Back to the gym

“arky, shame on me??? for what. I am just a shy backpacker ;)”

“HA!”

“Ewker go to law school and come practice lawwith me and my brother. Sounds like you would fit right in also.”

“me a lawyer??? yikes I am low enough as it is without becoming a bottom feeder..lol”

“Man, you are sooooooo mean LOL and, yeah, low too.

Anyway, I went to the pool last night (yeah I know Ewker swimming comes naturally to sharks) and did 1/2 an hour (almost 3/4 mile) I am on track for the triathlon in August. I do the swim on 3 man relay. My buddies do the bike leg (or bike ride) and run leg (or leg run)


Anyone else here going to compete in the Chicago Triathlon???”

“congrats on doing the Triathlon. Swimming is something I need to do but the gym I use doesn't have a lap pool”

“are great for practice, but it was abig surprise that there are no lane markers in Lake Michigan. LOL

In my first triathlon, I swam 1.5 miles instead of 0.9 miles. The course was ------------ and I swam ----/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/-----.


I need "in lake" practice. I can start swimming in Lake Michigan at the end of May (with "short John" wet suit.)”

“After seeing the PT last Monday I haven't been back. It seems something came up every night last week. So tonight is when I start on the schedule. Looking forward to it actually.

AJ, that is how I would end up swimming. My arms would be flailing instead of swimming correctly...lol”

“When you get some "in lake" practice, you learn (like I did the hard way) to periodically raise your head. You need to pick out a landmark on shor that is in line with the turn point or finish point from your start position. Then when you raise your head every 6-8 strokes, you just make sure you are still aimed at the landmark.

Seems obvious now, but I wish someone had told me that B E F O R E the race. LOL”

“AJ, no problem there. My head is always out of the water when I swim. Never learned the correct form but since I am not planning on swimming that far I will continue to flail...lol”

“To my older brother, swimming means anything that keeps you alive in the water. He has always hated putting his face in the water and can't swim for sh*t. I on the other hand could swim almost instantly when first introduced to a lake at age 7.”

“Tomorrow is my podiatrist appt! Yay!”

“the podiatrist visit”

“Will do.

Hey I weighed myself this morning. I havent' really gained weight from all the inactivity, but it says I'm up to 30% BF. Holy crap! I hope my scale is wrong!”

“had a good workout yesterday with the PT. We worked on upper body and core. Today is lower body and core.
The lower body workout should be the easiest for me.”

“Well, it's healing. The torn muscle in my leg is better. But the tape is back on and I have hobble for at least another 2 weeks, icing every night for 20 mins. When he decides it's healed and I don't have to hobble, then I'll have to rehab it. Stretch the ligament back out and build up more muscle strength in my lower legs. Then I can go hiking. Arg! Sometime mid to late June I should be back on the trail. Double arg!”

“Glad to hear things are mending. There is a great article in this months Outside magazine by a guy who seems to manage to hurt himself in major ways with frightening regularity. The main point of the article is the mental aspects of the healing process. I hope you can get a copy of the magazine (and enjoy the cover picture as my wife did) and then read the article. We are all with you hoping for agood recovery.

I go to the gym tonight for a session with my PT. I hope he works me hard. I need it.”

“See you kids in a couple of hours.”

“last night was my cross training session. I wore myself out by not drinking enough water. My clothes looked like I had just gotten out the shower.

I did the regular elliptical machine, then the spin bike and finished up with a elliptical that has an incline to it. I cranked that up to its highest incline and held on.
Back to the weights and core training tonight”

“well...we have a gym 5 minutes from my house now. I just signed up. NO yearly contract, $50 per month. 24 hour access.Got a little thingy that'll open the door.

Oh, and no sign up fee either.

pretty cool. I like!
Bowflex just ain't cuttin' it.
last edited: 4/14/05 1:06:41 PM”

“OK, I'm walking and jogging. And doing state forest lands around here with the pack on.

Here is what's bugging me and maybe you guys have some idea what the problem might be. When wearing trail runners on streets, trail and gravel road, my tendons etc. get to feeling stressed along side and on top of my feet, well, a the right angle where foot meets ankle.

I know last night I was walking fairly flat-footed at times, feeling like a dork, cuz they were aching so much!

I also know my stride had changed in the past few years. It never used to be this way, but now my right shoe consistely show wear to the outside on the heel. I crashed a bike maybe 2-3 years ago and ended up with a huge lump on my right thigh... might the muscles not have healed properly and I'm somehow compensating in my gait?

ahhh, I know, go to the foot dr and see what the problem is.

geez, I used to be a good sprinter in high school, lo those many years ago. Now 'm much heavier... and trying to work my way back, at least a little bit.

Just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas. It does seem if I wear my hiking boots, my feet don't get so tired. I do have weak ankles, too, which are prone to roll over on the slightest rock I might step on. but the boots catch me before anything nasty gets sprained.

thanks for letting me vent. LOL!”

“lizs, maybe it's just tight. Do ankle rolls to stretch out your ankle. I also like to do toe lifts, while seated afterward. It seems to loosen up the tendon running up my shin and keeps it from hurting.
Don't overdo anything tho, you don't want an injury. Believe me.
I'm still not doing the exercises I can do. I've been so flaky. : (
I'm going to do that pilates video tonight.”

“Lizs, have you tried a ore supportive shoe?

Sass was not allowed to run for like 5 months, prior to starting she had a check up with our doc (a runner) who did range of motion tests and could feel the loose tendons, he advised that she take it slow to allow the connective tissues to tighten

I would watch stretching too much. The downside of stretching is that the joint can actually strectch beyond its natural stopping point causing injuries from over extension and weaker connective tissues. A tighter ankle for example (stronger muscles and ligaments etc through excercise) is less likely to strain because its not been over stretched. BTW this doesnt apply to muscles. Only ligamenst and tendons.

