March Check-in&Chat - Green beer to fuel your lifts!
Replies
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Ugh! Trying to eat again today and almost gagging when I do . I may have figured out the problem though, I am on lithium and a couple other things. But mainly with the lithium I need to be drinking a lot more than the average amount of water. I realized today that a couple days ago I ran out of bottled water. I tend to forget to drink water from the tap even though I have it filtered. But absent minded I have been drinking about 1/4 the water I should be and this leads to an increased amount of lithium in my system. So need to get back on the horse and down some water.
Forcing myself to chug it as we speak. It sucks being on 3 separate meds that are specifically linked to weight gain when you're trying to lose. I think I'm still doing ok though.
I was on Depakote 6-7 years ago for mood imbalance (come to find out it was just my *kitten* exhusband) and gained 25lbs in 6 weeks. I feel your pain. Thankfully I have been pill free since I got rid of the *kitten*.
Drink yer water, boy!0 -
Ugh! Trying to eat again today and almost gagging when I do . I may have figured out the problem though, I am on lithium and a couple other things. But mainly with the lithium I need to be drinking a lot more than the average amount of water. I realized today that a couple days ago I ran out of bottled water. I tend to forget to drink water from the tap even though I have it filtered. But absent minded I have been drinking about 1/4 the water I should be and this leads to an increased amount of lithium in my system. So need to get back on the horse and down some water.
Forcing myself to chug it as we speak. It sucks being on 3 separate meds that are specifically linked to weight gain when you're trying to lose. I think I'm still doing ok though.
I was on Depakote 6-7 years ago for mood imbalance (come to find out it was just my *kitten* exhusband) and gained 25lbs in 6 weeks. I feel your pain. Thankfully I have been pill free since I got rid of the *kitten*.
Drink yer water, boy!
Got rid of the ex. Cleared up some of the problems. Unfortunately for me it's genetic and not caused by outside factors, So still have to be on the meds probably for good.0 -
Ugh! Trying to eat again today and almost gagging when I do . I may have figured out the problem though, I am on lithium and a couple other things. But mainly with the lithium I need to be drinking a lot more than the average amount of water. I realized today that a couple days ago I ran out of bottled water. I tend to forget to drink water from the tap even though I have it filtered. But absent minded I have been drinking about 1/4 the water I should be and this leads to an increased amount of lithium in my system. So need to get back on the horse and down some water.
Forcing myself to chug it as we speak. It sucks being on 3 separate meds that are specifically linked to weight gain when you're trying to lose. I think I'm still doing ok though.
I was on Depakote 6-7 years ago for mood imbalance (come to find out it was just my *kitten* exhusband) and gained 25lbs in 6 weeks. I feel your pain. Thankfully I have been pill free since I got rid of the *kitten*.
Drink yer water, boy!
Got rid of the ex. Cleared up some of the problems. Unfortunately for me it's genetic and not caused by outside factors, So still have to be on the meds probably for good.
That bites, but if you need them, you need them. But congrats on losing weight while on them. Some meds are horrible for causing weight gain.0 -
Okay, ugh! I have mixed feelings about tonight's lift.
On the down side, I failed my rows. 65 lbs. two sets of 5, three sets of 4. I know failure is good, but I think I have only ever lost one rep on the last set. On the bright side, it WAS 65 lbs, so that's a 5# increase from last time.
My bench press was good in that I bumped to 50#. 4x5 and 1x4 - could not do that last rep, but that's okay, too.
Squats 5x5 @60 lbs, and I'm happy with that.
The hubs said he could tell I was ill as a hornet before we started, and that I didn't seem to have my head in the game. Maybe I didn't. I don't know. Thursday is another day. But I went out and did it, and busting out of 45 lb BP makes Jules a happy mouse,lol...0 -
Can we call it butt wanking instead? If only to amuse me.
My bf will be amused. He's a bit of an anglophile.0 -
ill as a hornet
Never heard that one. Awesome job on the lifts. Great thing about failing at 4 reps is that you're very likely to get them the next time.I'm sure you will too.
