Using It - July 15 - 21

[Shadow]

Up and at 'em gang - we're now on a new week :tongue:. Started my week out strong with a slow and heavy workout for chest and back.

What is everyone else up to today/this week :)?

[maxlharris]

I have walked. And walked. And walked some more. And it's hot out there. And I'm wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. It's hot out there.

Tomorrow, to the gym at the hotel at 5:30 AM, and back to the routine. They have FREE WEIGHTS!!! YEAH! Will have to see if they have swiss balls, otherwise I will have to devise some substitutes (I think I can do the jackknife on a bench and do hip extensions and call that a sub. The leg thing, I dunno. Maybe the leg curl machine. )

[maxlharris]

I added a midday set of Intervals today. Boy, was that hard. Fueled on junk and probably dehydrated a little. But, I'm not sorry I did it. I'm an hour away from walking a mile to Fiorella's Jack Stack, one of the premier bbq joints in the city. Excited. Will walk there and back, in pennance.

[maxlharris]

Lifted today. Gym is fully outfitted. In fact, it's a club people can join that happens to be on top of a hotel. Very nice.

Full set of the workout I did on Wednesday of last week.
Lunges
Scaption+shrug (this burns the wide back muscle and all the shoulders... wow)
Swiss Ball hip ext + leg curl
DB Bench Press
Swiss Ball Jackknife (this is VERY HARD and VERY UNFUN. Must be good for me).

Not eating out of control, but not really watching carbs. Makes me feel like I have to work harder. So, I'm working harder.

[Shadow]

Max - Great to see you getting those workouts in!

Today was cardio - blech! But I must admit, it was not killer cardio as it was over 80 degrees in my exercise room ;)...

[hawk]

Upperbody workout today.

6 sets of

Chest press 12,10,8,6,12...alternate...cable cross overs 12 began at 80 lbs and went up @ 10 pounds each set
shoulder press..12,10,8,6,12..alternate ...dumbell presses 12(my weakest muscle group) began at 25lbs.
lat pull downs 12,10,8,6,12,..alternate..dumbell rows ,began at 40 lbs
preacher curls 12.10.8.6,12 alternate ..hammer curls , began at 40lbs, went up 10 each set
tricep kick backs, 12,10,8,6,12,,,, top weight was 35 pound dumbells. pushups(25)

My foot still is giving my problems. The last three toes feel like the are having electric shocks . They tingle. I think the tendons have messed up and now the nerves are inflamed.
My ankle hurts because I automatically walk on the inside of my foot and it is messing up my arch.

[Ottawa]

I'm back from surgery but will wait until August for even light exercise. All went well but it's just walking and stairs for the next few weeks. A great doctor and great staff and I feel on top of the world. I had a shower the next morning after the surgery and they let me go a day early.
I'll join up again in small sets for August and should be on top of things for September.

[gator8me]

7.16.07
Upper body today (felt weird not doing ANY cardio lol)

CHEST PRESS - 12,10,8,6,12 (ended on 50#)
FLY MACHINE - 12 (40, could probably up that)
SHOULDER PRESS - 12,10,8,6,12 (ended on 35#)
SIDE RAISES - 12 (5#, could probably up that to 8 or 10)(dumbbell used)
EAGLE ROW - 12,10,8,6,12 (ended up on 50#)
PULLDOWN - 12 (60#)
TRICEP PUSHDOWN - 12,10,8,6,12 (ended on 90#)
TRICEP EXTENTION - 12 (10#) (DUMB BELL USED)
BICEP CURL - 12,10,8,6,12 (ended on 35#)
HAMMER CURL - 12 (30#)

Figuring out the Body for Life approach to exercise. Really got a great workout. Taking this week to figure it out and starting the exercise challenge next week on Monday.

Ally

[maxlharris]

I should mention, I also walked many miles running around a convention center, the exhibit hall of which had no AC. This is training in some bad conditions. Managed to stay hydrated. I dunno how that happened. Might go do some flat cardio before dinner. Might consider it done. Any rate, tomorrow is some intervals pre dawn. I don't like the bikes at the gym, so I might try something different.

[maxlharris]

Intervals this morning on something called an ARC trainer that felt suspiciously like an elliptical. I think I figured why I don't like these. It might be something to do with the unnatural nature of the back swing on the stride. Or the lack of ground resistance. Or something. It's just weird to me. Thursday, will maybe do dreadmill.

