Good morning everybody. It's Sunday and the new thread is opened (thanks John).

Weighed in for my vlog and very happy with it! I'll be recording the vlog in a bit. Now, why wasn't this showing up on Friday, when I really needed it? Doesn't my scale know I need some extra money? LOL!! Seriously, I know what happened Friday and why my loss was minimal (darn sodium!!!!). I'm very happy just seeing the weight going down.

The January Jaunt is on hold today. I kinda overdid it yesterday so my legs are telling me 'No jaunting' today. Next Friday will be my last day to get in the miles for the month. I should be able to get to 45 miles, unless the weather decides to not cooperate. Fingers crossed! Either way though, I'm very happy with what I have accomplished this month. Thank you everybody for cheering me on and for participating in the January Jaunt as well. I love it!!!!

I'm thinking of doing another challenge in February. In the FB challenge, one week there is a challenge to try a new food or recipe. I thought I would expand on that. How about for the four weeks in February, try one new thing each week. This can be a new food, recipe, exercise, blogging/vlogging, whatever. This can also include trying something that maybe you haven't tried for a long time (there are some foods I haven't eaten in years that I plan on reintroducing myself too). I don't have a name for the challenge yet so I'm working on that.

Carol, I wanted to thank you again for having me on your show. I really enjoyed it and felt honored to be invited. I hope the viewers and listeners enjoy it.

Well I better go get the camera crew and producer and start my vlog recording. Oh wait, they are all me! Hehehe...

Happy Sunday! A great start to another great week. Clean slate, and all that. Yesterday was my "day off" from closely monitoring food. I didn't go crazy, but why do I do that to myself anytime?

Checking out the FitBit challenge to see what it is all about.

Off to do my heavy arms day. I'll be sore tomorrow, since I'm already feeling the shoveling from yesterday morning. It hurts so good.

Sunday - no CarbNite hangover, so that's good. Keeping things more moderate definitely the way to go for me.

Yesterday StrongLifts were a bit of a mixed bag. The 105# squats were easier than the 100# I was so worried about. Not easy, mind you, but not the mental and physical struggle of the prior workout. Just shows what a mental barrier can do to you (and I am the queen at setting up mental barriers in physical stuff - ask any ski or mountain bike instructor that has worked with me). 70# Bench was a struggle of failed sets. 4-3-2-2-4 versus 5x5. I finally accidentally figured out how to code failed sets in the app. Up until now, if I failed, I lowered the weights and completed the sets. Well, the app coaches you on failed sets. Longer rests and continuing with the same weight. Which means I did 3-2-2-4 more reps at 70# than I would have if I hadn't figured it out (repeatedly tapping the set circle changes the reps)

Gonna have to check out the Jen/Carol recording!

Carol - you really should get Sarah Fragoso and Jason Seib on the show - they are all about the "other parts of life". Listen to them and Jim Laird (another hero of mine) on Bodyio..... I can "introduce" you & the podcast to Sarah (tho' you have obviously met at your panel at PaleoFX, so not necessary).

I'm a cool Fitbit kid now too. I'm hoping I don't get it all confused with my phone app that tracks my jaunts. Still trying to figure it out and get the steps to be 'correct'.

Yay Jen! Once you get the two systems connected there's little to worry about. The fitbit will track all the time, endomondo when you turn on. Fitbit can either sync to computer by that dingle thingie. Or your phone via Bluetooth. And you can track actual sleep too. All good.

Morning all. Anyone have experience donating plasma while dieting? It's not my first time to donate, I usually wait till they do a promotion in this case $250 for just 4 visits so I only donate about twice a year. Plasma is mostly protein if I understand it right so I am thinking my normal high protien diet should actually help me. I plan to just increase my intake to offset it. Any ideas? Thanks

Chris, rock climbing is great fun. My instructor was telling me that most people under utilize their legs. Instead of pushing with your legs, we tend to pull with our arms which is what I did. I'm not afraid of heights but I had a problem letting go of the rocks when it came time to get down.

So, I know some of you have fit bit and endomondo. And I've always wondered What does one do with data? Why are the advantage of using Fitbit? Why can't one just walk without knowing how many steps one takes?

