Woohoo Mary! Just take it slow girl. I don't want you to hurt your back again!

You amaze me on how much you remember .

Today has been real emotional--PMS. Of course, I have been thinking of my daughter and my husband is having some work related issues. It seems some people can't leave well enough alone. The only thing I had for lunch was a biscuit , and I had to stop there or I could have kept going with 2 or 3. Emotional eating could have gotten the better of me. Now I am lacking the protein. UGH. Does the battle ever end? The emotional eating ,the pettiness of people, and children struggling with their battles?

DNA t push-ups are hard! You are strong!

I can't seem to get any strength in my chest. I ve been stuck on the same cable chest press forever and gave up on bench press long ago. I'm doing negatives on the cable chest press but I am open for any suggestions

Good Friday ladies!

So I started stage 3 today and it was really bad that I forgot to stretch after yesterday's treadmill intervals/steady jog because my legs were more sore than usual. I am happy with what I lifted though, for the most part:

Workout A:

One armed DB snatch: started with 15, then tried 20 but that was too hard to keep form so I'll go back to 15lbs next time.

DB single leg RDL: I've done these before and I kind of love them! Started with 15lbs but that was too easy so moved to 20lb DBs. I will likely do 25s next time.

BB bent over row: I underestimated what I could handle on this. I started with 30lbs, then the empty bar (so 45), then 55. That still wasn't too hard, especially at only 6 reps. So, maybe 65 next week.

DB single arm overhead squat: I found this really challenging, especially moreso with my left arm raised. I guess my right arm is slightly stronger. I started using 20 and 10 but moved down to 15 and 8 for the second and third sets as my form was suffering with the heavier weights. I also found I had to widen my stance to be able to squat low enough with the overhead weight.

DB incline bench press: started with 15lb DBs, then 20s, and finally 25s. Those were perfect.

90 second planks got done three times...man, did I feel it in my lower back too! My gym doesn't have a machine for the reverse wood chops so I did those with a 15lb dumbell. I could really feel it in my obliques.

I almost put the body weight matrix off until tomorrow cause I was so tired but I wanted to be done with it. I got distracted at the end of the first set, try into catch my breath, so I forgot to look at the timer but I think I was around 3:30 or so. I took the full doubled time to rest - I needed it! - and did the second set in 3:35. I had to take a good few seconds both before the jump squats and in the middle of them to shake out my legs. My hamstrings are crying :P

All in all I liked it; very different from stage 2.

I have earned my Friday night wine and Orange is the New Black binge-watch tonight!

Pudding, WOW just WOW those are impressive impressive numbers!

Sue, have fun!

Shoulders are my weak spot too.

My challenge numbers won't be good for next week. I didn't hit my protein goal and I've already been on the scales twice this week. :embarassed: BUT I am eating.

I hit up the grocery store after the gym (bless the other patrons hearts LOL) for some fruit. I still haven't went to the bathroom after that laxative. Maybe I don't have to go yet after that major cleaning out. :laugh:

Loving all the positivity, fab lifts and encouragement ladies!

Sorry I have been quiet - on placement (again!). I have tried to get late shifts so I can workout in the morning before I go. Has worked fairly well. It did mean I had to do NROL two days in a row which I don't normally do, but it was ok. I just swapped the high reps for the DLs for heavier and less reps - I find that suits my bad elbow better. I am noticing my weights increasing too.... or if not the weight, the # of reps I can manage is increasing. I am still eating 1950 cals and working my macros in to this amount - seems like the 'eating more' trick is working for me! :happy:

Look at all of this lifting and eating healthy and positive attitudes. Loving it!

I lifted three times this week. Skipped zumba wednesday and today but I did walk two miles at work for a walkathon.

celebrated national donut day with two French crullers which were a yummy 116 calories a piece. Good donut choices, who would have thought.

Just to share.... I made cookies... white chocolate & caramel cookies.

They are gluten & dairy free. BUT they are most definitely NOT sugar free or low calorie :laugh:

I'd like to say I'd probably eat a lot of them, but my husband and kids appear to be devouring them left right and centre. I'll be lucky to get more than the 2 I've had LOL

dna, I want cookies. That kind sounds amazing.

runz, I love DC I could spend a week there and still not get enough history soaked in. What kind of food do you eat there? It seems like we never find good places to eat. It's always a Mcdonald or we take a pb sandwich.( My brother lives in Stafford)

I have been a good girl. Teen son has friends over. They have the fire pit going. Hotdogs, smores, chips, chocolate chip , and peanut butter cookies. I have had NONE. BUT neighbor gave fresh donuts today. I had TWO. YIKES I think I am only over 50 ish cals. Around 98 g protein. Hit my goal there.

Sam, you got me beat on the healthy donut choices. YOU WIN.

Jo, you are eating 1950 cals!! May I ask your height? Are you losing? maintaining? What are you hoping for?

I am gaining muscle and am losing a bit here and there. I guess the secret all along was the PROTEIN!!! It still hurts my tummy. IF I don't drink it with a straw and if I only consume one serving at a time, the effects are minimal. I can't double up on the protein like some of yall do. All that whey at one time..... :sick:

Thanks for the compliment manic! Always nice to hear, cant wait to post my new rules before and after! Im only a little more than half way through stage 1 and I have already lost 2 inches off my waist and hips!