That’s a good point. Never underestimate the importance of sleep. The lack of it affects so much. That said, for me it sometimes ends up being a catch-22. Like when I don’t get enough sleep I’m too tired to work out very much. Then the less exercise I do the less tired I am. So it is even harder to fall asleep. Consequently I’m even less interested in doing anything. More sedentary, less sleep. And around and around I go. I’ve learned, for me, moving is the best way out of most of my cycles. It’s really helpful for the “trouble sleeping cycle.” It’s also helpful for me to get out of my “gee I’m feeling down cycle” because the endorphins kick in and I feel good despite myself. It usually ends up a win/win.

It’s great you have the dogs to play with. That must help a little as a motivator.

It's been a good week...but I'm sore. More fun to be had tomorrow! :)

Yesterday....


I decided to do a favorite workout that I hadn't done for a while...a LONG while....

well....

I apparently chose too heavy a weight to do a twisty thing... and now my right oblique muscle says "NO!" a lot when I move certain ways....

Other than that, I was surprised at how much I could keep up with considering it is not an easy workout (plyo and weights and high energy inervals). Good to know I still got it! <flex>

This morning it's some nice yoga....and later...shoulders and back and legs.... :)

Note to self (and others):

doing yoga with a pulled oblique muscle......not so fun....

but I muddled through and it felt super good :)

My back feels SO much better even after one day of yoga....I suppose because it really concentrates on the core...but wow my arms feel <<<<<THIS BIG>>>>


:praying: Namaste

Solo racquet ball. I think the ball won, but I wasn't counting...

Tread mill until I got bored.

Upper body weight lifting that I know will attack me in the morning.

Does anyone have experience with the Fluidity Bar or barre work out?

Since my surgery I am rethinking what the best method for exercise that won't aggravate my chest but still allow for strengthening and recovery.

O.M.G.

I have a Px90ish type DVD set....I just did shoulders and back....by the time the cool down (finally) came around....my arms were jello.... :blink:

I particularly like this one thing he calls "7s". For your triceps, you hinge at the hip and do a basic kickback [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOeiqKL0jS4"]How to Do a Triceps Kickback For Dummies - YouTube[/nomedia] but the twist is you change your hand position from parallel to your body to perpendicular forward and perpendicular facing back. AMAZING....3 rounds of 21 reps....I feel like I can rip phone books....

Then a similar thing with biceps. Instead of doing full range of motion tricep curl....from the bottom do a half curl 7x..then from the top to half way down 7x then full curls 7x... 3 rounds of that...holy burn.... :)

:koolaid:

Everything New
 

A new life and a new outlook, got me to the gym today. It felt fantastic!

Sunday, October 13th
 

When I rose earlier to greet the day, it was cloudy, quite chilly and it looked as though we had intermittent sprinkles of rain (last night). But the pearly gray skyscape has vanished and now we have blue skies (for miles and miles).

I think what I will do this afternoon, is make a light lunch and take a couple of bottles of water with me and go for a long afternoon walk (maybe down to the river or to a nature reserve, nearby).

Something I want to work on during the week: I want to find time each day to get on the small indoor trampoline I have and dance for about an hour or so, each morning (after I get my morning stretches in). I hope this somehow offsets and mitigates some of the lethargy I experience lately, when I rise to greet the day.

Wishing everyone a week of wellness and joy,
*Cheers!* :bouquet:

Despite my knees...
 

....enduring strain and pain due to climbing a MILLION stairs each day, I made it back to the gym today, focusing on the upper body. WOWZERS...I am sore!!!!!!!!

I'm making Sauerkraut this morning and that is a good arm workout! Rest of the body will get attention later today with dog walking and time on the rowing machine.

Ok, did the Fluidity Bar workout, was stiffening up within minutes of finishing. So popped some ibuprofen before bed. Can still walk this morning!

Let's me know how much strength I'm lacking since I started having problems.

Got a way to go before I'll be satisfied with my fitness level.

But I did it!

Here is a question for everybody!

What kind of music to you listen to, if you do,
when you're working out?

For me, it is different for cardio and lifting.

