Home Workout enthusiasts - week of Sept 1st

[cniles]

Happy Labor Day everyone!

We hosted our BBQ Sat eve with a few friends and then had a fire - nice time.

Sat I did Burn and Shape - took yesterday off to run errands and sit by the pool:p. This am I did Time Crunch Cardio - I'm beginning to feel in shape again (after a month or so of sporadic exercising) It feels soooo good to get in a groove!!!:)

This week should be walking Tues and Thurs - Wed a good weight workout. We're headed to PSU on Friday for our annual football game with the boys. It's of course supposed to rain:rolleyes:. I really shouldn't complain as I watch the news and Gustav. I hope everyone stays safe down there.

[sweetpea]

hi all! i haven't been on this thread in a long time...i just had baby number 2 three months ago and have been hitting my videos pretty hard. I have broken out my favorite Firm tapes that i kept and my beloved Cathe tapes/dvds as well. I'm wondering what is everyone's favorites these days? Anyone like turbo jam? i'm trying to shed the last few pounds of pregnancy weight--mainly cardio/toning videos is what i am looking for.

So what's your current favorite?

[engineer]

Wow what a weekend. Personally it was very trying (posted elsewhere on the boards) but I continue to persevere. On Thursday I did Cathe’s GS CT and Friday I did the treadmill and it went ok I followed that with Firm BSS2 Abs Wkt 3 and Firm 5-day Abs, Day 3. Saturday was a rest day as some friends invited us over for dinner. Sunday I did Cathe’s GS Legs, and iced my knees. Then yesterday I did the treadmill again and this time it went fabulous! I followed that with Firm BSS1 Ab Sculpt (which wasn’t very hard) and Firm 5-day Stretch, Day 4.

So I finished my month of August - Cathe GS month. So September will be a new set of three Cathe workouts. I selected 3 total body weight workouts and will alternate those with cardio and hopefully I will continue to see progress.

Remember it is a short week and we can make it!

Hi Sweetpea, nice to have you back.

Charisse - Did everyone start back to school?

[Valerie226]

Hi all, back from a fairly crummy weekend. we have been totally skunked with weather this year in the northwest, and this weekend was no exception. Labor day is usually sorta marginal here.
I've been working out regularly, musclemax one day, and 3 hikes since last wednesday. all were good workouts but were wet, cloudy, foggy, and muddy. not my ( or anyones) favorite conditions. I haven't skipped any days but didn't record my activities. mostly treadmill and elliptical. today I need weights and probably more treadmill.

Michelle, sorry to hear about your Mom. Not good news but don't give up hope yet.

[cniles]

I power walked yesterday while Sam was at practice - LOVE my new ipod!!! Today will be weight work of some kind or another.

Hi Amanda:) Great to see you!! I continue to plug away at the FIRM DVD's. I just find they consistently work well for me - I then throw in a couple of Cathe's to change it up. I like the "new" FIRM workouts that don't use the fannylifter - lots of oblique crunches in the cardio sections - Allison is my new favorite instructor.:) BTW love Jack's name ;) (DS1 is also Jack!)

Michelle - I am really sorry about your mom - as Valerie says don't give up yet. I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you. Great job with the workouts!!!! Keep it going if you can.

Valerie - your weather hasn't sounded great at all - all that fog and yuckiness doesn't make for good hiking.

Have a good day everyone!!

[engineer]

Gee the week is whizzing by isn’t it? So it’s September and I am doing full body muscle workouts alternating with treadmill cardio. Last night was Cathe’s MM. Why didn’t someone tell me she is trying to kill me? :eek: Since I never preview, everything was a surprise; so I did a lot of the pause button as I got into position with the equipment. I thought doing the GS series I would be ready for MM – that definitely wasn’t the case. :rolleyes: I was a sweaty mess by the time I was done. The way I see it I can only improve as it was that bad.

Tonight is treadmill and hopefully my knees will cooperate since I forgot to ice them last night. I’m not sure about ab work since MM has ab work in it but if I do a Firm it should be ok. I definitely need to stretch.

Thanks for the support concerning my family issues. DM’s appt is Friday and we are trying to put together questions for her to ask.

[sweetpea]

Alright, y'all...i'm going to try to get into posting mode as far as my workouts go...(it's good to be back and i'm praying for you and DM, Michelle!)

