YNAB You Need A Budget

[Quilb]

I'm a fan of kettlebells, particularly like the kettlebell workouts from www.artofstrength.com i have Providence & New Port workouts and only do the Providence one at the moment.

P90x does look interesting might have a look at that too but i love working out with kettlebells, i have a 16kg one and a 12kg one. Have never been strong but i plan to work my way up to the 24kg as soon as possible.

[jesse]

Matt Furey's "Combat Conditioning". 3 CORE exercises nicknamed "The Royal Court": Hindu Squats, Hindu Pushups, and Bridging. No equipment necessary. Advanced exercises which also need no equipment: One armed pushups, and pistols.

Oh man, pistols are insane. You also need flexibility here!

I actually use a band and loop it around one of the studs in my basement so I have a bit of help in staying in balance with the pistols. Otherwise I always fall backward. I can change the slack on the band to increase/decrease intensity as needed. I figure if I keep doing pistols and add trapbar deadlifts, I'll have myself a nice leg workout.

After doing P90X for the prescribed 90 days I was sold on one-armed pushups as well. I've worked up to 13 per arm (I do all the reps per arm, then switch). My goal is to get to 25.

[VanGuard]

I'm refusing to drink anything unhealthy. I'm sticking to water, and riding my incumbent bike.

[slgeo1]

The Australian Government gave us some "economic stimulation money" early this year, which was just the right amount for us to buy an exercise bike. We got a nice quiet one and ride while watching TV

[wheredIputmyglasses]

I am 7 months post op of major back sugery. So I just got released to do the balance games on the Wii and walking. To those who just sit around, you don't know what you have till you have almost lost it.

[Fireproof]

Looks like Patzer and others here share my passion in fitness.

(Shameless plug coming)

As a hobby, I run a fitness & nutrition website to promote education based on solid science and bust common myths you hear in the weight room. Everyone is welcome to check it out. We have a mix of folks from average joes wanting to lose weight to fitness enthusiasts to competitive bodybuilders and powerlifters.

If interested - browse on over to Clutch Fitness

Post a hello for a friendly welcome from the community.

(I assume Jesse's okay with me posting a link since my forum is not related to budget software and hence non-competitive for users. )

[jesse]

Since this thread was resurrected, wanted to report my progress.

I've worked up to 3x12 on TBDL at 195 lb, and using just a single band (instead of looping it around and grabbing onto both) with pistols. Just today I set a new personal best with one-armed pushups at 2 sets of 17.

I only lift Monday and Thursday -- full body, big lifts. Tuesday I wail on my heavy bag for 30 minutes and Wed/Fri I hit the treadmill and do interval stuff.

I got some kettlebells for Christmas and work those in a bit -- nothing too serious with them at the moment.

[SapperCS]

Well since I almost killed myself by being so out of shape in January of 2007 (21 day hospital stay including 15 days in ICU). Kidney failure, pancreas failure, triglyceride levels so high they could not get a valid reading, and blood sugar well into the 600's. I decided since I was given another chance to live the rest of my life I would change things.

- I am conscious now of everything I eat or drink. Not that I am a health food freak or anything, but I do understand some things are better for the body and some things are downright harmful.
- I have not touched an alcoholic beverage since my discharge.
- I started walking as soon as my recovery allowed, then moved into some mild calisthenics as I was able.
- I maintained a very strict regime of insulin and niacin to keep my blood sugar in check and get a handle on the triglyceride levels.

Its over two years later, Ive lost almost 80 lbs (healthy weight loss). Im completely off the insulin and niacin, and I feel great. Last month I invested in a program of workouts called P90x. Its from BeachBody works and it is amazing. I thought I was in pretty good health and shape until I received this and tried the workouts. Tony kicked my butt for well over 2 weeks. Now I am able to complete the sessions (albeit not at full force). It is a 90 day structured workout program, and I have over 2 months to go for this first run. The changes in the first 3 weeks have been amazing.

As well, I have found a hobby called GeoCaching. Its a version of treasure hunting. People hide "caches" all over the world, and through the use of their website and a personal GPS, you can travel, hike, explore places you would never otherwise explore and all this hiking does great for exercise. I love to hike, but I like to have a goal. Now I can take off anywhere in any direction and go find things people have hidden. Its awesome.