I would see a podiatrist. I went to one last fall ad was really amazed at how much I learned about my biomechanics etc. It was worth every dime.”

“Yeah, you're saying what I'm thinking.

It's not that I think I'm gonna be some big runner. But even walking -- everyday walking -- I think about my stride a lot cuz I can tell it's not right. walking used to be something I did and did not think about.

Hmmm, wonder if I need my regular doctor to refer me? I'll make a few calls. Thanks! :-)”

“I am one of those who almost never stretches. I know....It's bad...but hey...
I never had a problem, and I am actually pretty flexible. Well at least that's what the trainer said, so I must be doing something right.”

“I have 2 months to get a flat stomach! I've started working out but I need a quick diet to get rid of the gut. I want to lose 5-10 lbs. Any opinions on this diet? I think I might can do it for 1-2 weeks. Anymore than that and I'll probably starve myself. Is it enough calories/fat grams for one day? I'm working out too.

http://www.newlifestylediet.com/plan.aspx”

“finally!! bowflex see ya...gym here I come.
Perfect,5 minutes from my house. That'll be easy. Also can go whenever I want.

Miss Opie..never heard of it, but that diet will get boring pretty fast. Their soups have too much sodium. (like a lot of packaged foods)

All their diet really is, is a high protein diet. you can do this yourself. mix egg whites in everything, lots of fish. or buy protein shakes.

Make sure you'll take your vitamins.

did you ever try to mix really cold fat free milk? mix it with for example frozen blue berries and some splenda. Tastes so good. I think you need a special mix attachment though to make the milk thick like that.

you prolly get some comments about the low cal intake...it's a little low. (but I always go just as low, so I am not saying a word)
last edited: 4/15/05 6:33:56 AM”

“I wasn't planning on buying their foods and I only want to do this for a week maybe two weeks. I couldn't do the hot soup or hot drink every night either. I'm not a fan of either especially when it's hot outside.”

“cut back on what you eat and do some stomach excerises”

“just came back from the gym. Boy I am loving this gym. Small, very personal. Not too busy YET. They also don't go over a certain membership quota. I really like that idea. We'll see how long it'll last.

I do like the personal touch of this gym though. I know this is all part of the sales pitch, but hey...I am a sucka!!!

And I am not even talking 'bout the hunk of a trainer I had helping me today. grin.”

“Gem, invest in a few lessons with a PT. It will be worth it in the long run.”

“I already had one today. He's pretty much giving them free to me. He explained a lot to me. I am really gonna love this.

me not going always had a lot to do with the unpersonal surroundings/people. The distance, and opening hours.

No more excuses for me.
I really had fun today. Now I need to find a partner that kicks me in the ass to do just 2 more reps. (is it reps?)”

“yeah a workout partner would be nice..come on over to Tenn we can workout together..lol”

“50 bucks a month - ouch! I'm payin' 15 for 24-Hour Fitness....”

“yeah well..you won't find a $15 here in columbia. would be nice, but no such luck.”

“Well, I got that rate initially as a spouse rate when BowlderGal was a member. Then she quit, but they kept me at that rate. I even double checked with them to make sure they wouldn't jack my rate up to the usual rate before she quit.”

“I think I pay $63 a month or so.

Comes out of my paycheck bi-weekly, so I don't really keep track.





Off tothe gym in a few minutes.


Spin class. Intervals in Build 2. We are following Joe Friehl's "Cyclists trainign bible". Build 2 is about as intense as it gets. (I think there is a build 3 as well).


I did 48 miles yesterday on my road bike . . .so I am not sure I have the legs for today's class. Oh well.


A shot of coffee and some gatorade.”

“I've been with 24 Fit for several years. My dues are $18. I think they are nice to their old customers.
Well I didn't do pilates, but I got a scooter last night and scooted 7 blocks to the bus stop this morning. The going uphill was somewhat of a workout. LOL!”

“I'm not sore. WTF? Thought I would be sore as hell today, but no! My lower back a little bit, but not much. hmmm.

I guess the exercise I do daily must have been doing something.”

“I made it to the gym this morning, but the reason was a poor one. I was more interested in showering than in working out. Had my bathtub re-glazed yesterday, and I won't be able to use it until Friday. So, I'll be going to the gym again tomorrow!

Only did 20 minutes on the bike - it was an awfully rough morning!”

“Smiley Girl:

I applaud you for even going. At least you did 20 minutes and did not JUST shower and go. Do what you can and enjoy!!!”

“LOL! That's funny Smiley Girl.

Well folks, I actually did my pilates video on Sunday! LOL!

I'm going to the gym tomorrow tho. I would have gone today, but got to bed way too late. I met friends downtown and didn't get home til 11 pm. Oops.”

“wow, that is so late ;)”

“It is for me! I need 8+ hours of sleep. 9-10 is ideal.

Haven't I already explained this?”

“I went ot the store today and this big dude came up to me and asked "are you a body builder?"

I looked at him and asked "now why would you ask that?" He said something...I have no idea what he said, cause I walked away.

Woahh...I don't look like a body builder at all anymore. Next time I'll flex my muscles (that I don't have many of). LMAO that was funny!!!
last edited: 4/20/05 1:42:55 PM”

“That's weird Gem!”

“yeah...I think the guy was weired.”

“I think the same guy came up to me today and asked me if I was a weight lifter too o_O”

“that's funny! u think a bunch of crazy aliens out there asking strange questions?”

“Spin

Lactate threshold intervals.


90 seconds at 100% from the start.

The biggest gear/heaviest resistance, turning the pedals at a flat road. As you begin to fail over the 90 decrease resistance in order to maintain cadence.

My legs are totally burnt.”