Cathe Fans Part 5

Hi Ladies, my new shoes arrived and this time I hit the jackpot with 2 pairs that fit! Thank God because I wore my Birkenstock sandals with socks today. The other thing is that NB shoes were assembled in the USA by American workers!
I called my ortho today and asked to have the doctor review the foot x-rays taken recently to see if they see a Taylor's bunion. Turns out I don't have a bunion and most likely I have bursitis! THAT would explain too why this hurt so bad. I was not in pain today because I had the sandals on and had padded the area very well. The nurse told me that the bunion in my big toe area had gotten worse which was affecting the way I walk putting me into a position where I am walking a little on the outside of my foot. I guess this year the bunion got worse because all of a sudden my foot is just wider. I told the nurse to book me for surgery and the sooner the better. I am hoping they can do it before the end of the year. He told me he was going to fill out the paperwork and I should be able to discuss with the doctor next week.
I got my surprise today at work. It wasn't a promotion but I got my yearly performance review and I got the highest performance rating an employee can get. THAT is rare I guess. I got a nice merit increase and a bonus! We always get bonuses but I always brace myself for the day we don't get one. My boss' boss explained to me that the rating I'd gotten had to be approved by all the managers in engineering as well the head of R&D. Basically it means they all had to agree that I deserved that rating given my performance. I am relieved it wasn't a promotion because it would've meant more responsibility.
I had to bring work home so I didn't get to work out tonight.
Having surgery will mean not working out for a while. I'm scared about gaining weight. I'll be doing ab work in bed! LOL

Laurie, how exciting about getting the new program's shipment notice! Awesome workouts this weekend! Thanks for posting the link to the Ripped with HiiT Users Guide!
The bunions on my big toe side are bad. I'm glad I don't have a Taylor's bunion because the bursitis I don't think needs surgery.

Laurel, I'm so happy love you think the house looks fantastic. I'm so happy for you and your husband! Isn't it amazing how long packing takes? You should start your own moving company!
Great workouts in the middle of packing too! WOW!
Good night ladies!
Thelma

Morning Ladies,

Last night I did Tae Bo Celebrity Fit Sculpt, and I really enjoyed that one a lot. Today is my rest day, so there will be no workout after work. We are also having our pot luck for our department today, just have to watch what I eat. Everything smells so good. This month is horrible for the invites to things, have one on Friday and next week is the plant party. I'm with all of you, I will probably try out the new workouts during the holidays when I have the time off.

Laurel, Check in with us when you are able. Very nice to hear that you are so thrilled with the new house. Can't wait to hear that you are working out in your new workout room! Great workouts, and of course the packing is an added exercise for the day also.

Thelma, Congrats on the bonus and pay raise, that is wonderful. I know how hard it is to get those reviews that are the top ones. They don't usually give those out to anyone around here either. I seem to always get meets expectations. Glad to hear that the shoes have the space that you need. Sorry to hear about the surgery, but you need to do what it takes to get your feet healthy.

Tami, How cool that you have your DVD's. I have been looking at the user guide, just trying to determine what rotation I would like to do. I'm tempted to try the Ripped/Xtrain. Looks like a good mix of workouts. Or I may just do the Ripped workouts as is, then movie onto the other one. Great job on the workouts. Sorry to hear that your DH is sick, my oldest DD is home right now with a nasty cold. Isn't that nice that those ladies where so supportive. I'm sure that it will not take you long to get a handle on what you need to do in the new job.

Have a great day!
Laurie

Hi Ladies! My Ripped with Hiit DVD's arrived today! Loved the case. I wore the new sneaks to work today and they felt ginormous and I couldn't understand why. Turns out I tried them on at home with thick socks last night and today I had my regular socks on. I called Zappos and they will let me return (just this once) the sneakers I wore today. I exchanged one of the other pairs I'm returning for a smaller shoe and I would get them tomorrow. When I got home I exchanged another pair and those will be here on Thursday. I can't wait! The shoes were so big that they were forcing me to walk differently where I was using muscles I wouldn't normally use. The neuromas on both feet were hurting today as a result of the shoes. At least I now know this is the shoe I need just have to find the right size. Tomorrow I'll wear them again with thick socks.

