<p>I’ve been coasting along through Christmas and New Year’s with lots of walking interspersed with trips to the gym for treadmill and light weights. H and I even took a beautiful (although rainy) 6 mile hike on 1/1 through a nature reserve to look at the birds. We spotted only one alligator, lurking under the duckweed. We walked three miles this morning, and I’m headed out soon for another workout with the fit kid. </p>
<p>Go Packers!</p>
<p>10 miles today. Lots of hills, up and down, but it felt good. Today’s 10 was easier than last week’s 9. My avg hr was 151, which is really good for me for 10 miles. I think I’ve finally learned how to run slow.</p>
<p>Good job, blankmind! I got 7.2 in with really strong wind in my face finishing up. 50 degrees, but on the way down to 3 by the morning.</p>
<p>3.5 mi run followed by a couple of 1/10 mi sprints.</p>
<p>I left something out:
I don’t do the challenge because I can barely do any of those push-ups…
Bad typo. I was in the store. </p>
<p>I can’t do push-ups to fail. Although, I haven’t tried it. I know I can’t at this moment. I could probably do 20 or 25 push-ups if I focused enough. That’s why I got that push-up app that word you up to one hundred push-ups. I don’t have good upper body strength. Which I need to be able to do handstands. </p>
<p>While my wrists will definitely benefit from push-ups (and I’m looking forward to that day) they’ve had they’re problems in the past. </p>
<p>In regards to the pistons, it’s like a one-legged lunge. I think they’re call Russian squats or lunges. I’m unsure. I saw it on a workout. Tried in on a bench and my legs lept going together. </p>
<p>Is the workout provided by the Zumba tapes equivalent to Just Dance?</p>
<p>6.2 miles yesterday, 3.3 today. The gym was swamped today. </p>
<p>iDad, thanks for the specific roller recommendation. That sounds perfect.</p>
<p>Weather paused so hurried to the gym where a half dozen of us were waiting for them to open at 1pm to try and get a workout in before the weather worsened. I downloaded a 10k app but think its a thumbs down - tried a free one but it started at “couch” - its a 14 week program and I could start at week 5 or something but just wasn’t a fan of the set up. Regardless, got in close to 3 miles - added in a little walking at times to not put so much pressure on my hip-back area that is still mildly sore (but much better). </p>
<p>Came home and did 30-40 mins of shoveling and walked the dog. </p>
<p>County is now gong on a LEVEL 3 “stay off the roads or get ticketed” at 5:30pm and work is cancelled for tomorrow so will be hibernating. :)</p>
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<p>Pistol squat?</p>
<p>[Single</a> Leg Pistol Squat - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3zbtsZ1zbw]Single”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3zbtsZ1zbw)</p>
<p>It refers to a one leg squat with the other foot extended forward.</p>
<p>The version of it done a bench is more back friendly. The leg doesn’t necessarily have to extend forward. It can just hang down. A small weight in the hands helps to counterbalance:</p>
<p>[1</a> Leg Squat from box - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P5j1DBEDEQ]1”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P5j1DBEDEQ)</p>
<p>It’s a really hard exercise. One good progression is to do them down TO a box, so you have the confidence of something to catch you at the bottom:</p>
<p>[Baby</a> Boomer 1 Leg Squats - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvdS-wwV5CI]Baby”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvdS-wwV5CI)</p>
<p><a href=“Pilates Sports Center - Advanced Pilates Cadillac Techniques - YouTube”>Pilates Sports Center - Advanced Pilates Cadillac Techniques - YouTube;
<p>This is what I want to work towards in pilates - I can do what is shown in the first minute but I’ve never tried the rest. Immense core strength needed!</p>
<p>Wow Pizzagirl, that is nuts!</p>
<p>A lot of those moves shown in the video I’ve seen done on false grips (and done on playgrounds way back when ;)) Did not know they did that in pilates. <em>sings</em> The more you know!</p>
<p>Ahhh, thank you! It’s nice to know I don’t have to keep my leg extended. I shall add that to the list of things to do. I’m sorry I don’t know fitness language and it takes a while to understand what I’m saying. </p>
<p>A negative of dining halls is that you have a different person cooking your food each and every time. The woman who cooked my stir fry DROWNED it oil and soy sauce. I couldn’t even try to finish it. 
Super bummed about that…The one time I try to add extra veggies…</p>
<p>Tomorrow, I can finally start back up. I’ve got cycling in the evening. Imm hoping I wi leave the class drenched and 500 calories lighter.</p>
<p>iDad, years ago I had an instructor who got tired of a student motor mouthing in class and went with this solution. He had the young man put his arm straight out to the side, palm up, and then he set the student’s physics book on his palm, walked back to the front of the room and continued lecturing.</p>
<p>Ohio, hold #33 on 24 copies.</p>
<p>Lizardly, yes. 
To that end I was considering dropping in on badminton before running this morning but went for the treadmill instead while it was still early. Sundays can get busy at the gym midday.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ll be trying those pilates gymnastics any time soon. Some of those moves look like they would make my ol’ (formerly) fat guy shoulders hurt… :)</p>
<p>Last year’s Hopschallenge was to do 1 squat, 1 kettleball swing and 1 pushup on January 1 and then add one a day. I got up to about 90 (not all at once, spread out over the day) when I decided at least the push up portion was too hard on my shoulders. I still do a set or two most days because it revs up my metabolism, and doesn’t take too long and they are exercises I like doing. (Unlike planks.)</p>
<p>I do push ups as one of my four strength exercises in nearly half of my workouts – usually some kind of variation like feet in TRX, feet elevated on the weight bench, or BB’s feet on kitchen counter variation…</p>
<p>Push ups are such a perfect exercise. And, including the incline varations, anyone can do them…</p>
<p>Not Sally.</p>
<p>(+1 to whoever understand this…)</p>
<p>Got a reminder email from BAA - tiiiiime to start trainin’!!! ;)</p>
<p>Sat all day long in the office waiting for a (supposedly important) call. As the result, had to run on the treadmill. 6 miles, easy 8:20 pace. Felt really good!</p>
<p>I try to do 20-30 push-ups with feet on the bed every morning after I roll out of the bed and every evening prior to going to sleep.</p>
<p>Hi guys… so starting January 1st, I actually started reading this thread again. I have some MAJOR hurdles to overcome right now to get back on track to a healthy lifestyle, and need some major support. Way too much to get into right now, but just wanted to let you know I’m lurking again. Am about as frustrated as ever in the last couple of days as my personal trainer has cancelled on me twice (weather-related) and my water aerobics class (about the only thing I can do right now other than lifting) for tomorrow is cancelled. I did start the 30-day plank challenge but when I see my physical therapist tomorrow (I told you, it’s a long story) if she doesn’t cancel due to weather, she’ll probably tell me I shouldn’t be doing it. FWIW… some parts of me aren’t too bad; the 20-second plank was very easy.</p>
<p>terwitt:</p>
<p>An easy 20 second plank puts you ahead of probably 90% of us middle age folk!</p>
<p>That’s probably the single best exercise for us because it’s the exercise that protects our lower backs. Lower back problems are no good.</p>
<p>Teri - so glad you stopped by! We are here for you to support and hear you venting if needed, so please come here often. </p>
<p>Agree with idad - a 20 second plank is nothing to sneeze at! :)</p>