February Check-n-chat: Bada$$ B!tches do it with barbells
Replies
-
Deadlift 5X5 135lbs! I had to switch too mixed grip (I think that's what it's called) though to pick up the last two. My grip was failing, even with gloves. Sigh. Is that normal? Is that "ok"?
I switched to mixed grip at the suggestion of a couple of others at 135 as well. I repeated 135 yesterday, and it felt fine. Bring on 145!!!
Julie- thanks! I'm a work in progress. :blushing:
I'm still falling short on protein. I usually get 100-110 every day, but I'm supposed to be eating 130 or so. Not sure if I want to delve into the world of protein powders or not. Did finally get an immersion blender for christmas though. Hmm.
Thanks! I wasn't sure but wow did it help to use the mixed grip!
I'm having trouble with protein too! Sigh. Not sure what to do about that... chicken is rather expensive...0 -
Ooh, we're going to roll another thread!!
I haven't tried the 5 hours before a workout...must remember.
My class was cancelled tonight so I need to figure out what to have for dinner.0 -
re: protein - I struggled with the meat thing too, I just get TIRED of it, and I can only use shakes in a very moderate way before getting pretty sick of them too. But 100grams isn't too hard. Look at your diary and see where you can swap out a food that is low protein for a food that has slightly more protein - even if its just a few grams more. Like see where you can swap in dairy foods for foods that are mostly carb, buy cereals that have stuff like soy crisps in them (for higher protein content), pick up higher protein pastas and breads, eat quinoa instead of rice, etc. I also sometimes do stuff like mix up a can of albacore wiht spices and mustard and a dab of mayo and whatever else I want, or I mix it with fresh salsa, or some veggie mix, etc. I prefer that to a sweet thing like protein powder.
.
I hate cottage cheese BUT to make a cheese cake smoothie I LOVE it! I also use egg whites in combination with fruit and a touch of sugar and get something that resembles orange Julius drinks. I have a horrible protein powder and have to find a new one. I will be looking for one today preferably with the least artificial sweetner taste possible.
I also buy fresh tuna sometimes and eat it like sashimi with soy sauce. Love it!0 -
My chiro cleared me...went to my final appointment Monday, yay! The Dr. gave me some stretches/exercises to help alleviate some of the curve in my back. A lot of the things he gave me are the same exercises as in my Yoga for backpain DVD. Must do yoga this week!
Yoga for back pain?? Title PLEASE?? Or at least which exercises, so I can look them up?0 -
My chiro cleared me...went to my final appointment Monday, yay! The Dr. gave me some stretches/exercises to help alleviate some of the curve in my back. A lot of the things he gave me are the same exercises as in my Yoga for backpain DVD. Must do yoga this week!
Yoga for back pain?? Title PLEASE?? Or at least which exercises, so I can look them up?
http://www.amazon.com/Viniyoga-Therapy-Back-Sacrum-Kraftsow/dp/B000U0C9UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361397370&sr=8-1&keywords=yoga+for+low+back+pain0 -
Many thanks! I'll take a look at it. :flowerforyou:
My chiro cleared me...went to my final appointment Monday, yay! The Dr. gave me some stretches/exercises to help alleviate some of the curve in my back. A lot of the things he gave me are the same exercises as in my Yoga for backpain DVD. Must do yoga this week!
Yoga for back pain?? Title PLEASE?? Or at least which exercises, so I can look them up?
http://www.amazon.com/Viniyoga-Therapy-Back-Sacrum-Kraftsow/dp/B000U0C9UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361397370&sr=8-1&keywords=yoga+for+low+back+pain0 -
Vegann - Its kinda dry, but the routines are decent. There are three: one low back repair, one hip repair, and one maitenance/strengthening routine. It has a demo of the moves too, plus a small video on general back pain.0
-
Oh. Mi. Gawd. The gym was so packed today, it was crazy! We're set to get a substantial amount of snow tonight so I think everyone was trying to get their pump on before the snow piled up.
Tonight's total...
Goblet Squat: 3x8 50 lb
OHP: 3x5 58 (My goal was to hit 60 this month...so it's happening!)
