the gym at work was a madhouse at noon... good thing I went at 11am! I'm really enjoying the fact I can exercise during lunch times here! I always feel so refreshed albeit very hungry by the afternoon! Went hiking on Saturday in the snow at Mt. Falcon... beautiful, beautiful! Yesterday drove up to Eldora and went snowshoeing! Tubbs has an expo and snowshoe rentals and trail passes were free! There really wasn't enough snow to need snowshoes until I went off trail... such fun! Pretty windy and cold up there, I didn't last two hours even!

short hike during lunch... super muddy but really sunny and warm!

How warm? What was the temperature?

63 F and dry, dry, dry... geeeeooorgeous!

Where I was at the time it was only 15 degrees warmer. That was in south Florida

great little hike during lunch on Monday... to work out all the sore skiing muscles... still warm and sunny and dry here!

25 minutes of hard backstroking this morning on an empty stomach at the Q. Gotta do this at least 4 times a week to burn off that excess fat.

where you been hiding that 'excess fat' Paul???

Well I've got a lot of it burned off, but there's still some work to do. Heading to the Q in a little while to burn off some more. Simple theory. Go to the Q first thing in the day on an empty stomach. Drink one cup of *black* coffee. Then work out furiously for 25 minutes, no matter what, just so it's aerobic. Simple, but doesn't it make sense that you have to burn fat when there's nothing else in there to burn? It's working so far. Folks have been making comments, ya know!

actually it doesn't make that much sense. Fat is fat soluble. Must have fat to burn fat. Yes, your body will burn adipose tissue, but it takes longer to convert. Plans like that can also backfire, leading to a slower metabolism as well as the hoarding of calories... if your body thinks it's starving, it'll be really stingy with the calories you do give it. Lowering your metabolism. Have a banana Paul... the potassium is excellent for you, the caloric intake is minimal but at least you've got something besides muscle to burn!

Hey, you're psychic. I bought 3 bunches of bananas at HEB last night. A force just moved me off Riverside into the produce section and on the express lane.

ahhh... and I am quite a force! *grin*

But, Stace, you've shattered all my simplistic notions of working out! They're lying in bits and pieces on the floor. Now I'm scared that I'm "tricking" my body by this black coffee 25 minute workout 4 times a week routine. What would you recommend instead? I did have a great swim two days ago and in about an hour I'm heading over to the Q for a 25 minute aerobic workout. I *have* lost a lot of weight doing this and I feel a lot healthier and more pumped up. A lot of folks are commenting that I look better, the improvement over the last 30 days doing this routine has been astonishing. Yesterday, I beat a 6'9" 20 year old kid playing basketball. And yet you say I'm doing it all wrong?

I'm saying that you're doing it all wrong as far as your body is concerned. It's the only one you have... don't make it work so hard in some ways. Push it to the limit with exercise and continue to allow your positive attitude to affect your body image but... feed it Paul!!! The results you've gone into would be the same if you went on some crackpot crash diet... of course your body will lose weight but once it figures out you're going to continue to deprive it of nutrients (not so much a calorie issue as a nutrient issue), it's gonna start hangin onto every piece of anything you put in your mouth and not let it go. Read SLOW metabolism! As long as you've continued to eat well during the day, you should be fine but a simple banana in the morning could improve your performance and it'll make your body feel better. I know, i know, you're saying you feel great already... I bet you do, endorphins do that to a person! Keep drinking the black coffee but throw a little bone to your system and see hhow it feels!

Well, I've been eating normally. But I just thought working out on an empty stomach first thing in the day would burn more fat. Well, I'm working on that bunch of bananas. Hooo hooo.

good boy! entering any 'stupid human trick' contests soon? Ironman?

so if I started a equivalent program, I should stir one teaspoon of lard into my black coffee before working out...right?

*laugh* sorta. could we try for something with actual nutritional value?

On Friday it snowed so fiercely that the Rockies game was postponed until August, Saturday I had to add an extra comforter to the bed, Sunday I worked in the garden without a jacket, today I took a bike ride during lunch (no jacket!!). My 'workouts' for lack of a better word have been sporadic. I guess I was just being kinda lazy. I now have a goal... a dualthlon on May 15. Really short distances but it's been awhile so I think it'll serve as a nice warm-up to an event filled summer. I love the outside, I love the outside... c'mon everyone, sing my happy song!