Update on the eating situation. Downed 80 ozs of water and now I'm starving. So cooking a boatload of fish and veggies. It cannot get done fast enough. Ready to stuff my face.0 -
Just came across this article on barbell complexes on bb.com and actually thought it's full of some useful ideas! Would love to try one of these put I have no idea when I could incorporate it!
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/lift-to-burn-4-barbell-complexes-scorch-fat-increase-strength.html?mcid=facetraining0 -
@vashnic...oooh ouch. though I can imagine the siren song of those 45lb plates... What I try and ALWAYS do after my lifting and is get the ball down and stretch my back on it. It takes me about 5-10 minutes of hanging out on it upside down to really REALLY let go of all the tension and release the muscles. I taught this to my bf who had back issues and he says it is like the poorman's inversion table. I also do all my crunches on the ball because it doesn't hurt my back...I think it is in my head..but it just works better for my crunches.
Haha yeah, I have been draping myself off the edge of my bed or office chair to stretch out those pesky muscles. Mostly when nobody else is around to judge me.
Sadly my big exercise ball got punctured, so no super back feeling crunches until I get a new one.
@Doozer, you might try just bodyweight stretches in the meantime. Sit on the ground with one leg straight out, toes up, and the other leg folded in. Lean your upper body forward and grab your ankle for a minute or so, then switch legs. When I took gymnastics/karate in my teens, we always did extensive stretches like this during warmup.
This is the video I've been using for stretching. It's pretty extensive and the stretches are nice. Also I love how they show you "what not to do"
http://youtu.be/41gzi6VNPgU 0 -
Wow does this thread move fast. No workout for me today.....didn't get back to the hotel until after 9 and I still have work to do for tomorrow. Ugh, guess I should get off of MFP then :ohwell:
Anyway, there are some great numbers going up!!! Hopefully I'll get back home tomorrow and be able to hit the gym. Got a big protein kick tonight at dinner. 24 oz prime rib. So very good. Managed about 18 oz in total since I cut off a bit of the fat.0 -
So speaking of butt winking, after watching your video, Mehdi's squat video came up (apparently because you're awesome like that). I watch his to see his form, and it seems like there's some major butt winking going on. Am I crazy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=pDS1w4cW4VE&feature=endscreen
auddii - You're right he's a TOTAL butt winker!!!
He is but I kinda think its from gravity because you notice his back is pretty straight till he starts going up. I think it'd be had to keep your back completely straight at 390 pounds. I know it should be relative to how much muscle you have. Plus I think thats about 90 percent of his max bound to be some breakdown.
Yes he was winking. Could it also be the knees caving in. I'm having that trouble now I hit 100. I feel like I'm really fighting to make sure my knees don't pronate inward as I'm coming up. Thanks for posting this now I realize everyone struggles at that one point on the way up. Also I realized watching this that maybe I'm resting the bar too high up on my shoulders.0 -
Just came across this article on barbell complexes on bb.com and actually thought it's full of some useful ideas! Would love to try one of these put I have no idea when I could incorporate it!
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/lift-to-burn-4-barbell-complexes-scorch-fat-increase-strength.html?mcid=facetraining
My plan right now is to to complete two rounds of stronglifts. Then I'm going to start using a different tracking app to change up some of my lifts and use wendler 5-3-1 for the lifts i keep. I haven't looked into those yet. I want to change it up a little to keep challenging my muscles. The thing I don't want to do is create something cumbersome. I will definitely be trying to replace the rows with something else I hate those but going to stick with them for now. I don't plan on becoming a power lifter but I don't want to give up heavy lifting either. Would love to hear how people changed it up if they did.0 -
This thread does move fast!
I can't wait to replace rows either. I'm pretty sure I'm doing them right, and they still feel semi awkward. If anyone has suggestions for replacement moves I'd love to hear them. I'm pretty sure in 531 they're considered accessory, but I'm not certain. The bottom line is I do not feel badass while rowing, and that is the most important thing!
