Strength Training Challenge

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Replies

  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    I've been down with the flu and only back at my workouts for the last 2 days. Today I did strength. I'm still a bit weak so had to drop down slightly on the weights for just a couple of exercises but I did it. I worked chest, shoulders, triceps, abs, quads, hamstrings and gluteus. I'll get my back, biceps and thighs on Saturday. Feeling better everyday so hoping I'll be working on increasing my weights again soon.

    Stay strong everyone!

    Jodios
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    Jodios - sorry you've had the flu but it's great that you are starting to feel better. Take care---no relapses!! :bigsmile:

    So nothing new here---up-to-date on the January squat/push-up challenge and did the 30 minute full body strength/toning workout (Leslie Sansone). Shoulder issues did cause me to drop back on weight used for several exercises but maintained heavier weights for the remainder of the workout.

    Be strong (and hope everyone is well or at least on the upswing).

    Lin
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member

    So nothing new here---up-to-date on the January squat/push-up challenge and did the 30 minute full body strength/toning workout (Leslie Sansone). Shoulder issues did cause me to drop back on weight used for several exercises but maintained heavier weights for the remainder of the workout.

    Be strong.

    Lin

    No increases in weights today but you know, same thing.......apparently it's like the Groundhog Day movie for me when it comes to these workouts.

    Lin
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    I got in my first strength training session of the week - I did the Hollywood Trainer circuit B (did A last week so needed to finish it up). I'm finally feeling back to normal so I'm hoping I can start to up the weights again I think this week I'll do more circuit training vs. straight lifting. After missing so many workouts I feel the need to up the burn a bit.

    Stay strong (and warm)

    Jodios in soon to be arctic N. Il
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    I'm still sidelined, but I'm hoping to get going in February.:flowerforyou:
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    ......did the same things again today.

    JODIOS - glad you got your workout in. Glad you're feeling back to normal! That is very good news indeed.:smile:

    KATIA - February is not far away now! :flowerforyou:


    Be strong.

    Lin in Central Iowa
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    Got in my second strength training. I did a 20 minute HIIT session followed by 20 min of strength. Feeling a bit sore now, but glad I did it. Hope everyone has a great day and be strong.
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    Good job Jodios!!! Yesterday (and today) I did the squat/pushup challenge. Yesterday I also did the Leslie 30 minute strength/toning workout and did some extra core work. Tomorrow is a reset day on the squat/pushup challenge and I'll be out of town so will be skipping the strength/toning workout as well.

    Wishing everyone well.

    Be strong!

    Lin
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    As anticipated, I was out of town yesterday. Today I did my scheduled squats/pushups for the January challenge. Also did the strength/toning portion of the Leslie Sansone DVD that I've been using. I've not lost any weight but I must be doing something---3 people at church today asked if I was losing more weight because I look *smaller*----maybe that means more muscle less fat?? I don't know but I'll just keep working.

    Be strong.

    Lin
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    You have to see this post. I hope the link works. (I'm still too wimpy for most of the strength training I'd like to be doing. At least I'm back to modified yoga.)


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1187055-planking?page=1#posts-18535706
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    Katia - LOL!!!! - thanks for sharing the plank link

    Lin - you probably are losing fat and gaining muscle…don't you love when people notice there results of all your hard work. How are your clothes fitting? I assume they are getting looser too.

    I did an upper and lower body strength training session today. I upped the weights a bit so that was good. I'm a bit sore from yesterday, but I'm glad I didn't wimp out and worked out despite wanting to just stay in bed curled under the blankets…its -13 degrees here without the wind chill and it is very windy.

    Hope you all are staying strong (and warm)

    Jodios
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    Good job Jodios! Excellent work increasing the weight during your session. I understand wanting to stay in bed. Darn cold weather!

    Katia---that was funny!

    I did the squat/pushup challenge today---not many more days left for this January challenge! Also did the 30 minute Leslie Sansone workout again. And as far as how my clothes are fitting, I really can't tell much difference. I do know I have more muscle but I didn't think it would be enough for anyone to notice. I'm happy to be a bit stronger.

    Wishing everyone well. As always.........

    Be strong.

    Lin :flowerforyou:
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    I did my toning/strength training with Leslie today and moved up a bit on the weights for several of the chest exercises. Tomorrow is the final day of the January squat/pushup challenge. I'm on track and WILL finish it tomorrow. I think I'll do a 30 day butt challenge I saw online the other day. It's squats/bridges/lunges in increasing numbers each day.