No posts on here recently! I joined a gym for the first time this week. I alsmost didn't get accepted because I've got chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). But 9 years on I'm ready to start really moving again. I'm a bit frustrated because my regime at the moment doesn't stretch me - the gyms being very cautious. So I'm only doing about 20 mins light work. I've been twice this week and feeling OK. When does the weight begin to come off?

Hiya Maggie! I got tired of working out by myself... glad you stopped in! The weight starts to come off after your metabolism really believes you've made a lifestyle change... consistency! And, depending on your regime, the scale may not show results as quickly as your body shape. Muscle weighs more than fat but it's also more compact... you'll be firmer before you're lighter. The best part about that is though... lean muscle mass also burns more calories... so... you're body will begin to burn more calories just by existing. Once you hit this point and continue to keep exercising is when you'll begin to notice the serious changes! Is there any active way to treat CFS? Have you modfied your diet with this new workout plan?? What gym did you join? Did you sign up for a personal trainer? Keep us up to date on the progress!

Hi Stacey, I'm glad someone was out there! Where do I start? Well, the Gym I've joined is run by our local council (in England). It's got a good local reputation and a lovely view of the river Thames which i enjoyed on the treadmill this morning. I had my induction this week and got a personal trainer who keeps an eye on me, and does reviews, fitness tests and stuff. That's where I hit the CFS problems becuase the Gurus say don't exercise, and the trainer was going by that. I've had it 9 years and I lead a full life, I just have to pace myself Active treatment of CFS. In the UK most of the problem is getting it recognised. Because the hospital thought my adrenal glands were packing up they stuffed me full of steroids. However, that did appear to give me a kick start, and from being a zombie I woke up. I also had a really good physiotherapist. She worked on the premise that if you don't do anything you won't be able to do anything. So she taught my husband passive exercises to do with me, and then encouraged me to take up badminton! All this at a stage where I could hardly get around. But it worked for me. I learnt to recognise the 'stop' signs, and decided that a few bad days were worth the increase in muscle tone. Once i plateaued and didn't seem to be making progress I tried cutting out various foods one at a time. Cutting out wheat made a big difference. now I can eat it, in moderation. Diet. I already eat a healthy, low fat, high fibre diet with lots of raw foods, but can't shift the pounds I put on with the steroids and after. There's been a real metabolism change. Any ideas?

How long have you been eating the diet you mentioned? Is it fat tissue that you're trying to lose or have the steriods put more 'bulk' on you as well? As you probably know, body buidlers use steroid type drugs to add girth that they are then able to tone... you may not have fat to lose, but some of that extra tissue... As is always the case, unless you're trying to bulk up (big, thick muscular look) use very light weights for extended repetitions. Even three - five pounds lifted over and over again (I go by time in minutes, not by number of repetitions) will tone those muscles. Stretch often and well to elongate those muscles and to relieve build up of toxins in the tissues (releases stress as well)... You are certainly on the right track! Sounds like you've got the CFS under control... is it at all episodic? Good days and bad days? Any triggers? Glad to have you around Maggie...

I've been on the diet for about seven years. I think I agree about the bulk. Apart form that one episode on steroids i haven't had any for 9 years. But - I heard it takes years for them to be out of the body. I'm doing the stretch exercises on an off during the day. I find it helps to relive tension whilst computing. I sit at my computer for 6-8 hours a day which doesn't help. haven't got into using weights yet. I think that comes laterin the programme. I have a review in 3 weeks time, although I' e decided to increase the levelon the bike (I'm on 0!!) and speed on treadmill (I'm on 3.2 which is far slower than my usual walking speed). My frustration at the moment is the cautiousness of the gym! However, I am grateful to be able to exercise and then being able to work as usual, so it must be OK, and I need to be patient. CFS is episodic for me, but now I hardly remember I have it. I have patches where I feel like I'm wading through treacle and everything is an effort, and everywhere aches. But I know it passes, and it just a matter of living through it. Wheat certainly makes a difference and I know if I've overloaded. Certain flours seem better than others. I think it may be to do with the added chemicals. Stress always pushes me over, especially time pressures.

