TexasFire

I was hoping so! But from the way you were talking, I thought you were going out. Good for you! Hope you had a good ride!

And boy oh boy...today will make me appreciate ANY other day! And JM - Don't be scared! Pull on my arms and legs to make my powers come to life and I will be right back on my game tomorrow! (Dare I say that I just took an Ambien? JUST ONE! I'm packing it in early tonight and getting me some GOOD rest.)

Where are you riding at this time of night? Not at any of the parks, I hope! It's not safe! There have been several attacks on runners and cyclists on Dallas park trails of late!

Okay, worked shoulders today for an hour and a half. Wasn't into it, which has never happened before. Weird...didn't like the feeling...wonder what's up with me? I hope it's just a 24-hour bug! LOL Seriously, it's not funny. I'm so exhausted...maybe that's it.

Okay, I know this is gonna sound weird, but what the hell...I YAM WHAT I YAM! Ladies, if you like, PM me your bra size! (Warned ya!) Next time I go down to the wholesale district in Dallas, I can pick you up some bras. There is a store I know that has them in six-packs for $9.99, and they are a mix of colors, and they are PRETTY! I got two packs last time I went and wish I would have gotten two more just to have all the colors. You KNOW how ridiculously expensive these things are, so PM me if you like!

Ooo-Ooo, B! That weekend sounds awesome...and in hill country to boot! Are you thinking of the century, or something a little less? If I go, I would definitely want to go on Saturday and stay for the dinner and then for the night, maybe toodle around the area on Sunday. I'll have to talk to hubby about it and see if he might not be able to be home for that. The ride next weekend sounds great. Let's check the temperature on that mid-week to know for sure, but I would love it. J - SO GLAD to hear Zoe doesn't have any broken bones. I hope she's feeling fantastic soon!

Okay, correction... ALMOST anyone! The buff guys you can talk to...they don't bite! They should worry about YOU, girlfriend!

Um, no. You are not socially retarded...that is ME. I've always said that I border on anti-social, or at least always say the wrong thing. My heart is always in the right place, but my feet and mouth meet all too often! You are so OUT THERE...you could talk to anyone! (Remember, I am one of your "readers"! LOL) Besides, you are giving these guys the opportunity to talk about thier two favorite subjects...working out and themselves! Hey, if not that, then get that book and take baby steps...you will go far! Everything in that book is not for everyone, but it definitely has SOMETHING for everyone.

AW, Suze! You are so nice! Here's whatcha do...find a really buff guy in the free weight room and ask him if he will share his workouts with you. Most of the serious guys have them written down or will just flat offer to work with you to help. Or you could just start by asking what suggestions they have as far as getting you started. My workout partner is absolutely HUGE and SHREDDED and puts me to shame, but is SO HELPFUL to me...always pushing when I need it, watching my form, and telling me I'm nuts when I need it (like today, but I didn't listen).

Oh, I know! Between three threads here, SparkPeople.com and Bodybuilding.com, it's a wonder I have time for anything else!

Man, you guys and gals are doing FANTASTIC! Woo-Hoo! Today was leg day for me. We started on the leg press, as usual, and I slapped on 270 pounds to warm up. Two sets, then up to 360 and doing good. Four more sets and I'm done, but I JUST GOTTA KNOW! So I slap on a couple more plates...up to 450 pounds. I DID IT! I did about eight reps before my left knee gives out! I am in so much pain I could scream. My partner is fussing like crazy at me because he knows my knee has been bothering me this week and he didn't want me to do that much weight. BUT I HAD TO KNOW! So I did it, and my reward is that I get to call my orthopedic specialist in the morning. Oh boy...needle, here I come. So anyhow, after that, do I quit? Stupid me? Heck no. Went and did six sets of kickbacks on the cables, six set of seated leg extentions, and six sets of the other leg machine that I can never remember the name of. Then six sets each of adductions and abductions, which I HATE. I was so freaking tired...don't know if because I worked so hard or because I worked so hard while in pain. Maybe a combination, but I'm pooped, nonetheless. A good two hour strength workout. Tomorrow is shoulders...should be another good day. I need one of those silly bumper stickers that say, "The worst day at the gym is better than the best day at work!"

