The august ladies' August check in and chat
Replies
-
Yes, I'm math-challenged, especially as early in the morning as I work out, so I use my phone calculator!Anyone else hate the "on the fly" math required to figure out which plates to put on the bar? :grumble:
I'm from NYC, too...live just north of the city now. I've thought about trolling Craigslist for a squat rack, etc. to outfit my basement with a home gym, but I kind of like the routine of going to the gym—it pushes me out of my comfort zone a bit, and makes me work harder (damned if I'm going to take weights off the bar in front of all those people!!) On the other hand, stumbling downstairs at 5 am would be a lot nicer than driving to the gym on those cold, dark winter mornings!Sigh.... I wish I had a garage for lifting... stupid NYC.... stupid no space anywhere... grumble
So, I was doing this 30-day Paleo eating plan (no grain, dairy, alcohol, sugar, legumes, soy, etc.), ended up extending it to 37 days, which finished yesterday. Weighed myself this morning and I was down 9.5 lbs. So psyched! Weightloss wasn't really the point of the plan, but what a nice side-effect. Of course, then today I ate some stuff that wasn't on the plan and now I feel like crapola. Maybe that's good? It makes me want to go back to to the diet tomorrow.0 -
In my imagination, I need ALL the things to make this work.
Here is what I have:
I love how low that bench is. I wouldn't have to find something to put under my feet to make them high enough to bench properly! How do you get under that to squat? Or does it raise up to high enough? With me it wouldn't have to go very high to be high enough!0 -
I love how low that bench is. I wouldn't have to find something to put under my feet to make them high enough to bench properly! How do you get under that to squat? Or does it raise up to high enough? With me it wouldn't have to go very high to be high enough!
I'm not sure if you can tell with that picture, but the squat rack is on the other side of the bench (front of picture) and you can see the barbell resting on there if you look closely. I just step under it, hunched a little bit, that's all. It's a proper squat rack.0 -
Cool. That looks like something I could afford, and could have room for in the front room.... Must wait til I get the new car though!0
-
Hello
still building back up so technically still deloaded on everything
Squats 5x5@72.5 kg/159lbs - gawd I love squatting!
Ohp 5x5 @22.5kg/49.6lbs (been watching videos, changed my grip... still know I just suck at these)
Deadlift 1x5@75kg/165lbs
usual accessories - full push ups, sit ups, planks, body weight rows. chin ups, air squats
Weight still on the up & up back to my starting weight of 140lbs -but my arms are looking very nice f I do say so myself!
happy lifting ladies x0 -
looking forward to getting back in the gym. Roll on Tuesday! Going to have a look at one in my lunch today and another at some point over the weekend. Don't think I will end up with the one I am looking at today, it's really convenient for work - could go in my lunch if I wanted but it's nearly £10 more than the other and the other is a chain so more option about using different ones, there is 1 near my house, 1 near my OH and 1 on the way to work.
On a side note cycling 11 miles this morning half killed me - it would not be so bad if all the hills were not in the last 4 miles!0 -
Deadlift day today, back in the 100s. Elbows are really bugging me, I think I have tendinitis. Going to add bromelain to my supplement regimen twice daily and give them a proper rest. Nothing much else to do since I type for a living. Sigh.0
-
Workout B
Squats 5x5 @105# (Been here a few weeks and working on form, going lower, and not being so wobbly. This is my PR weight.)
OHP 1x4 @50#, 4x6 @45# (The first set is a PR, hip hip hooray! Had a fail on the last rep so did the other sets at 45#. I really, really need to buy the fractional set. On my "to do" list today.)
Dead Lifts 1x5 @130# (Also a PR and pretty dang close to my current weight which is 131.5 pounds. Am really psyched I was able to lift at this weight. My entire body felt it. It was a struggle but I kept my form.)
Chin ups 3x5 @42# assisted (The dead lifts took everything I had and my chin ups suffered)
Tricep Dips 3x5 @42# assisted (Ditto)0 -
Awesome lifting session tonight. Still at 75lbs for squats for form purposes. Bumped my OHP up to 60lbs and actually did it! Sooooo hard and almost didn't make it, so I'll repeat it, but I'm so thrilled I actually managed all 5x5 on my first try! And then deadlifted 115lbs, which is more than half my body weight! I love this!0
-
So today some guy asked me if I was a powerlifter and also I was impressive :bigsmile:
I did 55 lbs on the Overhead press.. woot up from 50
Also did 110 lbs on squats
95 lbs on rows (ugh)
125 lbs on shrugs
145 lbs on deadlifts *squeals*
75 lbs on machine crunches
Also 50 leg hip raises.
0 -
It's been a crazy week - my dad had a stroke on Monday, and was out of the hospital, slated to fully recover, by Thursday night. Phew. Talk about terror and joy all packed into 72 hours!
