I did a max workout today,boy am I sore,but it was worth it even tho my body feels like limp noodles.

Sigh.. I've shelved my bicycling training for now due to a severe back issue. Hopefully in a couple of weeks the chiropractor will give me a green light to start training again. I'm hoping to do a century to San Diego in May. K and I also looking at going to a beginner's Yoga class in a week or so. And, I'm hoping to finally get P90X back into the swing of things (mostly chess, shoulders, abs, cardio).

I bought myself a stair steper for christmas,u bet its great for the legs..hips..butt and lower back.They are highly recomended just be ready to be sore big time.

Ellipticals
 

Hi, folks!

I am in the market for a new elliptical.

I am looking at either the Livestrong 10.0 or the Sole E25 (possible 35).

I can't decide which "feel" I like better when I have tried them in the stores.

The 10.0 has a slightly heavier flywheel and maybe 2 more programs, so they are comparable.

Price is the same.

What I like about the Livestrong is the Q-factor is 0, while the Q-factor of the Sole is 2. For those that don't know, this means that the pedals are closer together on the Livestrong, which they say is more similar to the natural way we walk. I believe that most ellipticals have a 2 on the Q-factor. I have never used an elliptical before, so I don't know which would be more comfortable/if this is an issue for users.

Questions:

1) Has anyone ever used either of these machines?

2) Has anyone ever felt like the pedals should be closer together (assuming most machines are not at a 0 in Q-factor (whatever that stands for?) when using an elliptical?

I am going to cross post this on the healthy weight loss b/c I think that there are elliptical users there. I am assuming this is ok, Admin (Linus?), as it is not a discussion topic.

Also...sorry one more question. When at the store I was in running shoes. I kind of felt like my feet were sliding forward on all machines. I am wondering if this is common and also if people use cross trainers (remember those?), instead of running shoes due to this problem (since running shoes have a bit of a heel). I am planning on going back with a pair of cross trainers on my feet.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

ETA: I am off to work, so will check back later.

Linus,

Many back problems on a bicycle are due to a bad fit. Have a professional fit your bike to you and you should be much happier

Thank you so much!
 

Gemme and socialjustice fsu,

Thank you both so much for taking the time to respond. Both of your posts were very, very helpful. I did not get back to the store this weekend as planned, as other things came up.

I am going to go either tomorrow night or over this weekend and do like 10 minutes on each (don't really care I am in a store and people may find it strange). I don't know if that will give me tons of info. (?), but I suspect that it will give me some.

I think I will be going with the Livestrong, but want to make sure.

It is a costly investment, so again, I appreciate your thoughts and advice. :)

Sooo.... Who wants to tell me that my fancy new pubic bone pain is no big deal & I should just RICE it?

Follow up question: who wants to help me figure out how to elevate my pubic bone?

My best guess is running: two long runs in one weekend with the added bonus of same route & direction. No sharing of the wear between sides. And then I felt fine, so I hit a group strength training class the next day, lots of squats & lunges.

I has an ouch.

I havent had the time to work out since I got the promo at work.I hit the floor running and it dosent stop till I get off.Ive been wearing my prdometer at work so ive tracked over a mile a day with me going from oneend of the place to the other so many times or puting away supplys in the store room,with all the bending,squating,reaching and what have you I get a pretty good workout at work.Besides my tail bone hurts,it goes down my left leg so the whole thing is on fire.So I rest it as much as I can,wish it wasnt this way buit it is.

Not sure where to post this...
 

radiating pain
 

Yikes, Socialjustice! I feel for you, having had such pain myself at one time. Very yucky and far from fun:-(

I'm not a nurse practitioner or doctor, so I can't diagnose, and wouldn't do so online if I could diagnose. But, as a nurse, I can offer you some ideas about what might be going on, and suggestions about what to do.

From your description it does sound like you have Sciatica. It is possible that the cause of your pain is something else, but your description is a classic description of the pain associated with Sciatica.

Who knows why you have this going on exactly? Maybe you moved in a slightly different way during a recent workout, or maybe the irritation has been building over the whole time you've been working out and is only just now bothering you. Some people develop sciatica because they stand for long periods of time, some because the sit for long periods of time and tend to lean on one buttocks more than the other. Its highly unlikely that the pain is the result of something like ovarian cancer, though.

You can try self care at home, first, to see if that helps, before seeking medical care. I do suggest that if self care at home isn't helpful, you do seek medical care before seeking chiropractic care, relief via acupuncture, or massage therapy. I suggest that as the first choice only because it is important to find out what is the root of the pain before treatment beyond self care is begun. Allopathic medicine has some valid treatment approaches to Sciatica depending on the cause. It might be that chiropractic, acupuncture or massage is the best way to go, but I think getting an accurate diagnosis of the problem is the best place to start.

