Project Shapety Shape

[costicina]

No matter how hard/constant is  my training routine, I'll NEVER, NEVER  get  six-pack like that  ....

[oxy60]

No matter how hard/constant is  my training routine, I'll NEVER, NEVER  get  six-pack like that  ....

She like Lady Gaga was born that way.

Sometimes one wonders about the genetic make up, especially last Sunday when the woman winner ran the marathon just 17 minutes slower than the male winner at 2h10.

[costicina]

Oxy: Euro cup, Italy vs Spain...do you think we have a tiny chance to win?

[oxy60]

Oxy: Euro cup, Italy vs Spain...do you think we have a tiny chance to win?

Yes. Remember, one goal changes everything.

Don't confuse the Spanish National Team with Real Madrid and Barcelona with all their expensive foreign players.

This will be an exciting tournament and I plan to watch every game that is broadcast. Here in the US this is the first time we get the games on normal cable (ESPN).  During the world cup 2010 I had to get a decoder and pay extra. The only thing we can't do is bet...

[costicina]

You can bet with ME.. if only simbolically. I bet against Italy (sigh!)...our team is worst than our economy 

[thalbergmad]

England will fail as they are a bunch of overpaid twonks.

Thal

[oxy60]

You can bet with ME.. if only simbolically. I bet against Italy (sigh!)...our team is worst than our economy 

Thank you! But I will refrain. These tournaments go in strange ways. And Thal, England may just do very well in spite of it all.

BTW the transfer fee for #2 NL is rumored to be 15 mil. Clelsea is very interested now that Valencia is off the table. They got a Portugese player to fill that spot at FB.

Platini is still my all time pick from the Italian stable.

 

[thalbergmad]

Taken during today's training ride.

Thal

[oxy60]

Impressive! Glad you are getting in shape on your bicycle. It will be the only way to get around once the Olympics start.

[49410enrique]

You can bet with ME.. if only simbolically. I bet against Italy (sigh!)...our team is worst than our economy 

c'mon costi, where's your sense of nationalistic pride lol

[49410enrique]

Taken during today's training ride.

Thal

get on it thal! great job man.
high 5!!

[49410enrique]

i've got to get some gymnastics basic skill work in this week, my schedle is all sorts of crazy, i got good strength and conditioning in yesterday but i was too pooped to practice any strength skills (which is different thatn my strength accessory work, i think i will transition to a bit more bodybuilder approach for the duration of the summer and do more skill maintenance and present skill refinement vs new skill acquisttion.that will have to wait till this fall when i move mroe training to indoors and do my fall/winter stuff)

evertime i think i am progressing okay, i need to remember that i suck, back to the gym i go.....

[costicina]

The maximum of shape I’ve been able to  get for the upcoming summer  


P.S. And here are Felipe's abs...

[49410enrique]

The maximum of shape I’ve been able to  get for the upcoming summer  

P.S. And here are Felipe's abs...

great job guys.
 
it looks like you and felipe are ready for bikini time.

i'm not bikini ready yet. i need to get moving!

[oxy60]

The maximum of shape I’ve been able to  get for the upcoming summer  

Congratulations! I don't remember the name of the club where we hung out for Sunday lunch. It was not that exclusive but the food and service were fantastic. It was down some dirt road in Lido de Ostia.

It doesn't hurt to feel good about yourself. 

[costicina]

I have a very good trainer, even if only 'virtual': Enrique!!!! His advices, suggestions and support have been soooo precious... Thank you, Enrique 

[thalbergmad]

My pacemaker needs adjusting.

[ahinton]

My pacemaker needs adjusting.

If you ask m1469 (very) nicely she might just do a detour on her way to Wien and do it for you (even though that might mean that you need a second one)...

Best,

Alistair

[49410enrique]

yesterday was a mandatory rest day both planned and neccessary ( my sleep was crap and in most cases it makes more sense to skip altogether than to train in a sleep deficit due to the hormonal nastyness you'll cause in terms of strees, cortisol, etc. not so bueno for fat loss).

i did go for a  nice long afternoon walk in the heat of the day got some nice sun and the heat index was probably arond 105-107 F so i sweat it out pretty good and still got a bit of passive heat conditioning is important  leading into july and august out here but the main goal for yesterday was accomplshed.



today i will try to lift heavy, do some skills and of course my least favorite favorite...

