Home Exercise Enthusiasts- Week of Jan 26

[avariell]

I will get us started this morning... although, ironically, I have no workouts to report. I feel very blah about exercise right now - I just can't get in the groove. It feels good when I do it, but I have absolutely no drive to go do it right now.

I did shovel yesterday if that counts for anything :o:p

[Valerie226]

Sometimes you need a few days off to clear your head and rediscover something motivating. shoveling snow is a decent workout anyway, not one of my favorites but what the heck. sometimes it's gotta get done. Sometimes I just need to go here or the Cathe site and read a few posts and it gets my attitude in the right place.

I did my best to get in 4 Cathe workouts last week after my slow start. Did it! I forgot to write down what day I did what. Did the standing portion of GS legs friday along with GS chest triceps. saturday Elliptical and GS biceps. sunday,KPC. Whew, my legs got sore. not the calves at all, just the thighs and butt. I am limiting to the standing portion until I stop getting so sore. the time is less daunting, and if I'm getting this sore, well, I don't need more.

I've had a recurring medical issue that I thought was settled but had a fainting spell friday morning while brushing my teeth. all testing has been normal so I see another doc today although it's a long shot. the most likely cause is related to getting enough fluid and salt and I though I was doing a decent job at that.

I've added the "s" and am getting on this site OK now. But now there's a security window that pops up constantly saying the page displays secure and nonsecure iterms and do I want to continue. I mean, evertime I go to a new page, there it is. I don't know where it's coming from. anyone know how to control of it?

[avariell]

Valerie- I don't know the fix to that problem with the page loading. Go to the technical help forum and post your question, and you will probably get a reply quickly (or there may already be a thread on it there).

Your dedication to your workouts continues to impress me :) I was inspired to have a good attitude about the gym tonight, and I had a really good workout. I am looking forward to the rest of my week now - without as much dread or anxiety over fitting in my workouts. Tonight was upper body with 40 minutes of hard interval cardio on the elliptical. Tomorrow will be ballet, and I WILL get to the gym on Wednesday before going to the basketball game for some easy cardio!

[avariell]

post reported

[avariell]

Valerie - here is a thread that might help you out:
http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=124204

[testkitchen45]

Good morning, Josie and Valerie! :)

Glad we won't be adding spam to our diets today. ;)

I was so unmotivated to work out yesterday; TG for my wonderful DH's dedication. I don't know how people get started without a workout buddy--for years, I was never consistent w/ my good intentions b/c I was going it alone. DH helped me increase my weights for back & biceps, plus we did some abs (3 sets of 12 leg-lifts in that chair thing; I hoped to increase but couldn't).

My biggest problem has not been muscle fatigue, but overall stamina! I guess I'm weaker than expected in that area. Had a doc appt recently and my BP was outstanding (maybe 150 over 60 or something? just above "turtle," I think :D), but the ol' heart-and-lungs area needs LOTS of work. The weight training plus adding in some elliptical-machine time will do wonders.

Will be iced in tonight, so no workout. Time to dust off that giant exercise ball I bought so long ago with good intentions, and do ab crunches.

[srahndennis]

Busy, busy weekend but I did Step Heat on Saturday.

And drumroll, please......I actually got up and did KPC on Monday morning!!!! Yea! :D That's the first Monday workout all month. Hope I'm starting a new trend!

This morning (yes, that's two 5AM days in a row - but who's counting???) was Power Hour. And boy, am I a wimp! I've missed a few workouts over the last couple of weeks and I can sure tell. I was a little sore from KPC but that's nothing compared to how I will be tomorrow. I can already feel it in my arms and my butt. It's not going to be pretty!

Josie -- Glad you've been energized! Mental attitude makes such a huge difference. And shoveling definately counts!

Valerie -- Glad you're getting your new computer up and going. I don't know what to tell you about the page secure issue. I'm getting that myself today. Great job on your workouts last week. I sure hope you're able to figure out this medial issue! Maybe this new doc will have some other ideas.

TK - Stamina/endurance is an issue for me, too. Not so much with lifting but with cardio. I have to really focus to regulate my breathing so I can keep going. I still struggle but I can tell that I'm making progress, too. I can do more, longer than ever before. Eventually, I'll get to where I want to be.

[Valerie226]

Josie I got the page secure issue resolved. It's a windows explorer issue, something about "mixed content " that I reset and it's better today. It was popping up everytime I moved to a new screen... definitely not something I was going to get used to. the https:// seems to have fixed the sign in issue.Thanks, and thanks for the quick save on the spam attack.

Stacy, I always like KPC. Such a fun workout! 5 am is a challenging time.. DH does it but I prefer later! I feel your power hour pain... I skipped legs for a week and I sure can tell. still sore today from friday's GS legs.