    Hope everyone is well and safe......

    Be strong.

    Lin
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    Got in Jillian Michael's Buns and Thighs DVD before I had to hit the road for an all day meeting (lots of sitting). Mostly worked the lower body but she had a lot of plank based exercises so feel like I got in some upper body. I've been lax about new moves so here is one:

    Start in plank. Jump both feet up just outside your hands and then lift your torso and arms so you are in a low squat with arms overhead. Reach your arms back down to the ground and hop back to plank. Immediately jump back up and move into your squat. If jumping is too hard just step forward and back as you move through the squat.

    Stay strong everyone! Jodios
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    I did finish the squat/push up challenge yesterday. Today I did my Leslie S. toning/strength workout, started the 30 day butt challenge (squats/bridge/lunges), also trying a February challenge involving sets of bicycles/side plank hip raises/Russian twists. I did a 2 minute 45 second plank today----I tried to move from a plank on palms to plank on forearms back to plank on palms
    but when changing positions on the right side my shoulder gave way and that was the end of the plank...... Next time I think I'll just hold as long as I can.

    Hope everyone is well and enjoy that football game tomorrow. :bigsmile:

    Be strong.

    Lin
  • Kirk_R
    Kirk_R Posts: 112 Member
    I have more or less set "ultimate" goals of a 315lb bench, 405lb squat, and 495lb dead lift, but if I happen to hit those one day, I refuse to stop at them.

    Yeah, it can be tough to continue once you've hit long term goals. I hit my long term squat, bench, and DL goals then floundered for a little bit and finally shifted to something else (the something else was one of my kids needing a regular running partner, which wasn't really compatible with lifting goals anyway). Now 6 years have passed and I would have a heck of a time even getting back to my previous PRs. The point being, make sure you really are ready to refuse to stop once you achieve your big goals.
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    did a quick 30 minutes of "functional" strength training after teaching yoga. Very different from standard lifting exercises. I'm a bit sore tonight so I think it was good to switch it up a bit. Definitely worked lower and upper body - not sure my core got much of a workout though.

    Stay strong everyone. Jodios
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    Not a lot new here---did my Leslie strength/toning workout with the same level of weights as I have been using. Doing several month/30 day challenges adding in a bit of extra core work. Today I don't have much energy or focus........I think I need more rest. Haven't been sleeping well as I am letting *things* get to me once again.

    Wishing everyone well this week.

    Be strong.

    Lin
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    Not a lot new here---did my Leslie strength/toning workout with the same level of weights as I have been using. Doing several month/30 day challenges adding in a bit of extra core work. Today I don't have much energy or focus........I think I need more rest. Haven't been sleeping well as I am letting *things* get to me once again.

    Wishing everyone well this week.

    Be strong.

    Lin

    Boring me checking in again. Repeated the workout described above.............but I have gotten a bit more sleep.

    Be strong.

    Lin
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    Lin - so glad you are checking in. I've been down for the count with the stomach flu this week. I'm going to do some easy cardio or maybe yoga today - first exercise since Sunday. I'm hoping to get back to my strength training this weekend.

    Jodios
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    did a Pilates strength fusion thing - more toning than lifting since its my 1st workout since the stomach flu. I dropped my weights down a bit since I'm still feeling a bit weak but it was great to be sweating and moving again! Stay strong everyone, Jodios
  • curvyrunner
    curvyrunner Posts: 8 Member
    Hi,

    I'm 26 years old, 5ft5 126lbs. I seem to stay around this weight, and can only loose more through eating less than 1200 a day. I am a runner (about 3 marathons a year) so am pretty fit, but still unhappy with how I look and feel. My tummy is very soft, as are my thights and hips, and I carry weight on my face. I've never strength trained - but I wonder if this will make me feel more toned and look slimmer? My three questions are 1. How do I start? 2. If I cut down cardio to up strength training will I gain weight and 3. will it actually help me look any slimmer and more toned? (or, 4. am I better to focus on shifting a few more pounds?)

    Would love to hear from people who have experience?

