Talk about your exercise experience today

[Gemme]

Good morning, exercisers.

Today was lower body and cardio day.

E21, random program, level 4
Stats: 272 cal, 2.35 mi, 30:00 min

Lower body regimen: 3x12

• seated leg press @ 90lbs
  
• leg extension @ 40 lbs (this one's hard for me)
  
• seated leg curl @ 55 and 70 lbs (switched halfway through as it was too easy)
  
• glute machine @ 75 lbs (I kind of hate this machine....I miss the old style one where I could lay down)
  
• calf extension @ 115 lbs (easy breezy)
  
• abdominal crunch @ 40 lbs (I do this two ways. First, I facilitate the full range of motion and then I do another set at a limited range....about 15-20 degree range out of the usual 45 degree range so it winds up being 6x12 instead of 3x12).
  
• hip adduction @ 135 lbs (when I first tried this machine, I asked if it was broken....the one at my previous gym had a different weighting system and felt harder to do)
  
• hip abduction @ 135 lbs (same as above)
  
• back extension @ 75 lbs

I stretched a bit more than usual today and probably took a full 15 minutes.

I think I'm going to check out the new LA Fitness that just opened last month. It's a drive I'd rather not make but this whole ventilation system at my current gym is driving me bananas. The circuit training room is good 99.9% of the time and the stretching area is good about 90% of the time but the main area? If you aren't on one of the blessed machines or empty spaces where the vents are specifically angled down, then you get bupkiss. Even under the fans is not great. They take the edge off but it's ridiculous. I've given them 2 years of my life and if I'm going to be spending more time in a gym again, it needs to be one I actually like to go to. Still....I'd be going from 1.5 miles from my home to 5 miles from my home. If they have a good enough program/plan/contract with enough incentives to counterbalance the drive and time en route, I think I'll switch.

[nycfem]

Today I went to the gym and did 1.5 hours on the stair master (interval program). It felt easy today. It's weird how the same levels can feel exhausting one day and not too challenging another day. Then I did 30 minutes of floor work: weight lifting, abs, stretching. It feels good to get back into weight lifting.

[Gemme]

I swept the Hell out of about 500 sq ft of space today.

[randrum]

Today was a rest day. Well, mostly. I did my shoulder exercises. But those only take about 10 minutes.

Early morning tomorrow for the 3 NM "run". For me it will be a walk because I'm not allowed to run.

Great job all week to my exercise buddies...friends? (not sure of the PC word to use)... on this thread. But I thought you should all know that even on days when I don't want to work out, you all inspire me.

[Smiling]

...I was on vacation, so that means a vacation from exercise, too, lol.

Today, I did two leisurely laps at work which is about a mile. After work, I walked to the gym (about 4-5 city blocks) and did an hour on the treadmill at varying speeds above 3. lol, I tried to take it off manual because, as I explained before, I will not challenge myself; BUT, the other program buttons wouldn't work (pity, lol; I was dreadfully disappointed) and I didn't want to change treadmills because I had a nice street view where I could people watch, listen to my headphones, and daydream.

I walked home.

Not much, but I mostly want to work on forming the habit of going to the gym every day right now (because actually getting my ass to the gym is the biggest challenge at this point) and as it becomes more automatic I can worry about upping the intensity and time of my workouts.

[cinnamongrrl]

meh....

Ive SO fallen off the wagon...but I agree with Randrum....Im inspired to get back to it by reading y'all's posts....

tomorrow is another day...

[randrum]

Recovery day today. Mostly.

I completed the 3.45 mile "run" (which I walked) in 1:02:24. I wasn't expecting much. But it really was a nice event. Plus I got the "bling" which is always fun and it was a good cause.

Today I had PT after work, which is still kicking my butt. I need to schedule a follow-up with my ortho. Minimal improvement after 4 weeks of PT. And the pain hasn't lessened.

[Gemme]

That's a hard road, randrum. Hopefully, you'll turn a corner soon.

I tried some stretches before bed last night in the effort to lessen my hip issue. No dice. It still woke me up and my body and I had a little talk. Of course, it basically consisted of me whining and my body not listening but whatevs, right?

Good talk.

[Gemme]

Good morning, exercisers!

I had a good workout this morning.

E21, random program, level 4
Stats: 189 cal, 1.56 mi, 21:00 min

Then I did my upper body training and ab work.

Then I popped onto the recumbent bike.

B6, manual program, level 3
Stats: 70 cal, 2.19 mi, 15:00 min

Then I stretched reeeeeeallllly good.

Done!

[Rockinonahigh]

The knee doc has let me go back to working out as long as I am easy and if it hurts ease of to a lower rate or move on to something else.
At the moment I have been getting rid of wasp and hornets that have taken over parts of my garage on hidden spots of the patio roof. If it hadn't been for my fur kid Rowdy I wouldn't be hear I would be God only knows where, she wouldn't let me go to a part of the patio that has a work bench with small exercise equipment. She would bark at the roof then get by my legs and not let me go to a point by the table.. she would bark and look the over hang for me to check out but I couldn't find anything till I looked out the window to see under the eves where a soft ball sise red wasp nest was, so glad she did cause I would have been in a world of trouble if they had gotten ahold of me.SO far I have zapped three nest and one in the top pipe support of my bow flex.. still on the hunt as I don't want to get bit nor do I want them bit.. good fur kid got an extra treat.

