FedEx arrived a few hours earlier than their normal schedule on my street. I was excited, as our Bellicon Rebounder arrived.
Oh my gosh, this is by far the best rebounder I have ever owned--and I've owned about four or five of them. Nice, soft bounce, absolutely no noise--it's heaven. It is the best bounce/feel I have ever experienced. Minimal shock to the body. My son and I tried it, then hubby did when he came home from lunch. We're all in love.
The thing that sucks when you get a rebounder is that you are only supposed to spend 2-5 minutes on it a day for the first week--with your feet on it, meaning, no jumping. Well, I did jump for about 30 seconds just to see what it was like. Wonderful! I need a new bra. lol It is going to be fantastic when I can start bouncing for real. The second week you're on it, you adjust your time up by 5-10 minutes and then you can bounce to your heart's content.
I am beyond thrilled with this thing. It's so quiet, I can run while the boys are watching TV. It's going to be an excellent addition to "Jo's Gym" which my husband has affectionately re-named our living room.
~~~
NSV News
This morning while I was getting dressed, I was standing in front of a mirror. I caught a glimpse of something very shocking. They weren't there yesterday, I can guarantee, but, I have two lines where my obliques are. I looked, changed positions, felt them, and looked again. Now I still have a very large stomach, but by golly, those definition lines are there as clear as day! I showed hubby when he got home. lol (No, I won't be sharing pictures here! lol)
Thank you, FIRM. I hate doing abs--but I've been making my best effort while doing those tapes. I can't do all the ab work by a long shot, but I do what I can and push for one or two more crunches usually. Wow, it's paying off. It makes me excited for when I lose more fat/weight--will I actually have a toned body? I think so! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that would happen. How cool is that!
~~~
One final note. I took a nap after supper last night and then couldn't sleep. I was up until 3. I got up at 7 as normal this morning, and I am really dragging. My son is about to finish up with the written work in school and just has some assigned reading to do. I am going to take a nap! Then when I get up, I'm going to do a FIRM tape. Then I'm going to stare at the rebounder and wish it were two weeks from now.
Oh, and to answer a question: School is going extremely well this year. I think it's our best year ever, due to the ADHD meds. My son is working very hard, scoring very well on his work, and learning. Next week we're going to start up with Rosetta Stone Spanish, our geography course which we haven't started yet because I couldn't decide which to do, and since we're getting done so much faster due to the meds, I think we're going to do a unit study on the human body. My son has expressed an interest in learning to lift weights, so I've got our book out and I'm devising a plan for him. We'll probably start that, too. He keeps asking about muscles, bones, physical fitness questions, so I think it's a great time to re-visit the human body study we did a few years back with much more depth.
9.24.2009
Dripping Whiner
Yes, I may be a whiner, but dagnabit, I worked out.
After I posted my last post, seeing The Biggest Whiner in front of my eyes, I decided to get up and do an aerobic tape.
I can whine all I want--as long as I am a doer.
I done did.
After I posted my last post, seeing The Biggest Whiner in front of my eyes, I decided to get up and do an aerobic tape.
I can whine all I want--as long as I am a doer.
I done did.
Sore
Every cell in my body is sore today. Not painful, but sore--or better yet, I'm completely aware of my entire body. I don't feel like jello or jelly, but I am very aware.
I was going to work out today, then when I woke up and within three steps knew it was going to be one of those days, decided I'd do cardio later in the day instead of a cardio/weight tape. I can do cardio until the cows come home.
I don't think I'm even going to do a cardio today.
I did not work out that hard yesterday. I did use some weights, but light (3 pounds) and not on everything. I am taking it very easy--pushing myself, but I am very afraid of injury, and very conscious of not doing too much too soon.
My question is this: How on earth do the contestants on The Biggest Loser do it? I mean I'm heading for a nap shortly. How do they go on? I just cannot fathom the amount of exercise they do--and starting out cold. At least I had built up a pretty good endurance with aerobics through Richard Simmons, so I wasn't cold or green.
It boggles my mind. No pain, no gain? Well, I'm not in pain. Boomers (The FIRM Volume 6) is what I did yesterday, and it is tough--yet I modify. You can see a 8-minute clip of it on You Tube. I did use my sculpting bar which is 8 or 9 pounds. That must have made the difference. I do not use their tall box (14 inches!!!) I use my small step, which is 4.
