Getting Ready for Summer! 8-Week Fitness Challenge!

[SammySammy]

I am just now back on my program after a long lapse due to a shoulder injury. Had two decent workouts and feeling good.

 

I need to knock off about an inch of winter belly [really due to my injury], and then I'm just back into continuous improvement. Some years ago I knocked off 70 pounds. I have kept it off, added a lot of muscle, and keep shooting for less body fat. Before my injury I was shooting for 10%. I may or may not go that hard but want to keep seeing improvement in my bmi and my performance.

 

Note to men: I cured my need for Viagra by hammering the elliptical! It is a sex machine. [i'm in my fifties]

 

I can definitely understand that. I'm right at my 15% body fat goal, but I'm still not happy with what I see in the mirror. I'm not unappreciative of where I am, but I figured that I need to be around 10-11% body fat to get to where I want to be. I have no doubt I can get there. Just not sure how long I can stay there.

 

Thinking about going for it though.

[Robert Z]

I can definitely understand that. I'm right at my 15% body fat goal, but I'm still not happy with what I see in the mirror. I'm not unappreciative of where I am, but I figured that I need to be around 10-11% body fat to get to where I want to be. I have no doubt I can get there. Just not sure how long I can stay there.

 

Thinking about going for it though.

 

 

10% requires a serious, sustained, daily commitment, especially at my age. My main concern is avoiding more injuries. I get that runners high going and end up hurting myself.

 

 

The other day there were a few young guys working out. One is training as a fighter and is super buff. I told them that they don't know what a hard workout is. They all looked at me like I was nuts! So I told them it doesn't even get hard until you hit forty.

[SammySammy]

10% requires a serious, sustained, daily commitment, especially at my age. My main concern is avoiding more injuries. I get that runners high going and end up hurting myself.

 

 

The other day there were a few young guys working out. One is training as a fighter and is super buff. I told them that they don't know what a hard workout is. They all looked at me like I was nuts! So I told them it doesn't even get hard until you hit forty.

 

 

You're right. I'm not much younger than you.

 

I work out hard now. The level of commitment in diet and exercise getting to 10% will take is daunting.

 

I'm so close though. I feel like I might as well go all out.

[Robert Z]

 

You're right. I'm not much younger than you.

 

I work out hard now. The level of commitment in diet and exercise getting to 10% will take is daunting.

 

I'm so close though. I feel like I might as well go all out.

 

 

Yeah, I'm about where you are and don't see myself letting up. I just don't know how hard it will be to knock off that last 5%. I hesitate to push too hard. I'm told it gets harder and harder as you get closer. If I had worked this hard 20 years ago I probably would have easily hit 10%... in fact I probably did but we didn't normally measure bmi back then.

 

 

... heh... make that 30 years ago.

Edited April 4, 2016 by Robert Z

[fitnessfan365]

Sat : This was BRUTAL - 235LB Prowler sled sprint push for 60 yards. Then 3x up and down a vertical climbing pole where you scale hand over hand up like a rope climb. After that, pushing the sled on the lower handle 60 yards back to the start, and finishing with 50 battle rope slams. I got through four rounds of this rotation in 50 minutes and had to tap out. My goal is to hit 5 in less than an hour.

 

Mon : REALLY intense 5 mile hike in my 40lb weighted vest. The trail that I did was at least 60-70% hills. At one point, I did a hill run and assumed it would flatten out a bit so I could walk/recover. But it just keep getting steeper. So that climb to the top was HARD. Burned around 1500 calories total.

Edited April 5, 2016 by fitnessfan365

[amaysngrace]

Monday I woke up with a stomach bug and threw up five times. Went to the grocery store to pick up ginger ale and chicken broth and microwave rice and saltines but had to leave the store to throw up outside the door.

 

Came home and ate broth and saltines and drank ginger ale but threw up three more times to get rid of all that.

 

I think I probably lost weight.

[fitnessfan365]

CRAZY workout yesterday.

