Ariadnula Member

I weigh myself every day, in the morning, but I'm pretty rational about the results these days, not panicking if it changes one day to the next. In fact, I had a few years of no scales, just trying to eat healthy food, and I put on a load of weight! So I've managed to lose that - 12kg - over the past year, and I'll just…

Man, I have new scales. I knew the old, manual scales were ... a little bit wonky. Whenever friends come to visit they say, 'oh, I like those scales, they weight really light!'. Hmmmmm. So today we bought new, electronic scales. Ha - evil thing. It's only about 3lbs, and I keep telling myself I'm exactly the same as I was…

Well, I've seen distinct results, fast! I had already lost weight though, so the muscles do show more quickly I suppose.

So there was this girl in the gym... She turned up in the squat rack next to me. I looked over, saw a super-slim, tall girl with a tonne of make up and thick, drawn-on eye brows ... So I have to admit I thought she'd just lift a few wee weights. Ha. She started to warm up. And added more weight. And more. She got to 60kg -…

Done! Pleased I managed to it that in this afternoon. The gym is quiet on Saturday afternoon, too. Squat 5x5 59kg Bench 5x5 35kg Row 5x5 44kg All good. Squats are hard, but I got through. And I managed a few pull ups at the end.

You will see a difference really fast, @kimiuzzell - seven weeks in and I'm quite amazed. I'd been lifting weights for a while, but kind of half heartedly and not increasing the weight much. And in fact I have you, @fanncy0626, to thank for getting me started on stronglifts! I've been meaning to say, it was your amazing…

Hello @kimiuzzell ! I'm quite new to stronglifts myself, been doing them about 7 weeks. It's getting results, and got me more inspired, so all good!

Oops, bit big! But I had been startled at how much more defined my arms looked, so I just had to take a photo :-)

I remembered to take a photo last night - apologies for the unattractive loo background - I'd have done it in the changing room but was worried someone would walk in!

That's great, @bmele0 ! I'm just out from a great session. Squats 5x5 @57kg OHP 5x5 @20kg - I was really pleased with that Deadlift 1x5 @ 61kg Then some shrugs and some dips and I'm done. Now I feel super-good. Am off to meet friends in the pub, better go easy on the beer :-)

Ouch! I'm aching from yesterday's sports massage. He did warn me I would, and I hurt in all the places that were most tight so I'm not complaining, as such - I just need to whinge about the pain here and then get on with my day! Ouch. Thanks for listening :-)

That sounds horrible, @bmele0 I've no useful advice but you sound like you could do with some sympathy. Hope it feels better soon.

Thanks, and yeah, the guy who asked was fine about it. I kept an eye out for where he was working and let him know when I was about to do my last set.

Two things I noticed today. First - the changing room in the evening is a whole different world to the morning. In the morning it's all nakedness, people just strip. This evening there were lots of young women getting in a tangle trying to put their sports bra on top of their normal one and then wriggle the normal one out…

Went to the big gym after work, having got away earlier than usual - which meant I got in and grabbed a rack before the hordes arrived. Squat 5x5 @ 57kg Bench 5x5 @ 31kg - too easy, really Row 5x5 @ 44kg Then a few reverse pull ups before I had to run for a sports massage appointment. Which was faaaaaabulous and I now feel…

I'm impressed you made it out the door at all @StephieWillcox - well done!

Four lost souls of teenage boys were in this afternoon. This was in the 'big' gym: some days I go to the big one which gets lots of big, buff guys and toned women, and other days I go to the 'wee' one near my work, which is in a posh area and mostly has mums and dads who stick to cardio and little weights. Anyway, the big…

Went for a big walk this morning, then got myself up to the gym this afternoon. Squats: 5x5 @56kg - hurray for my new fractional plates! Deadlift: 1x5 @60kg Rack lifts? Not sure what they're called, but half-deadlifts from the safety pins - 2x5 60kg OHP: 5/5/5/4/3 @15kg Dips: 7/5/4 Then a few yogic sun salutations to…

When you want to kill everyone who gets in your way. Went for a long walk this morning, and planned to have lunch in a cafe. But then we didn't fancy what they had, so walked to another, and another ... by the time we finally got to eat I was losing my mind a bit! I did manage to take a few deep breaths and order something…

32 miles on the bike. Bit chilly out! We didn't push it too hard, but a few hills and a bit of a headwind so a decent bit of cardio and some fresh air. I've done some shrugs and biceps curls, too, as my husband just bought some dumbbells and they're lying around on the floor, so why not!

And I should probably say, I *have* been lifting for a while, just not very ambitiously. So I kind of do know what I'm doing, but just want to be sure before I go into new big-weights territory.

Good advice - I think bench is going to be an interesting one. And ha, I'm trying to defeat my personality here - I'm a bit rush-ahead-and-do, over-enthusiastic, I-know-what-I'm-doing and it can backfire on me. I recently got our wedding album printed and was so keen to get it done that I didn't pay as much attention as I…

Ah, that's a relief to hear - I eat pretty well, I think, so I didn't feel I needed something extra. Though he wasn't trying to sell anything, just very keen on them himself :-) I'll bear it in mind if I do struggle later. Thanks!

Ah, thanks, interesting about the differences. I'll experiment, I suppose. And yeah, the conversion - I just halve the pounds to get some idea. So your 105lb lift is ... Well, I'd guess at 52kg. And ... I just went and checked and its 47kg so I obviously need to halve it and then go a bit lower!

Hmmmm, just read the FAQ on here, and maybe I'll go back to the barbell for the bench after all! Smaller increments would be a good reason, if nothing else.

Ha, me too - Like you, I'm small (4' 10.5") and over 40 (47) so anything that gets me a bit more food and wine is a good thing...

Right, I feel I can properly join in this now. First night at the gym after my session with the trainer. And he was there with another client, so I was on best behaviour, wanting to show I had learned... Squat: 5x5 @ 55kg Row: 5x5 @ 41.5kg Bench: 5x5 @ 24kg I had squatted 60kg on Tuesday with the trainer but I wasn't…

You look great, really inspiring. Intermittent fasting is interesting - I've seen it work really well for a friend, but it sent me into weird binging behaviour one day, not wanting to eat at all the next. I'm better just having a small deficit most days. But everyone has their own way!

Well, that was fantastic! Really worth the money and time, I'm so glad I did it. First and foremost I learned that I'm not doing anything terrible - my form is generally good. Overhead press I'm fine, rows he showed me the difference that a wider grip makes, but otherwise all good. Bench generally good too, I need to lower…

Hmm, yes, I think that's a smart idea, thanks. I'll report back!