Hey Warriors: Been busy the last couple days but just read a few posts....very inspiring as usual. Question for you runners.....do you guys run with music??.....as in ipod/mp3 player? If you do,  does it help keep you moving. Both my daughters always run with earphones and was thinking about getting my own ipod.

Island/Andys10: Congrats on completing your challenge!! And Island.....great videos.....I'd be in the hospital for a month if I tried lifting that much weight...lol.

Have a great weekend Warriors!!!

fit4life - I usually do listen to music though not always loud and not always the same genre...it does help me keep my mind off the boredom on long runs and if I need to dig deep I usually find a song with the same tempo I want to push through on.

I am starting planking and I even found the same with this as well. I have only done three so far just starting this week…with the longest being a 2 minute hold. I want to hit five minutes and I am just now understanding how much I will have to train my abs and lower back and even then I think toward the end it will be a mental challenge ...that is where the music comes in for me... Something else to think about and concentrate on. It does seem to make time go faster.

From what I have seen you are running great so keep moving forward and enjoy every step of the way!

Morning Warriors!

Leg WO is done.  Squats were done and that is always a good thing :-)

Tonight the wife and I are going out on a date.  We have no idea what we are doing or where we are going.  We are lost for the most part without our kids....We are looking forward to it!

On the music question - whether it is running or WO's I am 50/50 on it.  Sometimes I get in a mood where I can't go without it and other times I don't need/want it at all.  Right now I am not listening to anything....next week it could be different.

I had something last night that I had not had in a long time....red potatoes!  They were delicious.  They are chalk full of vitamins and minerals too.  Vitamin C, B6, etc etc...They had a sale at the grocery store the other day - buy 1 bag/get 1 free...so they will be on the menu for a few days at our house!

Have a great Warriors!  Happy Friday!

Happy Friday Warriors!!!!

Fit: YES YES YES on the music!!!! There have been so many studies on how music affects people's brains. Music affects the brain in many ways, but for me, it puts me in an excited, happy state of mind so I definitely listen to it while I work out. I hate to say it, but I would not enjoy running if it wasn't for my music! I make playlists on my Ipod...I have playlists for a 5k run, for a half-marathon, for my cycling classes, etc. I try to find songs with high beats per minute which really push my pace! Here are the results from one study I found:

"Music has been found to be an ideal accompaniment for exercise. It has the ability to alter emotional and physiological arousal as well as dissociate a performer’s attention from sensations of fatigue during exercise. The tempo of the music can also be used to influence exercise performance as their arousal level will be heightened by the fast tempo. If music is applied to these types of situations, music’s impact may have the ability to change the context in which physical work or exercise is performed and become a viable way of positively influencing an individual’s disposition as well as performance."

I know people will have their own opinions on this, but I say try it. It just might give you that little push to increase your speeds on your runs. Another thing I do is put songs on my playlist that remind me of people. During that song, I think about that person and it helps distract me from any "uncomfortableness" I might be feeling at the time!

Parson: I got some red potatoes at the Farmer's Market last week. My hubby and boys love them! I try to stay away from white potatoes (I know they are full of vitamins...I just prefer sweet potatoes) but glad my boys like them!

Run4Life: I love planks! I do them at least 3x per week...full planks, forearm planks, side planks, spiderman planks, etc. They are so versatile and great for your core!  I have read, though, there there is no benefit in holding a plank more than 1 minute at a time. I can't remember where I read that....I think in one of my fitness magazines. I usually do 2-3 sets of planks holding for 1 min each.

Claude: you are doing so well on MFP! I'm not sure the question you asked me about inputting recipes...I usually just list the ingredients separate on my food diary. Typically my recipes don't have that many ingredients! Or, if I get the recipe from a magazine that has all of the nutrition info listed, then I will input that recipe into MFP.

Andys10: I sent you a message, but just noticed on your profile that you live in Charlotte. So do I!!!! What a coincidence!! We moved here in January 2011 from Houston and we love it!!!

I decided to save some time and work out at home today in my new gym!!! We are finally finished with the basement and my new gym is AWESOME!!!! I will still work out at Gold's most days, but it is nice to just walk downstairs and have everything there..including a little kitchen and bathroom! We have professional gym flooring in my new gym (our neighbor is in construction and got it out of a gym he remodeled and graciously gave it to us!) so it is great for plyo moves! This morning I did my tabata/kettlebell/lower body/core circuit. It was so much fun! I moved up to the 30 lb kettlebell....woo hoo!!!! I still can't snatch single-handed with that much weight, but I can do both single and double arm swings and the double overhead snatch with 30 lbs. I had a great workout!

Tomorrow is my 5k. Not sure if I am going to push myself as hard as last week, but I am so competitive I probably won't back down! I will try to post tomorrow after the race.

