I was wondering the same thing, Kho.  No one has posted for awhile.  Where is everyone? I hope everyone is healthy and working out hard!

Hey everyone!
I had a busy and party filled Birthday weekend!  I have not come online for anything…so today I am finally back at work, getting into the swing of things, catching up and i MUST MUST get back into workout mode today! 
The drinking, the eating, the partying is making me feel like a fat blob today!
I know its just the bloat from alcohol, sweets, salt, etc…

I went out to dinner for my Bday with a friend of mine who hadn’t seen me in months, she was like “OMG you are so teeny tiny and I feel like I am walking with Tracy Anderson herself”…she was said you must get that a lot!!!
She was so happy for me and all the weight I lost…It truly made my Birthday even more special hearing those words!

belladiamondz:
Happy Birthday!  I’m glad it was wonderful.

Hi all,

Belated HAPPY BDAY BELLA! What a great compliment, I bet you were walking on air (or dancing, lol).

I have to say I think the activity on this board is seriously suffering due to lack of new content from Tracy Anderson. I know she is in a new relationship and working on new moves and material (in the Hamptons, apparently) but couldn’t she release some of her current content we haven’t had a chance to see?

Tracy if you are out there: Please throw us a bone here.

That’s my mini vent anyway.

Anyway I hope everyone is well, and getting great results with whatever system they are using at the moment, TA, P57, Dove, P90X.

magazinewhore: I think everyone is going to have different results not only because we have different physical makeup, but also due to the different workout routines.  I had seen big changes in my shoulders, arms, hips, butt and lower part of my upper thighs.  I was exclusive TA though -Mat, PP and Dance Cardio.  

Walking is really a great way to burn calories just make sure you are pushing yourself and not just strolling along.  You should have labored breath.  Perhaps you could time yourself and see how long it takes you to walk those 3 miles and see if you can beat that time.  Can you mix it up and jog or sprint a little too?  I got bored with TA’s Dance Cardio and now I go jogging and I like to mix it up (to keep up with TA’s recommendations) it is more fun that way.  Check out her webisode for the treadmill and try applying it to your daily walk.  Hope this helps.

Hey everyone and happy bday to Bella!  I AGAIN stopped getting email notifications when people are posting and I assumed nobody was leaving replies.  I see they have, but traffic is down.  I know I’m more swamped than usual in life and I wonder if that’s what everyone is going through too?  FitnessAddict, sorry to hear you’re going thru stuff on the life end but happy you’re enjoying Dove!  I’m going to have to figure out why I don’t get notifications.  I set my filter as low as it will go but this is the second time.  ugh.

Bella! Hope your birthday was awesome!

I’m around just been distracted. I’m not really doing the zone….instead I have been getting more into the Raw foods. Tonight I just made Raw Not Fried Okra..soo yummy. I keep going into the dehydrator to get bites its that good as is.

My cardio has been slacking lately…last night I fell asleep next to my sons bed sitting indian style…needless to say I woke up with my entire left leg asleep.

Thank you FitnessAddict and Istari, you guys are so sweet.  I can’t believe the changes over the last year either.  I know that it’s more than physical too, I definitely feel different inside.  More confident, happy, and accomplished!  I’m also glad that my better eating patterns and workout habits have become second nature to me.  I know I’ll never go back to where I was. 

How was your trip Istari?  I’ve never done the halloween party - I’d love to!

Londonette - Congrats on your pregnancy!  My sister is due any minute with her first baby and she was working out regularly until last week…she was doing Jazzercise.  I think it’s great that you plan to keep working out while expecting, I did not, and definitely regret it!  You asked for details on P90X.  I have no idea if it’s something safe to do while pregnant, but for sure afterwards, it’s been fun and result-getting.  It’s a 90-day long program where you get 12 DVD’s.  You choose your program (I’m doing Lean) and you follow the sequence doing one DVD per day (6 days a week, about an hour each).  There are three phases.  Each phase is 4 weeks - the first 3 weeks are tougher and then you get a ‘rest’ week.  Then each phase changes up the order of the workouts.  Tony Horton is very funny and I really just enjoy the style of the DVDs.  After 3 weeks I’m seeing nice changes…I’ll keep reporting back.  I plan to take measurements after next week.

