Dna, celiac? So sorry. My youngest has type 1 diabetes. She is checked yearly for celiac because autoimmune diseases come in pairs.

I lifted today. Sorta. Hubs and I poured concrete slab. I lifted 25 bags of quikrete. Each bag weighed 60 lbs. I mixed it with a hoe. So I worked my legs , arms, and shoulders. I am already feeling the soreness creep in.

So much to catch up on here as I eat my soup and cracker while wishing I was in bed.

Beeps - Lots mentioned on the scale already. I hope you find what works best for you as it's a challenge and I am sure many of us struggle with that thing even though it's just one factor. Last month for me has been up and down, not down to before vacation yet even after a month. I try not to obsess but it's not easy. I'm in a different group on a different health site that is very much more into cardio than lifting. In that group, there is one woman who is around 80 years old and she obsesses over every .5 gain. If she is up the next day it's because she ate a cookie the day before or had a little extra of something viewed as "bad" so she's always struggling to get the scale to go how she wants for her goal. I've tried to word a few things nicely to help but she's stuck in that mindset and her doctor's goal weight doesn't help as it fuels the need to keep the scale moving, and it's tough to watch at times. I weight at home but I lift at 11 pm and I don't like the number as much then, so we all have our own deals with the pesky device to work on. I try not to obsess and remember things like right now I'm having high sodium items but it's a challenge all of the time.

kim - Early Christmas still sounds great to me. I live in a different state than all of my family and don't often see much of anyone during a whole year. This year was different since I had to go out for stepsister's wedding, so I got to see a good chunk of family in early November. Christmas eve and day, however, I will be over here and working as the store doesn't close for the holiday. I hope you enjoyed the time with your kids before they go off on their adventures.

Julie - Sounds like things are going well. I like the 4 day split, in part because squatting is fun but every single gym session got tiring after a while.

mme - Welcome.


Okay, now for last night's lifting. I went after my 9 hour work shift but between elbow still having issue and coming down with a cold, I didn't do upper body power. I did upper body and tried out a couple of different things instead. So it was random upper body night and tonight is a no go cause congestion blah. After my work shift today I'm just coming home and going to bed. Tried not to get sick but pesky thing happened anyways. At least, after tonight, I have a couple of days off work for rest. Working has bothered my elbow more than lifting so it will be a nice break for that too.


bench press 1x8 regular and 1x5 pause @ 65, 1x8 regular and 1x5 pause @ 75, 2x3 @ 95 - tried a couple of things since elbow has been an issue. Knew I wouldn't be able to get 105 let alone more as would have been the plan with power day.

decline bench press 2x8 @ 55 and 2x8 @ 60 - okay but unracking was the hardest cause I'm not quite tall enough so getting the bar in position is a slight struggle.

lat pull 1x8 @ 60 and 2x8 @ 70 - these weren't bad.

db shoulder press 2x8 @ 17.5 and 2.8 @ 22.5 - tad light, wasn't going to do ohp so thought I'd do these instead, had to share the 22.5 but that was okay as the guy is one I see around a lot and he's at least nice (plus puts away everything when he's done with a lift)

face pull 3x8 @ 20 - something new. Went light and wasn't quite sure if I had them right since I watched youtube in order to find out how to do it. Felt it in my shoulders as I'm not used to that movement at all.

overhead cable tricep extension 3x10 @ 20 - tried to see if it could replace skull crushers for a little bit cause elbow. Kept hitting my ponytail so that was a slight nuisance and elbow felt it a tad but not bad.

shrugs 2x10 @ 30 - random but I couldn't figure out what to do last. I considered trying rack pulls for the fun of it but some guy was camped in the cage doing some seated thing with heavy weights plus dumbbells and pull ups. Plus, I might not be tall enough cause the lowest spot for the safeties doesn't look like it's below my knees, but I'd have to get closer to be certain.


