Talk about your exercise experience today

[Kelt]

Originally Posted by nycfem

<snip>

that weird thing where people change so that you never get to see any skin.

I can do that

[Gemme]

My rant was aimed at treadmills primarily but yes, the ellipticals lose their magical special powers if all the parts don't work right. Hey! Maybe that's a reason that the stats are up to 42% off on ellipticals! If folks aren't using the arms of the machine, they are just giving up a ton of burnt calories.

No workout today. The workday was tedious and long and I developed a low grade headache mid-day. I thought it was dehydration at first...and I'm sure that played into it....but flushing my gut has done nothing for it. Boo.

[nycfem]

I did 45 minutes on the elliptical, L7, and then 45 minutes of weight lifting, core, and yoga. For my non-cardio, I went to the part of the gym with the loud music again (got to hear "She Bop"- the oldddd song about masturbation by Cindi Lauper), kind of the hipper area to be. They have more equipment there which is nice, and they recently redid the layout so that it's kind of hoaky-cool. There is this fake grass long runway where you can slide your feet in frisbees and walk with your hands. What's really funny is that it turns people's hands green. People yell out, "Oh, no, my hands are green!" Obviously the revamping still has some kinks

[Kelt]

Originally Posted by Gemme

My rant was aimed at treadmills primarily but yes, the ellipticals lose their magical special powers if all the parts don't work right. Hey! Maybe that's a reason that the stats are up to 42% off on ellipticals! If folks aren't using the arms of the machine, they are just giving up a ton of burnt calories.

No workout today. The workday was tedious and long and I developed a low grade headache mid-day. I thought it was dehydration at first...and I'm sure that played into it....but flushing my gut has done nothing for it. Boo.

Okay, I got the rant wrong, but now I'm thinking.

Now you've done it.

I know for a fact that when I added my poles to my sand walk I started burning 30% more calories with just that one change. How do I know this?

I treated it as a single variable trial. I had been doing the exact same routine, same diet, location, distance, time of day, you name it. I made just that one change and watched the scale. I had been stable for months and it started dropping quickly. I started adding calories until I hit a point where I would slowly gain. Then I dropped back down a smidge, and got back to where I would maintain an even weight over time. Walaa! Eating 30% more food.

This has held true for two years.

Now I want to know if the elliptical manufacturers have accounted for this in the algorithms used between the two different styles; with and without the arms. All a person would really have to do is the same routine on the two different styles of machines and check the readouts. Everyone is different, but there should be a pretty good discrepancy between the two. While the readout would very likely be inaccurate as a total, the difference should show up clearly.

Gemme?? Jennifer?? Who wants to be our lil tester?
Blame Gemme, it was her idea...

[Mopsie]

Too bad laughter doesn't count as exercise because I'd be burning all sorts of calories tonight. I love Pinky and The Brain!

[cinnamongrrl]

I don't know if I should even think of it of exercise; it was too fun!

6 miles (over the course of 3 hours) of sea kayaking...it's nice to find a juxtaposition to the hiking I enjoy. You can bet I will be kayaking more now that I've gotten my feet wet....pun intended

[SaltyButch]

Okay so I read all these people hiking, kayaking and doing whatever...well let me tell you, I walk my dog daily....but today for some reason I decided to take a challenge along with a friend to do Planking.

Let me tell you this exercise KILLS you....especially if you haven't done any structured exercise for awhile but I will persevere because I am not a quitter..I may unable to type in the not to distant future though....lol.

[tndoc]

played basketball tonight. got my @ss handed to me.
tells me how out of shape i am for the game.
also tells me back to the gym i go

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by nycfem

... There is this fake grass long runway where you can slide your feet in frisbees and walk with your hands. What's really funny is that it turns people's hands green. People yell out, "Oh, no, my hands are green!" ...

That is freaky!!! I sort of don't understand. They slide their feet in frisbees? And walk with their hands? Is there a railing they pull themselves along with? I could see that really working a person's abs. And arms of course.

[Ginger]

As soon as I got home, I took off my dress and leggings and platform sandals and put on shorts, biking shoes, a muscle T shirt, a white skateboarding helmet and black weight lifting gloves.

I rode my bike around Prospect Park and it was overcast and cool. A very light rain, barely there really, fell at the end of my ride, and then the sun came out. It became ridiculously bright out, and then, a few more raindrops. I wasn't tired, so when I got to my street I kept going, straight down a bike path to a major road, then rode illegally on the sidewalk for a short jog to hit the next street up, which goes one way, straight to my building.