I understand your frustration about the slow pace but your body will appreciate the gradual conditioning! How frequently are you going to the gym?

BTW, my workouts are going well. The month long hiatus I took to get married, honeymoon and visit relatives has not negatively impacted my fitness level as much as I thought it would and I put in 20+ miles running on Saturday. Today I'll do some easy weights, to continue to counteract those knee issues I've been prone to and maybe run for awhile. Although the weather is SO incredibley unseasonably warm, I may skate.

Congratulations. Does your husband run too? Hope you had a great honeymoon. I'm trying to go to the gym four times a week. We get to swim free too with our membership, so I went swimming after my workout today because I felt good. It's a small pool but not usually crowded. I like it because it's warm, and that helps my muscles. I upped the treadmill to 4.0 (I don't know what the rates refer to) and my heart rate kept under 130 and it felt much better than the slow speed. I also did 10 minutes instead of 5. So I feel good about it.

My husband thinks running is 'evil'. Unfortunately it is just about the worst sport for bad knees, but he's trying to be supportive... He's a big cyclist. Road and mountain bikes. For the last few years he's been doing ultra events and the next one is the Ididasport. This race is the equivelant of the Ididarod in Alaska, only on a mountain bike. Congratulations on upping your level and your time! Typically on a treadmill you can increase the speed and/or elevation. So, when you upped it to 4.0, you either increased the slope upon which you are walking or you graduated to 4km/hour.

I guess I upped it to 4 KM per hour. I decided not to go to the gym today as I felt a bit overstretched after swimming as well yesterday. However, I did do a brisk mile walk to the shops for the paper. Both my girls were runners at school, and both have had knee problems. My youngest daughter's boyfriend was captain of the junior England squad and is encouraging her to gradually get going again. His family are runners and regularly compete. At least I'm getting encouraged not laughed at! My husband is oining me at the gym, although his programme is three times as long as mine which is causing me some frustration (I end up hanging around for him). How often do you run? Do you work out as well?

I run 2-5 times per week... how's THAT for inconsistentcy!? My running schedule always depends on how the knee feels. My longest runs are usually on Saturdays and I take Sunday off. Honestly, I hate gyms, I just don't like being inside and sweating. But in the winter time the gym is a logical choice because I hate being sedentary more! I also rollerblade and mountain bike, although since training for this marathon, I haven't done either since July. I use weights a couple of times per week. Lots of repetitions, VERY little weight usually. At first getting used to using only 8 or ten lbs was difficult for me because I felt like I wasn't pushing my body at all. But after 50+ of anything, I start to feel 'the burn'. Today I woke up at 5am to hit the gym before work... I like starting my day out with the endorphin rush!

I pushed the treadmill up to 15 mins and got to 4.5 (?kms n hour) and the heart rate didn't go above 130, so I think I'm coping well. I also pushed the bike up a level to 1! So I'm feeling quite pleased. I think I just have to be happy with small things - although it's frustrating. Husband has curtailed his workout so that I'm not waiting an hour for him to finish. That helps the frustration too. How far do you run on your 2-5 times a week stints? Have you always run? Our girls began doing 5kms in Africa when they were 10-12 years old, but neither have carried on into adult hood, partly because of injury problems. they also hated running in the cold here.

Again, everything depends on the knee. Usually between 3-5 miles (is that like 5K - 8K?) per stint. Lately though I've been between 5-8 per stint and everything feels pretty good. My father used to run when I was little. Five miles every day. I would ride my little pink bicycle behind him, around and around and around the neighborhood. When I was about 10 I started enjoying running in school and I would take short jogs with my father. In junior high school (ages 12-14) I ran with the track team. In college I ran to relieve stress and would participate in 5K and 10K charity runs. I ran my first marathon in March of 1995 and two weeks later in a 10K, I seriously injured my knee. For ecovery (after 8 weeks of doing NOTHING!) I began cycling (with my then boyfriend, now husband). Only in the last year and a half have I started running on a fairly regular basis and only since July have I run exclusive to other physical activities. Today I will hit the gym AFTER work... somedays I prefer sleep to the treadmill!

and pardon me for not mentioning in the last post... Congratulations! ... on increasing your speed and still feeling great!

