<p>Two hours and forty-five minutes. That is a lot of effort!</p>
<p>kmcmom- congrats to your husband.</p>
<p>My husband had a lapband implanted about 1.5 years ago. He’s down maybe 70 lbs…and could stand to loose about 40 more. He’s not fanatical about his diet but has absolutely gone over to small meals of mostly protein and low carbs, especially bread.</p>
<p>I hope the changes our husbands are making will keep them around awhile longer!</p>
<p>DeborahT - PRs make it worth it.</p>
<p>Congrat, Deborah on your PR. Great early Valentine’s Day present to self :)</p>
<p>2 hours cross country skiing under sunny skies. Really enjoyable.</p>
<p>The only fast food I eat are Walter’s Hot Dogs. [Walters</a> Hot Dog Stand](<a href=“http://www.waltershotdogs.com/index_flash.html]Walters”>http://www.waltershotdogs.com/index_flash.html) I just eat one, and only when my younger son suggests it usually because it’s close to some place we are already headed.</p>
<p>In the end we just tramped around our local pond in our good snow boots since our streets are plowed. I’m pretty knackered though from having dug out our driveway. We are on a corner and the town plows always leave us extra blocked in. Still need to do the Hops Challenge today, but probably won’t do anything else. Today will be my high carb Saturday starts with pancakes ends with wine with dinner. Had a ground turkey burger with sauteed cabbage for lunch and will have ropa vieja and salad for dinner.</p>
<p>DebT congrats!</p>
<p>Way to go, Deborah!</p>
<p>Blankmind-glad you like the Altras. Which ones did you get. </p>
<p>Survived 6 pretty miles with a gorgeous overlook this morning with my faster friend. This afternoon a whole group took a 5 mile walk/hike along much of the same route. I went and my legs feel stiff. I’m not used to walking that much. I think I’ll go out and run a mile to stretch them out before wine tasting!</p>
<p>Congrats to you hearty snow shovelers with your great gear!</p>
<p>Congrats Deborah! Does PR mean “personal record” or what…?</p>
<p>The fact that you could consider sprinting at the end is fabulous! And great pace!!</p>
<p>Beside Idad do any of you have a home gym or if not a gym what equipment do you have at home? My wife and I are discussing getting the basement set up (after we throw a bunch of junk out) and setting up something. We already have a treadmill, Nordic track and Concept II rower. Plus we have DB from 1 to 25 lbs, an ez curl bar and about 60 lbs of loose weights. I would like to add a good steady bench plus 30 and 35lb dumb bells. My wife travels with the various size exercise balls and bands she uses with her clients. She has her own set of db’s she keeps in her car. Oh yeah we have the pull up, dip. roman chair set up but I am not sure we will use that. Some of the equipment is really old since my wife and I have been working out on and off at home since we were in our teens. Stuff accumulates. Is there any equipment you use that you love and think every home gym should have?</p>
<p>Exercise today was shoveling snow – my town in Central MA got 22".
Best thing we ever did was to put in a heated driveway when we built our house 10 years ago–only to shovel top pf driveway, front walk and 3 upper decks that had lots of snow drifts. Usedy HRM and 2 hours of shoveling burned 347 calories; average HR was 67% of max. Going to the hot tub to soak sore back.
Congrats on your PR Deborah.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. 