Yesterday I did bike, 40 treadmill, 20 elliptical and coremax1. today I don't know. I skipped yoga this morning.

Testkitchen... you're doing great. it would be great if progress was straight forward and upward without any blips or plateaus... but it's not!. but if you keep at it steadily you will absolutely make progress. You're really lucky to have DH being a help and workout buddy.

[testkitchen45]

5 am is a challenging time. . .

Well, I've just located the greatest understatement on this whole thread!! :D I didn't know 5 a.m. even existed until DH got a cold over the holidays and kept waking me up with his nose flute between 5:18 and 5:30. :eek: ;) Told him his nose was becoming a friggin' alarm clock and to please take a Nyquil. :rolleyes: :D

Anyone have good DVD recs for exercise balls? Keep in mind that I'm a rank beginner. But after bringing some kiddos into the world, I have terrible ab muscles and should probably add in an ab routine at home. Thanks!

[cniles]

HI guys!!

I totally meant to log in yesterday and time just got away!

I did Cardio Overdrive on Sat and a new DVD Power Half Hour (FIRM) on Sunday. OMG I was ready to quit after the warm up. The music was yoga like and had no beat. Yuck. But I stuck with it. INTENSE. Great 30 min workout. 2 weight and 2 cardio and ab work... Emily had me doing flying jacks (as Cathe calls them!!!) uff da! Good workout.

So nothing Monday and today we had a 2 hour delay so I did Power Half Hour again. And then shoveled 2 driveways!! Our neighbors are away through March - so I get double the workout!

More ice and yuckiness tonight - I think they'll call off the whole day tomorrow. I'll check in and let you know!

Personals tomorrow I promise!!:)

[srahndennis]

Well, it's an icy mess here this morning -- certainly not what we're used to in Texas! DS's school is closed today so I'll be working at home. It's great that they have automated call systems now. We got a call at 11 pm last night to tell us that school was cancelled.

Still got up on time (it's really 4:45 'cause the clock is set ahead 15 minutes --- I have a psychological issue with getting up before 5 am! ;)). I did the cardio portion of Cardio & Weights. Had a great workout!

Charrise - So power half hour ended up being good? I noticed that one in the collage catalog. I think netflicks might have it, too.

TK -- Cathe has an abs DVD -- Core Max that has three 20-minute routines on it. One of them uses a ball. Her stuff is tough but it's something to work towards. I don't know of any other stability ball workouts but I'm sure they are out there. You may want to check out collage video or amazon for other ideas.

Valerie -- I skipped legs last week, too. And my quads are really screaming at me! Surprisingly, my rear end isn't too bad. When will I learn?????

[SueK]

I had a nice, longer workout today due to the fact that school is closed. It was hard to get out of bed, though!

I did my time on the treadmill, then was going to finally do my kettlebell DVD and could not find the darn DVD in the workout room! :mad: I searched everywhere for it.

So, in lieu of that, I did upper body with weights and then also spent awhile doing the Wii Fit. My girls ended up coming downstairs and watching me and laughing, but HA - I had the last laugh because I got better scores on the slalom and ski jump than my oldest did. :)

[cniles]

No school for us either!!

So I decided to try my new 1 hour 500 Calorie Workout (FIRM). ARGH!!!!! I am so frustrated by this one! The routines/exercises are excellent but the music is horrible!!!! I made no musical sense at all - I felt like we were starting on the off beat the whole time and it messed me up! If the routines were bad I'd just chuck it - but I was a huge sweaty mess at the end. It was almost like they added the music after the routines were done and they were off. DROVE ME BATTY!:mad:

So not sure what I'm going to do with this one.

Stacy - aren't the automated calls great?!! We got one last night at 9 saying it was a 2 hour and then another at 6am cancelling school. I think you guys must be at the tip of the ice storm that made it's way up here!!

testkitchens - I have Cathe's Coremax which uses a ball but I think it's on the advanced side. Sorry. Great news about your BP!!:)

Valerie - how did the Dr appt go? Is it the fluid/salt issue? Last time this happened was it summertime? Scary stuff though. Keep us posted.

Josie - were you able to get to your ballet class with the icing?? Looks like you guys really got it good.