For cardio, I listen to Pandora. "A Medley of Irish Fiddle Tunes"
Really keeps me going!
For weight training it's Rock. A Jersey Shore station that is
also on the web Rat Radio!
This really keeps me in the mental zone!

Funny how different they are...!

Since R went into the hospital all my routines have been erased. Slowly I'm building them back up though. For one thing, I put a yoga mat in front of the TV and do stretches, free weights and yoga while I watch reruns of Modern Family, or my cable series (currently, Homeland, Eastbound and Down and Masters of Sex).

I don't know how much exercise this really is, but my muscles burn, my heart rate goes up, and the stretching is a great stress reliever. I recommend this approach for anyone who prefers to stay inside for a period of time.

Music...
 

Electronic the entire time...the faster the better, esp during cardio. Once I'm plugged in, there's no one else who matters but me. Needless to say, I don't think I make a good workout partner.

I have worked myself up to swimming 1 mile 4-5 times a week. Never did something so consistently. I have never felt so calm and relaxed. When swimming I feel the world go away.
Only thing is my skin is not taking all the chemicals in the pool that well. Just went on amazon to order lotion that swimmers use. Not Diana Nyad but she is my inspiration.

Personal best swimming today: 1.5 miles. It felt so freeing to just be thinking only of reaching that goal today.

I've not been exercising much at all for over a month. I was sick for quite awhile, plus flu shot and reaction to that, and feeling bogged down with work and just generally being out of a life rhythm that allows for exercise. Like Miss Tick said, lacking sleep can be a vicious cycle. Anyway...

Today I took a two hour walk, plus stair climbing, in Riverside Park. I saw the usual Kung Fu group who did Kung Fu the entire time that I was walking. I saw an elderly Asian woman silhouetted by the sun as she backward-walked. It was chilly and windy and an overall lovely fall day. I had on a new winter coat that made me feel cozy.

I've missed everyone on the thread. It was great to catch up on posts and hopefully get back in the game :)

Can you believe that November is almost here???

For the better part of October, I managed to be consistent with stretching each morning before I got out of bed, increased the times I spent on my indoor trampoline, as well as changing up how much energy I would put into walking. For the most part, I noticed that my spent energy led to spent energy, which should have helped with my troubles falling asleep, but it actually worked out differently (it kept me up). Actively making sure that exercise is a part of my life, on a daily basis, seems to help me feel more connected to caring for my physical health.

Hopefully by late December, I want to include getting a body massage on a regular basis. I remember back when I could afford to treat myself to a body massage, it worked wonders (for me).

:bouquet:

I'm sorry that some are not feeling well. I was forced into exercise this summer because of some convening health issue that I believe were very stress related from my divorce and work. I knew if I didn't pay attention to this ...I would end up really sick. The only exercise I have always loved is swimming and I forced myself to swim. I still haven't gotten food down but I am not doing it for weight loss. I am Ahmed at how it has helped me remain calm and focused. I am tired a lot but it is a good tired not a tired because I am worrying and trying to think my way through problems.
I think of Dianna Nays when I don't want to go. She is 2 months younger than me and if she can stay in water for days I can for an hour or more

I went to the gym today and was happy to see that my favorite Arc Trainer was available. Once I see it's available, I rush to it as if I've spotted a hundred dollar bill on the floor. I returned to watching the "Dance Moms" reality series, which is pretty high on the boring meter but not so boring as to be given up on. I did an hour of the strength program, Level 7, and 30 minutes of the hill interval program, same level. As I was getting off the machine, who should step up on the Arc Trainer beside me but Jill, with her dark red lipstick, aggravating perfume, and killer bod. Her favorite Arc Trainer is the one next to my favorite. Thank goodness we don't have the same favorite. Then I did 30 minutes of weight lifting, ab work, and stretching. It was a nice and quiet Sunday afternoon.

Today I ordered Shaun T's "Rockin' Body" dance dvds. I feel like I need something fun to look forward to. Hiking is pretty much going to come to an end between hunting season and winter...so I need something I can do indoors.
The plus side for me is that it teaches dance steps...I started taking dance lessons at age 4. I rather like the idea of dance and exercise combined...dancing is actually excellent brain work too! :)
I got expedited shipping, so hopefully I will let y'all know how it goes sooner than later...

