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Old 12-05-19, 07:12 AM  
Buzzer
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Firm vol 6 with Jane Poteet... DONE!

I like this one, it's leg heavy for sure! I didn't think it really worked my upper body, however my delts feel kinda... heavy? worked? not really sore, just, I can tell they are there and it's more of a... probably heavy feeling.

Lots of squats, lunges, step ups though! LOTS. Hover squats, full squats, half squats, step ups, more step ups... it was good though. I remember doing this one long ago too. I am really having a memory dump lately doing these Firms.

On the step ups, holding my 10lb dumbbells, I was thinking about when I would have to pause this section and do the step ups slower because I was holding 20lb dumbbells and couldn't move as fast as they could. now look at me! HA!

I did like it though. I had the thought that perhaps the reason for the sultry looks from the instructors and class (which has been heavily criticized on VF for being porno-like) is because people want to feel less like they are dying working out, and more like they are becoming sexy. I think they overdid it in the Firm, but I think I kinda get it. Working out and being a brute wasn't pretty, and they were trying to bridge the gap between women afraid to workout and getting them to do a great, tough workout and feel good about it. I really think it was intentional! I bet they were told to pretend the camera is a boyfriend or an attractive man you see across the room you are interested in. I think it was looks more for the women than for the men.

I don't mind it, probably because I have done these workouts so many times I am used to it. I like the leotards, makeup, jewelry and pretty hair!! I think it's a nice bridge from women not working out much to women working out hard. I think people need to look at things more from a lens of what was going on at the time, and less from the lens of what we think and feel now though.

I do know that the Firm literally changed my life, from losing weight for my sister's wedding, to becoming a personal trainer in my "former life". I owe the Firm my life, since they shaped a million of my choices when I was younger!! I remember memorizing the 20 questions about fitness before deciding to become a trainer. I thought that VHS tape was a gold mine! It really gave me confidence to take that first step.

I guess this is a really good rotation for me, because it's not only giving me some hope, confidence, hopefully muscles and weight loss, but also some great memories and realizations of how much of an impact they had on my life! I really owe a lot to the old Firms. A lot!

So yesterday we went and got some stuff to make crafts for the craft sale at CC next week. We are gonna make sock snowmen, peppermint candy bowls and ornaments, and reindeer hot chocolate bags. I am also gonna make some salt dough so LB can do a handprint ornament for DH. It's supposed to snow today (only like, 2" so not a lot like last time!) so I decided to make today a craft day!!

The puppy and dog had a rough day Tuesday. Both had pooped in the house when we got home from CC, but I have grace for them since we are changing over their food from grain-free to ones with grains. We just heard about the heart issues dogs are dying from on grain free, so they have loose stools because of the change.

Plus, the puppy Tuesday night pooped in his kennel 3 times during the night . Poor guy! I feel bad because I woke up in the middle of the night to potty and I heard him whining, but I thought it was just because he heard me awake so I ignored him. Now I wish I would have taken a detour and let him out.

Yesterday we put the rug the puppy has been hanging out on outside to air out. it's really stinky and stinking up the house! We clean up his messes, but they still are messes. He really hasn't peed or pooed in the house that much, I'd say under 10 times which is good for a puppy, and we've used natures miracle on them each time. But it still is stinky!! I didn't feel like taking the rug in last night, part because of laziness and part because I want it to air out more. It's supposed to start raining/ snowing about 6 or 7am today, so I will have to bring it in before 6, I suppose. Hopefully the day and night outside has aired it out and taken out some of the stink!!

Eventmom: I hate that the naturopaths words are stuck in your head. I get it though. I have a tape in my head too, that I've been trying to deprogram from! She was wrong on other things, so she was wrong on this one. You need to workout! You don't have asthma!!
I was surprised when I read about your planks, but it makes sense with how much you have injured your shoulder. I would say do the "beginner planks" even though they are deflating to our workout egos. I'm sorry you are having so many issues! Not only for the stupid lady that told you not to workout, but also for the crappy planks making you feel worse. doggone it. It's a good thing we are more workout strong than the majority of the population. We will push through and keep going... the majority would say "I am too broken" and stop.

Ebianco: hey! Check in!!!! How are you doing???
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Do-over day for Vidiots Anonymous 2011, 2012, 2013: Aw heck. Never mind. I just can't keep up with my do-over days.
I'm weak and easily influenced
STS GRADUATE! 11/30/10
TA Omni 90 days completed! 7/11/11-ish
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Old 12-06-19, 07:26 PM  
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Join Date: Oct 2009
a Firm aerobics (I don't remember which one, it was a combo of vol 1, 2 and 6)... DONE!
Vol 2.. DONE!

