Firm Thread May 1-31st

[MelanieC]

Hi everyone,

Well last night I did the stability ball portion of Cathe's Pyramid Lower Body. I LOVED IT!! I wish I wouldn't have paid $40 for the Core secrets and gotten this or Core Max. So now I'm contemplating returning it. Core Secrets does have a 30 day guarantee and I bought it from Target so I should be able to return it. Not sure though. The Core Secrets was good for introducing me to the moves, but I don't want to do weights on the ball, at least not his way. He takes way to long to introduce and explain each exercise and besides those ones I mentioned with the quads I am left at the end feeling like I stretched and not worked out. Lets just say the parts I did last night of Cathe's was like Core Secrets a billion times over lol. My hamstrings, butt, and inner and outer thigh was burning.

I also did the first 20 minutes of Allie's Aerobic Body Shaping. Unfortunately I watched Oprah before working out so it didn't leave me enough time to finish it. I felt guilty leaving DH upstairs to get the kids to bed by himself. Plus DH was nagging me to finish Super Size me and I couldn't do that till after we watched Survivor. I need more hours in the day!! Well I guess I just need to work on getting up in the morning again and that would take care of that, lol!

I'm so glad today is Friday. The Dept of Defense comes out with the BRAC (Base closing list) this morning so I'll find out if our lives are going to be forever altered. My whole family including Taryn has been really stressed and worried about this. I always swore I would never take my kids out of a school at her age because I moved around in elementary school and moved to a new school in 7th grade. Its not easy adjusting to a new school when everyone else has been friends since elementary. There have been such rumors and news stories about our base getting cut. The Navy is pretty much pulling out of the base. The good thing is its a joint reserve base which is something that they are wanting bases to be. The base keeps loosing planes though, so I'm not sure what to think or expect. Supposedly the list is smaller than expected so I'm trying to stay optimistic. I'd ask for prayers and pixie dust but its out of anybody's hands at this point.

Ok, enough doom and gloom. Its Friday and I'm very thankful for that. Have a happy healthy day everyone.

 

[luvmydogs]

Hi FIRMies!

I guess I'm on a Low Max kick this week--I did it again this morning! I added on the stability ball ab sections of Cathe's PUB & KPC to finish out. Eeeeeeeek--those on-the-ball planks!!! Tomorrow will be Allie's ABS & JFA.

Mel, although our family is not military, we live @10 minutes outside Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA. Everyone here is anxiously awaiting the BRAC announcement. Our neighborhood has several military families along with a few Eisenhower Hospital workers, and I know it's a very on-edge kind of day. Ft. Gordon said it will hold a press conference at 2pm to make their own announcement, so hopefully we'll all know by then. I'm sorry for all the stress you're going through right now, and I'm sending all my good thoughts and prayers that things work out well for your family.

Have a lovely Friday everone.

 

[s&k'smom]

Mel, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Please let us know what is happening. Don't ever think you can't share with your friends here on the firm thread. Spill it sister!!

 

[sm4987]

Mel, keeping my fingers crossed for you too!!!

Today was JFA again. On the schedule. Tomorrow is a rest day, but all those new Taebo workouts came in yesterday and I'm on pins and needles wanting to try them. I made DH do the abs this morning and all I can say is WOW!!!! Billy is not playing. I've watched a couple of the other's and I'm almost scared. But hey, no pain no gain!!!!!!!

 

[s&k'smom]

Sheree, is that the new boot camp series. Oh I want a full report.

This am was Lower Body Split, oucccccchhhhhh. Man this is one tough tape. By the end I was really slowing down but I got there (barely). Off to Walmart this am, DD has a birthday party tonight so we need a gift and I'll just stroll through the dvd and see if they have any bargains!

 

[luvmydogs]

Oh, Sheree', if you've got the new Bootcamp series, then you'll have to tell us all about it! I saw it on QVC for @ $40 incl. shipping, and I'm just dying to get it!

This morning I did Allie's ABS & JFA and tomorrow is a scheduled rest day. Our community pool opens today, and dh and ds are already there--that means a few hours of peace and quiet (and laundry! ) for me before ds's baseball game tonight. It is so hard to resist temptation at those games--nothing smells better to me than concession stand popcorn! I think I may skip dinner and splurge on some tonight (and some M&M's too!).

Hope your dd enjoys the birthday party, s&k'smom!

Enjoy your weekend, FIRMies!

