Just a little bit more to go ...

KaraCooks said:
Josie - Yeah, right now I'm going to LA Fitness for $35 a month, but if I can put that on hold for a while and try the office gym, I'd much rather pay $15 a month. Of course I'll probably wind up keeping and using both of them at some point ... we'll see! :)
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isnt LA Fitness supposed to be beautiful though? ive heard good things
 
I actually really like my LA Fitness. It's about 2 miles from my house and very convenient. It's also nice and clean - not terribly big (it's not one of the brand new facilities) - but everyone there is friendly and they have a good selection of weights and equipment.

I really think that I'll wind up keeping both memberships, to be honest. The one at my office bldg is just so convenient, especially for the days that traffic is really bad. For my running and cardio type stuff, I could easily use the office gym and then go home after traffic.

I'm going to try it for a month and see.
 
do you run? i wish my gym was close to me so i can run to it... or walk to it, work out, then run home... im really becoming obsessed with going to the gym again. kinda jealous you could belong to two :p
 
Heh. I .. um ... try to run? I just started training to run for a 5k, so I'm getting used to it still. I'm in my 2nd week of Couch to 5k and it's kicking my ass. :) In a good way, though. I think I'm going to need new shoes soon.

I have run outside a couple of times and much prefer it to running on the treadmill, but the weather here has been weird lately, so I haven't been able to get out as much.

Belonging to the office gym is turning out to be nice becuase I can just walk over after work and miss traffic. By the time I'm done running or with my workout, the roads are nice and clear for me to get home.

We'll see how it goes. I may decide that it's not worth the money to belong to both and give one of them up. I'll give it a month and see.
 
Hello kara cooks,

I just wanted to quickly pop my head in and say Hello :seeya:, I will come back to read your journal soon.

Lata
 
KaraCooks said:
Belonging to the office gym is turning out to be nice becuase I can just walk over after work and miss traffic. By the time I'm done running or with my workout, the roads are nice and clear for me to get home.

We'll see how it goes. I may decide that it's not worth the money to belong to both and give one of them up. I'll give it a month and see.
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what have you been up to in the gym, now that you have two? :D i know some days you hit the weights and do cardio, and exercise while at work but curious if you currently have a set workout rotation/plan...
 
Hey there!

Whoops, I've been a total slacker about updating. :)

Here's what I'm doing now. I"m working on the Couch to 5k program using Robert Ullrey's podcasts. I finished week 2 on Saturday, but I think I'm going to do it for another week. It just really kicked my ass and I don't think I'm ready to go on yet. The last thing I need to do is injure myself and have to stop completely.

So the schedule so far is:
M - weights
T - C25k
W - weights
T - C25k
F - weights
S - C25k
S - Rest

The weight routine is based on Workouts 1A and 1B from the New Rules of Lifting for Women. It's a solid full body routine. I just switch back and forth between 1A and 1B on alternating weight days.

I didn't do anything on Monday because .. ( a ) it was a holiday and ( b ) I was hungover. *grin*

On the weekdays I'm going to the gym at my office and on Saturday I go to the LA Fitness by my house. The only reason I haven't put my LA Fitness account on hold yet is that I'd like to start going to the Sunday morning yoga class there. I love yoga and the mat routine that they do on Sunday mornings is really awesome - less "get your heart pumping" and more "stretch and bend and breathe". I realize that means 7 days of working out, and I think if I do that I'll drop either Monday or Wednesday weights just to give my body a rest day.

I really like going to the office gym. It's super new, much less crowded, and there's a nice selection of equipment, so I don't feel like I'm giving up anything that I'd otherwise get at LA Fitness other than the yoga class and maybe the occasional spin class.

I'm still conflicted. Go figure - that's my life.

On the diet end, I'm really pushing hard to get my protein intake up there. I am adding a scoop of protein powder to my yogurt in the morning and continuing to have a protein drink (just powder and water) after my workout in the evenings. I'm aiming for 150g of protein per day. So far so good, and it's really helped with my evening munchies, I think. I feel much more full all the time.

That's the update. Weight is pretty stable at 173 right now, but I'm not too worried. I ramped up the exercise enough in the last week that I know some of it is retained fluids. It'll start dropping again here soon!
 