My personal trainer rang this morning - and my routine's been upped. I'm now on the bike twice in the session - the second time on the hill programme, and also on hill on the treadmill. So, I'll try it out tomorrow. She's also suggested weights - not sure if thats whilst on the treadmill or separate. I need to book a review session to be taught how to use them. So I'm feeling more positive. Now I've gone and got a cold!

Woo Woo! Maggie! (not cheering about the cold of course!) Good luck with the improved regime! I haven't done anything since Saturday. My semi long run (that is supposed to be getting shorter and shorter with the marathon quickly approaching) was a 14-miler but didn't set well with me. Slow pace, just didn't feel 'with it' and I was uncharacteristically sore afterwards. I decided it could be overtraining so I took a few days off. I'm headed to the gym today during lunchtime... just easy, easy, easy though. I hope you feel better soon Maggie!

When's the marathon? I read somewhere that people commonly overtrain. This isn't likely to be too much of a problem for me - yet - but what do you mean by that. Is it that muscles need time to recover - lactic acid and stuff?

The marathon is in Honolulu, Hawaii. yes, muscles AND joints need time to recover. It's not so much a lactic acid issue... that dissipates after less than a day but when you pound your body's joints with such force, they need a few days at least to swell and heal and the muscles that you may have pulled and torn (that's how your muscles grow... tearing and reforming) need time to gather their strength again. It's analogous to any repetitive stress injury... do it often enough and your body will retaliate! (how's the cold?)

Feeling better today, lots of VitC and echinacea. Decided to go to the gym even though I wasn't on top of the world. Actually felt I worked out today, achey legs this evening. managed the new settings on the treadmill fine. Started with hill level 1 at 4.5 km per hour which was comforatable. Did 15 mins. Then to reclining bike. Tried random level 2 as specified by trainer. Too tough on the thighs, so graded down, and finally ended up on level 0!!! I lasted the ten minutes but it was tough. I can feel the tightness in the tighs now 7 hours later. Next time I'll begin on level 0 and go upwards gently! anyway it feels good. I'm still having trouble keepingmyheart rate down. At the least extra effort it peaks above 136. I'm supposed to keep under 130 beats per minute. I'm not feeling stressed (well, apart from that last bike ride). My resting pulse is normally pretty high ( around 88) and I'm 46. I just hope it'll settle as I continue. I guess if your run is in Hawaii you'll not have to contend with bad weather. We get so cold and damp here it's difficult to do much outside. It's dark by 4pm now, and that's a beginning. How do you avoid overtraining? Do you do different things on different days?

It gets dark here early too since Daylight Savings Time ended... makes me grumpy. Congratulations... that's what I call a 'good hurt' To avoid overtraining I need to rest a bit more and yes, do different things on different days... I'm using muscles that I don't use too much during running... to get my heartrate up and keep the endorphins going but not over fatigue the muscles I really need in a couple of weeks. I've been warned to expect a little rain in Hawaii but the temperatures should be between 60F and 70F for the 5am start... With regard to your heart rate... is the gym trying to keep it around 80 percent of max? Your resting rate should lower as your heart gets more efficient at pumping blood (i.e. as it gets stronger) Glad your feeling better! Now my hubby's got a cold :-(

now I've got the cold...

Sorry about that, I suppose it's sort of inevitable. I realised one problem with the heart rate was probably the Sudafed I was taking to dry up the cold. Now I'm not taking it the heart rate's settled. I managed level 2 random on the reclining bike today, it was a bit of a push but OK. So I must be getting stronger. I have a review next Wednesday. My trainer was not available when I was, so I'm with the gym manager - the guy who overruled her about me. So I'm very happy about that. We talked about be inning some weights. I want to do some upper body and abs. That's all positive isn't it! Unfortunately (well, sort of) we go on holiday the day after the review so I won't have a chance to put the new programme into practice until after Xmas. But at least I can set it up. Is the cold hampering the marathon prep?

the cold kind of hampers everything... not really hurting the marathon prep... I should be resting a good bit anyway. I did go to the gym yesterday... I just walked on the treadmill at 4 miles/hour for 20 minutes. Te slow pace got me moving but didn't make my heart beat race... I think it was the best thing to do. Where are you going on holiday? Will you exercise while you're away??

