How is everyone's weekend going?  

Roosed~Way to go!  And the all day hike sounds amazing!  Our family is big into that, I sure hope Mother Nature agrees with you.  We're due to receive between 18" to 36" tomorrow night!  That's on top of our 18" we got last weekend, so it's crazy to hear about ya'll doing things outside!

I'm SO happy!  I was able to do my 10 mile run today!  I feel good about being ready for this race.  I'm not going to worry about "racing", but at least I know I'm good to go on finishing!  Been sucking down the ginger root and lifesavers to keep my tummy settled.  But usually at this point in the game I'm a full time couch potato for about the next month or so.  So, I'm pretty ecstatic to be still running :)

Utahdesertrunner -I'm amazed you are making 10 miles whilst pregnant- I'm trying to remove the weight that I gained during pregnancy so I think it's wonderful if you can keep the gain under control.

Roosed, I hope your hike was fun!

I have today off work (thanks to some Polish general that the rest of the country has not heard of) and so I get to go to the gym at the beginning of the day rather than the evening (I much prefer this). My exercising has been going well but I've been cheating  on the eating. I'm off to the supermarket after the gym with better meal plans for the week.

I'm looking forward to crossing the finish line with you all. We're in the home straight!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, as mentioned, Sunday I was supposed to go hiking with a group of folks from the Memphis area but due to the 33F wind chill they decided to cancel. Being the well insulated, fully furry, not to mention BULL HEADED Griz that I am I headed across town to the trailhead layered up & struck out solo, well almost solo as a few pals tagged along via cell & Facebook, for which I caught heck from a nature loving pal over LOL! Yes dear, technology & nature CAN play nice together if we let them!

I walked a portion of the newly dedicated Memphis Greenline that connects the city’s largest natural park, Shelby Farms, with Midtown Memphis via a reclaimed abandoned rail way bed! It goes over & through some cool wetland areas, across the Wolf River & connects a few parks along the way. It’s really nice! They say that eventually it’s supposed to extend all the way to the Mighty Muddy Mississippi River! From Shelby Farms there’s also another older greenway heading the opposite direction connecting it with the Wolf River Conservancy Area & combined they stretch about 10 miles end to end with countless miles of side trails & lake loops. My combined total Sunday in the wind was 12.60 miles of hoofing it and man did my hamstrings feel it after the commuter mobile drive back home! Sitting there, driving home they shrunk up & set up like Quikrete LOL! I stretched a LOT last night then again hitting the gym this AM for…you guessed it…LBWO! Poor planning on my part huh?!?!? Allowing for my shoulder PT gurette’s guidance, March has LBWOs on Mondays & Thursdays, Core & Cardio on Tuesdays & Fridays & UBWO Wednesdays & Saturdays. That way I can pull full body workouts on Saturdays as time permits since, given the current state of the personal life…the longer I’m at the gym the better LOL! This also leaves Sunday open for whatever life allows, like hiking, but based upon this morning’s experience I may need to swap Saturdays & Sundays if Mother Nature starts behaving herself!!!

So anyhow, this morning I ground out 68,400 LBs of LBWO iron @ a surprising pace of 1.3 Tons per Minute but there was some renewed personal life guttural Grizzly anger driving that effort. Whilst drying off, immediately after showering, I ALMOST pulled a face plant by loosing my balance & realizing the legs were not happy about the combined efforts of the previous 19ish hours LOL! All’s well that ends well, on the workout front anyhow. Now if I could just burn this damn roller coaster of a personal life to the ground & start over things’d be just great LMAO! HEY! If we can’t laugh at ourselves what can we laugh at?!?!?

Rock on crew!

Happy Fat Tuesday crew!!! I guess that means I’m in style today LOL!

Got up right on time @ “0” Dark-Thirty but then made the mistake of turning on the home PC rather than just bolting out the door so I hit the gym about 20 minutes late today but it was really important, to me anyhow LOL! Making sure yesterday’s personal fire was out & sharing the love for the effort was high on the priority list this morning! Burning down that personal life roller coaster yesterday just got WAY out of hand & took most of the day to get back under control. Murphy is alive & well, especially on Mondays lately it would seem!

Anyhow, this morning I got to the gym & ground out 30,400 LBs of core iron @ 1.4 Tons per Minute in the midst of burning off 350 HIIT cardio calories while climbing 150 vertical dreadmill feet today then hit the showers for a quick splash & dash.

