deputy_randolph Member

So starting an exercise plan before getting pregnant is a wise idea. I was a jogger (not runner) before getting pregnant. I was able to continue to walk for exercise up until the week I had both kids. Childbirth is a strenuous, long marathon of exercise. Getting back into an exercise routine after childbirth is also a…

I had to take off 6+ weeks due to a shoulder strain. I started back to benching about 8 weeks after the initial strain. I started very slowly...used very light weight. I basically started "from scratch" after years of lifting...just to be safe. The strength came back a lot faster than I anticipated; but I really paced…

Same as above...it took me time to figure out how I like to lift. I started with your basic, random machines, no program approach. Well, that WAS a chore. I worked with a trainer at the gym who used to participate in competitive powerlifting. Yep, that's what I liked. I like big, heavy movements for less reps.

Lifting made my cup size INCREASE, but we're talking a A+/B- to a B+. My pecs built underneath the breast tissue and contributed the size. Honestly in your case, even that much an increase in size isn't a HUGE increase. In my case, 1 cup size was a HUGE increase. I think it is not very likely that lifting will decrease…

1. No soda (the calories can add up fast) 2. Salads without traditional dressing (the calories from the dressing add up fast); I substitute a yogurt based dressing or just use a strong cheese like blue cheese (a little bit of blue cheese goes a long way) 3. Hot tea with honey as a dessert during the week (usually satisfies…

My mom was morbidly obese for my entire life. She passed away from obesity-related cancer in 2015. I was fairly overweight as a child. Once I left for college (in 1998), I lost nearly 60lbs (I'm 5'3). I changed my lifestyle drastically once I was out of my childhood environment. I've managed to keep my weight under control…

So my cats were all overweight at one point (I had 6). A couple of them were flat out obese. People think fat animals are cute; including myself. That's why the stigma is not nearly as harsh for pets. I KNOW that being obese is not good for my cats health (although, my fattest is 15 and going strong. People NEVER guess her…

5'3/135/41 Gym PRs 210s/160b/285d (conventional) ETA: pull up PR 3x12 bodyweight (currently did 5x5 bodyweight this am) I'm not longer squatting or benching. Squatting was taking a toll on my toes, so I stopped awhile back. I aggravated an old shoulder injury a couple of weeks ago, and I'm done benching. I stopped at…

Deadlifts: 2x10 leg press with a little weight/2x10 back extension with a little weight/2x5@135 dls/1×3@155 dls (I modified the 5/3/1 warm-up); I usually stretch hip flexors between warm-up sets Bench: 2×10 with the empty bar/ 1x8/1×6/1×4 bench: weights for those sets determined by powerlifting coach Shoulders: light…

...definitely experienced if I ate too much before lifting. I usually just have a piece of toast about an hour before. I've also experienced this if I haven't eaten enough before lifting. I usually carry a granola bar with me. Also experienced this if I have had too much coffee before lifting. I can sip coffee while…

I have zero tattoos...but I love tattoos on men. My husband has 2 on his legs, which he can easily cover at work. He didn't have any trouble finding a good job with tattoos, but he also has an MS in CS (that might have helped).

A friend of mine is going through this now. I don't know all of the specifics, but I do know that she has consulted her insurance provider. Her pre approval for surgery was recently rejected by the insurance company, b/c it was not deemed "medically necessary." Her breasts aren't "big enough." She does not have any other…

Most effective lifting strategy to put on muscle mass is compound movements. I put on 8+lbs of muscle in just over a year. I was also competitively powerlifting at the time. I generally lifted for 2+ hours 4 days a week minimum. And I ate A LOT. I was easily consuming 2400-2600 calories a day. I was definitely not 18% bf…

I don't think you look "top heavy." Your legs look slim, which makes your top look a bit "wider." "Broad shoulders" is a combination of your bone structure, muscle size...and fat. You won't develop massive muscles from lifting. Believe me, I've been trying. Some of your "broadness" maybe fat (since you still want to lose…

