Daily Chat Thread
Replies
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Runz, are you okay? :flowerforyou:
I can move today! Yay! LOL
I was soooo sore after my first Stage6 workout on Monday. Rested Tuesday, hit up B on Wednesday - which I must say felt incredibly easier and quicker than A. Kept to my cardio schedule and today I feel fine.
Still going to rest up today and then smash it tomorrow again - taking it slow in the first week
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I've been working this program pretty hard since February and I have almost nothing to show for it here at the end of Stage 5. I see everyone else's recomp pictures and I wanna know where my recomp is?
:sad: :sad: :sad:
I even hate the effing airbrushed fitness model on the cover. I also bought Drop 2 Sizes and it has another effing airbrushed fitness model. I'm supposed to be inspired? Makes me gag.0 -
Y'all are getting it done! Add me to the DOMS squad. Shoulders and traps are ridiculous lately.
Kiki, does your gym not have a pad to go on the bar? I started with that- it helped until I got used to the bar. Now I find it easier to go without.
Runz, um, unless you're photoshopping yourself in the pics you've posted, I think you're doing great. Are you increasing your lifts regularly or increasing the intensity of your workouts? Really that is the key to seeing ongoing improvement. I mention this because I know this has been a problem for me lately- I'm not pushing myself hard enough in some areas. Not saying that is what you're facing(I think you look amazing!), but it is something I've had to confront recently.
Beeps, you will get there! We will cheer you on!
Upped my hip thrusts to 165lbsX5 yesterday. I'm still struggling with squats. I've been videoing myself to try to pinpoint my problem. The program calls for full squats- meaning well below parallel. I can do it with a dumbbell and do it with front squats, but when I try to go that low with back squats, I round my back. Can't figure it out. It may be a foot placement issue.
NSV: we had dinner with a friend that we only see once a year. The first thing he says to me is,"You're looking very fit! What are you doing?" Totally took me off guard. I don't feel like I look fit at all. But my entire goal is too *look* like I workout, so that's probably the best compliment anyone can give me.0 -
Kiki if your gym doesn't have a pad for the barbell try a folded towel on your shoulders.
Welcome back bschool! Nice to hear of your success.
Bb- of course you look like you workout ! You do! You progress you rock your lifts! I am always amazed at your numbers and dedication.
Runza you are progressing and recomping- you look great . Maybe try to imagine you are looking at a stranger so you can really see yourself. Your back is amazing.0 -
Ok I am having trouble sleeping and I watched Bret Contreras hip thrust on YouTube.
Now I am psyched to lift tomorrow. I was stupidly doing glut bridges using a rack. I've been using the same weight for at least two months because I would lie on the floor and essentially bench press down a barbell on to my hips. I can't bench press much, so I was stuck. I was afraid to try higher because I was afraid I would drop the bar on my own belly. I have crawled out from under the barbell which doesn't look very smooth.
Anyway we have bumper plates at the gym so I am excited to try it out.0 -
Motivating to read everyone's progress - I'm a bit jealous since my sprained wrist has ^me sidelined. Trying to baby it so I can get back on the iron horse.
Realizing weight training has become important and I don't feel quite right without it!
Lift on ladies and send ^me your wrist healing vibes - the psychic healing power of fellow litters will get e there I'm sure.0 -
Feel better soon, Sunshine!0
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NSV: we had dinner with a friend that we only see once a year. The first thing he says to me is,"You're looking very fit! What are you doing?" Totally took me off guard. I don't feel like I look fit at all. But my entire goal is too *look* like I workout, so that's probably the best compliment anyone can give me.
....and THAT is exactly what brought me to Venus!! Wanting to "look" super-fit, without having to actually do 4 hours a day of exercise, lol.
Sounds like you got there with other programs....good to know, BBcowGirl!0 -
Pmagnan - the hip thrust has changed my whole world and my entire belief about good glute development. You'll be SUPER happy!
