Yet Another Diet and Exercise Thread - need help

Parent Cafe
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<p>Roswell aliens turned out to be very nice indeed - we have nothing to fear! Jym, S2 DID get those brownies, right???</p>

<p>TheAnalyst - interesting question. I have a very strange mix of music on my IPOD, and set it on random. If something slow comes up, I have to remember to work in doubletime. But I enjoy the randomness. It’s about the only time during the day I listen to music, so I don’t think I could use strictly workout music and give up my “treat.” The DVDs I’ve been using have background music with a strong beat, which is nice, but sometimes a bit fast for me!</p>

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<p>Binx,
Those pesky aliens <em>made</em> half of one brownie jump out of the bag and into my mouth, bu the rest are safe and sound for DS.</p>

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<p>“I am getting bored with the music on my IPOD. What are people’s favorite workout CD’s? I am ready to buy a couple of new ones and download them.”</p>

<p>I work out at my local gym and can plug in earphones to watch movies or TV on a big screen. After a couple of years of complaining about the steady fare of MTV and violent movies, I gave up, got an ipod and stay plugged in to that. I started taking Mandarin lessons about 1 1/2 years ago, and now listen to Chinese the whole time. Some are the listening parts of my homework, some are podcast lessons I download. Have to say, my attitude has changed, I’m no longer resenting the amount of time exercising takes out of my schedule and really look forward to this being Chinese time for me.
So if you’re in the gym and see this plugged in lady talking to herself in mangled Chinese, that would be me.</p>

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<p>Okay, folks, holiday’s over - back to work!</p>

<p>Progress report - I am slowly losing - exactly the rate I was aiming for, but sooooo slow. Exercise DVDs are pretty good. The 10-minute workouts are very difficult for me, because I am so out of shape! But the fact that they are only 10 minutes makes them bearable. I defintely feel them.</p>

<p>I’ve been reading up on race-walking, but I feel like I need to see it done. The pictures and descriptions don’t differentiate enough from regular walking for me. I tried it - to keep my legs straight, etc. But I’m just not sure I’m doing it right. And every time a car drives past, or I encounter other walkers/joggers, I resume regular walking. :)</p>

<p>I love the image of the mangled Chinese! People probably think you’re cursing your machines.</p>

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<p>For music I went through my i-tunes and tagged things for my exercise routine that had a fast beat. I’ve got pretty eclectic tastes so it includes:</p>

<p>A bunch of stuff from a Rock, Rhythm and Doo-wop collection with things like Twist and Shout (Isley Brothers), Rock around the Clock, He’s so Fine (The Chiffons), It’s my party (Lesley Gore)</p>

<p>Lots of Elvis</p>

<p>Lots of The Band, Creedance Clearwater Revival, The Beach Boys, and The Grateful Dead’s Greatest Hits which all have enough of a beat.</p>

<p>I’ve got a little Reggae and Zydeco, I’d like to have more.</p>

<p>I’ve got a little bit of classic country and bluegrass, but would be happy to have more. Unfortunately nearly all of mine is on cassettes. But I’ve got The Knitters (the punk band X playing bluegrass music) and some Lucinda Williams, some Johnny Cash, Guy Clark and some Dixie Chicks.</p>

<p>Most of ZZ Top is fast, same with The Clash, Blondie, The B-52s, The Bangles. I’ve got a few Springsteens (Born to Run, Born in the USA), A few Beatles (Back in the USSR, Hard Day’s Night, When I’m 64), some The Who (My Generations, Going Mobile), some Queen, some of Jimmy Buffet’s swingier stuff (Life is just a Tire Swing, Pencil Thin Mustache, Cheeseburger in Paradise).</p>

<p>And finally the perfect exercise music: anything by The Stray Cats.</p>

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<p>mathmom- Thanks for the ideas. I may pick up a Straycats CD. I need some new music.</p>

<p>I did a long trail run race on Sat. We didn’t really race it. I enjoy doing races as training runs as there are aid stations along the way. </p>

