Fitness Fridays Health Club #2 - Get Up & Get Moving!!!

[christa]

We had a GREAT first week - Fitness Fridays #1! I couldn’t ask for a better response! I am so happy that everyone is excited about getting healthy!!!

Let’s keep up the pace!

Please keep the HEALTHY Recipes coming!!! I enjoy trying new things and I’m sure that others like new ideas as well!

Please keep us updated as to what you're doing each day - as far as exercising & activities! I believe that this motivates others to stay active AND motivates yourself to keep it up!!!

Also, I am going to start posting some "home exercises" for those of you who can't, or won't go to a gym.

So here we go on our second week . . . have a great one and drink your water! Get your rest! Eat healthy! And MOVE that body!!!

[christa]

I think Jazzcat Lori requested this be posted last week . . . sorry I'm so slow Lori!

Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf

1 ½ pounds or 1 package ground turkey
1 10oz. Pack of chopped spinach, thawed & drained
½ cup minced onion (or one fresh onion, chopped)
½ cup dry seasoned bread crumbs
¼ cup parsley
1 tsp oregano
2 egg whites
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 cup mozzarella cheese - fat free if you can find it!!!
2 tbsp ketchup & 2 tbsp mustard

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine turkey, spinach, onion, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, eggs, and S&P. (Feel free to omit the spinach if you don’t like it - but it is GOOD!)

Press ½ mixture into a pan.

Top with cheese.

Press remaining mixture on top of the cheese.

Mix the ketchup & mustard in a small bowl. Spread on top of meatloaf.

Bake 1 hour.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

[christa]

Anyone like Philly Cheese Steaks??? I DO!!! Try these instead!

Philly Cheese Steak Wraps

1 lb Round Steak or Beef Round
2 tsp cooking oil
2 cups sliced onions
2 bell peppers
½ cup grated provolone or pepper jack
Low Carb or whole wheat Fajita shells

Slice beef THIN

Cook peppers & onions – set aside.

Sautee beef strips.

Combine and add cheese.

Serve on warm fajita shells.

[Dorothy39]

This thread was just the what I needed.

Drinking lots of water. I have to stay away from caffiene but I do sneak in a few cups of coffee each morning.

I will visit this thread more often and try to print off recipes to take along while grocery shopping.

I've got a nice, clean workout room , loaded with equipment that needs to be used. Since losing my dog, I've sat on the pity pot way too long ,

Great thread!!!!!!! Refreshing and brilliant!!!!!

[Rachel]

This was on AOL wedsite this morning. There some real good ones in here. http://diets.aol.com/dietbasics/roda...26205009990001

[Dorothy39]

That link will come in handy, Thank-you for posting it. I'll put it onto my favorites!!!!!

[christa]

This was on AOL wedsite this morning. There some real good ones in here. http://diets.aol.com/dietbasics/roda...26205009990001

Thanks for posting that link!

I should stitch this one on a pillow! #9 on the list!

*Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate.*

I give that little tip a lot of credit for my weight loss!!! I HIGHLY recommend it! Helps a lot to control portions!!!

[christa]

Morning everyone! Ready to start the day!

I need some breakfast . . . I can't believe it's 9:30 already and all I've had is a cup of coffee. SMACK MY HANDS!!!

Who's gonna GET UP OFF THAT BUTT today!!!???!!!



I think maybe my coffee was too strong this morning - I feel really hyper for some reason! Maybe I should go ahead, eat & go to the gym NOW! LOL


CagneyDog: Hey!!! Glad you joined us!!! I just wanted to say that if you CAN run, DO RUN!!! A lot of people can't run because it hurts their joints (ankles, knees, hips) . . . but running is one of the best ways in the world to loose weight! It will fall right off! Especially if you run EVERY DAY!!! Just make sure that you have some good *running shoes*

Also, that website that you were talking about is probably FitDay.com And if not - it's still a GREAT site to use!!!

Good luck & hope that you come back EVERY DAY to Fitness Fridays!!! Even if you can't afford a "real" gym membership, ours is FREE!!!

[jazzcat]

Well I'm checking in to say I'm not doing well this week. I had a hard workout Friday that left me sore and hardly able to walk Saturday and Sunday and then I got sick yesterday. I was hoping to go to the gym today but I'm too swimmy headed to drive and I don't have much energy. I hate this!