I lifted to stay sane, and did some more cardio stuff (hurray maintenance eating for increasing energy and shortening recovery times!)
Wed:
Squats 2x5 @140
OHP 3x5 @70
Chins 3x3 with 10 pounds assistance
Back extensions 5x10 with 10 lb.
Fri:
Squats 1x5 @ 195 - soooooo heavvvvvvvvy. I grunted on each rep. In fact, I grunted for every rep of my entire workout. They don't call it Intensity Day for nothing!
Bench 1x4 @ 120!!!!! I was super pumped - only supposed to get 3@117.5, but thought I'd try the 120. Glad I did!
Power cleans 5x3 @70 - form is getting better on these0 -
Ladies - you are rocking the stronglifts
Kira - so glad your dad is ok.
I am so jealous of everyone's OHP!!!
Still on deload - will be Wednesday for me to get back to my final squatting & deadlift weights - from before my 1 week break) and then hopefully I'll be on the up & up again... !
squats 5x5@75kg/165lb
bench 5x5@25kg/55lbs
row 5x5@25kg/55lbs
managed 12 full push ups today - HURRAHHHH!
usual accessories - reverse crunches, chin ups, sit ups, push ups, air squats, lunges, body weight inverted rows. Also tried to do a hand stand and panicked and collapsed.... ho hum!
Have a great week lifting. x0 -
Kirabob, hope your dad is better soon.
Non-Stronglifts day. It was raining pretty hard today, so skipped Sunday long run... Substituted with the pool for the first time in forever, 1800m.0 -
Sorry have not been checking in here often ladies. Am going to be doing tough mudder in September, so have changed my training up a few times. Still lifting heavy, but concentrating on the trail runs and endurance for a bit. I hope everyone is doing well...
: )
When my endurance events are totally out of the way, I am going to concentrate on body composition (want to get down to 20 % bf as planned and do the bulk and cut cycle towards November) and lifting. Been researching powerlifting and the complete lack of local support in this area. Ugh! Have a few friends though who are into it from around the globe, so at least I can pick some experienced brains for help. It is a solitary kind of sport though by the looks of it.0 -
Hi ladies-
Just stopping by to say HI and y'all are so awesome with the numbers!
This week
Squats- #75
Bench- #65
DL- #135
OHP- #55 (yay and yippeee!!)
Cleans- #55
So far been able to increase at #5 increments without having to pull out the ol fractionals.
I am totally off schedule with my lifting. Supposed to be MWF, but got off track this Wednesday because I pretty much ran around all of western NC and I barely had enough energy to lift my head, much less a weight. Pretty certain I would have been crushed to death if I tried. Oh well will get back on schedule soon hopefully.
Hope everyone has had a great weekend!0 -
Workout A
Squats 3x5 @105# followed by 2x5 @110# (PR I decided to increase by 5# on the fourth set. I was able to do it so that's going to be my new weight for a week or two before increasing again.)
Bench Press 5x5 @70# (staying here a while)
Pendlay Rows 5x5 @80# (ready to increase weight next time)
Chin ups and dips were a de-load. Don't know why I had a great week with these last week but am struggling now, LOL.0 -
Uggleuggle had to do governmental paperwork this morning before work, so went to the gym at 5:30. Wasn't in good shape. Haha.
Squats: 5x5 @ 32.5 kg Was able to do the reps, but did not get as low as I should. This always happens when I first attempt a weight. Hm.
OHP; 3x5 @ 20 kg I wimped out today cause my shoulder was sore from my swim yesterday and didn't struggle through the last 2 sets. :''( Next time.
Deadlift: 1x5 @ 65 kg This is officially heavy for me, I had to pause a few seconds between reps. I noticed the bar kept rolling out of my palms and was hooked on my fingers. Is this purely due to weak sauce grip? It never happened in the least at previously attempted weights.0 -
Hey ladies... I hope to get back on track sometime soon. Going through some bad times right now.0
-
Hey ladies... I hope to get back on track sometime soon. Going through some bad times right now.
Take care of you.0 -
kirabob, I'm glad your dad is ok. How very scary! And WTG on all your lifts, great day Friday!
randomtai, sorry you're having a rough time right now. ((hugs))0 -
Ok ladies... I am having an issue. I am not progressing in a few of my workouts. Ideas why?
Row i cant seem to get above 95- most I have done was like 105 and it really didnt go so well
Squat - Highest weight ever 115 and that was crazy heavy. I went back down and have been trying to progress but no such luck. 95 is the highest I feel comfortable at without back pain.
I have been eating at increased calories and such for a while now-- My diary is open feel free to check there and see if that is where my issue is. Any suggestions or opinions are welcomed.
