So am I the only one who randomly checks out my reflection while flexing or makes other people feel my newly found muscles? I've completed workout 5 for both A & B now and can dead lift 90 lbs, squat 75, bent over row 67 and shoulder press 23. My step ups (44) and lunges (36) aren't very impressive yet but that's why I need to do them! And I'll get there eventually.

I did all three sets of 10 pushups on the floor nice and deep and all my jack knives are regular jack knives instead of prone JK. I know I can move up to the T pushups but what do you do if you're already doing regular JK's? Just do more per set? My crunches I do the extended arm version with weight and that seems to be working out because I can just up the weight.

I was worried about eating higher calories but now I'm really glad I trusted the book. My weight hasn't climbed but my pants fit a little bit better even for the short time I've been doing this. But the best part is, I'm feeling strong! I love feeling strong! I can also curl my 80 son now and impressed all the boys I teach in Sunday school

you all are SO inspiring to me!!!

Wow you ladies are really lifting heavy! I've just finished workout A for the 4th time, increasing my squats and DLs 2kg each time, but both only up to 24kg (53lbs). Shoulder presses not progressing AT ALL, but for my push ups my hands are now on the 2nd stair instead of the 3rd stair up.

I'm feeling fab on all this protein, but my knees are a bit achey. Might be the cold tho!

Great work, all!

I am not having anyone feel my muscles, just yet. (And, nope, I can't do push-ups from the ground, yet....I tried, and got in 2 good ones and that was it!) But, as I'm aiming for changes to actually materialize in April-ish, I'll probably be unable to contain myself by that time.

my shoulder raises are going nowhere fast...that's kind of a fail for me. I tried to go up to 15 per dumbell and could only do like 8 before I was arching so bad it wasn't worth it.

my squats are at 55 and I did 65 deadlift last week. Hoping to get deadlift to 75 tomorrow!

I've had a few people feel my bicep muscles after my boyfriend commented on them one time. He put his hand on my arm and I flexed and he said, "Wow, your biceps are getting big! They're going to get bigger than mine!" :laugh:

I keep flexing to see that the muscles are actually there. I've never had any muscle on my arms before, so this is completely new! :laugh:

I keep flexing to see that the muscles are actually there. I've never had any muscle on my arms before, so this is completely new! :laugh:

^ I'm right there with you! For the first time in my life when I flex my arms, little bumps pop up!! Woohooo!

Jennifer, I'm also doing special workouts this week. I just have to complete AMRAP Workout B, then on to stage 2! I think I'll do the special workout tomorrow, then rest from Wednesday-Wednesday before moving on to stage 2. Here are some stats for you:

Currently...
squatting 115 lbs. (started at 65)
deadlifting 90 lbs. (started at 60)
should pressing 20 lbs. (started at 10)
rowing 30 lb. dumbbells (started with 20s)
& lunging with 25 lb. dumbbells in each hand (started with 10s!)

I didn't lost weight, and didn't gain either. Still would like to lose a couple pounds of fat, but right now just glad that I'm gaining muscle without gaining weight. Lost 2 inches total, and my clothes are fitting just a bit better! AND, I did this with a less than perfect diet, so for you ladies who are better behaved than I, you can probably expect to see even better results.

I just love reading this thread....it really is VERY inspirational!!

Some of you went from ZERO strength (relatively-speaking) to some GREAT numbers!! All in one stage - 5 weeks. Impressive.

I am sooooooooooo proud of all of you (and us!).

I'm using a 20" bench. (Sometimes 22"....which is probably not that great for my knees!)

How tall are the stools you guys are using for the step ups with weights??

I have a step but I prefer to use my weight bench because it's taller- 21" (I'm 5'9"). My preference would be to step taller and then work up the weight. But that's my preference and I don't recall there being any guidance in the book which should take precedence- weight or height.