All day today I have been obsessed with thoughts of The Biggest Loser. How do they walk around with all that work? How do they do it? Sheesh.
I can feel my muscles getting firmer, for which I am thrilled. I've never done weights or this type of exercising ever. I do love it. I do modify like crazy. I hope to build my endurance up.
I'm so glad I am not on The Biggest Loser. I would be labeled The Biggest Whiner. lol
I was going to work out today, then when I woke up and within three steps knew it was going to be one of those days, decided I'd do cardio later in the day instead of a cardio/weight tape. I can do cardio until the cows come home.
I don't think I'm even going to do a cardio today.
I did not work out that hard yesterday. I did use some weights, but light (3 pounds) and not on everything. I am taking it very easy--pushing myself, but I am very afraid of injury, and very conscious of not doing too much too soon.
My question is this: How on earth do the contestants on The Biggest Loser do it? I mean I'm heading for a nap shortly. How do they go on? I just cannot fathom the amount of exercise they do--and starting out cold. At least I had built up a pretty good endurance with aerobics through Richard Simmons, so I wasn't cold or green.
It boggles my mind. No pain, no gain? Well, I'm not in pain. Boomers (The FIRM Volume 6) is what I did yesterday, and it is tough--yet I modify. You can see a 8-minute clip of it on You Tube. I did use my sculpting bar which is 8 or 9 pounds. That must have made the difference. I do not use their tall box (14 inches!!!) I use my small step, which is 4.
All day today I have been obsessed with thoughts of The Biggest Loser. How do they walk around with all that work? How do they do it? Sheesh.
I can feel my muscles getting firmer, for which I am thrilled. I've never done weights or this type of exercising ever. I do love it. I do modify like crazy. I hope to build my endurance up.
I'm so glad I am not on The Biggest Loser. I would be labeled The Biggest Whiner. lol
9.23.2009
Wednesday Already
Where is the week going?
Yesterday I did not exercise. I am learning to listen to my body--truly listen. It wasn't that I didn't want to exercise, I did. I just felt in my gut I needed a rest day. It bothered me all day, but I followed my gut feeling. I'm doing things that I have never done before, and I need to go slow. No regrets. I woke up feeling great today. I think rest may be highly underrated. As my strength grows, so will my need for rest days--I think. My ultimate goal is to work out six times a week. It's not a race, I'll get there.
My rebounder will arrive Friday! Yay!
I made the chicken stroganoff recipe yesterday--none of us liked the Lipton Onion Soup Mix added in. It was great otherwise--I need to come up with seasonings to replace that soup mix, as it was so easy to throw it all in the crockpot and the consistency was great.
Spent $150 at the grocery store yesterday afternoon. I was floored, but we were out of everything. Hubby has had an upset tummy so I actually bought some Diet Sierra Mist. It sits unopened in the fridge. I never planned on giving up pop, but we sure did. (Except when we go out, I will still greatly enjoy one.) This still shocks me. I bought three new ice trays. I like lots of ice in my water. lol I'm regretting not getting a water/ice dispenser in our fridge when we bought it a few years back.
School is going very well this week. My son started a new medication. The old kept him up. The doctor wanted to give us meds that would turn off the old meds--I wasn't comfortable with that, so we got short-acting med. It is working well. The difference in his ability to focus is amazing. I regret not doing this a few years ago, but I was prejudiced against these meds.
I watched The Biggest Loser last night. Not nearly as offensive as the first week with the screaming obscenities. I still am not happy with the focus on huge losses. I still wonder how safe it is to do what they're doing. I was very thankful the gal who got sick wasn't working out like a fiend, yet ended up having a good loss. (Water weight?) And I would be thrilled with a 4-pound loss. I still think the show is sensationalism at its best. I can see how it's motivating, though. I sure won't be going out and buying those ZipLoc bags--good grief, buy some Gladware and reuse instead of a great-big baggie that will just be thrown away. Is this the product placement everyone complains about?
It has been a high-stress week regarding extended family. Ugh.
Last night I was in bed, just about to drift off at 10:30 when the phone rang. It was a good friend who was calling because she couldn't sleep. I was quite shocked she did that, to be honest. I would never call someone so late unless I knew they were up. The phone call woke up my husband and son. I ended up chatting with her for an hour, and the good part is I did not do the dishes last night (lazy butt!) so I did them while on the phone with her. Normally I don't do noisy things while on the phone, but I figured she woke up the whole family so she could deal with running water and clanking dishes.
