Lake Travis

Here's a couple pictures of some party people on Lake Travis. All the boats are hooked together...it was a pretty interesting event. I saw a lot of things I did not want to see...HAHA ;)

The boys...sitting around the fire, playing the guitar and singing along. We made s'mores each night -- don't worry, I only had one and even had gluten free graham crackers :)

And the girls...hanging out on the boat after wake boarding and surfing. No, I didn't participate in the water games...I just cheered 'em on.

That's Lindsay and I enjoying a SKINNY margarita: Patron, lime juice and a little water :) We saved about 700 calories! Why would you ever drink a regular margarita when you can enjoy one that is much better for you ;)

Here's an article I wrote for The Cooper Aerobics Wellness Journal that you all should read:

Top fitness mistakes you're making:

-exercising too little or too much

Too little exercise can lead to serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, etc. Too much exercise can cause aches and pains, fatigue, weakened immune system, decrease in performance, etc. Shoot for 4-5 days of physical activity each week.

-never changing your exercise routine

Your body will stay at the same level of fitness if exercises aren’t new or challenging. At this point, your body is said to be on a plateau. Change is good.

-only doing cardio

Your exercise program needs balance. A successful training regime should address both cardiovascular training and resistance training.

-not progressing in volume

When the body gets used to an amount of weight, fitness improvements are limited. Change the number of sets, repetitions and weight being lifting to avoid reaching a plateau.

-eating too little

If you aren't eating enough, your body goes into "protection mode" and actually stores fat to survive. Also, exercise performance will be hindered if the body is not properly nourished.

-exercising the same muscle group two days in a row

During exercise, you’re actually breaking down your muscles. In order for your muscles to recover and rebuild they need a day of recovery.

-skipping the warm up

Properly warming up reduces the risk of injury. At the beginning of the exercise routine, dedicate approximately 10 minutes to prepare the targeted muscle group.

-lifting too much weight

Lifting weight that is too heavy alters proper posture. This can lead to muscle and joint compensations that increase risk of injury. Lift a weight that is challenging enough that the muscle fatigues by the last few repetitions.

-not drinking enough water

Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise. Dehydration alters exercise performance and may cause dizziness, cramps, lethargy, etc.

-working through an injury

Acute pain could turn into chronic pain if not properly addressed. If you have an injury, consult an expert and/or remember RICE: rest, ice, compression and elevation.

BONUS: -not having a professional trainer J

Having a professional trainer keeps you on task, challenges your body and provides expert assistance. It is also easier to go to the gym before or after work when you know you have an “appointment”.

Need your suggestions!

So as you know my little sister is getting married! They've set the date: 11/11/11

I'm helping with the planning (and having way too much fun) and would love your suggestions on a GREAT but reasonably priced reception venue. We are thinking maybe a hotel or reserving space at a fun restaurant. PLEASE PLEASE let me know if you have a GREAT idea! Just send me an email, loren.maine@gmail.com, or tell me about it over our workout session.

Thanks bunches!

There ya go Ed, "push until failure!"

:)

Congratulations to my little sister! She and her boyfriend are now ENGAGED! He popped the question yesterday late afternoon...SHE SAID YES!

So happy for my sweet little sister and her fiance, Shannon. Let the wedding planning begin!

Ah, just finished my cardio session at the track with Kathryn. Felt good to chat, walk, jog and sprint! Don't miss out on a good day for a workout :)

Now I'm home drinking a glass of milk for ultimate muscle recovery! Spring is here, and you know what that means...tank tops, sundresses and swim suits...let's tone up!

This is a great article describing what exercise machines you should avoid and why. I agree with all of these, as I'm sure you can tell throughout our workout sessions. I am a believer in "functional training" and exercising on a machine doesn't allow functional movement training. If you must use a machine, make sure you do it correctly, and please don't use the machine often :)

Check it out: 6 exercise machines you should avoid

(SW, thanks for demonstrating what not to do.)