Hope this is helpful :goodluck:

dance workout
 

About a year ago I decided I needed to make some major changes to improve my overall health. I'd gotten very overweight, actually quite obese, after I quit smoking several years ago and started eating too much as a result. The eating too much was the first thing to go. Kicked that bad habit right to the curb, I did:-) The next step was increasing my physical activity level.

I absolutely abhor anything that has workout or exercise program in the title. In fact I rebel and run the other way. However, I do like to move, I especially love to dance. Not any formal type of dancing. Just the type of dancing I've always done at parties or clubs. So, I decided to dance, everyday. When I was talking aobut this with a young gay guy friend, he offered to send me links to the top 40 pop music vids on YouTube that had the best beats for dancing. He did tell me not to pay attention to the lyrics because some of them are very boldly sexual and in some there is a lot of swearing. He was totally right about that, but I don't care. I don't care because the beat of the music absolutely propels me out of my chair and gets my whole body moving:-)

I dance everyday, now, for at least a half an hour. My fave artists have become the Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Pink and Jessie J. There are others I like, but those are my faves.

:blueheels:

Trying to make healthy choices is so difficult....whether emotional, spiritial or physical. I have noticed however, when I start with the physical, the emotional and spirital seem to fall into place. My body and mind is no longer young, I will be 51 in a few days and had really let myself go, I had stopped caring about myself and it was starting to catch up to me. Do I think I am strong, yes, but not as strong as I once was. It is hard to admit my weaknesses, especially I believe as a butch, I do not like to admit there are certain things I cannot do. Like playing softball, or tag football, because I am afraid I will injure myself....I have a torn maniscuss (old knee injury), something I can live with until I get insurance. I also have bi-lateral carpal tunnel (numbness and limited use of my wrists and hands) , also something I can live with...I just cannot do repetitive motion with my hands for long periods of time, it is embarassing for me to admit this.

So now that I will be 51 soon, I want to be healthy and as strong as I possibly can. I have started going to the gym, doing cardio and lifting....I am starting to feel better and as well as the workouts, I am trying to make better choices in my diet. I am not a very good cook, I will be the first to admit this, but I am eating lower carbs, calories and fat....I have a very sensitive digestive system and know what I can eat and cannot eat. I have lost over 40 pounds in a year and a half and continue to build up my body. I do smoke cigarettes and drink lots of coffee, that will be my next goal, but for now I take it one day at a time.

I am looking forward to what this year will bring and now that I have found my home on the Planet, I will continue to read and see what others are doing to feel better for themselves, I know this will help give me the inspiration to feel better for myself. You are a great bunch on here and I thank you for posting from your heart....please feel free to stop by anytime.

Hugs
Morgan

Love this thread!!!

i'm in the midst of my "break" from rigorous weight training/dieting... for a month.

as i approach my 3rd week i'm feeling like i should hit the cardio more. why? i know that i've gained a little bit of weight... not by much... however... when you have lost a bunch of weight (25 lbs.) in 4 months.. and are prepping for a competition/show... you want to keep as lean as humanly possible. plus, it's harder to lose the body fat when you get down to the low numbers (i.e. 15% body fat going down to 9% or even 7%)

i read what is written and i applaud each and every one of you for your determination and perseverance.

working out is enjoyable, yet hard on the body.

and i don't care who you talk to about how many hours you spend at the gym, because 95% of what you eat affects your body.
you can be a power lifter and be overweight due to poor management of caloric intake. too much fat, sugar, and/or carbs can and will affect your weight no matter how much cardio, classes, weight lifting you do.

so congratulations for your hard work and results that are paying off!!

make this year your Best year yet!! :D

carbs are NOT bad.....know good from bad
 

I cut and pasted the following from the American Heart Associations' Dash diet. Never eliminate fat, sugar or carbs from your diet. Learn the good from the bad, and stay away from the bad.


Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: Why Carbohydrates Matter to You

The right type of carbohydrates can boost your health!
By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD




What’s the difference between a sandwich made on white bread and one made with 100% whole grain bread?
Or, the difference between French fries and side salad made with spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and kidney beans?


All the foods above are carbohydrates. But the second option in both questions includes good carbohydrate foods (whole grains and vegetables).


Carbohydrates: Good or Bad?

In the past five years the reputation of carbohydrates has swung wildly. Carbs have been touted as the feared food in fad diets. And some carbs have also been promoted as a healthful nutrient associated with lower risk of chronic disease.
So which is it? Are carbs good or bad? The short answer is that they are both.
Fortunately, it’s easy separate the good from the bad.

• We can reap the health benefits of good carbs by choosing carbohydrates full of fiber. These carbs that get absorbed slowly into our systems, avoiding spikes in blood sugar levels. Examples: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans.
• We can minimize the health risk of bad carbs by eating fewer refined and processed carbohydrates that strip away beneficial fiber. Examples: white bread and white rice.