Dead: 1x5 140 I was nervous about this one because well, it weighs more than me, but it didn't suck.
Cable Pull: 3x8 80 lbs
I was seriously shaking from effort after today's workout--it was crazy!0 -
more treadmill posting. Woo!
Squat- got up to 95 with new knee brace. No pain but didn't want to push it.
Bench-90 it was so easy and I struggled at 85. Weird.
Row- 90. I suck at stacking plates and using them effectively so I tried a sort of sumo stance and it worked beautifully. I don't think it changes the exercise at all, but if it does tell me!0 -
more treadmill posting. Woo!
Squat- got up to 95 with new knee brace. No pain but didn't want to push it.
Bench-90 it was so easy and I struggled at 85. Weird.
Row- 90. I suck at stacking plates and using them effectively so I tried a sort of sumo stance and it worked beautifully. I don't think it changes the exercise at all, but if it does tell me!
Awesome numbers tree! Looks like that morning cocaine is lasting until your evening workout....WINNING! :laugh:
To be honest I haven't seen the sumo stance referenced in any of the video's I've watched....but I haven't read anything saying NOT to do it either. I suppose that if your upper body is still in the appropriate position and you are able to pinch and arch as you should that it wouldn't hurt anything.
In other news....I just found out today that Jillian Michaels is doing her first North American tour :bigsmile:
I am so effing exciting you have no idea! I so love her to bits and also think that she is bat **** crazy! I have a small girl crush :blushing: and I'm SO EXCITED!!!!! 0 -
more treadmill posting. Woo!
OMG! Next time stop next to it, put on makeup and re-brush/tie your hair, THEN get on the treadmill and start texting people.0 -
more treadmill posting. Woo!
OMG! Next time stop next to it, put on makeup and re-brush/tie your hair, THEN get on the treadmill and start texting people.
What makes you think I didn't? :huh:
So I wear my hair in a braid variation pretty much every time I workout, unless I know its just cardio then sometimes I'll do a messy bun. Today I have Willie Nelson braids. and a gym acquaintance was like "Oh you did your hair." Not sure how to take that lol.
Yeah it's a shame I discovered the sumo stance on the workout before I can put 25's on! :laugh:
I don't want to admit it, but I watched this show on demand a few years ago with Jillian "Losing it" I think? Anyway I couldn't stop even though it was so bad. Her tough love yelling thing is addictive!0 -
the night's badassery...and I'm way WAY proud that I pushed through my OHP.
Squats 70lbs 5x5 (and NOT on the smith machine..woOot!
OHP 35lbs 5x5 (on the smith machine, obviously) and man did I push through this...it was HARD!
Deadlift 95lbs!!!!!! 1x5
and my *kitten* hurts...I admit it.
I felt tons better today, though still had the weakness to a certain extent.
@ Tameko, I don't know whether it is eating, sleeping or water. I know I haven't been sleeping great, but I've really been trying to hit my 40/30/30 macros. I struggle with the protein a bit, I've added protein powder and that has helped.
anyway, now if I could just start seeing some of the fat melting away, i'd be a happy girl.0 -
Had a pretty good workout, but my gym is actually getting busier; aren't people supposed to be fading at this point? Maybe it's the old regulars that have been avoiding new people. Either way, there were three of us using the squat rack this morning, but luckily it was A day, so I just did my squats and then did my bench and then rows over by the bench. I must say the guy squatting after me made me feel better. He put on gloves and the bar pad, and wasn't going quite parallel. Not sure why that makes me feel good; perhaps more affirmation that I'm a horrible person.
Squats went well at 65lb, and I'm looking forward to going up to 70 finally. Ugh, I'm progressing so slowly at these, but I also really don't want to injure myself. Bench was still a struggle, but I put up all of my reps at 77.5lb. Going to try 80 next time since I didn't fail at all. Rows went fine, but still am not feeling them in my back. Only did 70lbs today. Not sure if I want to go to 75 next or aim for 72.5lb. They weren't particularly hard, but I'm still concerned that I'm doing them wrong because they just don't feel right (not pain or anything, they just don't feel like they're working what they're supposed to work). I've watched a ton of videos and the Pendlay video several times. It seems like I'm doing what they're doing, so I don't know.