I tried to go heavier on the weights for vol 2 since I didn't know if I would get a chance to workout this weekend. I tried to use 12's as my heaviest, 8-10 as my mid, and 5-8 as my light. it about killed me. I had to drop part way through! Then I was tired and cranky and my body felt depleated. I am feeling better now, but man! That was tough! I stopped the DVD a LOT!!

I brought some aerobics with me, ballroom aerobics and a Tracie Long (Endurance for training?) I don't know if I will get to do them, but we will be walking a lot so I will have that too.

Quick check in.. we are out of town. I hit 10,000 step again today. I have done that every day since starting my Firm rotation!! Cool!!

We are in Breckenridge for the dog parade and running of the Santas. So far, the puppy is stealing our older dogs thunder! Theolder dog usually has a crowd around him, but the puppy is getting their attention and he is left standing there. he's good with it though, he's decided to spend his time sniffing everywhere another dog could possibly have peed in the last 24 hours
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Do-over day for Vidiots Anonymous 2011, 2012, 2013: Aw heck. Never mind. I just can't keep up with my do-over days.
I'm weak and easily influenced
STS GRADUATE! 11/30/10
TA Omni 90 days completed! 7/11/11-ish
Tapout XT1 90 days DONE! 6/29/13
Body Beast: Done 3/14, minus the last week. I started JNL and never looked back!
JNL DONE! 5/12/14
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Old 12-08-19, 09:21 AM  
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Join Date: Oct 2009
10,729 steps... DONE!!

Wow. We did the dog walk, plus walked around town. It was a lot of walking! The puppy and dog only got a short (maybe 30 minute) nap mid day. We took them walking around town in the morning (Breckenridge is a very dog friendly town!) then went back to our room for about an hour. They refueled and took dog naps, then we went to the dog parade. The puppy did awesome! Everyone was petting him.

The big dog has gotten a little more protective since the puppy has joined us. He was growling at some of the dogs, so we were careful about dogs coming near him. He is very protective! The puppy was so cute. LB was playing on a little playground, and he was keeping such a close eye on her. People would come over and pet him, and he'd ignore them and make sure he had her in his sights. He's a great protector too!!

They have been awesome this whole time. We have a great little place for me to take them out first thing when I wake up (I wake up at least an hour or two before DH all the time) and even LB is doing great. We've probably taken more quiet time in the room than we should, but it's been good for us. We all needed a break from busy.

At the end of the day, my back hurt so bad! I thought I would cry or break. After a night of sleep it feels better, but it was a killer!!

Today I want to go get 2 Christmas presents I saw for LB, so I need to get out of here without her. Then we are probably taking her to ice skate and head home today

Fun weekend away though!

I got to eat at my favorite hamburger restaurant, the dogs got to be celebrities again, LB was in charge of pictures... I asked her to take pictures during the dog parade. There are so many people, I lost track of her. DH got a little worried about her, I told him "If we don't find her, she has my phone. we can call her" that made me feel better. After we found LB again, DH said "I think I left my phone in the room". AAAUGH! I'm glad we didn't lose her! My plan wouldn't have worked!!

Hope you guys are having a good weekend too!!
__________________
Do-over day for Vidiots Anonymous 2011, 2012, 2013: Aw heck. Never mind. I just can't keep up with my do-over days.
I'm weak and easily influenced
STS GRADUATE! 11/30/10
TA Omni 90 days completed! 7/11/11-ish
Tapout XT1 90 days DONE! 6/29/13
Body Beast: Done 3/14, minus the last week. I started JNL and never looked back!
JNL DONE! 5/12/14
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Old 12-08-19, 02:59 PM  
eventmom
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check in mia, but I did have almost a whole post yesterday then I lost it and couldn't get it together to repost.

wed. yoga shakti for stretching
thursday - essentrics upper body + kathy smith fat burning
fri - ess lower body + zumba (about 26 min this is actually fun)
sat - first 30 min of essentrics class of 2012 + TA 1.3
today - second 30 min of class of 2012 + christy taylor still jumpin'

buzzer - thanks for the pep talk. I working my cardio back up, even TA this week! My headache has been very mild this week so that has helped. And in case I didn't say it, the diet changes have helped my digestion and I have more energy some some of her advice was helpful, but while I was following her program I developed a life threatening chronic condition *** and of course she would claim no side effects, just follow ND advice and then you won't get any chronic conditions (sort of the ND mantra). I sort of hypersensitized to this as my step sisters boyfriend died (well he was on life support last I heard) because of an asthma condition so ... glad you had such a good time on your weekend away!
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Old 12-09-19, 01:11 PM  
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Firm Vol 1.. DONE!

