Weekly Workout Thread 16th Oct - 22nd Oct

[Rod]

Hey all,

Today was a decent day. I got up this morning and did my normal job search stuff, then met Charlie for lunch. I spent a couple of hours this afternoon with my mortgage broker friend and we have decided to continue discussing how I might join her firm as a loan officer. I must admit I am intrigued with the notion of a non-corporate world and as a loan officer, I would basically be my own boss. At least it''s an option available and that''s what I really need at this point are options to consider. I won''t run out of income until about February, so I have the time to decide what to do, I just don''t want to fritter the time away and be left with nothing after my severance runs out.

I worked out for nearly 3 hours this afternoon. It was a really good workout and I did the usual weights and elliptical. I just did more than usual. Working out has been the one saving grace since the lay off. It''s keeping me sane and healthy at the same time.

Welcome to our new members, Alexis and NYCsparkle. Sorry no butt kicking here. Hopefully, since you took the time to write in this forum, you''re truly interested in becoming healthier and better fit. Only you can find your motivation to do it. Maybe you want to fit back in clothes you once wore. Maybe you want more energy. Whatever your goal, you have come to the right place. We are very supportive and we''ll celebrate the first time you tell us you went to the gym, or you went for a long walk or run, but YOU have to take the first steps and do something. Stick around and tell us what you''re up to, OK? I''m a big believe in Core training. So one thing you could do (and here goes Rod''s broken record again) is buy a book at Borders (or go online) called Core Performance Essentials by Mark Verstegen. He offers great advice (and yes, it will help tighten up the midsection) and the exercises are ones you can do at home with minimal investment.

I hope everyone had a great day.

 

[Mara]

on the topic of an mp3 player, i gotta say having owned a few others...that ipod is totally worth it. and you can get good deals on them on ebay or online at stores rather than retail. i just have an ipod shuffle and i LOVE IT. i am totally not into loading 40000 hours of music on my ipod and then categorizing it all. i just load on what i need for workout, aka i have 3 hours of music on here, and i just put it on ''random'' shuffle and then hit play. and that''s it. there''s no ''listening to an album'' or making a ''workout playlist'' or whatever. i have a lot of music on my computer and i just update and shuffle songs around like once a month so i don''t get bored. greg has an ipod mini and he loves the categorizing of it, because he listens to it on the train and stuff so he LIKES to listen to albums and stuff. whereas i just want to hear some heavy beats for workout and don''t care that much on who it is. anyway i think the shuffle is like $99 and the mini was like $200 or something. we got them as gifts but i remember looking them up online because i was going to buy one.

dixie..i love 3 musketeers bars and no they are not that bad considering it''s milk chocolate. i have a small snack one in my purse right now from work. hahaha. it''s been in there for a week, i keep forgetting i have it! maybe i will eat it tonite for dessert. oh and dark chocolate is not bad for you, so a square or two a night is no biggie. not many calories at all either.

went to lunch with some friends and had a club sandwich with no mayo...super yummy and i only had half, it was huge! and then i had some salad that came with it and some country potatoes. the plate was a monster size, amazing portion. dinner is sushi after my workout!! i also went to banana and got some cute stuff and interestingly enough in their pants now (i got some cute brown straight slim leg cords) i seem to be a 6. so i may have lost a size again...but it''s hard to tell, sometimes it just depends on the fit. but last month when i was there i bought 2 pairs of pants in an 8. and the 8 was too big this time. so i guess that''s a perk!

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 10/17/2006 12:26:53 PM
Author: NYCsparkle
Hi everyone...ok.. I had a baby boy(love of my life) 11 weeks ago and I need motivation to get back in shape. i have lost almost all of the weight...about 3 pounds to go...but i haven''t begun to work out yet. i''m tired and super busy with the baby...basically unmotivated. even though i know i look good with clothes on its when they are not that i see things aren''t as tight (pooch) as they used to be. before getting pregnant i had a ''great j-lo butt'' as my husband told me. now its flatter. what exercises can i do to get it back and my pooch area toned again? help!

NYCsparkle, do you have a stollerfit group in your area. it''s where a bunch of new mom''s get together to walk/exercise with their babies in a stoller. fun for the both of you. I did this when I had my first I we both loved it and it''s fun chatting with the other moms too.

I didn''t get to workout today. I was just way to busy but i did manage to go to starbucks an order a non fat latte no sugar. this is a first for me b/c I always order the mocha''s or something with a ton of sugar and fat. it actually wan''t that bad at all and I didn''t feel so bad after drinking it. I''m going to make sure i do some type of exercise tomorrow and on thursday i''m going to take my first kickboxing class in ages and then probably pass out

 

[Rod]

Date: 10/17/2006 10:02:05 PM
Author: mrssalvo

Date: 10/17/2006 12:26:53 PM
Author: NYCsparkle
Hi everyone...ok.. I had a baby boy(love of my life) 11 weeks ago and I need motivation to get back in shape. i have lost almost all of the weight...about 3 pounds to go...but i haven''t begun to work out yet. i''m tired and super busy with the baby...basically unmotivated. even though i know i look good with clothes on its when they are not that i see things aren''t as tight (pooch) as they used to be. before getting pregnant i had a ''great j-lo butt'' as my husband told me. now its flatter. what exercises can i do to get it back and my pooch area toned again? help!

