<p>
</p>
<p>It is really hard from a balance standpoint. You can see the coach in the video wobble a bit. But, I’ve never felt like it was dangerous in any way. It’s all kind of self limiting and the thing that’s really nice is that there is a lot of benefit even without adding any weight. The very first step – the reaching version with empty hands – is a terrific exercise in its own right.</p>
<p>5x5 Bench Press @135 pounds; 3x3 Bench Press @145 pounds; 1x1 Bench Press @155 pounds. Triceps Pulldowns 60 pounds 8x10.</p>
<p>Mile Run @6.2
Rest 3 minutes
3/4 mile run @6.5
Rest 2 minutes
1/2 mile run @6.9
Rest 1 minute
1/4 mile run @7.1</p>
<p>Down another 0.8 pound today. I realize this is likely due to the lack of eating yesterday (one regular meal) and the fact that I just got done working out. I’m eating lunch now…</p>
<p>Down another 5 – this makes 4 wins of 5 pounds, so another milestone. This was the hardest – not sure why, but I plateaued for three weeks despite keeping my diet well within bounds (at least as much as I did before) – that was getting very frustrating. It also matches our three weeks of really hot weather – which was markedly cooler yesterday – so maybe that had something to do with it even though I still managed to get my 3x weekly strength training and interval walks in on the other days. Anyway, I hope I don’t repeat that plateau experience in the next few weeks – it is definitely demoralizing. I defrosted some of last falls Hatch green chiles and cooked them u with eggs for breakfast – what a difference between the fresh (or frozen) ones and the canned ones. When the new crop shows up I’m going to get two bushels (which come to a whole lot less than you might imagine after they roast them) and see if I can’t freeze them singly and then package them up for my freezer – I’d really love to be able to grab the number wanted. Tonight I’m having another one with my hamburger – I’m finding that losing the bun is no loss at all, but it does encourage me to buy better ground beef to start with. One of the local stores does “single grind” 85% ground beef, which produces hamburgers that have absolutely world class flavor. Got my brother’s family coming over for dinner, but the nice part is that since I’m making it, it is very friendly for me, and they’ll be fine. </p>
<p>And on the strength front, my triceps have finally gotten a little bit stronger. For whatever reason, that was the one muscle that did not consistently gain strength – on everything else I’m either up at much higher weights than when I started, or doing more complicated exercises that require more core stability. But not so on the triceps. Do other folks have a muscle that seems to be resistant to training?</p>
<p>Yay for you arabrab!!! Congrats on the new milestone! Hooray! 
I have also noted the difference in taste of fresh food products especially since cutting out the white carbs. I also like spicy things more. Way to stick with your workouts thru the plateau!</p>
<p>arabrab- excellent! I have trouble upping weights for triceps, too. Maybe harder for women???</p>
<p>I have to take it pretty easy on the triceps as there are many triceps exercises that can aggravate tennis elbow.</p>
<p>The Abs Dolley, though, was a surprisingly good exercise. You can feel the workout but it wasn’t extreme and it didn’t cause elbow problems.</p>
<p>Very happy</p>
<p>Just had a duffle and computer back pack. Probably could have checked it but the Hilton athletic facility is just a short walk from terminal 2. Just walked through security again. Lockers are very spacious. I bet they would have held a roll- away behind the check-in desk.Just the shower,steam and sauna alone was worth it. </p>
<p>Had a seaweed salad, suishi and mich ultra at wicker park? inside terminal 2 after workout. Not a bad way to travel!</p>
<p>Arabrab- excellent progress.
