Pump You Up: The Fitness Thread

[woahnellie]

20 minutes on the treadmill. I wanted to go longer but for some strange reason I keep getting sharp pains in my ankle, I was in tears. So I gave up on the treadmill and lifted weights instead.

[Gatito Grande]

Heh, Skip: that's the GOOD part about not having a car (since my Honda died in late January). I have to walk TO the Nature Center, just to get there, so my hikes are about a third longer than they were! (I have begun to look for another car now---hope to find one this week. Then, I expect my hikes will go back down to about 55 minutes or so. Though hopefully, w/ nice weather, TWICE a week!)

Today's Lifting Maxes (I do 2 sets, by the way---the second set at lower weights, usually w/ more reps):

Squats: 155 lbs (7 reps)
Shoulder Press: 70 lbs (4 reps)
Calf Raises: 65 lbs (17 reps)
Bench Press: 90 lbs (6 reps)
Leg Curl: 30 lbs (13 reps)
Lat Pull: 70 lbs (11 reps)
Bicep Curl: 65 lbs (two-armed, 8 reps)

GG And then the usual crunches and grip-strengtheners Out

I'm hoping the little tabby-cat got a home (the N.C. director told me Sunday, that she thought she had someone lined up to take him on Monday---but she hasn't answered my email inquiring to confirm that). I saw him twice more, on Thursday and Saturday (at the Nature Center). If you couldn't tell, I was almost starting to bond w/ the lil' guy. So cute & sweet---and needy. The "proverbial Red-Headed Stepchild" of cats, I call him.

[JustSkipIt]

GG - I used to ride the bus to work for years and I loved it. I would head out for lunch or to do errands and just walk around. I would even get off the bus at the farthest stop that still let me get to work on time. Ahhh the days...

I went to spin today. It was a good class. A bit varied for my taste with hills/flat/intervals/ etc. But 41 minutes, 348 calories for an average of 147 was good.

[JustSkipIt]

I went to spin class this morning which wasn't really my plan. I wasn't feeling social but the instructor pulled up when I did and said, Hey and I felt like it would be weird and rude to not go. I'm so glad that I did because it was all hills and really awesome. I burned 345 calories which is just ok but it was very good strength wise.

[Gatito Grande]

If a "hike" is something one takes on trails then, with few exceptions (Psssst! Shortcuts over private property! ), what I took today wasn't a hike. It was a walk.

But what a walk!

Time: 2:22:23
K/cals: 747.9
Steps: 16507
Miles: 7.81

Here's what I did: my rent check was due---and I'm still car-less---so I got the idea of walking out into the countryside, where my landlord lives. Hence the distance!

GG And I've got the blisters to prove it. Out

Some Good News: the little orange tabby-cat over at the Nature Center has, indeed, found a home.

I am seriously pooped. It'll be tonight...

[LesbianJedi87]

I rode 6 miles on my new bike today. The lengths I will go to see my friends! 3 miles there and 3 miles back with a friggin head wind. I'm tired!

[Foomatic]

I got a cool heart monitor for my birthday this year, and I tested it today when we went hiking. Based on my height and weight, and something called my "OwnIndex" it calculates 4 exercise sessions for me. All I have to do is make sure my heart rate is within the target zones it sets for me. So today, we hiked 4 miles, and I burned 577 calories. The cool thing is that I can upload my session to an online journal and keep track of my progress.

[JustSkipIt]

Foo - that's pretty cool with being able to upload it.

GG - wow, what a walk!

I elipticaled today and yesterday. Both days 60 minutes. Yesterday 4.85 miles which was 6800 steps. Today 6700 steps and 4.62 miles. Today was 475 calories and I don't remember yesterday.

[JustSkipIt]

Today I did the elipitcal machine for an hour. I really wanted to go 5.0 miles and did: 5.01. It was a stretch for me but a good workout. 5.01 miles. 7340 steps. 493 calories and 146 av hr. Every week I think about going to a “body pump” class which is on Monday/Wednesday at my gym and is like lifting weights in a room like an aerobics room. I never do it because I either get shy that I’ll be new and look stupid or I just don’t feel like interacting with other people that early. I realized today that I just need to go back to lifting 2 days a week or something because I’m just not going to start on the body pump class but I need to be lifting.

I also joined Weight Watchers today. I joined the online which had a one free week and then 3 months for $65. I will decide Sunday if I want to continue it. I’m not thrilled about micro-managing my eating but I have definitely plateaud and I can’t get to the gym any more. My wife is moderately supportive by which I mean that she’s not saying it’s “stupid” or “insane.”

[Gatito Grande]

It's been a crazy-makin' last 10 days or so: what w/ car-buying, job-searching, and TAX-filing! I've only been able to sneak in a walk here, a mini-workout there.

Yesterday, though, I was finally able to take a regular hike again:

Time: 1:12:08
Steps: 8226
Kcals: 372.7
Miles: 3.89

GG Finally saw my first green at the Nature Center! Out

[Renee85]

I've decided to wake up at 5:00 AM and start jogging every morning, trying to make it a habit of mine. I'm honestly enjoying it. Who would have thought? Every day I am getting less and less fatigued and it sure beats the boring treadmill. I get a really nice view of the beach the whole length of my run, so all is good. I did one this morning, for about an hour and a half.

