March Check-in&Chat - Green beer to fuel your lifts!
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Vash- Lovingfit.com has some good bodyweight workouts. I like her for so many reasons, but a big one is she really stresses form.
I did my second deloaded workout today. It was so fun! I had a great time feeling badass and barely resting between sets of weights that are light to me now, but would have been impossible 3 months ago. I was able to do squats both times without a knee brace for poor injured knee so I might just work up from 95# again :grumble: I've had to deload squats so many times when I'm so close to big plates I feel like I'm never going to get there.
I did touch and go on my deadlifts and since the gym was mostly empty and I was the only one making a racket I got a few looks. It kind of just made me feel more badass. :laugh: 0 -
Best decision I ever made was moving the weight stuff to the dining room from the creepy basement. It also comes in handy for laundry days on no lift days. Bench to put the folded and a nice bar for the hanging stuff lol.
That would be SO nice. I love that I have room for weights in my house, period, but there isn't as much light in our basement. In my dream home I would have a lovely big exercise room on the main or an upper level with lots of windows.0 -
Best decision I ever made was moving the weight stuff to the dining room from the creepy basement. It also comes in handy for laundry days on no lift days. Bench to put the folded and a nice bar for the hanging stuff lol.
That would be SO nice. I love that I have room for weights in my house, period, but there isn't as much light in our basement. In my dream home I would have a lovely big exercise room on the main or an upper level with lots of windows.
Our dining room is huge and frankly a lot of wasted space. I already had the treadmill and the bike in there why not just move the table to the kitchen eating area and add the weight bench and squat rack. Worked out perfectly. Only drawback is I can't drop the weights on the floor so will eventually have to go back to basement , but hopefully by then we will have a section finished off and it won't be so creepy.0 -
Best decision I ever made was moving the weight stuff to the dining room from the creepy basement. It also comes in handy for laundry days on no lift days. Bench to put the folded and a nice bar for the hanging stuff lol.
That would be SO nice. I love that I have room for weights in my house, period, but there isn't as much light in our basement. In my dream home I would have a lovely big exercise room on the main or an upper level with lots of windows.
Our dining room is huge and frankly a lot of wasted space. I already had the treadmill and the bike in there why not just move the table to the kitchen eating area and add the weight bench and squat rack. Worked out perfectly. Only drawback is I can't drop the weights on the floor so will eventually have to go back to basement , but hopefully by then we will have a section finished off and it won't be so creepy.
Would a set of those rubbery floor mats help? Or would it still be too hard on your floor, do you think?0 -
You ladies are bringing it! Congrats to everyone on their awesomeness.
I have a quick NSV to share. I tried on a pair of jeans last night that were a size smaller than I thought I needed. And woo hoo--they were TOO BIG! The scale isn't moving, but clearly the fat is. Happy dance.:laugh:
Woo hoo!!:flowerforyou:0 -
Workout B went much better today!
Squat 70
OHP 38 (used the EZ bar and added some weight)......form felt good and the weight was still a challenge!
Deadlift 75
Coming along slow but steady and trying to focus on keeping good form. Scale actually went up a little but I really haven't been eating very well and not doing as much cardio as I probably should BUT I FEEL great! SO glad I decided to hop on the heavy lifting wagon with you girls ( and guys) :bigsmile:0 -
Back at 'my' gym yesterday (so a proper rack!!), workout B for the second time. Failed my final squat because I went too low and had to step forward, still not sure I've got great form, but only have the bar with 40kg, may stick there to keep trying. my knees look less wobbly, but I have to consciously move the bar away from my neck (at least I found the cushioning this time) and I'm not sure my back is straight. coming back up isn't as fluid as I'd like either. However I think I'm getting low enough, and I'll stick at that weight again to focus on form. I seem to have the breathing better at least (or the not breathing on the way down more like!).
OHPs went up from bar only to 22.5kg, and that was a struggle. Definitely needed the rest periods and the final lifts took some grit. but I did them yay. At least form isn't an issue there - ensure knees are locked, mind your chin, make sure your arms go to vertical... lol!
