Home workout enthusiasts - week of October 20th

[srahndennis]

It's the start of another week! Wow, the time is going by so fast!!! Another busy weekend behind with a busy week to look forward to. The beautiful weather continues here. It's been so nice - high 70's, low 80's - with a light breeze. So refreshing after the HOT summer. The nights are cooling off - it's great not to have the A/C running.

Valerie -- I hope you had a great hike! Gotta take advantage of this fall weather while you can. Sorry about your shoulder pain...I know what you mean about it always being something. If I'm not careful, my right shoulder bothers me. It cracks, groans & gets sore. I've started going a little easier on it. I'd rather go lighter than really hurt myself. You asked about Slow & Heavy -- I do like it. It really gives me time to work on my form. I think I'm able to build more strength & gain some definition but it's hard to say since I usually do it in conjunction with other weight workouts. I remember you said that you were concerned that it may be too slow. It doesn't bother me at all -- I'm glad for the minute rest and it doesn't seem that the workout lasts forever. Another one you might look into is the Pyramid workouts. There are two - upper & lower. I think these are my very favorite weight workouts. I think they move very quickly and I always feel them - especially the biceps. Each exercise is done 5 times gradually increasing the weight then decreasing back down again. When I'm done, I have weights scattered everywhere and the time seems to have flown by! Because each exercise is repeated mutliple times, you don't do a whole bunch of different exercises - just a few. But you really feel the difference with the varying weights. I think either one of these sets would be great to alternate with the GS Series. You would have less chance of getting bored and each set has one or two new exercises or variations that aren't in other workouts.

Speaking of injuries, Saturday I fell off my step about 30 minutes in to Step Fit. I twisted my ankle a little but took most of the fall on my hands, especially my right wrist. Talk about graceful - I'm sure that was a sight to behold! Fortunately, it was just my ego that was bruised. After all that, I did abs & called it a day. Took Sunday off and did Step Works this morning.
Very pleased that I got up to workout this morning! 5AM is always hard but especially on Mondays.

Here's to a great week, everyone!

[Valerie226]

Didn't do the planned backpack. DH decided there was too big a backup of chores ... one day had to be spent on them. he was right, unfortunately. we did the tile backsplash a week ago but and were waiting til it dried for the grout. so we grouted. took us a few hours but it turned out great and now only the floor is left to finish our limited kitchen remodel. the floor guy must be off deer hunting cause I haven't been able to raise him. that's not a do-it-yourself project.
Sunday we did a hike but I got very sick. had a couple fainting episodes, dizziness, vomiting. Not good. I got sick very suddenly. miles back in and way up. It was a very long day by the time we dragged out. motion sick in the car too. I'm better today but timing was awful. either a touch of food poisoning or a virus. still not 100% today. laying low til I recover.

Stacy, sorry to hear about the misstep! doesn't that always make you feel like a klutz! I don't do step for lots of reasons and that's one of them. I (try to) stick to activities where I can't unjure myself too easily. 5am workouts... I admire that. DH does but I don't/won't. I'm better off later than earlier. I need to eat first and let it settle for a while.

I never looked at the pyramids too closely. might be better than S&H. I recorded it off fitTV, need to look in my old disks. I like the GS ones because I like switching from one exercise/equipment to another rapidly. somehow makes me feel like I'm progressing, whereas if I do the same movement with different weights, it seems like I'm doing the same thing forever. but I've gotten better at doing weights in general so maybe time for another look, especially if I have the disk already. The TV ones are shorter than the purchased workout disks but give you a clear idea if it will work for you.
My shoulder is better. the "injury" came from when we were on vacation and I kept reaching back into the backseat to the cooler to get water or snacks. It's too long a reach and every year I strain my shoulder. would think I'd learn... so nothing involving masterful feats of athleticism. just a strain. Pulling garments over my head also aggravated it. so I have not done anything that aggravates it and it's getting better by the day. I can do the GS biceps without aggravating it but not GS chest.

[cniles]

Hi guys!

Ack Stacy!!! I hate falling off the step - sorry about your wrist!

Valerie - I so hope you are feeling better - I hate being sick to my stomach. Any more thoughts on what happened?

We went to my niece's wedding in the Pocono's this weekend - it was beautiful. Leaves changing, cool weather. I brought shoes to run, however, brought 2 left sneakers! Duh. :cool: I used DH's other shoe and laced it up tight. I only ran 15 mins - at least it was something. Then later that evening I danced my patootie off!! What fun:)

Today I did Fat Blasting Cardio (with a couple of interruptions) but finally finished it.