All of you are RECOMP-ing....all of you. Keep lifting. Keep eating at a calorie deficit (even a slight one), and believe me, you'll be amazed that the measurements might not be getting smaller and that scale is still a dirty ho', but somehow, that LOOK you have, in the mirror, when you put clothes on, is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better.
That is recomp. The slight exchange of muscle for fat - but terribly noticeable to the human eye!0 -
....and, no, I don't want to hear an exchange that "fat can't turn into muscle". I got it. Check. But, give me a sound-byte that provides the same information, in accurate language, then?!?!?!?0
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Runz, um, unless you're photoshopping yourself in the pics you've posted, I think you're doing great. Are you increasing your lifts regularly or increasing the intensity of your workouts? Really that is the key to seeing ongoing improvement. I mention this because I know this has been a problem for me lately- I'm not pushing myself hard enough in some areas. Not saying that is what you're facing(I think you look amazing!), but it is something I've had to confront recently.
NSV: we had dinner with a friend that we only see once a year. The first thing he says to me is,"You're looking very fit! What are you doing?" Totally took me off guard. I don't feel like I look fit at all. But my entire goal is too *look* like I workout, so that's probably the best compliment anyone can give me.
No photoshopping but I also don't post the photos that show the bad and the ugly
My cheeks roll over the back of my thighs :blushing: Since I was ten. I guess I think if it was different, it would be easier to shop for pants :grumble: :grumble:
Probably not, though. I've never met ANYONE (or any woman) that says, "I love shopping for pants!"
I have been steadily making gains and I am getting stronger. I need to quit wishing for things that don't matter- like a different butt.
I love your NSV!
Beeps, we all know what you mean :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
Thanks to everyone that left words of encouragement. I think my negative feelings had more to do with a fight that I had with my DH :grumble:0 -
Feel better soon, Sunshine!
thanks pudding! :-) trying to stay positive....0 -
....I'm on reddit too much....0
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Sunshine, definitely baby that wrist. You'll be back to the weights in no time!
Beeps, that's what amazes me about lifting. How the entire "look" of a person can improve without inches or scale loss. There's no other way to explain it than an incredible exchange of fat for muscle.
Runz, I know exactly what you mean. We all focus on our flaws. But you have amazing shoulders, arms, and back. Keep looking at those, keep lifting, and your backside will eventually catch up! Believe me, I have a very fat thighs so my butt and thighs are one big blob- it's like they're melted together. But slowly my booty is getting perkier. Keep lifting and shaping that booty!0 -
Ok I am having trouble sleeping and I watched Bret Contreras hip thrust on YouTube.
Now I am psyched to lift tomorrow. I was stupidly doing glut bridges using a rack. I've been using the same weight for at least two months because I would lie on the floor and essentially bench press down a barbell on to my hips. I can't bench press much, so I was stuck. I was afraid to try higher because I was afraid I would drop the bar on my own belly. I have crawled out from under the barbell which doesn't look very smooth.
Anyway we have bumper plates at the gym so I am excited to try it out.
Pmag, I think you will love the thrust! Did you watch the one where he uses risers instead of the bench? It is much more fluid when I use the risers instead of the higher bench. There's not the extreme range of motion, but it's still very effective.0 -
Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do strength training wise if my back is hurting? I want to take it easy- it feels inflamed. But I still want to incorporate weights. I've been running so far.0
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Have any other ladies had issues with the dead lifts causing back problems? This issue started about 2 years ago when i started the program. My pain wasn't immediate, but every once in a while it would hit me severely. Recently, sometimes, it feels inflamed.
1- has anyone else ever had an issue like this?
2- Does anyone have any suggestions on how to modify? Or maybe a lifting routine that isolates the arms and legs and back separately? I know how important weights are, and have just been running lately. I also know how NROL likes the full body stuff- not isolation.0 -
Deadlift can kill your back. Form needs to be ABSOLUTELY perfect on that one. Watch videos or have a professional you trust check your form. If you feel it in more in your back and not your hamstrings you're doing it wrong. Your back will feel like it's doing something, but it definitely should NOT hurt. It's the old adage of lift with your legs, NOT your back. Welcome and best of luck to you.