Deadlifts I dropped down to 50kg and attempted to prop the bar on a couple of weights, but it kept rolling off and irritating me so next time I'm going back to 60kg and manning up. I did it and think my form was ok.
there's nobody in the 'testosterone zone' I'd trust to ask for an opinion though, although one kindly sorted out a bar that had been left lying around with about 70kg on one end, and showed me how to move some enormous safety bars off the rack for me. I probably should have left them but would have had to faff around with their positioning and felt a bit dim!0 -
First lift after the chiro. I think it helped my back, but it's still not happy
Squats at 82.5# - although I initially loaded up the bar as if it were the 15kg that was in the rack last time, stepped under, squatted and realised it was the 20kg. So, new PR, I guess...have also figured out how to compensate for my crooked back without throwing my hips out. More practice needed, so no more weight adding for a bit.
OHP - dropped back to 15kg (fixed weight barbells only - 10, 15, 20, 25kg) and really focussed on making my weaker side do its share. Again, sticking at this weight for a while.
Deadlift - back waaayyy too sore to attempt these.
I did try the "hang from the pull-up bars to stretch your back out" thing and got some wonderful popping noises when I did my regular stretches afterwards. Thank you whoever first mentioned it!0 -
Everyone's doing great!!
I had workout A this morning, which rounds out week 11 for me. Squats actually felt pretty good at 85 pounds. Good thing since I'm supposed to go up on Sunday :laugh:
Bench feeling a little tough, but not a struggle at 77.5lb. I deloaded after I attempted 80 a couple sessions ago, so I'm hoping I can power through that next time.
Rows felt pretty good; repeated them at 80lbs. I still don't know if they're doing anything, but I guess I can keep going... Ugh.0 -
Best decision I ever made was moving the weight stuff to the dining room from the creepy basement. It also comes in handy for laundry days on no lift days. Bench to put the folded and a nice bar for the hanging stuff lol.
That would be SO nice. I love that I have room for weights in my house, period, but there isn't as much light in our basement. In my dream home I would have a lovely big exercise room on the main or an upper level with lots of windows.
Our dining room is huge and frankly a lot of wasted space. I already had the treadmill and the bike in there why not just move the table to the kitchen eating area and add the weight bench and squat rack. Worked out perfectly. Only drawback is I can't drop the weights on the floor so will eventually have to go back to basement , but hopefully by then we will have a section finished off and it won't be so creepy.
Would a set of those rubbery floor mats help? Or would it still be too hard on your floor, do you think?
I'd be scared they'd actually go through the floor lol :noway:0 -
So I weigh in tomorrow with the weight loss and body fat challenge I joined in Feb. I can't wait to see my numbers....even though I'm a little scared! I didn't get to the gym last night and I can't go today...but that might work in my favor since my weight tends to be higher after lift days.0
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So I weigh in tomorrow with the weight loss and body fat challenge I joined in Feb. I can't wait to see my numbers....even though I'm a little scared! I didn't get to the gym last night and I can't go today...but that might work in my favor since my weight tends to be higher after lift days.
My weigh in for my group is on Monday (after a weekend where I'm going on a brewery tour for a friend's birthday and eating out on Sunday). Then I have progress pics due a week from Sunday. The group has decided to continue on, but I think I'm going to leave. They have strange challenges, like "do a workout video a day this week" or "do 100 squats every day". A) I'd just have to eat more, and
no. But, I think I'm going to keep the monthly progress pictures. I can't really see the differences in the mirror, but the pics are good reminders of how far I've come. 0 -
I'd be scared they'd actually go through the floor lol :noway:
What if you got a power rack and squatted in it? The squat weight height would be the only thing with enough speed + weight to dent the floor. You'd probably be too low with deadlifts and rows to generate enough force.
Today was 10% deload day minus deadlifts. Moving right along. Then again it's week 1 so this is the ez mode part, and I'm enjoying it for what it is. :bigsmile:0 -
So I weigh in tomorrow with the weight loss and body fat challenge I joined in Feb. I can't wait to see my numbers....even though I'm a little scared! I didn't get to the gym last night and I can't go today...but that might work in my favor since my weight tends to be higher after lift days.
My weigh in for my group is on Monday (after a weekend where I'm going on a brewery tour for a friend's birthday and eating out on Sunday). Then I have progress pics due a week from Sunday. The group has decided to continue on, but I think I'm going to leave. They have strange challenges, like "do a workout video a day this week" or "do 100 squats every day". A) I'd just have to eat more, and no. But, I think I'm going to keep the monthly progress pictures. I can't really see the differences in the mirror, but the pics are good reminders of how far I've come.