[JustSkipIt]

Did the elipitcal again today. I set it to a harder resistance so lower distance. 60 minutes. 4.54 miles. 4?? calories.

[JustSkipIt]

I went to spin class this morning. It was a really good class. Toward the end, I got dizzy when standing during the jumps (standing, sitting, standing, sitting, etc.). So I sat and pedaled. It had never happened before and the instructor checked on me. Still a good workout. 383 calories in 45 minutes. 155 av hr.

[JustSkipIt]

Yesterday I elipitcaled for 40 minutes. I was way too tired from the week and 3 days of working out in a row. Low speed. Low calories but moving I guess.

Today, I'm thrilled because we got the bike trailer out of the attic and Asher wanted to ride in it. He's never wanted to ride in it before and my crummy broken-down bike won't take the bike seat. But now maybe we can ride regularly. Oh, we went over to a friend's and back.

[Gatito Grande]

Friday was Squat Day---

Maxes
Squats: 155 lbs (7 reps. I could have done another, but felt a *slight* twinge in my left knee, and didn't want to push it! )
Shoulder Press: 70 lbs (6 reps)
Calf Raises: 65 lbs (25 reps)
Bench Press: 90 lbs (6 reps)
Leg Curl: 35 lbs (12 reps)
Bicep Curl: 27.5 lbs (each arm, 7-8 reps)
Lat Pull: 65 lbs (10 reps)

And the usual crunches and grip-strengthers.

Today, I went for my first "short hike" (that is, driving over to the Nature Center!) since January---I have to do 'em TWICE a week now, to make up for the reduced length (actually, I've wanted to hike at least twice a week, anyway).

Time: 52:11
Steps: 5919
K/cals: 268.2
Miles: 2.8

GG Today in the Nature Area I both saw---and later heard---an enormous wild turkey, that looked straight out of a Hallmark Thanksgiving Card! {gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble!} Out

[JustSkipIt]

Well, I was going to go to the gym and do the stair machine for an hour but I decided to sleep instead. And boy am I glad I did since I spent around 7 hours staining the playscape, deck, and picnic table and chair. I'm so tired.

[woahnellie]

I've been slacking on the working out lately and the whole diet thing. I've lost 15 lbs. so far in 3 months. But I've kind of hit a plateau. I hadn't lost much at all in the past 2 weeks. I haven't been getting much of a workout in. I've been taking walks in the evening but not really getting my heart rate going. Tomorrow I'll start again, we got a new eleptical machine in our apartment's fitness center, so maybe i'll try that out.

[kisstheviolets]

i've dropped about 10 lbs since i started my job in february, just by switching to diet soda (and drinking 1 or less per day) and walking to the MAX stop everyday (i miss driving to work!) and around downtown (where i work). we have a free workout room/small gym in my building and i just got the key and security pass to use it. i haven't checked it out yet, but i know it's got a couple of treadmills, ellipticals and some weight machines. so i think starting tomorrow i'm going to bring my workout clothes and head down there on my lunch hour. i'll keep you guys posted!

[JustSkipIt]

ktv - cool. Congrats on the weight lost and that's really cool about the workout at work. Keep us posted.

I ran on the elipitcal this morning while watching Mr & Mrs Smith on the movie theater. An hour and 6900 steps. 5.12 miles which may be a record for me. It felt like it. over 500 calories although I can't remember exactly how many. 148 av hr. Spin tomorrow.

[woahnellie]

I've been doing the eleptical this week. On Tuesday, I went for 25 minutes, yesterday was 30 minutes, and today 20. It's my fist time using an eleptical and I've never sweated so much in my entire life. Plus I also walked 15 minutes on my lunch break. An then after the eleptical, I went for a 35 minute walk with the dog.

[Gatito Grande]

Yesterday was light (non-squats) work-out day:

Maxes---
Leg Extensions: 85 lbs (10 reps)
Incline Bench Press (haven't done this in a while): 75 lbs (9 reps)
Calf Raises (which I enjoy, or had you noticed ): 65 lbs (20 reps)
Bicep Curl: 62.5 lbs (two-armed, 11 reps)
Tricep Extensions: 12.5 lbs (12 reps: gotta up my dumbbell for these!)

GG And then crunches---I REALLY have to get rid of this "Winter Gut"! ---and grip-strengtheners Out

[JustSkipIt]

I went to spin class today. It was a really awesome class. The instructor was planning to do hills and there was a dude in there who said he had come once a year and a half or so ago and it was too easy. Boy did she hit him hard. We all had a super hard workout because of that but it rocked. I don't have my HRM but I think 393? in 41 minutes. 148 av hr? Something like that.

[Gatito Grande]

Went for a great spring hike today, on a segment of the North Country Trail.

