April Progress
Replies
-
We just used my cell phone for the video. I don't think it's that weird, but maybe it is.
Honestly I would totally do it but my husband would be like "WAAAH NO PEOPLE WILL SEE US" because he's a freaking girl. He also gets upset when people are waiting for the bench we're using. OH NO! We're making people wait! They'll think we're inconsiderate because we're using the equipment that they want to use! You can't have a 3 minute rest between sets! Someone is WAITING!
He even wants to set up a whole home gym so no one can see him work out.0 -
First workout ever of Stronglifts completed tonight and I really love it! I deloaded for my squats because I aggravated my back last week when I was doing them (they're part of NROL). Here's my starting stats
Squat-100lbs (down from 115lbs)
Bench-65lbs
Row-65lbs
I was the only female in the weight section but what else is new
It really does surprise me that not more women lift. I think it's sad.
I always feel amazing after lifting. I want to grunt like Tim Allen from Home Improvement, lol.0 -
First workout ever of Stronglifts completed tonight and I really love it! I deloaded for my squats because I aggravated my back last week when I was doing them (they're part of NROL). Here's my starting stats
Squat-100lbs (down from 115lbs)
Bench-65lbs
Row-65lbs
I was the only female in the weight section but what else is new It really does surprise me that not more women lift. I think it's sad.
I always feel amazing after lifting. I want to grunt like Tim Allen from Home Improvement, lol.
I tend to yell curse words after my last set of anything really hard.
Went up by 10 lbs on deads instead of my usual 5 and successfully completed 120 yay!
too much glute pain to finish squats at 105 but eeked out 3 sets.0 -
Hi everyone! I have been working with an empty bar trying to work on form. I added weights this week, so here are my starting stats:
Squat: 60 lbs.
Overhead press: 50 lbs
Deadlift: 95 lbs
Bench press: 55 lbs
Barbell Rows: 55 lbs0 -
First workout ever of Stronglifts completed tonight and I really love it! I deloaded for my squats because I aggravated my back last week when I was doing them (they're part of NROL). Here's my starting stats
Squat-100lbs (down from 115lbs)
Bench-65lbs
Row-65lbs
I was the only female in the weight section but what else is new It really does surprise me that not more women lift. I think it's sad.
I always feel amazing after lifting. I want to grunt like Tim Allen from Home Improvement, lol.
I tend to yell curse words after my last set of anything really hard.
Went up by 10 lbs on deads instead of my usual 5 and successfully completed 120 yay!
too much glute pain to finish squats at 105 but eeked out 3 sets.
are you giving yourself enough rest time between sets? At least 90 seconds, 3 - 5 minutes if it was tough. try to get under the bar all 5 sets even if you only do one before you can't handle it.Hi everyone! I have been working with an empty bar trying to work on form. I added weights this week, so here are my starting stats:
Squat: 60 lbs.
Overhead press: 50 lbs
Deadlift: 95 lbs
Bench press: 55 lbs
Barbell Rows: 55 lbs
Yay for starting to add weights! by the end of april you will be blown away by your progress.
Also as for yelling/cursing after finishing ...not only do I apparently grunt and moan like a porn star (I don't hear it myself but my husband is constantly shushing me - like i do it on PURPOSE) on a really heavy weight, I also um.... well. According to him my nipples get hard. I DON'T KNOW WHY, I SWEAR I'M NOT FREAKING DOING IT ON PURPOSE.
So I try to draw as little attention to myself afterwards as possible because it creeps me out that someone else might notice.0 -
Ahahaha, you made my day! I have to invest in quailty thick sports bras and t-shirts for the gym... now I know I'm not the only weirdo :drinker: Lifting is just that exciting, eh :laugh:0
-
Ahahaha, you made my day! I have to invest in quailty thick sports bras and t-shirts for the gym... now I know I'm not the only weirdo :drinker: Lifting is just that exciting, eh :laugh:
OMG ITS NOT JUST ME!?!?!0 -
I gotta say it is sooo cool having all you ladies in my boat! I was formerly hanging with the guys and it makes you feel like poop seeing their posts about struggling with 230lb squats and 170lb rows! aaak!
