@AigreDoux try this: http://www.eattoperform.com/refer-a-friend/. Not sure that'll work? If it doesn't, a few pages back Sam posted a link too, the one I used to sign up. Try her link. for you, not wanting to lose more right now, I think it'll be a perfect fit for you! Love the fueling your lifting aspect, but I just can't keep gaining .

Stephe-glad Dh is home and whatever was challenging at work is resolved! And you're off on strong curves! Woohoo! I followed GG for a while earlier this year and liked it. I still love WHTs and always credit Bret with that! My Dh does 5/3/1 and loves it! I'm considering it too . Hopefully we'll all be successful in losing some fat while we continue to get stronger!

I'm doing fine. Good session yesterday at the gym so I'm sore and resting today. so tired of being tired! I didn't appreciate my natural level of energy until it was gone! Really hoping to regain more of that! Dropped my cals to 1600-1700 to see if I can stop the gaining and possibly start shedding some of this lovely new weight...sigh. Dang efficient storage machine that I am!

Aigre, I started Strong Curves today too. I had had five days off with no working out at all, so I think I'll feel it tomorrow even though it didn't feel too challenging at the time. It was the first workout in my new home gym too, which I loved!

Pudding-enjoy SC!! Work those glutes!!

Back from the gym - had a good one today.

Squats: 5x5 @ 50kg (if everyone could ignore the fact I jumped 10kg from Monday that would be tremendous)
Bench: 5x5 @ 30kg
Rows: 5x5 @ 35/40kg somewhere around that mark on the smith machine

Feeling good again, have brough my lunch in again (it's the little victories for me) and generally looking forward to getting back into training.

Sam/ Julie/ Aigre I think I might also sign up for ETP! Although maybe not until next month. Julie I hope everything calms down for you weight wise, it's so frustrating to see it going in the wrong direction.

ETA: I also slammed a bench into my shin while I was trying to manouver it and it hurt like hell. I was trying not to draw attention to my idiot-ness but equally it really f#ing hurt and I was trying to examine the damage without being discovered. No one noticed (well no one said anything) but I'm back at my desk now and it's still stinging!!

Hey all..... crazy week.

Had family staying with us, loads of work and uni stuff. Hubby is not going well - has finally realised he's depressed and had complete mental breakdown..... not aided by discovery of the powerlifting coach 'issue'...... marriage has kind of imploded this week. No sleep. Lots of wine. Lots of fighting. Lots of trying to hold my *kitten* together at work/ for the kids etc.

Aside from that, started my power lifting program. It's hypertrophy. Massive volumes.... 108 squats on squat day, 108 deadlifts on DL day, 108 bench on bench day (2 x per week).... you get the picture. Am enjoying the change so far. About all I'm enjoying this week!

Jo - I know you didn't ask for advice, but drop the PL coach if it's an issue in your marriage. Marriage > powerlifting, I swear.

Did the second workout of Strong Curves today.
Bodyweight single leg glute bridges- 3x12 each side. Still feel this mainly in the hamstring, which is wrong.
Chin ups - 3x4 with band assist (program called for lat pulldowns, but I find those funny with resistance bands instead of a real cable machine)
Bodyweight step ups - 3x10 each side
Dumbbell military press - 3x8@15 lbs each hand
swiss ball hyperextension - 3x15
Side lying clam - 1x20 each side
Crunch - 1x20
Side crunch - 1x15 each side

Concentrating on form. Still not feeling much glute activation but trying! Hoping it will come.

Stephie - Oww on the shin. I managed to bruise my shin at work once with one of the tall ladders and didn't even hit it that hard. Yay for bringing in lunch. I should do that some time.

Aigre - Nice run. Keep saying I'm going to get back into that...

Jo - Sorry to hear about the troubles as well and take care of yourself. And holy volume, batman. That's a lot of reps. *.*

Beeps - I hope it goes well for your thanksgiving. Enjoy yourself even with work.


As for me... Well, I'm tired and cranky. Last night, after working until 11 it took 30 minutes just to get to the 101, so made for a long commute to the gym. It took me longer to drive there than do the squats. Then had to be at work by 7 am, which meant about 4 hours of sleep. Got in only to find out we were short and none of the usual cashiers were scheduled so I got stuck up at the register all shift. None of my stuff can get done cause most days I have been the "breaker" so had to cashier for a few hours every shift and was supposed to not have that issue today and instead it was worse. Today is a lower calorie day too which meant I doubly couldn't spend lunch eating candy. Le sigh.


But I did do squats last night.

warm up - 2x10 @ 45, 1x8 @ 95, 1x8 @ 135 and with belt 1x3 @ 185

1rm set with belt - 1x1 @ 215

Struggled at the sticking point on the way up where I had a little doubt but managed to push past it. Not ATG from the video but still, think it's decent enough. Nice to improve since before moving I failed at 205. Granted it's only 15 lbs but moving my way up. Next is to get that 225. #goals.