Tami, great workouts! I bet the regulars at the gym were happy to have you back. Sorry your DH is sick. Do you have a humidifier at home? That helps me a lot with sinus issues at this time of the year. How's his elbow doing?
I too thought about incorporating some of the new DVD's in the current rotation. Well as much as my feet allow me to. One of the nurses at work had both feet operated on for bunion correction and she told me years ago when I had surgery for a dislocated toe that she was thrilled to have had the surgery. I found a blog on Pinterest where women are blogging their bunionectomy journey and saw that a lot of them are having both feet done at the same time! WHAT? I'm shocked doctors are doing this because you can't put weight on the foot for weeks. How do they go to the bathroom or bathe? At least I know I can get myself to the bathroom using crutches and I can take a shower by putting the foot (wrapped in a plastic bag) on a a stool. We have stairs at home so I go up and down the stairs on my butt. I better start doing dips!
Glad you get to do the fundraiser workout at the gym!

Laurie, glad you enjoyed your Tae Bo workout! Thank God people at work don't bring food. Years ago we used to do a potluck but we no longer do it. At least not in my department. That is fine by me so I can avoid temptation.
Thanks on the bonus and review at my job. I still can't believe it. My boss' boss continues to engage me in being part of his vision for the department. Thankfully I agree with him! LOL. The scary part is that he wants me to lead the team which is sort of what I do but I can tell he's thinking in a bigger capacity. I don't mind as long as they don't expect me to do my regular job too. Can't get anything done when you get pulled in every direction all day long. I really hate the thought of having to have surgery. The most painful part of my toe surgery was when the doctor's nurse tried to remove the stitches. The guy nearly killed me. He didn't know how to undo her knots and kept pulling. I almost fainted. Now I know what to expect and she has an awesome nurse now.

Laurel, awesome workout! I still don't know where you get all your energy from and I need the recipe! LOL
I am happy I don't have a Taylor's bunion and the bursitis is pretty much under control. What killed me today where the neuromas. I think it's because the shoes felt so long the ball of my foot had to work extra hard.
If I don't have anyone at home caring for me post surgery I won't gain weight just because I won't feel like getting up! DH is good and leaves me whatever I may need by the bed. I got pretty got at going up and down the stairs on my butt. I told him last night that if we are unable to bring my aunt back to the US to take care of me we should hire the pet sitter to come to help me! LOL
You know I haven't been eating my daily peanut butter the last week and I started losing weight! Clearly I was overdoing it! Really great news about my job. Thanks!

Good night ladies!
Thelma

Hi Ladies! Today's workout started with STS Disc 11/Back and Triceps. I guess this means the end of Meso 1 workouts do this rotation! I followed it with a new workout!!! Yes, I got the new series yesterday. I did Low Impact HiiT Woekout 2 and Abs 1, which is a 36 minute premix. I enjoyed it! The moves in the cardio are more speed based than some of Cathe's other low impact workouts, and I liked that because it did get the heart rate up a bit. I wasn't gasping for breath, but it was a nice workout and not at all tough on the body. She uses 8 and 10lb weights for some added intensity. There are some new moves but nothing hard to learn. The music is......different, but not too annoying. The ab workout started with some standing moves with an 8lb weight then to the floor for more weighted moves as well. This isn't a tough ab routine, but it is short and effective. I liked it. So.....so far so good!

Thelma, hope you can work the shoe issue soon! You haven't eaten peanut butter in a week?!?!? Good job! I wish I had that kind of self control when it comes to peanut butter. I could probably lose some weight too! Maybe after the stress of moving I can review my diet again.

Laurie, what a great way to start a day! Hope you are having a 'holly jolly day'. Glad you enjoyed the holiday party. Yes, entertaining right now is a little out of the question. Of course, DH invited his parents down the weekend after this coming one to see the house and have dinner.....and that has me in a panic. Anymore than that....and I would need to be hospitalized. My hope is that on Christmas Day at least, we can sit and do nothing at all if that is what we feel like. BTW, I think you might like that ab routine I did this morning. It reminded me a very little bit of STS Med Ball Abs.....but was better in my opinion.

Off to pack more! See you tomorrow.