I definitely had the easy workout compared to the rest of you guys!</p>
<p>Abasket, yes, PR is personal record.</p>
<p>Idad before you recommend it- yes we are considering getting the Schwinn Airdyne.</p>
<p>Tom, are you going to include any equipment to play music or exercise videos?</p>
<p>Not me. We will have a television. I will ask my wife but I doubt she will use any exercise videos.</p>
<p>Congratulations Deborah T for finishing your 5K in PR time!</p>
<p>Walked about 5 miles today with DH. Nice day.</p>
<p>I sympathize with the hard-working snow shovelers!</p>
<p>Meanwhile here it was clear & sunny, temp in the 40s. DH and I went for a long walk up and down our urban hills. We had to walk off the cannolis (accompanied by coffee with chicory) we had had to observe Mardi Gras. It was a very scenic walk, with the city spread out below us for much of the way.</p>
<p>Done with the roof. Son is cleaning off the driveway from the stuff that I threw off and pulled down. I just have to put the window screens back in after they thaw out (they’re in the bathtub). I figure about three hours of effort today. Estimates on shoveling snow are 400 to 500 calories per hour.</p>
<p>We have a shortage of stuff that aren’t carbs at home right now. I don’t know whether shops are open but I’m going to venture out shortly.</p>
<p>white meat chicken salad, tea with cream, protein shake, cracker with cheese</p>
<p>Cals 1242
Fat 88 g
Carbs 39 g
Protein 73 g
Sugars 13 g</p>
<p>Tom:</p>
<p>Here are six things that I’m really happy to have in my home gym:</p>
<p>Airex Pad:</p>
<p>this thing is crazy expensive, but it’s the best friend in the world for geezer knees. It’s a super dense memory foam style pad. I use it for any kneeling stretch or exercise and for split squats as show in the video.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Airex Balance Pad Blue: Sports & Outdoors](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Airex-MATBAL-Balance-Pad-Blue/dp/B0011YY86G]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Airex-MATBAL-Balance-Pad-Blue/dp/B0011YY86G)
[Inside</a> the MBSC Staff Meeting: Rear Foot Elevated Split Squats - YouTube](<a href=“Inside the MBSC Staff Meeting: Rear Foot Elevated Split Squats - YouTube”>Inside the MBSC Staff Meeting: Rear Foot Elevated Split Squats - YouTube)</p>
<p>Jungle Gym XT:</p>
<p>Half the price of the TRX and a better product (nicer hand/foot grips, etc). I use this a lot, probably at least one exercise in almost every workout I do. </p>
<p>[LifelineUSA</a> Jungle Gym XT: A Product Introduction - YouTube](<a href=“LifelineUSA Jungle Gym XT: A Product Introduction - YouTube”>LifelineUSA Jungle Gym XT: A Product Introduction - YouTube)</p>
<p>Trap/Hex Bar:</p>
<p>This was a splurge, but I just don’t think the Olympic bar dead lift is a back-friendly exercise at my age. This bar eliminates the two big problems. The weight no longer has to travel out in front of the knees, so you no longer have it torquing the lower back. And the upper handles are a few inches higher, so you can avoid that last few inches down the floor. It was an expensive purchase because I had to buy the bar and then an Olympic package at Dick Sporting Goods for the weight plates (that came with an Olympic bar).</p>
<p>[ShowandGoTraining.com:</a> Trap Bar Deadlift - YouTube](<a href=“ShowandGoTraining.com: Trap Bar Deadlift - YouTube”>ShowandGoTraining.com: Trap Bar Deadlift - YouTube)</p>
<p>Cheap plastic stools:</p>
<p>I got three of these at TJ Maxx and use them all the time. A pair on either side of the weight bench makes DB bench presses so much easier. Or, just during a workout, I put the pair of dumbbells I’m using on these, just to get them up off the floor and convienient. Saves a lot of wear and tear on the back to not have to go down to the floor with the DBs between every set.</p>
<p>[B&R</a> Plastics 101-6B-BLUE EZ Foldz Step Stool : Amazon.com : Automotive](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Plastics-101-6B-BLUE-Foldz-Step-Stool/dp/B000ETK5ES/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_img_y]B&R”>http://www.amazon.com/Plastics-101-6B-BLUE-Foldz-Step-Stool/dp/B000ETK5ES/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_img_y)</p>
<p>Heavy Duty weight bench:</p>
<p>And, if you are looking for a very heavy duty weight bench without breaking the bank, I have been very pleased with this one. It’s not cheap, but it is massive and stable as a rock. I stand on it. Do box jumps up on it. And, so forth. Been a very good piece of gear:</p>
<p>[DA-6</a> Flat Bench :: Utility :: Valor Athletics Inc.](<a href=“http://valorathleticsinc.com/store/DA-6-Flat-Bench-p-16342.html]DA-6”>http://valorathleticsinc.com/store/DA-6-Flat-Bench-p-16342.html)</p>
<p>Heavy Duty stabilty ball:</p>
<p>Your wife probably has these, but I got tired of the cheapo ball that wouldn’t hold air. This thing is seriously heavy duty. Very thick plastic/rubber. Can be pumped up rock hard. Needs air about once a year:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> 26" Anti-burst Swiss Pro Ball, Purple: Sports & Outdoors](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Anti-burst-Swiss-Pro-Ball-Purple/dp/B000I1NXNW]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Anti-burst-Swiss-Pro-Ball-Purple/dp/B000I1NXNW)</p>
<p>Cals 1884
Fat 95 g
Carbs 129 g
Fiber 32 g
Protein 146 g
Sugars 42 g</p>
<p>And, I was just wiped out from shovelling. Two hour nap this afternoon.</p>
<p>Wow, you guys are really getting your workouts in with all that shoveling. It’s been years since I’ve even seen snow. </p>
<p>Deborah, good job on your PR!</p>
<p>MOWC, I got the Intuition 1.5. The only thing I don’t like is the color. They only had the raspberry in my size, and they kind of clash with everything I own, but I still love them :)</p>