We're going to a place called Rock in Cornwall (far West of Britain). Its really a small sailingplace (we don't) on the river estury. Lots of craggy scenery and peace and quiet We're borrowing a holiday home of some folk who are happy to have people in it out of season. I think the only exercise I'll get will be walking, but that's OK. Christmas is usually a down time as far as exercise goes for me. I try and stick to the diet and get going again aftrerwards. By the way - I lost two pounds and it's st ying off. That's the first loss for months. Hope you feel better soon. What's the actual date of the marathon?

Congrats on your loss Maggie! I AM feeling much better today... thanks for the well wishes. I took a morning run (just a few miles) and that kinda cleared me up a little. The marathon is on December 12th! At five a.m. Marcia's time! I think I'll skip the gym tonight... and save the energy to play with my hubby!

Good idea. Mine's a PhD widower, so going to the gym together is FUN!!! Cold's better but the gym was a bit of a slog this morning. I'll be on holiday when you run the marathon, but I'll think of you. What time are you aiming for?

originally I was aiming for under four hours... but now that I've been running every week with Dawn, I'm just going to run with her the whole time and whenever we finish, we finish. Have a GREAT holiday!

Thanks. Tomorrow's the big day for the re-programme. 8.30 in the morning is not my best time. I just bope the heart rate stays down and that lets me expand my programme. I'm hoping for abs and weights. I'll post in tomorrow night with results and then - I'm off.

I ran for 75 minutes yesterday during lunch (before the big holiday pig-out... I mean party) and I'll go after work today for an hour or so. I will probably put in a few miles on Wednesday and just walk on Thursday (for my MENTAL conditioning) and then we're off at 6am Friday morning... no more exercise until Sunday at 5am! good luck keeping the HR down tomorrow morning!

I had a good re-programme, really clicked with the instructor - she listened to me!!!! We added the air-bike as warm up, kept the other settings on reclining bike and treadmill, added two upper body weights machines, which I coped with fine, and the cross-trainer (ski machine) for 2-5 mins only, oh and some abdominal floor exercises. I felt fine and felt I could cope with the added challenge without killing myself. BP down to 108/84, heart rate behaved well. And I've lost a kilo (2.2lbs) on their weigh ng machine. I'm pleased. Best of luck for the weekend. I'll be thinking of you. Bye till after christmas

Y'all are inspiring me to get back to working out at the Q, as soon as I finish building the cottage and cabin, which is my main exercise now. I get in a lot of walking on my little construction project out in the country.

I leave tomorrow at 6am... eek!

Bon Voyage, Stacey, and Aloha! Go for it!!! I posted relevant information in Geo or Newa/weather and also in Team Leukemia. I have called off all rain dances and blessings as this is getting ridiculous! Weather is cool and rainy at the moment Will Brandon be going with you? (He should for your moment of glory in the Aloha State...!)

Brandon will be going with me and thanks for the bon voyage party... I posted this in the Team Leukemia topic but I will post again here: As many of you are aware, I leave tomorrow morning to participate in the Honolulu marathon. I am running to raise money for the Leukemia Society. Thank you to those of you who have supported me with encouragement and kind words. A special thanks to those of you who have donated money to the Leukemia Society to help fund the finding of a cure for this disease. Although I am still shy of my fundraising goal of $4200 by a considerable amount, the money seems trivial compared with the news I received today. Gage Risley, my seven year-old patient honoree, is in Children's Hospital in Denver right now and will have a bone marrow transplant tomorrow morning. He has gone through seven days of chemotherapy to eradicate good and bad cells from his body and hopefuly the new marrow he receives tomorrow will produce new cancer free cells to replace the old. Gage has not been responding well to treatment and the marrow transplant is a last resort. Please keep Gage and his family in your thoughts... Again, thank you to all of you who have contributed to making other more aware of this disease and to help find a cure. If you care to make a tax deductible contribution to the Leukemia Society, or know someone who would, please send checks (made payable to The Leukemia Society) to me at: Stacey Tinianov 5864 S Huron St Littleton, CO 80120 Thanks, Stace