ETP people - I signed up on Wednesday and got an email with my macros/TDEE. I got an email that my "trendsheet" had been upgraded to automatically pull from MFP/Fibit. But I cannot find this mythical trendsheet? I am so confused. Help?

Julie - Nice squats and bench! You're right not worth putting yourself in a bad position, and 135 is still pretty good for DLs!

Dawn - Nice squats!

Beeps - happy Thanksgiving! LOL at Anne from Kijiji! I happen to like cooking but if I didn't I would totally outsource. Goodness knows I outsource a ton of stuff (cleaning, grocery shopping, yard work, etc.)

Out at 5 am this morning for 3.2 dark miles. Nice and cool. Phone/GPS is still messed up though, which makes me angry, but it's overestimating so that makes me less angry than if it were underestimating.

I really want to get this ETP thing to work and can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Happy weekend all!

Hey ladies!

Aigre-mine was supppsed to automatically update, but never did. I would copy and paste mine from MFP. There is a link on the sheet somewhere (first page maybe?) that will tell you about the logging. I watched a few videos and followed the directions. You'll figure it out, there is s bit of a learning curves there. Running in the dark? Go girl! I am thinking I'll need to add some cardio to my routine to actually get some fat off .

Dawn-good job cracking down on the tracking! And good job running too!!! Am I the only one who doesn't do much cardio? I want to believe the experts who say you don't need it but I suspect I need to add some more in .

I didn't lift Friday. Shark week and hitting me hard this time. I'll lift tomorrow should add some cardio I guess. Love walking but not much else. I'll see what I can do.

Weight not climbing anymore, working back down a little. Lost 1.5 of the new gain this week, which is a relief .

Julie - thanks. I have often liked some forms of cardio though not quite to the extent of running and or biking for distance in the past. It's not really for weight loss but I found something I enjoy where I can listen to music and think about my novels. Outside is better but I ordered a pepper spray thing so maybe I'll brave the parks soon here in LA.

Beeps - nice that you had a good holiday. mmm feast


Today was a fail. Work at 7 am quickly became me at the register, only this time it was in the liquor department. We were so short staffed and one of the two people on the floor to help with breaks and if we had long lines was under 21. So, yeah, another long day and not able to do any of my stuff. I did eat okay, even brought food to work for once. Got about 1500 calories today with chicken as main protein source but even fit in a candy bar as allowed some dairy today. However, I still am a bit tired and the deadlits were heavier feeling. I almost considered going for a little higher because I'm so close to 2xbw, but glad I didn't. Weigh in this morning was 132.8 so 265 deadlift is like .6 below 2x that. However, I didn't succeed.

front squat 2x10 @ 45, 1x8 @ 70 and 3x5 @ 85
good morning 3x10 @ 85

warm-up - 1x8 @ 135, 1x5 @ 185, with belt 1x3 @ 205 and 1x1 @ 235
chalk and belt 265 - fail

The 185 felt heavy but 235 went okay. I attempted 265 twice. I could get it off the floor but struggled past that point, though got a little further the second time. I might try again on a day off when I don't get up at 5:45 in the morning. Eat at least 1500 again or even a little more and keep the before deadlifts warm-up moves light.

It was also awkward because there was a guy there behind me the whole time, from front squats to deadlift. He spent most of it sitting on the floor occasionally looking on his phone and sort of stretching. Though he looked down obviously when I was squatting as could see him in the mirror that was right in front of me. It was just weird with him not doing anything really that entire time but chilling on the floor in the gym.

I have another morning shift tomorrow (really going to be pissed if I cashier again). New schedule is up and it's the same as this week. 4 morning shifts and one evening. But I'll get Friday off again. Writing wise, at least I finished chapter 13 of BRR and started chapter 14, so can say something got done today.

Jo - sorry your kids were still up. That's one great thing about having a toddler - after 7pm she is in bed and I have some freetime!

Dawn - I'm sure you'll get 265 sometime soon. If you got it off the floor that's an awesome start and like you said, after a later start it might get all the way

Beeps - I would definitely outsource if I wanted to. I'm kinda lucky in that Christmas Day (I think the English Christmas lunch is super similar to your Thanksgiving food) is just me, hubs and daughter. We love having our day to ourselves and see family around that time (the day after Christmas Day is also a big holiday in England).

Julie - I cannot stand cardio!! The only thing I enjoy is a DVD like Turbofire or something. Which actually is a good idea, but a bit tricky to fit into my already hectic life!

Aigre - Hope you found your trendsheet!!

