They have been pretty good thus far. You have to change the way you run. With regular running shoes heel strike is more common but when running with these you have to try to avoid that (since I tend to do that, I've been running more on the balls of my feet; see their Running FAQ here). My recovery is better and I'm burning a lot more than I thought I would (40 min run/walk combo is burning 500 calories based on my Body Bugg).

Funny thing
 

I was never much of a person to work out. With my family's heart health history, I was feeling like I needed to seriously consider some cardio. At the recommendation of a coworker and friend I started taking Zumba. I never could get into the stationary bike or anything for more than about 20 minutes, but Zumba made the hour fly by because it's mostly like dancing which in my younger days I closed down many a club doing without a second thought. After a year or so of going regularly then dropping off, I got certified to teach (at the recommendation of my instructor and a few classmates) and for the past year have been teaching and loving it. Anyone else out there ever make up dance routines with your friends in jr. high? That's pretty much the gist of it. I would highly recommend it to anyone else out there who likes to shake her grove thing, but isn't so hot on the cardio machines.

You're going to love P90x

Ya.. I expect I will once I get the space to do it.. but that's the key right now: space and a good floor so I don't bother neighbours below :cheesy:

amazing how little space you need. equipment requirement is minimal.

Im still working ut but have become very bord with it all,i have changed it up several times buit im still bord.At the this time im working out four days a week for about an hour give or take a fue,im holding t 245 and cant seem to get lower for some reason.I was working our 5 days a week but the hot weather is bad hear and my home gym set up is on the patio.I joined a fitness place on a weekly membership but I can only go in the daytime,I have a card key to get in when no one is there (all members do) to get in the door.Recently there had been some probs with equipment and safty/security so unless the owner or manager are there many dont go or stay long.I am going to check at the Y and see what they have to offer cause I would like to swim a bit.

SOME threadstalker... that shall remain nameless (mr.bent) thought it would be funny to point out this old post of mine from May saying I would start Monday with P90X ( or PX90 or whatever the fuck) So now I feel compelled to post a retraction. NO i did not start that Monday. Yes it is still sitting on a shelf, in a bag, never played.

But for the record, I now have a free gym membership through work and I went last nite. Did a very evil 30 mins ab class and nearly died. Tonite I go back for bellydance class.

and who knows I may someday actually do those dvds. maybe.

So after taking oh so long off (aka being a lazy toad) I've finally found my mojo again and it's taken me in a fun new totally competition-less direction - dance!

I've gone back to ballet 2x's a week and belly dance 3x's a week. I'm having a blast and shedding the fluff of being lazy. I've also added pilates 3x's a week.

I'm not sure if my knees will ever let me get back into endurance sports again, but if so, it'll be outrigger canoeing.

Here's to finding balance again.. :)

:tanning:

Balance is good.


Good luck to everyone.

i started working out again about 10 weeks ago. after 21/2 yrs of some major health issues and looking at more if i didnt get off my ass. i was laying in bed hacking from the ciggs i smoked that day and thinking this is miseriable! so in the middle of the night i tossed what was left of my pack of smokes an layed on the living room floor remembering some of the basics i had been taight in jc and fire camp. living in a small apt now i had given away my weight machine so i had to do with what i had. i was able to manage landing a recumbent exercise bike off craigs list cheap!! i was pushing 290lbs at 5'10 and didnt even trust my balance for an up right bike. then i purchased one of those door mount pull up bars some dumb bells and streach bands.. just doing the basics and drinking alot of water 10 weeks later and 53 lbs lighter ,,no more smoking i am feeling great.. i wish i had never stoped taking care of me!! now i do cardio 2xs a week and strenght 3 xs with a day to chill..

I'm an instructor, so obviously I like it. It's designed to be fun and dance based, so you can get a great cardio work out and have a good time. It's Latin dance based at it's roots, and there are often some hip hop and "world" dance elements as well. I am particularly fond of a Bollywood routine I've been doing lately. The classes can vary a lot from instructor to instructor depending on that individuals preferences and skills. You can check out some videos on youtube if you want to get a sense of what the class would be like. Let me know if there are any specific questions I can answer.