Hey everyone!
I have not been getting email notifications about replies so I have not checked the site…
Thanks to all of you for your kind Birthday wishes!  My b-day weekend was great…lots of partyin in NYC…which equated to bad food and drinks…but I guess the dancing in the clubs helped burned some of those calories off!
I have been busy with work so its hard for me to come on here and check often as well.
Oh and on another note two of my coworkers ordered the MAT and PP dvd’s and cant wait for them to arrive…they want to do a challenge here at work to see who can loose the most by Dec 31st…and they want me to be their “trainer” LOL…of course I will be working out with them!

Hello everybody, thanks so much for the amazing response.  You made me feel very welcome!  I am looking into getting the Callanetics and P90 dvds sourced via my mother in law in the States as I can’t seem to get them here in England. I really appreciate the encouragement re. fitness while pregnant, believe you me I am surprised that I am keeping it up, this is purely because I can see results and feel so much better. My first pregnancy I was too scared to undertake anything that seemed too vigorous as everything you read and everyone you speak to wards you off it and is afraid of precipitating a miscarriage (terrible!) and therefore a lawsuit… I do think though that some women (my mum was the same, she put on as much as me) or at least some pregnancies (not all women’s bodies behave the same way every time) can really result in a huge and unfair weight gain, despite not over eating, just because the metabolism slows down so much, you are so constipated and water retentive.  All of these take the energy out of you and you head into this downward spiral, like I did.  This time I am sticking to my fitness routine as I felt so out of control of my body the first time.  I really believe that you should listen to your body and your instincts and your common sense.  Thanks Kho Tran for agreeing with that sentiment, it makes me feel more confident in what I am doing as sometimes I ask myself if I am being irresponsible in wanting to hold on to my shape (am I being superficial?) and more importantly my feeling of wellbeing…. You have all got me thinking now or dehydrators… I could spend FOREVER surfing the net.  Thanks for the invaluable advice!  goodnight from London. xx

Vent Park Ranger:
Could you please look into why I have stopped receiving email notifications about posts on this message board?  Apparently belladiamondz has experienced the same thing.  Thank you.

KhoTran33: For some reason Hotmail has recently started blocking/dropping notification emails from VentPark.  We are investigating if there is anything we can do on our end to fix this, but from what we know so far it appears to be a problem with Hotmail and not with our system.

If anyone else is having problems with receiving notification emails, please let us know through the Feedback tab at the top of this page.

Hey all!  Where are you!??!   I just got my IP address unblocked from VP FINALLY but still can’t get notifications.  UGH.  Momof4 did you ever read my reviews?  I’ve heard that FitnessAddict’s IP address is blocked too and she can’t get on here.  Anybody know of anyone else with similar problems?

Hey it was one year ago that I started doing TA and exercising regularly!!  I’m am so grateful and feel that I’ve really made exercise a daily thing now and am quite proud of myself.  For the health alone, I am so much happier and on top of it all.  Thanks to all the friends here on the board.  You helped tremendously!!!  They say it takes 21 days for a new habit to take hold so I guess that I’m safe.  :)  I do know that mentally I have to stay in that mindset every day so that complacency and middle age spread doesn’t return.  I’m very grateful and miss hearing from everyone what they are up to and what is going on in their life.  Please post!

Bella! I’m here you guys!  My log-in finally worked after days of being shut out.  I don’t have time to write now but will write later.  I just wanted to say  hello and that I, too, am so sad that no one seems to post anymore.  What’s happened to everyone?  Come back!

The new Eat Clean cookbook hit bookstores for those of you who follow Tosca Reno, FYI. 

Talk later…

Dalena, you made my morning.  If there are really new TA DVDs coming out in December, I will be so frickin happy.  SOO happy. 

I also ordered the Fluidity Real Class DVDs, at the end of July. No word!  I e-mailed them a few weeks ago asking them if they could e-mail me when they get them in stock before they charge my card, and if not, cancel my order, and they never wrote back.  Aaaannoying.