Excited. Photography meetup and BBQ tonight. Hello killing my protein goal today!!0 -
@ auddii those are some phenominal numbers!!! I can't even imagine breakin 60lbs on my rows...great job!
Okay, I need some "there, there's" and "everything will be okays"...I know I lifted last night...but I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm officially up 5lbs in a week and a half? wtf? And yes, I do take my measurements and those have gone up too..except my waist which isn't budging. I've been working out harder since January, been doing pretty good with the eating...netting between 1200 and 1400 most of the time (my TDEE -20% is 1400). I'm only 5'1" and over 40, so my TDEE isn't high to begin with...A couple weeks ago I was seeing a couple ounces a week loss, but in the last week the scale has done nothing but go up! I'm not 10lbs heavier than last summer and it is KILLING me! I want to be strong, but I'm doing this mostly to lose the weight around my thighs, butt and stomach. Eating more is hard enough without seeing the scale creep up...I know I'm being a p**sy but I'm in a serious panic...I've gained a half inch on my thighs since summer so I'm back up to 21" I can't stand this...
Can someone talk me off the ledge and tell me when this should actually start working? Idk maybe I should just go back to the machines, cardio and undereating. So freaking frustrated....and after such an awesome session at the gym last night.0 -
@ auddii those are some phenominal numbers!!! I can't even imagine breakin 60lbs on my rows...great job!
Okay, I need some "there, there's" and "everything will be okays"...I know I lifted last night...but I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm officially up 5lbs in a week and a half? wtf? And yes, I do take my measurements and those have gone up too..except my waist which isn't budging. I've been working out harder since January, been doing pretty good with the eating...netting between 1200 and 1400 most of the time (my TDEE -20% is 1400). I'm only 5'1" and over 40, so my TDEE isn't high to begin with...A couple weeks ago I was seeing a couple ounces a week loss, but in the last week the scale has done nothing but go up! I'm not 10lbs heavier than last summer and it is KILLING me! I want to be strong, but I'm doing this mostly to lose the weight around my thighs, butt and stomach. Eating more is hard enough without seeing the scale creep up...I know I'm being a p**sy but I'm in a serious panic...I've gained a half inch on my thighs since summer so I'm back up to 21" I can't stand this...
Can someone talk me off the ledge and tell me when this should actually start working? Idk maybe I should just go back to the machines, cardio and undereating. So freaking frustrated....and after such an awesome session at the gym last night.
I weigh myself twice a day (because I'm obsessive, and I use my night weighs to see if I had enough water that day) and in the mornings after a lifting session I'm usually two pounds up from the day before. My official weigh in day is Saturday, and I do my last SL workout of the week on Thursday, so I have a day for the water weight to go down before I weigh in. I skipped a Thursday once and workout out on Friday, and I just about killed any loss I could have recorded on Saturday (Sunday it was back down, but damn it my weigh ins are on Saturday).
For now, give up the scale. Measure (somehow my measurements aren't changing all that much) and take progress pictures. I actually suck at measuring apparently because my clothes are fitting differently even though my measurements are pretty similar. I also measure weekly, and that's probably just too close together to see any kind of loss. When comparing measurements, I look back a month to see how I'm doing (also just noticed the progress tab on HeyBales spreadsheet, whoops).
It really will get better.0 -
Speaking of heybales' spreadsheet, does anyone have the link handy? I'm tracking stuff in my MFP blog, but it would be nice to have it all here.
