Gym is Open (Thursday 11/29)

I'm actually starting to feel a bit better.  Can't say the same for my sibling, she came home from work sounding all scratchy and looked tired and floppy.  I can't believe she caught it from me so quickly. I need to run a couple of errands and then work on a job application that I plan to submit on Friday. I probably won't do a lot of exercise, but I'd like to try and take a short walk in my neighborhood if the weather warms up a bit so my lungs won't explode.   What did you do to move your body today? Kix

Good Morning Kix! I was a doofus this morning, got up went to work, reached to get my gym bag out of the car and remembered I was supposed to leave the car for my hubby to drive.... LOL  So I went in, did my workout and came home~! I did 45 mins on the elliptical..... and my thighs are NOT happy......

Oopsie!  Do you think he would have noticed if you hadn't brought back the car?  45 minutes on the elliptical would put me in the hospital.  Good for you! Kix

I'm glad you're starting to feel better, Kix.  Ease back into things slowly so your body can use it's energy to continue healing!   I'm not sure what I'll do for exercise today.  I have an appointment with one of the exercise specialists at the gym today to review and update my personalized exercise plan (they call it a PEP).  I've been doing the same weight lifting routine for about 10 months now, although I have increased the amount of weight I'm lifting and varied the number of sets, etc.  But I feel like I've hit a plateau and I'm not sure where to go from here.  I'm interested in learning proper form and technique for the free weights, and I'd like to learn how to properly do push-ups, sit-ups/crunches, pull-ups, etc.  I'd also like to do more work on my core muscles, but I just don't know how to do it!  Anyway, I'm lucky that I can consult with an exercise specialist at no cost - it's included in my gym membership.  So I'm excited about learning how to continue to improve my fitness!   If I don't get a good workout while I'm with the exercise specialist, I'll go back to the gym after work for a cardio session.  Have been switching up between different machines to keep things interesting.  Today, perhaps I'll do the stairstepper!   Kellie

I don't know if you are interested but several members of my family swear by tai chi for core workouts and balance.  It looks interesting, and I've thought about looking for lessons here.  I've used the exercise balls for core stuff and I think they work pretty well and are fun but I'm too nervous about falling.  Also, pilates is obviously great for core strength and flexibility.  Of everything available I think I'll be most interested in pilates and yoga, and some weight training.  I walked for 15 minutes this morning to warm up and then did 30 minutes on the recumbent bike.  I'll also do quite a bit of walking at work today - parking is so far away!  I try to get up once an hour and walk for 10 minutes.  I need to set a timer though because I get engrossed in what I'm doing and forget.  

Thanks for the suggestions, Dunny.  My gym used to offer tai chi, but they haven't had classes in a while.  Perhaps they lost their instructor.... My gym offers several yoga classes and I think they have some pilates stuff as well.  I'll be interested to see whether the exercise specialist suggests one of these as a good core workout for me.  I haven't participated in any group fitness activities before, but I just may be ready to give it a try.  Like you, I'm nervous about using the exercise balls, but I figure if I fall, at least I'm close to the ground!   Kudos to you on the walking and the 30 minutes on the recumbent bike!  Keep up the great work -  Kellie

Dunny, many senior ladies at my rec center participate in classes using those exercise balls.  I've watched them, and there's no way I'd be able to do some of the stuff they do.  I'd either fall, or snap my back in half.   It sounds like you are increasing your activity pretty well.  Throw in a few steps for me, will you?  I'm too tired to walk for myself. Kix

My foggy brain can't even begin to wrap itself around all that thinking you are doing today regarding your exercise plan.  I hear a bunch of talk about core muscles, but don't really know what the big deal is.  I should probably read up on it! Kix

Everyone seems to be getting hit hard but this bug - glad to know you are feeling better! I got back way too late Tuesday night and decided to sleep in yesterday and not work out, so today I am back on schedule. It was running day and I lasted for 30 minutes!! Add about 5 more minutes and I should be at about 3 miles/5K. I'm still hoping to do a 5K in December, but a lot depends on the weather and if I can run outside. I still haven't attempted that since I fell and cracked my ribs. I've heard it's tough to transition to outside running, I just need to bite the bullet and do it. Tonight is a HUGE basketball game, my Air Force Falcons vs CU. It's revenge time since CU's coach was AF's coach last year and he left on not so good terms. It's gonna be fun and I will be getting lots of exercise from jumping up and down (I tend to do that when I get excited)! Have a good one everybody!

You should have been in my neck of the woods yesterday AM -- we were hit with about two inches of suprise snow that immediately froze, making it close to impossible to drive anywhere.  My poor sibling said it took her 1.5 hours to get from our house (by Red Rocks) to downtown, sliding all the way.  Ugh!  So much for 9News weather, who said the snow would stay in the mountains. I haven't seen any of the folks who usually walk in our neighborhood, so that's a sign to me that it's still cold outside. BRR, I hate winter. I hate CU on general principle, so I'll cheer along with you -- Go Falcons!  Drive safely, you know the drivers on 25 are mostly insane. Kix