extra tired...just hadn't expected it to be quite so bad. I hate that exhausted, barely able to move and think feelin'. :|

I hope Kevin settles happily into his new abode. :dog:

[DapperButch]

Ok, gang, I am feeling like I am back on the pony (*cough* Gemme).

Three days in a row. Today, according to above plan I only had to do weights today. I decided to do 45min of cardio, too. It feels good to see it as more of an "add on", so that I wouldn't feel crappy if I didn't do it. Hell, whatever works, right?

[Gemme]

I kept it light, light, light tonight. 35 minutes of nothing but walking and nothing over 2.7 mph. I gave myself a few minutes of .5 and 1.0 incline but nothing crazy.

Now my stupid arch on my left foot is hurting.

I seriously can't win lately.

:blink:

[nycfem]

60 min (otherwise known as an hour) Arc Trainer, interval program, level 7, while watching... hmm, this and that.
then 30 min weights, yoga, abs, stretching

Devilish (or not) thing I did while at the gym: went behind the desk, reached in the "remotes" drawer and muted the t.v. near where I planned to do yoga. very satisfying!

[SometimesSweet]

I am really proud of myself, for keeping my plans and getting my butt out of the house in this dreadful weather and MOVING my body. Gosh it felt so good!!
I went to the community center for a swim and I am going again Thursday. Tomorrow is strength training.. :)

[Kelt]

Very briefly test drove the ankle on the beach this morning. Very soft and slow, stayed close to where I could exit. The very first twinge and I was out. Maybe 3/4 mile tops.

I was proud of myself for quitting! Normally I would just overdo and make worse. I must be getting old or something. But it went well.

:theisland:

[o222Good]

Setting goals and meeting them makes me happy!
Seeing progress keeps me motivated!

I am on vacation and haven't been on here much,
and there are so many posts I want to respond to!

First, my fiance and I have counted calories for a couple of years.
We use Lose It (http://www.loseit.com/) on our iPhones, it is web based too.
It worked for both of us, but last winter
(hmmm, it might have been triggered by SuperStorm Sandy),
we both slacked off and gained 3/4s back.
Now, I am cycling carbs. I am still using Lose It to do this.
200 150 100 50 125 Repeat
For the past nine weeks I have lost 1.5-2.5 lbs a week, except
for week 3. I have completely stopped counting calories, because
I am always under! This is apparently preventing starvation mode.

I also bought a heart rate monitor, and use it to stay in my fat
burning zone. For me, it's between 123-143 beats per minute.
I only use it for cardio, which I do 45 minutes every day.

I also measure my fat with a fat caliper once a week when I
officially weigh in (I actually weigh myself twice a day, before
bed and first thing in the morning). I record this data on a spread
sheet to keep track of my lean mass, fat weight, body fat, and
weight.

I had a great time yesterday! Cardio before lunch. Ate lunch and
rested an hour. Back to the gym for weights. Drank the ever so
important whey protein. Drove ten minutes to the cold ocean and
jumped in for an hour! Must do more often! Great for muscle
recovery!

Anyway, I am back in the Bronx this week. :(
Lifting weights in my apartment and wearing the heart monitor
while walking around the neighborhood for 45 minutes...
(Can't wait to get back to the ocean!)

My Sweetie wonders...
"When you reach your goal weight Honey, what are you going
to obsess about?" :thinking:

[DapperButch]

Now my stupid arch on my left foot is hurting.



I did the treadmill for the first time yesterday. Killed my arch. Which I knew it would, which is why I use the elipitical. Haven't been on a treadmill in eons because walking on them (or very, very fast walking on the ground), creates great arch pain. I have known for years I should go see a podiatrist and look at getting those inserts, but the cost is ridiculous (or at least it used to be). I think my issue is flat feet...meaning, I have little arch.

Ideas? I remember seeing something at some pharmacy of a thing you step on to determine what inserts you need. Maybe I will try that first? Otherwise, I should look into a running store like Gemme, maybe?

Advice, please, my friends! It would be nice to have the option to do the treadmill.

60 min (otherwise known as an hour) Arc Trainer, interval program, level 7, while watching... hmm, this and that.
then 30 min weights, yoga, abs, stretching

Devilish (or not) thing I did while at the gym: went behind the desk, reached in the "remotes" drawer and muted the t.v. near where I planned to do yoga. very satisfying!

Geez you are becoming a slacker! Only 60 minutes of cardio? :winky:

My gym (if you can call it that), has a not so efficient approach to audio. There are 3 TVs. Two you can change the stations on. Meanwhile there is an overhead speaker system that sometimes has a radio station on. There are never any staff there (well, maybe during the work day, I dunno....again, remember peeps my gym is at my job...a medical hospital), so I have no idea how to turn the damn thing off, which I would like to do so I can hear/watch SVU or something to pass the time (they only have like 15 stations we can choose from, and an hour show makes it easy).

Perhaps I need to figure out how to work that ipod I bought eons ago, but never used. :blush:

As an aside, since Sunday I have noticed more people are coming to the gym. I believe that I have told you all that it is usually deserted. I am not sure how I feel about the increase in people. It is such a small space and there is hardly any room to move around between machines.

I have to be somewhere right after work today. I need to commit to using my eliptical at home tonight.

Have a great day, my "moving our bodies for health", people!

[Kelt]

I did the treadmill for the first time yesterday. Killed my arch. Which I knew it would, which is why I use the elipitical. Haven't been on a treadmill in eons because walking on them (or very, very fast walking on the ground), creates great arch pain. I have known for years I should go see a podiatrist and look at getting those inserts, but the cost is ridiculous (or at least it used to be). I think my issue is flat feet...meaning, I have little arch.