Other than switching Saturday & Sunday moving forward through March I’m really liking this new 6 day / 3 way split, especially the way it added core to my dreaded cardio days, such as today! Here’s how it went; I hit 5 minutes of “fat burn” hill climbing on the treadmill @ 3.8 MPH with varying inclines then 5 minutes of flat track “speed intervals” varying from 3.9 to 4.5MPH every 20 seconds then the first round of 3 core stations (30 Reps @ 200 LBs of Ab Crunch, 30 Reps @ 200 LBs of lower back extension & 20 reps left + 20 reps right @ 80 LBs on the rotary torso today) then 5 minutes of “calorie burn” dreadmill hill climbing @ 3.8 MPH with varying inclines then 5 more minutes of flat track “speed intervals” again varying from 3.9 to 4.5MPH every 20 seconds then repeating the 3 core stations again.

What I like most about this HIIT / core circuit is that once the cardio pulse gets cranked up during the very first HIIT session it never drops out of “cardio” range for the entire time, as long as Griz keeps his big @zz on the move which most days, especially when running late, is EASY! Today I hit the dreadmill first thing @ 62% of recommended max pulse & topped it out at a maximum of 98% which is better than days of late where I’ve been hitting 101%-103% regularly. Maybe those hoofing miles this past Sunday are helping out!!!

The personal churn has at least lost its foam for today. It would seem that as long as I quit trying so hard to make things better they don’t seem to get any worse so I just have to decide where my threshold for misery really lies. I must either live with the constant dull pain of the past however many years or ride the roller coaster of ecstasy & agony of recent months OR borrow some Rx Screwitall & punt!!! Decisions decisions. I know this may sound totally weak &/or stupid but the decision is actually pretty easy for me since I just can’t stop myself from considering the happiness of others at least equally if not ahead of my own SO dull pain it is, for now anyhow, as the roller coaster hurts others as much or more than it helps me & the highs of the good days just make the lows of the bad days that much deeper & more painful.

Rock on crew!!! It’ll all pan out one of these days, weeks, months or years & by the time it works out I should have this patience stuff down to a science!!!

Hey Crew!!

Sorry I haven't been posting as regularly as I want to be.  I'm going to try to be better.

Here's the update on where I am at.  Still at pretty much the same weight however I have to say I'm really noticing a much bigger difference in how I look.  Booty is starting to get round, arms have a lot more definition, waist is getting narrower, and people are starting to comment that it looks like I've lost weight.

It's kind of amazing that I've gotten so much more dense.  I suppose I've put on a ton of muscle which is great for a female because it's supposed to be really hard for us to gain muscle.  But how else do I account for the fact that I look so much smaller, have lost inches but weigh exactly the same?

I also went to the doctor yesterday because my knee has been bothering me. Yay! My first sports injury!!!

I guess this makes me an athlete huh?  I had been doing step-ups and squats (probably with bad form) and strained my knee.  Nothing major but I wanted to get it checked out.  Ice, compression, ibuprofen and low impact for a week was what was ordered.  It's been a day of following orders and my knee is already greatly improved.

I can hardly believe we only have 3 weeks left!!  That means we have exactly 18 workouts left guys!  (well actually 16 if you count the past two days)

I feel like I've finally hit my groove with diet and exercise, it no longer feels like a chore.  I actually crave working out now and feel antsy if it seems like I might not have a chance to workout.  So far in this challenge I've only missed three total workouts but I'm hoping that is all I miss.

I'm SO excited!!!!  We are rocking this challenge guys!

-Shoshie

Figure I better chime in with these long posts you guys are leaving, LOL!

Utah - congrats on the 10Mi Run

Griz-way to man-up on that nature walk. I'll bet the weather made it that much more rewarding

Spent Mardi Gras at a N'awlins bar in Buckhead.  Doing a Jello shot with a transvestite was as close to Bourbon Street as I was going to get tonight.  Also found out that Shrimp Creole was better than gumbo for my diet.  In the spirit of Ash Wed, I honestly could not think of anything ELSE I could give up for lent.  Guess I am living an honest life - at least for the next 3 weeks.  This Challenge has gone by faster than the others, for sure.  I am going to reward myself with an all-I-can-eat doughnut fest at the end.  I have been meaning to do this for about a year now,  but this time I'm serious.

On Saturday, I had probably the best HIIT ever.  I jogged the beach at sunrise while my son (7 yrs old) rode alongside on his bike.  What a treat to be able to instill healthy habits to him through example.  I didn't time it, but am sure it was a blistering pace.  Ran the first mile with sprints (racing him) and at least half of the way back.  He loved it, I loved it, the tourists nodded approvingly.  What a great way to start the day.