I'm thinking about switching up my cals and just eating the same-ish every day. Switching cals according to what I'm doing is a pain in the *kitten*.0 -
@juliet....I know exactly where you are coming from because the exact same thing happened to me in January. I was devastated (if you go back into the January thread you can read me devastation; otherwise I'm sure a couple of the ladies can back me up :laugh: ) I made some tweaks and have not weighed or measured since then. Official weigh in will be at the end of Feb, right before I start cycle 2 of SL. Anyway.....what I have learned since started this whole "heavy lifting" thing is that it is very likely that you will actually see changes in your body well before they will show up in any of the numbers. Like for me, I KNOW my body has changed. I have cut lines on the sides of my abs, and the line in the middle is starting (I know I have a ways to go for "abs" but still!), my *kitten* is WAY perkier than it was before, my quads are starting to just *look* stronger, my hip bones are becoming more pronounced (I have a serious fat issue in the lower abdomen, so this is big for me!). Not to mention some of the serious awesomeness that is happening in my arms and back
This whole body recomp thing is super challenging, but just trust that you are doing some super duper awesome for your body and the results, while slow, are there
@extra....I actually created a thread in the main part of the group called "Haybales Spreadsheet" (yes, I spelled it wrong by accident :ohwell: The link is in there!0 -
Last night's workout (not counting warm up lifts):
Squats: 120 5X5
OHP: 55 5X5
Dead lifts: 135 1X5
Like Vegas, I've had some disappointment at the scale. My weight really hasn't moved in the past year. However, even in the past three weeks, I'm down 4 cms in my shoulders, 4 cms in my upper abdomen, 4 cms around my right thigh, and 2 cms around my right bicep. Change is definitely happening, and I can tell: I feel smaller. Just keep in mind that the scale isn't everything -- it's all about how you feel (and measurements definitely help see some progress when the scale doesn't show it).0 -
@ auddii those are some phenominal numbers!!! I can't even imagine breakin 60lbs on my rows...great job!
Okay, I need some "there, there's" and "everything will be okays"...I know I lifted last night...but I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm officially up 5lbs in a week and a half? wtf? And yes, I do take my measurements and those have gone up too..except my waist which isn't budging. I've been working out harder since January, been doing pretty good with the eating...netting between 1200 and 1400 most of the time (my TDEE -20% is 1400). I'm only 5'1" and over 40, so my TDEE isn't high to begin with...A couple weeks ago I was seeing a couple ounces a week loss, but in the last week the scale has done nothing but go up! I'm not 10lbs heavier than last summer and it is KILLING me! I want to be strong, but I'm doing this mostly to lose the weight around my thighs, butt and stomach. Eating more is hard enough without seeing the scale creep up...I know I'm being a p**sy but I'm in a serious panic...I've gained a half inch on my thighs since summer so I'm back up to 21" I can't stand this...
Can someone talk me off the ledge and tell me when this should actually start working? Idk maybe I should just go back to the machines, cardio and undereating. So freaking frustrated....and after such an awesome session at the gym last night.
Maybe you need to adjust your eating? I know you're a tiny person, but maybe it's something to talk to someone smarter than I about. When I started SL, I increased from about 1500 calories/day to 1800-2000, and I've noticed a difference. My metabolism has been shocked into working again. Maybe some days where you take in more calories and some where you take in the usual amount to kick your body into gear?0 -
Glad to see everyone's numbers improving still!
All this talk about scale stress - I was up 3, down 2, up 1, down 1, back and forth.
I still can't get a gauge on whether I am gaining at the right rate, too fast, or not at all and its really frustrating. I sorta feel like I am spinning my wheels. I am also getting like super obsessive about this eating thing...like was at a new friend's house for the first time for puppy play date. She invited me to stay for dinner since hubz is still out of town. We are "courting" this couple, as we don't have a lot of non-work friends and they seem really fun and relaxed like us. Anyways, of course I accepted the dinner offer, but I kept thinking "is this enough food? if I get seconds, I will probably go over - but I have no way of knowing. Am I going to have enough protein today?" Then I got home, was exhausted and feel asleep. I woke up today stressed out that I underate and had to go plug stuff in....weird obsessive behavior is annoying.
Re: Hipbones. Mine were starting to jut out - like almost too much, now they are disappearing...well, not quite, but I feel like I am getting more muscley around my hips so they aren't as sharp anymore. Dunno how I feel about that yet. I usually use my hip bones as a non-scale measurement of if I am indulging too much. Today is recovery day #2, gonna hit the gym tomorrow morning (when its hopefully dead).
In other news, someone brought a pullup bar into work and offered a $100 gift card to a local diner (his parents own it) to whoever could do one pullup first (between me and my boss). If I get a hop start, I can do one close grip, but he says it has to be a dead hang wide grip. Boo! I do a lot of negatives during the day, lol.