[Mitra]

I'm still exercising. Still feeling frustrated at not being able to do as much as I'd like - no energy and a bad back :rolleyes:. Actually, my back feels fine most of the time, but there are still certain movements that just don't feel safe to do. This was the worst attack I've ever had, and my recovery has been faster than from some milder ones in the past, so I'll just keep plugging away to rebuild my strength and mobility.

[gator8me]

7.17.07
CARDIO ONLY
20min on Arc trainer.... high point was 40 resistance...
Those are the hardest intervals!
Even after my shower I'm still sweating! lol
Ally

[gator8me]

Hey Max!!! What resistance level were you using on the Arc Trainer? And yes, it is very similar to an eliptical but I like the Arc better... fits my stride better is all I can come up with. :)
Ally

[gator8me]

Mitra~
You and Lynn really inspire me to keep plugging away at the exercise. All of y'alls issues with different things that make exercising way more difficult than for the rest of us and you still keep at it.
Keep up the great work!
Ally

[Shadow]

Wow, some great workouts going on, everyone :thumbsup:!

(((Randy)))! It is SO good to see you again :D! No worries - I know you'll get yourself eased back into the routine again. It just takes time - and patience ;).

[gator8me]

oops shadow.. I forgot to say WELCOME BACK!!! I was so worried when I got active on the board again and noticed right away that you were inactive! I hope all is well with you. :)
Ally

[Shadow]

Thanks, Ally :D! Let's just say I'm plugging along :razz:... Seriously, things are very different now but still, they are well. So what more could I want :)?

[Ammy]

I haven't done my resistance since JUNE 12TH!!!

Holy Moly!!

Hip Adductor 3x8x110
Hip abductor 3x8x110
leg press 3x8x150
seated row 3x8x70
chest press 3x8x50
ab crunch 3x8x90

Most were done rather quickly because I'm feeling a bit out of shape. My plan is to continue on without any increases until I can do them at the correct speed, then I'll increase reps.

[banshee]

Started my new job this week. Unsettling and I've been having this odd sense of "unreality" about the whole thing, probably because it wasn't a "my choice" move to start with. I assume it will all sink in eventually. Love the people and expect to love the work.

I've signed up for the personal training classes starting next week - a whole month of classes (8 total) is the same price I was paying for a single training session before, so I'm pretty excited about twice weekly personal training. (It is of course a class instead of one-on-one, but at this point I think that will work well for me.)

Class is going to be Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I'm going to try and get used to that this week and switch my training to Tues/Thurs/Sat. So training today (right after posting this!)

[Shadow]

Mary - Good luck with the new job AND the new classes! I am sure you'll excel at both :)!

Amy - You'll be back to the norm in no time at all. Way to go getting back to it!!!

Mitra - So do you think that's two steps forward to one step back? I am sorry the attack was worse than before, but I think it's a great sign that recovery went much better than before :thumbsup:! Hopefully as long as you continue to take care on what you do and how far you push it, you will have no further setbacks!

[maxlharris]

Hey Max!!! What resistance level were you using on the Arc Trainer? And yes, it is very similar to an eliptical but I like the Arc better... fits my stride better is all I can come up with. :)
Ally

First time using anything like an elliptical. I think the highest resistance I got up to was 25. I could have done more, but have been on my feet for over 10 hours at this point and am anticipating at least another 1.5 so didn't want to really burn out. Could definitely do more, but I don't like the device. Doesn't fit my stride. Too short.

[gator8me]

Well if the Arc trainer was too short for your stride then definitly stay away from any of the other ellipticals! lol Just some info for ya!
ally


First time using anything like an elliptical. I think the highest resistance I got up to was 25. I could have done more, but have been on my feet for over 10 hours at this point and am anticipating at least another 1.5 so didn't want to really burn out. Could definitely do more, but I don't like the device. Doesn't fit my stride. Too short.

[maxlharris]

Today, abbreviated lifting routine. Had to make a 6:30 meeting with a 5:30 gym opening. Tough.
2 sets each of
Wide Grip Row (60 lbs, 12 reps, alt with)
DB Romanian Deadlift (60 lbs, 10 reps)
and
DB Push Press (60 lbs, 10 reps, alt with)
Kneeling Lat Pulldown (110 lbs, 10 reps, the WIDE Grip)
Closing with
Side Bridge, 30 seconds per side.

