Daily Check-in : It's the Fitness Fever-ary
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MissHolidayGolightly wrote: »canadianlbs wrote: »MissHolidayGolightly wrote: »I had a weird and somewhat upsetting time squatting today.
that sucks. i know how i feel every time i have a near miss on my bike, and it's really uncomfortable. that sudden terror-flood through your whole bloodstream does take a while to die down.
i admire you for carrying on. honestly.
Thank you for saying that. It's like you realize your mortality/that you're doing something inherently dangerous. The other rack opening helped get me back on track. Looking back, I'm glad I went on and didn't end it on a sour note like that.
In to support what's been said: it's great that you got back on the horse right away. I got into a nasty crash on my bike about 10 years back and still have the craziest fear of going down ANY hill whatsoever now. Although, I gotta say, the bike fall was not my *only* hill adventure. There were a few on rollerskates, too (a year and some later. Probably fueled by that previous fear). Anything on wheels, going down hills, now? Yeah, you lost me, pal. Wish I'd faced it as soon as I recovered back then. I look like an idiot walking beside my bike when the hill gets too steep >_>
Oh, and now box jumps are also pretty iffy, but I'm glad I redid a few after banging up BOTH my shins within a span of a couple months. I'll be wearing shin pads next time I tackle 'em anyway, though >_>0 -
@MissHolidayGolightly, that does sound like it was upsetting! Good for you to push through it and carry on with your workout!
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Thank you all for the support
I absolutely love lifting but it is very challenging mentally for me. I tend to exaggerate negative events in my head anyway so when I have a difficult workout, my mind turns to thoughts like, "You'll never get past this weight," or, "It will never get easier for you," or other such nonsense. I recognize these thoughts rationally as baseless and absurd but they can still get the best of me if I don't push myself through and make it better. I don't want to start dreading the next workout or, worse, developing a phobia* as @canadianlbs and @krokador so aptly brought up. It also helps to remind myself of positive things like my overall progress and the bliss I've felt after breaking a plateau to put the setback in perspective.
*I absolutely lose it if a bumblebee gets too close to me so I totally feel you about having to walk your bike0 -
Checking in to say I didn't workout today :-( I tweaked my lower back sometime last week and aggravated it on Saturday when I tried rows.
Hoping to get in some cardio while my 5yo is at dance class tonight. Only 5 more weeks till day light savings and I can start jogging outside again (I get home too late and don't jog in the dark).0 -
Yay for outside! Though I work till 10:30 pm so it's always dark after work.
I aggravated my back with squat and OHP so hoping tonight's lifting goes okay. Will lift lighter on the squats for sure.0 -
Failed my first workout today. OHP at 50
I am kinda sad but excited that it is hard now!0 -
@MissHoliday -- Sorry you had a rough time, but as everyone else said, good for you for hanging in there and finishing strong!
As for the 130 lbs. being hard -- how many reps are you doing at the other weights? Maybe do fewer so that you're still feeling fresh when you get to your working sets? I usually do 2x5 @ 45, then 1x3 for two intermediate weights, then my 5x5 @ 135 lbs. It's enough of a warm up that I've got my form locked in, but not too much to impact the "real" work.
@Krok -- The only time I've ever broken a bone, my wrist, was falling during rollerblading. I, however, continued down the super steep, curvy hill through my neighborhood and knew something was very wrong when I thought I was going to puke at the bottom. Not sure I've been back on skates since. (Oh, and actually, I lied -- I had 7 or 8 broken toes, simultaneously -- though broke each at different times -- when I was going through my super klutzy teenager phase. Does that makes sense?)0 -
Apparently I'm a weakling because I couldn't squat the bar with proper form so I switched to 15 lb free weights on each shoulder. Onward and upward I suppose.0
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@Krok -- The only time I've ever broken a bone, my wrist, was falling during rollerblading. I, however, continued down the super steep, curvy hill through my neighborhood and knew something was very wrong when I thought I was going to puke at the bottom. Not sure I've been back on skates since. (Oh, and actually, I lied -- I had 7 or 8 broken toes, simultaneously -- though broke each at different times -- when I was going through my super klutzy teenager phase. Does that makes sense?)
