tchrmom, I am very sure you will feel the benefit soon - I used to do lots of bodypump etc classes, but am a complete convert to the weights room! Stick with it, and you will see progress. Nothing to stop you doing bodypump etc too, but you will notice a change in your form as you become more "technical" doing Strong or NR, whereas with pump you simply don't get time to check and correct (in my experience, at least!).

I lifted yesterday - did SL and Strong. At this stage it is more like doing SL but with accessories, so I feel quite good here, but I know that as the stages progress, I will be having to do one or the other, most likely.

Beeps, weight is just a number. I'm still at more or less the heaviest I have ever been (apart from pregnancy) at about 162 lbs (heaviest was 170lbs in September), and considering I was 140lbs quite comfortably 4 or 5 years ago, it is most frustrating in many respects, but I know that its unlikely to change considerably, and much as I would like to be 150lbs again, it probably isn't going to happen without me starving myself (and I've learned that THAT isn't an option either!). You're doing fine - concentrate on your health for now, keep lifting when you can, and the rest will fall into place when the time is right.

No gym planned for me today, as I lifted yesterday, but thunderstorms today mean my pre-work power walk was abandoned, and with no way of scheduling any real exercise in today, I am going to have to make sure my eating is on the low side to retain a deficit. Over the bank holiday weekend my number of steps were low and my calories were high. It's what holidays are all about, of course, but I can't continue in that vein through the rest of the week. It's our first wedding anniversary next weekend and we are going away, so more food of the rich type then, I expect *drool*.

Beeps, I bet that stupid tumor weighs a few pounds. Easier to lose weight the regular way, I'm sure, but you do what you gotta do! You look great and totally ripped in your photos anyway.

Kim - Happy Anniversary! You only get one chance at a first anniversary, so you better live it up!

Sherry - I think you have the right idea by concentrating on form rather than upping the weights too quickly. It will pay off in the end!

Today I ran 2.5 miles, it was already sort of hot and sticky at 5 am.

I also just sat here and placed an order for a Rogue bar and new Olympic weights. I'm psyched and can't wait for them to come in!

Need to get back on track with eating. This weekend at the beach was tough and I ate way too much cheese and crackers and chips and dip. I could live on cheese and crackers. (And I did live on cheese and crackers through the first 3 months of both pregnancies). So back to careful counting and logging, and no more "just one more cracker and a little more brie".

However, I am considering dropping down to a smaller deficit in another month (0.5 lb/week loss) once I get to stage 7, hopefully at that point around 145 lbs (5'5") with about 15 left to lose to goal. Phase 3 looks hard and I wonder if I got a bit more fuel if I could make more progress. Anyone tried something similar and did you see results?

Sounds like a sensible approach, Dawn. Once you are settled in the new place you will soon get back into a workable routine. Until then, just run with it!

The squat rack was busy at the gym this morning when I was there before work, so no temptation to do more than my second workout B of stage 1 plus some crosstrainer intervals. I could definitely feel myself working....when you look at the schedule on paper, it doesn't seem a lot, but when I'm part way through, I'm definitely giving it respect!!

Food wise, I'm doing alright - have discovered Joe Wicks (AKA The Bodycoach) "Lean in 15" meals. Seriously good food that my whole family love, and mostly (as the title suggests) prepared and cooked in little more than 15 minutes. It's made a big difference to what we are eating recently, and I'm enjoying the prep as well as the scoffing!

Also embracing "meal prep Sunday" and batch preparing my lunches for work for the week. It seems to be working so far. Although, now I want a snazzy coolbag to carry my lunch in - there's always something to spend money on!!!

Have a safe journey, Jo! I look forward to hearing all about it, and your new goals, when you get back.

In other, obviously very important news.....I just bought a lunchbag. Not the one I *really* wanted, but still pink, girly and completely unnecessary!!!!!

kimiuzzell wrote: »

Well, I have just had the privilege of meeting the very lovely @suelegal for a coffee while she is on her whistle-stop trip to the UK! Amazingly she was visiting just 100 yards or so from my office, so it was a chance that just couldn't be turned down. Such a shame we didn't have longer, but I had nipped out of work and had to come back to my desk....and they have a date with the English tradition of fish and chips at the seaside this afternoon!