I did a Firm video yesterday, Super Body Sculpt and today did 30 min. of treamdill. DS has a cold and so sleeping hasn't been all that great for him :( I'm hoping to do my Pilates video tonight or this afternoon still. it's so hot outside and my treadmill is out in the barn--i'm drippy!

tomorrow i leave on a short vacation so i won't be posting but i'll be exercising :)

engineer, what is MM?

oh and i'm watching on ebay the new transfirmation kit :) i might have to get it!

[cniles]

Michelle - is MM Muscle Max? Hope the treadmill work tonight goes well.

Amanda - Yee haw! Great to have you back - the whole wet noodle thing is not the same without you:p Hope Jack feels better.

I did BSS4 with Pam today - weight work. I don't know why I totally block out the struggle I have using the fannylifter only twice a month - the legs are not used to it - duh!! Tomorrow should be another power walk at soccer practice.

[Valerie226]

I believe MM is Muscle Max. I love that workout Michelle. just reduce the weight of the weights. I agree, it involves a lot of furniture moves and changing bar weight. My weight bench has to be pulled away from the wall, that obliterates "open space" not much to begin with!
once you know the weight you use MM gets more efficient. At first it seems a constant add-subtract plates from the bar. front raises with the bar I see potential for injury. I do it very light and have no plans to increase weight. I use the bar plus 5 lbs. even with all the hiking and treadmill I do, I still struggle with lunges. squats seem OK but lunges kill me. I lose balance and my left foot doesn't bend at the toe well. the ab section of MM is as tough as it could be!

we did another hike yesterday and it was gorgeous. made up for the stinkers. Lovely blue skies, puffy clouds, flowers, light breeze and bears! I spotted a black bear across the valley as we were heading up although he disappeared quickly. further up I saw movement 50 yards above us. DH thought it was a marmot but I was sure it wasn't. a little more movement and it was a light brown "black" bear, a mom with 2 cubs. one was black and the other medium brown. they knew we were there but didn't get upset and run so we watched them foraging. the cubs are so incredibly cute! they moved uphill into the trees and we continued on. then we spotted a ptarmigan mom and almost grown chick. when you "cluck" at them they cluck right back and don't run away so they're very easy to watch. we continued up to the top and were treated with the momma bear and cubs who appeared on the slope below us. we were able to watch them for an hour, eating and digging, rolling rocks over and the cubs playing and chasing each other. so cute! This is the big advantage to going early and being the first party up the trail. Lots more wildlife viewing if you pay attention. anyway about 6.5 hours roundtrip.

tuesday I did bike, treadmill, elliptical and GS biceps. I love that one. it's fast and efficient.

[engineer]

Crazy exhausting day at work. I love what I do but some folks have no idea how long something takes so I have them hounding me and threatening to send it out. Grrr! Makes me mad and scared that they will think I'm not working hard and get rid of me. One of the problems with being the only one who does what you do at a company. Well enouugh of that.

Last night was treadmill with Firm Jiggle Free Abs (I was maybe an intermediate) and followed that with Firm 5-day stretch, Day 5. Felt good to get through all that and then I iced my knees.

Tonight was Cathe's SuperSets. I really enjoyed this and didn't feel like I did with Muscle Max...probably means I should have used higher weights huh?

Tomorrow Mom has her appt with the oncologist to figure out why the drastic change in the PET scan and what options she might have. She is really expecting the worse and so am I. If there is nothing that can be done then I wonder how long she will have and how much pain she will be in. She told me she wants to be as brave/courageous as Dad was facing his imminent death and not to be in as much pain as my Aunt was when she died from cancer. Truth is that has been my wish since she died when I was in junior high. Heck of a way to grow up just thinking about your death but hey who said I was normal, certainly not I.

Take care and be sure to tell those you love how happy you are that they are in your life.

[Valerie226]

Michelle, hope things go well with your mom today but it is wise to consider that the eventual outcome may not be good. cancer coming back is not a good sign but there are plenty of cancers that respond well to treatment. Not time to give up on things.
I hope her Oncologist is able to tell her what she needs to know and that she hears it and understands clearly so she can plan accordingly for what's best for her situation. Most doctors are aware of the need for adequate pain control and that insufficient pain control is a common fear.
I hope this doesn't sound unkind or cavalier but exercise really hopes cope with stress and dealing with difficult situations so try to keep up your program. You're doing so well.

[cniles]

Michelle - I can't say it any better than Valerie did. I've thought of you today and hope things get resolved. Big hugs to you and your mom.

I walked last night - really humid so I was really sweaty when I was done. No exercise today as we are leaving soon for Penn State. Hurricane Hanna is supposed to stay to the east so we should be only in drizzle for the game tomorrow.

Everyone have a good weekend!!!