NYCsparkle, do you have a stollerfit group in your area. it''s where a bunch of new mom''s get together to walk/exercise with their babies in a stoller. fun for the both of you. I did this when I had my first I we both loved it and it''s fun chatting with the other moms too.

I didn''t get to workout today. I was just way to busy but i did manage to go to starbucks an order a non fat latte no sugar. this is a first for me b/c I always order the mocha''s or something with a ton of sugar and fat. it actually wan''t that bad at all and I didn''t feel so bad after drinking it. I''m going to make sure i do some type of exercise tomorrow and on thursday i''m going to take my first kickboxing class in ages and then probably pass out

You go mrssalvo!!

 

[mrssalvo]

thanks Rod...no more jiggle areas for me

 

[akw94]

Date: 10/17/2006 7:52:31 PM
Author: Mara
on the topic of an mp3 player, i gotta say having owned a few others...that ipod is totally worth it. and you can get good deals on them on ebay or online at stores rather than retail. i just have an ipod shuffle and i LOVE IT. i am totally not into loading 40000 hours of music on my ipod and then categorizing it all. i just load on what i need for workout, aka i have 3 hours of music on here, and i just put it on ''random'' shuffle and then hit play. and that''s it. there''s no ''listening to an album'' or making a ''workout playlist'' or whatever. i have a lot of music on my computer and i just update and shuffle songs around like once a month so i don''t get bored. greg has an ipod mini and he loves the categorizing of it, because he listens to it on the train and stuff so he LIKES to listen to albums and stuff. whereas i just want to hear some heavy beats for workout and don''t care that much on who it is. anyway i think the shuffle is like $99 and the mini was like $200 or something. we got them as gifts but i remember looking them up online because i was going to buy one.

dixie..i love 3 musketeers bars and no they are not that bad considering it''s milk chocolate. i have a small snack one in my purse right now from work. hahaha. it''s been in there for a week, i keep forgetting i have it! maybe i will eat it tonite for dessert. oh and dark chocolate is not bad for you, so a square or two a night is no biggie. not many calories at all either.

Mara, it wasn''t me who had the 3 Musketeers although I am soooo guilty tonight. I had some leftover choc. chips from yesterday''s cookie making and had waaaaaaaaaay too many. But I did work out so hopefully I at least burned those calories, or some of them.

So for the Ipod Shuffle, can you make playlists or do you have to listen to the songs at random? I think I''d like both options? Is it costly to download the songs from Itunes? I recently lost a ton of my cd''s so I would have to d/l a lot of songs. That will suck! I have found various other mp3 players online for $60-$80 and they seem to have the same capabilities, which is why I''ve been looking outside of the ipod. There really is so much info. that I continue to not make a decision on what to buy. I have almost just bought the ipod just b/c it''s so available.

 

[Rod]

Date: 10/17/2006 10:55:43 PM
Author: dixie94

Date: 10/17/2006 7:52:31 PM
Author: Mara
on the topic of an mp3 player, i gotta say having owned a few others...that ipod is totally worth it. and you can get good deals on them on ebay or online at stores rather than retail. i just have an ipod shuffle and i LOVE IT. i am totally not into loading 40000 hours of music on my ipod and then categorizing it all. i just load on what i need for workout, aka i have 3 hours of music on here, and i just put it on ''random'' shuffle and then hit play. and that''s it. there''s no ''listening to an album'' or making a ''workout playlist'' or whatever. i have a lot of music on my computer and i just update and shuffle songs around like once a month so i don''t get bored. greg has an ipod mini and he loves the categorizing of it, because he listens to it on the train and stuff so he LIKES to listen to albums and stuff. whereas i just want to hear some heavy beats for workout and don''t care that much on who it is. anyway i think the shuffle is like $99 and the mini was like $200 or something. we got them as gifts but i remember looking them up online because i was going to buy one.

dixie..i love 3 musketeers bars and no they are not that bad considering it''s milk chocolate. i have a small snack one in my purse right now from work. hahaha. it''s been in there for a week, i keep forgetting i have it! maybe i will eat it tonite for dessert. oh and dark chocolate is not bad for you, so a square or two a night is no biggie. not many calories at all either.

Mara, it wasn''t me who had the 3 Musketeers although I am soooo guilty tonight. I had some leftover choc. chips from yesterday''s cookie making and had waaaaaaaaaay too many. But I did work out so hopefully I at least burned those calories, or some of them.

So for the Ipod Shuffle, can you make playlists or do you have to listen to the songs at random? I think I''d like both options? Is it costly to download the songs from Itunes? I recently lost a ton of my cd''s so I would have to d/l a lot of songs. That will suck! I have found various other mp3 players online for $60-$80 and they seem to have the same capabilities, which is why I''ve been looking outside of the ipod. There really is so much info. that I continue to not make a decision on what to buy. I have almost just bought the ipod just b/c it''s so available.

I''m going to weigh in on the Ipod vs non-Ipod question. For me, the vehicle is less important than the ride. I have a Sony MP3. It holds about 4 hours of music and that''s more than enough. I actually have a group of songs I listen to over and over again. Not because I love them. I don''t actually. But they have the right beat and they keep me moving at the right pace whether I''m running 5.7 miles or pushing over 88 RPM on the elliptical.

 

[galeteia]

Okay, y''all, I need some advice.