I'm not even certain I want to try to lift that high since my goal is not power lifting at all! I want to build muscle, lose fat, get my blood sugar under control without drugs, and get strong enough to do the dance moves I do in my head! Of course also to look great in my clothes!
lol!
It has dawned on me that my isues w/sitting back during my squat may also be due in part to fear from having fallen in the hole previously. This was an issue of money. I can't afford a cage! I've realized I have chairs we were using before we got the squat rack, and they should hold 250lbs each and are about the right height to act as catches! I shall find out Friday if this works. Also going to work on ham stretches and hip openers.0 -
I gotta say it is sooo cool having all you ladies in my boat! I was formerly hanging with the guys and it makes you feel like poop seeing their posts about struggling with 230lb squats and 170lb rows! aaak!
I'm not even certain I want to try to lift that high since my goal is not power lifting at all! I want to build muscle, lose fat, get my blood sugar under control without drugs, and get strong enough to do the dance moves I do in my head! Of course also to look great in my clothes!
lol!
It has dawned on me that my isues w/sitting back during my squat may also be due in part to fear from having fallen in the hole previously. This was an issue of money. I can't afford a cage! I've realized I have chairs we were using before we got the squat rack, and they should hold 250lbs each and are about the right height to act as catches! I shall find out Friday if this works. Also going to work on ham stretches and hip openers.
I feel the same way, when I see a guy go "man I can't break past the 110 overhead press" I'm like :sick: because that is gonna be like .... I dunno, at LEAST 2-3 years away for me, assuming I focus like hell on lifting? I mean yeesh, I'm struggling with 65lbs right now.
Oh yeah and in that vein, practical programming listed out like, the amount of weight you can reasonably expect a guy and girl to lift at various levels of training and it is QUITE relieving. I mean, it was for me. My husband was not relieved at all. :laugh:
Its all listed here.
http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html0 -
I gotta say it is sooo cool having all you ladies in my boat! I was formerly hanging with the guys and it makes you feel like poop seeing their posts about struggling with 230lb squats and 170lb rows! aaak!
I'm not even certain I want to try to lift that high since my goal is not power lifting at all! I want to build muscle, lose fat, get my blood sugar under control without drugs, and get strong enough to do the dance moves I do in my head! Of course also to look great in my clothes!
lol!
It has dawned on me that my isues w/sitting back during my squat may also be due in part to fear from having fallen in the hole previously. This was an issue of money. I can't afford a cage! I've realized I have chairs we were using before we got the squat rack, and they should hold 250lbs each and are about the right height to act as catches! I shall find out Friday if this works. Also going to work on ham stretches and hip openers.
I feel the same way, when I see a guy go "man I can't break past the 110 overhead press" I'm like :sick: because that is gonna be like .... I dunno, at LEAST 2-3 years away for me, assuming I focus like hell on lifting? I mean yeesh, I'm struggling with 65lbs right now.
Oh yeah and in that vein, practical programming listed out like, the amount of weight you can reasonably expect a guy and girl to lift at various levels of training and it is QUITE relieving. I mean, it was for me. My husband was not relieved at all. :laugh:
Its all listed here.
http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html
OOOOO! Thanks for the site! I've never been able to get an answer regarding reasonable expectations. *eyeroll*0 -
Yeah I have been dying to find out so I went on a google hunt the other day. Turns out I am actually doing pretty good. But it was impossible to know with all the stronglifts ' RAWR SQUAT 300 LBS IN 12 WEEKS" BS.0
-
Thanks, that is good to know. It's nice that it accounts for your weight too.0
-
That website is cool. Looks like I'm lifting at an intermediate level.0
-
Dying laughing over here. & thanks for the link0
-
I lifted today. It was a bad day. I seem to be having a string of bad days and I really dont' know what to attribute it to. I'm eating an amount that I *really* think should be at least sufficient. I don't do ANY OTHER EXERCISE, seriously. Maybe a walk here and there.
If I have a bad day on Sat, I don't know what I want to do. Slight deload? Hold at the same weights?0 -
Is it a true stall or a general weak/tired feeling? Are you lifting during your fast or after you break it?0
-
Is it a true stall or a general weak/tired feeling? Are you lifting during your fast or after you break it?