    Thanks!!
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    Hi,

    I'm 26 years old, 5ft5 126lbs. I seem to stay around this weight, and can only loose more through eating less than 1200 a day. I am a runner (about 3 marathons a year) so am pretty fit, but still unhappy with how I look and feel. My tummy is very soft, as are my thights and hips, and I carry weight on my face. I've never strength trained - but I wonder if this will make me feel more toned and look slimmer? My three questions are 1. How do I start? 2. If I cut down cardio to up strength training will I gain weight and 3. will it actually help me look any slimmer and more toned? (or, 4. am I better to focus on shifting a few more pounds?)

    Would love to hear from people who have experience?

    Thanks!!

    Strength training will definitely change the shape of your body (it has mine). You'll be slimmer, trimmer and stronger.

    There are lots of great ways to get started.

    If you belong to a gym you can meet with one of there personal trainers to help you set up a program that best suits your needs.

    If you are trying to do this on you own then I suggest creating a mini home gym with free weights and bands. Many fitness based magazines have programs you can follow (e.g. Women's Health, Shape, Fitness and Self).

    What I did was go to Collage.com and talk with one of there consultants (free service). She recommended some DVD's for me. Note with this site if you don't like a DVD you can return it - even after you opened and tried it. I'm always checking new DVD's out of the library to try as well. Youtube also has a number of strength training videos you can check out. I'm a big fan of Jessica Smith (her website JessicaSmithTV has a lot of free videos for all different levels and different lengths)…Jari Love, Chris Freytag and of couse Jillian Michaels all have great strength training DVD's.

    You'll need to add at least 2 strength training sessions per week. I often do my strength training and then tag on a short cardio work out at the end of my session to boost my calorie burn. Circuit training also burns a lot of calories while you strength train.

    Muscle is more dense than fat so initially you may put on a couple of pounds as you build muscle…but muscle needs more calories than fat so you'll find that as your metabolism increases you'll start to shed the fat more quickly. Muscle is also leaner so your profile will be slimmer even at the same weight as you change your body composition.

    come back to this thread and let us know how you are doing

    Jodios
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    did Self's Bikini Ready Fast today. My upper body is feeling it! Stick with this guys!

    Here is a link to a new move that works the lower body: http://bcove.me/yka7jlgb

    Jodios in its snowing AGAIN N. Il
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    Since I am pretty much in a groove I decided to wait a bit before posting---I did the strength/toning work, and my daily challenge work on schedule so on the purely strength work that would be last Saturday, Tuesday and again today. Today I moved up the weights on each of the exercises where possible---several lower body exercises and upper body exercises. I'm trying out the body blade and know just a few of their exercises but wow---that really fatigues the muscles. I used it today several times as I was going through quite frustrating phone calls and would move the phone from ear to ear and the body blade from hand to hand. Anyone else use one?

    Well, time to go. Wishing everyone good health. No wait---wishing everyone superior health.

    Be strong.

    Lin
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    Lin - looks like its just you and me now :wink: I did 25 minutes of the Firm Total Body Strength, and 10 minutes of the Fit Better Booty in 30 days plus some cardio to get the calories up. I'm really feeling my booty now!

    Stay strong, Jodios
  • jodios528
    jodios528 Posts: 379 Member
    circuit training today - worked upper and lower body…still need to get it another ab set.
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,194 Member
    :flowerforyou: :bigsmile: I am finally taking the first small steps to return to strength training. After my fall at the end of October I was able to gradually increase both walking and dancing so that after about 60 days I was walking and dancing as much as before but any attempts to lift heavy things made my back uncomfortable. I decided to wait til February to try again. One of the goals i set for February was to begin my strength training from the beginning.

    :flowerforyou: the beginning has been squats and plank........today I did 60 squats, 20 of them with a 10 pound dumbbell held on each shoulder and a 2 minute plank......the longest journey begins with a single step.

    :bigsmile: you can expect to see me posting here a few days a week:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:


    :heart: Barbie


    :bigsmile: Thanks Lin and Jodios for keeping this going......you are both doing great
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    BARBIE - so glad to see you back!! :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

    Lin
  • linder4866
    linder4866 Posts: 11,413 Member
    Me again! I continue on and am posting once a week---I did the strength/toning work, and my daily challenge work on schedule so on the purely strength work that would once again be last Saturday, Tuesday and today. On a non-strength training note, I have added yoga back into my schedule the last few days. I am also still using the body blade but not on a regular basis.

    Well, time to go. Be strong.

    Lin