It worked
 

I have been trying to strengthen my core muscles, the ab machine is a real killer...can anyone give me some advice on other exercises that will help the core, besides sit-ups and leg lifts. I do have a large excercise ball at home that I can use, perhaps building up my back muscles might help in getting my core muscles stronger...I have notice I am standing taller and straighter and I do try holding my stomach in, which for years I have not done.

I have noticed on the weight training on the upper body it is not about how heavy the weight is for me, but the sets and reps....I try to do 3 sets of 20 reps on various machines and feel the muscles burn just a little, but not hurt myself.

Today for breakfast I ate oatmeal and a banana, and lunch consisted of some roasted chicken, 2 hard boiled eggs, grapes and one wholewheat tortilla and some juice. I am finding it very difficult to get myself on a proper diet, especially since I really love carbs. Any advice for a butch who does not cook would be greatly appreciated, gotta love those Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choice meals for dinner, lol....

Stand up straight and hold a dumbbell (weight depends on you and the amount of reps you want to do) in each hand, arms straight against your sides then bend over at your waist and move from side to side. Good exercise for your obliques. Of course you can also bend and straighten up in front to help your lower back.

Ab/core specific: Russian twists, roll-outs (can do it with a barbell if you don't have a roller), reverse crunches on swiss ball



Ultimately any exercise will properly work the abs as long as you keep them engaged. Full body exercises like deadlifts (if you learn them properly) will strengthen your entire core better than anything.

3 weeks at the gym and my body is feeling so much better...I am standing taller, my core muscles are reshaping and getting stronger, my arms are getting larger and harder (yippee), my endurance is coming back (20-30 minute cardio daily), the machines at the gym are awesome....I look forward to going to the gym at least 5 to 6 times a week. Thanks everyone for the tips on the abs.
I saw a woman yesterday who had a tremendous body, I went over to her and asked her how she got her core so strong, lol. She told me that she would lift and do her sets on one part of her body and then the next one would be her abs, then she would work another part of her body and then go back to her abs, so every other exercise was a workout for her abs, I can do this.....

Hi folks!! Glad to see this thread. Am working diligently on getting back in shape. I quit smoking a little over a year and a half ago. I have been lenient with myself and my workouts since, after all, not smoking in its own right is healthy. This leniency added an additional 20 lbs to my 5'6" frame and I started to feel crappy again.

Anyway, I work out at least 3 times a week and make a point to spend another 2 days getting outside exercise (skiing for example). It's hard work and there are days I'm just not in the mood.

Lots of folks have talked about ABS. Here is what I've discovered. Crunches (not situps per se), Yoga, Thai Chi, and the ball. Anything that requires you to lift your legs or knees will work as well. I do a great kick-boxing routine that not only works the heck out of my ABS but also gives me a good, all around work out.

I don't know about some of you, but for me, going to the gym, doing a treadmill for an hour and running around doing the machines is a bit boring. I like to be engaged, have structure and a person to motivate me. Classes work very well for me.

I mentioned in another thread that I have an XBOX and the Kinect. For those of you who are to shy or self conscious or just don't like gyms this might work well for you. There is a great game out there called Your Fitness 2012. You answer a few questions about your lifestyle and it tailors a program to suite you. You get great health tips, calories burned, a progress chart and fun activities that will keep you engaged for hours. The the game will tell you if you are doing an exercise properly and you get an on screen instructor to work along with you. The XBOX together with the Kinect starts at 299. The game is 50 bucks. I love it and use it several times a week.

Thank to EndrD for posting that ball video. I use one (suggested by my chiropractor) and it works well.

I had a question...can someone give me some ideas for getting a good workout on the water besides swimming? I'm always at the beach as soon as the weather warms up, and would like some ideas for utilizing that time in creative ways.
Thanks.

Hi Morgan.I'm going thrue rehab to strengthen my core because of a back injury,they are killing me to do some exersises but they are shure working.One is tp lay on the floorwith a really big beach type ball,put your feet up onthe ball and roll it down to your knees..curl your tail bone up and raise your hips then hold for as long as you can I do it for 15 seconds and it feels like for ever...and tightenup your abs when you to this.another is lay in the floor again,skide your feet under your knees,lay your arms dowh youe sides plams dowh then tighten the abs and lilft yout butt and hold for ten seconds...beleave me you will feel it.

It can be super hard to keep motivated. I can go off the rails at times too. I know you are sitting squarely in the procrastinate camp. While, I am not there personally to cheer you on, I am here electronically to cheer you on.

When I go through stages of not "doin what I need to do" I go back to the basics to try to nail that freaking issue that I am not looking at that wants me to fail. The Saboteur is alive and well in all of us. Sometimes I just need to sit quietly, ask to speak to it and try to figure it all out. If that does not work I go back to the CBT charts and start from square one. I don't always know that I am triggered. Or what is my trigger. Once I find out WHY I am dancing with The Saboteur, I can usually get off the dance floor.

Detectives. We are detectives!!!

I am in your corner cheering you on Sylvie!!!