Spent my day at the beach. Sounds relaxing but totally not. The surf was massive today. I had to watch the kids like a hawk and that meant walking the 1/8 mile through the sand and staying in the water with them most of the time, treading water and jumping waves, and swimming out past the surf. Don't forget playing on the boogie board. I'm beat. I decided to get back to the gym Sunday. I'm feeling stronger every day, but I could barely carry a 20lb cooler today.0 -
Have any other ladies had issues with the dead lifts causing back problems? This issue started about 2 years ago when i started the program. My pain wasn't immediate, but every once in a while it would hit me severely. Recently, sometimes, it feels inflamed.
1- has anyone else ever had an issue like this?
2- Does anyone have any suggestions on how to modify? Or maybe a lifting routine that isolates the arms and legs and back separately? I know how important weights are, and have just been running lately. I also know how NROL likes the full body stuff- not isolation.
First, I am going to assume you've seen a Dr since the pain is severe. *Severe pain should always be checked out.
Second, assuming the Dr is ok with you lifting, I would hire a personal trainer to assess form and mobility. If that's not possible, watch all the form videos you can on Youtube.
Proper deadlifts will not hurt your back- you may have some soreness, but that's it. No nerve pain or radiating pain. I know of a few ladies who hurt their backs dead lifting because they weren't using proper form.
If you absolutely must modify, do hip thrusts or glute bridges for your legs. Squats and back extensions will help build the posterior chain of your back. The deadlift is the ultimate full body compound lift- there's no substitute.
Good luck!0 -
Sam, just reading your post made me tired! I hope you have a restful night.
I caved and ate one of the cupcakes that I made for my daughter (she turned 3 today). They were absolutely amazing. For 500 calories they should be :noway:0 -
Bb it was the video with the risers. And I looked at it again in the gym. I am not sure if I am doing it right.
Maybe you or beeps can help. I think I lose the posterior pelvic tilt at the top and I extend my back. That's wrong but it is hard to start it posterior tilt because my hips are an inch below the bar at the start. I might try a little higher bench and I am definitely getting better padding. I think I will like it once I have it figured out.
I had a good workout overall. I will probably stick with this BTiv for another 2 weeks
Sam the surf is pretty tiring0 -
A 500 cal cupcake? Heck, what was on/ in that? Sounds awesome, lol.
I did combat today - not scheduled but decided tomorrow would be a better 'rest' day as have so much else to do. Got my implanon out today too - managed to open the wound at combat, lol.
I also managed to DL my PB of 65kg (143 lbs) earlier this week. Felt good.
Feeling stressed with uni/ job applications..... hitting the wine tonight. It's ok, I have worked it into my daily cals. Need to chill. Have another stressful week ahead with assessments, my eldest son's bday, decorating and applications. Roll on November!0 -
Jo, the amount of butter and cream and chocolate in them was deadly. Way to go on the DLs. That's awesome! Hopefully the wine helped your stress!
Pmag, I don't go into posterior tilt until the top. He says you hit your glutes one of two ways- simply keep your back straight and go all the way up to full ROM or go into posterior tilt at the top of the motion. I find it hits my glutes better to do the tilt. I tend to over arch my back if I try to go all the way up.
He also has a great video on squatting and why people must do it different because of hip anatomy. It put my mind at ease about my depth problems.0 -
Samntha - maybe all that fresh air is good for your soul??!?!?!? I am about to head out on vacation and I want MORE rest than what I read about what you are up to, lol.
Pmagnan - my deadlift form got WAY better when I STOPPed focusing on "back" and STARTed focusing on HIPS. So, when I bend OVER to pick up the BB, make sure you are pushing those hips WAY back - THAT is what flattens out your back. Make sure you are SERIOUSLY stabilizing your "core"....you KNOW what that feels like?!??! It is not "suck your tummy in", it is "brace your core". That 'brace your core' must remain, THROUGHOUT the lift up. At the top, I SQUEEZE my glutes until they nearly CRAMP. And then, I go back down to the "start" position.