I've never actually broken a bone per say, despite definitely earning my krash nickname. I'm sure I've had hairline fractures, and there's a chip in my eyebrow from when I hit the pavement during that bike crash, and the bone on my right shin is bumpy, and my nose has been shifted/kicked at least thrice, to the point where it's sideways now. I've chipped teeth, sprained ankles and wrists (there's actually quite a scar tissue buildup around them ankles that I'm trying to break through with mobility stuff and a lacrosse ball) aaand dislocated my left pinky and smashed my left big toe to the point I lost the nail, had a couch dropped on my foot once... *takes a deep breath* But I'm still kickin despite it all. And slwoly getting back on my bike. With like 1-2 rides a year lol.
I guess I should consider myself lucky! I did give my roller skates away to my sister. I'll take ice skating any time over those. At least the ice and snow are slightly gentler when you fall! (And hey, no need to run home for an ice pack! lol)
Although I can't quite picture having 7-8 broken toes... How does that happen *not* at the same time O_o
@MissHoliday Bumblebees I'm actually pretty calm and collected around, as long as I see them before I hear them. They're kinda cute! lol. Now wasps and bees? And sometimes even just spiders? I'll shriek and try to run away like a little girl. And apparently I also react the same to stink bugs. They just give me the creepy crawlys. Ugh. Bugs.
Anyways, for the sake of checkin' in: I did my hip mobility and core work this morning and went for a 20 minute walk in a -25C windchill! And tomorrow will be a pizza and chocolate-fueled strength day ^^
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7-8 broken toes happens when you're 11-ish (?) and don't know what to do with your newly longer limbs. I constantly tripped over my own feet, stubbed my toes on everything, and kicked hidden rocks in a lake. Not fun.
As a check in: 30-35 min walk with Huck tonight. 0 -
Hi all, I missed my first Feb-February check-in. Work has has still been crazy hectic and by the time I get home I have just enough energy to do my workout then crash. So here it is....
Started my 100 pushups a day February challenge.
Ramped up my assisted pull up sets to 2x5.
Ever since those hanging ab crunches last week, core and uppers have been mighty sore.
10 min stretches followed by 2x10@65# Squats.
SQ: 5x5@110
OP: 5,5,5,5,4@65
DL: 5x5@165
On the dls, the bar really wanted to stay on the ground and my brain kept telling me to not go through with it...but I just said to hell with it, and did 'em. It was really more a mental battle than anything!
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And sometimes even just spiders? I'll shriek and try to run away like a little girl.
there's nothing 'just' about spiders. spiders are serious. i mean, you know what it is in your bloodstream if a spider bites you, right? it's spider spit. that is just so much more ewww-ick squicky than anything that could come out of the bum of a bee.
on second thoughts, maybe i'm not 100% on with my reasoning there. i hear you on heights. that's what near-spills do to me; it's ridiculous. but i have such a paralytical Thing about heights that almost crashing can make me suddenly remember that being on a bike means that i'm Up. it's chilling.
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Apparently I'm a weakling because I couldn't squat the bar with proper form so I switched to 15 lb free weights on each shoulder. Onward and upward I suppose.
That bar is surprisingly heavy! That bar alone weighs more than my 5 year old. I keep reminding myself of that. Not weak at all. Good job
Ok, tonight went better than I expected considering how tired I was when I walked out the door after the kid went to bed.
Squat - 5x5 at 115 lbs. This was a repeat. I didn't like my form last time. This time I concentrated on getting low and hip drive, and they felt good.
OHP - 5x5 at 50 lbs. Woo hoo! Killed it after failing last time. I made sure to keep my core tight, which got rid of any back arching I had before. Total duh moment when I figured that out.
DL - 1x5 at 145 lbs. These felt really good. I used a mixed grip, but I forgot to check where the bar sat on my hand, and pinched the flesh a bit. Live and learn!
Going up on all of them next time, but cracking out the fractionals for OHP and going up by 2.5 lbs.
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So not a weakling! I'm struggling to squat with the bar, and I'm only using a 12lbs standard bar! There's no way I could do the Olympic bar, or even the weights on your shoulders.Apparently I'm a weakling because I couldn't squat the bar with proper form so I switched to 15 lb free weights on each shoulder. Onward and upward I suppose.
Cardio today. I walked three miles in a little under a mile. I usually bring an audiobook, but totally forgot it today. I spent the entire walk telling myself stories.