<p>Starting to get acclimated to the heat. When it is hot, running in something that wicks moisture is essential. Nothing feels worse than wet cotton. I find alot of workout wear at TJMax or Marshalls. I wear running hats. They absorb alot of sweat. I also like smartwool running socks. You can find them on clearance at Sierra Trading or REI.</p>

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<p>Binx -</p>

<p>I didn’t forget about your recipes - I have just been so busy with helping my folks move from their home. I have been really good about exercising every day and except for one child’s size cup of diet coke at the mall - I have avoided my coke habit. </p>

<p>Binx - you said you don’t care for beans? Would you eat hummus?
I make hummus and the put it in a wrap with romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, red onions, cukes, etc. </p>

<p>1 can chick peas, drained with liquid reserved
1/2 small jar roasted red peppers drained
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. coriander
1/2 tsp chitpole pepper (optional)
black pepper to taste
1 Tab. Smart Balance salad dressing/mayo</p>

<p>Put chickpeas, red peppers, juice of lemon and spices in food processor & blend. Add mayo to desired consistency or add reserved liquid.</p>

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<p>I don’t care for beans, but I eat them anyway! If I only ate things I really liked, I’d pretty much be stuck with bread and chocolate. I’m willing to try many things once. (I originally wrote “anything” and realized that wasn’t really true.)</p>

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<p>I’m into week 3 of my current attempt to establish an exercise routine. I’ve managed every other day the past few days after a string of three in a row early last week. I’m keeping a written log, which is helping me stay on task. I’m also trying to be better about planning my week ahead of time, which is totally unlike me. I tend to be way to accommodating to others, so trying to make sure I hang on to ME time. So far that’s only moderately successful, but baby steps you know.</p>

<p>My iPod has become a workout necessity and I have a lot of the music already mentioned. I also like Matchbox Twenty - pretty fast paced stuff and even my children approve. Tom Petty, the Wallflowers and Chris Isaak are also personal favorites.</p>

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<p>Well, I have used the Calorie Count Plus web site a few times…I like how easily you can search for a food item…and it has assigned a grade to it, ie A for a desirable food, C- for a food you should not be eating!! And it allows you to enter in exercise and tallies the calories in and the exercise out… nice site…thanks for that link at the start of this thread…</p>

<p>Today we rode bikes out to an island…walked 2 laps around the island (each lap is 1.4miles, so 2.8 was the walking total) and entire jaunt took 1 hour give or take…I am thinking this will be an easily repeatable exercise and I credit this thread for pushing me out the door…since others were dancing in their living rooms…etc…thanks Binx for starting this… I said I needed it…and I am coming back for encouraging posts that others are making.</p>

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<p>V3 - that was how I got so far off track (so to speak) with exercising. I am personally and professionally inclined to smooth and accommodate. When DD went off to college I was able to get re-focused on on a schedule for me. </p>

<p>I did NOT get any exercise today. Just as I headed out to the track tonight we had a nasty storm, so I am taking an unplanned rest day. </p>

<p>By the way, Binx, it is hard to visualize the racewalking thing. When I decided I was really going to try to do it right I bought a book, but it wasn’t until I saw some other people do it that I was able to really get the idea in my head. It is strange - but I can’t tell you what a workout I get.</p>

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<p>maineparent - I love your excursion, it sounds like a fabulous way to get some exercise.</p>

<p>Okay, I did my route today inspite of feeling like you know what (bad night’s sleep). Stalled, then stalled some more, but finally sucked it up and headed out the door (muttering the Nike motto to myself the whole time). Didn’t break any records, but I do feel better and I’ve got another line for my workout journal! </p>

<p>The iPod did good today and surprised me with some forgotten Del Amitri!</p>

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<p>I do think it helps to keep an exercise log. There are some online trackers that are good (runningahead.com is one I like, and you can put in as many other sports as you want), or there is always the paper/pen kind.</p>