I only do American deadlifts, now - meaning, the barbell "down" position is about halfway between my knee and the fattest part of my calf.0 -
BBCowgirl, I am OVER the "depth" issue, too.....I have crappy body proportions for certain lifts. The end. Bret C. has totally changed my world because what works MY glutes, isn't what works SOMEONE ELSE's glutes. It just is.
i want GLUTE development more than anything else....except, likely a STRONG BACK. Those 2 things matter MOST, to me.0 -
Today is my oldest son's birthday....so, it's going to be a BUSY weekend!
My brother and his family (wife + kids age 4.5 and 2.5) arrive tonight....they will help dismantle the fort and then they will haul all the wood away, in their trailer, to build something fabulous at their cabin. We get them for one night.
Tomorrow, we are celebrating sonshine's birthday....we are doing steak and crab, so I'm off to buy crab sometime today. Sorry that my brother + family couldn't stay, but my s-i-l has to be at HER father's bday tomorrow. I get it.
Then, Sunday, we pack up and leave for a one-week mountain vacation.
Whew.
But, for today, I lift! Oh, and I have MADE it through my 3 days of ultra-low cals....and I will weigh in today. I don't think I will do scheduled cardio tomorrow because I only have the one day to visit with my brother + family.
Doesn't matter....I'll get lots of cardio when I am walking in the mountains next week!
BOOM!0 -
Hi Everyone,I don't know where I've been this week. It was supposed to be my week off, but I was doing Jillian Michaels killer buns & thighs. I did 3 workouts when it occured to me that this not taking a week off to let my body heal. There is also a part in the workout where she has us do deadlifts, a few months ago I couldn't figure out why I had such a hard time with these. I felt nothing & felt stupid doing them even asked BF to help to make sure I had the right form. Now I realize after doing New rules I had a hard time because who does DL with 3lb pink hand weights, they are pointless, as soon as I started this workout & had some weight on the bar I could feel what the exercise does & that I'm doing it right.
I've also felt off this week, not sure if I have a virus or what but I feel sick after I eat or drink & my joints started aching yesterday, my knees are so sore today I actually took the elevator to go up 1 floor at work which I just don't do if I'm not pushing a cart. I'm taking today slow and hoping I feel better real soon, I'm suppose to have date night tomorrow
Happy birthday to all the birthday kiddos
Runz, I know exactly what you mean with the photoshopping & the skinny models & the complete frustration of that whole part of my body. I feel like I'm always telling myself to accept me the way I am and at least I have nice boobs :laugh: :laugh:
It also kills me that I have my little sister living with me and she is skinny, like ED skinny and she does NOTHING, she doesn't even leave the house for a job. (She watches my 3 yr for me & I let her & her son live with my family) All she ever eats is frozen processed food & junk food. She spends all her time on the couch or in her bed watching tv & on her lap top. We have the same genes how she can live like that & be naturally skinny & I've got the fat *kitten* is beyond me & hse loves to do the little sister side comments.:sad: :explode: But she has the figure of a 12 yr old boy & I will continue to be happy I have boobs :laugh:
I hope everyone has a great weekend, keep lifting ladies.0 -
I am FUMING mad at my gym right now!
FUMING.
I mean, i have been a YMCA member, in this city and previouscity, for 25+ years, now. I practice AWESOME gym etiquette 100% of the time. And, I am in the weightlifting area M/W/F, for 3 years now, like clockwork....
Today, I am in my favourite spot, and it is kinda crowded for a Friday. 2 older ladies come and plunk down on one side of me....they squish me in, and they don't even say anything. Not "do you mind moving over 1.5 feet so we can have this space here?" They just start working out with their barbiedoll weights. Fine....I think I have seen them once before? twice? I don't care and I carry on.
Then, some meathead plunks his DB's SQUARELY on the other side of me, where there is NO room. And he is an angry young man. And he WANTS me to know that he does NOT like where my stuff is set up. NEVER seen this dude before....
I carry on.