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Cardio today, a nice 40 min walk/jog.0
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Also, some day that bar will feel like nothing.
Long day but managed to work out okay despite my back bugging me a bit still. It's to the right side and just a dull ache so not too bad. However, I did go easy on almost everything but bench as I was already in a de-load. Still took me a long time because I had to wait to do the row, though I skipped my usual warm up (trx & pushups, etc) and went to lifting right away.
Workout A
Squat - 5x5 @ 115 - nice and low, didn't feel bad though my left hip aches a little when I squat.
Bench - 5x5 @ 85 - managed okay but did feel heavy at the end.
leg press - 3x8 @ 140 - while i waited to do rows. Also did leg extension at an easy wait.
front squat - 1x5, 2x8 @ 45 - waiting still to row.
Row - 5x5 @ 95 - to be safe with the back, went lighter than last time.
35 minute walk on treadmill.
Glad I have tomorrow off from work.0 -
Keep at it and I promise you that the 45lb bar will feel light one day. When I started SL I couldn't do OHP with the 45 lb bar. I started with a pre loaded 30 lb bar & worked up to it. That was in mid October. Just a couple of days ago, after doing my whole workout I did some Good Mornings with just the bar. It seemed so light it felt like I could twirl it like a baton.0
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Yup! Eventually you'll be warming up with the 45lbs bar! I do 45x10 of wide grip behind the neck press or military press at the beginning of the workout to oil my shoulders up now (and I started doing sets of 8 with the 20lbs fixed bar)
This AM was a weird puppy. Hormones are still messing with my head. Couldn't get a rhythm during my jump rope warm-up... Which took a whoopin' 25 minutes (what the hell?). I really need to cut down on that :!
Did EMOTM x6 of box assisted pistols, 3-4 per leg. My right leg (and knee) struggle with this. My meniscus is not 100% yet, I guess?
Then a 6 min AMRAP of 2x 30# KB
- 1 leg RDL x6/leg
- Press to push-press x6
And managed 4 rounds, 6 rdls and cleaned the bells before time was up
Then went into this ladder for time:
- KB ground to overhead x 10, 20, 30, 20, 10 @35lbs
- Forward/backwards 10m sprints x2, 4, 6, 4, 2 (I actually forgot to do the backwards on the first 2 sets, tho >_>)
And finished in 9:53
Moved on to a giant set of
squats 135x4x3 + 12
pendaly row 115x4x3 + 4 (this was HEAVY)
Push-ups x 8, 10, 7, 9, 14 (?)
The last set was an AMRAP and boy was I wobbly after the 12 squats, but I'm pretty sure I had 1-2 more reps in the tank, if only I hadn,t missed my setup 3 times over because the plate on the left had shifted and I couldn't center myself
And I did some hanigng work (blissssterrrssss) and hip mobility and wow, 2 hours in the gym again
I really need to speed this crap up! lol
You guys are rockin it, as usual 0 -
Girls, you're rockstars! All of you! Seriously, I was almost dying after my work day yesterday, and I went to bed at 8:30 for a second day in a row. I didn't have any energy to make my cardio, and I skipped it. Again. But the last thing I read over the internet was this thread, and all your check-ins encouraged me to go to the gym this morning.
Not sure it was a good idea. though, 'cause I had to take cough suppressant before going to bed and I'm feeeling like I'm starting to be sick now, but my workout was GREAT. Everything went well, and I felt super strong on the bench.
Workout B
Warm up: Elliptical - 13 minutes.
Squat: 1x5 @ 45, 1x5 @ 65, 1x5 @ 75, 5x5 @ 100. It was good. I should probably up to 105 Friday, but I may repeat if I'm still sick. I had a mini-panic moment with the last rep of the fourth set and thought I would have to drop it, but no, I went up. Yay!
Pendlay rows: 1x5 @ 45, 1x5 @ 55, 5x5 @ 60. I'm probably ready to go heavier on this one.
Bench: 1x5 @ 45, 1x5 @ 55, 5x5 @ 60. Felt really good, better than the first time I did this load. I struggled with the last two sets, but I did them anyway. I'm not ready to go up to 65, I wish I had fractional plates to do 62.5.
Accessories
Pull ups 2x5 (they were easier than usual, yay!)