I left my March weight loss challenge group for the same reasons, the challenges included things like "workout every day this month". I'm a believer in rest days!!
I did, however meet my goal in a Spring Equinox Challenge, and then I left that group.
And with progress pictures, I decided to do them every 20 pounds. I saw that someone had done that in their Success Stories thread and it was very compelling. I'm due for my first 'update' in two pounds :happy:
Would anyone be interested in doing some kind of a challenge here in this group? I'm thinking, we pick a goal to meet by the Summer Equinox -- a weight, measurement, or lift poundage/kiloage, and then report weekly on our progress towards it? No daily challenges or anything like that, but something to focus on and report on weekly.0 -
Would anyone be interested in doing some kind of a challenge here in this group? I'm thinking, we pick a goal to meet by the Summer Equinox -- a weight, measurement, or lift poundage/kiloage, and then report weekly on our progress towards it? No daily challenges or anything like that, but something to focus on and report on weekly.
Definitely would be interested in something, maybe something % based since we are all at different starting points?
Checking in.. First fail today. Was kind of annoyed but I suppose I should be excited...
Today I did
Squats: 105 5 x 5
OP: 60 x... 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Rawr. Should have gotten 5 the first set but I didnt't wait long enough after warm ups, but I know I can because I've accidentally done it when I was supposed to be doing 55.
DL: 105 1 x 5
Tell you wait, waiting 5 minutes to only squeak out 3 reps felt a little silly, but I have 2 more tries to master the 60 before deloading!0 -
A) I'd just have to eat more, and no.
Audii....this made me seriously giggle my *kitten* off! Thanks for the laugh this afternoon!0 -
You ladies are awesome!
I'm jealous of the home gym setups a few of you have. It would be more relaxed and less rushed when you don't have a mouth-breathing lunk waiting to do bicep curls in the rack.
Workout B for me today.
Squat: 135--big girl plates FTW!
OHP: 70 (5-5-5-4-4); I shocked myself with this one. I considered adding the 1.25lb magnets that my gym has (and I just found out about so pretty excited) but decided to increase by 5 instead. It was rough and lots of ugly faces were made but I did it. I may have sore shoulders tomorrow since they feel loose and liquid right now.
Deads: 155
@juliem: I love those socks!0 -
I'd be interested in a challenge through the summer! I would be in it for the lifting goals since I am not working on losing weight or BF% at this point.
Workout B today:
Squats: 115
OHP: 65
Deadlift: 120
I hit all sets so I was happy. I'm now adding time to my rest periods for squats and OHP. Almost reached failure on the very last rep of OHP so I know 70 will be more than challenging. I was just excited to "plate up" to the 35's on Squat and Dead. The big plates are in my future!
fishlover - you will get the OHP in no time!
Chubby_checker - Congrats on an awesome lift!!! Big plates FTW for sure!0 -
Meh workout last night. Finally hit 120 on squats, but only 5554. Then decided to screw it because I'm sick of 5 x 5 and am only going to do 3 x 5 hereinafter. Now I feel better. 0
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So I weigh in tomorrow with the weight loss and body fat challenge I joined in Feb. I can't wait to see my numbers....even though I'm a little scared! I didn't get to the gym last night and I can't go today...but that might work in my favor since my weight tends to be higher after lift days.
My weigh in for my group is on Monday (after a weekend where I'm going on a brewery tour for a friend's birthday and eating out on Sunday). Then I have progress pics due a week from Sunday. The group has decided to continue on, but I think I'm going to leave. They have strange challenges, like "do a workout video a day this week" or "do 100 squats every day". A) I'd just have to eat more, and no. But, I think I'm going to keep the monthly progress pictures. I can't really see the differences in the mirror, but the pics are good reminders of how far I've come.
I left my March weight loss challenge group for the same reasons, the challenges included things like "workout every day this month". I'm a believer in rest days!!
I did, however meet my goal in a Spring Equinox Challenge, and then I left that group.