I love working out on the elliptical trainer. It actually makes me *want* to work out, as opposed to viewing it as the tedious chore that work-outs normally are for me.

I have a $60/mo membership to a gym that I can break (for a $99 fee) if I want, and the gym is in my office building. Good for heading to the gym after I finish work. But it has drawbacks, not the least of which is that I work afternoons/nights, and it closes early-ish. I can go to the sister gym that down the street from my house, but no buses run from my house to the gym, and it''s the Rape Gauntlet Of Doom for 25-30 min to get there (police advisory against females anywhere near there after dark). So I would have to go there after work via the bus from my work, which will add an extra hour of transit time, and worst of all give me an hour to sit on the bus and feel the weight of my tiring work day.

Or, conversely, I could buy an elliptical machine and park it in my living room. I''ve already gotten a thumbs-up from my roomate. My major concerns of a) safety b) convenience c) availability and c) closeness to a shower are all solved. I don''t need to haul my gym stuff around all day at work, I don''t need to remember to pack it, I won''t be trying to pack lunch and dinner before work, and I won''t be thwarted if my sports bra/gym clothes aren''t dry in time to pack. I could hop on the elliptical every day, even if it was for 30 minutes if I''m really tired, which would help me unwind from work by focusing on my body instead of my head. I actually *would* hop on it every day, as opposed to a more sporadic attendance at the gym. Plus, I can blare my music and have water refills close by!

The only drawbacks is the $99 it would cost me to break my gym contract, the lack of weight training, and the catch 22 of finding a decent, affordable elliptical.

So I need some advice here, folks.

 

[monarch64]

Hello all you fabulous workout people!

Tonight DH and I took our first steps (literally) towards making a lifestyle change (for him moreso than me, but I''m super happy to have him join me!) We walked to Borders--about 8 blocks--and picked up a Pilates DVD mainly for him to use, but I will try it out too. I''ve been wanting to start a fitness DVD collection, so this was a perfect opportunity for me to kill two birds with one stone. DH starts his physical therapy this Thursday (he has some yucky back problems), and he wanted to look into Pilates to start strengthening his core and back muscles, and I would like to try it at home too, before I join a class at my gym. The walk went well...it took us about 20 minutes each way, and we both felt good about doing it once we got home.

I had my Luna bar and coffee for breakfast today, a nice lunch of some leftover veggie soup I''d made in the crockpot last week and froze, and a few pita chips with garlic hummus...for dinner I had a TJ''s rice noodle soup bowl (230 cal.), and then DH brought home some veggie fried rice and eggrolls and ruined my whole day, LOL. I just had half an eggroll and about 1/4 cup of the rice, so I don''t feel tooooo bad, but I''m still working towards my goal weight and that was an unexpected burst of calories I didn''t really need. However, it tasted really good, and I''m proud of myself for not going overboard and just getting a taste so I didn''t feel deprived.

Tomorrow is kickboxing class at my gym, and I''m looking forward to it! I''m really happy I decided to try something new--it''s always hard to break out of a routine (mine was just working out on the machines and doing some weight training here and there), but about a month ago I was starting to feel bored so I had to add something new to my workout repertoire. I''m REALLY looking forward to going to this class enough times that the instructor will stop yelling "new girl" at me from time to time.

Some people would find that annoying, but I find it challenging...one of these days she''ll find another newbie to pick on, I hope! It definitely motivates me to come back to her class!

Galateia, sounds like you will have to crunch some numbers, do some research on ellipticals, and figure out whether it''s more cost-effective to break your gym contract right now. How many months do you have until your gym contract is over? I think you will just have to look at whether the benefits will outweigh the cost of an elliptical and the $99 termination penalty and decide what''s better for you. I think Lorelei recently purchased an elliptical...I know she has some fun new machines in her home now, maybe she will chime in and give you some advice.

 

[galeteia]

I just signed up, so I have 12 months at 61/mo. So $732 on a year''s worth of gym usage, with uncertain attendence. So, take the $99 breaking fee off that, that leaves me with $632 (cdn) to spend on an elliptical for the same price.

So partly my wish for advice is people''s thoughts on how bad it would be to skip the weights and get an elliptical in lieu of going to the gym.

I am a babe in the woods when it comes to what kind of machine I should be looking for in that price range. I can''t afford something really fancy, but I don''t want to pay $$$$ for junk, either.

 

[monarch64]

What kind of elliptical are you using at your gym? If you really love the machine you''re currently using, it might be worth looking into trying to find that make/model for your home one...

As far as forgoing weights and just using the elliptical, I will just speak for myself--I am a big fan of cross-training, even if it''s just using free weights at home and walking outdoors when you have time! Building muscle and/or maintaining it is really important as far as your overall fitness. I am no expert, but I know that you need to make sure all your major muscle groups are adequately strengthened using weights (free or machine type), and do cardio workouts as well. In the end, it really depends on what your fitness goals are. Are you working out just to get that 30 minutes a day minimum recommended exercise? Are you working out with a strength-training, toning, weight loss goal in mind? I''ve used the ellipticals at my gym, and love them, but I find that for an overall, total body workout, I need to also incorporate some weight training and other types of cardio workouts into my fitness routine. I think the elliptical is great for a good cardio/leg/arm workout, but I don''t feel like it really does much as far as strengthening my core muscles...so I do abs at home and usually during the floor part of my kickboxing class...

