Home Exercise Enthusiasts- week of 3/2

[Valerie226]

Hi all. I'll start things off . Saturday DH and I split about a cord of wood. This qualifies as an upper body workout by anyone's standards. It's monday and the muscles over my ribs are killing me. Everything else is pretty good though. sunday we went to Manning park in B.C. and did an 8 mile snowshoe, or close to that, with about 2000 foot gain. Whatever it was, it took 7 hours RT. it was a lovely day and we have skied this before but decided the snow conditions would not be good enough and snowshoed instead. It's maybe a bit less effort than skiing but takes longer since one does NOT slide on snowshoes! Today I haven't done anything but am thinking about muscle max or power hour and maybe a brief bit of cardio.

I didn't read last week's thread before getting this started like I should have. . Joanne, you ordered STS, right? Wow. I know I don't have the discipline.

[JoanneOR]

Valerie, your adventures sound like so much fun! I wonder how many calories you would burn showshoeing for seven hours. Yea, I did order STS. I figure I would want it after it's released and hear how everyone is loving it. Then I'd have to pay more to get it. And, it's just three days a week - I can do other things the other days for some variety.

I finished Cathe's February rotation. March looked good, but I decided to do my own thing this month. I did Stepboxing Sunday, Imax3 on Monday and today I did Pure Strength Chest, Shoulders and Triceps and the first part of Step Heaven.

Hope everyone is well!

[srahndennis]

Hi, everyone!!

Valerie -- I can't imagine splitting a cord of wood! When I was in high school we raised money for a ski trip by selling wood. I carried -- no splitting involved -- and I still remember how much work that was!

Joanne -- I order STS for exactly the same reasons you did! While the initial outlay is expensive, it's even more expersive to catch up. I know I will want it once everyone starts talking about their results.

I took a couple of days off on Sunday and Monday trying to get over a cold/allergies. This morning was GS Legs. What a way to get back in the groove!!

[Valerie226]

We have lots of trees on our property and use the wood for some of our winter heat so we have incentive to split/dry it so it's ready next season. The splitting isn't that hard but every piece ends up getting lifted and moved a bunch of times so it adds up to real work. DH is stronger than I am so when I get a piece that won't split or get the ax stuck in the wood he is there to assist. the process is much faster & easier if we work on it together. Grabbing and lifting the pieces can give me epicondylitis so I need to be careful to do it two handed.
The reason I exercise is so I CAN snowshoe or ski or hike all day and not be a quivering blob sitting in the middle of the trail! I really don't like exercise all by itself but what can you do? Can't hike comfortably if you don't stay in reasonable shape.

I hope I don't regret not ordering STS but I'm not convinced I'll use it so I'll wait and hear opinions from you two about how great it is before I consider it seriously. I'm sure I'm getting some of the GS DVD's for my birthday so that should keep me busy for a while.

Yesterday I did Power Hour except for the ab section. Today, probably some treadmill and maybe KPC. Had a dentist appt this am so it will be a late start.

[cniles]

Hi guys!

Sorry I was MIA all last week. Crazy. I exercised Sun-Tues and then nothing until this Sunday. We were running around all over the place!

Sunday I did Total Body Time Crunch, Monday I did Burn and SHape and today I did Fat Burning Cardio - all FIRM. I'm going to do an upper body workout and core work tomorrow. We're headed to Florida to visit my FIL for a week in April. Need to shape up a bit!!

Valerie - When does the snow melt for you guys? Or is it always around in the mountains? I agree with Joanne - I love hearing about your adventures!!!

Joanne and Stacy - wow! You did it. You'll have to fill us all in on the STS experience!! When is it due to ship?

Happy Tuesday everyone!!:)

[Alleycat]

Hi, guys!

Valerie, I think it's wonderful that you and DH do so many outdoor activities together. I've asked DH to go hiking or on long walks (I like to hoof it for nice 2 hour walks, lots of hills), but he's not interested. Sounds like you guys make the most out of living in the great northwest. As an aside, I'm from Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula -- ever been there?!?

Count me in on the STS pre-orders! Like you guys, I know I'll want it. And truthfully, I've really been doing more weight-centric workouts the past month -- and I'm liking them! I figured I need to feel committed to weights before I plunked down the money. I consider it a birthday present to myself, since I'll be 35 in 2 weeks!