Soosannah- Both your pictures are v. cute, but I no longer have the desire to smoosh your face and kiss your nose.0 -
Okay, so I was getting tired of watching form videos for awhile but now you guys guilted me back into it. I'm with whoever said that they think they're holding the bar too high on their shoulders. Will play around with the positioning of it tomorrow and see how it feels.. I should probably also do some self-videos as a form check but I HATE seeing myself on video it's a GAZILLION times worse than seeing myself in a picture.
Also I had a total brainwave tonight about why my squats are my weakest lift. I was blaming it on my lower body being weaker than I had ever realized, but I'm thinking it's my core that is my weakest link, and in particular my abs. And wondering if its a connection (at least partiallyl) to the c-section I had years back. It was an emergency one, so they did a vertical incision, so yup, right up the middle of my lower stomach like a zipper. Anyways, I'm thinking that squats are the toughest lift, and likely engage the core the most, and two and two together and there you go.
Which leads me to a couple things. I don't feel like this is an excuse or anything, but having a bit of an explanation, for me, feels like a relief. And also an encouragement to keep going, and that even though progress has been excruciatingly slow, there may be some reasons other than just that I suck. And , my lower stomach has seemed to actually shown improvement over the last 5 months, so I must be doing something right. So, I will keep at my squats, tweaking my form, and forcing myself through them. Going up in the teensiest increments possible and deloading as necessary, only to sloooooooooowly work my way up again. And I will do this because it works. It works freakin' slowly, but it works. And in the end I will be stronger and that's cool.0 -
Tonights badassery...
The squat rack was occupied!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!!! So I did some cardio first...
Squats 5x5 90lbs (stayed the same cause I felt like it dammit)
OHP 5x5 45lbs (ditto)
DL - 115lb <
BOOM!!! new record...and damn it was hard. I only went up 5lbs..
Heybales sheet..I redid the numbers at home, apparently I didn't save it properly at work..so my goal for eating isn't 1700 but 1500...whew I thought that sounded way high ...
nite0 -
I can't wait to replace rows either. I'm pretty sure I'm doing them right, and they still feel semi awkward. If anyone has suggestions for replacement moves I'd love to hear them. I'm pretty sure in 531 they're considered accessory, but I'm not certain.
Starting Strength has you doing power cleans rather than rows.
I used to do cleans, then switched to rows. Will probably go back to cleans at some point, especially since they work so well off deadlifts and vice versa.squats are my weakest lift. I was blaming it on my lower body being weaker than I had ever realized, but I'm thinking it's my core that is my weakest link, and in particular my abs. And wondering if its a connection (at least partiallyl) to the c-section I had years back. It was an emergency one, so they did a vertical incision, so yup, right up the middle of my lower stomach like a zipper. Anyways, I'm thinking that squats are the toughest lift, and likely engage the core the most, and two and two together and there you go.
Yes, core has everything to do with squats, and thankfully squatting in turn will build your abs and your core.
There is a back muscle called the multifidus that can also hurt your squats if it's weak, and cause lower back pain. I use yoga (sphinx pose) to specifically strengthen it since I read up on it.
Alternately, boat pose is a great way to strengthen ab muscles, as is the plank of course.
Did I mention yoga is really great way to help with lifting? :laugh:0 -
Also I love how Mehdi says "boolsh!t."0
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Okay, so I was getting tired of watching form videos for awhile but now you guys guilted me back into it. I'm with whoever said that they think they're holding the bar too high on their shoulders. Will play around with the positioning of it tomorrow and see how it feels.. I should probably also do some self-videos as a form check but I HATE seeing myself on video it's a GAZILLION times worse than seeing myself in a picture.
Also I had a total brainwave tonight about why my squats are my weakest lift. I was blaming it on my lower body being weaker than I had ever realized, but I'm thinking it's my core that is my weakest link, and in particular my abs. And wondering if its a connection (at least partiallyl) to the c-section I had years back. It was an emergency one, so they did a vertical incision, so yup, right up the middle of my lower stomach like a zipper. Anyways, I'm thinking that squats are the toughest lift, and likely engage the core the most, and two and two together and there you go.