'barefoot' sprints (i need to wear vibrams for this due to the super hot ground)

[oxy60]

I have a very good trainer, even if only 'virtual': Enrique!!!! His advices, suggestions and support have been soooo precious... Thank you, Enrique 

Women half your age could only wish for such a look!

[costicina]

Wow, thanks Oxy, I'm flattered  ....
Enrique: my trainer says that barefoot sprints are the best exercise for legs/gluteous, and recommended me to do at least 5 sets of them daily on the beach.... I don't know if I'll have the perserverance to follow his advice.

[49410enrique]

Wow, thanks Oxy, I'm flattered  ....
Enrique: my trainer says that barefoot sprints are the best exercise for legs/gluteous, and recommended me to do at least 5 sets of them daily on the beach.... I don't know if I'll have the perserverance to follow his advice.

yes i can't really think of anything much more effective for overall development especially  lower body (but really sprints are a full body body weight movement, as evidenced by the soreness you fell ALL OVER after a good intense run at them ).

i think 5 sets daily can be excessive in people that have not been building up to that level of volume, i.e. it can be done but seldom sustained and usually only by folks that have worked specifically at being able to handle that work load. also it owuld be hard to train anything else doing that. also it is somehwat pointless if sprint performance is not the primary goal, i.e. sprinters train like that somewhat but they are gearing for their sport, it is more practice than working out or physical recreation.

i would suggess you start with 1 session every 4-6 days for two weeks, then increase to 1 session every 3 days for two weeks. then rest for about a wekk, then start up again 1 ever 3 days, then 1x every other day, when you can hanlde that i would do that for three weeks, rest a week, then keep going your sprints every other day or so.  the main thing is listen to your body, how you are recovering. your sleep (i.e. lots of it) and stress (i.e. keep it LOW) will have a big impact on your sustainability. it is one of the most intense stressful things you can put yourself through and done improperly you can really wreck yourself (i..e mess with stress homrones, stall fat loss, etc.).

however LOTS of barefoot walking on the beach is HIGHLY reccommended especially as a fat loss modality. i suggest if you can schedule it a minimum of say 75 minutes up to 5-6 days per week in addition to your other training.

[oxy60]

Wow, thanks Oxy, I'm flattered  ....
Enrique: my trainer says that barefoot sprints are the best exercise for legs/gluteous, and recommended me to do at least 5 sets of them daily on the beach.... I don't know if I'll have the perserverance to follow his advice.

You're welcome.

My podiatrist says always wear closed shoes. Both my wife and I have been stung on our feet by dying bees at the beach near the water's edge. I love to walk barefoot along the sand but I don't want to walk like a cow looking for hazards. 

[49410enrique]

fun w shake weight!
lol

[costicina]

  No sprints for the moment....I injured badly my right foot (never dance with stilettos 10 cm high + 5-6 strong cocktails + empty stomach...at least NOT at my age). But as soon as I'll recover, I'll follow the routine you suggested, Enrique, thank you!!!!!

[ahinton]

never dance with stilettos 10 cm high + 5-6 strong cocktails + empty stomach...at least NOT at my age

Or, better stilll, never dance at all and never wear stilettos of any height; the cocktails will then be considerably safer, as will you!

Best,

Alistair

[oxy60]

No sprints for the moment....I injured badly my right foot (never dance with stilettos 10 cm high + 5-6 strong cocktails + empty stomach...at least NOT at my age). But as soon as I'll recover, I'll follow the routine you suggested, Enrique, thank you!!!!!

Ouch! Hope you had enough fun to compensate for the pain.

We men can only groan in sympathy, never knowing the discomfort you ladies suffer for the cause of beauty.

[costicina]

Ouch! Hope you had enough fun to compensate for the pain.

We men can only groan in sympathy, never knowing the discomfort you ladies suffer for the cause of beauty.

