The people have spoken. (E:peeps) have infinite wisdom and are to be trusted. So I have a fitness question for you all.
I think I have finally identified the weakest link behind my lack of core stability - and no, it's not my stick-like forearms. I have a fairly good posture and no lower back or upper back issues so it's most certainly my weak abdomen muscles. I really loathe doing abdominal crunches... well, I guess I could do them, but they will be my last resort. Can you think of any other exercises or exercise-routines that you have personally done and seen results with?
I know the web has a trillion pieces of advice and probably a zillion flatten-your-abdomen exercises, but I am specifically looking for exercises that you have achieved results with - not really to flatten my abdomen, but to build up the isotonic strength of my abdominal muscles, however un-flat the results might be.
Ideas?
PS: Before you suggest belly-dancing, have YOU really achieved muscle tone with beginner belly dancing?!
Tinypliny's Journal
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12/15/2010 19:09 #53281
Fitness Advice?Category: goals
12/13/2010 22:42 #53269
Hispanophile!!!Category: the odes
I am ALWAYS mistaken for a Hispanic at Pricerite by someone or the other especially when I am hovering in the Goya section or near the root vegetables, wondering for the nth time what one does with them.
I don't think I look particularly Hispanic but I admit it - I would LOVE to be able to speak fluently in Spanish. I think the language is so poetic and sounds so much like my mother-tongue.
My favourite band has always sung in Spanish and I know most of their lyrics by heart - even though I have no idea what they mean.
(well... not exactly, I have looked up translations in the past and know the gist of their songs. But yes, if you ask me for a word-for-word translation, I would probably just blink dully at you.)
I also love MarÃa Dolores Pradera beyond a healthy limit.
Oh, and let's not forget the latest addiction to Salsa that I seemed to have sponged up.
I think this was just inevitable.Friends, Romans, Mum, (E:peeps), you are now reading the journal of a bonafide Hispanophile!
I don't think I look particularly Hispanic but I admit it - I would LOVE to be able to speak fluently in Spanish. I think the language is so poetic and sounds so much like my mother-tongue.
My favourite band has always sung in Spanish and I know most of their lyrics by heart - even though I have no idea what they mean.
(well... not exactly, I have looked up translations in the past and know the gist of their songs. But yes, if you ask me for a word-for-word translation, I would probably just blink dully at you.)
I also love MarÃa Dolores Pradera beyond a healthy limit.
Oh, and let's not forget the latest addiction to Salsa that I seemed to have sponged up.
I think this was just inevitable.
tinypliny - 12/15/10 17:59
yeah, but being from Spain also makes you Hispanic.
yeah, but being from Spain also makes you Hispanic.
metalpeter - 12/14/10 17:36
I'm guessing that you looking at the Goya stuff people just Assume...... The thing with being Hispanic or if you or others don't agree with that term South American is there are so many skin tones. As an example some whom I knew when he was growing up got the nick name Chico He was Italian but dark so he looked Spanish .....................................................
I'm guessing that you looking at the Goya stuff people just Assume...... The thing with being Hispanic or if you or others don't agree with that term South American is there are so many skin tones. As an example some whom I knew when he was growing up got the nick name Chico He was Italian but dark so he looked Spanish .....................................................
tinypliny - 12/14/10 00:15
Hmmm.. the Portuguese did come somewhat close to where I think my family is from but I would extremely surprised if they anything to do with my family.
Yep, white rat. :^) So many connotations...
Hmmm.. the Portuguese did come somewhat close to where I think my family is from but I would extremely surprised if they anything to do with my family.
Yep, white rat. :^) So many connotations...
uncutsaniflush - 12/13/10 23:51
You are, of course, ignoring the possibility that you are Hispanic. The people have spoken. After all, you don't have to understand Spanish to be Hispanic.
Of course, on the Indian subcontinent, Portuguese would be . . .
White Rat, indeed.
You are, of course, ignoring the possibility that you are Hispanic. The people have spoken. After all, you don't have to understand Spanish to be Hispanic.
Of course, on the Indian subcontinent, Portuguese would be . . .
White Rat, indeed.
12/12/2010 22:35 #53255
Wake up?!Category: the odes
The lamp is on a deal at Amazon. This promotional video made me laugh!
I can totally see myself as part of that geeky little team of technicians cheering at 3 AM because a rooster crowed early. lol
I can totally see myself as part of that geeky little team of technicians cheering at 3 AM because a rooster crowed early. lol
12/12/2010 13:54 #53247
Baking without recipés. Finally!Category: eating in
I made this.
A super-tasty spice and nut bread.
Without a recipé.
Without eggs.
Without butter.
Without sugar - well... added sugar, that is.
With plum jam, flax seed, almonds, milk powder, 100% whole wheat and a tonload of wheat bran. It is SUPER-delicious out of the oven, can be toasted to perfection and is divine with just about anything. And one slice meets 50% of my daily fiber AND protein requirements.
This may look like a small baking step, but its a big leap formankind ME!
I never follow recipés and can't remember any of them anyway. I don't have measuring paraphernalia, refuse to let my life be ruled by tablespoons and cups and hate non-metric units that everyone seems to be obsessed with! And I really dislike that eggy smell that surfaces once in a while when you don't want it to.