well the run went great and I felt fine afterwards... but I was kinda sluggish for a week I finally got back to the gym on Sunday afternoon and went again yesterday during lunch. No running yet... I'm giving it two weeks... but I used the elliptical trainer and restarted a weight program... small weights LOTSA reps. I feel full of energy and ready to do another marathon but doctors/coaches/trainers all say give it a few months so that my body can rest and repair and then retrain again...

So what will your workout be now? How will it change?

easy on the running for awhile... let the joints heal maintain knee strengthening exercises return to some of the quad and calf and butt exercises I had eliminated as I neared the marathon add some real life cycling (on a real live bike, not the exercycle) play on the elliptical trainer (easier on the knees) I think I'll bring my skates to San Antonio seeing as ice and snow shouldn't be a problem...

What about swimming?

Hi I'm back from holiday. I daren't go near the scales for a week or two!!! I just slobbed for the duration apart from a little gentle walking. We plan to go to the gym tomorrow and I can try out my new programme. Glad to hear you feel fit and well after the run Stacey. How's Gage Risely doing?

I haven't heard from his mother yet, he is still in the hospital, which is to be expected... I will let you all know as soon as I find out new information. (thanks for asking Maggie!)

Thanks for info. I overdid it on Monday, and I'm still suffering! My husband had his reprogram so rather than hang around I did my full program for the first time - including weights and cross trainer. Stupid me! I think it was the cross trainer that was the problem. I managed four and half minutes this time, but my thighs are still quite painful. I haven't had this after using bikes so I guess that's it. Got mad because hubby has gone for a five day program and we didn't talk about it. Silly really but I was frustr ted as I'm coping well with three days and didn't want to push it too far too quickly. I'm dependent on him for transport to the gym so I can't do my own thing. I've decided that if I do go on the other days I'll just do walking and maybe some biking, and leave my fuller program on the three days as at present. If the pool's open maybe I'll swim. This week the thames has flooded and is up over the park by the gym. The ducks love it! Did you have a good holiday?

sounds like someone misread the words to White Christmas and you got stuck with a Wet Christmas instead! At least the ducks are happy! We had a great holiday but I didn't get much exercise in either. If walking around the shopping center counts, I did plenty but otherwise I only managed one hour long run (on Friday morning). A friend of mine bought rollerblades yesterday so today during lunch we went in the employee parking lot and taught her to skate! She's doing very well, just needs some time and practice learning how to use the brake. But the weather was beautiful... sixty degrees (F) and sunny! Walking or swimming sounds like a great way to fill in those extra days! I can see how you would be frustrated with him but honestly, I wish someone would drag my bum to the gym five days a week! And how was your holiday?? Besides being lazy!

Found my way here thanks to Marcia. The rollerblades sound fun. Glad you had a good holiday. Mine - One word - fluey virus!!! Not at Christmas, but just as I was about to get going again - explained why I felt so iffy when I last went to the gym. Went to the gym today for the first time for a week. Felt a bit stiff today but majored on bike and treadmill with the light weights. Feel OK tonight so haven't overdone it. Had thought about swimming as well, but decided against it. The leisure centre has a diddy (small) pool, not good for serious swimming, but after gym its fine as a cool down - it's nice and warm, and so are the changing rooms. Trouble with shopping centres is that you just amble, but its tiring!

Guess wot! - I cycled (stationary bike) 15 kms yesterday. A real first. Watching TV whilst cycling really does help!!!! (Yeah I know I'm soft)

Soft, nothing! You cycled 15 km. Better than I did, but with the flu I cough a lot when I get winded and I do not need to break more ribs. Mine is on hold!

