I'm going to definitely move to blogster. So, sorry I'm making you all come with me. Please go to http://fitmommas.blogster.com.
Let me know what you think, if you like it or not. If you have any trouble, please e-mail me - camichecketts@yahoo.com.

Have a great day - Cami

www.camichecketts.com

My new blog on blogster has been really fun. I think it looks better and you guys can comment without having to sign up for anything - I think. If you have a second, please check it out and let me know if you have any trouble commenting - http://fitmommas.blogster.com - I'm thinking I'm going to change all my blogs over there, but I'll keep posting on both for a bit.

I ran eight miles this morning with my friends, Janna and Leslie. I thought we had a great time. Later I hear from another friend that Janna and Leslie were praying for me to stop talking. How do you like that?

The boys and I cleaned bathrooms after my run. The first two were fun, by the third toilet they were begging to go outside and I ached to let them. But we made it through and I even forced them into a bit of yard work. Good times at the Checketts' home.

We golfed last night. I'm a nightmare golfer. I not only hit my balls into the lake, I hit other peoples. We played a scramble and my honey was tempted to be frustrated with me, but I golf once a year, what can he expect? Hopefully not much because we only used two of my hits.

Memphis had his friend's birthday party today. It was a dirt bike bonanza. Insane. Seven little boys and one girl flying around the track on their dirt bikes and four-wheelers. Then we opened the pool and they jumped into the ice-cold water. When they could take it no longer, they ran to the hot tub. Hilarious and so cute.

Monday we will concentrate on lower body.

Warm-up and cardio - 5-25 minutes (depending on goals, time limits, and fitness level)

Do the following exercises in a circuit, one set of each exercise, 10-12 reps. If you have time, go through the circuit 2-4 times.

Squat with front kick
Lunge forward and back - lunge onto a step with right foot, swing leg back through and lunge behind with same foot, repeat all reps on one leg, then switch legs
Plie
Step-ups - holding hand weights - 8-15 lb dumbbells
Hamstring Curls
Leg Extensions
Walking lunges with glute press
Calf raises


When you're through with all the circuits, don't forget to cool-down for a few minutes and stretch, it will help you so you're not as sore. Always make sure to do each exercise slowly - contract for two and extend for four. If you're doing the exercises too quickly they won't be effective.

Have a great weekend. I'll chat with you again on Monday.

Cami Checketts

http://www.camichecketts.com

Hey friends. Aren't Fridays wonderful? It's seventy degrees in Smithfield and I'm spending the evening at Birch Creek Golf Course with my honey. What could be better?

Yesterday at the gym I thought about how many people start an exercise program and then give up right before the results come. It is tough to stick with something that isn't easy or particularly fun. The problem with starting and stopping is this: it takes from six weeks to three months to see results from a consistent exercise program and you can lose all your fitness gains in as little as two weeks. Bummer, huh?
Especially with weight training you need to stick it out. I've seen many women gain weight in the first month of two of lifting, but if they stick with it the metabolism will kick in, they'll start losing weight, and they'll reshape their bodies which is more important than weight loss. Right? Right?
Why do women care so much about the scale? I don't have an answer. I'm as upset by the number on the scale as anyone. If you're psychologically stable enough - throw the dang scale away. I, personally haven't matured to that point yet, but with lots of chocolate therapy and counseling by certified friends I'm getting closer.
The important thing is how your clothes fit, how you feel, and that you are exercising because you enjoy it (some of the time) and you're doing it to be healthy for life.

So I've almost decided to switch to blogster. I'm frustrated with blogstream not allowing people to comment unless they're willing to sign up for an account and I really want to hear your comments.
I'm setting up my blogster account today. Check it out at http://fitmommas.blogster.com. I'm going to try it for a week or so then I might switch over completely. I'll keep posting to blogstream as well until I'm convinced that blogster is better.

Have a great weekend.

Cami Checketts
http://www.camichecketts.com

My presentation for League of Utah Writers went well last night. Thanks to those of you who e-mailed and said you read my blog because it's so witty and entertaining. Well nobody actually used the word witty, but I'm sure you thought it.
I'm glad to be done with one of my scary tasks, now if I can only play well for Denver's class opera. Actually, it doesn't matter how I play - the children are so cute I could dance on the piano and nobody would notice!

We bought all our seeds and plants for the garden and flower beds today. Now if it will stay about forty in Smithfield, I might dare plant them. I never understand all the worry over global warming. We have snow year round in Cache Valley - thin out that atmosphere, we won't complain.

Here's tomorrow's fabulous workout! Speaking of fabulous workouts I have a question. Do you like when I keep the workouts simple - 3 sets of 12, exercises you recognize, or do you prefer new ideas and yoga and kickboxing mixed in? Please e-mail me - camichecketts@yahoo.com and tell me what you like. I will probably still do what I want, but at least I'll enjoy hearing from you.
I'd tell you to post comments on the blog, but you have to go in and sign up to post a comment. I'm thinking of changing to blogspot so I can hear all your great thoughts.

Warm-up and cardio - 5-25 minutes
Seated row - 3 sets of 10-12
Pushups - 2 sets of 8-10 (place one hand on a step, one hand on the floor and switch each set)
Lat Pull-down - 3 sets of 10-12
Row with overhead press - row hands up to shoulder level, flip weights up above shoulders and press together overhead - 2 sets of 10
Triceps dips - 3 sets of 12-14
Single-arm triceps kickback - 14-16 reps (one hand on bench, back flat, raise elbow up and back, extend hand toward ceiling, then slowly bring it back)
Incline biceps curls - 3 sets of 12 (laying on incline bench or with shoulders touching wall and hips out)
Single biceps curls - sitting on bench, plant elbow into inner thigh, curl one arm up and in for 14-16 reps, then repeat other side.

www.camichecketts.com

Memphis's birthday party was great. We ate a lot of watermelon and rode dirt bikes. Memphis crashed and came to me dripping blood. He wouldn't even shut off his dirt bike. I ran for bandages, doctored him, and he spun away. After the last lap, he rode toward the garage, hit the edge of the sandpile and flipped off his bike and into the ground on his head. He howled through his bath. The poor kid. What a way to end your birthday.

I'm speaking to our LUW group tonight about blogging. If you live in Cache Valley, please come. It's 7:00 at the Logan Library. Amber Smith, the president, said she'll bring cookies - I guess whatever she has to do to get people to listen to me!
I need help. If any of you have reasons why you read a certain blog, please e-mail me - camichecketts@yahoo.com. I'd love to have some quotes from those of you who flag and faithfully read blogs other than mine. We all know you read mine because it's so entertaining.

Here's tomorrow's workout.
Warm-up and cardio - 5-45 minutes - I've read research that states you should do cardio after strength training for maximum caloric burn. I'm sure there will be another study that disproves that next week, but it might be worth trying. See what works best for you. Sometimes after I lift I'm so tired my cardio isn't very effective.

Step and squat - squat narrow, straighten, squat wide to right, repeat middle and left - 20-24 reps
Slow squats- squat down for four and up for six - can hold weights or use a Smith machine if you like - 12-20 reps
Squat and leap - squat down, then leap towards ceiling - 10-12 reps
Side lunges - 12-14 reps on each side
Clock lunges - start with right leg, lunge to a pretend clock - 11 o'clock, 1 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock, 7 o'clock - then do the same pattern on the left leg - 6 reps on each leg
Slow stationary lunges - down for four, up for six - 8-10 reps on each leg
Dead lifts - 3 sets of 8-10 reps
Glute presses - 12-20 on each leg - can use cable, band, or nothing.
Cool-down and stretch

http://www.camichecketts.com