The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[cydj21]

Sometimes I find myself sooo excited to start PUSH. Other times, I read tales of side planks worthy of collapsing and I get frightened.

How was your weekend?

[DogMa]

Well, depending on how you answer the questionnaire, you won't have the same workout I do. They tailor it to your fitness level and goals and everything. So there may be no side planks for you. You definitely won't have 'em AFTER all the arm work. My first ones were early in the workout, and I could never hold 'em as long as Bob said to.

Weekend was mixed. Still no TV, phone or Internet. Dealerships near me had no Prius OR Civic Hybrid to test-drive. But the Scottish festival with the MeetIn people was a blast. Unbearably hot, and the people were a little too into the whole beer drinking thing for me, but I still had a lot of fun. We watched big, burly men in kilts throw heavy objects (caber toss, etc.). We listened to some great music and I discovered a new band I liked so much that I bought the CD and a T-shirt (and am going to try to see them later this month in Fort Worth). The Kildares, if anyone's heard of 'em. LOVED them. Met some nice people, got some attention from at least one of the men in the group (no one I'm interested in, but still; and I couldn't tell if the other guy was flirting or just nice). Even ate well - I had a chicken kebab with a small tortilla, plus a whole lot of water (did I mention that it was like 185 degrees out there?). Scale was up a bit today, but I'm going to assume it was dehydration. And quite possibly heat stroke.

[DogMa]

Yay. PUSH is done for the day. I can tell it's the second week of the workout, cause it's getting much easier. By next week I'll definitely be ready for the next one. (It's so weird, though, because it was SO hard when I first did it. And now parts are challenging still, but it's nowhere near as brutal as it was.)

And I've noticed my balance and flexibility are vastly improved since I started a few months ago.

[Lauren]

Morning, Robin! I'm always amazed how quickly our bodies adapt to new work outs, and the fact that you could find the tape brutal one week and just a little difficult the second, and downright easy the third is a testament to how our bodies can perform when pushed properly. Totally explains why we hit plateaus with exercise if we don't change it up or push it harder, ya know?

Anyway, I think it's freakin' fantastic that you were able to set up shop in your office in order to get the work outs in. And considering things don't seem particularly challenging/interesting on the work front, this is probably a great break in the day! Have things improved at all in your work? Any new and exciting projects? I hope so! I hate to think of really bright and energetic people in careers that bore or stifle them...

Lauren

[DogMa]

There's SOME work to do, but it's just never going to be the frantic pace I'm used to from newspapers. And not as creative, with so few headlines. I'm getting more used to the ebb and flow, though, and taking a heavier hand with the editing now that I'm more comfortable. So that's something. (But I still had time yesterday for my workout AND to watch two TV shows online, including my beloved Top Chef. Today I'm going to watch The Mole, since I missed it last night. I'm pretty much stuck with a snowy version of NBC - and no Tivo, so I miss a bunch even then - till the weekend.)

And I realized this morning ... no wonder I'm up a bit on the scale lately. Aside from the weight I actually gained, I also ALWAYS bounce up some when I start strength training. And up until last week, I wasn't getting in as many workouts as I normally would. So basically it's like I restarted a week and a half ago. So I feel a little better about that, at least. I just hope it starts dropping soon, because I don't want to drop my calories any lower. I'm not sure I CAN.

You're right, Lauren. It's crazy that the body can adjust so quickly. It hasn't even been two weeks - I just started this one on May 30, so I've done it five times. Two more and I move to the next one (it really should only be once more, but I think it'll be easier to keep track if I just start a new workout on a Monday). The first two times I did it, I was SO sore afterward, for several days. Now I don't even feel it. So I'm definitely ready for the next one (but also scared; what's he gonna expect me to do NOW?).

Funny, though. When I first did the Seal a few weeks ago, I remember rolling back and just lying there like a turtle, laughing because I couldn't roll back up. Now I do it with no problem.

[cydj21]

Cyd = major PUSH envy.

I want to be just like you when I grow up!

[DogMa]

Ha. I'm glad SOMEone does. I'm not sure I do, most of the time!!

So very weird weigh-in this morning. WW scale said 135 (which I'm not thrilled about, but it's lower than it's been lately). Tanita scale, which always weighs at least half a pound a higher than the WW (and usually a full pound higher, unless I'm dehydrated, which I'm not), said 134.8. So I'm not sure WHAT to make of it. Although my dress pants are back to falling off me, so I'm glad about that.

Today was my cardio day off, but it's a PUSH afternoon.

[DogMa]

Wasn't really in the mood, but did the workout anyway (and tried a little extra hard, since the temptation was to coast a little). Had some trouble with one of the sets of push-ups this time, though, probably because I used more resistance on some of the earlier arm work.

[katieb920]

Robin,

You impress me every single day that goes by. Not that I have been writing that much. I still read your journal everyday. I have been going out to dinner and lunch almost everyday. But I know you would be proud of me I am maintaining. And I am running for 3 minutes. I know it does not sound like a lot but girl that is a lot to me.

And I hope one day I am going to be able to do those push videos like you do

[DogMa]

Thanks, Katie. And don't shortchange yourself. Considering I started out unable to run at all, three minutes sounds like PLENTY to me. Heck, since I increased my speed, I'm only doing 13 minutes and then I walk the rest. Next week I have to do 15 and I'm dreading it.

That said, I DID do my 13 minutes this morning (5 mph, incline set at 1) and then walked the rest of the hour at 3.8 mph (incline still at 1; I'm learning that steeper inclines and taking the stairs seem to be the source of my hamstring problems, so for now I'm not doing much of either).

More scale weirdness, too. Today both scales said 134.8. But then after my workout and then breakfast (and a half liter of water), the WW scale said 134.6. So I have no clue. But pants are loose and my ring is spinning around on my finger, so those are always good signs.

Oh, and my arms are sore. In a good way, but they still hurt.

[DogMa]

Grrr. Back to 135, but I couldn't wear my regular dress pants without a belt cinched VERY tight (in fact, I gave up and changed to a different pair of pants because those were so loose). So at least SOMEthing is happening.

Meanwhile, was very tired and still kinda sore, and I think the recent heat and humidity are getting to me. So since today was a walking day anyway, I just walked for half an hour and called it quits. I'll do PUSH this afternoon, though. I'm gonna take some ibuprofen for the achiness.

And I don't know why, but the mosquitos are having a FIELD day with me lately. At home, at work, everywhere.

[centuryclub]

hey, great job on being such a loser!

keep maintaining and working out - as long as you're healthy, the scale doesn't matter as much. Especially when dealing with just a few pounds here and there

-later days

[DogMa]

Thanks, CC. I try to remember that, but I'd still really like to lose a few more - starting with those few I've gained. Some may be muscle, but I doubt all of it is.

[DogMa]

Yay. PUSH workouts are done for the week. Next week I start a new one, so I might bring the DVD home to preview it.

For some reason today, the temptation is strong to reward myself with chocolate. But that would be wrong.

[cydj21]

I have been fighting a major chocolate urge lately, too. I don't know why. Oh well. I'm not going to eat any chocolate aside from my shakes and bars so I'll just have to enjoy those even more than usual. I love chocolate.