I still haven't been able to get in a good exercise groove (work stress, that kind of thing). However, today I took a great 3.5 hour walk in Riverside Park. It was chilly but not too cold, and I watched the sun set by the water. I saw a little girl dressed as a princess with a cool blonde wig that went all the way down to her ankles. She was running around in the grass, while two other little girls dressed in jeans and sweatshirts watched her from up in a tree. I loved the smell of the leaves and looking at all the patterns and colors of the leaves. I love the melancholy of fall :).

I am still plugging away at the beach as usual although less on the mileage. The giant sandpile project is is full swing and they are working extended hours and added weekends too. Bummer.

It's alright that my wings are a bit clipped though. About a month ago I started having a bit of soreness in one hip that would start about half-way and really bring me up short with a painful limp by the end. It went away in 12-16 hours in time for the next walk though. Problem is, now it is getting worse and doesn't go all the way away anymore.

Conundrum.

Due to a minor headcold I have been away from the pool for the last two weeks. I didn't know how that would work out and decided to err on the side of caution. I hope to get back in either tomorrow or Wednesday.

Keep on keepin' on...


:theisland:

Today was the NYC Marathon, so the gym was nice and empty. When I first walked over to my Arc Trainer, Jill was already on her Arc Trainer next to mine (as in each of our "favorites"). We don't acknowledge one another at all. We both watched the marathon on t.v. She also texted. She goes really fast with her legs and texts up a storm with her hands. I could never do such a thing. I can barely text when not on an elliptical. I stayed on the Beast for three hours, all "hill interval," with 2 hours of level 8 and a final hour of level 10. Jill, the slacker, got off after an hour and a half, and then went over to her favorite stair master and did an hour there.

Then I did an hour of weight lifting, abs, legs, and stretching. I found that having taken practically two months off, the cardio comes back very easy, but the abs, legs, and weights are at lower levels. I guess I keep up some degree of cardio in every day work-a-day life but not the other stuff so much.

It was great to have a weekend with time to do two long work-outs. I hope it will usher me into a healthy week. I need to get sleep and not let work stress me out so much. I have to remember how peaceful I feel right now.

I was able to use the weekend momentum and get myself to the gym again today. I left work stressed and with a headache, and it was hard not to veg out after work.

When I arrived at the gym, Jill was on her favorite Stair Master wearing her classic stretchy black booty shorts with a tiny bit of toned ass visible (Think: hard as Barbie) and her red Under Armour top pushed up to just below her breasts, lest any of us have to go a day without viewing her six pack :D.

I went to my favorite Arc Trainer, wearing ill fitting, super un-gym-like black shorts that tend to attract lint, cat hair, and peculiarly today- 2 feathers!, paired with a shirt my mom got me that is a nauseating color of yellow with big brown lettering that reads: HONEY BADGER DON'T CARE. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't wear this shirt all the time. In fact, once, one of the staff, likely the guy who drew the shortest straw, came up to me and said, "What is the deal with the Honey Badger shirt? Is that, like, the mascot from your college or something?" I said, with a smile, "Google Honey Badger Don't Care, and you'll get it."

I did 30 minutes on the Beast, Level 10, Strength program, while watching Judge Judy. Then I thought about going home, but instead did 15 minutes of weight lifting and abs and 15 minutes of yoga. By the end my headache was gone! :)

I was out of shape today. I was in a conference in Dallas (well in a hotel in Dallas) since last Wednesday. It was $16 to use the gym for a day, so I swam once but felt like I was starting over today when I went to my dream to swim. I am kind of stressed at work as well and needed to relieve some of it.

Did have a little fun one night when I convinced a couple of folks to go to the lesbian bar in Dallas (Sue Ellen's, really!) and had fun but they were sooo young. How is it that I feel 30 in my brain but not in my body. Back into my life and stress but will commit to the gym, a day at a time

I'm still on a moderate exersise program then watching what I eat plus my doc put me on probiotics,last week I lost two pounds.Now i'm down to 255
with a goal of 200 if I lose more fine but if I don't i
m ok with it.

It was really nice to be on vacation and take a break from everything...including tennis. Didn't pick up my racquet for over 2 weeks...omg! Getting back on the program!!!