shan - I'd take that HRM back and spend the $20 on New Rules of Lifting for Women - I REALLY think this is AWESOME for beginning lifters....and, from there, you can watch youtube videos (Mark Rippetoe) on "form" for your squat, deadlift, etc.

I totally think the book makes sense from a nutrition standpoint, from a "get your form down - THEN up your weights" standpoint, and from a "progress, not perfection" standpoint.

I'm a convert. And I'm not even half-way through it (almost, though...)

There are 2 groups on mfp you should consider joining: "NROL4W" and "women strength training" - I spend QUITE a bit of time over there.

shan - on the NROL4W forum, some of the women who bought the ebook went out and bought the hard copy, eventually - because you can flip back-and-forth with the hard copy from the schedule to the demonstration of the lift (for example). So, just be cautious! (I love my paperback version - I carry it everywhere I go!)


Amy, Stage 6 of NROL4W is the "pull-up" stage and, yes, I think most of the work is doing "negative pull-ups" (i.e. starting with your body up at the bar and SLOWLY going down - repeat). I'm not at Stage 6, so I haven't done an UBER-thorough review, but that's my recollection.

PS posted a bikini pic from today...its pretty flattering (ie this isn't what I see all the time) but hey, this is way better than any older photo of me, flattering or no!

Thank you for the constructive criticism aschief.

You look fantastic chuisle!

Have a great time at the gym shander and let us all know how it goes.

So, yesterday I started to break my no sugar challenge when I got to my sister's house to pick up my daughter and saw a pan of chocolate chip cookies on the stove. Instintively I grabbed one, but I only got about a third of it because as I bit into it the thing fell apart and onto the floor and her dog went for it. I thought "I totally deserved that for cheating" and did not go back for another.

Aschief - agreed.

Chuisle - already ready for summer and good that you also FEEL good about it!

Shander - the weight room at my gym is also completely unstaffed from 9 AM - 4 PM. And generally deserted as well. It's a pool-oriented place rather than a true gym. Good luck and have a great burn!

Abigail -- Isn't is funny when that kind of thing happens? Nice to know the universe helps us so directly sometimes!

Mamareese - have fun renovating! I'm doing that, too, right now and sometimes forget how much of a work out it can be. Then after dinner I get dressed to go run or lift and say to myself, "Hmm, why don't I feel energized to go work out??" Then I remember I DID work out already, just in a different way.

Question for everyone: I finally bought a Polar HRM (FT4 ?) and have been wearing it for a variety of activities during the past week. I have a very difficult time believing the "calories burned" number. For example: yesterday I mowed the yard. It's a hilly two thirds of an acre. I used a push mower and, b/c of conflict with a crazy neighbor who I wanted to avoid, I jogged for much of the time so I would finish before they returned home. It took me 10 min shy of 2 hours to mow everything. The HRM said 1,008 kcal burned. I'm in good shape and I simply cannot believe that I burned that many calories mowing the yard. I haven't done research on HRMs yet, but it seems that everything is based on heart rate, age, and height/weight ratio. The MFP estimate was something like 600 kcal, though it assumes walking over flat terrain. Still, that's a huge difference.

Could it be extra-high because my heart rate is unusually high this week due to multiple external stressors?? Or is it possible that I really did burn that many calories?

Could it be extra-high because my heart rate is unusually high this week due to multiple external stressors?? Or is it possible that I really did burn that many calories?

I'm no expert but I think it's a combination of both. I notice when I'm sick and have difficulty breathing during a workout my burns for the same exercise are always slightly higher, but I would also agree that given your jogging and terrain it would be higher than what MFP suggests.

I totally just made the coolest star chart to check off of for the next 2 weeks

I'm sure guys do stuff "wrong" in the gym, but I hardly ever notice what they are doing....only if I have to stand there waiting for some piece of apparatus do I notice. And, that's maybe for one last set, or whatever.

I CAN say the guys all do pretty boring stuff. They sure aren't doing push-presses - or one-arm snatches - or stuff like that!

wow, i had a major fail... we went out to dinner at our favorite italian place and i got half way through a plate of calamari when i remembered i had nixed fried food for my challenge

Jen, good luck with the house we will miss you.

Beeps, you are so funny.

Shan, way to go at the gym. I am impressed, and I think that is awesome you were not afraid to ask someone for help. I would be too shy, but I did luck out when I first got into lifting because the personal trainer I hired I only had to pay for a few sessions. I brought him a bunch of business so I had free sessions for referrals and then I started bartering bookkeeping for his business in exchange for trainig. We had to stop trainig because of some scheduling conflicts so he started paying me to do the books a couple hours a week. Now I work there as an actual employee. I help him manage the business. It's only ten hours a week so I fit it in with some other bookkeeping I do for small companies. Funny how all that happened. Wow! I'm totally rambling.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! For me that is the hardest time to stay on track with my eating habits. Hubby & I were out car shopping yesterday and brought the kids to Dairy Queen. They all ordered their ice creams and when they looked at me I just asked for an ice water. Wow - will power - I didn't know I had it!

C3nterstage- Just pick yourself back up from the calamari and try again! It was one slip up and we all make them, remember that we will never be perfect. Next time you go out to eat just try to remember!

Chloe - Same to you! I'm glad you got to chat with your stepmom with wine, maybe next time just go for one glass and water though?? Easy to say now, but I bet I would split the bottle too if I was in that situation :P And congrats on finishing p90x!! You must feel awesome!!! Take your pics now!!!!!

Beeps - I want to find $80!!! You should buy yourself something with that money, don't just put it back in your wallet! You earned it

Abigail - That's awesome you got to work with the personal trainer that often!! We get free training with the gym I'm going to, but the times they're available aren't very convenient for me unfortunately.... I'll have to go later at night to get a personal training session with them on one of the nights.. maybe next week or something!! And congrats on the willpower!! I've been craving ice cream for a few weeks now and have successfully avoided it... I'm going to break at some point though!! But I'll make sure it's worth it

Jen - That's awesome that you might be moving to a place you love!! I'll be jealous if you move to a nice warm climate... I'm stuck up in New England where it's 80 today and could be 50 tomorrow!! Gotta love it.... haha! Good luck with the move!!!

I'm still sore today from the gym!! My quads are killing!! I was going to go to the gym again yesterday on my way home from my bf's but I forgot to pack my clothes I'm going to go on Wednesday and Friday though... maybe I can get there on Sunday as well.. we'll see!! I can't wait til class ends so I can make it a normal Wednesday routine!! I'm also trying to see if we do have a barbell at home so maybe on Jazz days I can do a couple things at home.. maybe some deadlifts and squats at least! I'll have to wait til tonight to find out though! I had 2 splurge meals this weekend instead of just one But I don't regret them and I think that it's important that I don't.. I weighed the same yesterday morning as I did on Thursday.. and that's after the splurges.. so I'm confident I'm heading in the right direction! Here's to another good week!!!