Laurel

Hi Ladies, I've been really tired due to long hours at work and also my feet haven't too good. I ended up doing some light spinning. The new shoes arrived this afternoon but I'm going to end up keeping the ones that I thought were too big. I prefer them a little big than not big enough and that is what happened with the shoes I got today. The other thing I discovered is that my toes are not happy on regular socks as they. Thankfully I have my toe socks!
Laurie, I hope you had a good rest day. I am really curious to find out how those women with the double bunionectomy (both fee at the same time) did it. I almost became a Pinterest member just so I could read the bunionectomy blogs but was afraid to read or see something that would freak me out about the surgery.

Laurie, great job with packing and keeping up with the workouts! I can't believe your husband invited his parents so soon. That would've stressed me out too. When is closing ? Friday? Thanks for letting reviewing for us the workout! Are they all that short? I must've forgotten that part. I went for a week without peanut butter. This week I ate some but not nearly as much as before. Probably 1 tbspn. I didn't think I could go without my PB for more than a couple of days but I've been so stressed out with work that I was eating my lunch and PM snack later than normal and wasn't that hungry at dinner.
I can't believe that after all the shoes I've ordered and returned I am keeping the same ones I wore and was going to return!

Tami, great workouts! How exciting about your new HRM! What kind did you get? I've been wanting to get a new one not that there's anything wrong with mine but it's so big for my small wrist.
Thanks for the congrats on the raise and review. It felt great. Of course I'll probably never see that rating again because I got two of the managers who voted for my rating in trouble the other day. Let's just say I rocked the boat a little! We have a couple of bullies in the team and I was tired of people arguing with one of those jerks and went over their heads. We've talked to them over and over about these people and they don't do anything. So I went to their boss and since I'm in his good graces and he consults a lot of things with me I did it. I figured they'd take their boss seriously. Turns out that the bully in question was also a jerk to his own boss in front of all of us so he got to experience first hand what we've been dealing with. LOVED IT!
Tami, I keep a personal humidifier at my does. It's this tiny thing that uses a 16oz water bottle as the water reservoir. You have to use the humidifier all the time for it to work. We have one in our bedroom and we turn it on as soon as we get home from work. He also may need allergy meds. Something OTC like Claritin.
The surgery is a must have I believe. I will see the doctor on the 17th so I don't know when yet. I'd want it to be next week if possible. I think it will be ideal to have it done the last two weeks of the year because DH will be here given the holidays.
My feet are a mess and it's amazing how bad they've gotten. I've read that as we get older our feet spread out. My have been like that all my life because I have flat feet. I wonder if all the jumping I've been doing this year had a lot to do with this but it was a matter of time given the bunions. I rather do it now that I'm still strong/young enough to tolerate and recover from a surgery. I hear it's painful but better painful for a while than to continue going the way I'm going.
Good night ladies!
Thelma

Hi Ladies! Last check-in for me this week. We have been all cleared for closing tomorrow. All of the funds have been paid. So all we need to do is go sign our lives away and get keys. And then move 15,000lbs of stuff....again. Sigh. But we are almost there.

For today's workout, I did the X77 premix from X10. I have been slacking on the cardio this week, so I decided to push it today. It felt fantastic! My workouts have really been my oasis this week if I am being honest. I hope I will be saying the same next week.

Tami, sounds like a good gym class! Glad the sub instructor was good. Hope your DH feels better soon now that he has meds.

Thelma, good job getting some spinning in. No doubt you are exhausted, frustrated and stressed right now. Kudos to you for doing something! Yes, all of the workouts in the new series are relatively shorter. All of the HiiT workouts are less than 30 minutes. But she does have a variety of premixes if you want longer.

Laurie, congratulations on the last week of this rotation! I am going to take it into those extra weeks just to get through this transition. I have really enjoyed these two rotations with you ladies! You all keep me accountable! Hope you enjoy your day off tomorrow!

Wish us luck please!!! And I hope to catch up with you all again next week!