Well...not anymore!!!!! You won't smell the fear of baking ever again in my kitchen! You will only smell cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and a ton of triumph... and maybe a bit of banana since some of those have been ripening on my table for ages.
A super-tasty spice and nut bread.
Without a recipé.
Without eggs.
Without butter.
Without sugar - well... added sugar, that is.
With plum jam, flax seed, almonds, milk powder, 100% whole wheat and a tonload of wheat bran. It is SUPER-delicious out of the oven, can be toasted to perfection and is divine with just about anything. And one slice meets 50% of my daily fiber AND protein requirements.
This may look like a small baking step, but its a big leap for
I never follow recipés and can't remember any of them anyway. I don't have measuring paraphernalia, refuse to let my life be ruled by tablespoons and cups and hate non-metric units that everyone seems to be obsessed with! And I really dislike that eggy smell that surfaces once in a while when you don't want it to.
Well...not anymore!!!!! You won't smell the fear of baking ever again in my kitchen! You will only smell cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and a ton of triumph... and maybe a bit of banana since some of those have been ripening on my table for ages.
libertad - 12/12/10 19:56
I doubt I would ever bake without a recipe. I just don't have it in me.
I doubt I would ever bake without a recipe. I just don't have it in me.
tinypliny - 12/12/10 14:01
Oh I am not that extreme. I really like milk - besides, that's where most of the protein is coming from.
Oh I am not that extreme. I really like milk - besides, that's where most of the protein is coming from.
paul - 12/12/10 14:00
If you could just get rid of the milk powder it would be vegan.
If you could just get rid of the milk powder it would be vegan.
12/12/2010 11:43 #53245
GrouponoidsCategory: buffalo
I was wondering about just how many Groupon-like online daily discount deal websites exist for Buffalo, did a quick web-trawl and found five.
1. Groupon
2. LivingSocial
3. SocialBuy
4. Deal of the day
5. WGRZ discount deals
One of these days, I might be persuaded to get a mani-pedi and a swedish massage or maybe I could go y0ga-craZy and try out every flavour of class down Elmwood.
All of the other zillion grouponoids cater to posher cities and of course, NYC - regardless of wherever they are based. I even found some European ones from UK and Germany that had NYC listed as one of the deal cities! Buffalo doesn't seem to be that popular...
1. Groupon
2. LivingSocial
3. SocialBuy
4. Deal of the day
5. WGRZ discount deals
One of these days, I might be persuaded to get a mani-pedi and a swedish massage or maybe I could go y0ga-craZy and try out every flavour of class down Elmwood.
All of the other zillion grouponoids cater to posher cities and of course, NYC - regardless of wherever they are based. I even found some European ones from UK and Germany that had NYC listed as one of the deal cities! Buffalo doesn't seem to be that popular...
tinypliny - 12/12/10 13:26
They might have been a tad bit foolish there. $6 bn was waay overpriced. Google must have had grand plans for Groupon... and now I am sure they will start something similar and topple the company or force a sell at a lower price.
They might have been a tad bit foolish there. $6 bn was waay overpriced. Google must have had grand plans for Groupon... and now I am sure they will start something similar and topple the company or force a sell at a lower price.
paul - 12/12/10 12:52
They should have sold to Google. Can you imagine turning down 6 billion dollars? All it would take is for Facebook to offer the same feature natively and they would lose their value.
They should have sold to Google. Can you imagine turning down 6 billion dollars? All it would take is for Facebook to offer the same feature natively and they would lose their value.
Haha no. A windmill is incredibly difficult. Felly was able to do a backspin, which uses the same principles, but she could only spin for maybe a second or two before losing the momentum. The exercise I am talking about though, isn't as hard as it sounds, just best to do it on carpet if your hips are sensitive at all. Oh and, I was never fond of standing on my head either. I did it once and felt like I was going to pass out, so that was it for me. Felly did it well though so she would just do them randomly throughout the day and swore that they helped her core.
Were you able to do the complete windmill when you were in hip hop class??
Stand on my hands or head?! The answer is an emphatic NO!! I haven't even joined that class yet. I looked at that windmill exercise you described and yikers... that is intense! How does your hip keep from dislocating while doing that?!! I think I will have to join the hip hop class along with the yoga because I want to get better at Salsa - if that makes any sense!
Thanks, (e:lauren)!!! :-)
are you able to stand on your hands or your head? if you can do that a couple times a day it definitely builds up your core. there are also planks, which look so easy but when you actually do them, they burn. and my last bit of advice is pretty difficult to explain, but it is basically a mimicking of the windmill in breakdancing, but without the spinning on your back part. start lying with your back on the ground and your feet up to the ceiling, spread in a v. then you are basically going to use the momentum of your legs to go onto your stomach and follow through till you are on your back again, keep your legs spread the entire time. The best video I found of this is below, although this guy doesn't go all the way over, I help it shows what I mean. Also, just check out Bboy exercises for the windmill, which is all core.
:::link:::
I am encouraged to give it a whirl! Thanks so much! :) Thinking of doing Saturday mornings...
I haven't had the problem there at all. I go in the evenings and all the folks teach so somebody coming for the first time can do it.Believe me, I have no sense of proper yoga fashion and I do fine
You mean Evolation? There are a zillion instructors there... any tips on who might be non-snobbish and kind to beginners and those without a sense of yoga fashion?
Having decent luck with my Bikram Yoga at the studio on Elmwood