Yesterdays workout
Squats 4x5 80lbs - havent been doing 5x5 to save on a little time and got kinda bored since I do them every workout.
bench 5x5 85 lbs
rows 5x5 95 lbs
chest and tricep accessory work ( chest flys, tricep dips, tricep extension, etc)0 -
Can you have someone check your form on squats? I struggle with rows myself, I think it's just a tough lift but with your other weights seems like you should be at a higher weight than that for squats. The form on it is SO hard, it's so technical!0
-
I ran out of time to do any accessory work but got my main workout done and was fairly pleased with my lifts, except I really could have used a spotter on my bench- I chickened out on my very last rep of the last set because I was afraid I wouldn't get it back up.
Squats: 3x5 140 lbs. Felt heavy but pretty good! I'm thankful because I've been stuck at 135 FOREVER, finally feel like I'm progressing.
Bench: 3x5 95 lbs
Rows: 3x5 90 lbs. Felt tough, not sure I was getting the full range of motion. I think I will repeat this again next time.0 -
Ok ladies... I am having an issue. I am not progressing in a few of my workouts. Ideas why?
Row i cant seem to get above 95- most I have done was like 105 and it really didnt go so well
Squat - Highest weight ever 115 and that was crazy heavy. I went back down and have been trying to progress but no such luck. 95 is the highest I feel comfortable at without back pain.
I have been eating at increased calories and such for a while now-- My diary is open feel free to check there and see if that is where my issue is. Any suggestions or opinions are welcomed.
Yesterdays workout
Squats 4x5 80lbs - havent been doing 5x5 to save on a little time and got kinda bored since I do them every workout.
bench 5x5 85 lbs
rows 5x5 95 lbs
chest and tricep accessory work ( chest flys, tricep dips, tricep extension, etc)
From this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1082252-strength-gains-2-weeks-in
You may need to reevaluate some things. Eating enough calories? Enough rest? Resting long enough between sets? etc
The novice phase can last as long as three to nine months, though, so milk it for all it's worth while you can.
Hey bumblebums, jumping in with a q, (sorry for hijacking, maegmez!) if I have not seen linear improvement for nearly that long, any thought on why that might be? I was able to increase by 2.5kg/5lbs only 3 or 4 times, if that before feeling like I hit a wall. Am still increasing (very slowly now, a kg a week, if that), but maybe that still falls within the norm of n00b gains?
Speed doesn't actually matter to me, it's not like I can change how my body wants to progress, but just curious vis à vis what you said above!
(It is possible I just need to eat more. I am aware that my feeding lags behind whenever I get careless.)
It's hard to know without more information. But it's important to eat enough (maintenance or more), sleep enough, rest plenty (no half-marathon training between lifting sessions), and have good form--otherwise what I said does not apply. One way to tell when the linear nature of gains breaks down when you start regressing--that is, you are unable to lift weights you could previously do.
Edited by bumblebums On August 26, 2013 11:03 am
That being said, what helped me jump from 95lbs to 100lbs on rows was a few workouts doing 3x8 @ 95lbs. I think I did it for 3 workouts and then tried 100lbs @ 3x5 and didn't have a problem.0 -
Can I get a "HELL YEAH!" for newbie strength gains? Bumped up all my weights today, and though it was far from easy, it certainly wasn't my hardest workout yet. Squats 80lbs, Bench press 70lbs, Pendlay row 90lbs.0
-
Can I get a "HELL YEAH!" for newbie strength gains? Bumped up all my weights today, and though it was far from easy, it certainly wasn't my hardest workout yet. Squats 80lbs, Bench press 70lbs, Pendlay row 90lbs.
Hell yeah!!! Get it girl!0 -
You ladies move too fast for me! We also have some family stuff going on, so I'm not on much.
Last week of Texas for me:
Squats 5x5 @180
OHP 5x5 @ 75
Deadlifts 1x5@ 210
Some hanging leg lifts and pushups.
I think I'll be moving on to Wendler when this is over, as my schedule will finally allow for 4 days at the gym. And volume day is kicking my rear end, even at full maintenance calories.0 -
7.5km run this morning as per my training schedule, one month to go until the race.
Thanks to a wake up call from bumblebums about why I might not be progressing very quickly as a Stronglifts beginner, I am now officially on maintenance calories! I was only supposed to be on a 250 calorie deficit, but now I feel like I have an unlimited quote to fill?? Ack!0 -
Hi all...so, I tried a Crossfit class Saturday and really liked it. Love the way the group makes me push myself, and the input on form from the coach is so useful. I'm going to try to crossfit a couple times a week for the next two months, so I won't be following SL for a while (at least not entirely...I may add a once-a-week SL-inspired session to the crossfit schedule if I can). I'm sure I'll be back eventually, but for now, have fun and be strong, ladies!0
-
Signed up for the gym today so I shall be there tomorrow. Toying with maybe getting a feel for the place then in a few weeks booking a PT session to check out my form and see what they say. I won't book anything right away as I want to get lifting again and my form is ok on low weights, it was only as I got heavier I started to twist. I might be able to sort a lot out by myself.0
