McBell - sounds like you had a great week!

lb2ll - absolutely...gettin' sweaty and actually accomplishing something is SWEET!

emgel - I am sure you will figure it out. great job with the workouts!

Wow, lots going on here!!!

Welcome to all the newcomers!!

Sue - so glad to hear that your hubby is doing better. and congrats on the FSPP!!

Beeps - I will be sure to property chastise you should you ever consider cardio again :bigsmile:

Can't remember who questioned posting lifting status in the Stage 1 thread, but please don't consider it bragging. I would definitely consider it encouraging, especially to those who don't think they can lift as much as everyone else. It just proves how much we can do if we keep trying.

I definitely am one that needs to work on pushups! I've always been able to do them on the floor, but since I quit doing them so much as part of my lifting routine, I've gone from doing 4 sets of 15 to now only able to do about 3 sets of 10. Been working on them though as well as my pull ups.

Finally back into the swing of StrongLifts. Here's where I am so far this week

Squat - 100 lbs
Deadlift - 115 lbs
Bench - 65 lbs
OHP - 65 lbs
Row - 80 lbs

As for the Streak Challenge - 14/14 so far.

beeps - I love cardio. But I'm worried it's maybe not the best thing for me for weight loss. I'm going to hang in there a few more weeks and see what the scale continues to say.

randinek - When you start a new lifting program especially, you know the whole muscle retaining water thing, so probably that's masking weight loss if you are losing inches.

rachie - I didn't have much in the way of increased weight either. But I'm okay with that. I think the things where I saw the biggest increases were likely just me lifting too light the first time. I figure stage 1 is just a building good form stage, I got plenty more months of this to get stronger.

LB2LL - I'm running as well, about 4-5 days a week, and between 15 - 17 miles a week. Not quite half marathon territory, but probably a lot more than the author of the book prescribes. The lifting seems to really be helping my running. It's possible the running is kind of hurting my lifting (or slowing the progress I could otherwise be making) but I'm okay with that. Progress is progress. I also only do 1 speed type day a week, on a day I don't lift. Try to make all my other runs moderate to easy in effort, seems to help with recovery and being strong enough to give it my all when I'm lifting. Also running seems to really help with the muscle soreness on recovery days.

lcuconley - I have the same problem, in order to get enough protein...seems fat follows.

Sort of behind, apologize to folks who I missed, but happy to read your posts and see what you are all up to. Starting stage 2 tonight, sooo excited to do something different. Also not sure I have this eating thing worked out. Aiming for 1600 calories, but have actually been eating closer to 1740 average looks like. With all the running/lifting I do, still seems like that'd be enough for a loss, but been at a standstill for last month and a half. I know weight loss is not linear though, so going to give it a few more weeks of weigh-ins before I panic. Because honest no idea if I'm eating too much or too little, seems so arbitrary.

Was finally able to get back in the gym yesterday!! Came out feeling like a boss.

Kind of funny story....my husband always comes to the gym with me. There was another couple working out. The wife came up to me and said, "Glad I'm not the only one who would rather workout on Valentines than stand in line for 2 hours for a pasta dinner!" I thought it was quite funny.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Stage 2 starts today! I'm excited about it

Tonight will be Stage1 B3. I'm still a lot hungrier than before, feels like my metabolism is revved up now always feeling hungry about an hour before I usually eat. I'm sleeping and eating well. The little groove that had started between my obliques and abdomen muscles prior to lifting is a much bigger dent now. Belly looks like it is protruding less, and the fat looks more marbly and soft which I take is a sign of progress. (my stomach is my biggest problem area) Butt is rounder and firmer. Hip flexors definitely feel harder and slimmer. I'm not going to measure or weigh for another 3 weeks. Going to up my weight on deadlifts tonight. They were pretty easy last time so I was thinking of jumping up 10 pounds more. I started light.

Post your Week 2 February Streak Challenge results....yep, I'm talking to:

samntha14
suelegal
manic4titans
mcbellnz
sara4159
katwhelton
gadenni
tennesseeleig
blacknivory


And, if you want to remain in the challenge, then I also need Week 1 reports from:

gadenni
tennesseeleig
blacknivory

Sorry, I thought I posted mine yesterday. I got 5 days this week. I'm blaming the Blizzard for the other 2

I got 5 days this week.