Steps: 11,144
Time: 1:46:30
K/cals: 504.9
Miles: 5.27

GG Beautiful, beautiful day: the front passed through last night, so it cooled off to the high 50s. But still lots of sunshine! Out

[JustSkipIt]

Yesterday I did a short lifting session just to get back into it. I probably need to do more lifting (like any) and less aerobic workouts. So just to get started I did:

Leg Press
Leg Curls
2 sets of lunges (enough to be stumbling around like my legs are defective)
lat pulls
incline dumbell chest press
tricep kickbacks
curls
abs

and treadmill to warm up.

[Gatito Grande]

Squats Day!

Maxes---
Squats: 155 lbs (7 reps)
Shoulder Press: 65 lbs (8 reps)
Calf Raises: 55 lbs (~40 reps? I lost count)
Pec Deck: 22.5 lbs (each side, 4 reps---that's an "upping" on those weights, and the reps reflect it)
Leg Curl: 35 lbs (~12 reps? I lost count/can't remember on these too. Bad GG!)
Lat Pull: 65 lbs (10 reps---I SO need an actual lat bar. I'm not convinced that pulling my bicep curl attachment---w/o the "preachers rest" in the way---is REALLY targetting my lats )
Bicep Curls: 22.5 lbs (8-10 reps, each arm---using the dumbbell, not the aforementioned two-arm attachment)

I usually add "then crunches and grip strengtheners" parenthentically . . . but in point of fact, I'm pleased that BOTH of these are getting better. I can now do ~40 crunches in my first set (used to struggle to 25!). And re grip strengtheners: some years ago, I bought one (w/ a red handle) that was really TOO difficult for me (I could only do, like, 1 w/ my strong, right hand). Ergo, I later found a couple (w/ black handles) that were much easier to use (and I've been doing more and more w/ 'em: around 25-30, each hand?) Last night, I decided to try the red-handled one again---and found I could do 5-6 w/ each hand! Yay!

GG I wish I had some way of knowing just what the tensile strength these grippies are measuring. I don't even know the terms of "measuring grip strength"! Out

I suppose I could Google it...

[JustSkipIt]

I did the eliptical today in spite of how incredibly sore my quads are from my lunges the other day. Seriously. Shockingly I went "easy" which meant 60 minutes. But it was still 4.69 miles and 6400 steps and 456 calories and 135 av hr.

[JustSkipIt]

Spin class this morning. Very good. 385 calories in 45 minutes. 150 av hr. Now we're packing the car to go to the in-laws. Hopefully I can walk a few days while there.

[gorn]

So I've got this gym in the garage, a pretty nice one (gym, not garage ... although I guess the garage isn't so bad, either). Been hitting it for about a month now (again, the gym not the garage), was just beginning to think I might be approaching the first low level stage of mild buffness ...

Mrs. Gorn bought a bunch of cherry trees and we planted them yesterday. By "we," I mean she picked out all the spots and I did all the digging and lifting and actual - for lack of a better word - planting. No problem, though, after all the working out I've done on the gym lately, right?

I am in pain this morning. My back feels like I've been run over by a truck, and the tylenol is only just starting to kick in. It wasn't THAT many trees and I'm not THAT old ... This only serves to confirm something I've privately thought for a very long time now - no matter what kind of excercise you do, there is no substitute for genuine back-breaking manual labor, the kind where you sweat under the sun and get your hands dirty. No gym can prepare you for real work, and those who do it on a regular basis are the toughest humans on the face of this earth.


Boschi is probably laughing at me.

[Gatito Grande]

I agree, gorn. As unhappy as I am in my joblessness, whenever I give much thought to the sort of physical labor I theoretically COULD do (in my "first low level stage of mild buffness" ), I quickly consider the pain such work would (inevitably) put me in (e.g., installing satellite dishes, for example).

An icky, sticky hike in the Nature Center today (at least, I managed to fit it in between downpours! ):

Time: 46:30
Steps: 5396
Miles: 2.55
K/cals: 244.5

GG In many places, the condition of the trail was EXACTLY like hiking on a sponge Out

[JustSkipIt]

I did no working out all weekend because we were at the farm and my allergies were terrible. It occurred to me that I might have been able to cope had I taken a bandana, wet it, and wrapped it over my nose and mouth while walking but I bet my eyes would still have swollen up and itched.

Anyway, I got back to it today lifting again. I started with 7 minutes on the treadmill at a little over 3 miles per hour. Then:

3 sets of 10 leg presses
3 sets of 10 leg curls
3 lengths of the gym in unweighted lunges. I’d say that’s good enough considering that my legs already hurt from them and I haven’t slept on them yet.
3 sets of 10 lat pulls
3 sets of 10 incline db press
3 sets of 10 db curls
3 sets of 10 tricep kicks
Assorted crunches, kickouts, etc.

I went totally off the weight watchers at the farm because it’s just not possible to make healthy choices there. I pretty much have to eat what’s offered and that’s not a lot of green vegetables. I cook a lot of the food but the difference is that when I cook, I usually put a lot of veggies on the side and that’s not an option there. The good news: I didn’t gain any weight anyway.