Ideas? I remember seeing something at some pharmacy of a thing you step on to determine what inserts you need. Maybe I will try that first? Otherwise, I should look into a running store like Gemme, maybe?

Advice, please, my friends! It would be nice to have the option to do the treadmill.

Sounds like the beginning stages of plantar fascia. Is the arch area tender when you first get out of bed? For the first 6-8 steps? Not to be messed with, I spent 6 years and thousands of dollars on this by ignoring it. I'm no Dr but you need to figure out what this is.

Flat feet or high arches, it doesn't matter, anyone can get it. We weaken the support muscles by walking on flat hard surfaces with poor support. It is very common in people over 40.

Get some good 4 way arch supports, the step on quasi-custom might be a good place to start. Make sure it is a hard molded support, not cushioned, you can add some cushion over it if needed.

I would stay off anything that aggravates this until you know what is going on. Good shoes and good support are worth every penny. (And you know I'm a cheapskate :))

I'm off to do another tiny walk and then this afternoon my first swim lesson.

If I don't come back it means I drowned. :blink:

[Chancie]

I have flat feet, caused by a combination of too much weight, injuries, and other injuries. And, I have chronic lower back pain. I feel exponentially better every day that I work out, though I am sore as hell right now, and some of my muscles are very tired.

What was my point? I have flat feet, and I tried the Dr Scholl's arch supports, and they didn't fit in my shoes with my feet. I sent them back, and I got my money back right away.

I did stretch and power this morning, and I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it's time to add a little weight to the bar. I am thinking about spreading some mulch in my small garden, but it is grotesquely hot here.

[Gemme]

I'd say try the inserts. Alex and I were talking about whether that might be an idea for me, although we were also discussing the fact that this pair of shoes just might not be good on the treadmill. He wears one brand of shoe for inside runs and another brand for outside. They wear differently on his feet and so it works out for him. I would hate to do that, considering that it's just part of my workout for me and not a passion but if it's what works, so be it.

I also have flatter feet (reduced arches, I guess you could call it). Too many years spent in FL, where the state shoe is the flip flop. No support at all. I'm sure that plays into it.

I'm going to try an insert myself and then I'm going to try my old shoes for a couple of cardio days and see if I still have the same nagging soreness and irritation.

Tonight I felt oodles better and decided to run. But just a smidge. Totally a tad, really. I set it at 5.0 and holy cow, my ankles hurt like crazy....like I was putting too much pressure on them. So, I stopped that nonsense.

Until I did it again a few minutes later. But faster. 5.2 this time. Same ankle anger. Stopped that.

Tried again at 5.5 mph and no ankles screamed. However, my shins started feeling really sore and problematic.

I decided that that was enough running intervals and I let it go for about 8 minutes and then tried one. last. time. 6.4 mph. No pain, except in my lungs while trying to keep up with myself and upright. I'm not sure if it's really the speed that's a major issue, the shoes, my body in general, a combination of all of those or what but this sucks. Like flippin' Hoover.

So, I sit here with a still slightly tender left arch, planning another line of attack because tomorrow's supposed to be a big workout day for me. Looks like I'll be trying the elliptical again with a ton of circuit training, which is backasswards. I'm cardio queen all the way. Love, love, LOVE it. Like in a big, wet juicy French kiss kind of way. Resistance training is more like a peck on the cheek for me. Now, I have to flip the two.

Wish me luck Frenching the weights tomorrow!

:blink:

[Mopsie]

:| To frenching the weights ... I hope no one is doing that at my gym. :eek:

When I got home from work today I was so tired I had to take a nap. My asthma has been bugging me quite a bit today and it exhausts me.

So I went to the gym 2 hours later than usual. I walked the second portion of my 5k.
(1 mile = 40 minutes 8 seconds)

Now I'm wide awake and it's much later than my bedtime! So of course I decided to make chili. :blink: And I'm adding a bunch of vegetables my friend gave me from her garden.

:cheesy:

[Kelt]

Looks like we have a whole bunch of foot gimpy's in here!

I survived my swim lesson :cheesy: I learned to get in and out of the pool, walk, sort of back float, kick on the side of the pool and starting kickboard. That was 45 mins (supposed to be 30) and then I stayed another 45 on my own to practice.

I stand in complete awe of Jennifer. On the drive home I wanted a nap right then and there. Or a banana. Both actually. I is tuckered.

My tiny beach walk this morning went for 1 mile without twingeing (sp?), but I took the exit anyway to be prudent and save some for the pool. It went well.

This ankle business has me thinking. I figured out the what, so I have been thinking about the how/why. It's possible I am guilty of over tightening my shoelaces. That is something that can cause this problem. About three weeks ago my (4 month old) old shoes developed an issue that had me sending them back for an exchange. Thank you Zappos. Having brand new ones I was cinching them down good and tight.

I think I may try something. Since I will be starting at a gym soon and will need shoes for that, I think I will try to de-sand these since they are practically new and repurpose them to gym shoes. Then for the beach, these same shoes are available in a mid-high; I will get those for the beach for the added ankle support since I now have a weak link. I know these are great shoes out there, it is my 3rd pair in 3 years. The sand kills regular cross trainers at a rate of about 1 a month so I use a 'light hiker' which is just a beefed up cross trainer with a vibram sole that can take it. They are also a brand that I can 'gut' and put in my own custom inserts and light pads.

Okay, what is 'Frenching weights'? It sounds nasty. :seeingstars:

[Gemme]

Basically, I need to learn to love resistance training as much as I love cardio.

Sheesh.

Someone doesn't know how to read between the lines.

*grin*

[Chancie]

I was too tired to get to the gym at 6 am this morning.

I don't know if it's the hot weather playing havoc with my asthma, like Mopsie mentioned, or whether I just need a break every other day.

I will garden today, and stop feeling guilty that I didn't go to the Y.