Welcome Dalena
You just made my day…DECEMBER new DVD’s
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! I know exactly what I am asking SANTA for this year! hahah! =)

Welcome, Dalena.  You certainly have made everyone happy with the news you brought to this board.  I am bored senseless with the dance cardio I am doing now so I hope at least one of the new DVDs TA releases is a cardio one.  And I am so happy those of us who were blocked from VP are now able to get back on!  128, thank you for posting that my IP addy was blocked.  I thought I was alone.  I guess not!

Reviewer, I am so proud of you that you’ve been working out for one year.  Congrats, girly.  Now you have about 100 more years to go to catch up with me and I’m not letting you stop. Ever.  

That is very interesting news, Kho.  I guess M isn’t the only one who got bored with the same material.  (No one is going to tell Madge not to run.)  BTW, I have been doing Dove for almost 2 weeks now and I absolutely love it.  She has been training people for 20+ years and has utilized side-stepping on the treadmill as a form of cardio for a long time.  Sound familiar?  But whatever I am doing, I will always do my ab isolations, at least 400 of them everyday! 

When TA does come out with new material, I really, really hope she comes out with new dance cardio!!! I know I said that the other day, but we really need some new stuff.

Hey so glad that everyone is back!!  Big news eh about Madonna quitting TA?  I guess 3000 exercises wasn’t enough. :) Poor Tracy…wonder how she’ll spin that one.  Surely Madonna won’t just run for exercise…curious what she’ll get into.  Kho was there an article?

FitnessAddict:

Madonna interview with Ryan Seacrest: http://www.kiisfm.com/cc-common/podcast.html

Here’s some info from TA’s people:

“Tracy will be releasing new DVD’s in December.  Tracy will also have new webisodes this month to download.”

Unfortunately, they didn’t answer the second half of my question…if there are going to be new DVDs/webisodes, what’s the content?  Oh well.  Guess we’ll have to wait & see!

Londonette:  TA’s people are probably still recovering from shock now that they no longer have Madonna as a client.  But that should certainly give them more time to respond to people’s emails.  That is really poor PR and they need to step it up a bit in that department as we have all said before.

I hope you are having a wonderful pregnancy but don’t forget to workout everyday!!!  :)  (I did and created little athletes who now drive me nuts because they are uber athletes and I have to drive them to the ends of the earth to practices/games.  Oh, well.  It’s in their genes so I can’t blame them.)

I hope someone from TA’s camp responds to your questions soon.

Hi Everyone!!
I have been following this board since about June and I love following everyone’s tips, advice, support, motivation, etc.  You are truly a unique group and I have never wanted to interrupt the strong connection you all have. I guess I figured this would be a good time to join since posts have slowed down.  I did Tracy’s 3 DVDs over the summer and lost about 5 lbs. but like Reviewer, I wasn’t getting rid of the cellulite (still had some flabby issues).  I anxiously awaited Reviewer’s new ‘miracle worker’ review and am sooo glad she shared it with this board.  I ordered all 4 of Dove’s DVDs and have been doing them for 3 weeks.  I can feel everything getting tighter and leaner.  It is such a fun and different workout and the results are undeniable.  It is rare to find a strength workout that is challenging, provides results and is FUN.  I am pretty good about exercise but my diet is another story.  I was raised on candy bars and fast food.  Every day when I would come home from school, my mom would have a candy bar waiting for us and if there wasn’t one, she would take us to the store to get one.  I mostly had Taco Bell, KFC and Wendy’s for dinner and Ramen Noodles for breakfast.  I can only remember about 5 meals my mom would cook growing up and it wasn’t often that she would prepare a meal.  I rarely ate vegetables, fruit or homemade meals. Let’s just say I didn’t grow up nutritiously sound.  I do try and eat healthy now but that sugar craving is still around (McDonald’s ice cream cones are my enemy…I love them!).  I think that growing up on junk food helped me be more conscious of my health now so I guess I should thank my mom?!?! Anyway, I enjoy reading all of your posts and hope to start chiming in more.  It is a great feeling to finally post.  :)

wow holls, welcome and good for you for trying to turn your life around, i cant even imagine growing up like that but i guess everyones normal is their normal right?

fitnessaddict would you mind shedding some light for me re: doves?  i am broke but i would like to purchase 2 or perhaps even 3 of the dvds, i know it makes sense to buy the package offered but i just cant right now.  is there 2 of them that represent the type of work tracy does? is there any way to avoid purchasing that bosu ball?  is there a cardio element involving a treadmill?   i have tried to ask reviewer but shes obviously busy, and i need more info than is on her fab review…. thanks in advance you teeny tiny fitness queen!

torontomom:  Sadly, I’m like Rachel Zoe in more ways than one, and one of those ways is that I never put down my BlackBerry.  I was just about to get in the shower when that little red light blipped and when I saw I had a VP message, I had to respond!