And so it goes.
Yesterday I did not exercise. I am learning to listen to my body--truly listen. It wasn't that I didn't want to exercise, I did. I just felt in my gut I needed a rest day. It bothered me all day, but I followed my gut feeling. I'm doing things that I have never done before, and I need to go slow. No regrets. I woke up feeling great today. I think rest may be highly underrated. As my strength grows, so will my need for rest days--I think. My ultimate goal is to work out six times a week. It's not a race, I'll get there.
My rebounder will arrive Friday! Yay!
I made the chicken stroganoff recipe yesterday--none of us liked the Lipton Onion Soup Mix added in. It was great otherwise--I need to come up with seasonings to replace that soup mix, as it was so easy to throw it all in the crockpot and the consistency was great.
Spent $150 at the grocery store yesterday afternoon. I was floored, but we were out of everything. Hubby has had an upset tummy so I actually bought some Diet Sierra Mist. It sits unopened in the fridge. I never planned on giving up pop, but we sure did. (Except when we go out, I will still greatly enjoy one.) This still shocks me. I bought three new ice trays. I like lots of ice in my water. lol I'm regretting not getting a water/ice dispenser in our fridge when we bought it a few years back.
School is going very well this week. My son started a new medication. The old kept him up. The doctor wanted to give us meds that would turn off the old meds--I wasn't comfortable with that, so we got short-acting med. It is working well. The difference in his ability to focus is amazing. I regret not doing this a few years ago, but I was prejudiced against these meds.
I watched The Biggest Loser last night. Not nearly as offensive as the first week with the screaming obscenities. I still am not happy with the focus on huge losses. I still wonder how safe it is to do what they're doing. I was very thankful the gal who got sick wasn't working out like a fiend, yet ended up having a good loss. (Water weight?) And I would be thrilled with a 4-pound loss. I still think the show is sensationalism at its best. I can see how it's motivating, though. I sure won't be going out and buying those ZipLoc bags--good grief, buy some Gladware and reuse instead of a great-big baggie that will just be thrown away. Is this the product placement everyone complains about?
It has been a high-stress week regarding extended family. Ugh.
Last night I was in bed, just about to drift off at 10:30 when the phone rang. It was a good friend who was calling because she couldn't sleep. I was quite shocked she did that, to be honest. I would never call someone so late unless I knew they were up. The phone call woke up my husband and son. I ended up chatting with her for an hour, and the good part is I did not do the dishes last night (lazy butt!) so I did them while on the phone with her. Normally I don't do noisy things while on the phone, but I figured she woke up the whole family so she could deal with running water and clanking dishes.
And so it goes.
9.21.2009
Honest Scrap Award
S. (That's Sarah with an h) at Ethereal Endeavor awarded me with the Honest Scrap Award.
Thank you! She wasn't sure what the intent of the award was, so I Googled it. This is what I found: Award given by bloggers to other bloggers who express themselves and write/blog from their heart & soul. She assumed correctly, as did I.
Thank you, Sarah.
The Rules that go with receiving this blog:
Thank you! She wasn't sure what the intent of the award was, so I Googled it. This is what I found: Award given by bloggers to other bloggers who express themselves and write/blog from their heart & soul. She assumed correctly, as did I.
Thank you, Sarah.
The Rules that go with receiving this blog:
1.“The Honest Scrap” award is not one to hold all to yourself, but it must be shared!
2.The recipient has to tell 10 true things about themselves in their blog that no one else knows.
3.The recipient has to pass along this prestigious award to 10 more bloggers.
4.Those 10 bloggers all have to be notified they have been given this award.
5.Those 10 bloggers should link back to the blog that awarded them.
Oh, this is the worst thing for me, picking X amount of bloggers to award to. I am still having anxiety waves from the last award I received where I had to pick. I'm very serious about that. If I read a blog, it's because I like the blogger very much. Period. I really struggle with singling out blogs. But I can follow rules, so I will.
Also, I must share 10 things no one knows? I'm pretty honest here, this is difficult! They're boring, and probably already known about me.
Here goes:
1. I sometimes talk with a southern accent. It drives my son nuts. If I have listened to anyone with a southern accent, I'll do it for a few days. I can't help it. I don't do it around my husband, just my son. I have never lived in the south. I think I was a southern belle in a former life.