Thank you, Oxy! And yes, the fun compensated fully the pain: great night with great friends...and I felt (and looked, I hope) good with those damned stilettos. About the discomfort we ladies suffer for beauty, in Italian we say: "Chi bella vuole apparire, molto deve soffrire" (you didn't forget your Italian, isn't it?  ....maybe next time I'll avoid the cocktails..but I'm not sure 

[oxy60]

Thank you, Oxy! And yes, the fun compensated fully the pain: great night with great friends...and I felt (and looked, I hope) good with those damned stilettos. About the discomfort we ladies suffer for beauty, in Italian we say: "Chi bella vuole apparire, molto deve soffrire" (you didn't forget your Italian, isn't it?  ....maybe next time I'll avoid the cocktails..but I'm not sure 

When I lived in Rome I hung out with a diverse group of singles (men and women) and now I am sure my remark about suffering for beauty came from what was said by one of the Italian girls.

For the last 25 years I have had to speak a lot of Spanish and my Italian has suffered. I did recognize the phrase you quoted, however. Adding to the linguistic confusion is a dialect left behind by Roman soldiers in Spain and derived from the Latin Vulgate. So some of the words and phrases I learned around the Campo di Fiore/Piazza Navona come back up. 

[49410enrique]

today is monday. it is a good day to press and balance.

[49410enrique]

more proof that everything russian/former soviet is just plain more hard core. here i go for a run or workout out and call it good. there? meh deaf defying life on the line stroll on the neighborhood crane is just another afteroon. i dont know ... i grew up w this silly notion of valuing my life. i'm such a whimp.

lol c'mon you climb up there like this often enough and by probability alone, this was bound to happen! *watch the video.....WAIT FOR IT
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[49410enrique]

Me summer bike is now ready for action, so no doubt I will burn immense calories tomorrow.

Thal

oh man you should totally get one of these for it!
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[49410enrique]

saturday's are tough, i try to make it a 'two a day' day so even though i'm beat up i will work to get in a separate dedicated strength and skill session and a separate conditioning session (outside inthe heat preferrably).

on my way. got some work to do and the later the first sessin is the further back the 2nd one has to be (i need a minimum of 4-6, preferrable more, hours in between each one).

[thalbergmad]

Managed 206 miles on me bike in a week. Lost 12 pounds and got through a tube of Lanacane.

Thal

[ahinton]

Managed 206 miles on me bike in a week. Lost 12 pounds and got through a tube of Lanacane.

Good to hear (or at least see from your post evidence) that you're still well and truly alive after so gruelling an experience! I hope that you scanning arm is still well and truly intact! I sometimes feel abit tired after that many miles on a train!

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

It sounds a lot of miles, but it was spread over 5 days and Cambridgeshire is not too tiring on the legs.

Thankfully, my recent efforts have resulted in an increased average speed, so I am still on target for the Oxford to Cambridge ride this year, albeit 90 miles in one hit fills me with a little dread.

However, the lack of horrid hills indicates it is probably no more of a task than the shorter Isle of Wight Tour I completed in 2008.

Thal

[ahinton]

It sounds a lot of miles, but it was spread over 5 days and Cambridgeshire is not too tiring on the legs.

It would be on mine!

Thankfully, my recent efforts have resulted in an increased average speed, so I am still on target for the Oxford to Cambridge ride this year, albeit 90 miles in one hit fills me with a little dread.

However, the lack of horrid hills indicates it is probably no more of a task than the shorter Isle of Wight Tour I completed in 2008.

I have to confess to being somewhat surprised that you're not participating in the Tour de France as the principal representative of Le Fin des Graves...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I rather think I would have been eliminated after today's prologue.

The chances of a first ever English victory are excellent this year, but I am not getting too excited yet.

Thal

[oxy60]

I rather think I would have been eliminated after today's prologue.

The chances of a first ever English victory are excellent this year, but I am not getting too excited yet.

Thal

Do you have any plans for the Olympics? You mentioned once you lived very close.