Have you thought also about getting some workout DVD''s...maybe yoga or Pilates, or some dumbbells to cross-train a bit at home? I''ve also heard great things about resistance bands. Again, I''m definitely no fitness expert, these are just my experiences/opinions. I know Rod is very into core workouts and strengthening those muscles--and those workouts are very important and helpful, not only fitness wise, but with your posture and the fact that those muscles contribute to your spine health as well. HTH, good luck!

 

[galeteia]

I haven't gone to my gym yet. The ones I've used were at other gyms and based on the ones I've seen so far, they are at least a thousand dollars out of my price range.

As for my goals, I just want to balance out my sedentary job, where I literally sit on my behind all day in front of a computer, typing.

Sure, it would be nice to lose a little pooch and back bacon, but those seem less a tonal issue and more just a fat/bloat issue (curse you, thyroid! 12-15lbs of water weight SUCKS!). Still, I'm not concerned with losing weight, just with gaining health. So I'm more of a 'work out for your health' than a 'work out for your looks' kind of person. My 'ultimate fitness goal' is to dash to catch the bus without getting winded.

I also want endorphins, better circulation, stronger lungs, and more restful sleep at night. I don't really care about dress sizes, jiggling, or how my upper arms look in strapless dresses. I don't even like strapless dresses!

I also disagree with the whole 'lean is more attractive' opinion, as does FF, so no "I want to fit into X" for me. No offence to those who have that as their goals, of course! I think the thyroid complication just alters my outlook.

And there is just no way I am gonna be using weights in my home. Weights are something I detest (machines, not sooo bad, but ugh still) and I don't like doing workout videos like yoga or pilates at home, because I can't pay attention to what I am doing and crane my neck around to watch the screen at the same time, and I am really leery of doing precision movements like Pilates the WRONG way. I personally wouldn't do yoga or pilates outside of a class with a qualified teacher correcting my stances, and all of the classes through the gym conflict with my work schedule.

It's strange, I usually find working out to be a huge PITA, but I'm so gung-ho about ellipticals. I feel like I am running and dancing and hiking all at once, in a good way, and it works me so hard but still seems fun.

Besides, doesn't the elliptical work your lower abdomen as you train?

 

[Mara]

wow $61 a month for a gym membership? mine is $9 because i have a lifetime membership but even now they run specials monthly that are like 'sign up for free and it's only $15 a month' kinda thing with no contract. i can't even imagine $60 for a gym! and mine has everything i need, no pool or tennis courts but i wouldn't use that anyway. they offer a ton of classes and have a ton of machines. and ixnay on the rape gauntlet of doom.

on the shuffle, you can only play in random or actual order. there's no playlist...but for me that is fine. i only use it for workouts and i know what type of music i want on it so i just put that on. greg's mini is playlist oriented, not sure if you can do a random shuffle but probably. for me the shuffle was just the best thing at the best time, and it was free, but i also did not want to spend $200 for something complicated. loading the songs onto the ipod and doing the whole navigational thing took greg a few WEEKS to setup. it's super tedious. having worked for a consumer hardware company that makes a popular mp3 player and owning a few others, the ipod is probably the best one i have had so far in terms of quality and endurance and i just like the ease of the 'shuffle' low-key kinda thing.

worked out tonite and then had sushi...fun stuff. tomorrow is my first day at work so i am hoping to make the gym...portia is feeling better finally so i don't feel too guilty leaving her at home tomorrow, i am coming home for lunch and then greg will be home early, about 4pm so that means i can probably go the gym after work, so i am going to pack my stuff in the morning and just take it, hopefully i will feel inspired to get on a machine and burn some calories after the first day! hope everyone has a great day.

oopsie dixie...i thought you wrote the 3musketeers thing but it was someone else. all the posts run together in mind when i read them all at once...JCJD i meant it for you! hahaa. oh and rod i think that checking into the broker thing might be a good step, and something different. you never know where life's roads can take you!

 

[galeteia]

Date: 10/18/2006 1:07:08 AM
Author: Mara
wow $61 a month for a gym membership? mine is $9 because i have a lifetime membership but even now they run specials monthly that are like ''sign up for free and it''s only $15 a month'' kinda thing with no contract. i can''t even imagine $60 for a gym! and mine has everything i need, no pool or tennis courts but i wouldn''t use that anyway. they offer a ton of classes and have a ton of machines. and ixnay on the rape gauntlet of doom.

So do you think I should go for the elliptical instead, considering how much I am spending on the gym membership?

And thanks for the ixnay on the Rape Gauntlet. It''s the strip where all the unwary first-year university girls live who don''t know it''s like "Grab one get one free, Rape Bonzanza! Fresh batch of innocents every term!" down there. *shudder* It''s so bad that the university got serious with their ''Ride/Walk safe'' where you can get a lift (every 30 mins) to the surrounding area, or have security guards walk you to your house if it''s in the Rape Zone. Dark street with parks everywhere.

 

[bookworm21]

Okay, I need to check in here more often. I''m going to check up on everyone after I post this, but I hope you guys are doing well. I haven''t been able to run because my back still hasn''t healed. But I''m loving the Ab Lounge that I bought last week. My tummy feels stronger already, and I can see some muscle definition that''s hidden under all that fat. I''m still doing cardio at least 3 times a week, a combo of stairmaster, jumping rope, and fast walking. I miss running. *Sigh*

Anyhoo, Mara, I know I promised you pics of the pies a couple of weeks ago, but I haven''t gotten any since then. I''m buying some more tomorrow, so I''ll be back with those pics.