Which leads me to a couple things. I don't feel like this is an excuse or anything, but having a bit of an explanation, for me, feels like a relief. And also an encouragement to keep going, and that even though progress has been excruciatingly slow, there may be some reasons other than just that I suck. And , my lower stomach has seemed to actually shown improvement over the last 5 months, so I must be doing something right. So, I will keep at my squats, tweaking my form, and forcing myself through them. Going up in the teensiest increments possible and deloading as necessary, only to sloooooooooowly work my way up again. And I will do this because it works. It works freakin' slowly, but it works. And in the end I will be stronger and that's cool.
Yeah I don't have children, but things I've read/heard indicate being pregnant alone can really mess up your abs let alone the trauma from being cut through during a c-section. Hearing about ab separation frightens me a bit. Poor belly. The thing to remember is you're helping to repair that damage, and have a super strong core again. Woohoo!
Now I'm feeling guilty for having a big head 31 years ago. Off to go apologize to mom. Again...0 -
I hated rows until I started doing pendalay rows. I had started off doing regular barbell rows and just didnt like them. I still didnt like the pendalay till I got to 135 plus. I think it was mainly the height issue that I had it way too low and it was affecting form and how far I had to go. So I can imagine why you ladies dont like it that much.0
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Also I had a total brainwave tonight about why my squats are my weakest lift. I was blaming it on my lower body being weaker than I had ever realized, but I'm thinking it's my core that is my weakest link, and in particular my abs. And wondering if its a connection (at least partiallyl) to the c-section I had years back. It was an emergency one, so they did a vertical incision, so yup, right up the middle of my lower stomach like a zipper. Anyways, I'm thinking that squats are the toughest lift, and likely engage the core the most, and two and two together and there you go.
Which leads me to a couple things. I don't feel like this is an excuse or anything, but having a bit of an explanation, for me, feels like a relief. And also an encouragement to keep going, and that even though progress has been excruciatingly slow, there may be some reasons other than just that I suck. And , my lower stomach has seemed to actually shown improvement over the last 5 months, so I must be doing something right. So, I will keep at my squats, tweaking my form, and forcing myself through them. Going up in the teensiest increments possible and deloading as necessary, only to sloooooooooowly work my way up again. And I will do this because it works. It works freakin' slowly, but it works. And in the end I will be stronger and that's cool.
First off congrats on seeing improvement!
It is totally possible and maybe even likely that your c-section did a number on your core. If so your issue is less core ''strength'' and more core ''activation'' and it will really help you to activate your transverse abdominus and pelvic floor- I could go waaaayyy into this but I'll send you some links instead so you don't have to read a wall of text...
http://inspiredrd.com/2012/08/how-to-heal-a-diastasis-the-right-way.html
http://www.ab-core-and-stomach-exercises.com/core-exercise.html
http://www.ptonthenet.com/exerciseprint.aspx?ExerciseID=1012
www.umich.edu/~umperl/Kegel Exercises.htm
...Sorry I maybe got excited and added a lot of links.
OH and once you master the Abdominal drawing in maneuver, planks! Goal is to hold it for 1 minute. regular and sideways and modified etc
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@jay....I also had an emergency c-section although my incision was horizontal, not vertical but I still totally get the ab thing! Have you ever tried yoga? I never thought that it would be so good for core strength but Sweet Jesus it's a gooder! I would say probably one of the most effective things you can do to improve core strength, IMO FWIW.
Re: rows.....I didn't like them either but now that I finally have the form down and pull from the floor, using stacked weights to rest on, I totally love them. Before I didn't feel bada$$ at all because I couldn't feel them working anything....just felt awkward....now I can feel it in my back and I love it!0 -
Yeah, I like rows, too. Having things at just the right height really seems to be the clicker with those.