Plank 60 sec. on the BOSU
Stretch and foam rolling.
*****
Now, I want to have your input on something. I had, before going to bed, something like a nervous breakdown because I didn't have energy to make my cardio and I was feeling guilty about it. The nervous breakdown was more like me feeling tired, and I was trying to explain to my husband how much I find it mentally exhausting and kind of challenging to plan and organize everything in my life (we have big projets that needs a lot of planning, because we will be moving in three months and we plan to go on a honeymoon in July, but I feel like the little things are equally challenging: pack gym bag before going to bed, plan and cook lunch at the same time I am cooking dinner, plan food ahead for the week... those kind of things). Husband, who is really sweet, thinks I may put a lot of pressure on me and proposed a diet break (just food) for one week.
I am eating at a 750 cals deficit for more than 9 months now, and it's true that the perspective of eating at almost maintenance for a week seems wonderful, but I don't know if it will be really helpful, stress wise. What do you think about it?0 -
Not logged the last few sessions here but just finished B-
Squats- 52.5kg 5x5 (116lbs)
OHP 23.5kg 5x5 (52lb)
DL 70kg (154lb) 1x5
My 500g (about a lb) fractional plates arrived this morning as I wouldn't have managed 25kg at OHP. I did manage them all at this wt but it was tough- not sure I will manage 25kg next time.
The DL was heavy and a big jump from the 65kg I did last time. I should maybe have just went up to 67.5kg and I will def stick at the 70kg next time.
@mirrim52 we seem to be at the same stage
@Autumnfilly2005 you will be amazed at how quick you progress!0 -
Apparently I'm a weakling because I couldn't squat the bar with proper form so I switched to 15 lb free weights on each shoulder. Onward and upward I suppose.
Better to get the form down and work up. Honestly, we all started light to varying degrees.
A standard bar is 45 pounds, you're at 30. That's pretty close, so just hang in there, get your form together and before you know it, you'll be adding plates to that bar because it feels so light.
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I need to de load on dead lifts. I have now failed at 245 three times. So, taking it down 10 and working my way back up.
Is there a point where you just have to 'stay' or is there something anyone knows of to blast past this? It feels so heavy and I have such a hard time even getting the bar off the ground. I kind of feel proud of myself for managing two and a half. (Got it up to knee height on the third one).
Squats 171, 5x5
OHP 97, 5x5 (wobbly on the last set, but I didn't wait long enough between.)0 -
@Daiva I would try maybe taking a week off and eat at maintenance. It is amazing the amount of physical stress you put on your body while eating at a long term deficit. I would personally stay away from the scale for that week just because you will get some crazy fluctuations when you up to maintenance calories.0
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I need to de load on dead lifts. I have now failed at 245 three times. So, taking it down 10 and working my way back up.
Is there a point where you just have to 'stay' or is there something anyone knows of to blast past this? It feels so heavy and I have such a hard time even getting the bar off the ground. I kind of feel proud of myself for managing two and a half. (Got it up to knee height on the third one).
Squats 171, 5x5
OHP 97, 5x5 (wobbly on the last set, but I didn't wait long enough between.)
What's your diet like (deficit, surplus, maintenance)?
I've heard of people who eventually stall out, then they end up going to a bulk/cut cycle to be able to get pass the stall.
If you're on a deficit, there is only so much gains you can make. So you may have to change up your diet to maintenance or bulk/cut to make further gains.
You could also look into changing up the program (to something like MadCow) just for deadlifts. It's supposed to have you pulling PRs in 4 (or was it 5) weeks.0 -
What's your diet like (deficit, surplus, maintenance)?
I've heard of people who eventually stall out, then they end up going to a bulk/cut cycle to be able to get pass the stall.
If you're on a deficit, there is only so much gains you can make. So you may have to change up your diet to maintenance or bulk/cut to make further gains.
You could also look into changing up the program (to something like MadCow) just for deadlifts. It's supposed to have you pulling PRs in 4 (or was it 5) weeks.
Diet is cut most days, but random others. I should check out the MadCow post.
It may be due to stress in my life too. My mother has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks and I've been running back and forth and trying to keep my own life balls in the air. Sleep hasn't been good either.
Thanks for the suggestions!
