How to Lift Like a Woman

I haven't worked out since last Thursday, and it seems like a lifetime. I had oral surgery and I was told that I could workout again in a couple of days. So I took last weekend off and started working out again last Monday. I was doing lighter, less intense workouts (using mainly the machines) but I had a minor setback so I had to stop. I don't usually use the weight machines when I workout. I usually use free weights, squat racks etc, but last week I did a leg workout using only machines. Needless to say, I didn't feel like I got much of a workout but I felt it was better than doing nothing. I've got nothing against machines, and I would encourage beginners to use them. Personally, I feel that I get a better workout with free weights.

Some of my gym pet peeves is people who monopolize the machines and decide to chit chat when they are working out. Seriously, if I can hold a conversation while doing a rep, then I am definitely not working out hard enough. First off, how can you count your reps if you are talking? So last Thursday, this girl was using this glute machine for over 15 minutes and I wanted to use it. She was taking forever because she was more like socializing than working out. She finally finishes using it, but continues her conversation right in front it, so I could not help overhearing her conversation. During the conversation she saids to the guy she is talking to "am pretty cut"! I am sorry, but I just looked at her and thought where? What part of you is "pretty cut" because I can't see it. Her toes maybe? Okay, perhaps she has made a lot of progress from where she was but she was not cut! My other thought was, if you are at the gym and have to tell someone that you are pretty cut, then there is a problem. You would think that they should be able to just look at you and see that you are cut. I also did notice that when she said that she looked over at me. I am not sure why? Maybe she meant that she just got a haircut?

Tomorrow I am going to start working out again, using free weights, no machines! I am waiting on a book I recently ordered. The book is entitled "The New Rules of Lifting for Women: How to lift like a man. This book received great reviews and I like the training styles of the authors. I can't wait to receive it, apparently it has several weeks of workouts using squats, deadlifts, pullups, my favourite types of exercises! I have been creating my own workouts since I stopped training with Tony and I really don't mind but it's really time consuming.

Happy training, train hard, soon it will be Thanksgiving aka Turkey Day!

Joy in not in things; it is in us,

I haven't worked out since Thursday and I cannot wait to get back to the gym. I had minor oral surgery on Friday and as a result, my doctor gave me orders not to workout. It's a nice rest but I do need to get back at it. So my husband has been going to the gym without me. He was once a couch potato and now he is hooked. He wasn't well last week and I told him that he should rest so that he could get better and I cannot believe it, he said "it's not possible, I have to workout"! My thought is that I created a "workout monster". I really cannot complain because for years I went to the gym all my myself and often encouraged him to go and it was like beating a dead horse. I am happy that my hubby is no longer a couch potato. Most of all, he seems to be happier that he is no longer a couch potato!

Some of the best things in life are free. Attached is a link to another issue of Natural Muscle Magazine. Click on link below:

http://webcast.bodybuilding.com/fitshow/other/nmjune08web.pdf

Mind, Body & Spirit Connection

I recently returned from the Caribbean, my husband and I visited St Kitts for about a week and believe it or not, we worked out while on vacation. Okay, not everyday, but we got a few workouts in. The resort had a gym that was decent so we worked out at the gym a few days and I also did a few Plyometrics workouts. I am going to incorporate at least 1 day of Plyometrics in my weekly workout routine. Plyometrics is a type of training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system. Plyometric exercises enable a muscle to reach maximum force in the shortest possible time. The great thing about plyometrics is that you can use your own body weight and therefore don’t need to go to a gym to workout. You can do it in your living room. Also, since I don’t like doing cardio, it’s a good way to increase your heart rate and get cardiovascular benefits. I am not training with the same intensity that I did before my competition and I’ve been focusing a bit more on exercises I like doing. I am going to focus more on strengthening my core (in my relentless goal to get a six pack) and I am going to start using Kettlebells. I have not ever worked out with Kettlebells but I will let you know how it goes.

On a different note. I was listening to a radio interview with Terrell Owens this morning and he was promoting his new book and exercise video. Apparently his video focuses on working out with exercise bands. He made a really good point during the interview. He said “don’t expect to follow the principles of his book/video and 2 weeks later expect to get a body like his”. Looking at Terrell’s physique it doesn’t look like he got that way using exercises bands. He can perhaps maintain using exercise bands but come on. Have you seen Terrell shirtless? Terrell has a phenomenal physique and some of it is genetics, but I am sure he also worked hard to look like that. I am not at all promoting Terrell Owens book (I don’t even watch football, unless my husband calls me to watch what he thinks is an amazing play), but I do find the title of his book interesting Finding Fitness – Making the Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection for Total Health. I do believe that making mind, body and spirit connection is important. Maybe I’ll read it one day. I wouldn’t mind an autographed copy!

Eat well and get up off that couch!

Should Obese People Pay More?

Should people who weigh more pay more?

Some airlines are charging overweight people more for their airfares. Now the Alabama’s State Employees’ Insurance Board thinks that over weight people should pay more for health insurance. The board will begin charging state workers with a body mass index greater than 35, $25 a month for health insurance. The insurance is now free for all state employees. It makes sense to charge overweight people more for airfare if they take up more than one seat. Some may agree with charging overweight people more for insurance. The one issue is that it some studies have shown that overweight active people may be in better cardiovascular health than sedentary normal-weight people. In addition, body mass index is not a complete measure of fitness.

Although my husband often calls me a zealot, I don't think I am a zealot. You can't automatically assume that skinny is healthy and overweight is not. I think it's important to be healthy, live healthy, eat healthy and most importantly be active. One of my mom's favourite phrase is "you'll lose it if you don't use it"!