Fitness Fun - March 7

Hi LW's, how is everyone doing...

What challenges do we have going this week? Mine is completely all about 'time'...I really need to corral that excuse and shove it somewhere...I will make time this week to exercise...period. There, I said..neener neener....lol

What about you?

Here are some fitness tips today regarding weights...
1. Start with a program that works all muscle groups 1-3 non-consecutive days a week.
2. Warm up with 5-10 minutes of light cardio or with warm up sets of each exercise using a light-medium weight.
3. Choose 1-2 exercises for each muscle group (see below) and do 1-2 sets of 8-16 repetitions of each exercise. As a beginner, you may want to start with about 15-16 reps until you feel comfortable with the moves and build some strength. After that, you can add more weight and reduce your reps for a different challenge.
4. If you exercise in a gym, you may want to start with machines so you have more stabilization for the movements.
5. Give yourself at least a day of rest (though you may need more after the first workout) to recover.
6. Each week, add either 1 repetition and/or a few pounds of weight to each exercise to progress. Just keep your reps at about 16 or below. Once you hit 16 reps, increase your weight and drop your reps down to 10 or 12 reps.
7. You want to challenge yourself, not kill yourself. The first few weeks, focus on learning how to do each exercise rather than on how much weight you're lifting or how many exercises you're doing. You have plenty of time to build muscle.

After 6 or more weeks of consistent strength training, you can change your routine to make it more difficult.

Have a great day LW's...

Good information.

I drove Chili this afternoon and am headed to Curves this evening for Zumba Babeeeee.

Nice!! Sounds like a great day! :)

Thank you for the tips!!!

Tonight, I meet for my hour session with a trainer. It will be full body.

I like full body routines...I feel like I get more bang for my buck. :)
How'd it go with the trainer today? 

Thanks for the tips, I was wondering when I should add more weight.  I'm also going to change up my routine some just to get some variety.  I've been doing the same stuff for 6 weeks now (my Doc didn't release me to do weights until I was 6 wks PO).

I love to do my cardio stuff, running, walking, elliptical and recumbent bike, but really hate the weights workout.  I wonder why?  I do the weights at home and usually watch a TV program I've DVR'd, so I don't know why I dislike it so.

Today, went to gym with DH and did 35 minutes bike, then outside for 45 minute jog.  Then tonight I'm doing my first Yoga class.  Does Yoga take the place of free weights?   Please say yes, because I think it's going to be much more fun.

I hear Yoga is great for toning...stretching...get nice and lean. :) Let us know how it goes...

This week isn't a great week. Today would be the birthday of one of our dogs we lost to freak kidney failure way too soon. We miss her so much. And Sunday the 13th would be the birthday of my DH's dad who died 2 years ago. Plus I am presenting a paper I wrote to my department on Thursday after someone else pulled out of presenting last-minute, so I am kind of scrambling to put that together.

BUT, today I did 30 mins on the elliptical, and I know this is helping me cope with the emotional stress.

Abby

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog and your FIL :( ugh, I do not deal with the loss of a loved one well...a few years back, my dog died on my birthday...DH was deployed...anniversary of my mom's death...all in a short period of time...I hear ya....HUGS to you!!!

I'm glad you got in a 30 min elliptical session :) does the heart and body good. 

Thanks so much, Diana. We had a lot of death in a relatively short time (FIL, my grandma, close friend of Eric's family, father of his good friend, all within 6 mos, then BOTH of our Corgis the following year), and June (our sweet Corgi girl) died two days before DH's birthday. Just awful. She was his favorite dog ever. It's so hard to lose those we love, both 2 and 4-legged. I had a really hard time keeping it together today. I'm glad I did the elliptical, too. :) As much as I despise the damn thing, I know it makes me feel good when I'm done. :) 

Abby