Its not a true stall, its weak feeling. Like last time I did the overhead press at 65 (That was a new weight for me last time) I went 4-4-2-4-3, this time I did 3-4-2-2-2 . I did WORSE.
Ditto for deadlift. Last time I did 145x3, this time I couldn't get 145 off the ground and dropped to 135x5 (with a terrible last rep). Its not grip strength on the deadlift either. I just had no power in my body. Ditto for last week actually, I *should* have had no problem with 145 but it was a struggle to get my 3 and the 4th was just a no-go. couldnt' get off the ground.
Squats are fine but only because I deloaded. Even that feels harder than it should be0 -
I'm stumped, usually days like that I need to eat more but your diary, especially your macros, looks ok to me. I'm sure a more seasoned lifter could tweak it a bit more for you. I'll stay on the look out for a possible cause, though. Keep us updated.0
-
Are you getting sick? I think we all have bad days every now and then. See what happens Saturday.0
-
Oh yeah and in that vein, practical programming listed out like, the amount of weight you can reasonably expect a guy and girl to lift at various levels of training and it is QUITE relieving. I mean, it was for me. My husband was not relieved at all. :laugh:
Its all listed here.
http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html
According to this list I am **** :ohwell: WAY over 200 lbs and can't lift ****. *sigh* Gonna go eat a protein shake.. a big chocolate one.
Been lifting for two months and I'm not even on the charts. Is there one for brain injury folks? Where did I put my GoogleFu.. hmmm
*stands in silhouette against a red sunrise- fist to the sky* I swayuh, from this day awn, I will nevah go weightless again! Or at least I will try to squat my body weight by Christmas! *shoves carrot into maw* blech.. carrots are gross. -_-0 -
Started today! First, I can already see that the equipment at my gym is not going to cut it once I get into the heavier weights. Right now I'm on a 35 pound bar and adding the free weights. I started at the SL5x5 recommended weights excluding barbell row since that's new for me so I dropped it to 55.
Problem: There's no rack for the bar in my gym and I'm doing this solo. When I finished my squats, bringing the bar back over head to starting position was a little awkward and I think with more weight would be a problem. When I did my bench press I can already picture myself asking for help when I hit 85 pounds and am stuck on the bench with a bar and no where to rack it! lmao! Ugh. I LOVE my gym, but think I may have to find a place where they have a heavy lifting section.
Does anyone do a front squat with bar in front? Just curious.
Haven't done my measurements, but starting at 139 pounds at 5'4'' with 25.4% body fat and 23.9 BMI. Half way to my goal, but my goal is changing as I'm getting more into lifting. Looking forward to seeing some progress this month!0 -
Doreen I haven't done a front squat but I think it might be a good alternative for you if you stay at your current gym.
I completed workout 2 today. Stats are:
Squats-105 lbs
Overhead Press-50lbs (think I'm going to do 50 next workout as well because I struggled)
Deadlifts-95 lbs
I need to work on my upper body strength. I was disappointed by my overhead press.0 -
Oh yeah and in that vein, practical programming listed out like, the amount of weight you can reasonably expect a guy and girl to lift at various levels of training and it is QUITE relieving. I mean, it was for me. My husband was not relieved at all. :laugh:
Its all listed here.
http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html
According to this list I am **** :ohwell: WAY over 200 lbs and can't lift ****. *sigh* Gonna go eat a protein shake.. a big chocolate one.
Been lifting for two months and I'm not even on the charts. Is there one for brain injury folks? Where did I put my GoogleFu.. hmmm
*stands in silhouette against a red sunrise- fist to the sky* I swayuh, from this day awn, I will nevah go weightless again! Or at least I will try to squat my body weight by Christmas! *shoves carrot into maw* blech.. carrots are gross. -_-
Forget the chart and just focus on improving. We all gotta start somewhere 0 -
Gemi:*stands in silhouette against a red sunrise- fist to the sky* I swayuh, from this day awn, I will nevah go weightless again! Or at least I will try to squat my body weight by Christmas! *shoves carrot into maw* blech.. carrots are gross. -_-
You're awesome! :laugh: I agree w/ Fuzzybunny. - who cares what the chart says.
Doreen, I had the same realization today about the need for a stand or rack. I am doing this at home -- tried to get out from under the bar after my squats today and it wasn't pretty!
