ME/NA fitness challenge, 4/18 to 4/25

[kerewin21 2]

OK, everyone, what are your goals for this week?

Mine are to go to the gym 5 days, and do strength training at least 2 of those days. I'm always really lazy about that.

[Jenn! 918]

I've been bad bad bad this week so far.

I've had to skip my lunchtime workout today and yesterday so I could do errands and prepare for the wedding this weekend. I know it's just an excuse!

To make matters worse, I've used that horrible method of "making up" for my lack of exercise by not eating anything all day. By the time dinner rolls around I'm ravenous. And I'm sure I'm doing great things for my metabolism.

OK, back to eating healthy (not starving), and working out. Tomorrow I will I promise!

[jordanianprincess 0]

Ok I'm going to workout:

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

That's my goal this week!

[honeyblonde 0]

We played tennis last night and I felt a lot stronger. Monday night is grocery night, so I tried to watch the carb content of everything. Right now I'm at the very discouraging part of losing weight - my muscles are getting stronger so I'm actually gaining, and my abdominal muscles are getting tighter so my tummy is just getting rounder and sticking out further until I lose the fat. Being aware that I will go through this phase doesn't help me feel any less fat though. I look 8 months pregnant now!

Tonight and tomorrow night are class so no working out until Thursday. I did eat Progresso Carb Counter soup for lunch and a very low carb high fiber trail mix for snack. And we didn't buy any more fruit juice last night - that stuff is pure carbs!

One drawback to using Tennis to get in shape, the right side of my upper body is getting strong while the left isn't going anywhere. Guess I need to lift some weight on the left side to keep balanced.

[jordanianprincess 0]

We played tennis last night and I felt a lot stronger. Monday night is grocery night, so I tried to watch the carb content of everything. Right now I'm at the very discouraging part of losing weight - my muscles are getting stronger so I'm actually gaining, and my abdominal muscles are getting tighter so my tummy is just getting rounder and sticking out further until I lose the fat. Being aware that I will go through this phase doesn't help me feel any less fat though. I look 8 months pregnant now!

Tonight and tomorrow night are class so no working out until Thursday. I did eat Progresso Carb Counter soup for lunch and a very low carb high fiber trail mix for snack. And we didn't buy any more fruit juice last night - that stuff is pure carbs!

One drawback to using Tennis to get in shape, the right side of my upper body is getting strong while the left isn't going anywhere. Guess I need to lift some weight on the left side to keep balanced.

Honey, I once had a trainer tell me about this ab problem.

At the gym I go to they had this machine where you could do your abs with weights. I used to use it all the time until he told me it was better to do normal sit-up/cruches. He said that when you have fat you want to lose in your belly and you do the ab exercises with weights, it's like putting a stack of books on top of the fat. I now do my ab exercises on a balance ball, its helps with abs and its help with strengthening your core. The other good one is to lay flat on your back with your hands to your side and life your legs up in the air.

Good luck!

[honeyblonde 0]

Thanks JP. All I'm doing for my abs right now is crunches, but I'm afraid I'm not as faithful about it as I should be. It's good to know that is what will work best, since I have a lot to lose in that area.

[jordanianprincess 0]

Doing cruches does not burn belly fat or make your belly smaller, it tightens up the area. Best way to lose a belly? Run, walk, swim, and food intake.

I used to think that the 200 crunches I did everyday would make a difference. The biggest difference I ever saw was when I started running and swimming....unbelievable! I used to think that as long as I was exercising thats all i needed to do. But then I learned some exercises worked better than others for me.

[honeyblonde 0]

That's why we're playing tennis! At least 30 minutes of hard aerobic exercise 3 times a week.

[Jasman0717 9]

This was my second day at the gym this week. I upped the level on the life cycle two more levels and it about killed me

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Man, I'm such a slacker. Just waiting for my new running shirt to arrive and I'll be out there 4 days a week. The weather is gorgious.

I have stumpy little legs, so the capris at Target reach down to the tops of my shoes and work much better than more expensive running pants, but I've broken down to invest in a quality shirt.

Edited April 19, 2006 by rahma

[cbd2cai 0]

I have stumpy little legs, so the capris at Target reach down to the tops of my shoes and work much better than more expensive running pants, but I've broken down to invest in a quality shirt.

Sometimes it is good being "stumpy" . . . I can buy capris too and have them go to my ankles . . . normally I am cutting off about 4 inches since they don't have "petite" lengths in plus sizes . . . well, even when they do, their idea of "petite plus" doesn't make it for the "butt Kebira".

And I managed to motivate said "butt Kebira" out the door for a walk this morning . . . not a 100 degree day today, TG!!!

Edited April 19, 2006 by cbarrosmostafa

[noura 0]

HUH??? As soon as I finish eating this apricot coffee cake bar, I'm going to think about what rhythms I want to dance to in rehearsal tonite... that's the first bit of exercise (mentionable ) I'll be doing in a month! Then, I'll call my trainer to see about getting back on schedule....

Oh yea, and I resume teaching 3 classes next week, so at least I'll be exercising some while teaching dance.

And I have 2 gigs this weekend... moderate dance for 3 hrs friday, and intensive for 1 hour on Sat.

it's something... but never enough

Noura

[honeyblonde 0]

Noura I do envy you! I love to dance so much I'd do it for a living but the way I dance is more like a stripper, and even when I looked good enough to do it I wouldn't.

I just sit at a desk all day, then go sit at desks all evening for class. Abdel is so matter of fact about it, he just says "what do you expect? your lifestyle is all sitting"

I have short legs too, and when I run to lose weight it backfires and I get calves men dream of having. I have to very carefully choose how I do aerobic workouts so I don't just bulk up. That's why I try to stick with Tennis and Dancing. Both move the legs all different directions so you get a varied workout, not like running which just makes my calves huge.

[jordanianprincess 0]

Worked out yesterday...

Ran 2 miles well some could have walked at the 5.0 speed, but also have short legs and a short stride

30 min on the eliptical machine at level 9

Did some weights, biceps..triceps

Round 2 tonight.

[Jasman0717 9]

I am feeling guilty, no gym today. It's all Claudeth's fault