I tried a new DVD today -- Element Ballet Conditioning. I got it at BJ's for $10, but collagevideo.com sells it too. It's 50 minutes of lower body conditioning, and I really enjoyed it. A nice change of pace from step and kickboxing ;) A few of the moves had me cursing the TV, which is always a good sign :p

[Valerie226]

Absolutely know Port Angeles...gateway to Hurricane ridge and other Olympic mountain access points. been there dozens of times. the last, best grocery stop on the way to ocean beaches. We haven't been there this year but have done loads of hiking in the olympics. I was born and raised in Wisconsin and moved out west because I fell in love with the outdoors and mountains. The place I grew up people went bowling and tooled around small lakes in motor boats... not that there's anything WRONG with those things but not fun for me. Too bad DH doesn't like hiking. I met my DH at a mountaineering class so we knew right off that we shared that interest. We don't do any true climbing but stick to hiking on trail and off.

Charisse, the snow stays mostly in the mountains and there are lots of permanent snowfields and glaciers that never melt out. we went skiing yesterday and at an elevation of around a thousand feet there is several feet of snow. as you go up, it gets deeper. also as you go further into the range itself there is more snow so the "edges" souther exposures, and lower elevations melt out first. this is a very heavy snow year and I don't think we will be doing much hiking until July. depends on how warm it gets and how quickly things melt. early season hiking may start on dirt but quickly progress to compact snow requiring boot traction devices ( crampons etc) and ice axes for safety.
so we did a 10 mile ski yesterday. it was a gorgeous day but the snow was pretty icy so it was 'survival skiing", not elegant, but the point is to get down without breaking your neck. took 6 hours RT.
Tuesday I did 30 treadmill and 30 elliptical , started coremax but got waylaid with some phone calls.

[cniles]

Valerie - that sounds great! What an amazing country we live in!:) I love that you and your DH make the hiking an every week occurance (even more!). Keep posting your nature stories along with your exercise!! And did you say you were going to be 60?! You are too cool!!!;)

Allison - the new DVD sounds interesting. I think it's always a good idea to mix it up a bit - your body needs the diversity!!!

Yesterday I did the upper body section of Super Body Sculpt (FIRM) and Coremax workout 1. Today I needed cardio and did Stepboxing with Kelly Coffey-Myers. GREAT sweat!! Today was bickering day at school and I felt more like MOM than educator:cool: I needed to box off some pent up energy!!

Today is Thursday - yee haw!!!

[engineer]

Well I’m trying to get back to doing healthy things for me. I figure it will help with the stress so I’m trying to clean up the diet and get some exercise. Monday was my first day back so to speak so I just did the 45 minute weight loss program that is on the treadmill and set it to an easy level – you know start easy and don’t hurt yourself. Then I followed that with the old Firm 5-day stretch day 5. Tuesday I did Ripped to the Core but kept the weights lighter than usual. I wear my HRM so that I can kind of keep track and not over do. Then Wednesday I did Cardio Coach 3 followed by Cathe’s Total Body Stretching – Basic Stretch. Last night was Ripped 1000, again keeping the weights light and no step. I think it’s working – I am a little sore, but my knees (icing after workout) feel pretty good.

DM gets the staples out and also the catheter gets removed today and she is still working on getting an oncologist to see her sooner than 2 weeks from now. Send her prayers/positive energy as she needs all she can get.

Take care of yourself and each other.

Michelle

[cniles]

Michelle:) I'm so glad you're back. Sounds like you've jumped right back into things - take it easy! You'll be back on track in no time!! I'm sending all of the positive vibes I have towards your mom. Be well!

I'm not going to be able to workout tonight. DS has a musical/play he's involved in tonight and parents are invited to see the production. Tomorrow am I'll be in the basement!!

Happy Friday to everyone!!!:)

[Valerie226]

Michelle, good to have you back. I was gone for a while and don't really know what happened with your mother except I'm thinking she needed some surgery and you had to go to Denver?? Hope that all worked out OK although the fact she needs an oncologist is probably not good news.

Workouts really help deal with stress so make sure you keep doing something but not so much that you get injured. Lightening up on the weights etc is a good step to take until you get back in the rhythm.

I did Muscle Max yesterday and upped my weights for legs by 10 lbs. I seem to be having more trouble with my lower calves screaming on squats and lunges more than the thigh/glute. just pushed it yesterday and am minimally sore today so I guess it was the right move. today is cardio, probably treadmill & elliptical.

Have a great weekend everyone!.