KaraCooks said:
The weight routine is based on Workouts 1A and 1B from the New Rules of Lifting for Women. It's a solid full body routine. I just switch back and forth between 1A and 1B on alternating weight days.
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are you doing one set/body part, or are you doing multiple sets? ive been circuit training, and as a full body routine, ive been lifting heavy to failure, probably 15 reps or so... one set per body part, alternating upper/lower... and i have to say, i think i need to change it to rotating days soon, its really kicking my ass. plus i only do weights twice a week or so. has what you're doing been working for you? are the results coming in yet?
 
Multiple sets. The workouts from the New Rules go like this (roughly):

Workout A
Squats 2 sets of 15
Cable rows 2 sets of 15 / Pushups 2 sets of 15 (alternating sets)
Stepups 2 sets of 15 / Prone jacknife 2 sets of 15 (alternating sets)

Workout B
Deadlifts 2 sets 15
Dumbbell shoulder press 2 sets 15 / Lat pulldown 2 sets 15 (alternating sets)
Lunges 2 sets 15 / Swiss ball crunch 2 sets 15 (alternating sets)

The way the program is set up, you do each of these workouts 8 times (I think - I don't have the book in front of me), alternating Workout A and Workout B. Each time you increase the weight and decrease the reps. You have a 60 second rest between each set.

I like this basic workout because I feel like it gives me a good full body workout. I'm not really working my way through the program right now, but I am trying to increase weight each subsequent week. I'm trying to use weights that mean I'm nearly to failure by the time I get to the end of the 2nd set.

ON workout days, after I'm done with the above, I do 20 to 30 mins of medium intensity ss-cardio. I don't really care about burning calories at that point - I just know that if I do a brisk walk or a nice medium go on the elliptical, I won't be as sore the next day.

So far it's working really well for me. I am definitely getting stronger as I've had to really push up the weights to make it to near-failure by the 2nd set. I'm getting some definition back in my arms and shoulders which I freakin' LOVE. :D

I'm not seeing as much definition in my legs and hips, but that's where I carry most of this annoying 30lbs that I want to lose. I"m thinking that I'll keep on with this through June, but I might switch to the 5x5 program for a while, too. I really like the way this one looks:

Oh, and btw, I just want to announce that I ran a full mile today at 5.5 I'm not a runner ... never have been. And I consider that I'm in reasonable shape, even though I carry extra weight ... but lately the couch to 5k training has kicked my ass and I was starting to get frustrated. Today after I got off the elliptical, I was feeling really good and thought ... I'm just going to set the treadmill to a moderate pace and see how long I can go. So I started running with a nice long, steady stride. I kept promising myself that the "next song" I'd let myself look at the distance. By the time I felt like I had to look, I was at .8 miles and at that point I was determined to finish a full mile!

I'm so stoked about that - you have no idea. Or, then again, maybe you do! :D

So uh .. yeah. Go me! :)
 
Hi Kara- Please stay off of my journal. I need encouragement not negativity. Thanks.
 
Today I have a birthday party to go to. The birthday boy wants fried catfish and potato salad for his meal, so I guess that's what we're having. I made a tiramisu cake for him and I suspect it'll go over really well.

I am trying to offset the fat and calories in advance ... I just got back from the gym where I doubled up on a C25k training. I feel good ... but I really need a shower before I go anywhere else. *grin*

Hope everyone has a good weekend.
 
KaraCooks said:
So far it's working really well for me. I am definitely getting stronger as I've had to really push up the weights to make it to near-failure by the 2nd set. I'm getting some definition back in my arms and shoulders which I freakin' LOVE. :D

I'm not seeing as much definition in my legs and hips, but that's where I carry most of this annoying 30lbs that I want to lose. I"m thinking that I'll keep on with this through June, but I might switch to the 5x5 program for a while, too. I really like the way this one looks:
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awesome. definition in the shoulders is the BEST. when i start seeing definition in my back, i will be one happy gal.

and im SURE that when you are ready for the 5k, you will see changes in your legs and hips. even if you carry the weight there, you seem like you're consistent with your training.

its strange, i carry my weight in my stomach and back.. the upper arms and thighs. all the places i want to lose!! :toetap05:

KaraCooks said:
Oh, and btw, I just want to announce that I ran a full mile today at 5.5 I'm not a runner ... never have been. And I consider that I'm in reasonable shape, even though I carry extra weight ... but lately the couch to 5k training has kicked my ass and I was starting to get frustrated. Today after I got off the elliptical, I was feeling really good and thought ... I'm just going to set the treadmill to a moderate pace and see how long I can go. So I started running with a nice long, steady stride. I kept promising myself that the "next song" I'd let myself look at the distance. By the time I felt like I had to look, I was at .8 miles and at that point I was determined to finish a full mile!