It was a great. When I got home I sat on my balcony and had a slice of watermelon, which was so incredibly sweet and cold, and watched the sky which was changing fast from pink and grey streaks to dark. Then I had half a frozen banana, then some carrots and hummus. Then I watched last night's new Dexter episode. Now I'm heading for bed.

[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by IslandScout

That is freaky!!! I sort of don't understand. They slide their feet in frisbees? And walk with their hands? Is there a railing they pull themselves along with? I could see that really working a person's abs. And arms of course.

Here's the one I do, and it took me forever to increase my reps, it is hard. I may needto start doing that again, I think I intentionally forgot about this...

[Chancie]

My gym is closed this week.

:itisterrible:

[Gemme]

Do not blame Gemme; blame the mad scientist.

Originally Posted by SaltyButch

Okay so I read all these people hiking, kayaking and doing whatever...well let me tell you, I walk my dog daily....but today for some reason I decided to take a challenge along with a friend to do Planking.

Let me tell you this exercise KILLS you....especially if you haven't done any structured exercise for awhile but I will persevere because I am not a quitter..I may unable to type in the not to distant future though....lol.

If ya go back in the thread a little I posted so videos about planking. It's how I got my six pack back
However, said six pack is currently slightly covered by my marshmallow loving tum.

Planking rocks! Build up your time relatively slowly. Add side planks and others as you improve.

[Gemme]

I am officially ass backwards.

And before SOMEONE has something to say about that........let me explain.

Runners are really supposed to land on the ball of the foot. Ellipticals and arcs are designed so your feet can remain flat and distribute the pressure and stress evenly.

I run landing on my heel and then rolling forward (do not do this at home, kids....or anywhere really) and when I do ellipticals and arcs, I tend to wind up on either the balls of my feet or my toes. It makes for a weird gait and some sore tootsies some times.

This is one of those times.

30 minutes on the Beast gave me 295 calories of sweat and tears (no blood, thankfully) and 1.42 miles put behind me. Not sure where they went, but they are gone, baby, gone.

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by Hollylane

Here's the one I do, and it took me forever to increase my reps, it is hard. I may needto start doing that again, I think I intentionally forgot about this...

Oh wow that is intense. Like planking, but more scary! You must have amazing pecs if you're doing that on a regular basis.

[Ginger]

Tonight when I got home from work I took the 3-mile loop around the park, but this time I took the big bike, my old Mongoose hybrid.

The wheels are a lot bigger than those on the folding bike, so I went faster with less effort. And it felt good to be up so high, not that other bike is low or anything.

I had a great ride. When I got back, I didn't feel like going inside, so I wandered up and down the side streets. The brakes make a lot of noise so I have to check that out, but otherwise it was a smooth ride.

I feel like a broken record but I'm such a creature of habit and I like my little routines—when I got home I had watermelon on the balcony again, watching the few clouds in the sky (very dense, with dissolving pink edges), then I had half a frozen banana, and watched the new episode of Ray Donovan then the new episode of Breaking Bad, OnDemand.

The back door to my balcony was open and a cool breeze was wafting over me. It was a great night.

Oh I forgot, I also walked along the River Walk at lunch, and sat on a bench in the shade, so close to the Hudson I could smell it and hear it slapping against the rocks. There were quite a few sailboats out, and I walked by the little harbor where the yachts are docked and kids skateboard up and down the plaza.

[nycfem]

I went to the gym and did an hour on the Beast at Level 7, and then 30 minutes at Level 10. I forced myself to watch Top Chef which was rather boring but with focused attention I was able to eek my way through it. Then I did an hour of weight lifting, core exercises, and yoga. I checked out the hipster area but it was flooded with sunshine, so I retreated to my quiet area. It was very nice. I feel so much at peace after I work out.

[Hollylane]

Chessie and I walked for three miles along the Columbia river in Astoria as the sun began to set. It was beautiful. But as we were coming back up the humungous hill to the hotel, both of my calves kept cramping. This is not new, but it still feels surprising (and extremely painful) each time it happens. I think I may need to ask the doctor about that.

[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by IslandScout

Oh wow that is intense. Like planking, but more scary! You must have amazing pecs if you're doing that on a regular basis.

No, because I haven't been doing this for the past year(since my hernia surgery), but I want to try it again. When I was doing it before, it had mainly strengthened my back and stomach.