I think Reviewer would agree with the following:

You only need the Bosu Ball for two of four of Dove’s DVDs.  So if you buy numbers 2 and 3, all you need are your mat and your TA weights and you’re good to go. I know, everything is such an investment and this economy is so horrific now.  I was on the Dove Board complaining that I have spent $5,000-$7,000 on two cars for repairs in the past 5-6 months or so.  It’s just beyond insane but what are you going to do.  They were both overheating  (temp gauge going into the red) and once you burn up the engine, that’s the end of the car and these are both BMWs and I cannot replace these damn cars.  So, we had no choice but to pay for the repairs.  This is just not a good time to do so.  And I should not have gotten Dove’s DVDs but am so glad I did.  You will be, too.  (For some reason, I thought you had one of her DVDs.)  Anyway, I hope you get the two I suggested; 3 is the most difficult one so I wish you didn’t have to start with it.  I did it for the first time today but you know I am hardcore and I adored it. I hope she continues to put out more DVDs. Love her.

Dove is very different from TA although I have seen one or two moves that are the same.  I think Dove is more fitness-oriented although she used to be a dancer.  But she goes for long, lean muscles and stresses that throughout all her DVDs.  And yes, there is a cardio element is all the DVDs except, I think, number 2.  (Don’t quote me on that one.) She does interval training which really burns fat; TA doesn’t do that. She also incorporates yoga and there was a lot of it at the beginning of number 3. There is also a little meditation at the end of some of the DVDs, which is really nice. (Dove does expect you to do cardio as well as her workouts.  She does it herself.)

Dove is skinny-ripped, a look that we all know I love.  She is tiny but really cut.  When you see her from the back, she is really small but cut.  The girl has NO body fat anywhere.  Her demeanor is really sweet, she’s great at giving directions and explains to you precisely what you are doing and how to execute the move. You are not left to interpret how to any move and that is a nice change.

I still do 400-600 ab isolations per day just because I really like that exercise but Dove hits your abs.  Hard.

Hope this helps… Please let me know what you decide to do.

Now I’m really off to shower.

Thank you for my little nickname.  I loved it!

OMG, can I not answer a question?  Bootylicious Reviewer, I feel major muscle love after I finish a Dove DVD.  I must say, my quads are hard as rocks.  And I, too, feel the muscles in my legs all the time now, even when I’m just walking around.  Loving that!  (When my husband said my leg felt bony, I got really pissed and told him what he was feeling was a major quadriceps muscle!)

And I am doing my best to jump from one board to the other, trying to hold everyone together.  Forget practicing law - this will be my new career - holding boards together! Thanks for noticing I’m trying to do that.

Hey Torontomom:  So sorry I missed your question!  I wouldn’t ever ignore you.  I agree with FitnessAddict about the 2 without the step/Bosu unless you have something at home that could double as a step.  Do you like hardcore?  #3 is hardcore so if you don’t like it  tuff then do the other one for a long time.  Or you could just step in place or lift a knee as that is her modification if you don’t have a stepper.

