Not much to report over here, I think I am finally gaining, but it is hard to tell since I over the weekend I didn't log (it was thanksgiving and I wanted a mini break) so most likely the gains are just water. I will get back to tracking consistently this week and see if I need to increase my cals or not.

Argg I am having one of those days.. I should be happy that after a huge plateau for weeks on end, the scale is finally moving. But now everytime I weigh myself the scale goes up and up (I am up about 2 lbs since last week)... please remind me that this is normal! But good news is since last month my waist measurement has gone down 0.5" and my hips are up 0.25".. could be user error (I try to do it as accurately as possible) but it makes me feel better about it all so I will go with it.
We also dropped one middle of the night feed so that might very well be 100 calories a day right there, arggg.. nursing makes this so much more complicated.

I read this article by Bret Contreras (http://bretcontreras.com/to-bulk-and-cut-or-not/)
someone posted in the gaining forums about the pros and cons of bulking/cutting vs recomp and it seems he is more for recomp in women. I have been recomping for awhile (not particularly by choice) and the results have been amazing, but at the same time, I really want to see gains. He makes this point about "looking good around the clock" when we are at our ideal weight. Arg I don't know. I know I still want to bulk but I might take a more cautious approach. Of course I want to be strong and I love to lift.. I love all the noms I get to eat....but to be honest a lot of this is aesthetics for me. (I hope that doesn't sound shallow!) I just feel like I worked so hard to get here, I don't want to lose it.
Don't worry, for now I will ride the bulking train since I see all of the fantastic results in this group so that keeps me going.

JoRocka wrote: »

Don't worry, for now I will ride the bulking train since I see all of the fantastic results in this group so that keeps me going.

I think this is a wise decision.

The pictures aren't consistent so it's not really a good comparison from your first set of pictures. I would suggesting using the same clothes- same lighting and same poses... it'll give you a better look month to month- beginning to end. Because honestly I can't tell anything of value to you between the sets of pictures

I honestly think continuing on a real bulk is a good thing- you're pretty lean as it is- and you should be able to put on some solid muscle if you're bulking- take advantage of this opportunity to really hammer it in there.

Thanks Jo.
Oh yea I agree about the photos, there is no way to compare the two (would help if I put them side by side too), and I am standing in all different angles. More there to remind me where I stand and the areas that I am working on (legs and glutes)
Yeah I think I just need to keep at it.. I hate the mental aspect, always gets in the way of the awesomeness of it all !!!

I wanted to add, I hardly ever feel DOMS in the glutes. I know it doesn't necessarily mean anything, and I can feel them activate with each move. With the Strong Curves program you are working them 3x per week so it wouldn't make sense to be so sore that I can't perform the next workout. I know he says all this in the book, it is just so hard mentally to keep it in mind while bulking, it feels like - oh no I didn't work hard enough, whatever I ate will turn to fat. It is all proper form + glute activation, not lift until you break.

Thanks Skye.

Vent warning!

Uch I am having a grumpy day. I didn't sleep last night (teething baby, uch) I lost weight, either it was water this whole time or maybe the gains were getting to me and indirectly I was eating a little less.. I have no idea. I upped my cals by 50 just to push myself to make sure I hit the bare minimum. I am already sick of this bulk. I feel like I am always eating. On top of it, my lifting sesh was crap today, my bench press was just so off, I don't know what happened. Then baby woke up towards the end, had to leave out a few exercises so that sucked. I am also stressed because it is her first Birthday party here at the house on Saturday and I have so much to do. I will be missing a few workouts this weekend, but that is life.
I am going to Walmart tonight and I am buying all the yums. Ice cream, oreos, cereals, peanut butters... I am running out of yummy bulking foods to fill my gaps at the end of the day.

Sorry about that, I just had to let it out! I need my afternoon coffee... badly!

After a very crazy weekend I am (hopefully) back on track today. I don't want to use bulking as an excuse to eat anything and everything, but I did go a little overboard . I haven't worked out in 3 days too... I have yoga class tonight but I am going to try to get a lifting session in as well. Baby got up so many times last night and just would not settle so I am exhausted.
I am moving on to the second part of Gorgeous Glutes this week, more weight less body exercises so that is exciting.
I think I need to start cutting down my wine intake... I usually have a glass or two with dinner but I hope it isn't interfering with my gains, I even leave it out of my diary sometimes (woops) but despite all those extra calories, the scale doesn't really do much except perhaps retain water.
I also notice I am fidgeting a lot... I always feel like I drank too much coffee (well, that could be part of it too) I dance, I sway, I tap my legs constantly... I think it is my body trying to deal with these extra cals? Who knows but when I notice myself doing it I have to force myself to sit still.

Anywho, I think that is all for now!

Yesterday I was having such a crappy day because of a weigh-in. So I decided to chart all my weigh-ins to get a better idea and see a trend, and I am sooo happy I did that. Although it is slow, there is an upward trend. You really see a difference starting in October (September I was hanging out at maintenance).

Having a bit of an off day. I workout at home so when I first started lifting, I could only use what we had: dumbbells, EZ bar and cable machine. I worked with that and made significant progress. Now we have an Olympic barbell which is great so I do most exercises with that, within reason (I don't have a squat rack or anyone to spot me so I try not to push my limits too much) Lifting with the barbell is so much different than what I am used to and I find I am rounding my back when putting it back down and my forearms feel strained. Definitely need to work on my form. Sometimes that is when I wish I had a trainer or worked out in a gym. I guess I am just frustrated and feeling really weak (still unable to do a pull up or chin up, negatives are getting a little better), but I shouldn't be surprised especially since I am not really focusing on upper body (this is my own doing so I only have myself to blame!). I know I am progressing, and I should be focusing on MY progress.. I just feel... I duno, bleck about it lately.

Also, while everything is looking great... there seems to be a lack of progress in my butt, the area I am working 3x per week looks the exact same as it did when I started over 4 weeks ago. Arggg... on top of that I am eating even more and I have so much excess energy as a result... I am like a jumping bean lately and can't sit still!
Anyways, sorry ladies, of course this is the only place to vent all these frustrations... it's not as if I can call my best girlfriend and tell her all this stuff, and hubby is sick of hearing it!

As always, thankful for all you ladies and this group. Keeps my head up and keeps me going strong!