We move it both ways. It has resistance both ways.Just in front of us and out to the sides. I hope this is what you are asking

We keep our arms bent 90 degrees and push in and then push back out. Its tough but I am up to 16 reps already. I was invited to join the Power work out they do on Tuesday and thursday nights. I am thinking of giving it a go. I feel so alive now...and I want to get into those size 24's dang it!

Hope everyones weekend is marvelous!!

Monika,
Glad to see you are back to normal and feeling better. I have been tempted to try wrist weights when walking, are the 3lb.difficult? I still worry about my wrist that gave me grief with the hand held weights. Maybe the wrist weights would be easier. This has been a very tough week for me. I am thankful for this WOL as it has kept me on track physically and emotionally. We almost lost mom saturday night and we are still not out of the woods.It was the first time my family was in the same location in 7 years. Many tense moments.
Anyway, I have kept up with my exercise because I do it early in the morning and as you say it keeps me feeling good all day. I carry 3 water bottles with me so I can refill them anywhere. I even started eating the hospital food. Its amazing what they will make for you if you ask.
My goals for this week is to continue my treadmill daily but give up 1lb.hand held and add wrist weights for extra resistance- and aerobics and add five minutes of stationary biking with an increase each day to 15 minutes.
I feel very good about the activities I have chosen-they are just right for me. My treadmill gives me great cardio and my aerobics is fun and a great workout. I have more energy than I imagined and less aches than I used to.
YES this challenge has kept me on track. I'm proud to be part of the group and to be successful with my goals. I never imagined I would be where I am. This is a major motivator for me.
I have made huge progress not only in my weight and my strength but in my self esteem. I find myself able to take on many challenges in life that I would have hesitated doing before and I am much more social.
I think any future barrier would be because of illness or injury or if I would over do with exercise that is not appropriate for me. I learned a valuable lesson with my wrist and now that they feel better I will try again but at a lower level.
Motivation? This is not my diet its my way of life!
Thanks again Monika, you are an amazing person with so much to give and I feel blessed to be a part of this group. I will be here till for every thread you have.
Lynn

I feel really bad to post here since i did not stick to the challenge and the promise i made to myself and the group. I fell out by the third week and i'm not gonna go into the reasons why becuz as far as i am concern they are all just excuses. I just want to apologize for not living up to the challenge and not being there to support every one who did.

I know it's probably the last week on the Challenge and if it's possible i would like to participate. I did do my workout yesterday and intend on doing it today as well.
Hope everyone has a great day!!

So we're nearing the end, eh? First off I want to thank Monika for all that she's done for us. Secondly, I'd like to sign-up for the next challenge! You guys are great!

This week I'll have the standards (walking, stairs, bowling) along with going to Curves. BTW- I *do* really like the Peck Deck!!

I'm currently giving CAD a trial run to see if that gets things moving again. Since April, I've lost the same 5 lbs. around a zillion times. I've yet to post a change in stats for the positive (and I refuse to change them upwards!!). Anyhoo, the good ol' doc who got me started on Atkins first recommended that I do Atkins 5/2 (5 days on/2 days off) to get things moving. I am leery at having that much freedom on the weekends, so we comprimised and I'm giving CAD a try. If it doesn't work, I'll be back to Atkins. Something has to give!!

As for water and vitamins-- I'm still drinking around 150 oz./day and taking my vit. cocktail. Gotta love the neon pee that Super B-Complex gives ya!

Do you feel good about the activity that you fit in?/Did participating in the Challenge help keep you on track?
Ok! So I waivered a bit during the challenge, but all-in-all, I've felt that it has held me accountable for my actions (or lack thereof). I felt like the kid in school who didn't do their homework when I didn't have any exercise to report. Even when I didn't go to Curves or do WAP/BF, I still kept up the daily movements (walking, stairs, etc.). The good news of it all is that I'm back full force and enjoying every minute of it!

Have you identified the possible barriers to exercise in the future?
Time issues aside, I feel that the biggest barrier for me is my back. I'm ok when I do my standard daily tasks, WAP & Curves, but I need to take it easy with some of the BF exercises. As long as I continue to safely workout, I know that it will benefit me in the long run. Heck, it sure beats being out of it for months at a time (I lost 3 mos. this year due to a non-exercise related back injury).

How is your motivation to keep including fitness in your life?
I must agree w/Monika on this one. I love the rush that I get from exercising. I not only feel good about what I have accomplished, I actually look forward to doing it again.

