I think the thing to remember is that other people dont see you as a frozen moment in time (ie: a photo) - they see you moving and smiling and looking great and radiating warmth and joy - a true 360 degree view of you - not just one glimpse of an unflattering pose that sticks in their brain forever.

Don't get hung up on pics, we all have bad ones, even some of the models I've used in photoshoots before now have bad angles and things they hate about their bodies.

PS: Sam and JHN - lovely pics

If anyone is doing stage 6, please join me in the stage 6 thread

JHN and Sam - lovely new pics. You both look fantastic!

Mary - I rarely get a picture taken of me that I consider flattering! I hate having my picture taken. period.

Sam - I'll be in stage 6, but not until next week and you'll probably be gone by then.

So my co-workers and I went on a rafting trip on Friday and, of course, I get thrown overboard. This picture is freaking hilarious so I had to share it. I'm getting a hard copy, but can't get a digital copy so here is a link for you to see. http://www.montanariverphoto.com/p1020125190/h9fac85c#h9fac85c

There was a nasty bug going around my house this last week, thankfully I was only down for a day, but that meant I missed my workout on Saturday. Was going to start again tomorrow, but think I will get it in today so I don't have to try to get my last one in on Saturday when my 9 yo has a soccer tournament.

Hahahahahaha! That picture is AMAZING OMG!

JHN and Sam - lovely new pics. You both look fantastic!

Mary - I rarely get a picture taken of me that I consider flattering! I hate having my picture taken. period.

Sam - I'll be in stage 6, but not until next week and you'll probably be gone by then.

So my co-workers and I went on a rafting trip on Friday and, of course, I get thrown overboard. This picture is freaking hilarious so I had to share it. I'm getting a hard copy, but can't get a digital copy so here is a link for you to see. http://www.montanariverphoto.com/p1020125190/h9fac85c#h9fac85c

There was a nasty bug going around my house this last week, thankfully I was only down for a day, but that meant I missed my workout on Saturday. Was going to start again tomorrow, but think I will get it in today so I don't have to try to get my last one in on Saturday when my 9 yo has a soccer tournament.

I hate to laugh at others' misfortunes, but that picture IS crazy hilarious! I hope you enjoyed it in spite of getting dumped.

Jojojo, you're very right. I just hate not being able to see in photo what I *think* I see in the mirror.

JNH, the ortho surgeon I work with feels very strongly against Crossfit. He's a complete fitness buff himself, but says it's is too competitive and people injure themselves quite regularly doing more than they're actually capable of. I personally have no experience with it other than knowing some people that have had great results with it. Apparently the orientation part is very important to avoid injury. I've actually wanted to try it myself, but after hearing what he had to say about it, I was rather hesitant as I am very competitive and tend to push myself 10 times harder when other people are around. :ohwell:

JHN and Sam - lovely new pics. You both look fantastic!

Mary - I rarely get a picture taken of me that I consider flattering! I hate having my picture taken. period.

Sam - I'll be in stage 6, but not until next week and you'll probably be gone by then.

So my co-workers and I went on a rafting trip on Friday and, of course, I get thrown overboard. This picture is freaking hilarious so I had to share it. I'm getting a hard copy, but can't get a digital copy so here is a link for you to see. http://www.montanariverphoto.com/p1020125190/h9fac85c#h9fac85c

There was a nasty bug going around my house this last week, thankfully I was only down for a day, but that meant I missed my workout on Saturday. Was going to start again tomorrow, but think I will get it in today so I don't have to try to get my last one in on Saturday when my 9 yo has a soccer tournament.

I hate to laugh at others' misfortunes, but that picture IS crazy hilarious! I hope you enjoyed it in spite of getting dumped.

Jojojo, you're very right. I just hate not being able to see in photo what I *think* I see in the mirror.

JNH, the ortho surgeon I work with feels very strongly against Crossfit. He's a complete fitness buff himself, but says it's is too competitive and people injure themselves quite regularly doing more than they're actually capable of. I personally have no experience with it other than knowing some people that have had great results with it. Apparently the orientation part is very important to avoid injury. I've actually wanted to try it myself, but after hearing what he had to say about it, I was rather hesitant as I am very competitive and tend to push myself 10 times harder when other people are around. :ohwell:

It's not really an option for me because I HAVE to workout at lunch so if there isn't a class -- it's a no-can-do. But I have wanted to try it for a while. I have read that you can easily get a bad trainer or whatever and the quality goes down very quickly.

What are everyone's thoughts about crossfit?

I like the thought of cross fit, but yeah.. I'd be the first to get rhabdo. I'm big into that feeling of cult-y togetherness, so I just know I would be too gung ho and end up breaking myself in half. They have free classes at my gym (military) so I could go, but I genuinely fear getting addicted to it. Everyone who I know who does crossfit is bat**** crazy for it, and they're not even people I would describe as addiction-prone.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to start Stage 2. I will, but with some modifications. I'm thinking of combining NR with Stronglifts.

Jennie, Awesome picture! What a great shot. Almost worth falling overboard for! And yeah, your legs do look great! Glad the stomach bug is gone.

FunBun...wow, 175 on the DL. I'm so impressed! What's the Cosgrove Evil 8? Is it from her book?

Jen--have a great trip home!

Manic, and everyone else...camera angles really make a huge difference, though it's hard to remember. This weekend I was taking pictures of my husband and some other musicians at a performance of his/theirs, and the shots I took made them all look huge! And they weren't at all! The last professional picture I had taken of myself made me look much bigger than I am. So don't worry too much: The camera really does add 10 lbs. At least.

I tested my chin up ability on a set of monkey bars yesterday and just as I thought I'm nowhere near being able to do even 1 unassisted. That bums me out.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to start Stage 2. I will, but with some modifications. I'm thinking of combining NR with Stronglifts.

How are you going to be combining them, if you don't mind my curiosity?

I tested my chin up ability on a set of monkey bars yesterday and just as I thought I'm nowhere near being able to do even 1 unassisted. That bums me out.

I bet you'll be there in no time. Bodyweight exercises like that seem to shape up pretty fast, especially when you're at a decent weight in the first place!


And Jennie, that photo is wonderful. I hope you frame it and put it somewhere visible, I bet it will make you smile everytime you pass by it!

Hi ladies, Im curious if anyone has added any addition ab exercises to thier routines. im only in stage 1 but wondering because the pikes and weighted ball crunches dont seem all that hard to me.