So is every other MAN on the planet! LOL

LMFAO "Fall? I fell?" Yeah, I'd say he sounds like he qualifies as an absolute prick.

Ooo-Ooo-Ooo! Spark People ROCKS! I just found out about it this week and I am hooked! There are some AMAZING threads on that site! Here's a link to my page...check it out! TEXASFIRE67's SparkPage - Addicted to Working Out!

I heart "wronger", "bycyling" and "uber"! Oh, and "hella"! Who is the guy who started this thread? Tell me the story and why is he such an ass? I'm assuming he is no longer around since y'all are so out with the descriptives!

Kick that crap, DiBabay! We need ya back here!

Sorry, newbies! The goal weight you send me is the weight you want to be when this particular challenge ends on March 30th...let me know where you want to be in about ten weeks or so. Sorry I didn't explain better earlier!

OMG that had me laughing out loud and made my dogs jump up from their naps! I'm such a protein fiend that I'm so glad I never thought of that or I would have been stuffing Reese's to reach my protein goals! You are awesome, but I'm glad you are getting away from that kind of thinking, though, too! LOL

Yes, Dan, I can relate. I was not fat because I ate candy...I was fat because I love lasagna and pizza and steak and mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese...the list goes on. And like you, now I want cookies, cake and ice cream...never was a problem before. I find I have to go all or nothing, so now I'm back to nothing after the holidays and my mother-in-laws' home made chocolate layer cakes with home made chocolate icing full of walnuts! (That cake weighs a TON and tastes of heaven!) A job that doesn't give you free cookies? Are you quitting offshore? P.S. My kids just made brownies! :help:

OMG! That's SO GREAT, JM! I'm so proud of you for conquering that hill! Eight minutes is a LONG-ASS time!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Absolutely! PM me your starting weight, goal weight, weekly goal minutes for cardio and weekly goal minutes for resistance. I'll getcha added to the spreadsheet. (The link to the spreadsheet is in a couple places in this thread, and in the very first post on page one.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Let me just say that I am THRILLED with all the new folks in here and wanting to join our challenge! (Thanks for suggesting it, Punky!) And to all of you, new or not, I heart you and...

Good for you on the workout, girlie! You are going to go into that surgery at your absolute BEST! I can't wait to see how your next few months go! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Regarding the question about increased chance of injury with heavier weights? I would say, catagorically, NO. I will also add to that...no matter what weight you are lifting, you should ALWAYS use proper form, as improper form is a major factor in injuries. Of course, the heavier the weight, the harder you have to concentrate on your form...but that is why it is called "resistance" training, right? Here's a couple blurbs from this fantastic book I'm reading: At a certain point, just about every woman who's ever picked up a dumbbell or walked into a gym reaches the same conclusion: "I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, and it isn't working." The reason: What you've been told to do isn't what you're supposed to do. In the quarter-century since the idea that women could benefit from strength training kicked in, a powerfully counterproductive notion rose in tandem. That's the idea that women should use exercises and techniques different from those used by men. It's a ridiculous premise, bordering on fraudulence. I love that! :whoo:

Cirque De Soleil does many different shows...the one we saw was Zumanity. It was hilarious for me, because we sat on the front row and the show was MC-ed by a transvestite who obviously had the hots for my husband, and kept winking at him throughout the entire show! (Hubby is MAJOR redneck and homophobic, so I just thought this was hilarious!) And at the end, he ended up talking to us and taking us onstage for a spotlight dance, which was very cool! "The Rat Pack Is Back!" is a group of four amazing guys who act as The Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Frank Sinatra and Joey whats-his-name...the comedian one). They were so good, that if you closed your eyes you would swear it was really them! All of them! And it's dinner theatre, so they serve up a fantastic steak dinner, where the service is some of the best I've ever experienced. Tribute to the Rat Pack - Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean - The Rat Pack Returns

That's the good thing about the Goddess book...more weight, less reps equals less time! To me, it just plain seems more efficient. And since I want to spend the same amount of time at the gym anyhow, it is going to allow me to explore other exercises to add to my routines.