Laurel

Hi Ladies ~ Another substitute instructor for Spinning but it was a good workout, she didn't realize we usually go an hour though so she ended at 45 minutes. Katy should be back for tomorrow's Spin class. This a.m. I did XT All Out Low Impact HiiT. Tomorrow a.m. I am planning on STS Total Body

Thelma: That's pretty funny about DH and the stack of shoe boxes. I love Zappos and how fantastic their return policy is. Especially in your situation that you need just the right shoes, trying several is important! Way to go getting in some Spinning during this time and doing what feels comfortable. Sorry work has been so hectic and long days. I love that the "bully" showed his true colors; they usually do but it sometimes takes a little longer . . . . that was perfect timing. Hopefully you can get some good sleep tonight and this weekend. I am sure the foot pain doesn't help on the tired factor.
The new HRM I ordered is the Polar FT60. It is basically the one I had before but the upgraded version; newer model. Now the one thing I will say is that it does feel a little large for my wrist as well. I also have small wrists. But I am loving how great it works and since my other one was big too I am kind of used to it. I hope it keeps on working for a very long time.
i realized i forgot to answer you about DH - he went to an ENT Doctor the other day and he said he id 99.9% sure he has sleep apnea. so he is going to be tested ---FINALLY! The doctor told him that the sinus infection not going away and/or coming back and his sleep problems, snoring, etc are all related. So they are sending us an in home kit to try out. I have known this for quite a while that he "may" have it but he didnt want to be tested in a hospital. This is great news really. Him getting some good sleep eventually will help with all of these things. His elbow is still throbbing and he finally made an appt with Dr for Monday and then an MRI to follow most likely and again, surgery probably in store for him.

Laurie: Nice job with STS! WOW on the last week, that's awesome! I have absolutely loved these rotations we did. I still have a couple more weeks and then decide on continuing on with the extension or??? Are you going to move right into the new workouts combined with something? How fun that you have tomorrow off to do whatever you need to do. Those are some of the best days off. Enjoy!!!

Laurel: Congrats in advance on closing on your new home and moving in!! I am SO happy for you both. Before Christmas even ~ that's awesome! I know you will make it your own in no time and be enjoying it very much. Way to go on X77!!!!!
All my best thoughts for you to have a smooth transition into your new home. I know it will go well. Can't wait to hear about it.

I'll check in tomorrow! cant believe it is already Friday??!! My week has FLOWN by.
Until tomorrow ~ Tami

Hi Ladies, I hope you had a great weekend. My weekend was busy but good so that's a good thing! My feet have felt great this weekend. I hope it continues during the work week. They always feel much better during the weekend.
Friday I did STS Meso disc 10 Chest, back, biceps, Saturday STS #12 Legs with bonus and extended stretch and tonight spinning.

Laurie, awesome job with the workouts. I'm glad you tied the new workouts! Was there a lot of high impact cardio? I'm still trying to figure out if I want to end the rotation like you did.

Tami, Awesome job on the workouts for you too! Glad you also like the new workouts. Was there a lot of high impact work? I hope Katy is back next week! My feet thankfully have felt great this weekend. I was even able to do lunges! Thank God for Zappos!

I hope you get a lot of mileage out of your new HRM!
WOW! I can't believe your DH has sleep apnea. Hopefully he'll be able to get a cpap mask soon so both of you can sleep well! I would've never thought the sinus issue was related to the sleep apnea though. It probably makes sense due to the dryness by breathing with the mouth open. Let's hope he doesn't need elbow surgery!

Good night!
Thelma

Hi Ladies ~ I had a nice weekend and got in some good workouts!!! Sat a.m. I did back-to-back Ripped with HiiT Circuit; first the upper body, then the lower body workout. OK, LOVE these workouts! I cannot wait to continue into the rest of them. The Upper Body workout is not just upper body, it was a calorie scorcher forsure. Yesterday I only had time for STS Chest/Back and then I met my BFF for lunch and a little shopping. Today will be BootCamp for my workout, hit the ol snooze this a.m. Not sure why, I had plenty of sleep.

Laurie: So excited to hear you tried out a couple of the RWH workouts too! I’m with you, loving them so far. WooHoo! Always great when you are on the countdown for new ones and they are fabulous as you hoped. I’m looking forward to more. Way to go on your workouts and I bet the Leg workout will be a favorite for you with the “no step” factor. Thanks for the good report on the “machine” my BFF was telling me yesterday they are making them smaller now so that is good to hear. I would imagine it will come this week (his testing kit). He did go to the Ortho Surgeon this a.m. and he doesn’t have to have surgery on his elbow afterall! He is absolutely thrilled. The doctor said the throbbing is normal and he should just keep in mind it is still healing but should be good. He thinks the cartlidge is filling in nicely and the tricep muscle has not been effected by it in the tests he did. So YAY for that.