Sue - do you have to shovel? The kids said they were going to do it - a bunch of other kids arrived and they succeeded in tramping down all of the icy crunch stuff - so it's all packed. :cool:

I'm going out now to attempt to do something with our driveway..... then I have to do our neighbors. Sigh. Good exercise day I guess!;)

[Valerie226]

I don't want to make this into the daily medical report but here goes. I saw a neurologist monday. he checked things and all looks OK but he wanted some testing. I had a head MRI on tuesday. I'd heard these were difficult but totally easy, a mammogram is worse. course I don't have any results. oh yes, the doc told me I shouldn't drive until this is worked out..... right... who lives somewhere where they can function and not drive? so I'm minimizing driving until I get my EEG next week. That one is more difficult,. I'm supposed to stay awake the whole night before the test( 8 am) so I can fall asleep during the procedure. another master plan that will fail. I can't sleep during the day, and I don't care how tired I am. DH will take me for that one. Sigh...

On the exercise front we xc skied yesterday, a ski we've wanted to do for months but the county finally plowed the access road. It was untracked snow and nice although pretty warm and wet. 4 hours up and back.

Wow, sounds like you all have snow and ice to contend with. Not fun! But that's nice you get calls so you know if you need to get everyone up and moving or not.

TK, you might like Coremax. skip the moves that are too difficult until you work up to them. Core muscles train faster than any other part IMO.
Gotta make breakfast for DH, more later.

[testkitchen45]

Valerie, you must be in awesome shape to still xc-ski when you've been having fainting spells! Hope all turns out OK with your EEG next week. :)

Well, since several of you recommended Core Max (Cathe), I checked it out on Amazon. Says it's advanced level but can be modified for intermediate. I need sub-beginner, sort of the phase called "I've had kids and never got my jello abs back into shape after distending them horribly with pregancies." :D My tummy doesn't pooch out very much, and I'm encouraged that I get a concave tum when I lie down, but I have zero muscle tone there and will most likely need to start out much less ambitious than Core Max. :o I appreciate the recs, though, and will keep Cathe in mind for when I'm not a rank beginner.

DH and I are supposed to work out tonight, but won't know for sure till we nail down DS' schedule (may need to bring him somewhere for a school thing).

[avariell]

Snow snow and more snow! I gave up exercising and shoveled for 3 days :) My forearms hurt so freaking bad that I can barely flex my wrists. I didn't make it to ballet... I just didn't want to risk the roads. I didn't work yesterday, and I am not going in today. The roads are still awful, and I have tiny, light car that is a deathtrap. I went out last night thinking that they had enough time to clean the roads, and I got barely made it home alive (and I really don't think I am exaggerating too much). My job just isn't worth it.

I do have a training appointment this afternoon. It is a lot closer to my house, so I think I should be able to make it in safely (plus it is in a different city which has a better plow/salt system).

Valerie- I have helped my sister stay up all night for some testing. It gets a little silly at times :) I remember watching bad rodeo cowboys at 4 am... Good luck with your testing. I have some random fainting spells, so I understand your frustration.

Charisse- could you mute the work out and add your own music? I am not sure to what extent you rely on her verbal instructions - ooo maybe put on closed captions and your own music??

[Valerie226]

Wow, sorry everyone is stuck in the snow and ice... the memory of the snow here a month ago is still fresh so I can relate and sympathize. Mother nature can be a mean bit*ch can't she? At least I'm not hearing of widespread power outs which sure makes it worse in a hurry. And think of the great upper body workout you get with the shoveling.

TK, xc skiing is not that hard. I had 2 fainting spells in 3 months so i'm not dropping to the floor hourly or anything! also we don't ski with the intensity you see in the winter olympics, believe me! you go as fast as you want or as slow as you want for as long as you want. It's much more user friendly than most people think but good snow makes it a lot nicer. Not huge technical skills, unlike downhill skiing which I never got too good at.

Josie, I plan on going to bed at 8 and sleeping until midnight or so and then getting up and staying up. I usually get up at 4 am so if I don't sleep at all it'd be 28 hours up before I even get to the test. and then sleep for an hour (?) and then get up? geez, talk about a risky set up for bad driving. I've been having trouble sleeping in general ( a delightful benefits that comes with menopause) but I've never been very good at sleeping during day hours. Not someone who can sleep in planes or cars or nap anywhere.

Charisse, too bad. a good routine with bad music! Could the disk be defective sort of like a movie with the sound track off??

[cniles]

Josie - a good thought about the music... I'll have to see what works!

Another 2 hour delay today so as every muscle in my body was sore.... I did Cathe's ab section from Cardio and Weights before school this morning.

Valerie - ugh... not sleeping and then going there for the test to sleep - yuck. Be careful driving.. or could DH take you in?

testkitchen - have you checked out the collage.com site? That's always my first place to check out workouts
http://www.collagevideo.com/exercise-videos/stability-ball-exercise-videos-32&page=2&level1=yes&level2=yes

I selected stability ball workouts and narrowed the search to beginners... take a look and play the clips. See if anything works for you.