ETA: Wooo, rolled the thread! lol0 -
All this talk about scale stress - I was up 3, down 2, up 1, down 1, back and forth.
I still can't get a gauge on whether I am gaining at the right rate, too fast, or not at all and its really frustrating. I sorta feel like I am spinning my wheels.
Me too! I'm debating on switching to TDEE with a deficit, the trouble is that my exercise isn't consistant from week to week, sometimes I can go for a run, but it's been super icey so I haven't run in 2 weeks! Sigh. I'm still not sure but at least I'm not gaining... lol.0 -
yeahhhh we rolled the thread..... Im not having a good week ( didnt I say that last week).... as soon as I get off track, its hard to get back onn
I volunteered to g on night shift t work on a project that would gain me some valuable experience.... but my sleeping & eating hasnt adjusted as well.... and thus my fitness goals are suffering.... and I have another 6 weeks to go of it..... Im hoping next week will level off
I am only down 8 lbs this month,,,,,,15 lbs was my goal... so far I m down in inches in the hips and thighs....so all isnt a total bust0 -
yeahhhh we rolled the thread..... Im not having a good week ( didnt I say that last week).... as soon as I get off track, its hard to get back onn
I volunteered to g on night shift t work on a project that would gain me some valuable experience.... but my sleeping & eating hasnt adjusted as well.... and thus my fitness goals are suffering.... and I have another 6 weeks to go of it..... Im hoping next week will level off
I am only down 8 lbs this month,,,,,,15 lbs was my goal... so far I m down in inches in the hips and thighs....so all isnt a total bust
Sounds like great progress HIITMe...don't be too hard on yourself..though clearly I'm not one to really say that since I'm the worst! Hopefully your body will adjust soon to the schedule change.
@ everyone...thanks for the encouragement..I admit that I would be happy if my body were losing inches...but it seems to be swelling up..I can see it in the mirror, on the tape measure and how my clothes are fitting..I had to go up a size in pants...ugh. I feel like a total freak.0 -
I'm about to get all bendy up in here...my *kitten* is a bit sore from deadlifts yesterday.0
-
Julie - I can swell up a LOT after lifting or other random life events (like my pants will be SUPER tight) sometimes, due to who freaking knows what factors, but it will cause all my inches to go up (including waist... :grumble: ) and yeah. It just happens.
How long has it been since you took a break and ate at maintenance? I think you should do a 2 week break at what you think your maintenance is, if its been a while. I know its super scary to eat more when you're carrying a bunch of extra water.
I'm thinking that 1) you're having a hard time with your lifts and 2) your body feels really stressed right now, which is why it went into super retaining inflamation mode. A few weeks at maintenance should let you feel better all over -- and you can test out if that's really your maintenance or not.
HiitMe - 8 lbs a month is pretty huge! I'd dtake that and run with it.
kit_katty - how inconsistent are we talking though? If you work out either 4 or 5 hours per week, I'd still eat the same amount and not really fret about it. But if you workout 4 hours one week and 10 hours the next, I'd maybe eat like you're doing the 4 hours, then eat exercise cals for the 'extra' during the high activity weeks.0 -
Julie- My weight shot up 3-4lbs after a couple weeks of SL, basically when they weight started getting a little challenging. I assume this was water cause it stuck around (didn't go down the next day) but I've been slowwwwwwwwly losing since then. I know from experience that measurements can go all over. I've always been a measurer and a weigher. Even this week my natural waist measurement went down, but my belly button measurement went up. Especially in the midsection (waist/belly/hips) so much can be affected by water/sodium/digestive situation. You need to think of your body as the stock market. Most people don't sell their whole portfolio over day to day changes. Instead they look at their investments over the long term.
Hiit- Agree that 8 lbs is awesome.
Kit_katty- I'm not consistent with any workout, but stronglifts and the bit of cardio I do with it. So on my TDEE calculator I only count that, and take a deficit. If I do more workouts that I feel are worth it I'll log it and eat the calories. So if I go for a nice stroll I probably wouldn't count it, but if I go to spin class or do an hour on the arc trainer I will count it. So pretty much what Tameko said.0 -
I had to skip a bunch of stuff. Keep working those bad *kitten*!