I lived very close during the 84 games in LA. August being a slow month I didn't loose any work but planning any sort of get together was a nightmare. The only event I attended was the opening concert. Sat so close I could have sat in.

[thalbergmad]

Do you have any plans for the Olympics?

I am about 15 miles away, but I plan to avoid it like the plague. I did not apply for any tickets anyhow.

London's transport service is already under strain and with everyone wanting to go on strike unless they get an "Olympic" bonus, I expect the World will look upon us and lament how this once great Country is now a pile of crap.

To be honest, I wish we had never won the bloody thing.

Thal

[oxy60]

I am about 15 miles away, but I plan to avoid it like the plague. I did not apply for any tickets anyhow.

London's transport service is already under strain and with everyone wanting to go on strike unless they get an "Olympic" bonus, I expect the World will look upon us and lament how this once great Country is now a pile of crap.

To be honest, I wish we had never won the bloody thing.

Thal

Correct me if I am wrong but I think that the Los Angeles games of '84 were the only one that actually made money after all the associated costs were paid. London has a rude awakening coming when it's all over and the rate payers are stuck with the bill.

There won't be the tourist occupancy tax boost everyone thinks is coming (and which was included in the calculations).  In fact the only real losers in the LA games were the hotel owners who built extra capacity for visitors that never came.

Thal, enjoy that bicycle and (when available) that beautiful English countryside. I remember it fondly and the discovery of one of those cozy pubs with lunch ready...

[costicina]

My fitness routine on the beach  

[ahinton]

My fitness routine on the beach  

Ah, now with that at least I can manage to identify and, if I really worked hard at it, I think that I might even be able to manage that routine myself (albeit not in the kind of wintry weather with which we're being beseiged in England right now).

Best,

Alistair

[49410enrique]

My fitness routine on the beach  ...

well thank you for helping to destroy any shred of motivation i might have had w respect to my shaptey shape plans for this afternoon. all of the sudden my planned time in a dark stinky weight room, prolly surrounded by a bunch of dudes, doesn't seem even remotely appealing...

[costicina]

    I just whished to share with you the beauty of my island's sea...Take a plane and join me, you are welcome!!!!!

[oxy60]

  I just whished to share with you the beauty of my island's sea...Take a plane and join me, you are welcome!!!!!

Wonderful! Yes, just lie there until you get too warm and then go under an umbrella where lunch is ready...

Is there a sort of island off of your island where there is a military base? Some friends said they lived there while on duty.

[costicina]

Is there a sort of island off of your island where there is a military base? Some friends said they lived there while on duty.

No, it's the main island, i.e. Sardinia, the south part. The little bay where my house lies is a paradise on its own. Besides, my roots are here, it's home form. I love Rome, but sometimes I think the life quality here is far far better....

[oxy60]

No, it's the main island, i.e. Sardinia, the south part. The little bay where my house lies is a paradise on its own. Besides, my roots are here, it's home form. I love Rome, but sometimes I think the life quality here is far far better....

There is nothing to compare with the quality of life in a small village. I grew up on a ranch. Our nearest neighbors were 1km away. There couldn't have been more than 2000 people living in that area. Then as I grew up I moved into bigger and bigger cities. I still value that quality of life and I can sample it within a half hours drive.

When we travel we try to stay in small places on the shore of a sea. My favorite spot in Italy is Positano where I almost bought a hotel right on the beach. My life might have been very different had that deal gone through...

[costicina]

Don't regret, Oxy: Positano now is overcrowded with tourists, noisy and all but clean....

[oxy60]

We have sort of "hijacked" m1469's thread but maybe she won't mind while she is traveling.

If you know Positano that well, then you would know which hotel. It was to your right on the sandy beach with your back to the sea. It was shuttered then but still had 8 employees ready to come back to work. I wanted the Miramar but they wouldn't sell. Parking was an issue then so I wonder where all those tourists are parking now.

In a bit more than two months I will get to put my toes into the very same sea you are enjoying from the East coast of Spain. From the terrace of our accommodation, we can see the full moon rise over the Med. Also the sunrise is equally spectacular.

Enjoy your vacation and soak it all up!