Thanks girls! Lib, which company do you work for? I'm getting mine done with LasikPlus in the northern VA area.
So I forgot I also had a gladd of lemonade earlier... it was crystal light mix in water, so I think it's one of those 5 cal thingies, but I figured I'd add it.
I did my shoulder pre-hab stuff today. Man are my shoulders effed up. My left one especially does all sorts of things, ugh. I also did 2 sets of 4 chin-ups with my 2 therabands on my bar. The sets were hours apart, but I was able to get them in. 4 in a row is tough though! I can't wait until I can do these myself unassisted!
Kara, for me the assisted ones added up quickly. My coach has me doing pull-ups instead of chinups, but I'm up to 10 assisted and ALMOST one unassisted. I'm going to get the bands for my iron gym at home, too, and also take the bands to the gym to practice the band-assisted ones at the gym. The fitness warehouse by my house has been closed -- I guess for the holidays -- so hopefully I can swing by there this coming week and get the bands. I, too, can't wait until I can do them unassisted! We'll do it together!
My coach has me do the sleeper stretch for my shoulders between sets of pull-ups. Do a search on it....it's really helped my shoulders.
=Any good dinner ideas floating around out there? I could use some inspiration!
Just stopped in to see your journal....
I just invented this, since i had some chicken breast that needed to be cooked:
Thai curry chicken with rice:
1 jar of Trader Joe's Thai green curry sauce
3 pounds of chicken breast, 1" cubed
2 C brown/wild rice mix
4 C water
1-2C frozen green peas
cook for 45 minutes. At the last 10 miutes add 1-2 C frozen green peas.
The rice and chicken soak up the Thai curry sauce and the flavor is fantastic, the chicken tender, lots of protein compared to the rice. This made 12 portions which I froze.
That's how I am now, but I've been pretty lackadaisical too. I'm just sure where that happy medium is between going crazy to lose these last 5lbs of fat or so, and being happy and un-stressed when it comes to food.
Remember, Leigh says "get in and get out" of deficit, so anal or not, you should be able to lose your 5 pounds in 1-2 months for sure, and then go back to normal good habits. So if bf questions you, it's only for a month or 2 to reach a goal and move on!
Oh wow! That's too funny! I called to confirm last week and they confirmed it, then I got a call the next day from the King's street center telling me the center wasn't open so I had to move it to the Tysons corner one. Weird, lol. But it makes me feel better to "know" someone who works for them! Very cool!
Welcome 2009!
I decided my old log was getting a bit stale, I had some severe lack of motivation towards the end of 2008. But it's a new year and time for a new log! And time for me to get stronger! I made a lot of progress in the first half of 2008, but then leveled off at the end. This year I'm going to work on getting stronger and more fit overall.
Hi Kara,
It sounds to me as if you made great progress last year, even if you did feel a lack of motivation near the end. Good luck with your goals for 2009--looks like you're off to a great start!
Oh wow! That's too funny! I called to confirm last week and they confirmed it, then I got a call the next day from the King's street center telling me the center wasn't open so I had to move it to the Tysons corner one. Weird, lol. But it makes me feel better to "know" someone who works for them! Very cool!
that happens sometimes, if a doctor has something unexpected come up.. I'm excited to know someone who is having it with us at a different location than the SW ohio ones.
Food for today:
1. eggs, eng muffin, OJ
2. TGI Fridays: 1/2 california club sandwich, cup of broccoli cheese soup
3. 1 pumpkin protein cookie, 2 oz mozz, bite of roommate's chocolate ice cream (only a taste, lol)
4. homemade veggie soup with chicken in it (yum!)
5. hot tea ( a new one! pistacio apple pie! It's yummy!)
One of these days I will start putting crap in fitday again. Ugh, how i hate that. I'm not sure what to do for dinner tomorrow because the dinner I planned to make will take a while and I still have to get to the gym afterwards. Actually, I was pretty stupid. I should have gone to the gym today and then Tuesday and Thursday since I probably won't be able to go Friday with my surgery. Though I don't have to leave until 1pm, so I might be able to make it work. But Bri and I were going to work on form the day after. I'm not supposed to do strenuous, sweat-inducing stuff, but I figure I'll use light weights and just work on getting my weight in my heels and stuff, and have him check out my shoulders on certain movements. So I shouldn't work up a sweat from that. I already slacked off on my workouts by not doing the metabolic circuit this weekend. But I will be back at it tomorrow. I think I tend to dismiss the at-home type workouts since I'm not actually going to the gym. The at-home ones are great (if I do them) but I don't know if I want them to be every week. I definitely want the option, but I think I'll try to come up with a third day at the actual gym for my program. For some reason, needing to GO to the gym helps me actually do the workout, especially on the weekend.
hey kara - i like how you've included a few non-fitness related goals in there. hope you'll share any breakthroughs in the glute activation department - it's something i really need to work on too!
good luck with the lasik and welcome to the challenge!