I have a bad back, so a lot of my workout is core focused. I also had my hip scoped 2 years ago (massive labral tear and pincer lesions), and it never fully came back. I was sent to physical therapy again by a great doctor because I wanted to avoid a second hip surgery to release the big tendon that connects your thigh to your hip. So far, that's really improved things for my hip.

My physical therapist is great in that she has also helped me design a workout program I can do and not hurt myself further. I alternate on this schedule:

Cardio - 30 minutes (or more if I can tolerate) on the treadmill and 15-20 minutes on a recumbent bike. I am trying to work my way back to 60 minutes on the elliptical trainer, which I prefer to the treadmill, but my hip therapy interferes with that right now.

Core - I do machines for upper body strength, combined with some resistance bands. I also do a lot of fit ball, which is one hell of a workout, though you wouldn't think it was. I also combine this with a lot of stretches that are yoga-based for my back. And we're now starting to add in kettles and medicine ball stuff.

Ok... Call me really envious.

Welp. The running is helping. To date, with running, extra walking and watching my food intake (thank you Body Bugg for keeping track of all this stuff) I've lost 14 lbs since May 21 (roughly 2 months). I figure I've been doing well as a result.

K may have found a place for us in the L.A. area and if we get it (a house), I'll be able to get into doing the P90X finally. :) I'm very hopefully and excited about the possibility.

Luv P90X...............

Is this what you were thinking of? http://www.strength-training-woman.c...exercises.html

http://www.strength-training-woman.c...exercises.html
they have some workouts. just be careful to not use too much weight. you want to do the exercises true to form with little weight, then once you have your balance and extension range comfortable, you can increase to whatever weight feels heavy without compromising the technique of the lift.

i like to focus on core strength first extremities later.

@

I have a commercial caliber gym, 300lbs of weight, dial-ups. I do about about 93 exercises meaning that that includes all the variations.

P90x on DVD. The cardio, plyo and core synergistics and yoga are great. I've integrated P90X with my weightlifing

You can use bands instead of weights, towel, water. That's about it. I couldn't continue with INSANITY because it is so intense. Theey don't tell you that its advanced you need to be about 22. Fuck. So I started P90x about a week and half ago, its amazing.

What does "core exercises/strength" mean to you? All muscles are connected together and it's good idea to exercise all them, to a degree, to ensure better muscle tone. You could do the Navy Seals Workout program: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/c...g/a/012204.htm

D.C.
You dont need to spend a lot of money on workout equipment...I bought a bowflex foe 40 bucks at a garage sale,freeweights and bars for ten at the same place,got an exersise bike for eight bucks at another garage sale..my weight bench was in someones trash that I fished it out for free.it was a bit rusty but a can of paint fixed it up fine..check the goodwill stores I got a tredmill nearly new for seventy five bucks.I also have gotten a fue asorted peices hear and there at the goodwill and thrift stores..all works fine for me..got a regular gym on the paito anytime I need to workout.The goodwill store has a lot of tapes on working out..got lots of those too.

yeah? I bought a Bowflex when I moved to GA because I needed to exercise at home. I sent it back within a week because it was a rip off and the biggest piece shit there was. Not only that, the UPS guy said, "do you know how many of these get returned? All the time"

Bowlfex it's a line of shit. And people on those spots didn't get that way using a plastic Bowflex machine. Shaping takes quality resistance and hitting every muscle group you can. Like i just said bands are terrific and so is P90X. Very little equipment is needed.
Secondly, putting together a program and diet suited to your goals.

I'm into making as many gains as I can at my age. And so I chose to invest, heavy guage steel gym with cable capabilities, decline and incline bench and so forth. The more exercise flexibility, the better.

I hadn't thought about checking the thrift stores, Rockin'. I have a goodwill close to my house and I think I'll check it out this weekend. I'd really like to find an elliptical on the cheap. Sounds like you have quite the gym going there, good on ya.

If you're going used, go to Play It Again Sports where the equipment been tested and approved for sale. We're weights.....sometimes heavy weights and benches that have hold up. I would never piecemeal weight equipment together from previous owners at garage sales and so for. Weightlifting and exercises just isn't to be taken lightly IHO.

Almost every city has Play it Again Sports. That's where I bought my 300-lb barbell set for $185. compared to online or new for upwards of 400 dollars depending on the manufacturer.