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I need to de load on dead lifts. I have now failed at 245 three times. So, taking it down 10 and working my way back up.
Is there a point where you just have to 'stay' or is there something anyone knows of to blast past this? It feels so heavy and I have such a hard time even getting the bar off the ground. I kind of feel proud of myself for managing two and a half. (Got it up to knee height on the third one).
Squats 171, 5x5
OHP 97, 5x5 (wobbly on the last set, but I didn't wait long enough between.)
You could switch it up for a few workouts and do your deadlifts as EMOTM sets. So you'd end up doing 5 reps, one on each minute. You can then add a minute if you don't feel like you can add weight. Work up to 8 minutes, move up in weight back to 5, keep going until you stall again, then go back to a set of 5 and WHAM you've put on 15 lbs on your deadlifts (results may vary, especially if you're in a deficit)...
@DaivaSimone diet break could definitely help. While others might suggest maintenance, I would actually not even log for 2-3 days (without going insane about it) and then get back to logging at maintenance. Just don't get sucked up in how awesome it is to not weight or meausre every single darn thing you eat >_>0 -
What's your diet like (deficit, surplus, maintenance)?
I've heard of people who eventually stall out, then they end up going to a bulk/cut cycle to be able to get pass the stall.
If you're on a deficit, there is only so much gains you can make. So you may have to change up your diet to maintenance or bulk/cut to make further gains.
You could also look into changing up the program (to something like MadCow) just for deadlifts. It's supposed to have you pulling PRs in 4 (or was it 5) weeks.
Diet is cut most days, but random others. I should check out the MadCow post.
It may be due to stress in my life too. My mother has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks and I've been running back and forth and trying to keep my own life balls in the air. Sleep hasn't been good either.
Thanks for the suggestions!
You're welcome.
I've noticed that stress can greatly impact my lifts. It could be because I'm more run down than at non-stressful times or just because mentally I'm not there.
Sending healing vibes to your mom. Hope everything works out well for her (and you).0 -
@crabada my warm up is similar to yours. I stretch, do a few reps with the bar, a few at 95 and a few at 115 then I do my working weight. If I get tired out warming up, I'll wait a few minutes before my working set. For some reason, the difference between 125 and 130 might as well be 50 pounds rather than 5. I might try half at 125 then the rest at 130 and ease into it or de-load to 115 and work my way up again.
@krokador I'll try to explain my crazy a little bit. When I was little, I put on a pair of pants my mom had folded after taking them off the clothesline outside. A few minutes later, I heard a buzzing sounds and felt an electric pain shoot through my hip and leg twice. I didn't know what was happening so I completely freaked out, ripping the pants off of me to find a dead wasp in there. So now anything that makes that buzzing sound, has a stinger, and flies erratically puts me on edge. One was literally in my pants so I feel like they could be anywhere and sting me at any time lol.
The bumblebees bother me specifically because we had tall rhododendron bushes surrounding the pathway to our front door. They would attract a ton of bumblebees and the buzzing would amplify in my head and give me the fear. I never told my mom about this until later and it suddenly made sense to her why I would sprint into the house and why I refuse to have flowering plants near any pathways.
I don't mind other bugs really unless they're big and hairy and look like they want to poison me.0 -
What's your diet like (deficit, surplus, maintenance)?
I've heard of people who eventually stall out, then they end up going to a bulk/cut cycle to be able to get pass the stall.
If you're on a deficit, there is only so much gains you can make. So you may have to change up your diet to maintenance or bulk/cut to make further gains.
You could also look into changing up the program (to something like MadCow) just for deadlifts. It's supposed to have you pulling PRs in 4 (or was it 5) weeks.
Diet is cut most days, but random others. I should check out the MadCow post.
It may be due to stress in my life too. My mother has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks and I've been running back and forth and trying to keep my own life balls in the air. Sleep hasn't been good either.
Thanks for the suggestions!
I'm having the same problem with squats so maybe it is the deficit thing (I am on a small one most days). I guess this question is for anyone but if you do a bulk/cut cycle and up your lifting abilities on the bulk, do you generally lose them on the cut or only just a little bit?
I'm sorry about your mother and hope she gets well :-( That's really hard emotionally and mentally which absolutely affects athletic performance like anything else.0
This discussion has been closed.