Good workout. Little light. But still fit it in and got to watch the part of "Reverse the Curse of the Bambino" where the mets come back in game 6 of the 1986 world series on the ball through buckner. A fond childhood memory (I was 13 and living 10 miles from Shea) and a very fond adult memory (as a lifelong hater of the red sox and many of their melodramatic adult fans whining and crying). Very nice. Oh, and then they showed the Aaron Boone Home Run from 2003, a very sweet memory too. Bonus!

[gator8me]

7.18.07
LOWER BODY TODAY! woohoo lol Was actually easier to figure out having already done the Upper body on Monday. Have to find different exercises for a couple of things though.

Everything done with 12,10,8,6,12 reps gradually working up to a TOP weight.
QUADS
LEG EXTENTIONS - Topped out at 30 (great for me considering my knee)
LEG PRESS - 12reps only @ 110#... will need to go up, only hit an 8 on the intensity level.

HAMSTRINGS
STRAIGHT LEG DEAD LIFTS W/dumbbells - Topped out at 20# Never had done this one before and couldn't believe how good it also works the lower back and lower abs!
SITTING LEG CURL - 12reps only - Topped out a 50#... Need to go up a smidge on this one as my intensity level was only a 9.

CALVES
ANGLED CALF RAISES w/dumbbells - Topped out at 40 but really didn't feel a good burn in my calves. However was having a rough time holding the dumbbells lol... sooo..... I think I will switch this one to something else next workout.
SEATED CALF RAISES - 12reps only - 50# total... I think this one will be a good one to do in place of the Angled Calf Raise.. Then I'll have to find something else for my second Calf exercise... hmmmm

ABS
TWIST CRUNCHES - no weights.. blah on intensity level here... will maybe do the incline crunch here next time...
BENT KNEE LEG RAISES - 12reps only - no weights... pretty good I think I hit a 10 intensity here... Will keep leg raises in some form... most likely the stright leg ones next time though...

Thats me for today... oh goal was to do this in 42 min and took me 60 but that was probably because I was figuring as I went... lol
Ally

[banshee]

Had a decent leg/core workout yesterday. Probably not quite as hard as the workout last week with my trainer as the gym was hot so my asthma started complaining. Heat seems to be a trigger for me. :( Anyway, I did 2 sets of squats, a plank, 2 sets of walking lunges, stability ball hip lifts, stability ball leg curls, leg lifts for lower abs and reverse toe touches for upper abs. It felt good, and it was so cool to be able to just walk down the hall from my office to the gym! :p

[Mitra]

Randy, I'm so glad the surgery went well - I hope you'll still come and talk to us, even if you can't exercise yet :).

Shadow, it's lovely to have you with us again.

[Shadow]

Thanks, Mitra :D! It is great to be able to "see" everyone again, too!

[Mitra]

I did the usual today :). Ali, it's not so much that I keep on in spite of having back problems, as that the back problems forcibly remind me that I need to do what I can to keep things working as well as possible. Any day that I think of not bothering, I think of the cost of letting my muscles soften too much. I usually decide it's not worth it for an extra half hour of sitting down ;).

[Ammy]

I'm going to skip my resistance today...

I just got "urban beat" exercise/dance video from the library. It has you doing hip hop moves in a cardio format...sounds PERFECT for me...
I also got "cardio dance" from Paula Abdul...same concept.

AND, my thighs are still KILLING me from my last resistance workout...

[Shadow]

Any day that I think of not bothering, I think of the cost of letting my muscles soften too much. I usually decide it's not worth it for an extra half hour of sitting down ;).
And if that doesn't work, just think of what I'll say to you :lol: :evil: :tongue:!

[Mitra]

And if that doesn't work, just think of what I'll say to you :lol: :evil: :tongue:!

Yes, if pain isn't enough motivation, fear will usually do the job :lol: :eek: :tongue:

[maxlharris]

Skipped workout today. Did quite a bit of walking (again) and some lifting of stuff. Cool is being able to do more. Definitely.

[gator8me]

Does walking in the Sand on the beach count... while lugging umbrellas, chairs and coolers? hehehee

Today was a Cardio day but I skipped to take the girls to the beach. Just got back and we had a blast. Back to regularly scheduled programing tomorrow morning :)
Ally