When I buy from the good will store I make shure whatever exrsise equipment is in good order and will do the job,I never have had a prob with asking them to give it one more check to make shure.When buying at garage sales I check things out really good first to make shure its sound,im well able to handle any kind of hand tool to repair things I use to workout with or anything else for that matter..I always have had to be able to fix and repair stuff so I know what to look for when im buying used things.if u dont know how get someone to go with u to check things out that dose.With the economy the way it is I dont know many who arent doing what they can to get a buck to stretch a bit..but do it saftly.I was told the goodwill store puts the exersise equipment out on monday and if u r a senior u can get a discount on tuesday..or what ever day they set it up for.

Core
 

core refers to the muscles around your mid torso. they affect your balance, back, abs, stamina, and flexibity. anything that works your back butt abs obliques chest hip flexors is good for your core.

it is important to keep yourself strong in your core, because your extremities depend on your core for support.

@

my deal is now i workout with this couple i know of at my gym. 4 times a week. and am now even fixin for a racing swimsuit (thank you shadows papa for your suggestion).
i still do my warm up before i hit the weights. pushups, mountain climbers, lay down bicycle, and jump squats.

i am now a solid 130 lbs.

my work schedule has also changed (i stock shelves in the grocery dept. ~ no more cashiering). i work all nights now, so my workout regime will be more structured.

am looking for new workout shoes and work shoes eventually.

any suggestions/advice?

I do core synergistics which are exercises that hit core muscles and other muscle groups at the same time. It's work. But very little equipment is needed, you can use bands or weights. Bands are amazing. I dont use them but people who do get great results. As far as abs go, I only do them apart 3 times a week.

The somewhat revamped workout
 

My workout these days since my knee injury:

Monday - Back/Chest 4x8 (1 rep. max once a month on chest press) - supersets:
Begin with push-ups 3x20 as warm-up

Pull-ups
Bent over BB rows
DB Chest press
DB Chest flyes
Face-pulls
DB shrugs
One arm DB Chest Press (flat and incline)
One arm DB Flyes on Swiss ball (good for core stability)
Lat. Pull-downs
Romanian Deadlifts

Plate pinch 3x1 minute
Wrist curls 3x20
Grippers 3x10
Sledgehammer levers 3x10

Abs:
Med. ball slams 3x20
Jackknives on Swiss ball 3x20

Cardio: 30 mins on bike (since my injury I unfortunately can't do much running or my regular cardio workout)

Tuesday - Legs *note, not really going very heavy on legs these days, since the knee still gets a bit sore with too much.
Warm-up on Leg press 4x15
Squats 4x8-10
BB Hacksquats 4x10
Deadlifts 4x8-10
Walking lunges across the gym 4x
Sled drags forward and backward (which is actually an adjustable bench right now, with two co-workers standing on it forward, and one co-worker backwards lol)

Abs:
Med. ball slams
Russian twists

Cardio: 30 mins on bike

Wednesday - Shoulders
Begin with handstand pushups, as many as possible, which isn't too many lol
Seated DB shoulder press 10x10 (increase weight everytime successfully complete 10 sets of 10 reps)
Bent over rear delt. cable raises 4x10
Standing one arm DB shoulder press 4x8-10
DB Front raises 4x10
DB lateral raises 4x10

Abs:
Cable chops 3x20
DB swings 3x20

Cardio: 30 mins on bike

Thursday - Biceps/Triceps - 4x8-10

Standing DB curls (superset next two)
Cable bicep curls
Modified one arm skullcrusher (giant sets for following three)
DB skullcrushers
Tricep pushups
Concentration curls (supersets for next two)
Hammer curls
Standing overhead cable extensions (superset next two)
Tricep pulldowns
Reverse curls
Dips

Plate pinch 3x1 minute
Wrist curls 3x20
Grippers 3x10
Sledgehammer levers 3x10

Abs:
Jackknives on Swiss ball 3x20
Twisting plank 3x10 on each side
Knee drives/back row combo 3x10

Cardio: 30 mins on bike

Friday - Day of epicness lol Unfortunately this day won't be as epic as I'd like it to be until my knee gets better.
- Deadlifts
- Clean/Jerk - light as hell right now
- Turkish get-ups
- Tire slams (no clue what to call these...just do them, basically take a car tire, get in stance and slam it sideways against an immovable object. It's all about controling the bounce. Great for core.)