2. I was born in Wyoming and lived there through the sixth grade, moved to Colorado and lived there through college, moved to South Dakota and lived there 10 years 8 months, and moved to Minnesota. I have lived in Minnesota 12 years and 1 month, the longest I've lived anywhere, and it is my least favorite state ever. (I'm really sorry and don't mean to offend my fellow Minnesotans. The cold is worse here than anywhere I have ever lived, and I live in a very small town--and I'm a big-city girl at heart. Well, a city with at least with a population of 70,000 or more.) I'm still in culture shock here. Also, my house is my least favorite of any I have lived in. Yet I try to be thankful that we have a roof over our heads, live in a safe community, and have food, clothing and some fun things.
I have never felt at home here in my small town. It's boring, there's nothing to do, and it just bugs me to the core. I know a lot of people, but I don't really have any good friends here. I have never had that happen anywhere that I have lived. I don't fit in here and I definitely don't belong.
3. I have two cats and three dogs. One kitty is getting really old, the other has had liver problems since we found him on the dock where my husband works. I love them both, but I'm really a dog person. We have three border collies, and BCs are my favorite-ever breed. I can't imagine life without canine companions. I love all my critters almost as much as my husband and son! Almost--but a lot.
4. I adore vintage. If I were rich and single, I'd live in an old house that was decorated entirely in vintage. Well, except for the couch and beds--they'd be modern. Cottage style is my second favorite. Soft, feminine, and very girly--that's me. I was a tomboy as a kid, go figure.
5. My greatest worry in life is that I'm raising my son right. It keeps me up at night sometimes.
6. My husband and I for years used to make fun of Suburban drivers. We were convinced that they all drove like idiots, were selfish drivers, and road hogs. We now own a Suburban. =) (We're the exception to our rule, I hope. lol)
7. I am very lonely. Not for friends, but for family. I miss my mom and dad terribly. It makes me very sad when I read blogs when people are talking about their families, getting together. It makes me remember fun times, laughter, love and support. When my parents were both alive, all the siblings got along. Now they don't. I really feel as if I have no family now. It makes me feel orphaned and all alone. It helps me cherish my husband and son all the more, but I ache for my son because he doesn't have a someone special--grandparent to dote on him and have a special relationship with.
8. All four of my grandparents were born in the 1800s. Two of my great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War, one on dad's side and one on mom's side. That's unusual for someone my age. My father fought in WWII. I'm 44. I'm the youngest cousin on mom's side and second youngest on dad's side. Both my parents were either the youngest or second youngest. I never met my dad's father, he died in the 1950s. My other grandparents died at old ages in the 70s and early 80s.
9. I love Family Guy and South Park. I get and love the Colorado references in South Park and actually really appreciate the humor and lessons of the show--they do have lessons. Family Guy shocks me and makes me laugh.
10. I snore. I think it's better since I've lost weight, but many times my husband sleeps on the couch due to my snoring, my tossing and turning, and my inability to fall asleep. (I secretly love having the bed to myself. lol) No offense, honey, but I can toss and turn in peace.
Now for the ten bloggers I choose to share the award with. Again, I mention the love-hate relationship with having to chose only 10. If you're not on the list, that doesn't mean I don't love your blog--I do!
Katie J.
Shelley
cmoursler (Chris)
Fat[Free]Me
Pam
Dawn
Hadley
VRaz60
Hope Fool
F. McButter Pants
Heather
Anne H
So much for following rules. Don't count the recipients, please.
Also, I must share 10 things no one knows? I'm pretty honest here, this is difficult! They're boring, and probably already known about me.
Here goes:
1. I sometimes talk with a southern accent. It drives my son nuts. If I have listened to anyone with a southern accent, I'll do it for a few days. I can't help it. I don't do it around my husband, just my son. I have never lived in the south. I think I was a southern belle in a former life.
2. I was born in Wyoming and lived there through the sixth grade, moved to Colorado and lived there through college, moved to South Dakota and lived there 10 years 8 months, and moved to Minnesota. I have lived in Minnesota 12 years and 1 month, the longest I've lived anywhere, and it is my least favorite state ever. (I'm really sorry and don't mean to offend my fellow Minnesotans. The cold is worse here than anywhere I have ever lived, and I live in a very small town--and I'm a big-city girl at heart. Well, a city with at least with a population of 70,000 or more.) I'm still in culture shock here. Also, my house is my least favorite of any I have lived in. Yet I try to be thankful that we have a roof over our heads, live in a safe community, and have food, clothing and some fun things.