Also thanks for all those links, fishlover. I had read some of them, will look at some of the longer ones tomorrow. I think it's bedtime for me.0 -
Soosannah- Both your pictures are v. cute, but I no longer have the desire to smoosh your face and kiss your nose.
Hahaha this made me snort0 -
Yes he was winking. Could it also be the knees caving in. I'm having that trouble now I hit 100. I feel like I'm really fighting to make sure my knees don't pronate inward as I'm coming up. Thanks for posting this now I realize everyone struggles at that one point on the way up. Also I realized watching this that maybe I'm resting the bar too high up on my shoulders.
It honestly looks fine to me - I mean I think the butt-wink thing is a little over panicked about; he gets right to the point where his hips start to tilt but he's also below parallel then and he goes back up. No big deal.
Oh and re: holding the bar - if you're comfortable where it is, your getting depth, and your form and drive are good, I wouldn't' change it. if you're having minor issues, its a good thing to look at as having the potential to fix. Nick squats with the bar pretty high up, I squat with it pretty low, we both hit depth and drive with our hips, haven't had any injury or pain issues (other than his initial flexibility issues) so, no big deal in my opinion. At some point you'll want to go low-bar to get big numbers but for now just do it and if you're making progress and it feels good, keep going!
And Janell, yet another reason I do not want to get preggo ever. Hurray! Except Nick keeps mentioning it off handedly and then saying "nah just kidding" so I am genuinely starting to worry a little. -_- I guess I should start up an adoption fund.
Benched 102.5 today. It went less good than I'd hoped. Baaaah. I needed a pre-workout snack, I think. Next week's 107.5 though so that will be a PR and I'll be happy.
Tomorrow - 165x3+ squats! Hopefully 4-5. I'd feel quite happy with that. Also, if I am still complaining in April that I need to go to a doctor someone please kick my butt. I've been putting it off for a year. I just need to get it done.0 -
Wow, this thread exploded!
@Tameko - butt-kicking request noted
C-sections etc...ugh. I'm not sure there's a good way to give birth, and while we want kids, I don't really want the giving birth part, whether I'm knocked out and cut open or not!
Today's lifting was before work (with a 5k run to follow after work) as I have way too much *kitten* to do this week to fit cardio+weights into the same session. Empty weights area. Loved it! Might have to do this again...
Hack squats - 4x5 at 60lbs, 1x5 at 65lbs cos, you know, I could
OP - 35lbs (repeat) but the form was a lot better this time around
DL - 120lbs (repeat) less hard today but my hands are killing me
Hack squats + DLs = very unhappy hands. It doesn't look like we can use chalk, so I think I'm going to dig out my cycling gloves and try that. Oh, and a mixed grip on DLs. Anything else I should think about?
ETA - two NSVs this week!
1) When I started SL I couldn't do a single sit-up unless someone held my feet. On Monday I cranked out 7 with no foot-holding before deciding I'd proved my point for the day.
2) If I flex my abs, I can actually see muscle to either side of my belly pooch, right up under my rib cage. Woohoo! There are muscles under there, if I could just drop the fat that's covering them. 0 -
FINALLY! I've got the idea of the Pendlay Rows.
I was having so much trouble with them, so I asked my husband to watch the video a couple of times and come with me to help out.
He told me what I was doing wrong and I fixed it and tried a few reps.
Today was my regular lifting day and I did them right and it was MUCH easier than whatever I had been doing. I did 90 and feel like it was too little, but I kept that weight for today.
I was looking for another exercise to sub in, but I think I can do this. Yay me!
Squats still at 135, working on form
Bench press at 75, shaky, but not failing on the last few, so I think I can go up next time.
I always love reading what you are all up to.0 -
Sounds like you're doing great, moving right along.
C-sections. A vertical incision would really jack up your abs. Even with my low one, I really think they do change how your abs work FOREVER. I've had 4. The first was an emergency one and each subsequent baby caused a larger "window" in my uterus, so there was no way I could do normal childbirth without a huge risk of rupture.
