The Core

Here's our chance to avoid getting too out of shape with holidays and the shortest day of the year coming around. The last week is only six days, but that ends the year... then it's time to make 2017 commitments!

Thanks for taking the lead on this Ergo.

Way to go Buckworks!

I'm in for 4 workouts a week.

174, 1# over that pix I posted before the Hanoi trip. I'm in slightly better shape, though, the on-going light construction is returning some strength.  I've also been working on joint pain and had some modest, sustainable success with the hot tub & sauna (& glucosamine-chondroitin supplement) , so that's been good.

I didn't eat any/all of the leftover Halloween candy, either.

glad you are getting in better shape RC   And good to hear you are taking part too ergo... not watching

I've also been working on joint pain and had some modest, sustainable success with the hot tub & sauna (& glucosamine-chondroitin supplement)

OK, starting to get interested in this now. Every medic I talk to says that there are no clinically proven trials of glucosamine... in people or dogs. But there are loads who take it. I understand that it takes time (3 months of taking it??)

Heat certainly works, and cold hurts...  (4 degrees out on the bike today at 80 mph, wind chill est -11 C)

>glucosamine
>chondroitin

I think the chondroitin is the joint pain stuff.

First of all, I do not believe in supplements in general. I'm convinced that 99.9% of them are scams.  Secondly, I *hate* taking pills or meds and will avoid doing so at my peril. It's safe to say that I'm beyond skeptical regarding supplements.  Also, if you're going to take them, get them from a source known to be honest about the content --we've had a large scandal here, some mfr putting ZERO % of the advertised ingredient in the bottle. I take Swanson brand.

I will experiment and only keep taking a supplement if I can prove to myself that there is an improvement. I typically do this by quitting, then see if I notice a difference. 3 times.  That experiment was easy to do with the nightly leg cramps.  Quit taking potassium/magnesium/calcium and be awakened by the dark angel of pain. Take them, cramps go away.  The joint pain is more subjective, but I have quit glucosamine-chondroitin at least three times -probably more- and each time it eventually dawns on me after a few weeks that "Hey! I was doing better than this!" and I restart.  It is not a cure, it just takes the edge off the soreness.

>takes time

Yes, it took about 3-4 weeks this last time.

Both of my supplement regimes are cheap.

I take no other pain killers, btw. I try to reserve NSAIDS for when I really need them.

I'm in for this one. Trying to do 7/7 days of either some kind of exercise or at least 30 min of stretching. My goal is to get a 30 day string (I'm currently on D5)... but I can try to keep it going through the end of December. It'd probably be good for me.

Buckworks - missed you at Pubcon. Also - sheepskin slippers and leg warmers! Good idea!

That's a hell of a commitment.

absolutely!  go girl!

4.5/4

Did my usual 4/4 weight training and then did some 50 yard sprints after our last workout tonight (Sunday); my legs feel like Jello.  We are going to incorporate sprints from here on out once a week.

Diet wise I totally went off the rails for one meal this week.  I had a Dim Sum lunch with my wife's family.  There is no way to eat low-carb with that type of food.  I completely enjoyed it and now I am back on track and I'm hoping to shed the water weight in a day or two.