My exercises were more along the line of this beginner's video below. The instructor spent a lot of time making sure my form was right. I can see how one could easily injure joints with kettlebells, so it's good that she's so careful. One exercise, the Turkish something, is very convoluted, so she had me do it with a shoe instead of the weights until I get the motion down pat. Anyway, I feel great if a little sore! I can see getting into this seriously this year. I turn 56 next week, and I could tell my strength sure isn't what it used to be. And some micromuscles were going too (balance & all that). I'd started some Pilates last fall & can see that's helped a lot. I never thought I needed the strength training & stretching stuff, but cardio evidently doesn't do everything, and your body sure starts to decline fast if you don't put in the work. Oh the hard facts of aging! Here is a link that might be useful: Youtube beginning kettlebells.

Nice job awm!! Isn't it amazing how good it feels to drop a few pounds? Do I remember you from the kitchen forum too? I recognize you from somewhere. So sorry to hear about all the continuing knee problems. That has to be extremely frustrating especially when you're used to being so active. Hope you can recover soon! I don't know what triggers cravings for sweets for me - other than just the sight of them. Addiction I think. Yesterday someone brought these beautiful, gourmet cupcakes into the office for someone's birthday. For several hours I just admired the beauty of them but at the end of the day I could no longer control myself and snatched a lovely key lime one. I was practically drooling over it. I ate it, savored it, logged it and stayed within my daily limits and today dropped down a couple tenths of a pound to my lowest level since early 2010. I haven't actually maintained this weight for any period of time since 2009. One thing I'm finding kind of helpful is sometimes eating half the amount I normally would - small glass of juice vs. large, one piece of toast vs. two, etc. The thing I have to figure out is how to incorporate treats into my diet without going completely crazy and eating massive quantities of them.

Awm, thank you for the tips and link! It was fun to see what your first impressions were. And no, no worries-- as I posted in my initial post, I was never planning on using them day after day. I had yoga and ballet scheduled in on alternate days. While I have never been good about working out, I understand the need for muscles to rest. :) I have put off buying a kettlebell, however. I am concerned about the whole lead thing . . .so many get bad reviews (leaving blisters), too. Seems like the only good ones are expensive (I am not sure about the lead in them) and I don't want to commit that much money to them w/o knowing if they are for me. Outside, wow! Three generations! That is fantastic. Should be fun just to be together! Patty, that is fantastic! Your bones must love you for putting the time into them! Beth, yay for Normal the trainer! I am so glad you clicked, and he sounds worth the investment. RE: losing an ounce, is it possible that, as your building more muscle mass, any weight you lose in fat won't show up on the scale because you are adding muscle? But, I think a visit to the doctor is a good idea . . .how do you feel? I'm sorry about your allergies! I bought ankle weight that are adjustable, but they are just too big for me. BUT, I tried them for one workout, and I see the benefit. I do the modified versions of some exercises due to my knees, but with the weights, then I am getting more out of the exercise. It's a good way for me to get a harder workout but safely. So, now I need to find some new ones. My yoga video is coming today . . .and I am going to get a few heavier weights, and maybe a video by the trainer Annie recommended. (She seems like fun!) Cheering everyone on who is doing this, including those of you reading without commenting! Some inspiration:

Annie, you are so close! You can do it! Outside, do you have any more organized runs or races coming up? Maybe the weather is not conducive to it now, though? Lyfia, I am glad to hear you're on the road to recovery! This has to be the worst part, though . . .the waiting! How much longer with the cast? I bet you will be back in no time since you are putting effort into the recovery, which many do not do. Interesting about the team motivation. I am the opposite! I am not competitive and don't like disappointing others, so I prefer to do it alone. Kiki, how did your return go? That is quite a list of changes! A huge congrats to finding and sticking to what works. That is really amazing! Oh, Beth! There isn't a thing wrong with vodka and bologna. My only thing would be not to think of starting/stopping. Think of how you can make permanent changes that you do not want to stop. A real lifestyle change. If that means taking a few weeks off of the gym, then that is OK. Vodka for bed? Fine. But make that be your plan, not a stop. You have to make this so easy and right for you that it works and you are constantly succeeding (or 90%, as we've been told here). If I had to go to the gym to work out, I would fail. I think it would actually be cheaper for me to go in the long run, but I could not do it because it's too complicated. If I had to use the treadmill, I'd fail. I've tried and it's so boring. Things that work for others would not work for me. It's so individual and personal-- different for everyone. If I had to work on what I eat, I'd fail. During these weeks, I briefly tried to improve my diet, and you know what? Totally made me eat worse. I have been OK with how I eat for years, and I do not want to mess with that. What works for me is my set time (morning), easy place (basement), and am making sure I add a lot of challenge and variety to my workouts (love the kettlebell and just got heavier hand weights), it is great. I didn't know that if things got too easy, it actually got BORING. I thought I needed to be perfect to move on, but no. Thanks, everyone, for commenting. It is really more fun knowing others are in this!