...depends. There have been times I could only lift 3 days a week...and there have been times I lifted 5 days a week. Your lifting schedule depends on your programming, recovery, work schedule, personal schedule, etc. For me...I have found the easiest programs to follow are structured something like: 1 day for squats…

My personal feeling is that if you are capable of completing your reps with good form...then NO the weight is not too much too fast. I benched 160lbs at 135lbs...and at 40 years old. I didn't injure myself. Keep in mind, I started benching years before with an empty 45lb bar. No offense to your dad, but if you are…

Am I the only person who checks her teeth in the bathroom mirror for food stuffs every time I use the bathroom? Also, I use a mirror when I put makeup on in the am and when I moisturize my face at night. Don't even get me started on the gym mirrors...every rep possible.

Last week, I knew not to add more weight to bench. I knew that I should stay at that weight and bang out the reps. Sometimes, I do what I want and slapped on more weight and had to break up the set. This week I dropped back to 130....aaaaand did all my reps. I just needed a little ego boost with big plates to get me…

Sometimes it isn't you persay that people are giving ugly looks...someone else said, there is a possibility it is something like leggings. I know I had a disapproving look on my face at the gym the other day. A women was wearing a "shirt" where her breasts were literally sticking out of the sides of the "shirt." The…

Used to be a faster eater...for a couple of reasons. I would either wait too long before eating (b/c I was super engrossed in whatever I was doing) and be super hungry by the time I started eating...and end up overeating (ADHD issues). My dad also modeled fast eating. He worked in construction and would come home a scarf…

I don't miss the intentionally and unintentionally rude comments and "jokes" about my weight from family members and friends or that flat out mean comments from strangers. I don't miss the almost constant state of feeling defensive and guarded due to unnecessary comments about my weight.

If possible, I personally would try to ween my child off of a food that was a trigger for my binge eating. I would look for a replacement that was much less appealing to me. I saw the suggestion of buying the ingredients separately and making smaller portions. Is there a form of pasta you dislike or can resist? A different…

I'm gonna throw this out there. I am a long-term tracker...as in YEARS of logging/weighing. I have gotten less strict once I hit my goal with tracking/weighing all of my food, but I still use this method. I have actually found that planning, tracking, weighing food has been the easiest/simplest way to maintain my weight…

Leaner is better than just weighing less, isn't it? If you are lifting, eating at a deficit, and leaner...you could be recomping vs. just "losing weight."

There are a lot of variables to consider when switching your programming. Are you still making progress with 3 days a week? Do you have time in your schedule to add a 4th day? Can you spread those lifting days out enough to recover adequately between lifting days? Do you WANT to lift 4 days a week? Those are just a few…

Yup...people are definitely wiping down equipment more regularly and are more respectful of personal space and sharing equipment. I've been back in the gym since June 2020. I managed to avoid contracting covid...and I have been fully vaccinated since early Feb. People are still being conscientious about mask use. I like…

So I had a friend in highschool who grew up very poor (early 90s). Her parents did not have the money for "extras" ever. They never kept soda, ice cream etc in the house. Those were very rare treats. She grew up eating only what the family could afford with public assistance (and it wasn't a whole lot of food). They NEVER…

So busy doesn't necessarily equate to "active." You describe your weekends as "busy" with running errands, etc. Something to consider when deciding if you are "active" during these times is how much time you spend in the car, sitting or remaining mostly stationary while kids are doing sports, etc. If you are trying to…

Fruit isn't really an issue calorically...a couple of apples equals a couple hundred calories, but would be very filling. I suspect most people aren't going to eat more than 2 apples in a sitting. Fruit also has fiber, which "off sets" some of the total carb count. You might want to weigh out/measure nuts for awhile to at…

I got down to about 19% bf...and it was horrible. Lower body fat and calorie/carb restriction really negatively impacted my lifts. If you don't have a reason to be that low (such as a competition), there isn't really any other reason to be that low other than just chasing a number.