 

1) 30 bleacher stair jumps

2) 10 pull-ups

3) 50 battle rope slams

4) 12 push-up burpees

5) 60 seconds of jump rope

6) 6 hanging raises toe to bar

 

Went through this six exercise rotation four times. Was EXHAUSTED after.

[kat2008]

Hi

 

I thought I would give hypnosis a try for weight loss - just wondering if anybody else had also tried it?

 

Seem to have reached a plateau and feeling fat again. I am not a 'fad dieter' but I do like the holistic approach to things so as well as the yoga and dog walking (at last the snow has gone, but temps still low) and some light weight training, am thinking I need something extra to help shift the mindset as well as the pounds.

 

My goal is to lose another 18lbs and then if I don't (!) need to lose any more, to just maintain this target weight.

[fitnessfan365]

Hi

 

I thought I would give hypnosis a try for weight loss - just wondering if anybody else had also tried it?

 

Seem to have reached a plateau and feeling fat again. I am not a 'fad dieter' but I do like the holistic approach to things so as well as the yoga and dog walking (at last the snow has gone, but temps still low) and some light weight training, am thinking I need something extra to help shift the mindset as well as the pounds.

 

My goal is to lose another 18lbs and then if I don't (!) need to lose any more, to just maintain this target weight.

 

To be honest, things like hypnosis, a certain diet, etc don't really help to make long lasting lifestyle changes. Also, since you've been doing the same type of exercise for awhile with yoga, dog walking, light weights, etc your body has probably adapted.

 

My advice would be to incorporate training with more intensity and heavier strength training to challenge/shock your body. Also, just out of curiosity how much water are you drinking per day and how many calories per day are you getting?

[kat2008]

Hi

 

That's a good point re sameness of exercise regime.

 

I don't count calories - I eat when I am hungry usually, and to be honest, diet is crap!! mostly fruit/veg, and 4 slices of bread per day. I do drink a lot of herbal teas and water during the day. I have found over the years that what I eat, DOES effect my mood, so am careful not to eat hi fat foods etc anyway.

 

Have little interest food lately, and am a vegan, so am limited. Prefer to drink than eat (as above, not alcohol!).

 

I was doing some aerobic exercise a couple of times a week, but I lost interest. Yoga is the only thing I have managed to keep going with (approx. 30 mins a day and I do 3 different routines throughout the week), and the walking - usually 30-50 mins each day. the weights are very light! I use them probably twice a week, between 12 and 15 reps per exercise (5 simple exercises).

 

I have to really push myself to do any exercise tho, it doesn't come naturally.

 

Just reading your posts knackers me lol

[kat2008]

Having thought about what I just wrote, it has only just dawned on me that I have always had an unhealthy relationship with food.

 

Even when I managed to get down to 120lbs I still didn't feel like I looked ok, and within months the weight and more went back on again.

 

Suspect I ought to get therapy for that too

[fitnessfan365]

Yeah unfortunately proper eating/calorie intake is like 80% of success. So until you get a handle on that, it will be an uphill battle. Ironically many people actually wind up under-eating. When you're active and exercise regularly. your need for calories goes up. So if your calorie deficit is too big which sounds like it may be the case, your metabolism could be slowing.

 

But getting therapy for your problems with food probably wouldn't hurt.

[NewLeaf512]

In an announcement that should be media worthy:

 

NL went to body pump at 6:30am and the gym did not fall down!

 

(Bow)

[MightyPen]

In an announcement that should be media worthy:

 

NL went to body pump at 6:30am and the gym did not fall down!

 

(Bow)

 

That's a good thing. I'm sure the fine print in your membership agreement would hold you responsible for knocking the gym over. Damn lawyers.

 

But congrats on getting up early to exercise. That's not easy to do.

[MightyPen]

I'm jumping into the Summer Challenge head first! I only gained .2 pounds during a six day vacation, so that's a huge win for me. I manged to run a few times and lift weights twice and there was a lot of walking involved as well.

