Hey ladies, I have a question for you. I just finished stage one, and I made super gains in the deadlift and the squat, and I know I can keep gaining steadily on those. But I completely stalled out on the dumbell overhead presses. I started light, but made it up top 20 by about the 4 week or so. And it got easy by the 6th week, but when I went to try the 25s, nothing. I have kept trying to use the 25s and then settling for completing my reps at 20, so I guess my quesiton is, is it normal to not be able to make the jump from one weight to another sometimes? And how can I push through it?

Have you tried pressing the Oly BB overhead instead of using the two 20 lb DBs? That would be a good intermediate weight to go before trying for two 25 lb DBs (since it's 45 lbs). That's where I'm at right now - I can handle the 20s, no prob, but can't complete the sets with 25s...so I'm gonna stick with the BB for a short while and then give the 25s a go again.

completed 4B today. I am not excited about increasing reps next week. The lunges :sad:

I did increase my weights on all exercises except for the lat pull down. The next weight would have increased 12 pounds and I can barely pull down 60 lbs right now.

I wish I had stronger shoulders like some of you ladies! I am still struggling with 15 lb dumbbells on overhead press.

OK, so I took today off from paddleboarding to see if that helps (it was chilly and windy anyway).

I do have a lot of stress right now, so that could be contributing -- I have an addict niece who lived with me from Nov til last month. She had 6 mos sober, but she relapsed into heroin again and the last few weeks have been horrible with her on the street in Vegas, detox back in San Diego, 5150ed, rehab--then she got kicked out of rehab for violence, went to a shelter then ran from there. So she's on the street again and refusing to go to a medically supervised facility. We're kind of at our limit with her and the family is united in tough love -- hopefully her mom can hold out bc my niece is playing the sympathy "I'm scared on the street" crap even as she refuses to go to rehab.

ugh.

Anyway, how's that for off-topic! I'm planning to do 6A tmo and Sunday another off day.

OK, so I took today off from paddleboarding to see if that helps (it was chilly and windy anyway).

I do have a lot of stress right now, so that could be contributing -- I have an addict niece who lived with me from Nov til last month. She had 6 mos sober, but she relapsed into heroin again and the last few weeks have been horrible with her on the street in Vegas, detox back in San Diego, 5150ed, rehab--then she got kicked out of rehab for violence, went to a shelter then ran from there. So she's on the street again and refusing to go to a medically supervised facility. We're kind of at our limit with her and the family is united in tough love -- hopefully her mom can hold out bc my niece is playing the sympathy "I'm scared on the street" crap even as she refuses to go to rehab.

ugh.

Anyway, how's that for off-topic! I'm planning to do 6A tmo and Sunday another off day.

Yeah, that could be contributing to exhaustion! Hang in there. Good for you for supporting her (even in the tough-love way) and for supporting her mom...I really hope things work out well.

Well I finished my last official stage 1 workout this morning and here's how I came out:

Squat-12 lb DBs to 85 lbs barbell
Pushup-30 degree incline to all three of my last sets on the floor (!!!)
Seated Row-40 to 85
Step Up- 12 lb DBs to 20 lb DBs w/10 in step to 15 lb DBs with the 20 inch step
Jacknives-got through them all

Deadlift- 45 to 85
Shoulder Press- 8 lb DBs to 15 lb DBs
Lat Pulldown- 35 to 85 (only one set at 85, but I got through it)
Lunge- 12 lb DBs to 25 lb DBs
Swiss ball crunch-10 lb weight on chest to 6 lb medicine ball overhead

So I probably really started my first A workout with way too low of weights, but overall not bad progress! I'm so happy I actually made it through all three sets of push ups on the floor for my last A workout! I'm going to give my body a couple days rest and then weigh in and take measurements.

After reading a lot of people talking about the AMRAPs I've decided not to do them and just repeat workouts 8A&B and then take a week off before starting stage 2. I need to have the extra week of workouts to time a break for a 10K in May, otherwise I would just take my break and move on. Planning to get in some yoga and running while I'm on my break and hopefully a massage because my muscles are so tight right now!

Happy Saturday everyone!

oops did it twice....sorry
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Yay for those of you who've finished Stage 1, and to everyone else making such great progress!

I did WOB5 today, am still loving the 3 sets. Finally got up to the "big" plates for my deadlift (ie. 2 25lb plates, for 95 lbs total). Thanks to whoever suggested using kettle bells for lunges--they make a HUGE difference. Much easier to hold (though they do swing around a lot, lol). My left shoulder's still killing me in shoulder presses, so I haven't been able to move up in that exercise, which is annoying, because 15 lbs is getting pretty easy for my right shoulder...but, eventually they'll even out, I guess!

I really love this program. I get excited to go to the gym!

16 Days on the workout routine...not following the eating plan. I will begin the eating plan tomorrow, since I have gotten such great results without it, I cannot wait to see what changes will come after doing the workouts and eating by the guidelines laid out in the book

Also, I need to loose 50lbs. I am currently 224-219 ish and I am 5'9".
Current measurements size 18 (36" waist, 49"hip)
Goal measurements are to fit in a size 10 (30" waist, 39.5"hip) via american eagle

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You are looking goooood!!

jlynn your progress so far is amazing, you look great! glad to see some pics of it working so well for someone, thanks for posting!