OK, so the resolutioneers are out in full force! The gym was soooo crowded today. And guess what?! THEY WERE HAVING FREE PIZZA DAY! Bah humbug.
The workout was just ok, nothing thrilling:
Warm up: YTWL 3x10, SHELC 3x10
Sumo deads:
3x5x95
*these are not getting easier yet... I may have to drop weight because I can tell my form is not very great.
V-grip rows:
2x5x60
1x5x70
BSS:
3x10exBW
Kneeling cable crunches:
5x65
5x75
5x90
There is no way in HELL those numbers are right... I think they must be 1/2 plates with full plate numbers on them. Therefore my real numbers for this would be
5x33
5x38
5x45
And here's my rant for the day:
So I had checked out this Sports and Health club online which is really close to my apt. Not only do they have a huge gym, but they have tennis lessons, dance lessons, martial arts lessons, etc (all for fees, but members pay much less than non-members). They do not advertise their prices online (that should have been my first hint), so I emailed the membership director from the website to ask about membership rates. That was yesterday. I got an email yesterday confirming a 3 day guest pass (that I didn't order). But I thought, oh well, at least they got my email since I'm now on their list. Today I got another introductory offer type email from the membership guy. So I emailed back to say that I had not gotten an answer to my question and could he please tell me about membership rates and tennis. He emails back that they don't advertise their rates, just the promotions and if I wanted to talk rates I'd have to go in and meet with him. So I figured this meant the club was way out of my tiny price range and told him that was probably the case but thanked him for his time. To which I get this response:
"Wow, this is interesting. You are thinking of purchasing a
membership to exercise at our club. Yet you do not want to spend
10 minutes here to find out if the club is in your price range
and offers what you need.
This club is not for everyone but the guest pass you requested
online enables you to exercise here for free without any
obligation to join so you can make a well-thought, informed
decision. I am surprised that you would choose to make a hasty
decision about us, but it is your choice. I will be here when
you are ready to make an informed decision about your health and
fitness needs, our prices and finding the right plan to reach
your goals."
Um, excuse me?? I realize it is impossible to hear intonation in an email, but did that sound incredibly condescending to you?? I was appalled. How rude! So I wrote out a bitchy response email back but didn't send it because I knew I'd only written it in a pissed-off state. So when I got back from the gym I edited it and this is what I sent back:
"Actually, I did not request a guest pass at all. I sent an email with a simple question about your prices BECAUSE you don't advertise them. Why is it that you can tell me face-to-face but can not tell me in an email what your rates are? Your hesitation to do just that is what prompted me to believe that your facility is out of my price range. When something is expensive, the price is not usually advertised. This is what I'm finding here. The problem is not that I do not want to visit your facility, it's that I'd rather not waste both of our times taking a tour and all of that if I already know your rates are outside of my budget. I'm sure your facility is very nice, but if I can't afford it I'd rather not come in and find I like it and then be disappointed. I already belong to another gym, but I was interested in your facility because you are closer to where I live and you have access to tennis. If you do not want to answer my question, that is fine. I will continue reaching my fitness goals at my current gym.
Thank you."
It may come across as slightly pissed still, but I was. But I tried to be nice about it even though his email was uncalled for. Am I right in thinking that an appropriate response from him sohuld have been something along the lines of "Well I'm sorry you feel that way, but if you change your mind and decide to come in I'm sure we can work something out that would fit in your budget"? Even if it's a lie, at least it would have been a nicely written email!
I think the reason they won't give you the price over the phone or email is because they want you to come in and give you the hard sell.
Yup - this happened to me. When I joined they told me I get a free session with a trainer. I didn't think much of it, but then one called to set it up. We had a basic session nothing challenging, and I couldn't afford personal training anyway and told her that up front. After the session her and the training manager started in on me about how I needed it and how affordable it was I tried to politely say no, and even said I would think about it. I hate the pressure sales!