FitnessAddict, Torontomom, and Reviewer - Thank you for the welcome.  I thought I had scared everyone off seeing there were no posts yesterday.  I am glad you guys are back in action today!
Torontomom, I guess it was normal at the time but I am sooo glad I grew out of that lifestyle.  I have heard that the habits that you pick up at a young age usually stick around into adulthood.  I am glad I let go of those bad habits and continue to try and take care of myself.
Reviewer, You really did have an impact on my life.  I have tried many DVDs and none of them produced the results that Dove has (and it has only been 3 1/2 weeks!!!).  Turbo Jam, Slim in 6, Kathy Smith, Chalean Extreme, TA, Callinetics, T-Tapp…. NONE of them have been as enjoyable or rewarding as Dove.  Like FitnessAddict, I will buy any new DVDs that she comes out with.
FitnessAddict, I liked your description of Dove and how she works your body.   It sounds like your results keep getting better and you are already near perfection.  Congratulations on all the great compliments you have been receiving.  When you work out as hard as you do and take care of yourself, you deserve every bit of it.  Your posts are fun and encouraging.  Thanks for posting everyday and keeping this board strong.
I am going to Denver tonight for my friend’s baby shower so tomorrow will be my rest day from Dove.  I hate taking a rest day but it makes me more excited to get back to it asap.  I did Dove 3 today and TA 07 Dance.  I usually walk/run on my treadmill for cardio but I wanted to mix it up today.  Hope you all are having a good day!

Hey Holls…I know what you mean about taking a day off.  About 2 weeks ago thru a series of flukes I didn’t Dove for 3 days and I felt like a slug on a hostas plant.  I made a promise to myself no more than 1 day off from Doving.  Glad you joined in here.

Hey FitnessAddict, I forgot to ask you what food plan you’re following?  Obviously since the comments from the population AT LARGE (hehehe) still flow, you’re Tinyness captures the eyes!

I just finished Dove and cardio and ready to take on the day.  Tomorrow I have to get up early and work out as I have to work from AM to PM Saturday.  Happy weekend to all!

Hey everyone,
I have been unable to get onto the ventpark site for a while, and then I just forgot to try again…
anyways, I am still keeping up with my workouts…but for the first time in months I ran yesterday!!!
After meeting Tracy in NYC and following her orders to not run I stopped….but last night I realized how much I missed it! Sounds corny I know…but running outside felt so liberating and I could feel the oxygen pumping into my body! My Hubby and ran did about 2.5 miles in 20 mins…I have not ran in months so I figured that was pretty good timing…I didnt even stop once!
It felt good and I think I may add it into the mix for cardio….I am going on another trip in a few weeks and need to shape up a lil more to be bikini ready!
Have a great weekend ladies!

Hey everyone!!!  I’m glad VP is up and running again.  I figured it went kaput!  I’m glad you all still posting!  I have much to catch up on!!! MUCH! 
Reviewer-Dove sounds like a winner!  I actually still have not seen your review, can I find this on the home page?  I did check her out on youtube and her workouts look intense.  I can’t imagine a body not changing if you are doing her workouts.

So who heard Madonna dropped TA?  I can’t find that online anywhere.  I soooo hope she does come out with good stuff in December.  I’m still attached to her.  I’ve been trading P57 and TA over the last few weeks.  I don’t know why but I have not had the energy or drive as I did before.  I’m trying to get myself motivated.  I’m still doing the workouts, but don’t seem to have the energy like before.  :(  But I’ll keep at it!!!! 
I’m also totally changing my diet.  I’m giving up the sweets (oh that hurts to type aloud) and cutting back.  I’m sure this is affecting my energy level for the mean time but hopefully in another week or so it’ll come together.  Wish me luck on this one….with all these kids it’s hard to not eat along with them.
BUT my husband has now lost 40lbs doing his workouts and looks great and is so into eating healthy so that helps. 
Well I’ve missed you all and I hope getting back on this board it re-motivates me big time!!!!  It was a year for me last month and i”ve NEVER EVER worked out for a year!  So I’ve already accomplished something huge!!!  :O)

Alright it seems like a board again today!!  The regulars are popping in!   Momof4: oh I had no idea what happened to you?! You had me worried.  If you go to the Reviews Park in VP, you’ll see the reviews there.  As for lack of energy…YOU MUST READ MY REVIEWS.  Between the zone and Dove, you’ll have tons of energy and feel great!  Bella I don’t run but just reading your story, I could feel the freeing-ness of just going and running!  Congrats on your re-connection to your running love.

