40+ Club: Fall Fitness Fanatics

Good Morning!

alf, I completely understand what you're saying. I certainly don't mind aging because, to coin a phrase, it is better than the alternative.. But, for whatever reason, I feel like I've crossed a line over the past year that definitely takes me out of anything resembling 'youthful'. It bothers me, not because I want to be young again (I don't) but because I want to feel young again. And until about a year ago, I did feel young, despite my age. I really hope I get that feeling back because I agree with singfree.....physical age is just a number.

Friday check-in....not the best week of eating ('tis the season I suppose) but got some great workouts in this week. I seem to be holding my own, though I'm feeling pudgy lately. I finished my seven month undulating periodization workout series this past Wednesday (where I alternated the intensity of my strength training every week in order to best 'shock' my body), and I really enjoyed it. I definitely want to do something like that again. This morning, I did a Turbo Fire workout, and I'm going to do a new total body strength training workout later. Over the next few weeks, I'm going to focus more on endurance training than I usually do. I'm doing this for a couple of reasons: I think it will be best for keeping the fat off during the next few weeks when I know I'm not going to be eating great; and I've been lifting really heavy all year so I have some nagging injuries to my forearms and such that I think will disappear with a few weeks of lighter lifting. I'm looking forward to the break from heavy weights for awhile though I have no doubt I'll be itching to get back to them shortly after the new year.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Hello all..............here for Friday check-in.

I agree with Alf.............my age (48) doesn't bother me at all; I just hate the aches, pains and other physical issues that seem to have developed over the past year, won't go away and limit what I can do without hurting big time!!:grumble: :grumble:

Happy to report (I'm almost afraid to type this) that I've felt pretty good all week!! :happy: The back/shoulder/neck pain hasn't completely disappeared, but has diminished in intensity and location - it's just my neck and sometimes both shoulders that are reminding me that they're still not completely healed. But........compared to the last month or so.......much improved!! Will hit Curves on my way home for the (gasp!!) 3rd workout this week!! :laugh: It's been a LONG time since I've felt good enough to work out 3 times during the week.............. never make it to Curves on the weekend, but do enough around the house with cleaning, etc. to make up for it.

My eating has been pretty good since Thanksgiving except for Sunday brunch. Our oldest daughter didn't make it home Thanksgiving weekend, but came home last weekend instead, so we had to introduce her to the weekend joy of brunch at The Chef.....................bloody marys really kill the nutritional value of a "good" breakfast of scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, hash browns and an english muffin! :laugh: :laugh: I didn't even get the munchies all afternoon..........made grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and cornbread for the youngest for dinner..........yummmmm! Haven't been on a scale in about 2 weeks, but clothes are fitting alright, so I'm not going to look for a number.

I'm over half done with Christmas shopping - which is really good for me! I hate shopping in stores, so I'm really happy I can do most of my shopping online and just have everything shipped to me at work. I have a bunch of gifts to take out of the car and wrap tonight. It'll probably be the earliest there's ever been wrapped gifts under the tree!!! Really want to get the gift cards for nieces and nephews bought this weekend and get them mailed so I'm not going crazy Christmas week. Trying really hard this year to not stress out over the holidays and just enjoy having my husband around this year.

Everyone........enjoy the weekend and I hope you're able to avoid the rotten weather headed for the eastern half of the country - right now it's supposed to miss us; oh darn!!!

Marla

Good Morning!

singfree, I hope you have been enjoying your time in warmer weather. I think you're going to be returning home to some cold. We even have a very little snow outside this morning, but it is so insignificant to what I've seen in the midwest. I hope everybody impacted by this last storm is warm and safe!

We had a good weekend. We got to tour the White House on Saturday evening, which was all kinds of fun, especially since it is decorated for Christmas right now. We spent some time after walking through DC enjoying the lights....but it was pretty cold, so that didn't last as long as I would have liked. As Christmas gets closer, my eating is getting worse, but I'm keeping it under control right now. I got a good workout in yesterday (and this morning), and that helps. I'm officially done with all of my Christmas shopping, so, hopefully, I can sit back and spend some more time over the next couple of weeks enjoying the simple pleasures of the season.

mkwood, so glad to hear you are feeling better. Hope that continues.