Then I went home, took medicine though I didn't feel that bad while lifting and slept off and on. Now to get ready and go to work so I can come home tonight and sleep more. Maybe figure out small foods to eat cause this soup was a fail. Too much stuff in it, veggies and meat. May need more tissue soon... good thing I can get that from work.

So...yesterday involved a lot of driving for me. I went to pick up my grandmother who lives an hour away, got her back to ours, we did presents and had a lovely family lunch. Then packed the car up with son's gear for the season, and I took him to the airport, dropping nana off home along the way. All in all, 10 hours driving....so I felt fairly siezed up and tired when I got home about 11pm!

On Saturday, I went to the gym, but my daughter gave me a lift home. Stupidly, I left my gym bag in the boot of her car. Before I left for the airport yesterday she said she would get my bag out, chuck my washing in the machine and leave it for me. No problem. Collapsed into bed last night, and asked hubby if C had left my gym bag. He said yes, she either put it in the kitchen or the garage, he couldn't remember which. No problem, both are places I am used to looking for my gym bag in. So, I set the alarm for 5.30, got up, got my gym clothes on, had a cup of coffee....looked for my gym bag. No bag. Looked everywhere. No bag.

So, got undressed again, and got back into bed for half an hour! Gah, part of me is annoyed with myself for not doing an "at home" workout - I could have cobbled something together as I do have some dumbells and a swiss ball at home, and I was already in my gym kit of course. But part of me says I was tired, and had a long day yesterday, and really an extra half an hour snoozing and a day away from the gym might have been what I should have done for a reason.

So, I've accepted that I am tired today. I will not go to the gym after work (I did a mega workout on Saturday, so 2 rest days is not unreasonable) but I will go tomorrow and kick *kitten* then.

Ho hum!!! Some days just don't go according to plan, but in the grand scheme of things I don't suppose it is so bad really.....

Have a good day, one and all!

Julie I love the comments about my butt. It used to be something I was ashamed and embarrassed about, but I have learned to love my curves and work with what I have been blessed with!!

I lifted after work....Having thought I would have a rest day. I did almost 2 hours. Really really worked hard and loved it. I will sleep well tonight!!

Dawn thanks for the welcome. It nice to have someone to share with who enjoys lifting. Hope you are feeling better.
Dna and Maniac my family is riddled with autoimmune problems, me included. I am gluten sensitive( possible celiac) and have been off it for over ten years. It suck so much more when its your kids that are dealing with health issues. I hadn't realzed that it was common for them to run in pairs but it explains allot.

I took the weekend off except for walking. I keep debating about moving my lifting days to Tues, Thurs, Sat but by the weekend I always feel like I need the full two day break. Anyway NROLFW 3b was this morning. I have made a bit of progress with dl ( 60lb )and lat pulldowns (40lbs) but zero in moving up weight in the overhead press (10 lbs.) yup that is it, but at least I am improving.

Jo, my rows are probably now my worst exercise, technique-wise too - I really do need to concentrate on those at a steady weight for the next few sessions rather than to expect to increase weight - I'm at 37.5kg so if I can get it right at this level it will be most satisfying. At the moment, I can feel the wrong bits of my body moving even if the bar ends up where it should be!

mme - I have a problem with the OHP in that I can't seem to do it with the olympic bar but I'm ok with the barbells. Don't know why, whether it is a psychological thing, in which case I need to give myself a slap, or whether the additional length of the olympic bar is actually a hinderance on the OHP to me. I can press the bar itself, but even adding a little weight to it then causes failure, yet steadily I was able to increase the barbells which, of course, are shorter, so I am assuming that is it. Only problem there is increasing in 5kg weights which as Dawn says, is tough - no fractional weights on barbells unfortunately!

But the main thing is, you are improving - small steps WILL get you there. I have been doing this only for 8 weeks but I look back at my records and see the difference in what I can work with and it is quite an increase. Plus, just the way I feel over those 8 weeks and the confidence etc that cannot be measured in lbs or kgs is pretty darned good too!