Oh, and I''ve lost about 2 inches from my waist from about 4 months ago!!! I''m so happy and proud, and it definitely gives me more motiviation to work out. Strange thing is, I gained back 3 pounds that I had lost, and those pounds aren''t moving anywhere. Eh, I''ll give myself another 2 months before beating myself up over it.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Date: 10/18/2006 1:23:28 AM
Author: Galateia

Date: 10/18/2006 1:07:08 AM
Author: Mara
wow $61 a month for a gym membership? mine is $9 because i have a lifetime membership but even now they run specials monthly that are like ''sign up for free and it''s only $15 a month'' kinda thing with no contract. i can''t even imagine $60 for a gym! and mine has everything i need, no pool or tennis courts but i wouldn''t use that anyway. they offer a ton of classes and have a ton of machines. and ixnay on the rape gauntlet of doom.

So do you think I should go for the elliptical instead, considering how much I am spending on the gym membership?

And thanks for the ixnay on the Rape Gauntlet. It''s the strip where all the unwary first-year university girls live who don''t know it''s like ''Grab one get one free, Rape Bonzanza! Fresh batch of innocents every term!'' down there. *shudder* It''s so bad that the university got serious with their ''Ride/Walk safe'' where you can get a lift (every 30 mins) to the surrounding area, or have security guards walk you to your house if it''s in the Rape Zone. Dark street with parks everywhere.

YIKES!!! Sounds like THE GUVANATOR is soft on crime! Be careful out there!
Stay safe, carry mace and take a course in self protection, be aware of your surroundings, too.

Now, have a great day everyone

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 10/17/2006 11:29:25 PM
Author: Galateia



I could buy an elliptical machine and park it in my living room. I''ve already gotten a thumbs-up from my roomate.

Galateia, only you know if you''d really use it or not. You might check a Play it Again Sports or a place that sells used equipment b/f you drop a lot of $$ on a new one. I am so not the work out at home type gal. I would just put it off and not do it if I didn''t have a place to go with scheduled classes etc. but that''s me. It might make good sense for you.

mara, $9 a month???

For a family to join the Y here it''s $80 a month. that does include the pool but pilates and other "special" classes are all additional charges. It''s one reason I cancelled a while ago. I wasn''t going often and that adds up quickly. There really isn''t any other good family gym''s, everyone just joins the Y here. The cheaper gyms don''t have kid activities and many don''t have nursery''s so that''s out for me. Plus with the Y you can cancel at any type, every place else makes you sign a 3 year deal

 

[NYCsparkle]

I''ve been eating healthy even throughout my pregnancy(no midnight junk food attacks) ...living on baked or grilled chicken and steamed veggies. i don''t eat fish..i know it''s healthy, but i just don''t eat it. what healthy meals do people cook to change it up a bit? any recipe ideas?
i have windsor pilates dvds somewhere.

i bought them in the middle of the night and never really used them, although the 3 times i did they seemed to leave me in pain (no pain no gain) the next day.
mrs s...there isn''t a stroller fit group in my area.....i walk to the park w/the baby and the parents congregate there. they have children of all age groups and wouldn''t walk and leave their kids alone in the park. my dh and i go walking every day w/the baby, as long as its nice out. i live in ny so the weather is changing. i will soon go walking and jogging(fast walking..lol) around the park by myself....alone time

on the post pregnancy upside i fit into my old clothes again...even my skinny jeans...i feel like miranda on that episode of sex and the city.

 

[lovelylulu]

good morning.

everyone is sounding well.

monarch: congrats on your hubby joining you! i''ve been quite devoted to keeping a good workout schedule and i think that definately motivates my husband to get out to the gym -- even though he truly has a lot less time because his work schedule is so much more horrendous. while it seems so easy to say that you can find 30 minutes to an hour a day/3 times a week for exercise, some jobs really make it a challenge. basically, if he''s home before 8 pm it''s a treat and then he''d spend the little quality time in the evening at the gym. it''s hard, but like everything else, there is a way to strike a balance

mrs salvo: hurray with the starbucks victory. those are the little successes that add up to make a big difference. also, does anyone have any information on splenda being unhealthy? i use it each morning in my coffee, usually less than a tsp. but was assuming that because "it''s made from sugar" it was not going to cause a tumor in lab rats. is this ignorant to believe???

nyc sparkle: congratulations on your baby! i can''t recommend pilates enough. especially if the area that you are most concerned about is basically your abs. i have the winsor series and love it. classes in my area run from $20 (mat work) a session to $60 (equipment) and i really can''t afford that. plus, being able to do it in your own home is greatly convenient. especially if you have a wee one. also, the people on this thread have found great recipie ideas on the following websites

Cooking Light

Real Simple

Epicurious

Whole Foods

Last night I made a delicious salad (green beans are NOT in season)

Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Salad it was a bit of prep but well worth it. i have it for lunch today. yum!

Last night I used the ellipital and followed it up with a long walk with the pup and pilates. Felt good.
Back to the gym tonight.