The scale always fluctuates a few pounds for me, every day. I'm always amazed when people say they've literally been at the same weight for awhile.
Kit_katty: here's what I was doing up until a few weeks ago. I worked out my sedentary TDEE - assuming I did not work out - to be about 1850. I set my intake at 1800 every day. That way I figured I had a tiny deficit and a little wiggle room even if I didn't workout AT ALL. Then any exercise I did "created" my deficit. So on weeks that I didn't get to work out much, I still ate the same and didn't feel deprived and just figured I would lose the next week. But most weeks I was able to do enough to create a bit of a substantial deficit. it was good motivation because it was very easy to think about my workouts as necessary for my deficit. I switched to 1600 plus exercise calories recently though, because I entered a stretch where I felt like my exercising was going to be really hit or miss. I've been having a hard time staying under 1600, so I may switch back, or up it to 1700 and only eat back half my exercise calories, or something.0 -
Julie - I can swell up a LOT after lifting or other random life events (like my pants will be SUPER tight) sometimes, due to who freaking knows what factors, but it will cause all my inches to go up (including waist... :grumble: ) and yeah. It just happens.
How long has it been since you took a break and ate at maintenance? I think you should do a 2 week break at what you think your maintenance is, if its been a while. I know its super scary to eat more when you're carrying a bunch of extra water.
I'm thinking that 1) you're having a hard time with your lifts and 2) your body feels really stressed right now, which is why it went into super retaining inflamation mode. A few weeks at maintenance should let you feel better all over -- and you can test out if that's really your maintenance or not.
Wow, this just sent me into full blown panick mode...I don't know what you speak of ...what is this "maintenance?" Yeah, I've been on my journy for 2 + years. I'm a chronic under eater...there were times this summer when I was only eating 600 cals and still using the machines at the gym 2-3 times a week and doing major walking...this is me trying to do things right and reseting my metabolism...in my own defense I was suffering from a break up when I was eating that little,..I just was too upset to eat. I thought by still lifting weights I would be okay...my thyroid has gone from hypothyroid to hypERthyroid in the last year...and I'm back to trying to stabalize it...but frankly I think that all this weight loss and exercise has thrust my thyroid into overdrive and I truly don't need the meds anymore...jury is still out on that. So...I have to be honest here...I don't think it is even possible for me to eat at TDEE which is around 1700. I think I would totally, and I MEAN TOTALLY freak out. Netting between 1200 and 1400 is huge for me.
But I have to say, since amping up my lifting, I've really been suffering. Weakness etc...There are probably so many damn reasons I could never narrow it all down. I'm only at the end of week 2 of SL5x5, last night I actually felt powerful. I discovered how to engage my core to push through the tough OHP reps. Although I do feel like I was arching my back too much. Same with the benchpresses on Sunday. I'm more than willing to listen to advice, hell I'm begging you for it. and if you really think I need to do that I can try...I may need to give it a little more time though. History, started doing TDEE -20% beginning of Jan, started doing SL beginning of Feb...
@Tree - thanks...you have me thinking that I need to take more than just a few measurements. I've just been doing the natural waist, hips, thighs and now both thighs together since my body has been doing funky things with my hips. I now have that "D" carve out in my butt, but that makes my saddlebags look HUGE in comparison..it is freaky looking.
Note: sorry I'm being so needy and whiney...I'm not usually, this is just some scary changes for me. I'm really loving the program, I'm not usually one of those people who say "waaa I've been super good for 2 hours, why haven't I lost 20lbs"....for what its worth.0 -
Julie, you're good, chica, vent away.
Here's what helped me with some lifts...
OHP: widen the grip on the bar a bit, widen your stance a bit, and point your toes out. That helped my core stability without needing to arch my back.
Bench: keep your feet flat on the ground--if you can't do that because the bench is too high, stack a weight or two under your feet. Squeeze your shoulder blades and press them to the bench like they're super glued.
Other people might have some hints, but those two really helped me.0