Thelma: Great job to you too on the workouts! I am glad your feet were feeling a little better, that’s awesome. I’m sure you took advantage of that by doing your STS Legs on Saturday. Nice work. There is some higher impact moves in the two that I did. Split jumps, air jacks, tuck jumps, jumps on step, but I know you could modify if need be. I am getting some good mileage out of my new HRM so far! I look at it (as a habit) to make sure it is still working all the time. It’s working great right now and hope that continues for a loooooooooong time. Crazy on the sleep apnea I know. But it does makes sense I guess. He goes back to that doctor for a follow-up either this week or next. His sinuses are way better now after the Z-pack and now he will be tested soon for the sleep apnea. No surgery on his elbow!! This is great news and he is so happy. Just have to keep an eye on it forsure.

Hi Laurel – Hope the new house & moving in is going well for you!

Talk to you ladies tomorrow ~ Tami

Morning Ladies,

Last workout for this rotation was Flex Train, and it was a great workout to end with. Today is my rest day. Only four working days left for me, and then I will not be back to work until the beginning of the new year. Looking forward to some time off.

Tami, Great job on the workouts! After doing these RWH workouts I was a little groggy in the morning also. Have to wonder how much it is taking out of us. Good news on your DH's elbow, that has to give him some ease of mind. I was looking at the weights that Cathe is using on some exercises for the Lift It Hit It workouts, and I know that I will NOT be going that high, but I will try to lift as heavy as I can for the rep amount. It appears that she changes her weight selection at some points. The user guide has different weights for second and third sets.

Thelma, I'm glad to hear that your feet are feeling so much better, and that those lock laces are working the way you need them to. Love that you are able to keep up with the rotation, even if it is just doing the weights and modifying where you need to. I will see how the step goes, that apparatus is not one of my favs.

Have a wonderful day!
Laurie

Hi ladies, I had to work late so cancelled my PT appointment. I came home and did my spinning bike. I'm nervous about tomorrow. I have an appointment at 9:30 for a foot ultrasound for the neuroma. Then at 11AM I see the foot surgeon and I hope to find out how soon she can do the first bunionectomy. I am freaking out about going under the knife. I've heard the recovery is very painful.

Laurie, congrats on finishing the rotation! I hope you have a good rest day. How exciting about being off for the rest of the year after this work week. If I don't have surgery this year then I'll be off starting the 24th and will return to work on 1/5.
Laurie, I think you're going to have to learn to like that step because Cathe loves that thing and uses it on that plyo workout! She goes at it with really fast moves. Start with no risers or just one till you get good at it! I would just keep moving because when Cathe goes too fast I always end up in the wrong direction! LOL

Hi Kira! How good to hear from you! I'm glad you also like the new RWH workouts. What a nice surprise on burning more calories than what you expected.
Thank you so much for sending those positive thoughts my way and on the congrats about my job recognition. I hope your husband's toe gets better soon. You don't think the swelling is due to the surgery? I hope his doctor is able to figure out what else could possibly be wrong with his toe. Yard work is a workout in itself for sure so it counts!

Good night ladies!
Thelma

ThelmaSW wrote: »

I am freaking out about going under the knife. I've heard the recovery is very painful.

Thelma,

Just remember that those of us who exercise regularly to tough workouts tend to have a much higher pain tolerance than those who do not.

So, no freaking out just yet ... best to concentrate on getting the best surgery center and surgeon.

ThelmaSW wrote: »

You don't think the swelling is due to the surgery? I hope his doctor is able to figure out what else could possibly be wrong with his toe.

It almost feels like a secondary ganglion cyst OR a callus, but it too deep to be a callus. The entire proximal joint is swollen, to the point that he has changed shoes (sound familiar!) to find the most comfortable pair until the swelling subsides.

We'll see if he can hold out until his next post-op checkup ...