Got back from Tahoe, it's gorgeous but warmer than usual. I did find snow at higher elevation yay! I hiked, snowshoed and cross crossing skied. I really like cross country skiing. The dogs were great they love the snow! I did good diet wise. Nothing too drastic. Hope to get back my lowest weight since starting carb Nite by Febuary

Jen, so the advantage is that you know how many steps and distance you walked each day and the social aspect of it?

Heron, that's exactly what I did. My friend was yelling at me to use my legs, but I kept on losing focus on that part and just trying to get up. I want to do more. I was pretty comfortable on 8s and I think I could hit a 9 if I was fresh. Then again, do I really need another hobby?

Yes. Yes I do.

Heron, I'm a long time Fitbit user ( and prior to that a gowearfit/bodybugg user). I'm highly analytical by nature and like to see trends in steps, stairs climbed, active minutes etc. it motivates me. Until recently I really didn't do the more social aspects. I also have tracked about every bike ride I've taken with a garmin. I do look back at miles, steps etc. and the sleep data. I've really never been about the calorie tracking part (well I was when I wore the bodybugg thing), more the pushing myself to move more, get in the steps. And to me it's the steps / activity outside of "working out" I'm worried about. So never calculate workouts into steps, or agonize over how it doesn't track bike rides well.

Interestingly enough my highest step day in the nearly four years I've been a fitbit user...a day at Disneyworld. More than half marathon day. In fact I think 3 out of my top 5 days are at Disney.

Heron,

Fun fact: I'm terrified of heights.

This was the first time since Boy Scouts (13 years ago?) so I'll count it as my first time. Since I knew going in that I have a problem with heights my game plan was to just climb up an easy one and just let go. It helped I was with a friend that I trusted. Auto belays are scary but really cool once you trust them. The place I went had 3 different areas with three different heights. We started with some boulder problems which is so much fun I could do just that all day and be happy. Then we went to what I would call the kids room. I sent a couple in there, learned the "ropes" and the rest is history. Unfortunately that gym is 3 and a half hours away so it's going to be a luxury to go there. We have a wall here in town but it's not that big. I might get a membership there this summer to get my forearm endurance and technique up a little bit. I would like to try and do outdoor climbing sometime too but again, that's at least a 3 hour drive to the Sandias in Albuquerque.

Do you climb a lot? How about outdoor climbing, what's your take? And any cool strength building exercises for climbing? Other than more climbing...:)

Mark, love that idea of trying something new every week.
Here's something to try; African peanut chicken stew. You wouldn't think peanut butter and chicken in a stew would work but it's hella good! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chicken-and-Vegetables-Braised-in-Peanut-Sauce-106049

Chris, I'm not a climber. I do like it but it's not a hobby for me. I think that's so interesting that you are afraid of heights but can still overcome it. Are you sure you are afraid of heights lol. I hate auto belays, it's not that I don't trust the machine it's that 1 second drop before it catch that always gets me. After about 5 climbs my nerves are so shot and my hands are shaking so much that I can't climb anymore. In my head I still want to go but my body is way to pumped. I'd probably get used to it if I do more auto belays. My instructor did show me an exercise. It's a "box step up" use a box or a step the higher the better. Step up and hold knee to chest or as close to the chest as possible for 2 seconds, if (as you get better hold it longer)step down and alternate. It's works your lower body, core, balance, legs individually and awareness. Simple but effective. When you get better you can do the step up using only the balls and toes or just toes. Those will mimic foothold during climbing and strengthen/activate those foot and ankle muscle muscles that we rarely use. Heck that exercise is great for any sport. I should really do more of that, I totally forgot about that. Here's a great link for finger/arm strengthening. http://www.rockclimbing.com/Articles/Training_and_Technique/Finger_Back_Arm_Strength_18.html
Nice run today!

Good morning everybody. It's Tuesday and getting myself ready for another work day. I see my chances of 'winning' the weekly Fitbit challenge are nil. Oh well, it wasn't about being competitive. I got in over 11,000 steps yesterday. It's crazy, I really didn't do anything all that different than I normally would at work. It's nice to see that those walks to meetings on the other side of the complex can pay off. Maybe Friday I can get a long jaunt in and take the lead!

Heron, great picture. I have never skied before and at my age, not sure I'm willing to try.