Dawn, I hope you feel better soon - take care of you. In fact, there are a lot of people under the weather at the mo, so general get well vibes to everyone who needs them!

Dou - I'm in the East of the UK, Very wet here at the moment, but then I think most of the country is, isn't it! Re butts...mine wasn't flat, rather the opposite - I am a typical "pear" so my backside was always seen by me (and others) as substantial, with the illusion of being even bigger because my waist is so small as are my boobs. So, although I will always be "curvy" - I now love the fact I have hips, a waist and a booty that is firming up. Its no longer a fat bum, but is working its way towards being a fabulous bum haha!

Welcome Stephen....some of us flit between this and SL so you are in good company!!

I also ache! But in a good way so its ok.

Hey Steph, congrats - those are some good numbers you've got there.

Kimi - try changing up your set up/ positioning. I used to row with the Olympic bar from a bench as my back hates the pick up from the ground and I lose any good form I would have had. Now my gym has better racks, I row from the support bars on those. I don't know what they are really called - but the bars that save you from being crushed if you sat down in a squat! My elbows also hate rowing for reps so I touch the bar back down on the supports each rep which seems to stop the elbow tension. yeah it's not a perfect way to do it, but I'm up to 55kg doing it that way and I can concentrate on the muscles that should be working rather than fixing the ones that shouldn't.

The more I speak to PTs, physios etc, the more I have realised that while it's great to want to do everything "by the book", sometimes our bodies actually require a bit of a different method. I have adapted a few things this way - such as bumper plates under the bar for DLs (again, back hates the initial lift from the floor and rounds), the rows, the number of reps on bench etc (I do 5 x 3 not 3 x 5 etc). Squats are another example - can't progress back squat, tried leg press - that hurt my back. Now I'm doing front squats and single leg press and so far that's working. No point flogging a dead horse.....

LOL manic, I'm sorry, but that made me giggle. You and my daughter would get along really well - she hates step ups too

Today is my 15th Wedding Anniversary. Damn that's a long time lol That's 18 years together...


Actually speaking of my almost-teen, I better go toss her out of bed so we can get some stuff done today

Happy anniversary dnamouse!!

Jobs, thanks for the tip....I look forward to reporting back with some Progress soon!!

Can I confess..... I don't mind step ups. Maybe I am doing them wrong

You guys are all doing well! I'm on my phone so won't try personals... Just know I'm inspired by you guys!! You're much stronger than I, but we're all getting better each session

Lifted yesterday, ran/walked today, lift tomorrow...all is well .

Those of you with Strong...is there a lot if the one legged, balance work in it? Trying to remember how much of it I did in NR? Tried to find it at a local book store, but they didn't have it.

KUTGW Beasties!!

Thanks Stephanie! How long are the workouts taking? With warmup before and cardio after? Just curious. I'm at about 70 minutes now with stretching and trying to compare . I like 1 legged DLs, not a fan of the other 1 legged moves though.

I'm with mme...I prefer step ups to lunges! I'm not doing either currently...which makes me happy

Happy anniversary DNA!
Beeps-you know what works for you!! Holiday parties are a challenge to be sure!
Manic-sorry for the binge, but hopefully it'll get it out of your system? It's hard with all the goodies around this time of year!
Kim-I agree...maybe I'm not going up high enough?
Jo-good input! I agree, I have had to adjust some lifts, like my squat, for my own body shape (tiny torso means my legs are a bit further apart than most) . Finding what works for each of us is the key, and of course then working it .
Dou-sounds alike you're doing well! Kutgw!
Dawn-hope you're feeling better!
Steph-you're doing great! I finished NR a few months back and am now doing SL. Ironically

Good lifts today! Didn't my regular squat, OHP, and DL, actually upped the weight on DL and feel ok. All good. Added in back extensions, leg press, and lying leg curls today. All good. Scale down a bit and calories up, so I'm a happy girl! Been upping my carbs and calories, carefully I think, and am happy to be maintaining. That's my goal through the holiday season!

Take care all.