Thats my story, I hope it can inspire others.

-DanielJ. AKA: SapperCS.

[jesse]

Hey SapperCS,
My wife and I did P90X last year -- thoroughly enjoyed it. Plyometrics was the best of the workouts, imo

[J.Mann]

P90x is a good workout. never got into the whole thing for the straight 90 days, but we have the discs at work and occasionally throw them in there.

My workout consists of a 3.25 mile run in the hills in around 24 minutes, 4 sets of 30 push-ups, 4 sets of 40 sit-ups, 4 sets of 10 bar dips, and 64 pull-ups. (4 different styles, in sets of 3-3-4-3-3)

[rollercoaster]

My husband has started (and stopped) the P90X workouts several times over the past couple of years.

Tomorrow morning we are starting it together. It should be interesting, to say the least.

Up until this point in time, the only thing keeping me in "shape" is housework, renovating, and going for walks. I used to be "freakishly strong" (for a girl), but my upper body strength has seriously diminished in the past couple of years. Time to get back in shape!!

[jesse]

For kicks are started doing the 100 pushups program that should have me doing 100 consecutive pushups in six weeks. I just started week four and it's definitely starting to tax me. I'll report back when I crack 100. I think I started the program able to do 50-55 consecutive, so to get to 100 would be a nice improvement.

I think people underestimate the value of pushups -- not only are you getting great chest/arm work, but your core is working hard as well (if you're doing them right!)

[adajmk]

Swim-bike-run!

Last summer I did my first sprint distance triathlon (750m swim / 16 mile bike / 5K run). For all those people who don't think they could ever do one, trust me, you can. I went from couch potato to triathlete in about 14 weeks. It was tough training 5 days a week for the whole summer, but it was an amazing feeling crossing the finish line and having my wife and 2 kids cheering me on.

Unfortunately, I fell off the wagon after that and went into hibernation for the winter. Back at it though with another sprint triathlon on June 6th (400m swim / 12 mile ride / 5K) and another sprint on June 20th,

My race on the 20th is actually a funny story with a very important life lesson for me. Here goes:

Just before I started YNAB my friend who talked me into the tri last summer calls me and tells me he wants to do the DC sprint triathlon on June 20th. He tells me that I have to sign up first thing the following morning to get $25 off my registration. While not on a budget yet, I still wanted to save some money, so first thing the following morning I sign up for the tri and plunk down my registration fee (unfortunately these races typically aren't cheap - about $100). After I signed up I actually start reading the details about the race and to my surprise I discover that it starts at 5:30 a.m.. Are you kidding me! To make matters worse, I then realized that the race was on Father's Day - one of the few days when I am actually encouraged to sleep in. Looks like that's not happening this year.

Moral of the story - always read the race details before you committ yourself (and your $$) to something!

[Patzer]

For kicks are started doing the 100 pushups program that should have me doing 100 consecutive pushups in six weeks. I just started week four and it's definitely starting to tax me. I'll report back when I crack 100. I think I started the program able to do 50-55 consecutive, so to get to 100 would be a nice improvement.

I think people underestimate the value of pushups -- not only are you getting great chest/arm work, but your core is working hard as well (if you're doing them right!)

Well, for a fanatic like you . . .

If you have a pair of kettlebells (or dumbbells, for less of a core challenge), you could try renegade rows. There are several variations. The one I like is, do a pushup balancing on the kettlebells/dumbbells. Then row one 'bell to the hip, put it down, row the other 'bell to your hip, put it down, and repeat. Ten of these with 25 lb. dumbbells (in the gym) or kettlebells (at home) about wipes me out right now. But they're good for the core, as well as have some benefit to the chest and arms.

I don't do those nearly as often as I should.

Patzer

[reyesfamily01]

First off I am trying to eat right. I have fumbled before though. So many tempting places to eat at by my work. I am on the go a lot though. So if anybody can recommend me a good healthy food that is filling enough and can stay in the trunk in my car for example. Sometimes so busy no time for a regular lunch and also my place of work the lunch room gets so crowded.

I am currently starting doing Isometric exercises. I am mostly excited for this.