Sorry that guy was such a jerk. That is no way to do business!
And my gym was hell last night too - yours has the pizza just like mine! I don't get it.
Yeah, I knew exactly what would happen if I went in... they'd show me around and try to convince me how amazing they are and how in order to reach my fitness goals I'll need to be using their "state-of-the-art" equipment and amenities and how they blow every other gym around here out of the water and blah blah blah. Exactly what I wanted to avoid. I hate the pressure they put on you. Once, Bri and I did a 2-week free trial at Bally's in CT and of course the first day they sit you down and give you the schpeel. Then they let us go work out. The 2nd day we came in the guy was like "So are you ready to join yet?" Um... it's a two week trial and this is day two buddy, back off! I so totally hate that.
His email was INCREDIBLY condescending and rude--and the sort of thing that makes it clear you DON'T want to join that group of people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by beesknees
Yup - this happened to me. When I joined they told me I get a free session with a trainer. I didn't think much of it, but then one called to set it up. We had a basic session nothing challenging, and I couldn't afford personal training anyway and told her that up front.
This happened to me, too--a free personal session with the trainer, in which we didn't actually do anything except let the trainer assess where I was (altho I did use the time to get a critique on my deadlift form ). There wasn't exactly a hard sell afterward, but it was clear that I'd wasted my time unless I paid for another session. I couldn't afford it, either, but I'm so bad at saying "no" that I scheduled one.
The session was good, but the whole thing backfired on me. I'd just started the NROL program--and then this guy (who knew that) gives an entirely new workout that, since I'd just paid too much for it, I felt obligated to use. Only the new workout was too tough for me (I was just starting to work out). I kept at it a few weeks, got more and more discouraged, and eventually stopped lifting at all. Goofy, huh?
Anyways, I think you're smart to avoid the hard sell sessions--and to define up front what you're looking for in a gym. Good luck finding a good fit, if you decide to switch! (Maybe you can even find one without pizza night!)
I did hear back today. I expected another rude email, but apparently he realized his first was rude, so this one was better. Still hesitant to talk prices, but at least he's (sort of) trying. Here it is:
"Thank you for your response, it allows me to gain more insight
into a plan that will work for you, we have 12 options. What is
your budget? I'm sure you realize that upgrading from your
current exercise plan to one that would include tennis would be
more. Based on this I can tell you if we have something for you
or not before we meet."
So I emailed back with I'm currently paying (20 per month... essentially unheard of around here, lol). I also said that the first half of the yr will be tight due to my eye surgery and my student loans going into repayment. But I should be getting a nice raise in August or so, which is also when my current contract expires. I told him to see if he has anything in the 30-40 dollar a month range. But this club seems a bit uppity so I doubt they have anything that cheap. We shall see where this goes from here....
I'd have gone in to talk to the guy just so I could kick him in the shins. People who refuse to answer simple, direct question annoy the everloving snot out of me. Grrr.
On the LASIK, I want to hear all of the details! I've been dependent upon glasses/contacts all of my life so have fantasized about having it done. Of course, at my last eye appointment, I asked the doc about it and he just kind of snickered, saying, "Being as old as you are, you're late for getting the bang for your buck." I need reading glasses now so he thought it was funny that I'd want to have LASIK for the horrid distance vision while still needing old fart glasses for up close.
Aww, you're not too old for it Diane. My mom had it done at 48. She needs reading glasses too, but her vision otherwise had always been so terrible that she finally got it done. She loves it. Because she doesn't need the reading glasses all the time, just for computer work or reading small print. So she still gets a benefit from it.
diane, totally not too old! You have to wait a bit after having a baby to have the exam (or wait until after you've weaned, if you are a nursing mom), but it's totally worth it. I haven't had it, but my eyes are still changing.
I forgot to post my food the past two days, but I have been keeping track of it. I will try to post it tonight along with my workout.
On another note... I got a spiffy new phone yesterday! The fam switched to Verizon, so I got a shiny new LG Dare. I love it so far! It's a great phone. You can even edit pics on it!
Diane - you are NOT too old (but I hear ya on the reading glasses - even though my eyesight is pretty darn good after my LASIK, since I'm an old fart now I do need to reading glasses - its still a HUGE improvement from being blind as a bat without contacts/glasses!
Kara - sorry that guy was such a jerk - what a rude email!!!