 

[Mara]

lulu posted some great links for recipes!! whole foods website lists nutritional information on most of their recipes online and cooking light does as well. also sunset magazine has some great recipes online (www.sunsetmagazine.com) and they also list nutritional information BUT they are not a ''healthy only'' kind of website so as you surf around, make sure to check nutritional information before deciding to cook something. however i use cooking light very religiously, and their stuff is GOOD. you can have almost anything i have found, if you just use the right ingredients, not too much of oils and creams etc.

also do you know how many calories lettuce has?? HARDLY ANY. i was floored. 3 oz of lettuce or mixed greens has something like 15 cals. no wonder salads are so good for you. i have found some wonderful low-fat and low-cal dressings from Girard at the local supermarket and i have been eating salads like they are going extinct. i can have a big bowl of greens, some olives, some croutons and some dressing and the whole salad is only about 200 cals or less. sometimes i can add feta instead of olives (olives actually have a fair amount of fat for a ''veggie'' (is it a veggie?!)) and it''s still 200 cals. or add cranberries and bleu cheese and mixed greens and it''s still 200 cals with the right dressing. anyway, i have been eating a lot of salads lately...it''s a great way to supplement something like a small lean cuisine that won''t keep me full all afternoon.

my other tip today for those of us who are working out pretty religiously, consider eating something like a luna bar or a kashi go lean bar as a snack instead of something else in the afternoons or before a workout. their go lean bars come in things like ''chocolate toffee almond'' and are 300 calories for a hefty 2.75oz bar (it may not sound like much but it''s heavy!). i split them in half and eat 1/2 as a snack after a LC or something..then it''s only 150 cals and it''s like a dessert from the choco toffee coating, but it also has 13g of protein and 6g of fiber. it really helps give me that afternoon boost and it''s better than just eating a granola bar which is typically not as tasty, and doesn''t have as much fiber or protein. but i wouldn''t eat these if you are not working out a lot because you may not NEED all that protein. but for me where i am doing almost daily workouts, i find these kind of boost me...and it does work for a snack for a few hours or right before i hit the gym. the luna bars are 180 cals for the whole bar so you could just eat the whole thing if you wanted and they have extra ''girl'' vitamins in them too.

so that''s it for me this morning! off to my new job.

have a wonderful day everyone! i''m going to hit up the gym afterwards!

 

[Rod]

Date: 10/18/2006 11:13:09 AM
Author: Mara
lulu posted some great links for recipes!! whole foods website lists nutritional information on most of their recipes online and cooking light does as well. also sunset magazine has some great recipes online (www.sunsetmagazine.com) and they also list nutritional information BUT they are not a ''healthy only'' kind of website so as you surf around, make sure to check nutritional information before deciding to cook something. however i use cooking light very religiously, and their stuff is GOOD. you can have almost anything i have found, if you just use the right ingredients, not too much of oils and creams etc.

also do you know how many calories lettuce has?? HARDLY ANY. i was floored. 3 oz of lettuce or mixed greens has something like 15 cals. no wonder salads are so good for you. i have found some wonderful low-fat and low-cal dressings from Girard at the local supermarket and i have been eating salads like they are going extinct. i can have a big bowl of greens, some olives, some croutons and some dressing and the whole salad is only about 200 cals or less. sometimes i can add feta instead of olives (olives actually have a fair amount of fat for a ''veggie'' (is it a veggie?!)) and it''s still 200 cals. or add cranberries and bleu cheese and mixed greens and it''s still 200 cals with the right dressing. anyway, i have been eating a lot of salads lately...it''s a great way to supplement something like a small lean cuisine that won''t keep me full all afternoon.

my other tip today for those of us who are working out pretty religiously, consider eating something like a luna bar or a kashi go lean bar as a snack instead of something else in the afternoons or before a workout. their go lean bars come in things like ''chocolate toffee almond'' and are 300 calories for a hefty 2.75oz bar (it may not sound like much but it''s heavy!). i split them in half and eat 1/2 as a snack after a LC or something..then it''s only 150 cals and it''s like a dessert from the choco toffee coating, but it also has 13g of protein and 6g of fiber. it really helps give me that afternoon boost and it''s better than just eating a granola bar which is typically not as tasty, and doesn''t have as much fiber or protein. but i wouldn''t eat these if you are not working out a lot because you may not NEED all that protein. but for me where i am doing almost daily workouts, i find these kind of boost me...and it does work for a snack for a few hours or right before i hit the gym. the luna bars are 180 cals for the whole bar so you could just eat the whole thing if you wanted and they have extra ''girl'' vitamins in them too.

so that''s it for me this morning! off to my new job.

have a wonderful day everyone! i''m going to hit up the gym afterwards!

Good luck on your first day Mara. I''m sure you''ll knock their socks off!!

 

[KimberlyH]

I''m back from my food-filled vacation not having gained any weight, YIPPEE! We did lots of good walking in New York City, 6-10 miles per day, and skipped lunch so that probably helped.

Gal: I love the gym, but don''t ever make the time to go so I let my membership drop and i exercise at home on my elliptical and using free weights. You just need to decide what''s best for you, what are you most likely to stick to?

I am a bit worn out from traveling and playing house and school catch up so no workout today, but back to the grindstone tomorrow.

 

[appletini]

I was really bad yesterday, but I did exercise today so that kind of makes up for it. Not sure if I should divulge yesterday or not. Oh well...we''ll do "bad" news first and then "good" news.