Gym went really well today:

Squats : 5x5 @ 55kg felt pretty good, going to do 60 next time and then will slow back down to 2.5kg a session like I'm supposed to
OHP: 5x5 @ 25kg - erm, these were hard!!!! I used to be able to knock out 5x5 @ 30kg no issue, even get a few at 32.5, bleugh
Deadlift: 1x5 @ 70kg - at least this was easy. Forgot to video though as my gym friend walked in and I hadn't seen her in months so we had lots to catch up on

My resignation at work is public knowledge now, so it's starting to feel really real that I am moving jobs!! Got lots to do before January - need new clothes as they are casual there and I don't think I can rock up in a band shirt and jeans! Also need to find my new gym, and figure out how the hell I'm going to have dinner ready for 6pm!!

Aigre-good job fitting it all in! Glad you to the trend sheet to work. I still feel like I'm missing a lot of stuff, challenges etc., but the recommendations seem solid. If I wasn't a hypo mess I expect I'd have done better with it. Brad is encouraging me to stick with it but I can't keep gaining. It's really frustrating!

Stephe-crock pot! A few minutes in the morning and dinner awaits you when you get home. hope the new job transition goes smoothly! I'm sure it's hectic! Good job on the lifting! And fellow cardio haters unite!

Beeps-glad you had a good holiday .

Dawn-frustrating at work , but you'll nail that Dl. Sleep, food and better timing will get you there!

Lifting going ok. Squats at 160lbs now-working on form and depth, WHTs are up to 220lbs , bench doing well at 80lbs today. Good progress for me! bent over rows felt really heavy at 85lbs, wondering if that little bar is 35lbs not 25?
Joined a new gym they're opening right down the street. Dec 1 supposed to open. Will save us $40/month, walking distance from home, and all new nice equipment open 24hours! Les mills classes too! So I can do combat again . Yay!
Weight stabilizing, but too high. Sigh. Want to start losing again but committed to stabilizing meds and then I'll cut calories more.

Samntha and Julie - I think I'm getting a better hang of it. I'm annoyed that somehow they pulled in data from MFP all the way back to September 1. So there is a lot of noise in there somehow. But it says not to delete rows?

Yesterday I chose to start on a medium day and I was under on calories and carbs, good on fats, but over on protein. Will definitely require some work to figure it out!

Julie - Great lifting, you are getting super strong!

Sam - hope you feel better soon.

I did Strong Curves workout A this morning
Glute bridges - added a 15 lb dumbbell 3x15
DB one arm row - 3x12@25 lbs
Box squat - 3x15@15 lbs
Bench press - 3x12@46.5 lbs
DB RDL - 3x15@17.5 lbs DBs
Side lying abduction - 1x20 each leg
Front plank 1x60 s
Side plank 1x30s each side

Really enjoying the higher rep work in SC at this point. Gradually adding weight even though it is written for bodyweight.

Good lifting Beeps! Lol at skipping calves! My calves are freakishly strong! I do them on rest times between other lifts. But agree, not a lot of lasting impact from them!

And nice work on Sc Aigre! Glad you're enjoying it!!

Sam-you're losing so well! Hope you're feeling better! I'm jealous! I am convinced that until my thyroid is straightened out it's a moot point. I gained again yesterday on lower calories...makes no sense! Sooo aggravating!

Rest day today, choosing to make it a light day calorie wise. Can't keep gaining!! Another two weeks until my blood work is done and they can up or change my thyroid meds. It take a long time I guess? So frustrated!! Sigh. Can't give up, I'd gain even faster if I did! Grrr.

Anyway, hope you're all doing well!!

Stephie - Thanks. Good luck with the change in work. It was weird when I did the transfer seeing the new schedule go up and not have my name be on it anymore.

Aigre - I hope so and thanks. The pumpkin patch ride with the kids sounds fun and mmm chili. Interesting on the SC as I tend to dislike higher rep ones.

Julie - Unfortunately work continues as is but hopefully they hire more people soon. Nice on the gym and saving money. I'm still looking for a new one as driving over 10 miles in LA is a bit much.


I managed to get myself to the gym before work this time and I even did upper body. Shocking, I know. Had an afternoon shift, so that made it easier and I got to sleep in more that the last three days. We didn't have a lot of people but some, which made it manageable. Today I had a new person follow me most of the shift. Period started this morning too though scale was up a little yesterday and dipped down this morning. Doing okay on calories and getting decent protein more often now, so making slow progress.


band pulls - 3x10
push press - 2x8 @ 45, 1x8 @ 65, 3x5 @ 75
incline db bench - 3x10 @ 25
bent row - 3x8 @ 80
tricep push down with bar - 3x8 @ 42.5
one arm tricep cable ext - 3x6 @ 10
20 minute jog on treadmill

Tomorrow, I am checking out another crossfit gym. It was one my sister linked on facebook for me because it mentions lifting (though not that it's crossfit). It's called Pink Iron, and it's a women's lifting gym. Not sure on the whole crossfit aspect but will be interesting to at least check it out.