Diet and Exercise on track.  Simplex carbs below my goal, Fat/Carb/Protein close enough for gov't work.  Abs 5 and 6 peaking through(!) and the increased weights are starting to reap dividends.

Cheers, Gang!

I'm way behind here. I had a hectic week working late every night with parent teacher conferences. The week ended with one very angry parent so there will be a big meeting later this month. I feel confident in what I've been doing, but needless to say, it's a very stressful situation. That being said, I ate whatever our lovely PTO put in the lounge this week. Luckily, I maintained instead of gaining. I have a new attitude today and will make the most of the time we have left in this challenge. My goal is to be down 20 lbs. (or a few more) by Memorial Day.

Spring break is here and it's a much needed break. The time is winding down on this challenge. Hang in gang and we'll make it to the end.

Dave, I hope you're planning another when this one's finished!

Kim

Kim,

Congratulate yourself this week on maintaining rather than gaining. I had parent conferences the previous week and I understand your stress. I was happy to maintain as I know in previous years I have gained.

I regrouped over the weekend, reread part of Dr. Peeke's book and had a terrific week (I find the mental component of her book inspiring). I hope next week is better for you.

It's ironic - you receive many compliments but it only takes one angry parent to ruin your week. If only parents would think before they yell - after all their child will be with you for the rest of the year regardless of the outcome.

Stay on the journey!!!!

Thanks Frick! 1HDHawk, I may be convinced but don't really feel like I'm doing the crew justice...we'll see!

So last night on the home front just sucked completely then I hit the door @ “0” Dark-Thirty already in a mood due to meeting almost all day again today only to find the commuter mobile buried under a THICK blanket of frost…GRRR! I REALLY wasn’t in the mood for it but chiseled it out and headed north for the gym for core & cardio.

Got there & managed to burn off 360 HIIT cardio calories while climbing 156 vertical dreadmill feet wrapped all around crunching, extending & twisting 33,440 LBs of core iron so things began to perk up a little!

In the midst of umpteen hours of meetings today I got an e-invite to join the Memphis hiking club on a 4 hour trek around yet another nature area, not too far away so things began looking up a little more & now the sun is blazing away outside so I’m beginning to have a shred of faith in the weatherman again that tomorrow might just rock! Supposed to be sunny & a high of 70F so having the hike kick off at 10AM local time might be just dandy & who knows, I might just hit last weeks trail a little more if I’m not totally toast when this one’s finished…only time will tell!!!

Rock on crew, TGIF!!!

I was very excited to get on Wii Fit this morning and after doing a body analysis, see the meter register my BMI as normal. I'm not at my goal but this feels good!!! I'm now motivated to go to Boot Camp at the gym later this morning.

Way to go British!

I sent new pics to my trainer, which I knew was a waste of time since I've made no progress. She kind of chewed my a$$ today (ouch). It isn't like I didn't know I wasn't following the plan she put me on. Oh well....Anyway, I got 45 min. on the TM today with some inclines mixed in.

Hubby and I are going to go to a home and remodeling show today and maybe hit the mall. We're just going to get out of the house and spend a little time together. Should be nice.

Dave, we'd love to have you as our fearless leader on the next go around. That doesn't mean you have to be here every day or answer every post. You're doing a fine job. Besides, I plan to actually make some progress on the next one. I've blown the last 2 challenges!

Hey 1hdhawk

When you say you haven't made any progress what do you mean?   I'm kind of fussy this past couple days because the last two weeks are looming and while yes absolutely do I look a little different and I absolutely have gained a lot of muscle, I still don't have the muscle definition and the fat loss I wanted to see.  I've been really good about diet and I've only missed 3 cardio's in the entire challenge.  I'm scared to take my "after" pictures because I'm afraid that I won't have that "transformation" so many others have had.  Trying really hard to stay postitive here...

I mean I haven't followed the plan like I should have. Too much eating and not enough working out.

Got some new running shoes (even though I don't run) since mine were a year old. The dr. said I should get running shoes, even though I mostly walk.

I plan to notch it up this week and hopefully stick with it once spring break is over with.

Happy Monday crew!!! Okay, I’m faking it but it’s the thought that counts…right LOL?!?! Thanks 1HD! I'll see if I can't put together sufficient motivation to fire off another challenge coming soon!!! I'll post up the link this weekend! Would everybody prefer to dive right in or maybe take a week or so to meditate first???

Anyhow, as y’all may recall a week ago yesterday I was supposed to go on a hike with the Memphis Hikers Club but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate so they cancelled but I struck out solo, okay Palomino I struck out with a couple pals via my cell phone, covering 12.6 miles of paved nature trails & Greenline.