So I am back from Breck, now in 9 days we leave for Great Wolf. I was doing Vol 1 thinking "I can do this at GWL. I'll just play it on the computer and put in ear buds. No one will see the leotards to say or think anything. The workout isn't a dated workout moves-wise, but it is visually. So I think that might be my plan. I also can do this one without the video because I have been doing it for so many years!!

I moved my heavy weights up to 12's, since there is less weight work in this volume. Vol 2 is heavy on the weights, so I'll have to see when I do that one again if I can handle 12's again. Tough workout, eh? I didn't use anything but my light ankle weights on the leg work, and I had to skip some reps. I used to have ankle weights PLUS 10 or 12 lb dumbbells!!! I was a machine. Now I can barely do my small light weights and no weight. Crazy.

I have a goal to make these easier though! It'll kill me on the way, but I'm gonna do it!! I had to pause a few times to catch my breath, and stop some reps to let my muscles not die.

We had a blast in Breckenridge. the dog and puppy are still worn out, and LB and I have a ton to do today before CC tomorrow (we usually spread it all over 2 days, but we were outta town!) so quick check in.

Eventmom: that's so scary about your step sister's boyfriend!!! I would be freaked out about the asthma too. Things that sound so benign can kill us, huh? so sad.
__________________
Do-over day for Vidiots Anonymous 2011, 2012, 2013: Aw heck. Never mind. I just can't keep up with my do-over days.
I'm weak and easily influenced
STS GRADUATE! 11/30/10
TA Omni 90 days completed! 7/11/11-ish
Tapout XT1 90 days DONE! 6/29/13
Body Beast: Done 3/14, minus the last week. I started JNL and never looked back!
JNL DONE! 5/12/14
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Old 12-11-19, 10:26 PM  
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Firm Volume 3.. DONE!

Wow. I love this one!! Lots of legs, and although I wrote on my notes "not much upper body", I found that there was actually quite a bit of upper body. I wonder what my deal was.

It was great though! I alternated between 10 and 12 as my heaviest weights, and didn't use weight on the floor work. I have no idea how I used to put 5 pound ankle weights on PLUS the 10 or 12 lb dumbbell!! I was nuts. I need to get close to that again.

So today I ordered the Firmology DVD. I wanted a second copy of Vol 2, and decided I have looked at Firmology long enough, it's time to get it. I love the firm, love the classics, and am excited whenever I see anything from firm classics. I will definitely love it!!

I got the second copy because it's one of my favorites. I'd say Vol 1, then Vol 2 are my favorites in order. Long time ago, I ordered off eBay like, 12 firm workouts including all the classics, some of the tough cardio and fat blasters and parts... a bunch. It was when they were coming from "Thailand" and there was a story about how they had permission to sell the workouts. I either wasn't on VF a lot at the time, or it was before I was on VF, and didn't know it wasn't true. I ordered them, they were super cheap!!

Later, like months or a year later, too late for me to return them, I read on VF about how it was a sham and don't buy them. I still have them and use them, and they still work! However, I also have almost all the workouts now on regular released DVD, except Vol 2. So, out of sheer panic of not having a backup, I got it with the 25% off fitness favorites is offering. I debated butt busters also since that is one of the parts I never got, but after watching the preview, I passed.

So I started looking at what people in the past had said about the Firm. Wow! you'd think they were talking about TA or something! People were ruthless. They either were in love or HATED it and ripped it to pieces. I was surprised!! I guess VF doesn't change, just the workout names do!!

Yesterday was the last day of CC, so we are officially on christmas break from CC. We still did school, but LB was proclaiming herself on Christmas break all day. It was cute. we wrapped presents too. Yesterday was the craft fair at CC, and we made reindeer hot chocolate (piping bags with hot chocolate, marshmallows, then closed with tinsel pipe cleaners and hot glued eyes and noses on them), sock snowmen, jolly rancher ornaments (melted jolly ranchers in a cookie cutter), and peppermint bowls (made out of peppermint candy). We had a great turnout! We made probably $40!! LB bought probably $15-20 worth of stuff, which was fine. She loves to shop, and she would come up and say "Mom, can I have a dollar?" and I would just give it to her. I figure it's supporting CC families, and the stuff was all cute.

