Progress Report: 4 weeks in

I have been doing stronglifts for 4 weeks now and I wanted to post an update about how I am doing and the changes I am seeing, or not, in my body.

After 12 workouts:
Squat 95 lbs
OHP 50 lbs
Deadlift 105 lbs
Bench 70 lbs
Row 60 lbs

I lift at work because my employee fitness center has a power rack. :love: My first day, a co-worker saw me walking around with a dopey grin and asked what was going right. I told her I was going to start lifting, and asked if she wanted to as well. She was all in, and we started the program. Neither one of us knew what the crap we were doing, but with the help of our "youtube trainers" we have been working hard on form. It has been really great to have someone there to watch me to make sure I get below parallel on squats, etc.

I am feeling pretty good about form on everything except the row, which is the exercise I am most struggling with right now. My goal for the next 4 weeks is to clean up that exercise and make a little progress there.

I took measurements at the beginning and now can report that after 4 weeks, I have lost:
1 inch in the bust (yes!!!)
Nothing off the waist (not unexpected, I am a true apple)
1 inch off hips
0.25 inches off R upper arm
0.5 inches off R thigh
0.75 inches off R calf
And 1.5% body fat (very proud of that one!)

My weight has stayed exactly the same. (I should note that I am not an expert at measuring, I just measure at the fattest part, wherever that may be on any given day, except the waist, which I try to do 2 inches above my navel.)

Other notables:
My arms are my new favorite body part (and seriously, how many women say that?)
My husband thinks I have a crush on Mark Rippetoe.
My flexibility (which I've struggled with my entire life) is improving.
Many physical tasks have gotten easier, with the exception of carrying my baby (22 lbs) in his car seat carrier.:grumble:

Thanks to all of you here for your inspiration and encouragement!

Replies

  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    This is awesome! Yay, you! :drinker: I like my arms, now, too...no more flying squirrel arms. :laugh:

    We have earned the right to bare arms!

    Congrats! Love that you place of employment a) has a fitness center; and b) a power rack!

    Very cool! :flowerforyou:
  • jstout365
    jstout365 Posts: 1,686 Member
    Congrats on the great progress!!!!

    Ditto to the fact that your office has real equipment! :bigsmile:
  • kirabob
    kirabob Posts: 481 Member
    Before you know it that car seat will feel like air! Great progress - and yes, for us apples it takes a while for the waist to start shrinking. I'm almost done with my first cycle, and have only seen movement there in the last 2 weeks. But sexy arms more than make up for it. :smile:
  • kay_der
    kay_der Posts: 24
    Thanks everyone!

    I don't know if that car seat is going to get any easier. My baby is gaining on an aggressive schedule. Not quite 5 lbs a workout, but just as well.
  • cleotherio
    cleotherio Posts: 712 Member
    Thanks everyone!

    I don't know if that car seat is going to get any easier. My baby is gaining on an aggressive schedule. Not quite 5 lbs a workout, but just as well.

    Teehee! Welcome to the group and congrats on your progress so far!
  • ninakale
    ninakale Posts: 49 Member
    That is awesome! Please keep posting updates, I am 2 weeks in and want to be able to follow you! Wish I had a partner to work with me, I think it would really help with confidence, but unable to find anyone who wants to get up at 4:30am!