Yesterday: Day of food frenzy!

Originally we had planned to celebreate boss''s day on Monday but due to the rain, flooding, etc our boss did not come in and we went home at lunch. I had made a chocolate tres leches cake to celebrate the occassion. So we had the cake yesterday mid-morning, and another co-worker made some fabulous chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to go with it. Well we also had our group''s 3rd quarter luncheon which was at a Vietnamese type place so while my main dish wasn''t that bad, guess what we had dessert to go with it for the 2nd time day. A co-worker and I split an ice-cream sundae cake...similar to the high and mighty ice cream pie that Chili''s used to have. Since we didn''t go to lunch until 1:30 and then were free to go home at 3, I wasn''t about to exercise on a full stomach, so I went home and took a nap. Well my SIL is in town for work so we had family dinner at a local favorite...Goode Co Seafood, where I had my usual the Fried Shrimp...and it was so good!

Today: Lets make up for yesterday

Well I had left Monday''s lunch at work, which was actually "healthy" so I had a turkey sandwhich on honey wheat berry bread with white cheddar. Also had two handfuls of grapes, some baby carrots, and a few bites of cheese. I also did the Total Body Training Class after work and I can feel myself really improving these past 2 weeks. In two weeks I''m going to re-evaluate my weight, BMI, and body fat to monitor my progress.

 

[Rod]

Hey everyone,

Not much to report for today. Had an almost 3 hour workout this afternoon, which was good. Ate healthy, which was also good. And I have a nice big salad in the refrigerator waiting for dinner. Mara, I''m with you on salads. I could eat one twice a day and not get tired of them. Since discovering Vegannaise, I''ve been able to enjoy my salad the way I like it without fear of too much fat or calories. Yummmmm.

Tomorrow, I''ll either run 6 miles or go back to the gym. I''ll have to see how I feel at the time.

Kimberly: Sounds like you had a good vacation and way to go not gaining any weight. Of course walking 6 - 10 miles every day can really help avoid any weight gain. You probably didn''t need to skip lunch. In fact, it''s not a good idea to skip meals. The body believes it''s being deprived when you do and one''s metabolism slows to a crawl to avoid buring any fat. Just some "food" for thought.

Appletini: Sounds like quite a foodgasmic workday. I''m sure you''re glad you only stepped out of line for one day. Sounds like your turkey sandwich was a much healthier alternative. It''s really tough to stay in line all the time. You did great by getting back on the healthy wagon right away!!

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Hey Rod,

Six miles...that''s a great run. Congratulations!

I''m not able to run very far since my (2) arthroscopies years back. I miss running during the dark cold winters

with snow on the ground. Hey everyone...what do you snack on at night if you''re watching TV or on-line?

Healthy stuff? I munch on raisin bran with granola clusters. I know it''s got alot of sugar but to me it''s not junk food.

What do you eat as a snack after dinner that is both healthy and sugar free?

Keep on TRACKin!

 

[galeteia]

Kimberly: I would be much more likely to stick to training at home than the gym. There are just too many factors that make it easy to avoid going to the gym, and the fact that I actually enjoy training on the eliptical and that my interest in exercise comes from investment in my health. I really want that 30+ minutes a day, because I need them for myself, not because I *should* do them. It's like fruit-- I eat more fruit than everyone I know put together, not because I *should* eat it, but because I love fruit not only for the taste but how it makes me feel.

It's amazing how my feelings have shifted since about 10 months or so from 'ugh, if I eat this/don't exercise I'll get fat' to 'I would feel better if I worked out every day'. All that was really holding me back was the money issue. Now that's eased up.

It's a matter of hitting that place of 'readiness'. I hit that place when I did a major detox this summer, and I'm feeling that same sense of purpose as I did then, only towards my physical health and cardio fitness.

I have no problems with work ethic, motivation, or commitment, as long as it is something I truly want.

So I'm feeling like the elliptical is definitely the way to go. How much did you spend on yours, and what kind did you get, if I may ask?

 

[Rod]

Date: 10/18/2006 7:50:38 PM
Author: Modified Brilliant
Hey Rod,

Six miles...that''s a great run. Congratulations!

I''m not able to run very far since my (2) arthroscopies years back. I miss running during the dark cold winters

with snow on the ground. Hey everyone...what do you snack on at night if you''re watching TV or on-line?

Healthy stuff? I munch on raisin bran with granola clusters. I know it''s got alot of sugar but to me it''s not junk food.

What do you eat as a snack after dinner that is both healthy and sugar free?

Keep on TRACKin!

Hey Jeff.......Thanks! Running is new for me. I just had this overwhelming desire to start running about 3 or 4 months ago. The first time I ran, I ran about 1/2 mile and thought I was dying. The next time I ran a full mile and felt a little better. I''ve been adding miles ever since. I''m sorry you can''t enjoy running much. Are you sure you can''t? With all the gym time, you''re building strength you probably didn''t have and you may be surprised what your body can do.