Kira

Hi Ladies! Just wanted to take a minute to check in. I've missed you all!! But the move has gone very well. I love our new home!! It is everything I hoped it would be.....and more. I just love it. The moving part.,,,,not so much. As always, it has been physically brutal, but things are taking shape. At least we had perfect weather for the move (sunshine and temps in the 60s). The high school students DH had helping us were very good. We have had no damage (so far). And I am finished washing kitchen stuff!! So all is good!

I took Saturday and Sunday off from workouts, but, as usual, my workout room was about the first to get put together. So Monday I was back at it. I am continuing on with the rotation right now since I don't have to really think about the STS workouts. So Monday was STS Disc 22/Chest, Shoulders and Triceps followed by Hard Strikes cardio and XTrain Core 1. Yesterday was STS Disc 23/Legs followed by Athletic Step. And today was STS Disc 24/Back and Biceps followed by Cardio Core Circuit.

Last Friday, I did another one of the new workouts (Plyo HiiT 1), and really enjoyed it. Reading all of your comments about the other workouts has me anxious to get back to them!! They look really good, and I have really enjoyed the two I have done so far.

Thelma, I hope things go well today with your appointment. Please keep us posted. Don't stress about post-surgery recovery. People love to tell horror stories. Don't listen to them. Just trust you will get better.

Laurie, glad you are enjoying the new workouts. Those one arm burpees aren't as bad as they look!! I was surprised it could do them to be honest because I thought for sure I would have to modify. Bet you are looking forward to your time off.

Tami, so glad you are enjoying the new job. How nice they are going to give you a long weekend over Christmas!!! Sounds like these are good people to work with and for.

Kira, good to see you! I have the same issue with short workouts. But I am trying to convince myself I don't need more than that! Hope you enjoy Meso 3.

Okay, must get back to work. I will be checking in when I can!

Laurel

Morning Ladies,

Last night I did Back, Shoulders & Biceps. Very good workout, and I liked that she did all trap work for the shoulders. I looked at the other weight workout, and the shoulder work in that one is for the front. I didn't go as heavy as Cathe did, but I think the next time I do this workout I could go a little higher. No where near what Cathe is lifting though.

Laurel, Great job on the workouts, and still getting them in through your moving process. Sounds like the house is great! I'm so glad that it is what you wanted and more. Once everything is where you want and need it, you will be a very happy lady. Have you gotten your workout room set up the way you want it though? That is the most important thing. I did change my mind about that Plyo workout, will try it out at some point. Just wasn't ready for it last night with the way I was feeling.

Thelma, OUCH! I hope your feet start feeling better after all that you had to go through to get the ultrasound done. WTG on getting in the workout! I hope that I can get the moves down for the step moves, like you I don't enjoy missing the step and landing on my butt or face.

Have a wonderful day!
Laurie

Hi Ladies ~ Sorry I missed you all yesterday ~ I had a lunch date yesterday and then my evening was packed full after Spinning last night. I cannot believe how the days are just FLYING by for me. Yikes! Let's see, so yesterday was STS in the a.m. & Spinning last night. Not sure why, but I am burning some serious calories since I acquired my new HRM. Makes me feel like my other one was off for a while or maybe my settings are different this time? At any rate, feeling good and no workout today but one of the new "Ripped with HiiT & X10" is on the plan for tomorrow.
Sat a.m. is 2 hours of Spinning . . . . Spin for Tots.

Laurie: Congrats to your daughter and her dance accomplishment! That's so great. Awesome work on your workouts too ..... good to hear you liked another one of the "new" workouts! Thanks for the update on that link and finding those new worksheets.

Laurel: Yay on the new house and having it be even more than you had hoped for!!!! I am so happy for you both and beyond the exhaustion, I'm sure you are truly loving every minute of it. I was laughing inside and knowing "of course" your workout room was unpacked and ready to roll probably before bedding or dishes! I love it. Way to get in all those combos after only a couple days off.

Thelma: OUCH is right on the ultrasound and all that squeezing of your foot. I hope it is feeling slightly better now. Great job again with your persistence and doing what you can do right now. Fingers crossed that you get through the remaining work days . . . sounds like it is pretty crazy for you! Very nice that you will be having some nice time off during Christmas.

Hope you ladies are having a nice evening and I will try to check in tomorrow!
Tami