I have never felt at home here in my small town. It's boring, there's nothing to do, and it just bugs me to the core. I know a lot of people, but I don't really have any good friends here. I have never had that happen anywhere that I have lived. I don't fit in here and I definitely don't belong.
3. I have two cats and three dogs. One kitty is getting really old, the other has had liver problems since we found him on the dock where my husband works. I love them both, but I'm really a dog person. We have three border collies, and BCs are my favorite-ever breed. I can't imagine life without canine companions. I love all my critters almost as much as my husband and son! Almost--but a lot.
4. I adore vintage. If I were rich and single, I'd live in an old house that was decorated entirely in vintage. Well, except for the couch and beds--they'd be modern. Cottage style is my second favorite. Soft, feminine, and very girly--that's me. I was a tomboy as a kid, go figure.
5. My greatest worry in life is that I'm raising my son right. It keeps me up at night sometimes.
6. My husband and I for years used to make fun of Suburban drivers. We were convinced that they all drove like idiots, were selfish drivers, and road hogs. We now own a Suburban. =) (We're the exception to our rule, I hope. lol)
7. I am very lonely. Not for friends, but for family. I miss my mom and dad terribly. It makes me very sad when I read blogs when people are talking about their families, getting together. It makes me remember fun times, laughter, love and support. When my parents were both alive, all the siblings got along. Now they don't. I really feel as if I have no family now. It makes me feel orphaned and all alone. It helps me cherish my husband and son all the more, but I ache for my son because he doesn't have a someone special--grandparent to dote on him and have a special relationship with.
8. All four of my grandparents were born in the 1800s. Two of my great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War, one on dad's side and one on mom's side. That's unusual for someone my age. My father fought in WWII. I'm 44. I'm the youngest cousin on mom's side and second youngest on dad's side. Both my parents were either the youngest or second youngest. I never met my dad's father, he died in the 1950s. My other grandparents died at old ages in the 70s and early 80s.
9. I love Family Guy and South Park. I get and love the Colorado references in South Park and actually really appreciate the humor and lessons of the show--they do have lessons. Family Guy shocks me and makes me laugh.
10. I snore. I think it's better since I've lost weight, but many times my husband sleeps on the couch due to my snoring, my tossing and turning, and my inability to fall asleep. (I secretly love having the bed to myself. lol) No offense, honey, but I can toss and turn in peace.
Now for the ten bloggers I choose to share the award with. Again, I mention the love-hate relationship with having to chose only 10. If you're not on the list, that doesn't mean I don't love your blog--I do!
Katie J.
Shelley
cmoursler (Chris)
Fat[Free]Me
Pam
Dawn
Hadley
VRaz60
Hope Fool
F. McButter Pants
Heather
Anne H
So much for following rules. Don't count the recipients, please.
Thank you, again.
This Week's Menu
Tuesday: Ham, twice-baked potatoes, salad
Wednesday: Chicken Stroganoff, sweet potatoes
Thursday: Alfredo Sauce, Stew meat, noodles or baked potato, salad
Friday: Hamburgers, salad, fruit
Saturday: Ham, twice-baked potatoes
Sunday: Meatloaf, baked potatoes, green beans
(We have a huge bag of potatoes to eat up! a starchy week ahead)
Chicken Stroganoff (From Aimee)
6 (4 oz.) Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts Halves
1 (10 oz.) Can 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
16 oz. Fat Free Sour Cream
1 (1 oz.) Envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Place frozen chicken breasts in
bottom of crockpot. Combine Soup, Sour Cream and Onion soup mix. Pour over
chicken. Cook on low for 7 hours. Divide evenly and serve over rice or noodles
for additional points.
Serves: 6
Per Serving: 237 Calories; 4g Fat (16.0% calories from fat); 29g Protein; 19g
Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 81mg Cholesterol; 1073mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0
Grain (Starch); 3 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fat. WWP: 5
Wednesday: Chicken Stroganoff, sweet potatoes
Thursday: Alfredo Sauce, Stew meat, noodles or baked potato, salad
Friday: Hamburgers, salad, fruit
Saturday: Ham, twice-baked potatoes
Sunday: Meatloaf, baked potatoes, green beans
(We have a huge bag of potatoes to eat up! a starchy week ahead)
Chicken Stroganoff (From Aimee)
6 (4 oz.) Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts Halves
1 (10 oz.) Can 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
16 oz. Fat Free Sour Cream
1 (1 oz.) Envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Place frozen chicken breasts in
bottom of crockpot. Combine Soup, Sour Cream and Onion soup mix. Pour over
chicken. Cook on low for 7 hours. Divide evenly and serve over rice or noodles
for additional points.