 

[sm4987]

Yes ladies, it is the new boot camp series!! I ordered it from collage video and ordered all the extras too! The six set deluxe. You talk about some tough looking workouts!! The ab tape about killed my husband. I was like wow. I've previewed only one, the Ultimate tape and it's tough. Doing all those workouts with the bands is going to take it to a whole different level. After my workout tomorrow, I'm thinking about adding on the first beginning tape to get down some of the moves. The ab tape is going to be an add on kinda like I do Allie's ab tape.

Today was a rest day. I hope everyone has a great day!!!!!!

 

[norma1223]

Yesterday was Complete Body Sculpting and part of Firm Abs. Today I did Ultimate Calorie Blaster and the Ab add-on. After 6 days of exercising, tomorrow is definitely a rest day.

Mel, I hope things worked out well for you and your family. Please keep us updated.

Have a great weekend!!

 

[s&k'smom]

I ended up taking today as a rest day, I really needed the sleep. So I just got up, put on coffee, read the paper, I really needed an hour of all by myself time.

DD's party was fun but she did get a bit overwhelmed as there were a tons of kids but in the end she really enjoyed it.

Boot camp series, hmmmmmmmmm, just may need to check it out. Lord let's hope no more firm tapes come out soon or I'm a goner!

 

[sm4987]

I did Allie's Aerobic Body Shaping today with the leg add on. I added in leg weights with the add on.

I'm gonna undo the rotation schedule this week because I really want to add in Taebo's boot camp. Plus I really want the an extra challenge!

 

[s&k'smom]

Morning darlings, got in Taebo Cardio this am, it's about 35 minutes but boy does he make you sweat. I was so bad last night potato chips and chocolate ice cream. I promise to be good today. I'm thinking calorie killer tomorrow as I want to get in some cardio this week with all the muscle shaping I did last Friday and Sat. I just can't get my waist down. I big pot belly, no ****s just belly. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[MelanieC]

Good morning FIRMies....

Well we did receive bad news on Friday. Willow Grove is on the list to close. I tried 3 times on Saturday to get online and tell you all, but I just couldn't type it. I also got TOM on Saturday morning so it wasn't the best day. I woke up that morning at first feeling fine and then when I remembered I got a pit in my stomach.

I did lots of exercise on Saturday to keep my mind off things. I did Aerobic Body Shaping and the 45 minute Core Secrets Tape. I also walked/jogged for a mile using my new mothers day present I got - Garmin Forerunner.

Sunday was a much better day the Priest's homily was about Good News bad news and how to look at bad news as good news. DH and I both commented after church how the sermon was very fitting. It really made us stop and think. We went hiking at Bushkill Falls in the Pocono Mountains. It was a very nice hike and being out in nature with the water was very peaceful.

Basically I've done some reflecting over the weekend and I'm able to put it into perspective now. Its not as if one of my kids died, or my husband. Look how many husbands didn't come home from the war or are still over there. Mine came home 3 months after he went. Its not like one of us or a member of my family was diagnosed with a very bad disease. Its not like he was handed a pink slip saying he is out of a job tomorrow. He still has a job for a while. Its more advanced notice than most people get. God has always looked after us and I'm sure that if we just pray about this hard, he will show us what we are supposed to do. It's good that we have this time to try to see if we can make it work here first. My most important thing right now is to work very hard to try to help him find a job here so we can keep things as they are now for our kids. Then if we can't we would have to try to find something in another town or state. He has some good leads in other states and this could even be going to one of the 3 places they will send his planes.
Its definately scary since he is so close to having enough years for retirement with the Govt (he already has his retirement with the Air National Guard). He actually has just over 20 years because we bought back his military years last year. We stand to loose a lot of money that we were banking on for retirement and he would have to start all over in another job and have to work for many years to getting a pension with another company. Same thing goes with my job if we have to move and I have to start over too. These are all things we must consider and look into the future. For now, I have to try to take it one day at a time.

Thanks for all your thoughts on Friday. Its so amazing how one day can change your life. I hope that my priest was right and we can find good news in our bad news. Its just another hurdle that life has thrown us and we can and will overcome it.

Have a happy healthy Monday everyone. I have WI tonight at WW's. I'm hoping it shows I'm in the 139's. My scale has been showing 139/138 the past few days- Lets hope the WW scale reflects it too.