It was fun! but the morning tutoring was pandemonium since it was the last one before Christmas, plus we had a tin whistle recital (we played twinkle twinkle), then the craft fair, then I had to run downstairs and get ready in less than 5 minutes for afternoon care. I felt like I ran a marathon!! It was a good day, but man, I was tired.

It's been good though. I have high hopes for my Firm rotation, I keep thinking "this is it! I will lose weight on this! Give it time, my tummy will be gone! The extra bounce on my thighs will be gone!!" I hope I am not disappointed. I will get stronger, if nothing else, right?

My house was so clean when we walked in the door from Breckenridge. I walked in and went "wow! This looks so nice!" and then the luggage came in, and it hasn't been clean since. But for the days we were gone, and for about 1 minute after we got back, the house looked great!!!

Waves to you guys!! Tomorrow is a cardio day, I am actually looking forward to doing the volumes!! This is really making me relive my young adulthood!!
__________________
Do-over day for Vidiots Anonymous 2011, 2012, 2013: Aw heck. Never mind. I just can't keep up with my do-over days.
I'm weak and easily influenced
STS GRADUATE! 11/30/10
TA Omni 90 days completed! 7/11/11-ish
Tapout XT1 90 days DONE! 6/29/13
Body Beast: Done 3/14, minus the last week. I started JNL and never looked back!
JNL DONE! 5/12/14
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Old 12-12-19, 02:22 PM  
eventmom
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well I guess I jinxed my digestion by saying the changes helped my digestion - I spend Monday night in the er and hospital for a blockage, the IV fluids really helped but I was vomting even though I hadn't eaten in around 9-10 hours when i went to the er.

yesterday - ttapp I had to give an 8 am final. My husband would have administered but I was well enough.
today - 30 min classical stretch + 20 min dance off the inches.

I'm slowing able to eat easy to digest foods.

my rant of the day is the student who asked for an incomplete in october - when around when the class ended. Yesterday she realized that she can't graduate without completing it. The course closed last night (I had set it to that date some weeks ago) and she sent an email saying it was urgent need action tonight I was not checking my email last night or this morning. she sent another one saying she lost several hours of studying. What??? You didn't download the course notes? You didn't think to work on the course project? You didn't think to study the exam case? Honestly? I'm sure this will not end well for her or me.

buzzer- my step sister's boyfriend was in ICU and actually has miraculously improved. But I'm still sort of like, crap this asthma stuff is serious ****. dang. You're doing great with those classic firms! You've got to get some sort of results as they are tough! I'll be starting back slowly.

hi ebianco!
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Old 12-14-19, 08:58 AM  
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Ultimate Calorie Blaster... DONE!
Tough Tape 2.. DONE!

UCB was all step. I forgot how clumsy I am at step!! Plus put it on the incline and have me jump on and off it side to side and it's a recipe for disaster. Another thing I forgot about (but remembered when I was doing the video) was that I have a tendency to slip down the fanny lifter when it's on incline. Not just start getting tired and start stepping up on the lower part, but actually my foot sliding down it while I do the workout. It was a tough workout, and I missed a lot of the steps due to late cuing and me not understanding her cue!! I'm sure once I get used to doing the workout, much like any workout, it'll be easier and the cuing won't be so bad.

Tough Tape 2 I did because reading old threads people were saying it was a favorite. it was good. I forgot about some of those workouts that were compiled in it, so I will have to go back and do some of them!! I used 10-12 as my heaviest, 5 as my lightest (which was difficult on the anterior delt raises). the step ups are still hard!!

it seems like the last few days have been pandemonium. we've done school, christmas wrapping, cleaning the house (I cleaned so much!! Well, I guess organized so it looks cleaner. I didn't throw out a lot, but I got the countertop and my DH's desk looking better and dusted!).

DH came home yesterday late afternoon and got stuck in rush hour traffic. then, about an hour later, he figures out he left his wallet on the plane He stops about 30 minutes from home and frantically starts trying to call the airlines to see if it was turned in, and drives back to the airport to see if he can find anyone in real life that can help him (since most phones are answered with those automated crappy things that don't actually help you). We went to bed about 9:45pm, and he still had no success at finding his wallet. My only hope is that someone honest found it and is mailing it to him, or turned it in and we don't know where yet, or that he possibly put it in a pocket in his backpack and doesn't remember doing it.