Nutrition is packed and clean. Eating a few more carbs today for the race!

My in-laws are on their way here right now. My hubby will pick them up at the airport this afternoon. The house is clean so we are ready!

Have a great weekend Warriors!

Runner - I agree with your music statements...I too have a 'distance' play list...love it as it can get you moving for the faster runs and for the longer runs it can help maintain your cadience to conserve energy.

Planking - I too have heard the same that a plank up to a certain time has no additional benefit (I heard 2-3 minutes). But then again I have heard the same things with marathon running. I did a few of those...just because they are there ;-)

So I think you are right with the plank...I will love the physical benefit...then there is the more mental challenge on can I push myself (SAFELY) with doing a longer one.

I appreciate your advice and this is just a goal of mine...but I don't want to be stupid about it. I know at two minutes I now need to focus more on strengthing my abs and lower back and then shoulders to move up in time. I read somewhere the world record is 1 hr 15+ minutes…no way am I even going to try to come anywhere near that!

I actually tried to find web information on what are the potential injuries associated with longer time planking. I came up short...nothing specific.

So I am going to take this slow and accept where it takes me if I find I cannot do the time! (sounds like a jail sentence doesn’t it).

Have a good weekend all!

Play Hard!

Hey everyone,

It has been a while since I posted. My new job is a blessing and great, but boy I am really busy. Teaching 2classes a week after work and working OT every other day of the week. I have about 40 people under me and keeping things going is definitely a challenge. It is great to be busy and have lots of work though, so no complaints here. Add in my second job on the weekends and being a father and husband and time slips away.

My workouts will be great for 3-4 days then fall apart for 2-3 days. I am just going with the flow and trying to mesh together all facets of life right now. I am about back to square one in many ways so I have lost my Warrior status within the group. I have no worries though because I feel like the luckiest guy around. I have been blessed in so many ways that I do not feel worthy most days.

My wife and I have decided that it will be no holds barred on workouts starting Monday. Her hours are changing and we will both be getting up at 4 am to workout. I hope to string together a few good weeks to get the routine back. Thanks to all for your support and thoughts. I hope to find a time that I can post more regularly.

Have a great weekend gang. I actually have the weekend off for the first time in a couple of months so I plan on alot of daddy time with the family. My son has already planned our day for tomorrow going to get mulch and working in the yard. The girls are going to get their nails done!

Keep on inspiring gang. You are all a powerful force in my life. I will work back to the Warrior of old soon. Don't give up on me. I am just lagging behind the superstars.

Later.

Hey team, Early morning happy Saturday to you all. Well another week has passed and boy was it a tough one, For the first time since I have taken over the runnings of the warehouse that I work in, I had to sit in on the termination process of one of the drivers. He essentially "made his own bed" with this but he was my friend and the thing that bothered me the most was that he has 2 little girls and he's a single dad unfortunately he took his job for granted and ultimately lost it. I really hope things work out for him especially now with how the economy is all over. Life lessons I guess.

Well got my gym time in mostly weights but no cardio being that I have not been able to leave work to get it in.. Only been hitting the gym in the wee hours of the morning and getting my weight training down.. I still feel good but am missing the cardio side of it.. Work is gonna remain tough for the foreseeable future even tougher now since I was already pretty overwhelmed but now being short a man will make things even tougher for sure. Im just gonna roll with the punches and do what I can without losing my mind lol..

Cuervo: Thanks for letting us know how you are doing, glad you and the wife are gonna get on the fitness train with purpose. Enjoy your family time!

Run: Goodluck with the planking I do it to, maybe not as much as I should but after about 45 seconds Im about ready to plop lol..

Runner: We all know you don't know how to apply the phrase "take it easy" when it comes to you and running lol its the warrior in you. Looking forward to hearing your 5k time!

Parson: Way to get it in! Squats are on the menu this coming week for me!

My take on music- I need it to work out no matter what it is weight lifting or cardio.. I like it especially when im in the gym it blocks out everything around me and I really feel that its just me and the weights. Also, it helps to prevent the "talkers" to come and hold up my workout lol.. especially for me time is of the essence literally! haha and on the cardio side Id much rather listen to music that hear myself hyperventilating when the going is getting tough :)

anyway Have an awesome weekend warriors.. been awake almost 24 hours straight but will soon be home to get some rest followed by QT with my little ones! :0) aloha all..

O yeah Fit: thank you for the congrats :) and for the compliment on the videos

and also Lins: A huge aloha and welcome to the warrior ohana!

Group...

You guys/gals are so up lifting (sorry for the pun).

I love how dedicated you guys/gals are. Island_dude - your impressive lifts and how you keep it going no matter how hectic it is. Great motivation...I am sure there will be a time when you will be able to get cardio back into your game.

