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!

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

I'm 165cm (5'5") and pretty much maintaining 116 - 120lbs depending on the time of the month! I'm not looking to lose weight. I want to gain strength. I'm willing to gain a little to achieve that. In 6 months, after increasing cals from approx. 1400, I'm up 2-4 lbs and have increased strength. And my clothes still fit and measurements are the same. So I'm calling it a win so far :happy:

OK YES I remember that now. Sorry to make you repeat that. I totally forgot. It's my old senile brain .

I am 5'5 too. I don't care what I weigh anymore. I just want to be less fatty and fit! :bigsmile: It has taken me years to come to that awesome conclusion. BUT I am there.

It's the weekend! Woohoo! No workout for me.

I'm supposed to be on my way to the gym. Oh well. No idea what the day will bring but right now I'm being lazy.
Jo, I'm 5'6'' last time I weighed 120 my aunts were ready to sign me into rehab for an eating disorder because I was so thin. My mother had to convince them that I eat plenty I was just CRAZY active at the time. Still eating 1900 at 140 lbs.

Do you have to go? Rest and enjoy the day.

I am 152.0 and eating 1600ish. Yall just don't know how good it feels to EAT. All these years of starving, worrying, bingeing, etc. Now I am eating whatever I want within moderation and exercising , and I am losing small amounts of weight (so far) . Muscle definition in my arm is showing. It has taken YEARS to get to this point. I never want to go back to my old way of thinking. Thank yall for putting up with me and letting me coming to this on my on terms. Yall were patient with me. You told me patiently what I needed to know.

It's Summertime! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

I need a nap.

Note to self, costco cheese pizza is 700 cals PER SLICE. that is all

Was supposed to lift today but I drank an entire bottle of wine last night and just can't deal. I'm going to Philly tonight with a friend and tomorrow and will lift when I get back home. Sooooooo tired and hungry!

^^ oh yes, I've been there many times. I feel your pain!

Sam - 700 per slice? What the heck is on that pizza??

Combat for me this morning before work. Public hols here tomorrow so looking forward to a nice day with the family. Must get lifting in though as can't on Tues. Should be free for workouts the rest of the week as they fit with my work schedule.

All this talk of summer..... totally jealous! Winter has arrived here in Oz - 9 degrees.... yuk yuk yuk. Hate being cold for workouts, takes so much longer to warm up!