 

Updating my signature now!

[fitnessfan365]

Rocking it this week :

 

Wed - Did a BRUTAL 5 mile hike. At least 60-70% of it is hill. So anytime I came on a hill section, I'd do a hill sprint. Then I also threw in some low tempo runs and kept over a 4mph fast walking pace when I wasn't running. Trail work is REALLY hard especially with how uneven the surfaces are.

 

Today - Really good 45 minute workout with a variety of plyometric push-ups, lunges, squat jumps, pull-ups, and battle rope exercises.

[MightyPen]

Well for the first time in a few years, I have a "1" instead of a "2" as the first digit of my weight. Making progress here! If I lose my ten pounds as planned my Memorial Day, I'll be able to wear a few of the size medium shirts.

[fitnessfan365]

Well for the first time in a few years, I have a "1" instead of a "2" as the first digit of my weight. Making progress here! If I lose my ten pounds as planned my Memorial Day, I'll be able to wear a few of the size medium shirts.

 

Nice man! The best part is that you're eating MORE than you did when you were in the 2's and you're still dropping. Just goes to show how important it is that you eat enough to match your activity level.

 

Meanwhile I had a personal best today. Hit my local hiking spot. Trail there is five miles and full of steep hills and uneven terrain. I managed to shave an additional 11 minutes off my time and finish in 59 minutes. Anyone that's ever done trail work knows how much harder it is than regular running. An accomplishment for me was that I managed to run 65% of it including the majority of the hills. Since I've always been a sprinter and hate long distance, I am happy that my endurance is really improving.

[NewLeaf512]

6:30am cardio blast.

 

I do not like putting on boxing gloves wet with strangers sweat.

 

^^^ heads to Online Shop

[MightyPen]

Nice man! The best part is that you're eating MORE than you did when you were in the 2's and you're still dropping. Just goes to show how important it is that you eat enough to match your activity level.

 

Meanwhile I had a personal best today. Hit my local hiking spot. Trail there is five miles and full of steep hills and uneven terrain. I managed to shave an additional 11 minutes off my time and finish in 59 minutes. Anyone that's ever done trail work knows how much harder it is than regular running. An accomplishment for me was that I managed to run 65% of it including the majority of the hills. Since I've always been a sprinter and hate long distance, I am happy that my endurance is really improving.

 

I would be scared to death of twisting an ankle or screwing up my knee! How do you get rid of that fear?

 

Anyway, excellent work on the trails! I'm guessing you were exhausted after an hour straight of that.

[MightyPen]

6:30am cardio blast.

 

I do not like putting on boxing gloves wet with strangers sweat.

 

^^^ heads to Online Shop

 

Yes that is rather disgusting. Good call on getting your own. How long have you been doing cardio blast? I'd like to take some sort of class like that just to mix things up.

[Robert Z]

Worked out hard yesterday. Feeling it today but want more. Must resist! This is how I hurt myself. I get addicted to pushing. I know I need the day off. Must resist! It is kind of amazing really. It is hard to not go down there today. I almost slipped and started to rationalize it like a drug addict! I can go down today and take tomorrow off...

[NewLeaf512]

That's a good thing. I'm sure the fine print in your membership agreement would hold you responsible for knocking the gym over. Damn lawyers.

 

But congrats on getting up early to exercise. That's not easy to do.

 

Don't slate the lawyers man!

 

Boxercise 6:30am. 10,000 steps

 

I may die

[NewLeaf512]

Yes that is rather disgusting. Good call on getting your own. How long have you been doing cardio blast? I'd like to take some sort of class like that just to mix things up.

 

3 weeks. Me skipping rope is like a ballerina with 4 legs

[fitnessfan365]

Dealing with a bit of a cold this week so it finally gave me an excuse to take a recovery week. The last time I took a full week off from exercise was back in September..LOL

 

I will admit though, catching up on more sleep and resting has made my body feel good. Granted, I've been a bit stir crazy. However, looks like I needed it.