Okay, I've done the complete program (A &
once now. Here are my current weights:
Squats 50 (accidentally did this today without adding on the weight of the bar so I did 65 -- it was suuuper hard so I am going to follow the program and work back up to it . But nice to know it was at least possible, I suppose!)
Bench press 45
Overhead press 45 (not sure I'll be moving on from this weight for a long time!)
Barbell row 50
Deadlift 85
Looking forward to training with all of you!0 -
The phone app is money! I find the 45 too low to start with for my squats, but I also just want to follow the program because I see how quickly it moves, so I think I'll leave it as is for now. I called my old trainer to see if I would need the rack and he said to do a power clean to overhead press to get the weight up for now, which I kind of did I guess, but getting the weight back over my head from the squat was awkward. Think I'll do the front squat so I don't hurt my neck. So happy you're all doing this and nice to see how some of you have increased your weights! Definitely something to work toward. Cheers, Doreen0
-
Doreen, I had the same realization today about the need for a stand or rack. I am doing this at home -- tried to get out from under the bar after my squats today and it wasn't pretty!
I didn't look pretty either! :smokin:0 -
Gemi - you are different lady. Bodyweight is a pretty good target for someone who wasn't walking 3 months ago. Especially when bodyweight is quite a lot! (Although the bodyweigh will come down as your squatting power goes up too). Then add 5 lb dumbells and squat that. then add 10 lb dumbells and squat that.
Doreen - A front squat is a different exercise so I actually think you'd be best served just switching to a gym with a power rack or MAYBE ask your gym if they will get a power rack? A power rack will save you on a lot of exercises - instead of having to run away if you cant' overhead press you'll just drop it on the bars, if you fail on the bench press you can just put it on the bars instead of doing the roll of shame, and it makes it a lot easier to load a bar for deadlifts (although not THAT much easier so whatever).
Basically the difference between a front and back squat is emphasis. Backsquats are more on the hamstrings and butt, front squats are more on the quads. Front squats put a lot more strain on your back and shoulders because you have to actually HOLD the weight up there as opposed to letting it just sit on your traps.
I should not be able to answer these questions. I am way too obsessed with this.
Lena and Fuzzy - don't stall your weights without failing first. when I did the overhead press I was like "holy crap, I'm never going to be able to add weight to this) but other than spending 3 weeks at 60 I haven't actually had to deload yet.
I was telling my husband last night that until you have completely spent yourself on the last rep, you probably wont' stall on the next weight. You MIGHT but you probably won't. And anyhow, stalls are part of the game. Just don't sell yourself short and think "oh this weight was hard, I should do it again" -- if you completed all 25 reps, the weight wasn't that hard and you don't need to do it again.
Push yourselves to the point of failure and then it feels good to fail, seriously. When you fail on the 4th rep you know you've lifted at the edge of your own personal limit (at least for that day).
I finally bit the bullet and ordered some fractional plates today - I didn't order the set though, just the 1.25 lb plates. I really hope I don't regret not buying the set but I think the 1.25 lb plates will be fine and the set would have been 60, the 1.25 lb plates are 18.50. I might swing by a sporting goods store just in case I find some but I doubt I will, fractional plates aren't the kind of thing that have a very high demand so i bet no one stocks them. Its the shipping that kills, its like 10 bucks just to ship anything. *eyeroll*0 -
Thank you for the input! Powerlifting is addicting, so I'm definitely obsessed, especially getting form right. I need to work my booty so I'll talk to the manager about the power rack. It's such a small gym so I don't think there's room, but tons of gym options here so I'll go fishing tomorrow. I think it will help me in the long-term having one. Just loved my little gym!
0 -
Tameko, I couldn't complete all my reps at 50 which is why I think I should stay at that weight one more week. My form was pretty bad too. In retrospect, I should have done just the bar this week rather than compromise form.0
-
Going to do Workout B tonight for the first time. A little nervous about starting deadlifts at 95 lbs, but I think I can do it for 5 reps.
I am also going to have to do sitting OH presses. :ohwell: Not only is my ceiling low, my power rack is short and I'm tall. I hope I progress at least somewhat at the rate I should be. Now the question I have is (and I guess I should just go look this up) would I sit against the back of the bench for any sort of support or not?0