Anyway, to answer your question, I snack mostly on fresh fruit. But first, I do allow myself a small dark chocolate treat after dinner. One or two pieces only, but there are great benefits to dark chocolate and I buy the dark chocolate bars containing at least 70% cacao. Then for a treat if I need to snack, I am pretty addicted to fuji apples. They may not be the prettiest in the store, but they are so crisp and sweet. On a rare occassion I''ll pop popcorn the old fashioned way. I don''t much care for microwave popcorn and I have to believe it''s not a healthy alternative. But, I use a good quality low in saturated fat oil (2 tablespoons to 1/3 cup popcorn - for a larger amount use 3 tablespoons to 1/2 cup popcorn). Salt lightly and never add butter. It''s an ok snack as long as you don''t do it every night.

 

[Mara]

jeff i try not to snack...especially when watching TV or online! hehe. it's too mindless and you can end up eating too much. but sometimes i do snack and if i do it's on something like a granola bar or a banana or an apple or some fresh/canned pineapple. we also have biscotti that we eat sometimes, it's actually not really bad for you at all, and for 'dessert' we eat 2 squares of super dark creole chocolate or spicy cajun dark chocolate, or i make an ice cream parfait from cooking light which has 1/2 a banana, a scoop of lowfat starbucks latte ice cream, some hersheys syrup and some whipped cream! it's awesome and it's like 250-300 calories and 5g of fat. totally hits the spot if i feel like ice cream or something 'sundae-like' and it's about 1/4 of the calories in a real sundae! hehe. also those cups of tapioca or chocolate pudding or something from jello are actually not bad if you can just eat one. hehee.

worked out today...i ended up being a bit tired so i just did a 47 min treadmill thing and burned 450 cals and walked 2.95 miles. then i went and did some arm work, especially the back muscles that the trainer wanted me to focus on more. owie...i'm definitely weak there, i can feel it when i am working them.

dinner was this mushroom ravioli from TJ's...it's pretty cool, you just heat it up in the micro separately and then mix it together with the sauce. it's fresh so it only lasts like 4 days in the fridge. and it was REALLY yummy. kind of fatty at 11g of fat per serving but not too bad since we split the package and had 1.25 servings each...so it was 400 calories and about 14g of fat for each of us. and then we both had big bowls of salad with low-fat caesar, some croutons and some parm cheese for about 250 calories each. so a healthy night for us.

also it's funny, at the new job the office manager goes to costco once a week and gets 'snacks' for the kitchen. there were mini rice crispies, nutrigrain bars, apples, bananas, water, teas, popcorn and some other items. of course there were cookies in the kitchen too. so this afternoon my boss brings over some rice crispies and cookies and is like lets snack! i just laughed and didn't touch the plate. seriously a cookie or rice crispy treat just didn't sound that appealing. i was tempted for a little bit when she ate a rice crispy treat but it passed very quickly, i was happy. because honestly i don't need to be burning off some extra random not-even-so-great cookie or something just because it's there. so yay for me. of course tomorrow's another day so...haha. but i did bring some go lean bars and some of my own granola bars to work and i like that there are bananas and apples and stuff too. but i have my lunch setup in the fridge for thurs and fri so i'm okay for this week hopefully! i did have a nutrigrain bar between breakfast and lunch today but it was only 150 cals and it kept me full for another 2.5 hours so i figured the calories were worth it since it took me til a late lunch.

rod kudos on the long run!! yay. go kimberly and appletini you guys sound like you are doing quite well, not gaining weight is fab kimberly esp on a vacation. appletini...i definitely subscribe to the makeupforitnextday kinda thing if necessary, hehee. you can't be good EVERY day!! gala i don't have anything to help re: the gym or home kinda thing but not sure i'd work out at home as much as i like to get into the gym and get motivated. also music is a huge thing for me. today my ipod was not right, i think the last time i charged it on my computer somehow old songs got reloaded onto it because a lot of my new workout songs were not on there...and it totally affected me mentally today!! so gotta get the new ones back on it by wed!

have a wonderful day tomorrow everyone!!

 

[Lorelei]

Jeff, I snack on dry cereal usually! It gets rid of the sweet tooth and is healthier than the chips and candy ( which is what I REALLY want...

) Overall I am quite lucky that after dinner I don''t normally want to eat anything else. I did half an hour on the treadmill yesterday then had to stop as I felt weak and dizzy. I think my reserves were depleted as I had that meal out on Monday and didn''t have anything else the rest of the day which was naughty of me. Hopefully it will go better today, off now to change into my shorts and sneaks!

 

[lovelylulu]

Hello all.

So any more insight into the potential negatives of splenda. this morning, i took a closer look at my packet and didn''t find the "warning: this might cause cancer in lab animals" label that something like equal has...i should just do my own research, but i''m a little busy at work. maybe during lunch.

went to the gym last night and did 35 minutes on the elliptical. felt good. i always feel it in my calves the next day. then i went home and did pilates. we were going to make another healthy meal, but i was feeling a little tired and our options were sparse so we got pizza instead

i limited my portion though

and it''s from a local place that uses only fresh ingredients. plus, it was fantastic!

in good news, i hopped on the scale last night and my weight continues to drop. i''m definately now at a healthy weight, with perhaps a little under 10 lbs to hitting my real ideal weight that i haven''t been at since probably my senior year in high school.

the bad news is that my clothes, particularly my work clothing is getting too big. i bought most of my suits and business clothes in the last year or two, the time when i was at my heighest weight. unfortunately, these are some of the most expensive clothes to buy. i''m thinking of getting most of the bottoms taken in -- the ones that looked ridiculously roomy i sold on ebay...this fitness lifestyle can get pricey