Hi Everyone,

Lately I’ve switched it up and have been doing TA cardio in the AM–I did it Monday through Thursday and it was great!  On Monday afternoon I did Mat, and on Tuesday I did my own TA workout, which kicked my behind.  Literally!  It was so sore for the next two days.  On Wednesday I was feeling draggy, so skipped my afternoon workout.  Yesterday at work I was feeling okay, then gradually my throat started hurting worse and worse…by the end of the day my tonsils were swollen and had white dots all over them, neck was swollen and sore, and I felt horrible.  I could barely sleep last night I kept waking up in pain.  I’m feeling a bit better now, been drinking lots of tea and keeping up with ibuprofen and penicillin, and thankfully had the day off work.  No workout today though, unless hubby leaves…I’m sure he won’t let me do anything! 

I did get a chance to preview Dove’s DVDs.  Just haven’t felt up to checking them out, but decided I should pop them in and do a preview.  They look great!  Very different than TA but it would be fun to throw them in.  I’m looking forward to trying all four next week and will report back!   She does tons of different moves, it seems like it will go by super fast, and although some of the moves are ‘traditional’, she does lots of pulsing so it seems like they wouldn’t bulk. 

I can’t wait for TA to put out new DVDs.  I’m planning a visit to the LA studio in December, where I’m going to attempt to take as many classes as physically possible during my time there.  They haven’t e-mailed me back (surprise surprise) with responses to my questions about class schedules/cost/days the studio will be open (it is the holidays, after all, when we’re planning on visiting) so I’m hoping they do soon so I can keep planning.  Gypsy, Topanga and I are all going to meet up if it all works out!  I’m thinking I’ll try to take a Bar Method class in San Francisco on the way down.

In more fun fitness news, I bought some Lululemon workout clothes (though I really should not have) and they are so frickin cute.  Next month I’m going to the bay area for a friend’s wedding, I am totally stopping in the SF Lululemon store to try stuff on….credit card watch out!!  I figure working out is my hobby and I’ve worked hard for this body so I should look hot doing it!

Hope everyone is doing well!  I’m so happy it’s the weekend!!!!

onetwoeight:  are you feeling better today?  Has that penicillin kicked in?  I hope so.  So many people are getting sick now.  Work out and stay strong and keep those nasty bugs away!

You are so funny w/the lululemon clothes.  Like I said, everyone here wears them.  I dress to kill everyday (don’t even own jeans) and should wear lululemon when I work out but I work out alone so just put on Nike, usually. Look out SF store! And look out credit card!!  You’ve been in SF a lot lately, haven’t you?

Did Dove this morning, loved it, but had a major interruption re: a sleepover pick-up time and was not able to do my cardio.  I never miss any part of my workout.  Never.  How could I miss cardio on the day when my husband ran 26.2 miles?  Bad.  But I guess I gave my body an unintended break from cardio but at least did intervals w/Dove.  Still, not happy I did an incomplete workout. But since I workout out 7 days per week, I guess I should cut myself a break.  But now, every time I drive my someone running or something, I am going to be mad. 

Off to start the chaos.  Have a good day everyone.

Tippy, thanks for that article.  TA’s people tried to put a spin on the M/TA break-up but it was a weak one. But I guess they had to say something.

Here’s another article….

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/10/12/madonna-sacks-personal-trainer-tracy-anderson-115875-21741804/

Bella, I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother.  I am hoping and praying that she pulls through with minimal side effects.  Please take care of yourself and remember to eat.  I don’t eat a lot either under those types of circumstances but that is the worst thing you can do for your body.  You don’t need to eat much, just a little bit of healthy stuff.  You can’t afford to get sick now, too, with all of the illnesses going around. Maybe you can celebrate  your grandmother’s recovery with your shopping spree!

Thank you for all the fab articles.  They were so much fun to read.  I, too, wonder what the real story is behind the M/TA breakup.  I don’t think M would be easy to work for, especially if you are not giving her  your undivided attention.

Hang in there, sweetie…

Hey Bella–quick note to say best wishes for your Grandma!!

Momof4, I’m not a runner so no help from me.

It’s interesting that since TA hooked up with that guy, she’s been off of the press circuit.  Now I bet she’s in hiding.  Hey where’s Susie? She always had the scoop.

Hey everyone,

Welcome Holls.

Bella I’m sending positive vibes to you and your Grandma.

On the whole TA/M split, I would say M wasn’t happy about TA hooking up with the head of her charity, then he resigns. I would say that caused a lot of bad blood between them. Plus TA moved to the Hamptons and wants to set up shop there. Basically I’d say she worked her butt off to establish herself and now that she has, she wants to try and carve out some sort of normal “settled” routine. That’s just my opinion.