Hey can you do some of your lifts circuit training style...that should give you some cardio at least a variation on the theme.

Knowing you, you are probably already doing that!

To all the rest , I hope the close of this week has been good to you.

For me workout wise, it has been OK…eating wise…a train wreck…momma told me there would be days like this.

Time for a re-dedication…tomorrow is Sunday, no better day for renewed training vows.

Keep it strong Warriors!

HI Warriors!

Quick post for me....busy being soccer mom and host to in-laws today!

I had a PR at my 5k this morning and won 1st overall female!!!!! My time was 21:29. I am so excited! I was also the 4th finisher overall, so that means only 3 men beat me!!!! Sorry guys, but I LOVE the satisfaction of being faster than the male runners....it is the competitor in me again! The weather was great....overcast and low 60's. It was a great race!

One more soccer game today, then going out to dinner. I'm sure my nutrition won't be great today, but I will be right back on track tomorrow!

Cuervo: Enjoy your family time this weekend. That's what counts the most!

Island: I hope things turn out okay for your co-worker friend. I know that must've been hard for you. I know you are a WARRIOR and will find a way to balance your work, workouts and life....you are so good at that!

Run4life: Yes, Sunday is a great day to get back on track for the week.

I hope everyone else is doing well too!!!

Have a great weekend Warriors!

Hey warriors!, Checking in today Got my chest workout in and really made it count.. towards the end of my routine I got my pal the 16kg kettlebell and started doing some circuits in between sets to get the sweat really pouring and the heart racing then finished with the good ol 32kg (70lb) kettlebell at the gym with a quick yet very exhausting circuit which took about 1:30 to complete

I decided to take some after pics to compare with my befores from the last challenge that i just finished I made some results amazingly although I only lost a grandtotal of 5lbs I'm gonna take a week or 2 off from really heavy weights and gonna try and finally get rid of this last fat on my body!

Runner MOM wow lightning fast 5k time I knew taking it easy was not in your vocabulary :)

this was in february 2 weeks post surgery a combonation of eating crap and doing nothing lol..

Have a wonderful Monday and great week warriors!!

Good Morning Warriors!!!

I feel so out of touch; I feel like last week just got away from me, and it is going to be May already tomorrow.  Where does the time go??

Anyhow, I only have three days to workout and get things done.  We leave for Disneyland on Thursday morning.  And, my carpool schedule is out of whack this week; the family we carpool with is gone, so leaves me picking up the slack.  Oh well, such is life.  I am going to go jump on the TM in a bit.  I am going to do my HIIT's every day this week M,T & W until we leave, and will do a weight workout every day as well.  My weight is up a few pounds, and I haven't even left for vacation yet!!  We get back on Sunday evening and I have finals next week, and one of my daugthers has SAT testing.  

Island:  You should be incredibly proud of your success!!  You look like a totally different person.  It hasn't been fast, and it hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it!!!  You keep killin those workouts!

Runnermom:  Your 5K time is beyond Awesome!!  Way to beat those boys!  I hope you enjoyed your company.  I am totally jealous of your home gym!!

Cuervo:  Always good to see you check in.  I hope your workout is in the books for today, as well as your wife's.  You two keep pushing eachother and make it happen.  You have a few vacations lined up, don't you??

Fit4life:  There is NO WAY I could run without my music.  It is the only thing that keeps me going.  When I lift weights at the gym, I never listen to music, but when I do any type of cardio, I have to have those tunes!!!

K....gonna go jump on treadmill and do some ab exercises; I've been slacking on those!!

Island Dude, thanks for the welcome.  Wow, you look great!  Love the video, too.  Although, it does make my shoulder hurt watching you do that! ;-)

Have a great week, Warriors!  I'm so glad it's May, I LOVE this time of year!  

Hi Warriors,

Well, I had typed a very long post but lost it so here is the short version!

Island: Way to go! Pics are awesome! You should be SOOO proud!!!

BDMom: Thanks for the congrats. It was a great race and I am happy with my PR! Kill it this week before your vacation!

Lins: Try kettlebells!!! They are awesome! No shoulder pain at all...only great definition!

This morning my hubby and I got to work out together at the gym since my in-laws were here. It was fun! I did a warm up run and then did LBWO. My hubby did a longer run plus did some lower body work with me. His parents left later this morning so it will be back to our normal schedule tomorrow.

Nutrition is packed and clean. Saturday was NOT a good eating day for me, but back on track as of yesterday.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Oooh, runnermom, I would, but I gotta get my shoulder healed up first.  I can't lift more than 3 pounds right now, and by lift I mean move something from here to there; I'm not supposed to lift anything over my head at all - AC separation and torn rotator cuff.  Yowch.

Awesome job on your race, btw.  I thought about you during my run today.  I used to run in my teens & early 20s, it felt good to get out there again!