 

[luvmydogs]

Oh, Melanie I am so very, very sorry that Willow Grove will be closing. I can only imagine what it feels like to have your life change in a split second like it has for you and your family. But I do agree with you when you say that so much in life is all about perspective. I had three friends in The World Trade Center on September 11. One died, one survived with just a broken arm and a few bruises, and the other has had 22 surgeries to date and is in intensive psychiatric therapy. When something goes wrong for me, I always try and remember them. It still is a shock to you, though, and I'm sure you'll be having to deal with so many emotions along with the tiring physical tasks of possibly looking for new work, new home, etc... I'm sure it's very draining, but I also know how strong you are. You and your family will pull through all the tears and disappointment with your love for, and committment to each other. Please know that you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers, and I'm hoping that what looks now to be such a difficult situation turns out to be a positive, more life-affirming one. I'll be thinking of you, Mel.

I did Allie's ABS & JFA *again* this morning.

All my good wishes for everyone today...

 

[sm4987]

Melanie I am so sorry for your news. I was hoping for better. However, I'm glad you have things in perspective and just remember, God works in mysterious ways!!!!!

I did UCB and the bonus abs today. I also added in Taebo Boot camp Cardio, the 30 minute version and all I can say is wow!!! My tush hurts!!! My legs also hurt from those kicks with those bands. It's basically regular taebo with added resistance! When I say added resistance, I mean added resistance. The good thing about those band is that you can lighten up on the reisistance if you need to. After firming, I did that quite a bit as my shoulders and arms weren't feeling up to the extra challenge, but boy did I get a workout!! The abs at the end were intense for 2 minutes. I can't wait to do the other ones!!!

 

[norma1223]

Melanie, I'm so sorry that you and your family are going through this period of turmoil and uncertainty. I wholeheartedly agree with your approach of putting things in perspective. You WILL get through this! And good luck on your WI tonight.

Today I did JFArms and JFBuns. During the transition from hover squats to plies, a 15-lb dumbbell slipped from one hand and landed on my thigh. OUCH! I can already feel a bruise forming.

 

[s&k'smom]

Mel I am so proud of your attitude. Believe me and I'm talking from experience we are never given anything we can't handle. My husband works for United Airlines so I know what you mean about jobs!!!

 

[s&k'smom]

Good morning, just the taebo foundation workout today, learning the kicks and punches. Couldn't really get into anything today and DH and I were up talking for a while in the middle of the night. A little worried about his job and he's scared too, just whined over at the chocolate vault. I know we won't be given anything we can't handle. A tough workout tomorrow to get me out of the funk.

 

[scanne]

I did cardio sculpt with Allie on Sunday. Nothing yesterday. Today I'm doing a sculpt with Jen - it's the one from the Firm series with the sculpting stick. Tomorrow I'm walking 3 miles. Thursday I'll do another cardio sculpt with Allie. Friday remains to be seen...

Although I'm Firming regularly and eating high protein, low carb (but GOOD carbs) I haven't lost an ounce! I'm very frusturated, but not willing to give up yet. I know the Firm believers tell you to throw out the scale, but I won't do that. If I don't lose anything in the next 2 weeks I'm calling my doctor. I was supposed to have a thyroid test done 6 months ago and never did. Maybe my thyroid is out of whack - it can do that after having a baby. So we'll see....

 

[luvmydogs]

Hi FIRMies!

It was Cathe's Step Blast for me this morning, as I need to burn a few extra calories so that I can eat popcorn and M&Ms at ds's baseball game tonight! Tomorrow I'm planning on Pam's SCSc and Cathe's Core Max.

S&k's mom, I'm keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers that everything works out for the best for your dh and his job. I'm sure being concerned over this is quite stressful, and I'm sending you lots and lots of hugs and good wishes. You know I luvs ya, girl.

Hi scanne! When I was 21 (17 years ago), I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, which is an autoimmune thyroid disease. Up until I was diagnosed and put on meds, I could literally gain 5 pounds a week without even trying. I had all the classic underactive thyroid symptoms for years, but just blamed all the tiredness on my schedule as a staying-up-too-late college student. Once the meds kicked in and began controlling my symptoms, my life did a complete 180--I felt well and 100% for the first time in a long time. Thyroid problems can be easily diagnosed and managed, so don't be afraid to get checked. All my best to you!

Have a lovely Tuesday, everyone!

 

[sm4987]

Hello everyone. Today was Jiggle Free arms and legs today. Double punch. I feel good but after Taebo and those Billy bands yesterday, I really had to push my upper body to fininsh the workout!!!

s&k'smom, my prayers are with you!! God always has a plan.

Scanne, I feel your pain. I started off losing and then just stalling. Building muscle sure makes it seem as if you have absolutely no weight loss. However have you measured yor self? How many inches have you lossed? Losing inches is important too!!!

Hello Kim!