[randrum]

I've been slacking this week.

Yesterday I came home and passed out on the couch.

Today I had PT. And decided that was enough of a workout.

[Smiling]

Randrum - Must've been something in the air yesterday; I was crashed out cold on my couch by 6pm.

Today I walked a total of 6 miles briskly. I got a treadmill by the window with a decent street view, but the best one (the one I had on Monday) was already in use. I didn't mind the change except I was right next to the cubbies where people store their stuff and people were coming over constantly.

I became a little annoyed by the presence of a woman who was standing too close to me and sending text messages for like 15 minutes. It felt like she was only at the gym to be able to tell all her friends she was there and not to work out. But then I decided that much of my annoyance was due to the fact that I felt really gross from sweating profusely and that is why I didn't want anyone near me.

Then I felt better because if I was too stinky she could have just texted somewhere else. So then I was over it (even though I still don't like it when strangers hang around or mill about too close to where I am trying to work out).

I am drinking lots and lots of water which makes me feel really good. That probably adds to the sweatiness and the grossness I felt is because I'm starting to seriously detoxify.

Next step is to be better about stretching. I would really love to get my sleep/wake cycle reset enough to where I could get the workout done before work, but I'm not there yet.

[ksrainbow]

I pushed a 150 lb metal cart fully stocked: and used all of the stock to clean doctors lounge, three conference rooms, and human resources' new orientation 'galla! Not to mention sanitizing 6 bathrooms

[nycfem]

Today was a good exercise day. In the afternoon I went to the gym and did 45 minutes of 5 minute intervals (level 2, level 6) on the stair master and then did 45 minutes of weight lifting, leg weights, abs, and stretching. Then in the evening I went for a 1 hour walk with a friend in the park. She is 67, short, and a very fast walker.

[nycfem]

I did the exact same gym routine as Wednesday and then the same walk as Wednesday too but with a different friend! I start back at school/work on Tuesday so I'm getting in as many great work-outs as I can while I'm off!

[Gemme]

I stayed an hour later at work yesterday to catch up on some of the manual labor that is fast adding up as it tends to do at the end of the month.

I'd rather be doing Pilates or zumba but eh, whatta you goin' to do?

[cinnamongrrl]

Originally Posted by nycfem

In the afternoon I went to the gym and did 45 minutes of 5 minute intervals (level 2, level 6) on the stair master..

I really need to start loving the stair master more... everyone says its great for building hiking muscles and endurance. But it bores my pants off!! HOW DO YOU DO IT??

In other news....


I was up early on my day off and thought Id get back on the wagon. I walked Jacques for over an hour up and down (down is harder for me...go figure) 2 big hills for a total of 2.7 miles (according to my pedometer)

Im planning on doing some yoga once I vacuum...always a good incentive for cleaning the floor...when you know you will be laying on it...my hips just feel gooder when I do yoga regularly...

Maybe later I will try one of the Zumba tapes I got at the thrift store the other day...I like variety

[Smiling]

I'm going to go "hiking" this afternoon. I put quotes around that word because I'm not sure walking on a flat-as-a-pancake footpath necessarily counts as hiking per se, but it will be more than a "walk" because I'm going to push myself and go briskly and I will likely end up coming back just around the time when the sun starts to wane. I just feel like being outside today rather than cooped up in a gym.

Some of you are discussing the Stairmaster - I love working out on them (lol, or at least I did when I used to work out regularly) but I tend to be ahem...callipygian and I read that it is best for that body type to avoid the Stairmaster as it may "enhance" any curves in that area. I'm thinking that I will add that back into the repertoire, though, to give myself a more well-rounded (lol, pun not intentional) workout. At this stage of the game, having fun with it is most important, so I'm glad that you all mentioned Starimasters - it inspired me in that way.

I wish I could get my stupid DVD player to work - I'd love to start doing yoga daily! Damnit.

Oh yeah! And I bought a stability ball to sit on! So yay! That is all for now.

[nycfem]

Originally Posted by cinnamongrrl

I really need to start loving the stair master more... everyone says its great for building hiking muscles and endurance. But it bores my pants off!! HOW DO YOU DO IT??

I watch shows on my IPAD. I love how high intensity is. And yet so little pressure is put on the knees. It's super cool that way.

Ways I've made it more interesting:

1) This was a fail because I'm not strong enough for it but I tried wearing ankle weights while doing it. I saw another woman doing this successfully. Maybe one day.

2) I do a lot of 10 seconds forward, 10 seconds left side, 10 seconds right side. That keeps my brain active and uses different muscles when side stepping. I love to do this!

3) Put it on slower and do ballet-like leg extensions, feels very good. This is nice if you are doing intervals and during the slow part it gives the leg a good stretch.

4) Skip a step during the slow part of an intervals. This is hard but I manage it now and then.

5) Compete with yourself or others if at a gym. I love to see how many floors I can do, how long I can do, etc. And geeky as it sounds I love to be able to put in my initials for the high scores list.

I also like the stair master because it's very different than doing regular stair walking where we can adjust our pace. Those stairs just keep going on the stair master so there's no getting out of keeping the pace.

[nycfem]

I had to google this, lol!

Originally Posted by Smiling

but I tend to be ahem...callipygian)