And with progress pictures, I decided to do them every 20 pounds. I saw that someone had done that in their Success Stories thread and it was very compelling. I'm due for my first 'update' in two pounds :happy:
Would anyone be interested in doing some kind of a challenge here in this group? I'm thinking, we pick a goal to meet by the Summer Equinox -- a weight, measurement, or lift poundage/kiloage, and then report weekly on our progress towards it? No daily challenges or anything like that, but something to focus on and report on weekly.
I more or less quit challenges when I started really lifting - I tried for a few weeks but its just IMPOSSIBLE, especially when they want you do to stuff like bodyweight squats, lunges, pushups, etc, and your muscles are like "NO **** YOU I AM TIRED"
If you guys wnat to do a challenge I think the best way to structure it is to do something like
Goals met/goals achieved
and I recommend doing number of times you did the thing rather than progress (because progress can be discouraging).
So you'd do like:
3x/week stronglifts
2x/week any cardio
(and people can make their own)
and then every week people would post how many out of how many, so like, I completed 4/5 this week!
and then at the end you just tally up to see who had the highest completion percentage.0 -
Meh workout last night. Finally hit 120 on squats, but only 5554. Then decided to screw it because I'm sick of 5 x 5 and am only going to do 3 x 5 hereinafter. Now I feel better.
I support you with this decision. :flowerforyou:
I can at this point only dream of ever hitting 120 on squats. Jeebers!
Also, my personal equinox challenge is to be at the end of cycle 3 of my AllPro's routine (I'm not exactly known to stick with any sort of working out for all that long, so that will definitely be a milestone!). Here's to hoping! :drinker:0 -
<snippy snip snip: challenge ideas and experiences>
I more or less quit challenges when I started really lifting - I tried for a few weeks but its just IMPOSSIBLE, especially when they want you do to stuff like bodyweight squats, lunges, pushups, etc, and your muscles are like "NO **** YOU I AM TIRED"
If you guys wnat to do a challenge I think the best way to structure it is to do something like
Goals met/goals achieved
and I recommend doing number of times you did the thing rather than progress (because progress can be discouraging).
So you'd do like:
3x/week stronglifts
2x/week any cardio
(and people can make their own)
and then every week people would post how many out of how many, so like, I completed 4/5 this week!
and then at the end you just tally up to see who had the highest completion percentage.
We tend to post personal goals at the beginning of each monthly thread and also use it one to report on progress, plus chat. So maybe a separated "$month goals" thread so it's easier to see the goals/challenges, and keep check-ins/progress through the month here, and post final statuses on the "$month goals" thread?
Or am I making this too complicated?0 -
@xidia - I think that is a great idea...I know my March goals are somewhere buried in the first few pages of the first part of this thread, LOL...I probably need to go find them and write them down, because I'll be danged if I remember what they are.
Tonite is workout A for me. I had been trying to lift every other day with a couple of rest days thrown in here and there, but I am kinda thinking that maybe a Sun-Tues-Thurs thing might work better. I always lift better on weekends, obviously, because I am not all tired and stressed out about work, so I figure Friday and Saturday would make good rest days.
I deload to 50 on rows tonight, given my past three attempts at them at 65 were pretty epic fails, LOL...going to increase by five on the squats and OHP. It feels pretty cool to think that I'll be squatting more than half my body weight this evening. :laugh: I'm turning into a lifting dork!
Well, off to do some work, I guess. I am just ridiculously happy that it's finally FRIDAY! :drinker:0 -
I love my Sun-Tues-Thurs schedule. I end up doing cardio Friday and Saturday and take Monday and Wednesday as true rest days. Also works with pub trivia on Tuesday nights.@xidia - I think that is a great idea...I know my March goals are somewhere buried in the first few pages of the first part of this thread, LOL...I probably need to go find them and write them down, because I'll be danged if I remember what they are.
Tonite is workout A for me. I had been trying to lift every other day with a couple of rest days thrown in here and there, but I am kinda thinking that maybe a Sun-Tues-Thurs thing might work better. I always lift better on weekends, obviously, because I am not all tired and stressed out about work, so I figure Friday and Saturday would make good rest days.
I deload to 50 on rows tonight, given my past three attempts at them at 65 were pretty epic fails, LOL...going to increase by five on the squats and OHP. It feels pretty cool to think that I'll be squatting more than half my body weight this evening. :laugh: I'm turning into a lifting dork!