I'm so stoked about that - you have no idea. Or, then again, maybe you do! :D
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:hurray: congrats! thats a big deal to finally complete a full mile at a steady pace, lots of people i know will stay on ellipticals or bikes forever... but cannot run for longer than five minutes, so good for you. 5.5 is a good pace, when you have completed your mile, you were already running for about 15 mins? 30 mins will be a good 2 miles or so :D not bad for a start to ur 5k goal!
 
It's been a good few days, workout-wise. I'm on schedule and feeling really good.

My diet has not been great - truth is I haven't been hungry much and am having to really push myself to eat enough. I'm dealing with some personal stress and when I get stressed, I don't eat. I'm working on it, though.

Same weight as yesterday, down to 173. I can't wait to break through to the 160s again.
 
Hello Karacooks, looks like you're rockin the boat in the health department! Awesome!

I'm rootin for ya on your goal to the 5k!!! :party:

Lata :seeya:
 
KaraCooks said:
It's been a good few days, workout-wise. I'm on schedule and feeling really good.

My diet has not been great - truth is I haven't been hungry much and am having to really push myself to eat enough. I'm dealing with some personal stress and when I get stressed, I don't eat. I'm working on it, though.

Same weight as yesterday, down to 173. I can't wait to break through to the 160s again.
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do you lost actual weight very fast? i definitely dont. i probably have fluctuated between 153-157, and though I weigh myself every week or so, I never really see the scale budge, even though I know certain body parts of mine are shrinking.... just curious how it is for you
 
I lose in chunks - it's why I don't tie my progress to the scale too closely. I can tell I'm losing before it shows up on the scale most of the time, usually by the way my clothes fit. And then suddenly I'll drop 3-5 lbs on the scale to "catch up".

It took me a long time to figure that out and I got frustrated a lot at first.
 
Hello Kara - I just ran by your journal and wanted to say good job and keep up all of the hard work. Running a 5K was one of my main goals while losing weight and I am now training for a 10K in October.

Do you ever get to run outside? I ask because I couldn't take my running to the next level until I moved off of the treadmill and put foot-to-pavement. When you are on a treadmill you are constantly reminded of the time, the distance, the calories, etc... You never get the chance to 'lose yourself' in the running. It's a great feeling when you are on a trail and your mind just locks into the process... where nothing else matters - not time, or work, or family, or scales. Just you and your body moving forward.
 
Hi Kara,

Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for all the info!!

What is your C25K training like? I just started a new 5k training with a athletic store here in town. Mine is for first time runners, which i'm not but i'm hoping to run the 5k under 30 minutes. my fasted time is 31:48 and 1:48 is a lot of time to lose but i have 10 weeks.

Do you have a goal time?

Again thanks for all the great feedback and knowledge!!
 
Hey DW! Thanks for stopping by. I do love to run outside - I've done it a few times. Unfortunately we're getting on into summer here in Georgia and it's too freakin' hot to run outside unless you can do it early in the morning (which I don't do). When the fall rolls around again, I'll look forward to running outside again.

Hi PEC. I'm using the Couch to 5k Program with Robert Ullrey's podcasts. I'm on week 4 now - I think it's a 9 week program. So far it's going well. Week 2 kicked my ass, but I seem to be doing better now. Right now my goal is simply to run the whole thing - even if it's a slow run. But honestly I would LOVE to make it in 30 mins by the time I'm running the real thing in November.

Today was not such a great day meal wise. There's a gas leak in our neighborhood and the gas to the entire subdivision has been cut off. That means no cooking and no hot water for us. *bleah* So we wound up getting burgers from Five Guys. I supplemented my burger with a big plate of raw veggies and some hummus and stayed under my calories for the day ... but it just threw me off. I was looking forward to spicy marinara and shrimp. *grump*

Oh well. At least it was the gas and not the electricity - I just bought groceries and I'd hate to lose a fridge full of stuff because the power was out.
 
I feel your pain regarding the heat. I live in NC and went running in 93 degree heat yesterday. I just can NOT do distance runs on a treadmill (speed intervals / hills yes, distance no) so I guess I'm stuck running in the heat. Like you, I can't run in the morning either (I struggle getting up ontime as it is :)) I usually try to find trails that are completely shaded, that seems to help a lot - but does really block the humidity.

btw, I really enjoyed your food blog!
 
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