Tomorrow I don't think I'll get a chance to workout - have to go to our HS basketball game to promote our Relay for Life team.

Have a good day everyone!:)

[testkitchen45]

Hey everyone, what's the difference between the "Home Exercise" threads and the "HL/WWSG" threads? :confused:

Charisse, I'll check out the website; thanks so much! It looks wonderful (great return policy!) :) What's Relay for Life?

Valerie, when's your test?

DH gave me a great workout at the gym tonight. You know you've worked out hard when you can't lift your arms easily to shower later . . . ;) Josie, sorry to laugh but I loved how you shoveled so much snow, your arms hurt for 3 days. Now THAT is a workout. :D

It's tough getting started, though, b/c the payoff (weight loss plus looking better) makes you wait awhile. :o Did increase some weights, though, so I guess I'm getting stronger.

[avariell]

testkitchen - Relay for Life is a cancer survivor/research fundraiser. Around here they often have marathons (like a team runs for like 12 hours straight in legs) to raise money for cancer research, etc.

Congrats on increasing the weights! I love feeling so strong. I did some new exercises tonight that I completely failed out when I started several months ago... woohoo!

Valerie... speaking of fainting... I have been having the worst dizzy spells while working out. I refused to do sprints today with my trainer cuz I was so light-headed. My ears pop really bad when I am dizzy... it drives me crazy. I am going to talk to the ENT about it - maybe it is somehow related to my sinus problems.

ETA: I *THINK* the HL/WWSG are directed towards people who are doing Weight Watchers, but I could be totally wrong :)

ETA2: To correct myself... I opened the thread and hey look - here is the answer in Leslie Ferguson's post: Greetings one and all to the next installment of the Heathful Living/Weekly Workout Support Group as the end comes to a close. I just realized how long it had been since there was a new thread kicked off - I think it was before Christmas (12/21 to be more precise). I would guess you just post where you feel most comfortable. I don't usually work out at home, but I like this thread and feel welcome :)

[Valerie226]

I spoke too soon about the power out situation. sounds like the ice storm must have hit a bit later. Hope everyone is doing OK and with power.
Not to be denied, we had an earthquake this morning. Not a big one, but definitely noticeable, at 5:25 am. I jumped out fo bed, grabbed my rings and contact lenses. to put it in perspective, DH was on the treadmill in the basement and wasn't sure he noticed anything. I was 2 floors up and there was some clear shaking and rattling. I heard 4.5 but it takes a while for the reports to come in.

Yesterday no cardio. did GS chest and triceps. I increased intensity significantly. Did about half of the push ups as straight leg ones, and pushed the pressses and flys to 12 lbs from 10. Then I did GS legs, again only the standing portion. It goes pretty quickly and I did all of it. I left the weight level the same. I'm minimally sore today so I'm thinking this is a good way to legs to do squats/ lunges with weights.... not too much so it's less intimidating.
Stacy, If I can stick in a 30 min intense leg section I can face it whereas if I have to look at more than an hour I put it off. and then in 10 days I'm starting over again. so i think this is what will work for me. Then did coremax 3.

Charisse, my EEG is tuesday 5th. I'll drive my car to DH's office, leave my car. he'll take me for the test. If I'm not up to driving, someone from his office can bring my car back.

Josie dizzy spells.. for me we are still thinking my problems may be related to salt and water intake. there's also a hyperventilatory syndrome that some people are prone to. think about it very carefully so you can describe it exactly. this kind of issue can generate a lot of expensive testing which hopefully is all negative. DH is an Internist .. he sent me to a cardiologist and a neurologist. best to get objective opinions. and he has to work the next day so no way can I make too much noise or expect him to stay up with me.

TK congrats on upping your weights. I never work out so hard that I can't lift my arms up! maybe that's why it takes me so long to get results..

Suek, does that drive you nuts or what! you know something is " right there" and you can't find it! I hate that.

[SueK]

Hi all,

I decided to do a new (to me) DVD yesterday morning. It was "Tighter Assets" and while I did sweat, get my heart rate up, etc, it just didn't really click with me. I like aerobics that really have pumping music and in this one, although they were working out fairly hard, the music was more of a background thing and you could only hear the instructor.

Anyway, this morning I ended up ordering some DVDs off the Cathe site. It's a 5 DVD set for beginner/intermediates with a couple step DVDs and then one for upper and one for lower body workouts. I am anxious to get it! In the meantime, I will continue with the weights and treadmill and check out 2 other DVDs I have on hand here. (Oh yes, and continue to search for that stupid Kettlebell DVD, too! :rolleyes: )

I am planning on getting a good workout in tomorrow because I know I will be doing a lot of munching before and during the game and probably having a few too many beers, too.