Did you guys notice that the thread now is 50,000 posts strong?!!!
Well that’s very cool! I still can’t believe that most of us from the beginning are still here. We’re a pretty awesome support group. Just sayin’.
Thank you, sabaray, for kicking it off!! And kudos to everyone who is contributing/has contributed (or even simply read and followed. 
)
I want to especially thank the guys, Michael and Ohio, for sticking with us! I get so much knowledge from both of you. I wonder what happened to hopsscout? I miss BCEagle, too.
Sabaray- this thread should be a resume item for you if you ever need one! Thanks again.
Amen to all of that!! ^^^
50,000 posts representing 50,000 push ups, miles, squats and calories burned ???
To celebrate, since we can’t have cake - I’d encourage all the lurkers or more rare posters to at least post a “hey!” and share how and what you’re doing that has you interested in this thread.
No need to thank anyone - it takes a village to keep a group like this going. My husband still “thanks” you guys for my expensive running clothes addiction.
Is the “no cake” rule a new one? I think I missed that one.
I think abasket meant we can’t “have” real cake here because we are a virtual gathering. But I am all for having a slice of good cake - as long as I bank the 3-4 miles it takes me to burn it off (of course, after my stomach stops rebelling).
Speaking of SUP - it is awesome on a nice, calm day in HI. The water is so clear, you can see turtles and fishes below. However, some folks have trouble with balancing and keep falling off no matter what. Some stand on their knees to avoid the problem.
Ok, moving on - has anyone done SoulCycle and is it really any different from “generic” spin classes? (Aside from being more expensive)
My daughter has done SoulCycle and one of her good friends is an instructor. She enjoyed it initially, but then had quite a bit of neck and upper back pain as a result of the weight work - and she lifts with a trainer regularly. The spin classes I’ve done don’t include any weights or what D calls “choreography” on the bike. We need to page @MichaelNKat to answer this!
Spin class on its own is plenty of cardio for me!
Yes, virtual cake - I mean, who wants THAT?! Side note - we had carrot cake for Easter that was OUTSTANDING. I do love it. I took the leftover 3 pieces, cut them in half into 6 SMALL pieces and froze them individually. 6 outstanding allowable small snacks for me!!!
My D2 has been begging me for a paddleboard for our cottage on Lake Huron. It does get glass calm that one could be used. I would love to have one, but for now - expense wise - I’ve told her to fully enjoy the kayaks we have.
Last year, once the cold weather hit, I basically quit everything from November to early April. This year, I was determined to not let that happen. I got some help from a very warm winter, so even though my mileage went down, I tried to either ride my bike or the stationary bike 3 times a week (normally rode 5 days a week). I did it, and now I plan to increase my days. I went for an hour ride today, which is significantly longer than I’ve been doing this winter.
I’m looking forward to getting back into top shape (for me), and just glad that even though I ramped way back, I didn’t lose it all together. I’m hoping that next winter I can keep it at 5 days a week and don’t let winter doldrums get me off track.
I really admire you folks who push through steadily no matter the weather or any other factor.
Yay, nrdsb! I’m glad you’re back!
Glad to see you back Nrdsb! You kept moving - that’s what is most important - much easier to pick up then when you haven’t been doing at all!
Thanks for the link BB! - Good to know Costco has them. Until my son’s wedding is done and all expenses out of the way, I can probably only afford the "Junior " sized paddleboard! - haha.
This really is a fantastic group. It’s only here and with my trainer/bike racer gal friends that I can share my fitness experiments of the month and get nods of understanding and approval instead of threats of butterfly nets and straight jackets :).
As to Soul Cycle, I have an admittedly very biased view about the concept and based on my experiences in Soul Cycle classes a very negative opinion about the programmatic structure. First, my bias. I am of the belief that if you want cycling based cardio, you do cycling. If you want resistance training, you get off the bike and do resistance training. Trying to combine the two in the same 50 minute class dilutes both so that you don’t get the full benefit of either even if you get off the bike to do the resistance training.
Programmatically, I am not at all impressed with Soul Cycle on several levels. The instructors I have experienced do not really understand cycling technique and form. I have witnessed the most atrocious form and technique go uncorrected by instructors and even committed by them. There was a class I was in about a year ago where the entire class, in almost lock step synchronicity, was standing upright and bouncing their bodies up and down while doing some goofy standing interval. Then to simulate climbing, they were told to sway their bodies to the left and right as if their bikes were moving under them. (Just wonderful for maintaining proper alignment of hips, knees and ankles.) My experience is also that the instructors do not structure the classes with specific training objectives nor know how to coach different types of intensity levels. And lifting Dumbbells while pedaling just adds to the misalignment of body segments while on a bike (not to mention that the dumbbell work down is totally unstructured for specific outcomes and ineffectual to achieve any real strength training). And there’s nothing more annoying than smelling or breathing in burning candles while doing cardio work.
The best thing I can say about Soul Cycle is that it has created an atmosphere that draws in people who might not ever otherwise try indoor cycling or make a commitment to their fitness. It obviously appeals to a significant segment and is successful in attracting large numbers of people who make an investment in their health. So in the fitness universe, there is a place for Soul Cycle, but not just a place I want to be. If you decide to go to Soul Cycle with regularity, just find some place or way to learn proper, safe and effective cycling technique so that you can avoid injuries caused by instructors who just don’t know any better.
I can’t afford SoulCycle! I already have various passes and memberships at CorePower Yoga, a Pilates/barre studio, OrangeTheory, the dance place, and my park district for weights and fluid running :-).
I am almost done with the burlesque class and while I enjoyed it, I’m foregoing renewing it for right now - it’s a good 40 min from my house whereas all my other places are less than 15 min away. They had a “beginner pole dancing for 50 plus” session starting in April and I briefly considered it, but came to my senses! It’s really an odd mix. There are young girls with amazing bodies, then a bunch of 40 and 50 somethings like me who are in decent (though not perfect!) shape - and then there are a bunch of twenty something instructors (both for burlesque and dance) who are, to be blunt, quite heavy. Not just sturdy or muscular, but plus size. Now, these ladies can move much more gracefully than I, they can do splits, they can do pole - but they are waltzing around in fishnets and boots shorts with everything hanging out whereas the women my age, in far better shape, are wearing regular exercise clothing and keeping the flabby bits undercover! On one hand I’m glad the studio “accepts” and encourages women of any size; that’s great. Otoh, if I were the owner, I’m not sure it’s the best advertisement to have so many instructors be significantly overweight. Again I’m talking real weight issues, not just “a little junk in the trunk.”
Love this forum
I’ve been doing the fitbit cinderella walking to get to my 10K step count. Just a busy day. When I had time to devote to exercise, it was pouring rain.
I’ve been making my way through the four part Netflix series “Cooked”, featuring Michael Pollan. It’s really good! He had a really positive way of getting to his recipe for eating (eat real food, not too much, mostly plants).
I also love this forum.
Got my new Fitbit Alta as a gift from D’s for my 60th birthday. I really like the style. D and her H also have fitbits and we are fitbit friends and encourage activity from afar. I am very surprised how accurate the sleep monitoring is. It also keeps me in check for how much calories I should be eating according to my steps. So fun!
I was trapped at work late so my exercise today was a big pup walk. Mr. Sabaray has been on vacation for a bit over a week and he went back to work today - so it figures I’d be working late! Pups were happy to help me get those 10k steps in. Then I had to come home and face taxes…between home and work, no getting away from financials. At least at work it’s a positive flow!