<p>For those of you who decide you are really committed to running or walking, I really enjoy my Garmin GPS watch. In fact, I am addicted to it. It gives me constant feedback on pace, distance and heartrate (and time, of course). I can wander wherever I want and always know my distance. I have the Garmin 305. The 405 is the newer model, but the screen is a little smaller. The 305 looks huge- like you are wearing a laptop on your wrist- but it feels fine once you get going.</p>

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<p>MOWC, H is addicted to his Garmin and I have asked for one for Christmas. I really like it on hikes so we can track mileage.</p>

<p>My heart rate is jumping all around lately according to the treadmill heart rate monitors so I need to wear one and double check. If it is really going from 94 to 194 and back within a few minutes like it says then I guess I have to go see my doctor to find out what is going on. My max heart rate is supposed to be 171 so I think the machines must be messed up. Also I don’t feel any heart palpitations or shortness of breathe. But the high numbers are scary and the low numbers make me feel like I am not getting a hard enough work out so I have just been keeping the pace and incline steady and trying to ignore it for now. I need a new battery for our home heart rate monitor.</p>

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<p>Ewww, I opened this thread for the first time in a few days by clicking “last page” and thought when I saw “Stray Cats” in the first post on the page that you all had followed up on Owlice’s clever economizing tips from the recession thread! I’m certainly willing, and in fact, eager to try the hummus recipe, but I’m not quite adventurous enough for cats, don’t care what the health benefits might be! </p>

<p>OK, back to the topic. I got nordic walking sticks last weekend, and I really like them! As someone mentioned, they are very popular here, so I don’t feel conspicuous using them.</p>

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<p>Well, I am checking into our cyber-health club. </p>

<p>I did some speed work tonight at the track - alternating slow and fast 400’s. I think I want Renee to join me. I have never seen anyone around here with nordic walking sticks so we would both look a little unusual!</p>

<p>Binx - I am going nuts with mangoes this summer. Our farmer’s market carries a “banana” mango that is yellow on the outside. I even bought a gadget from Williams and Sonoma that removes the pit from the mango. </p>

<p>I have been making an afternoon drink with a frozen banana (honestly, I have tons of plastic containers filled with chopped bananas), a chopped up mango, pom juice, and 3/4 cup soy milk or 3/4 cup OJ.</p>

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<p>^^ Yum. That sounds good.</p>

<p>I’ve been craving watermelon the last couple of days. Ate a big tub of cut up watermelon all by myself. Good stuff. Then there was the huge piece of birthday cake I had at work yesterday. We order up homemade cakes every time someone in our department has a birthday. I can resist store cakes, but not homemade…</p>

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<p>Fell off the wagon a bit today. Did my 10 minute DVD this morning (lower body workout today), but couldn’t do my evening walk because we got thunderstorms at the wrong time. Also went out to eat - IHOP - D is getting her wisdom teeth out tomorrow, and I asked her what she wanted for her “last meal”, and that’s what she picked. I wasn’t too bad, but I didn’t have salad, either. We may be making a lot of smoothies the next few days.</p>

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<p>I saw thiose banana mangos int he store the otehr day. they looked good, but the ones they had seemed overripe compared to the regular mangoes. Is that the way ther are supposed to be?</p>

<p>I am still trying to work on my motivation, binx. I bow at your feet!</p>

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<p>Hey Binx,
some of the boys in our mother son book group just had their wisdow teeth out and smoothies took a few days to get to… one of the boys had an infection so it was over a week before he felt better…</p>

<p>I think IHOP is a fine choice for a final dinner…and you definitely are allowed a fall or two off the wagon, as you put it…</p>

<p>I am pleased cause we did the island walk again today… my oldest has been keeping me company and chatting about the British show, Doctor Who…so, tonight I watched my first episode of Doctor Who and I enjoyed it… total science fiction, which I do enjoy…so, I am bonding with my oldest as I work on my lack of fitness… I have had a few years of prioritizing everything else that my current goals are low and I am choosing to be glad for any and every “movement” that gets me closer to “exercising” … LOL… </p>

<p>here’s to tomorrow…tomorrow…</p>