I was wondering if anyone knows if it’s possible to download any of Dove’s dvds? The aren’t available in the european format. But I would really love to try them. I’m still working out daily, mixing TA with some jump rope, P57 from youtube clips etc.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Hey Momof4 I started with disc #4
Bella - so sorry about your grandmother, I’ll be thinking good thoughts for you.

guess what. I’m still sick. however I am slowly getting my taste back, I don’t ache but I do have bad sinus pressure and can’t stop blowing.

momof4: the person who said I walked like I was weak was my very critical muscle-head brother who also told me I was emaciated.  (Admittedly, my legs were like sticks when I saw him.) He said the only thing that saved me was that I was skinny-ripped.  Otherwise, he would have killed me - he was very worried about me and thought I was over-exercising  - and he pleaded with me to eat more.  I am eating a little more but am really uncomfortable doing so.  You know how siblings can be.  But I’m not sure he could make that statement anymore or for much longer.  I’ve got some seriously strong quads now, thanks to Dove. And I was afraid of bulking and do think my thighs are a bit bigger but not in a bulky way.  When I stood with my feet together before Dove, my thighs were about 1″ apart.  Now, they are about 1/4″ apart.  But, I think while I am gaining muscle, they are really tightening and they they will go farther apart again. 

If you cannot get all four DVDs at once, Reviewer recommended doing the DVDs in the following order:  4, 2, 1 and 3.  I agree!

Feel better!

Momof4:  After loving my Dove workout this morning and turning off Turbo Jam 2/3 of the way through because I am so disillusioned with all forms of cardio, (could not listen to Chalene Johnson’s voice one more second!)  I really am going to think about going back outside to do my cardio.  (It was pouring this morning and while I used to go out in all forms of weather, I am not that dedicated a power-walker/runner anymore.)  It’s just that when I go out, it takes 90 minutes and Dove is one hour and I am going to start getting up there w/my workout time again.  I cut back from my 3-hour time I was doing over the summer and am now down to two hours and really want to keep it at that.  However, I really  need to do my cardio!

I am so envious you can train for a 5K; now I really want to do something like that, especially since I live with Mr. Marathon.  Damn knees. So proud of you - go for it!!!  You can (and will) do it!!! Just stick with the training and before you know it, you will be training for a marathon!!!  And like I said, TA said running gives you “ugly butt” - how about “no butt?”  When I was doing 7 miles, I had no body, except for my boobs.  And my husband, who used to lift really heavy, is too thin now.  You cannot keep size on you when you distance run.  (But you are right, some women marathoners still have thighs that jiggle - so unfair.  We still have to do some weight work even though we run/walk or whatever.) It’s the sprinters who have rock-hard thighs.)

Bella, how is your grandmother doing?  Better, I hope.

Have a good day, everyone.

Bella, I’m thinking about you too and sending your grandmother my best wishes.  I’m the same way as you–not eating in times of stress/fear/the unknown.  But you really must try…get a smoothie or some juice (I know sometimes when I can’t eat at least o.j. sounds good and can help).  Take care of yourself too, sweetie!

hey ladies! 

bella warm thoughts and best wishes to you and your family during this hard time… think and talk about all the fond memories you have of grandma with grandma to help you get through, she will love it and thank you for it later.. when she gets well.

mrs HC i’m sorry you arent well… i just spent a couple of hours at the medical clinic with my little one who has a bit of a rash on her face, spreading quickly and worryingly.  i suppose i shouldnt complain about free healthcare but man oh man if i didnt pick up a serious virus in there i would be shocked, ugh.  everyone is wearing masks now as soon as they check in if they are running a fever cause we are freaking out about swine flu…  what a day!

im having a terrible time finding workout time in the last couple of weeks, we lost staff at work, so im picking up slack and working at home as soon as i get the babe to bed, and to top ot all off, ive had a ton of birthday parties to attend, all with mass quantities of the worst evil junk food, an anniversary to celebrate (a good thing i know but of course it required a huge sushi dinner!)  and this weekend was canadian thanksgiving.  turkey stuffing madness!  i am not fat but whoa do i ever feel like a huge bloated beast.