Take care. Didn't do so well today, managed 3.5km. It's so much more difficult at home than in the gym.

I know...wrong atmosphere and no shame in stopping early if no one will find out. I need the dicipline of someone looking to see that I have stayed the course, though I do well enough if Iknow I have something definite as a goal...like really great hiking friends coming for a visit... But, lacking that, I have problems getting motivated! I have eased off until I stop coughing so much that I get terrible headaches.

I played football out in the street yesterday.

I haven't done that since i was a kid :-) we played irish rules which meant it was sort of a mix between footer and rugby - oh sorry did you mean American football???? different animal entirely (yuk! yuk!)

Hope it was touch or flag football, Terry. You could get really messy knees on the pavement otherwise. How're ya feeling today? Yup, Maggie, it's gridiron!

I'm feeling pleased with myself, started some other weights today - inner and out thighs - hope it does some good!!! Doing low weights lots of repititions. Cycled 10km, plus treadmill. Still not losing weight though! I think I'd ache for a week if I played any kind of football.

I, uh, guess I started something with weight ages ago...

I'm still trying to get voluptuous but all I get is where I don't want it to be. Now, if we could just rearrange what we have...

Thanks for making me feel better!!! I was feeling really fed up beacause despite my dedication at the gym I'm STILL not losing any weight - and yes I am eating properly. Is there a condition called computer addicts bum? (oops is that a naughty word for you? sorry)

Hey, who said voluptuous? I meant burdened! ;=}

Alexander, I think your burdens are business-related and there is no exercise other than exorcise to get rid of them ;) Maggie, heavens...bum is a great word. No offense at all. You should hear what I hear over here for that part...unless you like the Hawaiian version, Okole, which is acceptable in polite society.

Oh I like that one - how do you pronounce it? Oh-ko-lay?

oh-KOH-lay....and for a toast when drinking the words are Okole Maluna ( which translates as "bottoms up!" maluna = mah-LOO-nah

Is the penultimate syllable always stressed?

Almost Always...there are times when in a lengthy word (much like Welsh and German, they string descriptive adjectives together in one fused word), that there are secondary stresses. Exceptions which come to mind immediately are Haleakala (the East Maui volcano) = HA-lay-ah-kah-LA with the ultimate syllable getting the most stress. The other which comes to mind is Hualalai, a volcano on our island which almost everyone mispronounces: It is, correctly, hoo-ah-LAH-lie. But everyone says hoo-ah-la-LIE. Including me, because I heard it that way for a LOT of years be fore I was clued in that it was incorrect.

Interesting. Do you speak Hawaian fluently? Does the % of speakers fluctuate around the islands? Off topic I know, but I'm interested. On topic: still arguing with hubby about the gym. He's keen to go five times a week - I'm content with three. Gives my tired muscles a rest in between bouts of exercise. I did thigh weights yesterday. Do I know it today!! That's with only light weights and three repetitions. It's supposed to tone the flab. I'm comforting myself with the thought that my fat is turning into muscle and that's why I'm not losing weight!!!

I speak hardly any Hawaiian, understand slightly more, but have a keen ear for pronounciations. I think it is the height of insult to live in a culture and not pronounce the words correctly. John is great at Hawaiian. He has actually studied it whereas I am strictly self-taught. It was a dying art, speaking Hawaiian, but they have reintroduced it into the schools so it is being spoken by a new generation - leaving those of us in the middle the only ones incapable of holding a conversation in it. Yes, Maggie, my dear, you are getting svelte but you cannot tell because you are turning the jiggle into something of greater weight and of infinitely greater appeal. Great!

The jiggle was definitely tired jiggle today. I struggled through an hour of programme, rowed (that's argue not row row) with hubby (again!) and puttered home where I have been adhering to my computer chair for hours.

By coincidence I was reading an article on the linguistic situation in Hawaii last night, in a library book I got out for something else. I'll post in Hawaii topic in travel.

I know about adhering to the computer seat...*lol* Resident male is sure it is attached permanently, evev though he has inspected me closely enough to know it is not the fact. Actually, it is more like a magnet. Any time I pass the room going on my way elsewhere, I always swoop in to check for new mail and posts. If I find any, it might be quite a while before I emerge again. Going to Travel to check your post in Hawaii...