Hope you all have a great day.

Good Morning!

kadetr, you're doing great. Just keep reminding yourself of that. Nobody is 100% enthusiastic about eating right and exercising all of the time. The key is to work through those times as best you can confident that it is just one of those times in life. And it sounds like you're doing just that. You've been maintaining your weight now for quite some time, so celebrate that....and forget the rest. :flowerforyou:

All here is well. Got in another good workout this morning which helps make up for the bad eating habits I've got right now. It's all good right now. We're a tad chilly this morning, but I can't even remotely complain about the weather when looking at the rest of the country. Everybody out there....take care, be safe and stay warm!!

Good morning from Vermont, where it is 3 degrees, and my labrador forced me out there for a walk along the river. So very glad I have no neighbors to see how ridiculous I look all bundled up like an eskimo. Anyway, I'm indoors now and about to work out and looking for more excuses not to start.

Pepper, good to hear from you. Sounds like a fun Xmas for you! We are having my mother-in-law over for 3 days over the holidays too. But the big feast will be Xmas eve where we are meeting my step-daughter's fiances family. They only speak spanish, and I personally don't. I know my MIL who is socially awkward to begin with doesn't speak Spanish either and is going to hate it. My husband can get by. Anyway, the best I can do is just smile alot and prepare a wonderful meal, and hope the lovebirds can translate the big event.
Oh, it's great to hear how your hubby is getting into exercise--I so wish mine would. He is 15 years older than me but eats like he's 30 and doesn't exercise. he has so little time as it is but really needs that wake up call about the importance of keeping in good shape. I know he wants to but thinks he has no time. I can't say anything because I wouldn't appreciate it if he said that to me . I'm hoping maybe the next time he goes for a physical that his Dr. recommends it, but I'm not sure when that it.

Stiring, thanks as always for your encouragement. Speaking of not eating right around the holiday's, I'm going out for Mexican today with my girlfriend..why in the world did I suggest that? I know I'll just eat tons of chips......but they are so good!

Welcome back Sing--glad you had a good trip!

have a good day!

How everyone doing so far? I've been sick all week.

Good Morning!

I've put on a more 'seasonal' look for the page today. The photo was taken in the Blue Room of the White House in front of the official White House Christmas tree. Kinda cool for me, to be honest.

Anyhow, it's Friday.....so check-in. Not the best week I've had eating-wise. singfree, you aren't alone in struggling with the whole willpower thing right now. I'm doing great with my meals, but I just can't leave the sweets alone right now. At least I'm also doing great with my workouts. Two out of three isn't bad.....but I really wish I could get rid of the chocolate thing right now. I'm not seeing it get better until after Christmas though. I mean, my sister just mailed me the best chocolate brownies ever. She makes them for us every Christmas, and through the years when we've been so far away, they've always been the taste of home. So I'm going to enjoy those for a little while.

singfree, your night tonight sounds great. I love being able to practice my German. I recently got an email in German from a hotel we used to visit in Switzerland, and it was so fun for me to try to read it. I've forgotten more German than I remember, that's for sure. But I still enjoy trying. And Germans love to sing, don't they? Always makes me smile. Congrats on getting a workout in. I have no doubt you'll be back to a more normal routine after the New Year.

alf, I hope you enjoyed your time at iHop. I haven't eaten at iHop in 8 or 9 years (being overseas or in Alaska most of that time prevents the iHop visits ). We have one about three miles from our house here, and the commercials are killing me!!! I so want to try some of the items they have now, but I've been avoiding it. But I think it's great you did that with your son and his therapist. Changing subjects, I really hope you don't have to have surgery. I've got my fingers crossed for you. Enjoy your weekend and Happy Anniversary!!