I'll be spending the day with my Dad tomorrow but maybe I'll get back in the gym Thursday.

[christa]

Well I'm checking in to say I'm not doing well this week. I had a hard workout Friday that left me sore and hardly able to walk Saturday and Sunday and then I got sick yesterday. I was hoping to go to the gym today but I'm too swimmy headed to drive and I don't have much energy. I hate this!

I'll be spending the day with my Dad tomorrow but maybe I'll get back in the gym Thursday.

LOL . . . nothing worse than being sick. Sounds like you needed a few days rest after that Friday workout though! What exactly did you do? LOL Must have been a leg day??? Sounds like my leg day . . . can't walk for 3 or 4 days afterwards! Hang in there Lori!

[jazzcat]

Christa - big leg day. I did way too many squats at too much weight and I did the elliptical backwards for most the time which kills my thighs. My thigh muscles hurt to touch for two days. I felt like I should look like Arnold Schwarzenegger but when I would look down it was just my flabby ole thighs.

[My Peanuts]

Ok, guys I'm pretty excited about this. I have these 2 pairs of jeans that were a bit too tight to wear. Well, I wore them both this past weekend! I'm losing VERY slowly, but I think that means it will be easier to keep it off. I wasn't feeling well yesterday and I didn't make it to the gym, (plus I got home from work @ 8pm and had to clean two big fish tanks) but I am definitely going tonight.

[christa]

Christa - big leg day. I did way too many squats at too much weight and I did the elliptical backwards for most the time which kills my thighs. My thigh muscles hurt to touch for two days. I felt like I should look like Arnold Schwarzenegger but when I would look down it was just my flabby ole thighs.

Lori: Too many squats? How many did you do??? How much weight are you using? Are you using the barbell yet? I do 1 set with just the barbell - usually about 10-12 reps (just to warm up) . . . then I do 4 sets of 8 with . . . I think I'm up to 15 pounds added to the barbell (two 5 lb plates and two 2.5 lb plates). That's usually enough for me . . . then lunges with dumbbells . . . usually keeps me from walking for about 3 days!!!

Another thing, if you're not used to doing heavy leg days with weights like this, it WILL get easier . . . you're discovering muscles you didn't know you had! BUT . . . if it does get easier, you need to go up in weight.

[christa]

SQUATS! (legs)
Put your hands on your hips or fold them over your chest. From a standing position, feet about shoulder-width apart, squat down until both knees reach 90 degrees. As you lower yourself, keep your lower back slightly arched, head up, and stick your glutes out as if you were going to sit in a chair - Go as LOW as you can go - until knees & hips are fully bent! Once you reach the bottom position, flex through your quads, hamstrings and glutes to power yourself back up to a standing position and repeat. This can also be done with dumbbells in your hands if you have them at home.

PUSH-UP (chest)
Place your hands a little wider than your shoulders, put your toes on the floor, feet and legs together, and raise up into an arms-extended position. Slowly lower yourself until your chest just touches the floor, return to the starting position and repeat. As you lower yourself, concentrate on feeling the stretch in your chest, and flex on the way up rather than using a quick piston action to finish your set. If you're a beginner to push-ups, you can put your knees on the floor.

Or if regular push ups are too hard, you could try COUNTER PUSH-UPS!
Stand facing a sturdy table or counter arm's length away. Rest your hands on the edge, palms down, fingers forward and shoulder-width apart. Lean in, then walk your feet out in back. Lower your hips slightly so that your body forms a diagonal line. Bend your elbows and lower your chest to the counter. Look down, not forward. Tighten your abs to support your lower back. Push up by straightening your elbows and repeat 8 to 15 times.

CRUNCH (abs)
Lie faceup, your knees bent and feet on the floor. Keep your hands behind your head--avoid the temptation to pull on your head. Curl your torso as you bring your shoulder blades up a few inches, squeeze your abs, and then slowly return to the starting position. To keep the pressure on, don't spend more than a second in the "down" position; the longer your shoulder blades are off the floor, the more work your abs must do. Remember: Quality over Quanity!!! It's better to do 10 good crunches than 100 bad ones!

Back Extension (Back)
Lie facedown on the floor and place hands behind head (advanced) or fold them behind your back. Contract your lower back to lift your chest a few inches off the floor and lower back down. You can simultaneously lift legs for more intense exercise.