So he was out late, and I can tell by the paper on his desk that he was up cancelling cards. He had a lot of ID's in the wallet, so he has to file a police report (in case his identity gets stolen) and get them all replaced. such a pain. all because he just did something absentmindedly. ugh.

anyhow, today is a cardio day, probably ballroom aerobics because that's the only cardio I can think of without weights right now.

Eventmom: wow. man! are you OK now? I'm sorry you are going through so much. ugh.

Regarding the student, so now that she needs your class to graduate, it's suddenly an emergency. please. AND it's supposed to be your emergency also. I don't think so. I get that she's running on fear and adrenaline, but after her laziness of asking for an incomplete, she needs to feel the consequences of her actions. I don't know how you handled that, but I'm telling you, I totally would have used being in the ER as an excuse and put off her emails/requests until....oh.... today. I love how then she blames you for her "lost hours of study time". Whatever. maybe if you did the work, you wouldn't have lost the hours. PLUS, she should have been using those hours to catch up just in case you said she could jump back in. She's responsible for her own lost hours and how she used them, not you. But, I guess that's not the world we live in anymore. It's always someone else's fault. ugh.
__________________
Do-over day for Vidiots Anonymous 2011, 2012, 2013: Aw heck. Never mind. I just can't keep up with my do-over days.
I'm weak and easily influenced
STS GRADUATE! 11/30/10
TA Omni 90 days completed! 7/11/11-ish
Tapout XT1 90 days DONE! 6/29/13
Body Beast: Done 3/14, minus the last week. I started JNL and never looked back!
JNL DONE! 5/12/14
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Old 12-15-19, 06:23 PM  
eventmom
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friday - kathy smith moving through menopause cardio + callanetics express
yesterday - floor barre (zena) + 20 TA cardio
today - callanetic countdown #2 + 20 min kari anderson sweat II

the weather is worse than expected so I didn't get to ride, and tomorrow will be worse. Maybe tuesday.

buzzer - thanks, Im' feeling so much better and slowly adding in easy to digest vegetables. yeah that student is over the top. she did not finish her case (even though she submitted some link) and is now peppering me with questions - is this what you want? what's a core business process (ah, she's an MBA student so she never learned about business processes?) So I sort of cut her off by telling her I couldn't help her more than I helped other students. BTW, the question is sort of the first part of the case. sigh, and she will soon have her MBA????

tough tape 2 - you are a firm a holic, I know I had that one but didn't hang onto it after my great TA purge. I wish wish my shoulder would get better so I could get back to TA.

waves ebianco!
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Old 12-21-19, 01:32 PM  
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Hi everyone,

I'm so sorry I have been gone for sooooo long!! I'm still dealing with my knee, which was getting better and I got so excited and then it got worse again, and then I got really frustrated...and then I took about two weeks off of exercise to see if it would help which it didn't...so I started exercising again yesterday and my knee felt a lot better...?? So now I'm exercising again, but just mat work. I feel like my PT has kind of written me off and my doctor and PT are both saying maybe try a cortisone injection, even though it may not even help. So I decided to give it six more weeks and see how I feel, while keeping up with my PT, glucosamine, anti-inflam lotion, daily icing, taking breaks at my desk, etc. I have a checklist to make sure I do every single thing every day, for six weeks. And if no improvement, then I might consider the injection.

Since I wasn't in exercise mode for about two weeks, I was totally off of VF. I didn't want to look at/think about exercise if I wasn't doing it But now I'm back!

On top of all of that, my main distraction is my husband and I are trying to purchase a new home. It has been an emotional ROLLERCOASTER of putting an offer down on two different houses (we got the second one), and now can we secure funding. My husband is trying to do a VA loan but his credit score isn't great, so we went through weeks of a re-score and that fell through so his last ditch effort is trying a second lender. We should get an answer in a few days, after another re-score. It's been exhausting.

I haven't even read through all the posts yet but thank you for thinking of me sorry I've been gone for so long!

Yesterday I did the mat part of Firm Vol. 1 (I'm still in Firm love and hopefully I can now return to exercise) but my time was cut short so I only did the pushup, bridge, and side laying work.

Today I did a mishmash of Barlates Target 15 workouts for the arms and abs for about a 50 minute workout. It feels so good to exercise again.

Buzzer I love Tough Tape 2!! It's like 50% Better Body and Buns with Firm Cardio and Firm Strength mixed in. LOL

Eventmom I really, really hope you are feeling better after your ER visit!!
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