LadyPersia, I hope you're feeling better. :flowerforyou:

I don't have big plans for the weekend...probably do a few more things for Christmas. They keep going back and forth on whether we are going to have a big storm on Sunday. It changes by the hour. If we do, that will impact our plans for Sunday. We're hoping to get over to Mt. Vernon sometime over the next week because it is supposed to be beautifully decorated for Christmas. But the weather will have to cooperate. I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Yay--Friday at last....

Time for Check in.........

Pants Fit == Check!
Eating Well ==Check! (Aside from one splurge of maple bread pudding on Tues. for date night w/hubby)
Good attitude == Check!
Scale still in Closet== Check!

Life is good, eh? Actually, yes, this has been a good week. For some reason I have been a super good eater with zero cravings for sweets or snacks. I have no idea why but I wish I could summon these powers when I need to more often! Just hoping it lasts throughout the holiday season. That may be a little much to ask, but it sure would be nice to start the new year right and without the need to "eat better" as a resolution...wow...what a concept!

Anyway, Stiring--nice festive picture! It was funny I saw that before reading your note and was impressed that your house included ornate paintings of your ancestors as well as the biggest tree ever!

Alf--enjoy your Anniversary weekend! Sounds so fun. I hope you don't have to have surgery and can keep on w/zumba....sending good thoughts your way!

Pepper, good job maintaining- and good luck at the party!

Sing, the German night sounds like a trip..enjoy!

Everyone else, hope you all have a great weekend!

Friday check in................
I refuse to step on a scale, so don't have anything to report in that area Clothes are still fitting OK, so it can't be too horrible.

It's been a bad week for eating :embarassed: :embarassed: - everyone has Christmas goodies in their offices, and sweets are really hard to resist :frown: . Last night was our division "holiday" party, which I organized. We had brisket, rotisserie chicken, scalloped potatoes, green salad, fresh veggies and homemade cheesecake catered by one of our local grocery stores.........all of it delicious!! I was too busy last night making sure everything was alright for everyone to eat much of anything, but I'm sitting here in my office with a piece of cheesecake with raspberry topping beside me. :embarassed: Bad girl................bad bad girl!!!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: One more Christmas party tonight and then done celebrating with others until Christmas Eve.

We'll have an addition to our house for Christmas; our oldest daughter is bringing her boyfriend home. Poor guy has to work until 8:30pm Christmas Eve (I thought Wal-Mart had a national policy of closing at 6:00pm???), so they won't get to our house until almost midnight. She was worried I'd be upset because we usually open up family gifts on Christmas Eve, but I told her no worries - we'll celebrate on Christmas morning instead . This will be the first time he's ever spent Christmas anywhere but with his whole family at his grandparents' house in Arkansas (he's 29), so I'll have to find out if there's anything special I can make so he'll feel more at home.

Back, neck and shoulders are feeling good, which is wonderful!!! :happy: :happy: The chiropractor told me he'll see me again when I feel I need to come in, no need to schedule an appointment right now. Workouts have gotten slowly better - I'm now able to use all of the machines at Curves again and only hold back on two that concentrate on upper back, arms and shoulders. It'll be good to be able to go full force in a couple of weeks, if I keep feeling alright.

Christmas shopping is done.........finished..............fertig............finito........etc etc!!! I am so relieved - now all I have to do is wrap stuff, which for some dumb reason I hate doing :huh: :huh: . I'll have to shut myself in the sewing room and wrap them all tomorrow - I told myself there was no way I was going to wait until Dec 23 to wrap, which is what I usually end up doing!:laugh:

I hope everyone has a safe and non-eventful weekend; the weather forecast looks lousy in a lot of the country!! We have nothing in our forecast, which is very unusual for Kansas at this time of the year.

Stay warm! :drinker: :drinker:

Marla

I am here and...

I am in PANIC mode with holiday eating. I do not think it is reasonable to expect to lose weight this time of year without hating life.