TA is being bashed all over the internet, she even made it to perezhilton several times in the last couple of days.  i cant wait for new stuff regardless of her wonky personal life!

Tippy:
Cardio Barre is terrific!  I highly recommend!  I have both DVDs and the portable barre and dumbbells.  Their customer service is great to work with, fast shipping, friendly people.

belladiamondz:
Just be there in love for your grandmother, people who have strokes can make amazing recovery, my mom had two strokes.  Drink your calories if you can’t eat.  Homemade eggnog helped keep me going through a bad patch.

General thoughts on TA/Madonna bustup:
Personally, I think Madonna would get hard to be around for long periods of time, demanding, that sort of thing and traveling a lot is exhausting anyway.  I can understand TA wanting to go home to son and new boyfriend.  She probably had about all she could take of M and frankly, when it comes to “baggage” Madonna accusing anybody else of having too much of that is like the pot calling the kettle black.  Madonna is in no position to make any such remark to or about anybody. 

She knew the previous difficulties TA had had, and probably encouraged TA to break it off with Glyn Barber after meeting him.  For Madonna to complain at this late date about TA’s “baggage” — how mean spirited and utterly stupid.  Madonna  is really ticked that her Raising Malawi director quit to be with TA.  Oddly enough, that’s the kind of thing Madonna would do to somebody else.  I think M should shut her trap and go on about her business, without trashing Tracy Anderson.

Thanks for the video link, anonymous, I loved it!

Thanks girls for your encouragement…I had some cereal this morning for bkfst and actually feel a lil hungry now for lunch.
It’s just so hard for me to even think about food right now, especially since I just found out they had to put a feeding tube on my grandma =(
I hope that will give her nourishment and strenght to get better!!!

That link was great…loved the new moves and I cant wait for the new site to launch and her book to come out!!!!
woo hooooooo =)

Hi there girls!  I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA.  Can you believe I just got out of the hospital?  I had to have my gall bladder out.  A couple weeks ago I started feeling this intense pain out of nowhere in my upper abdomen.  After suffering for a day I finally let my husband bring me to the ER.  They admitted me right away and then I had to spend 4 days eating only ice chips waiting for my system to return to normal so they could do the surgery.  I was such a mess.  Very scary.  I’ve never had any kind of surgery so it was quite an experience.  On the road to recovery now, actually feeling quite well. 

So, I finally got to my goal size 2 - however, I would have liked to get there in a different way. Haha!  The worst thing is that I can’t work out for a few weeks, not until around Thanksgiving. 

Turns out major weghtloss often leads to gall bladder disease.  I had never heard that.  My surgeon said when I mentioned losing about 75 lbs over the course of last year he pretty much was certain my gall bladder was my problem. 

Anyway, I’ve seriously missed all of you!  Bella - I hope your grandmother is improving.  Oh, and Londonette - you said something very sweet weeks ago and I never saw it to respond.  Thank you so much!!

I am so surprised to hear about the TA/Madonna break up.  So sad!

Bizzy-holy cow you’ve been through the wringer!!!!  I’m soooo sorry!  You sound incredibly upbeat about it though in your post.  I guess being positive makes it more bearable!  Geez…4 days of just ice chips? How is that possible?  How awful!  I’m glad you are recovering now.  Surgery is not fun, been there.  I’m sure with all your hard work b/f the surgery will pay off in terms of your recovery.  Take care of yourself and be well!!    I didn’t realize you lost 75lbs in a year.  YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  But man, the gall bladder should have been more respectful to you! 
I never heard of that either. 
Stay strong Bella!!!

Did anyone catch 20/20 with Valerie Bertinelli?  She got into her bikini?  She said it was 3 months of running and weights and obviouslly good eating.  BUT she mentioned on View today she put 10lbs back on since that photo shoot.  I’m relieved to hear her say she struggles with it every day, it’s a conscious effort she continually works for.  B/c it sure is for me!!! 

wow bizzy i’m glad your ok!  you will be tough and back to normal in no time!  welcome back

bella hang in there with your grandma, sorry to hear about the feeding tube.  she wouldnt want you to go hungry though, eat your fruits and veg!