But, my point is that my abs have never been the same. I wonder if there are specialized ab workouts for c-section people...off to google!Okay, so I was getting tired of watching form videos for awhile but now you guys guilted me back into it. I'm with whoever said that they think they're holding the bar too high on their shoulders. Will play around with the positioning of it tomorrow and see how it feels.. I should probably also do some self-videos as a form check but I HATE seeing myself on video it's a GAZILLION times worse than seeing myself in a picture.
Also I had a total brainwave tonight about why my squats are my weakest lift. I was blaming it on my lower body being weaker than I had ever realized, but I'm thinking it's my core that is my weakest link, and in particular my abs. And wondering if its a connection (at least partiallyl) to the c-section I had years back. It was an emergency one, so they did a vertical incision, so yup, right up the middle of my lower stomach like a zipper. Anyways, I'm thinking that squats are the toughest lift, and likely engage the core the most, and two and two together and there you go.
Which leads me to a couple things. I don't feel like this is an excuse or anything, but having a bit of an explanation, for me, feels like a relief. And also an encouragement to keep going, and that even though progress has been excruciatingly slow, there may be some reasons other than just that I suck. And , my lower stomach has seemed to actually shown improvement over the last 5 months, so I must be doing something right. So, I will keep at my squats, tweaking my form, and forcing myself through them. Going up in the teensiest increments possible and deloading as necessary, only to sloooooooooowly work my way up again. And I will do this because it works. It works freakin' slowly, but it works. And in the end I will be stronger and that's cool.0 -
Oh, they won't knock you out for c-sections anymore. You get to be awake for the whole thing. It caused me serious nausea to have someone rooting around in my abdomen. Of course, I was better than my husband who got up close and personal with the floor each time.
I have trouble with my hands too, if you find a solution, please share!
YAY on the situps! I've been afraid to even try, but today, I think I will!Wow, this thread exploded!
@Tameko - butt-kicking request noted
C-sections etc...ugh. I'm not sure there's a good way to give birth, and while we want kids, I don't really want the giving birth part, whether I'm knocked out and cut open or not!
Today's lifting was before work (with a 5k run to follow after work) as I have way too much *kitten* to do this week to fit cardio+weights into the same session. Empty weights area. Loved it! Might have to do this again...
Hack squats - 4x5 at 60lbs, 1x5 at 65lbs cos, you know, I could
OP - 35lbs (repeat) but the form was a lot better this time around
DL - 120lbs (repeat) less hard today but my hands are killing me
Hack squats + DLs = very unhappy hands. It doesn't look like we can use chalk, so I think I'm going to dig out my cycling gloves and try that. Oh, and a mixed grip on DLs. Anything else I should think about?
ETA - two NSVs this week!
1) When I started SL I couldn't do a single sit-up unless someone held my feet. On Monday I cranked out 7 with no foot-holding before deciding I'd proved my point for the day.
2) If I flex my abs, I can actually see muscle to either side of my belly pooch, right up under my rib cage. Woohoo! There are muscles under there, if I could just drop the fat that's covering them.0 -
So I crashed and burned after my post last night, and I have been catching up.
Y'all are kicking serious butt and taking names! I find myself SO motivated by reading everyone's posts.
I think I am going to check out the Pendlay rows. Last night's festivities caused the hubs to pay closer attention to my form, and apparently, it suffered some, as well. I used to find rows really simple, but the heavier we go, the harder it is to keep form correct. All in all, a learning curve.
Ok, have to actually do some stuff they pay me for this morning, so I'm going to get right on it so I can come back and play later. :bigsmile:0 -
Wow, I go to trivia one night, and the thread explodes. Looks like people are moving around some great weight.
I still hate rows, and I still feel like I'm doing them wrong. My legs are equally weak as my arms when I finish. (I don't use my legs, but I tense them to make them a solid lifting platform if that makes sense.) Completely don't feel them in my back. Ugh. Stupid rows.
Nothing super exciting, although @extra, after last night, only 18 beers left :laugh:0