It's hard going just now. Only managed 40 mins this morning and it felt like I was wading through mud. So just had a gentle bike ride and 10 mins on the treadmill. Fed up.

Oh Maggie I hope your not terribly discouraged... this is just a plateau for sure! Vary your routine a little so you can get excited about exercise again! Sorry for my extended absence... I couldn't find my way here! I have been going to the gym and I've started running again with my marathon buddy... now Wednesday nights because the weekends are for skiing (for her, not me!) I did go skiing for the first time right after new year's... I LOVED IT! Still, it is very expensive so I will only go occassionally when I feel like spending lots of money... On the 8th I entered my first snowshoe race... the breckenridge Snowshoe Skeddadle. What fun! I ran the 3K and thought I was going to die! The altitude is over 10,000 feet in Breckenridge... The most hysterical part is I won second place in my division! Tonight I'm going to the gym again... B is coming with me this time (he also came last Friday)... such fun to have him along! C'mon Maggie... keep it up!

Thanks, glad you found your way back. Marcia kept me company for while while you were 'lost'. Really I'm not doing too badly. I even managed two minutes on the cross-trainer and i'm not aching all over this time. If that's what skiing's like - well! I have another reprogramme booked for thurs. I don't expect too much change this time - but I'm with yet another trainer, my last one left the gym. I think it took ages to pick up after the bug I had at Christmas, which was why I felt so low earlier. I ve increased my protein intake and reduce carbohydrates. I'm still not shifting the weight which was making me feel bad. Still I haven't felt hungry all day with the extra protein. We'll see. Wow that snowrace sounds something. I guess you'd have to expend a lot more energy. Great you've got company at the gym - is he enjoying it or competitive?

He only has a five-day pass and is not competitive there at all. He's preparing for the Iditabike in Alaska and will probably have to spend some time pushing the bike so he's trying to simulate that at the gym. I took a spin class last night while he was on the elliptical trainer... what fun! The cycling class really helps me focus on my form without worrying about cars or rocks or bumps, etc... You drove a trainer to quit his job?!?!? You must be a demanding one *grin* Glad your're still pretty upbeat... try not to focus on the weight right now... remember, you are adding YEARS to your life!!

Yeah, I keep telling myself! and the he was a she - and I'm sad because she was nice. We went to the gym early (like 8 a.m.!) on Monday. I was worried it'd be full of beefy males, but it wasn't (ah). We're going to try REALLY early this week - 6.30 a.m. as T is teaching from 8.40 a.m. each morning. Don't know if my usual bleary eyed state can take it, but it is nice to get back early and not lose the whole morning. So, here goes tomorrow. What's the elliptical trainer? Sounds like you sort of go in circles - lol!

yep! Your legs move in an elliptical motion as opposed to straight up and down like a stair stepper or just horizontally like on a treadmill. The elliptical is supposed to be eaiser on your knees while working your entire body... there are handles as well that you push...

I know what you mean about the knees!

I think any number of active people know about knees. It is truly frightening to go to an Episcopal church and listen to the knees crunching as they kneel for prayer.

I've been continuing with the exercises that help keep my knees happy and so far... excellent results! Tonight I run with my marathon buddy. We've decided that Wednesday evening is a good time for both of us. I'm still motivated more by the social interaction but whatever works! Have you gotten a new program yet Maggie?? Marica, do you exercise? If so, what do you do?

Paul... in switching to the new server, we've lost the last twenty posts... can we get them back??

Want me to post them or send them to you? I have them.

Sure! And who knows Maggie's email address... gotta tell her about the big move!

I did yesterday since we email semi-regularly and she sent me one asking for HELP! getting onto Spring.

About those missing posts...Want me to post them or shall I send them to you for posting and editing? Let me know, and you wishes shall become fact!

Just throwing them up here would be fine... we could preface it with... items lost in the time warp... or some such introduction because I'm not sure there is an easy way to snuggle them into their appropriate chronological order... Whatever is easiest for you since you're doing all the work! (THANKS!)