Hi ladies! I haven't been posting here much, but I did workout 2a yesterday. The longer planks are difficult and boring for me! It feels like 10 minutes, even with music! everything else seems good though....I'd like to try regular squats again and see if I'm stronger...

I finished today too. I did one extra A and B workout on stage 3. I refreshed myself of the exercises for this stage and wrote out my worksheets last night. I think I'll start Monday, if I feel like resting a little more, I'll start Thursday. I'd guess it will be Monday. I took some progress pics today, haven't compared to my beginner pics yet though, hoping to see some changes because I've gained scale weight and mostly gained inches. Wouldn't you think we'd want to gain some inches though? Like, my calves are slightly bigger (I'm talking like 1/2 inch maybe) thighs are bigger, biceps are bigger, my hips have lost about 1/2 inch, my waist is about the same. My legs are like super meaty lately, so I figure a gain is good there, right? I ate pretty crappy over the holiday so I blame the weight gain on that, it's slowly starting to come off now though. I'm a lot stronger and I like the way my arms are looking. You guys liking the way you're looking?

I just finished A1. My arms are all jiggly. Let's just say its bad when you're looking forward to a nice, relaxing 2 minute plank at the end of the workout. I was surprised at how much more strength and balance I have since doing these exercises in stage 2.

I did my first stage 4 workout on monday. The FSPP was still hard, i think my form was messed up. It wasn't as hard as it was at the beginning of stage 2, but definitely harder than it was by the end of it! I'm gonna post my starting stats here so I can refer back to this when I finish!

FSPP- 45 lbs
Step ups- 30 lbs
One point Row- 40 lbs
Static Lunge- 20 lbs
Pushups- 8, 8, and 9
Planks- 90 seconds, 100 s, 100s
Wood chop- 17.5 lbs

Hi Guys, great to see fellow travellers through stage 4. I did S4A2 yesterday. Found it much easier than A1. coming back to me and the muscle memory is kicking in. I still am splitting the FSPP down to a squat and a separate press but prob works just about the same muscles.

This morning I went to interview a girl who has just started up a kettle bells class, so I joined in. OMG i will be sore tomorrow.

Still no where near 2 mins on the plank. But pressups are good, managed all three sets with my feel raised.

I'm so dumb, I was peeking through the book at the lateral flexion exercises to see which one I wanted to do for my first B workout and I've totally been doing them wrong up till now. I was laying in the right position, but lifting my entire leg up, at the hip, instead of only lifting it at the knee. Oh well, better late than never. I usually do the ones on the ball, but good thing I looked.

I also drank my first protein shake after working out today. It was some whey thing from Walmart, vanilla flavored. It was still kind of clumpy even after stirring constantly while drinking too, but didn't have a bad flavor. I'd been doing some kind of a bar afterwards, but they had been getting really gross tasting to me for some reason, they were making me nauseous really, so we'll see if I get any better results, bc I never meet my protein goals with diet alone, I just can't ever seem to.

I'm liking this Stage, even though it's a lot of repeat, ok all repeats. My starting weights are quite a bit more than when I ended stage 2.

Ihergenr: Wow - 45# push press! I'm only at 35#. My forearms were sore after my first 4A workout! Can't imagine doing 45#!

Sue - good idea to start with a trainer and then officially start stage 4 when you come back. The flexion moves are dumb. I skip them altogether. My bad. My deadlift is 75# max. Yikes on 100!!! Great job!!!

Emtabo - I have sooo done that before. I go back to re-read things and I realize I've been doing something totally wrong. As for protein shakes, I can't stand them with just water. I will use one scoop, ice, water, half banana and sometimes Greek yogurt in the magic bullet. Delish! Although another great post workout snack is greek yogurt mixed with a scoop of protein powder. Tastes like a chocolate mousse. And add some sliced banana and drizzle with natural peanut butter. Dessert for breakfast!

AFM, I am SO proud of myself for getting to the gym today. I was having a bit of tummy issues (nausea, etc.) last night and when my alarm went off at 4:45am, but I thought NOPE, I'm still going to the gym and going to do whatever my body can handle. Wasn't my best workout, but I *did it*!

So it was 4B today, first time...I like it! My legs had a great workout! I like the Bulgarian split squat and the squat deadlifts. I did the weight I ended stage 2 with. Will try to up them next week....

Have a great weekend, everyone!

I think splitting it down to squat and a press makes it easier, so I may be cheating but worked out I can press 55lbs so it is still pretty challenging.

After doing an impromptu kettle bells workout yesterday my arms are in bits so I was debating going to the gym today but then kinder with a very high temp has scuppered any chances of going so I will have to go tomorrow instead.

Probably a good idea after the KB workout anyway..."scuppered..."???? Love it!:laugh:

Just saying hi to everyone.

So I musta pulled an *kitten* muscle sometime between my last workout and today's workout. Right below my right butt cheek/ butt cheek area was really sore doing especially the lunges today. Not sure what I did because I didn't notice it until right when I started the lunges. I tried to stretch it but don't know what moves to do. Any suggestions on *kitten* muscle stretches?? Hehe, thanks guys.

I pulled a muscle in my waist doing squats on Monday so I decided to halt the workout there and reshow today instead. It is important to listen to our bodies to avoid bigger injuries.

Re bum muscle stretches, humm only thing I can think of is if you stand next to something you can hold on to (like the squat rack or anything that won't move) and holding it with both hands sit back as if sitting in a chair that isn't there and put one foot on your knee. Sit as deep as you can while leaning back so holding on to the support with most of your weight. Then swap legs.

Not sure I have explained it very well!

I've asked the PTI to go through the workout with me today to check my form. Bit nervous. I hate an audience and I always push myself harder if anyone's watching which isn't always a good thing.