On the other hand I do not like the guilt/panic/shame/hate/ feeling I get when sampling the holiday treats...

bah humbug!

Maintain in my montra

Julia

Good morning all!

We had a pretty good weekend. We decided to spend most of Saturday out and about, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I think most people would have opted to stay home given how busy everywhere was, but we had a great time. I missed this last year when we were in Korea, so it was fun for me. Having a little snow on the ground from last Thursday's storm helped out. I also finished up the last of the shopping. :drinker: I still need to get some groceries for the weekend, but not much. Since it is just my husband and I, we opt to have a nice breakfast on Christmas morning and no other 'big' or labor-intensive meals on either Christmas Eve or Christmas. We both like it that way because it allows us to enjoy the day outside of the kitchen.

singfree, thanks for your inspiration this morning. Yesterday, while workiing out, I realized I'm completely ready to get back to a healthier eating plan. Like you, I feel like I have so much more energy when I'm eating better (as long as I'm eating enough....something I also struggle with from time to time). I don't know how well I'll get through this week given I still have my sister's brownies sitting on my counter, but I'm going to try. At least I've been keeping up with my workouts. I think that's the only thing that has helped me from gaining a huge amount of weight recently.

mk, SO happy to hear you are continuing to feel better. Good job at getting back to the workouts. It sounds like you are doing it very wisely. Did you get your wrapping done? I actually like wrapping the gifts in paper.....but I hate doing the ribbon/bows parts. :ohwell:

tron, thank you so much for the compliment. It sounds like your daughter is taking her time to make the best decisions for she and her husband. It's probably smart for her to get a house now, but I'm also glad that she is planning on coming home for awhile too. What a tough time they must be going through right now.

Julia, don't panic!!! Look at your ticker and remind yourself that you have more than proven that you can enjoy life AND take care of yourself. You've been on a cruise and you've lived an entire year's worth of life, and look at what you've accomplished!! Two weeks of Christmas/New Years that include sampling some holiday goodies isn't going to wipe all of that away. Just be confident in yourself. Select goodies mindfully (in other words, choose those things you really want and don't just eat what's there because its there), ENJOY them, and know that you'll be right back on track in two weeks without any real harm. Don't feel guilt or shame or anything over what you choose to eat because there is no reason whatsoever to give food that kind of power over your emotional state. It's just food. Choose it wisely and enjoy the taste. No emotions or guilt trips involved. :flowerforyou:

I already did a Turbo Fire workout this morning, but will do an upper body workout later this morning as well. Other than that, it looks like it is going to be a relatively quiet day here. I hope you all enjoy your day!

singfree, I really don't look forward to the January/February time of year, and I have struggled through them in the past. But this year, I've decided to really focus on getting back into shape. I've historically always had to diet during those months (which may be one of the reasons I don't like them) but this year I'm going to focus more on the fitness than the diet. Hopefully one will inspire better trends in the other, though.

Sounds like you've got some wonderful plans for the weekend. Our weekend is going to be pretty quiet. I'm thinking of going to Arlington Cemetery on Friday to pay respects to a general we served with in Alaska who is buried there. His birthday is actually on Christmas Eve. There is also a mall in Pentagon City with an outdoor skating rink, and I thought it might be fun to stop off there to have a cup of tea and watch the skaters. There is talk of snow on Friday night here, so I'll want to be home before that happens (if it does happen at all). I'm really looking forward to spending the weekend with my husband. This is the first Christmas since 2002 where we will be at home, just the two of us, and where he doesn't have to work.

I got in a really good high intensity workout this morning and will do a lower body workout a little later. My mother-in-law sent an email yesterday letting us know that she's mailed us a box of Christmas cookies. Yikes.....more food. I'm so appreciative of people think of us like this, but at this point in time, I feel like I've had enough sugar to last me a life time. But I also know when they get here and I see them.....I'll be digging in. She makes good cookies. :blushing:

Hope you all have a great day!!