Serves: 6
Per Serving: 237 Calories; 4g Fat (16.0% calories from fat); 29g Protein; 19g
Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 81mg Cholesterol; 1073mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0
Grain (Starch); 3 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fat. WWP: 5
Monday Morning Weigh In
235
Up 1 pound.
Hmmmm. Our anniversary I did go over points, but I was still within my Flex Points. The rest of the days I was on target. I wonder if I should or should not eat activity points. I did not this week.
I also know that I lose more when I do not exercise. I had a pretty good streak in August/early September while not exercising. It's strange how that works.
However, I am extremely happy to report this:
Last Tuesday my measurements were:
Waist: 42 inches
Hips: 52 inches
This morning:
Waist: 41 1/2 inches
Hips: 51 1/2 inches
I don't typically do measurements. I had a gut feeling to do it last week, and I'm glad I followed through.
I wondered if this would happen by adding weights to my program, a gain. Yup. I'm not in the least bit concerned about the gain. I can feel my muscles building, I can feel that half-inch loss off my hips, but I can't feel it off my waist. lol
Gain on the scale aside, I'm going in the right direction!
Up 1 pound.
Hmmmm. Our anniversary I did go over points, but I was still within my Flex Points. The rest of the days I was on target. I wonder if I should or should not eat activity points. I did not this week.
I also know that I lose more when I do not exercise. I had a pretty good streak in August/early September while not exercising. It's strange how that works.
However, I am extremely happy to report this:
Last Tuesday my measurements were:
Waist: 42 inches
Hips: 52 inches
This morning:
Waist: 41 1/2 inches
Hips: 51 1/2 inches
I don't typically do measurements. I had a gut feeling to do it last week, and I'm glad I followed through.
I wondered if this would happen by adding weights to my program, a gain. Yup. I'm not in the least bit concerned about the gain. I can feel my muscles building, I can feel that half-inch loss off my hips, but I can't feel it off my waist. lol
Gain on the scale aside, I'm going in the right direction!
9.20.2009
A Pleasant Surprise, but Costly
With my new-found love of The FIRM (the old stuff that Anna Benson produced), I have discovered a thing or two.
I'm not as fit as I thought. Now I never thought I was that fit in the 230-pound range, but I could do so much more than at 282.5. I was getting a bit over-confident. With the delivery of my new FIRM videos, I'm back in exercise preschool.
These things are tough. Yet they're oh, so good. I don't do everything in the videos--I can't! I start small, just like I did with Richard Simmons. I could make it through one of his videos when I started, but many times I had to drop my arms and march in place. My endurance built. With The FIRM videos, I'm finding the same is true. I can make it through an entire video, but with tons of modification. I'm now using light weights on some segments. It's awesome to watch my strength build.
One of the things that bothers me about The FIRM videos is the high-impact aerobics. I can and do accomplish some of it. I do the plyo jumps--some of them. It's very important in building your bones to do some of these types of things. Yet give me a bunny hop or running in place? I'm toast. Can't do it, and I don't know that I want to.
Well, I do want to, but I have a 44-year-old body that I need to take extra special care of. I was talking to my hubby and told him I bet I could do a lot of that high-impact stuff on a mini-tramp. What a dated phrase, mini-tramp. A rebounder, that's the modern term. I tried our rebounder out and it was awful. The thing is old, I didn't know its weight limit, and it didn't have much bounce. Hubs thought it unsafe for me to use.
Thus the search for a new rebounder. We both researched and settled on the same: a Bellicon. Now heaven forbid, I cannot afford the price for their bungee rebounder. Oofta! I can't afford the price of The Athletic, but I bought it anyway. Hubby insisted on it. Really, I'm blaming him. He actually did tell me to do it.
Back in the 80s whenmini-tramps rebounding became popular, I jumped (pun intended) on the craze. I loved rebounding. I had a good tramp, and I did it every day. It kept my weight off. Not only that, when I had gained extra pounds, it alone, without diet change, got my weight back down. Somewhere along the line, though, I quit using it.