Played about an hour of Australian doubles, and since I was covering the court solo, did a fair amount of running. Mid 80s, low humidity I am loving it. The tennis was fun, although the way we were playing bceagle probably wouldn’t have recognized his game.</p>
<p>I always heard it referred to as Canadian Doubles but there’s a Wikipedia entry for Australian as a synonym.</p>
<p>Ran five miles and did a ten minute light weight program. I’m still fairly sore from tennis two nights ago so workouts take a little more effort.</p>
<p>arabrab:</p>
<p>Now it’s really party time. Losing 5 pounds four times is starting to be a major victory. I know that’s enough to be really noticeable. You must feel great!</p>
<hr>
<p>I can’t think that I’ve ever done a triceps exercise, but everything that involves raising an arm with a weight is really, really tough to increase weights – lateral raises, flys, curls – all of those are slow going to increase the weight. I think for a lot of them, that’s probably a good thing as it can be rough on the shoulders trying to sling around big weights.</p>
<p>So, I had planned on trying CJane’s manmakers along with dumbbell swings today, but I’m still toast from my curl and press yesterday and couldn’t really stand the thought of lifting weights. I’ve already done a walk/jog this week, so I hopped on the Airdyne and did six 1/2 mile intervals, which take about 90 seconds each. That was no walk in the park, either, but at least it didn’t work stuff that was tired from weight lifting.</p>
<p>I’ll be finishing up the second phase of the iPod nazi workouts tomorrow. Four weeks per phase. I’ve gotta dissect and analyze Phase III, which is very fast paced “burn” and may be too much in conjunction with weight lifting.</p>
<p>Talk about punching the clock! 5 miles felt really hard tonight (of course, they would - after a happy hour with food and beer). Phew. Is it Friday yet?</p>
<p>MOfWC, please be careful and skip your runs if it gets too hot. The bunny can wait. I just read on CNN that a young man collapsed and died during a race in Kansas City - so unbelievably sad.</p>
<p>arabrab - you go girl! Awesome job.</p>
<p>I feel like I am running in a crockpot. Heading to VA this weekend (9 hours in the car each way) and it looks like it is cooler up there. Will run in Roanoke in the am with my daughter (I’m still not used to writing those words…) and in Charlottesville Sunday (not great routes from where we will be in C-ville). My daughter was selected as one of 4 official bloggers for the Women’s Half Marathon Series, which is very cool. She blogs about her running background, her training etc. She’s the Running Reverend! Sometimes you feel like maybe you weren’t entirely a failure as a parent. And-if he survives Chicago Lollapalooza this weekend, WildChild runs his first half marathon next weekend since 2004. At altitude, but he’s used to that now.</p>
<p>I feel much better today - I think that it’s the soreness going away from Tuesday and also that I’ve slept through the whole night for the last two nights. I usually wake up once or twice at night but a heavy workout can give you a very clean night of sleep.</p>
<p>Two of my tennis regulars are out of town for a while so I’m increasing the running and decreasing the tennis until more regulars get back.</p>
<p>Finally put on a pair of very old pants, 80s vintage. They feel quite good - very soft cotten. The office is empty this morning (I made the first pot of coffee at 9:00 AM) and the weather outside is wonderful. 70 degrees, sunny, and a slight breeze.</p>
<p>Whew! The gym was sticky this morning. Rode the bike for 65 minutes and HR was soaring today. Upped my resistance since I knew I wouldn’t get weights in at the gym…hopefully some later tonight. My weight is the lowest it has been in over a year…3 lbs from my goal that I wanted to reach by next weekend. Soooo close!</p>
<p>COngrats, NM! All you need is an intestinal virus or something and you’ll reach the goal! (You might anyway!) You have done great.</p>
<p>That is great, NM. And you’ve done it the right way - diet AND exercise. </p>
<p>MOWC, it’s pretty crockpot like here in VA now. Humidity and high pollen make for some unpleasant outdoor conditions. I’m sure you’ll get your run in early though - that will be the best part of the day for sure.</p>
<p>MOWC:</p>
<p>Ooooh. Even I could probably enjoy running in Charlottesville. I realy enjoyed the campus tour at Charlottesville and the afternoon we spent trudging around Monticello in the pouring rain. No sale with my daughter although the day was not a total waste as she put Wililam & Mary on her list. </p>
<p>BC: </p>
<p>Fantastic on the 80s pants. If we all keep this up, we can be the ol’ (formerly) fat guys walking around in our MC Hammer pants! I think everyone must have had big butts in the 80s. Now, to be stylish, you have to be a hipster and wear girlfriend jeans.</p>
<p>NMINN:</p>
<p>Fabulous! Even with a bum knee, you’ve all but hit your target weight. Amazing, given how the knee has held you back. All it would take is just a few more laps around the Mall of America! :)</p>
<p>ARABRAB:</p>
<p>You metioned the heat and plateaus and stuff. I think there may be something to that. My scale has been giving me pretty atypical body fat readings lately. It measures primarily water content and says that I’ve packed on a couple percent more bodyfat despite being at my lightest weight. I think the weather plays havoc with hydration levels or something.</p>
<p>The problem with Charlottesville (which I love) is that the streets tend to be narrow, curvy and trafficky. It is surprisingly NOT good for road running, but there are lots of trails if you like that. I’m sure there are good routes if you drive to them, but I won’t have to do too much on Sunday if I get the run in tomorrow in Roanoke. Where we usually stay in C-ville is runable, but not for much more than 6 miles. We are staying at a different place this time and it is on a road that is not great, but it will be Sunday morning which helps.</p>
<p>My other good news is that I had my hair “color enhanced” this week and the stylist said I have a ton of new hair growth! Hooray! I think my system must have been in shock when I cut back on calories and carbs and my hair started to thin. I am now taking vitamins and they seem to be working! Yay!</p>