My mother used to be in real estate (manager of an office actually) and she refused to run ads that didn't have a price on them. She always felt they were a waste of advertising and people called, found out the price, and then hung up (as the ones that wanted to run ads without prices were the high end ones). I'm like you, I'd want to have an idea of cost before I wasted my time going in.
Kara, totally missed all this LASIK and gym membership discussion! I guess I never get to the top of my new threads list, lol! On the lasik, I had that done several years ago and LOVE my new eyes! Actually, my prescription was so bad (-9.0 in both eyes) that I had some new procedure done (back then) that starts with "z", but i don't remember the name. It wasn't available in the US, we went to a place in Canada. Basically they would have had to take so much off of my cornea using lasik that if I ever regressed, there wouldn't be enough left to do it again. (Sorry I'm using such non-clinical wording...it's very fuzzy in my little brain) Anyway, I'm totally 20/20, great night vision, no problems since. I actually cried immediately after surgery b/c even through the cloudiness that you have at first, I could tell that I could SEE! It was amazing! The first day or so are not pleasant though, just to warn you. You probably know that, so just remember it doesn't last long at all.
As for the gym membership, you were right to be upset--I don't think your return email was rude at all. Sounds like you're standing up for yourself and not wasting your time.
OMG, I hate the stupid gym sales crap! My gym is horrible with it and especially trying to sucker people into the personal training. I want to scream "don't do it", when I see people signing the papers, LOL.
Good for you and emailing him a piece of your mind. There was no need for the snarky crap.
__________________
Ginger
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." ~ John Bingham
Kara, glad you got a nicer email back this time, but really the first one should have been completely different! I have no experience with LASIK surgery, but that's great to be getting something you really want done.
Kara - sorry that guy was such a jerk - what a rude email!!!
Congrats on the new "toy"!
Thanks! (On both counts)
Quote:
Originally Posted by realcdn
My mother used to be in real estate (manager of an office actually) and she refused to run ads that didn't have a price on them. She always felt they were a waste of advertising and people called, found out the price, and then hung up (as the ones that wanted to run ads without prices were the high end ones). I'm like you, I'd want to have an idea of cost before I wasted my time going in.
Precisely. Why is it that people think advertising something sans pricetag is ever a good idea? It just makes us assume it's expensive from the get-go, and if we do't make assumption and call to find out, we then KNOW it's expensive! Oye!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Celestialmom
Kara, totally missed all this LASIK and gym membership discussion! I guess I never get to the top of my new threads list, lol! On the lasik, I had that done several years ago and LOVE my new eyes! Actually, my prescription was so bad (-9.0 in both eyes) that I had some new procedure done (back then) that starts with "z", but i don't remember the name. It wasn't available in the US, we went to a place in Canada. Basically they would have had to take so much off of my cornea using lasik that if I ever regressed, there wouldn't be enough left to do it again. (Sorry I'm using such non-clinical wording...it's very fuzzy in my little brain) Anyway, I'm totally 20/20, great night vision, no problems since. I actually cried immediately after surgery b/c even through the cloudiness that you have at first, I could tell that I could SEE! It was amazing! The first day or so are not pleasant though, just to warn you. You probably know that, so just remember it doesn't last long at all.
As for the gym membership, you were right to be upset--I don't think your return email was rude at all. Sounds like you're standing up for yourself and not wasting your time.
Wow, your eyes were BAD! Mine aren't that terrible, but my astigmatism is beyond annoying. I used to only need glasses to see the board in school, but now I wear them 24/7 and I hate it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Libellula
Kara - to answer your question from my log, I typically tell patients no moisturizer. Just shampoo and conditioner, no hair products, etc.
Oh boy... you sure my dry flaky face won't interfere with the laser?
Quote:
Originally Posted by GinnyLou
OMG, I hate the stupid gym sales crap! My gym is horrible with it and especially trying to sucker people into the personal training. I want to scream "don't do it", when I see people signing the papers, LOL.
Good for you and emailing him a piece of your mind. There was no need for the snarky crap.
Thanks! And it seems as though our gyms both like to lure people with food.. we had free pizza night the other night, lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen411
Kara, glad you got a nicer email back this time, but really the first one should have been completely different! I have no experience with LASIK surgery, but that's great to be getting something you really want done.
I'm so excited I can't even tell you! And yes, his first email definitely should have been MUCH nicer!
Their callcenter and corporate headquarters are in cincinnati 
I wonder if I've ever been the one taking your call 
Bah humbug. 
Linear Mode