Well, off to do some work, I guess. I am just ridiculously happy that it's finally FRIDAY! :drinker:
Feeling good today, and gym wasn't too bad. Did some LIT (lazy interval training for those not reading the HIIT thread). My hamies are feeling rather tight, so I think I'm going to need to get a foam roller :grumble: I did yoga last night and some extra stretching to try and alleviate some of my knee pain (yes it's back, but I'm thinking it's from the tightness). Legs felt tighter than ever this morning, so I'm thinking the roller is the next step to try and work that out. I'm kind of afraid...
But, "running" in the park tomorrow and then brewery tour for a friend's birthday! I am running with my WW friend, but she's been slacking on eating and the gym for about a month; thinking she might actually slow me down. <--- Never, ever thought I would say that.0 -
LMAO @ my March Goals... I dont remember what they are but I guarantee you Im no where near meeting them....I'll be traveling 1 week and 2 weekends of April so that isnt looking great either.... maybe I need to go back into serious weightloss mode... Ive seen to have lost my bucket of giveadamn.....0
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Ha, I had to go back and look at the other thread we rolled, which is back on page four (a separate goal thread might be useful), and my first thought was I was delusional with my goals, but I will probably hit most of them.
Squats - 95 (will barely get there only because Sunday is the last day of the month)
Bench - 95 (no way in hell)
Rows - 85 (maybe)
OHP - 57.5 (already there!!)
Deads - 170 (already there!!)0 -
We tend to post personal goals at the beginning of each monthly thread and also use it one to report on progress, plus chat. So maybe a separated "$month goals" thread so it's easier to see the goals/challenges, and keep check-ins/progress through the month here, and post final statuses on the "$month goals" thread?
Or am I making this too complicated?
Oh Thanks, I'm so new that I didn't know that. Having a monthly goal to focus on is all I really need, and if I put it in this thread or another one is fine with me. I do know that I do better when I have *something* to keep my attention (because I get bored and forget my purpose so easily!).
Anyways, I did a workout yesterday. I went to a different gym. It was nice and empty, which was good, no waiting for the power rack. It doesn't have the plastic plates so I would have to stack my bar on plates for my rows, but that's not really a big deal. But the recumbent bikes are older models, which sux -- no fan!! I really need a fan after I lift LOLOLOL But, it was still nice to check out a new place. I could not believe how empty the free weight section was, almost everyone was over doing cardio, cardio, cardio :sick: blech
Squats @ 70 lb., still no problems and just minding my form. Some sets felt awesome, others I was overthinking all the little form things grrr Deadlift at 135 (big girl plates yay!) and starting to feel heavy, for the first time it was harder to maintain form.
OHP, I felt my first glimmers of frustration with it. I've been at 45 lb. for 5 workouts. I've been adding reps, adding reps, adding reps. I figured it was time to try 50 pounds. Only managed one set before I had to drop back. I hope those fractionals get here soon.
I love reading here. You all are so motivational for me. I love knowing that you are out there doing it just like I am, with the same joys and struggles.
And that's all I have today.0 -
@xidia I agree, I really like the idea of a goals/results thread, keeping this one a chit-chat thread. I don't know how well this would work but I know some forums have "journals" where each member has a thread where they can post goals and pictures and whatever about themselves and others can comment. It keeps all the stuff from that user in one place.
Is it possible to have private groups on here? I'd be interested in a private journals group where each member has their own thread.0 -
Ahhhh the tape measure finally moved this morning! Whoop! The scale went up again but the inches finally moved. Slow and not a huge difference....0.75# in 3 weeks but it's something! (I'm not sure how many of you have seen my rants and stress over this issue!). I will be taking another set of photo's in 3 weeks so hopefully I will see more changes there!0
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Ahhhh the tape measure finally moved this morning! Whoop! The scale went up again but the inches finally moved. Slow and not a huge difference....0.75# in 3 weeks but it's something! (I'm not sure how many of you have seen my rants and stress over this issue!). I will be taking another set of photo's in 3 weeks so hopefully I will see more changes there!
Yay for progress!! And you love the new program, so win/win. :laugh:0