Starting Stage 2 today!

I got 5 days this week.

Starting Stage 2 today!

Me too (In reference to Stage 2!)

Bruin - You can add me if you'd like. I'm new to this. The first few workouts of Stage 1 seemed a bit short to me when I was starting. They will get longer as you progress. Also, you can always add in the suggested "extras" at the end to make it a bit longer if you like. I started mixing in a WoD with mine.

speaking of pushups...I just did my first day of hundred pushups 14/18/14/14/14=74. it was tough. the last 14 was supposed to be a 20.

Hi Everyone- just started with workout A today. I've been lifting for a long time, but heard really good things about this program. Did it seem strange to some of you that the first couple of workouts seem short? And the rest periods seem a bit long. I guess it' just something I'll have to get used to. Would love some friends that are just beginning or have been doing the program for awhile. I'd love to have some good resources to ask questions. Some of the exercises I've never done before and I've been lifting at the gym for 20 years

Welcome to a fellow Bruins fan! Whooop whoop!

If I remember right, Stage 1 is especially designed for those of us who haven't been lifting in a while or haven't ever lifted. Since you have been, and I bet your form is spot on, you should be able to really get spectacular results and heavy weights! As others have suggested, everything changes in the other Stages!

Beeps, this week has been a lousy week for the challenge. I am 5 out of 7. I don't think it's going to get much better until Mike comes home but at least I can get the lifting in. I should just get to the gym every morning before I go to the hospital, and that would take care of the challenge too. I've spent those off days taking care of chores and running errands.

Mike is miserable. He has an infection in his wound. They pulled out some of the staples, poked prodded, and pressed to get all the infection out, and then packed the open wound with something that is supposed to help drain and dry it out. It's better today but not gone. The good news is that his heart rate has gone down, and his temp is better too. He has an upset stomach probably from all the drugs, and he's not eating much, which isn't good. I keep trying to encourage him. All it seems to do is annoy him. They are talking about moving him back up to the surgical floor tonight. Next stop home! Hopefully that will be this weekend!

LB2LL & Sara - I was just glancing ahead to stage 2...see you guys in about a week! Can't wait.

Me too! I just did 1A8 last night - so this next week will be 1B8 and the AMRAPs (as my personal trainer is away in Australia for 5 days), then I will be into Stage 2!

Post your Week 2 February Streak Challenge results....yep, I'm talking to:

samntha14
suelegal
manic4titans
mcbellnz
sara4159
katwhelton
gadenni
tennesseeleig
blacknivory


And, if you want to remain in the challenge, then I also need Week 1 reports from:

gadenni
tennesseeleig
blacknivory

Hard to find time to get on during the week. I usually only log in from my phone. Calories goal x6 days, workout goal 5 days woo hoo. So I ate like crap but man did I exercise. Also, after taking a couple body works classes, I'm ready to start lifting again. Very light weigh of course. I'm going shopping today, and I will decide which book I'm bringing home, lifting for life or lifting supercharged. Care to debate here?

PS: maintained weight with PMS that's a first. i think there is a loss in my future. Also the NSV of being constantly complimented on my fitness, and appearance this week. My husband even wanted some extra special Valentine's photographs (hasn't done that in a WHILE) :blushing:

Woah, had my cheat meal last night as we had people over for a bbq - only went 711 calories over my goal! Next time I think I will skip the pre dinner chips, and the garlic bread - that was a lot of calories - and my weirdo skin reaction that happens when I eat too much gluten/crap has flared up - it had been really good recently.

And my kitty is broken
We took her to the vet two weeks ago because she had a bit of a limp, but everything seemed to be fine and it got better (she is only 4 years old). Went to feed her this morning and it was like she was walking with a pegleg, as she was so noisy with her super limp across the lino. Had to take her to the afterhours vet (as it is Sunday), she would not limp for them - just slunk around and sat in the surgical tray - what a weirdo. They couldn't find anything wrong with her so gave her an anti-inflammatory injection and told us to keep an eye on it - next step is several hundred dollars worth of x-rays.

I now have her limp on video if I have to take her back to the vet...I am super stressed out about it and feel like a bad owner.