HLSG Weight Training Challenge - Week of 1/29 - ARMS

[Natasha]

Hi all,

I hope it s okay with everyone if I start our challenge for this week and choose arms as the area to work on. Maybe I should have chosen a lower-body part since we just had chest, but...anyway, if anyone has any serious objections, let me know.

I propose that we do three sets of pushups over the week - 10-20 per set, depending on what you feel like. Bent-leg or straight-leg is also up to you. That s only 30-60 pushups over the week, so it shouldn t be too bad. Right? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Good luck! I look forward to seeing what other exercises we re up for this week. Have a good one, everyone.

[kwormann]

Well, I am finally going to join in. I have been bypassing most things on this board, because I havent been exercising...been under amazing amounts of stress, and have been to tired and depressed to move, which makes me even more stressed and depressed, ehick makes me not want to move....you get the cycle. (And have been eating WAY too much...unfortuneately Im a stress eater)..


well, anyway, I went to the park today and walked 2 miles....I got my body moving....now I feel a little better and am ready to do more...hope I can feel this way tomorrow!

Sorry for the rambling, and thanks for the continued motivation (when I chose to use it!)

Kim

[mightyh]

Maybe if I suggest an exercise, I'll feel compelled to join in the challenge... Plus, after having a baby, my arms are definitely not the same as they used to be.

I'll suggest french presses--not sure I'll describe them right. Take a weight (or two if you only have light ones) in both your hands and hold it above your head/behind your back with your elbows pointed toward the ceiling. With your abs contracted, push the weight straight up towards the ceiling then down in a controlled motion. Make sure you're working your triceps, as I sometimes have a hard time lining this exercise up correctly.

Let's do 3 sets of 15.

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[hhcowgirl]

Ooooh, good idea to work on arms, I have to wear a strapless dress at the end of February. Also, just a little motivational tip: I started doing push-ups religiously around Christmas time and have already noticed a HUGE difference. My mom and sister both commented as well. I don't know about y'all, but I tend to get sick of toning/weight exercises if I don't see results, so maybe this will help you and me stick with the push-ups.

Kim, please hang in there--I went through a tough phase about 2 years ago and I feel like one of the only things that got me through was exercising. I know it's tough when you just DO NOT feel like it, but think of it this way: have you ever NOT felt better after some aerobic activity? I know I have never regretted a workout, no matter how badly I was feeling beforehand. Also, I just read three separate articles singing the praises of exercise as a treatment for depression: apparently a study was done at Duke or UNC or somewhere and found that exercise 3x a week was as effective as zoloft in treating a control group for depression. So hang in there and try to get out whenever you can! And also remember that we are all here to listen if you need to vent.

[Laura]

Why not add some good ole' fashioned bicep curls? I do three sets of 10. I hope I can participate. I came down with a case of vertigo mid-last week. I am doing okay as long as I don't make any real sudden movements (bending over to dry my hair is very dangerous http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif!) I am feeling better and hope that I can get in some good exercise this week. Fortunately, we had a very mellow Superbowl party and no bad eating on my part. Happy lifting everyone!

Just wanted to give you a story to motivate you on the push-ups. My dad started doing the Royal Canadian Air Force Calisthenics when he was 50 and could only do 10 push-ups. Now he is 88 and does between 100 -150 military push-ups every morning in one set. He's so cool! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Laura (edited 01-28-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Laura (edited 01-29-2001).]

[Laura]

Natasha-

Since you are joining us can we assume you finished your paper? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Natasha]

Originally posted by Laura:
Natasha-

Since you are joining us can we assume you finished your paper? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Caught!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif No, but it s almost there. I m just about to finish typing up a good draft (if there is such a thing), have it read by a couple of friends, and hopefully hand it in tomorrow. At least that s the plan. Thanks for asking. I m ready to join the normal world again! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Your dad sounds incredible. I ll have to remind myself of him when I do this week s round of exercises.

Good luck getting over the vertigo.

[Pat58]

Should we round out our total arms workout with side lateral raises for the deltoids? I find that working my shoulders adds definition to my arms.

Welcome back Kim! I hope things are improving for you.

[kwormann]

Thanx for the support! I have discovered that Im not cut out for 1st grade, so this year is hard for me, and DH is in danger of losing his job, 2 very big stresses!

I walked the past 2 days and it has felt good to my body! I can tell from my clothing I have gained a few and I am afraid to get on the scales (I am already 12 lbs over), so DH told me not to...why add to the stress and depression!

Thanxs again..hopefully if I keep reading this BB, Ill keep this going one day at a time!

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Natasha]

Atta girl, Kim! I've been wondering how you were doing. Keep on walking and keep up that positive attitude. Have a fantastic evening; hopefully you and your husband can spend a nice, relaxing time together. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lindrusso]

Hi all. Hope everyone is doing well with their challenge and fitness in general. I just wanted to say that I won't be participating in the challenges for a while. I just started a fitness program at the Y and it's very challenging. It's sort of a pyramid system and it takes at least an hour just to complete the weight training (but you only do it 3 times a week, thank goodness).

So, with the amount of time involved and the amount of soreness I am experiencing http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif , I don't think I'll take on these challenges (although many of the exercises we've tried here - lunges, squats, etc. - are part of the work out). But have fun everyone and I'll join in again when I get a handle on this new workout routine.

[Natasha]

Did anyone else do these? Nag, nag... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[hhcowgirl]

I did, I did! Although probably pretty hastily and not as thoroughly as I could have, but I simply had to--I am freaking out because I have this ball to go to the first weekend in March and I am wearing strapless and my arms look like jello!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif So please keep nagging me until then!