Well, that's my novel for today. I hope everyone has a good week and I look forward to seeing you in the next challenge!

Nikki

Monika - as far as the CD I listen to, it's mostly stuff from the 80s that I like and is fast. The songs make me happy and make me want to dance (or walk fast ). I have stuff like the Pointer Sisters, Billy Idol, Madonna, Heart. I download the music on Kazaa and put the CD together. Do you have a CD burner? You could take music you love and do the same thing. My meditation/relaxation is going well. I really like the CDs I am doing. They are called the SMART technique and are suppose to help with eating. I haven't felt too much success that way, but they totally relax me, which helps with the stress.

I hope you are feeling well today
Mary

I have been doing lots of work on our house, repairing wood that had been water damaged. I couldn't have done this before, but NOW I CAN!!! Still, I'm AM feeling the muscle soreness! And I started out this week doing good with my walk yesterday. I'm up to a full mile every work day! I could do more, but I just don't have the time for it. Hmm... I guess I can trying walking faster and faster!

I think the house work is good though. I haven't done much the last few years, so our house really needs it and I get to exercise all sorts of muscles that way.

I've got new muscles sticking out in my upper arms other then biceps and triceps so I'm sure the exercise challenges are motivating me to keep doing my lifting and treadmill.

I was asking which way you did it but your answer tells me you do it both directions. I love it too. I can really feel the stretch on the lowering when I move the pin to the 5th position and do the forward ones. I do hate banging my knuckles together when they touch. How do y'all handle that?

... Time has been getting away from me lately! I'd just like to congratulate you all, you're doing so great, and this group has been a HUGE help to me. Even when I'm not doing as well as I would like, I know you're here, and that helps me try harder. Thank you, Monika, for leading and helping us all!

The Questions:
Do you feel good about the activity that you fit in?
Moderately good - my FAP routine works and is good for me, and I feel good after doing it. My favorite exercise is walking - I derive a mental lift from walking down in the park that I get from nothing else. So as soon as my new toenail finishes growing in (still get shooting pains in it when I'm on my feet a lot) I'll take that up again - I don't care if it's two degrees out! Well, I say that now, anyway

Did participating in the Challenge help keep you on track?
Oh, yes. I would almost say it helps with Life In General. Exercising is still not "second nature" for me - maybe it never will be - but belonging to this group helps me keep doing it, which in turn makes me feel better and cheers me up.

Do you feel you've made progress towards your goal?
Yes - if I remember the sequence of events, the 1st challenge had barely started when I utterly killed my toe. If it hadn't been for the challenge I probably would have simply given up on exercising.

Have you identified the possible barriers to exercise in the future?
My attitude, which I am working on, and the cold weather (I have hibernation tendencies). I'm thinking of putting a coffemaker, on a timer, in my bedroom, so I'll have a hot drink when I wake up.

How is your motivation to keep including fitness in your life?
I really feel being active is crucial to my improved health, so I definitely intend to keep it up. BTW count me in for the next "leg" of our tour!

Take care everyone!

How is your motivation to keep including fitness in your life?

I just got done with my fourth walk this week. I've been walking a little over a mile each day. I feel that I have definitely passed a threshold where I can now see myself climbing that BIG mountain in the future. It's kind of like my entire weight goal. I've now gone 1/3 of the way, and still have 2/3 to go, but now I know it will be conquered!

The same with that mountain. I can feel my strength gradually returning. The short walks help keep me in shape, but it's the weekend walks that take me a little further each time. And now I know it's ONLY a matter of time until that old mountain falls!

This is no longer imaginary. This is no longer wishful thinking. I can honestly see it happening now. And while I don't care to exercise a lot, I DO want to CLIMB MOUNTAINS!

Thus, it's just a matter of time! Thanks so much for the opportunity to do this challenge! It really did help a lot and even better it has set me on a real path to something I really want.

How much better can it get?!

Cheers everyone!!

Dean in sunny Tucson!

Hi everyone,

I am sorry I have not been around much for the second half of the Second TDC fitness challenge. The death of my step-father last week hit me pretty hard.

I have continued to walk, although not as much or as frequently as I was doing. I am proud that even when feeling the most down, I dragged myself out to do some walking. I guess that means I am really motivated to continue exercising. Today, for the first time in several weeks, I was finally able to once more enjoy being outside and active in the sunshine and I took an extra-long lunch hour and walked four miles. I hope that my enjoyment of exercise continues and that I build back up to the level of exercise I was doing until a few weeks ago. If there is another TDC fitness challenge, I would like to join.