Well, this Saturday was the next club hike, they hike 3 Saturdays & 1 Sunday every month on a rotating park schedule! So this Saturday Mother Nature apparently decided our lives had sucked enough for one week & threw us a bone! What a gloriously beautiful day she cooked up! Clear blue skies, a very slight gentle breeze & a maximum temp of 71F! PERFECT!!! We all met at the trail head at 10AM, packed up & headed out. Now, this nature preserve has 3 different trail systems, none paved but well maintained. We ended up taking the trail that most closely follows the Wolf River as it passes through the nature preserve totaling 7.1 miles start to end to start, it’s not a loop LOL! All day there were hard core mountain bikers & cross training joggers, as well as hikers coming & going. Everyone was well behaved & many had their pooches in tow, or towing them as the case may have been. One member of our group had her pooch along. An adorable 50ish LB high energy, but well behaved, pit mutt terrier mix on a full body harness connected to the owner’s waist belt via a 3/16” aircraft cable with mountaineering quick connects! The owner explained that she had tried every other leash material know to man & that this was the ONLY thing her pooch hadn’t chewed right through!!!

Anyhow, less than 30 minutes into the 4 hour hike Griz, brining up the rear as always, manages to find one of those marvelous magic / invisible tree roots, hiding under some leaves, & takes a bounding 3 step swan dive landing solidly on hard pack with the left knee well in the lead of all else. The 3rd of those 3 steps sent a jarring crunch up my spine that convinced me falling was the best alternative LOL! Anyhow, jumped up, but of course got caught, brushed off & continued on albeit with a bit of a gimp for a while. Made it there & back then the crew wanted to get together for lunch afterwards at a local deli then disbanded. Well, being the bullheaded Griz I am, still had time on my hands so I headed back to last week’s park & took a couple laps around the lakeside asphalt loop, hating whoever invented roller blades & wanting to clothesline the next biker that chose to buzz me unannounced LOL! Saturday ended up a total of 10.5 miles & I was pooped! It’s amazing the difference those 7.1 miles of “terrain” made over paved nature trails!

Now we move onto Sunday…still with me guys? The weathermen had called for thunderstorms by Noon so I was ready to hit it an hour before legal sunrise (when trespassing legally turns back into hiking). Thanks to daylight saving time my brain was ready an extra hour before I could do anything about it but anyhowt! Throbbing knee & all, I took in a GORGEOUS sunrise, watching the sun peer through between the horizon below & the threatening skies above. As the sun crept higher it was SOOO cool watching the morning fog burning off the hillsides & surfaces of the water! As morning progressed the skies actually cleared into a full blue glorious mid morning as I covered both the woods & wetlands loops then by mid-day when I hit 6.6 miles I decided that, since 13 is one of my 2 favorite numbers, I was only halfway! By now the skies were threatening again but poncho packed, onward!!! Downed an almond granola bar, a little extra water, shed another layer, utilized the visitor center’s “facilities” & headed down Memphis’ newly dedicated Greenline again like last Sunday. Checked the mile markers to ensure 13ish miles total upon my return but just as I was approaching the commuter mobile I noticed down the trail that Shelby Farm’s nearly world famous Bison herd was up & on the roam right near the fence line! Just couldn’t resist that so I strolled, moving rather slowly by now even by my standards, down the trail nearest the herd for a picture! By the time I got around to the shot I wanted then back to the car I had totaled 14.3ish miles for Sunday & 24.8 for the weekend. So help me, I will NEVER know how marathoners cover 26.2 miles in a few hours when I came up slightly short of that in 2 days but I had fun anyhow!

So, this morning I hit the gym, running a few minutes behind from doctoring the left knee & wondering why my right big toe feels like it’s on fire even though I didn’t see any signs of a blister, & ground out 21,630 LBs of UBWO iron the physical therapist gurette’s way, showered & proceeded to re-enter the weekly rat race knowing the office is a skeleton crew this week since SOOO many folks are off spring breaking it with their kiddies, leaving ALL the work for the rest of us! So there you have it! Let the fun begin again! Come on WEEKEND!!!

Great weekend success storry Roosed!

I can't believe we're almost to the finish line! As for me, I'm going to keep it up- no week break or anything and start C2 right away. I figure if an alcoholic finished their 28 days of rehab, they wouldn't take a break from sober living before continuing on in their next challenge, right? :)

Things are going well over here. I'm fitting into clothes I haven't worn in several years and I'm loving it! I still have a LONG way to go before I'm where I really want to be, but that's what C2 and probably C3 are for. This is for life, right?

Keep up the good work team. You've been great motivators for me.