[srahndennis]

Oh, Valerie! How awful to get sick on your hike! Hope you're feeling better now. And chores - yuck!! They're no fun but it always feels good when they're done. Sounds like the kitchen remodel continues to be a success! We've decided to hold off on ours for another year. Neither of us are in a hurry and we'd rather make sure we both continue to have jobs before outlaying more $$. I know EXACLTY what you mean about injuring your shoulder reaching for stuff in the car! Why do we do that to ourselves??? I've done the same thing. Try viewing the Pyramids again. I did the upper body workout this morning. I think it moves very fast and I don't get bored from repeating the exercises because they are different weights with a different number of reps.

Charisse - Funny that your brought two left feet!! I admire you for running at all. I'd never make it in DH's shoes - my feet are big but his are huge! THe wedding sounds fun. Glad you had a good time!

[srahndennis]

Checking in with Kick Max this morning. First time through and I'm not sure what I think about it. Some of the combinations felt awkward but that could be because I'm more familiar with KPC. I've heard many comments about the leg conditioning drills - boy, are a beating after you've done the workout. I kept looking at my leg and wondering why it burned so bad when I could hardly lift my leg at all!

[Little Bit]

Hi guys!

I've been working out with Get Ripped lately, roughly every other day since the first of the month. Yeah! I may not have lost weight, but I can tell that I'm stronger and leaner, so it's all good.

I've bought some of Jari's other workouts, but I think for now I'll just stick with Get Ripped. I read somewhere that it's a good idea for beginners to do the original Get Ripped 20 times, then Slim and Lean 20 times, then To the Core 20 times, and then rotate amongst all of them. Sounds okay by me, since I'm still working on my first twenty, LOL!

Thanks for the Slow and Heavy review, I've been looking at that one. I still don't have a Cathe video yet, I'm still getting along with Jari, so I'll stick with it.

Oh, BTW, if you're looking for a good quality barbell to use at home, Iron Grip Barbell Co. does sell their 'Group Strength' set (3 pound bar, pairs of 10, 5 and 2.5 pound weights plus pair of collars to hold on the weights) to individuals. The process is a tad clunky, since you have to first tell one of their reps what you want and ask for a quote, plus they don't do credit cards over the phone. It isn't cheap, by any stretch, especially not after you factor in shipping, but it is possible. I ordered one the other day, but since it's on back order it'll be a while before I see it. Just thought I'd mention it if you aren't interested in the Troy Lite set I've seen elsewhere.

Well, anyhow, just wanted to drop in and say thanks for the inspiration! :)

[Valerie226]

I may be having a problem. My illness on sunday caused concern since I've had problems with fainting while hiking, but rarely. but it's happened a number of times now over the last year or two and we need to find out a reason since it's so weird and unexplained. Never any other time except for some unrelated events where I've smacked my elbow or knee just right and caused myself to faint.

so yesterday I had a "tilt table" test by a cardiologist. you are held strapped to a table motionless in an upright posture to test whether you are prone to fainting while your BP, heart rate, ekg, o2 sensor are monitored. It's supposed to mimic standing motionless upright in warm conditions. most people can and will faint in this situation but some are much more prone to it that others. my test was negative. so next an echocardiogram and another ekg on friday. if that's neg I may need to get a monitor placed to see if they can capture an event happening. It all may be related to not drinking enough fluid and salt intake but they need to make sure it's not "something" like a heart arrhythmia. DH is a doc so he went with me , and I know the cardiologist too so it's not as scary as if I didn't know anyone. Michelle, if you are out there and following this thread, you're not the only one with problems! we all have them, just not necessarily the some ones.

but just to keep the record going, I took monday off. tuesday bike, treadmill, elliptical for a 1 hr total, and then most of the back/ bicep workout.
wednesday I did 10 bike, 30 HARD on treadmill with a bp cuff so DH could measure my pressure under stress, and then elliptical. then went to the hospital and had my office appt & tilt testing.

I am not hanging up my boots or my weights. There is a very good chance this is mostly related to not enough water and salt but I need to get this checked out to be sure.

Stacy, we have kickmax ... dh did it once and didn't like it much. he got tired of the 'leg drills" and didn't think it was fun or flowed very well. I like kPC much better and until I'm sick of KPC will probably stick with it.

We have two easy curl bars with weight plates. they have a screw-on thingie, like a huge "nut" that holds the plates on but it comes loose easily and things slip and rattle. I would not recommend this kind of attachment and would replace it if I could. the bars are threaded though so I think this is the sole option.