Sue, when you get to read this - thank you!! It was a pleasure to spend time with you both

Kim it was totally my treat! It was awesome to be able to put a face to your name! I really enjoyed our little visit! Thanks for taking the time to say hello!

The trip was terrific! We really crammed way too much into too little time, and rain hindered some of our sight seeing, but all in all it was a great trip. Top of the list? Meeting with Kim, visiting family in Germany, stop at Stonehenge and WALES! OMG it's beautiful. I could easily live there!

We're home now - actually arrived home on Sunday and breezed thru customs amazingly in less than 40 minutes! I then took my husband out to dinner - it was his birthday, and ate sensibly, salmon spinach salad and a small end piece of freshly made bread. Airplane food was not great but the chicken was passable, at least.

Monday was a lazy recoup day. I was back at the gym on Tuesday, and back at better eating too. The scale said I was up a pound on Monday morning but I really think most of that was water and bloat from sitting for 12 hours. It was down a few on Tuesday.

I'm doing the new workouts my training partner received last week. I really do much better when challenged. She's 20ish years younger than I am, and much stronger, but just working with her makes me push myself more. I think once we finish up her subscription with this online trainer, we're going to try Bret Contrares STRONG CURVES

BEEPS, keeping you in my thoughts!

I'm prepping a whole variety of things, from chicken and chickpea stew in the slow cooker, to fancy tuna salad that I stuff in Pitta bread.

Check out fitmencook.com for an amazing set of ideas. Nom nom nom!!!

How cool that you guys got to meet! @suelegal and @kimiuzzell!! Love it!
Sue-you did a much better job on vacation than I did! I'm up 10!! Eek!
Kim-lol at your cute lunch bag to go with your new menus. What ever makes healthy eating fun is a good thing!
Beeps-forgive me, but I missed something. What tumor? Hope you're ok!
I went to London, Paris, Rome, Florence, and Venice! Loved it all, but Paris was my favorite! 15 amazing days with dh and my 2 girls. Exhausted but happy
Aigre-cool! Love new equipment! You're doing great!
Jo-have fun! You need a break girl! Enjoy!
Stephe-you're doing great!
Dawn-bit by bit you'll get there! KUTGW!

I'm starting a new lifting plan, 4 days, Thinner, Leaner, Stronger. I'm stuck in a similar weight range that Beeps and Kim mentioned, which isn't that bad to me (5'6"-used to weigh 275lbs, so I've got a good appreciation for where I am) but I haven't give up on whittling off a few more lbs. I'm running a deficit, but calorie cycling instead of the same number each day-IF like. It worked well before vacation but I'm having a hard time sticking to anything after vacation . I'm still fighting the good fight. Did my first new workout today, and it was a lot of chest work for me. Hoping it'll do what the author says it will .

Aigre - I didn't really notice any different but I've done all of my lifting on a deficit to begin with and I was doing the meet prep during the early part of this year since the meet was in April. I didn't pay enough attention really to tell if there was any increase. Just know the week leading up to meet when I did drop to low calorie that was terrible but I was also recovering from a cold at the same time. My increases have slowed down a little but it's partly in-between programs and getting a little past the "newbie" phase, though still under the 2 year mark for how long I've been lifting.

Today I met a couple coworkers for sushi then went with one to starbucks. I just had cold brew for the coffee but had plenty of sushi beforehand because it was a place where you pick the little plates with color coding for pricing. Fun time.

I considered lifting but I'm going to the gym tomorrow. I'm going to film a "full day of eating" and do bro foods. It'll be fun. I have an "omelette" maker that basically cooks eggs into a football shape, so will start with egg whites. I might go to Portland and try working for a bit but also really want to catch a food truck when it's open cause I saw it once when walking around there but it was closed. It's called the cultured caveman. hehe Also, will go to gym and do upper body workout (bicep curls, naturally) and have post workout protein shake. Going to have fun with it.