NikB #24

[NikB]

Thanks so much for checking in!

Blindsided
You're so right, feelings are not facts! I'm glad you like seeing my posts. I know some of 'em come across kinda harsh, but it's only cause I care.

Oldtimer
Thank you so much!! 2008's gonna be a good one, I can feel it.

ST
Thanks for your encouraging words to Blindsided!

Thanks for checking in!! Are you home yet?? Hope you had a GREAT holiday!!

On the outfit.. thanks for the compliment, too! haha well, I was trying to kinda hide my brace on the one leg, so yep, looks like I only have the other one. I hate wearing nylons but gotta admit they're good for making legs look nice!

Wow that is very cool what you noticed on the pic with my H (and the host). Thank you!! I looked again and I kinda think you're right. It's definitely a genuine smile from my H. I have soo many w/the fake smile from him. haha a superstar??? Well, friend/host kinda acted like that too (he is great for ego boosts!).. funny you said that though.

Before I get into the workout.. on the paint.. I know it sounds like I'm making excuses!! I really know that I need to "move" paint or not, though. I honestly want to find a better paint, even if I'm painting around myself for awhile. I just need to find the courage. I had a it a couple months ago, I need to get it back!! It's funny how one week I can be looking at condos and the next terrified to move my clothes into another room of our house, eh??

About Body for Life - hmmm maybe we need to start a BFL thread somewhere that we can "check in" with each other. That accountability is a huge motivator! I already had 2 people email me asking me to help keep them accountable and I keep thinking "Um yeah, if *I* manage to stick w/it!" Daily check ins can be great though.

If you're following the full thing, it's technically a 12 week long "challenge" that you sign up for. You take before photos, follow the plan, take after photos, and enter the contest. I always entered but never expecting to win anything (the winners take it way beyond the plan, I think!). But I've "won" t-shirts and stuff, it's kinda fun, and it really IS amazing looking at your own before/after photos.

The way the actual workout goes is basically:

Day 1: upper body workout (weights)
Day 2: 20 minute aerobic workout (super targeted hi/lo thing that works WELL.. I ended up loving aerobics days just because they were short but still effective!)
Day 3: legs and ab workout (body weight / weights)
Day 4: 20 minute aerobics
Day 5: Upper body workout
Day 6: 20 min. aerobivs
Day 7: no exercise ("free" day)

...lather, rinse...repeat.

For the weights you start at 12 reps at a "reasonable" intensity, take a 1 min. break, 10 reps at a tougher intensity, take a break... etc. By your last set you are working those same muscles to "failure" - in other words pushing it so hard you can't quite finish the 6 reps you're going for. Then your last exercise is the same muscles but a different exercise. So as a simple example you might do:

12 bicep curls with 3 lbs dumbbells
1 min. rest
10 bicep curls with 5 lbs.
1 min. rest
8 bicepcurls with 7 lbs.
1 min. rest
6 (or however many you manage) bicep curls with max weight, say 8 lbs.
1 min. rest
12 bicep curls with 5 lbs. dumbbells
NO REST
12 preacher curls [different 'type' of curl] with 10 lb. on the weight bench

I think it makes way more sense if ya have the book.. but that's a rough idea. The exercises in the book were a lot harder than what I could reasonably do with my muscle issues, but they were easy to adapt. I'm sure you could avoid any that strain your back and do the others.

My leg days are the "weakest" - rather than attempting the impossible such as squats w/weights, I just do "barely squats" then work my way "a little closer to a real squat" squats.. if that makes sense.

Something about that 12 week time frame is motivating too I think - it's short enough to feel like "not THAT long," but long enough to help ya make real progress and develop new habits. Anytime I tried for longer goals I'd kinda flail after a month, but 12 weeks sounded much more "do-able." (and then a 1 week break and another 12 weeks sounded "doable" too.. so pretty soon you're up to 25 weeks that didn't feel like it at all)!

I'd be glad to share more! Could be pages and pages here... but lemme know, I'd be glad to share my "no gym required" workouts and such.

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Some quick journaling... I had some coupons for free dinners at a local Mexican place that were going to expire next week, so decided to see if H wanted to go. He did, and we had a good dinner there. Conversation flowed pretty well. I realized I have a tendency to "fill the void" by rambling about anything I can think of - tonight I focused hard on instead asking H about his day then TRULY leaving a pause - he talked so much more!! And it was a much more two-sided convo. Nice for both of us, I think.

Supposed to go out with the girls for dinner/dancing tomorrow - but we have a nasty storm coming in, too, so we'll see. Hope it works out.

Saturday me, my good friend up the street, Mom, and H are going to see the "Walking with Dinosaurs" show. I thought it sounded cheesy til I saw the video, it looks WAY cool!! I mentioned it to H in mid-Dec and was surprised he would even commit to something "so" far ahead, but he did. We're all pretty excited for the show. Should be fun!!

Need to work on the rest of Jan. including another Nothern Ca. DB meetup.. please see the Just for Fun board if you're interested!!

Hugs to everyone.