I'm not as fit as I thought. Now I never thought I was that fit in the 230-pound range, but I could do so much more than at 282.5. I was getting a bit over-confident. With the delivery of my new FIRM videos, I'm back in exercise preschool.
These things are tough. Yet they're oh, so good. I don't do everything in the videos--I can't! I start small, just like I did with Richard Simmons. I could make it through one of his videos when I started, but many times I had to drop my arms and march in place. My endurance built. With The FIRM videos, I'm finding the same is true. I can make it through an entire video, but with tons of modification. I'm now using light weights on some segments. It's awesome to watch my strength build.
One of the things that bothers me about The FIRM videos is the high-impact aerobics. I can and do accomplish some of it. I do the plyo jumps--some of them. It's very important in building your bones to do some of these types of things. Yet give me a bunny hop or running in place? I'm toast. Can't do it, and I don't know that I want to.
Well, I do want to, but I have a 44-year-old body that I need to take extra special care of. I was talking to my hubby and told him I bet I could do a lot of that high-impact stuff on a mini-tramp. What a dated phrase, mini-tramp. A rebounder, that's the modern term. I tried our rebounder out and it was awful. The thing is old, I didn't know its weight limit, and it didn't have much bounce. Hubs thought it unsafe for me to use.
Thus the search for a new rebounder. We both researched and settled on the same: a Bellicon. Now heaven forbid, I cannot afford the price for their bungee rebounder. Oofta! I can't afford the price of The Athletic, but I bought it anyway. Hubby insisted on it. Really, I'm blaming him. He actually did tell me to do it.
Back in the 80s when
Now armed with my iPod Shuffle, my favorite up music, and patience, I can see myself running on the tramp again. I can also see doing the high-impact portions of The FIRM on the tramp. Old habits die hard, I'm sure I'll call it a tramp. Rebounding was one of the best sources of stress reduction I've ever known. I used to crank the music and get out all my frustrations. It came naturally, doing punches, kicks, spurts of running, etc. I know I won't be able to pop on and do a half hour or more yet, but I will be able to after I have built my endurance.
I feel revived. I needed a push, and getting my body healthy and exercising is wonderful. I needed to find what would work. I've been madly working out a rotation schedule. Me, worried about exercise rotation? Who'd-a-thunk-it? Wow. Me, doing strength training? Wow. My body feels good. In order to keep up the exercise, you have to do what you love. No dread factor. While I love Richard Simmons, and never had a dread factor, I'd been doing his videos for 20 years. It's time to expand. I'll still pop in one of his videos on cardio day from time to time. After awhile, once I get all the steps and routines down in The FIRM videos, I'll start mixing it up with new FIRM stuff, and probably add some Tracie Long videos and Cathe. That is a ways off, a long way off, but I have my eye on the prize, I have inspiration, and most importantly, I have desire.
We had to rob Peter to pay Paul to get the tramp. That's okay, because my health is worth it. Hubby said he'd use it. He'll probably have to take it to the garage, as he's 6'5" tall and I can see him thumping his head on the ceiling! This tramp is for people 200-350 pounds! What's going to happen when I get below 200? We'll see how it works, and if need be, I'll get another. Then hubby can have this one. That will be awhile, as my weight is coming off slowly.
It was absolutely a pleasant surprise when hubby insisted I do this, though. He's concerned about my health and exercise as much as I am. He knows I always loved rebounding. He's a keeper.
I can't wait until it gets here! I can't wait until I get my body strong!!!
One final thing. If you research The FIRM you will see that they have a saying, "Visible results in 10 workouts." It's true. While you may not be able to see my results on me, I can. This morning my husband said, "Wow, look at your arms!" No, they didn't lose the hanging skin underneath, and yes, they're still fat, but we can definitely see muscle definition. I can feel it. I have a butt, a definite line distinguishing my butt from my legs. (Hubby likes that! lol) The back of my legs are rock solid. The front quads were pretty tight thanks to aerobics, but now the backs are the same. We also can see my shin bones.
Now these visible results are subtle, and as I say, someone else may not notice them--but we do. How cool is that? I've only done nine FIRM days. I think results would be the same from whatever program one chooses--if you work the program. I just happen to like the classic FIRMS.
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