And then, some pony-tailed chick, with a YMCA shirt on, also joins the area. I presume she is "training" the 2 older women. But, I'm wrong. She wants MY attention?!?!? I take off my headphones....
Her: "This area is for weights".
(She says this as I am about to get under the 155 lb barbell set up to do my 4th set of weighted hip thrusts....)
Me: "Yes?"
Her: "And it's supposed to be a 30-minute limit."
Me: (I say nothing, roll my eyes and ignore that INSANE comment....)
Her: "And, some people want to work out here."
Me: "Well, I am working out here. I am doing weights, as you can see by the barbell at my feet. And, other people ARE working out here, as you can see by the 2 ladies on that side of me and that guy right there."
So, guy starts mouthing off, in a VERY LOUD voice, that "circuit training isn't done here....it's done over there....go over there...."
I put my ear phones back on and ignore LOUD guy and YMCA-staff and just get under the barbell and keep working out.0 -
So, that dude and that YMCA-staffer have brought the gym-room to a stand-still....eyes are on me and people are dissipating.
*kitten*.
I mean, REALLY?!?!?! Some DUDE who NOBODY HAS EVER SEEN goes and TELLS ON ME that I am in this "free space" for more than 30 minutes?? Doing "circuits"????
w.t.f.
I don't see the dude again....and the older women move to the other side of the gym.
Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!! I have my "free" area all to myself, again. I spread out a little bit more. I carry on.
10 minutes later, ANOTHER YMCA-staff member....again, a dude I don't think I've seen before....comes over and is headed straight for me. I pull off my headphones.
He introduces himself (so, already a better start than ponytail YMCA-staffer) and I say, "you better be coming here to ask me what happened???"
He say, "well, no, I am just here to ask you to share this spot."
(there is NOBODY around....)
Me: "I do 'share' this spot. Not 10 minutes ago those 2 ladies were right here beside me and there was a dude on the other side of me." I point out the 2 ladies at the other side of the gym - "go ask them, they were right beside me 10 minutes ago!"
Him: "Well, are you moving around the gym?"
Me: "No."
Him: "What equipment are you using?"
I point out the barbell (loaded up) and 1 pair of 20-lb DB's.
Him: "Is that all the equipment you are using?"
Me: "No, I am using this weight bench right here - I lean against it to do my weighted hip thrusts."
Him: "Oh.....and that's it??? You aren't using any other equipment???"
I AM CLEARLY ANNOYED by this conversation....really?!??! I mean REALLY"!"!" I have one f*cking hour to work-out and I have to explain what I am doing when any OTHER person in the YMCA, who has been there longer than 5 seconds, has WATCHED me, for 3 solid years, do the SAME f*cking weights day after day.
Me: "Well, sure I am. If I don't need the 20 DB',s I walk them back to the other side of the gym and I might pick up a 60 DB...."
Him: "Oh. Okay. "
And he turns and walks away.0 -
....5 minutes pass and original MEATHEAD DUDE shows up.
RIGHT BESIDE ME (where the 2 ladies used to be).
He noisily and angrily moves a seated upright bench into THAT (small) spot.
I think "*kitten* you, you f*cking immature *kitten* who has to run to a manager...."
But, I walk over to him, take off my headphones, and look him in the eye and say, "buddy, what is your problem with me?? Really, I have one more set...."
And he SHEEPISHLY looks at me and says, "man, oh man, it's okay...sometimes I am so aggressive and I can be such an *kitten*...."
And I interrupt and say, "well, you were certainly an *kitten* today...."
And then I follow that up with: "you could have just talked to me. I am not in kindergarten. I am here to stay, you are obviously here to stay, so it's okay to just talk to me."
And he smiles and holds out his hand and introduces himself and I introduce myself and that was that.
I am 100% sure I will never see meathead DOOFUS ever again in that gym....but, WHY THE *kitten* did some YMCA staffer, when doofus went over and TOLD staffer some line of b.s.....WHY didn't the YMCA staffer just say to meathead: "did you ask her to move over?" or whatever.
WHO THE *kitten* comes over and starts saying, "ummmmm, this section is only for weights."0
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