dandelion39 Member

Hi! In at the last minute. I'm excited to do this!

Hi all--new to this thread, but not to SL...I've done it a few times off and on. Right now I'm about six weeks in to my latest go-round. I started with the bar this time, really emphasizing ATG squats and good form on everything. Consequently, my progress has been a little bit slow. Today I deloaded back to 55lbs on the…

Kime225 I'm sorry you've been struggling. It can be really frustrating, I know. Have you ever looked at the group Eat. Train. Progress. here? Search for it in groups. There are stickies that go through the basics of figuring out how much you should eat, setting your macros, etc. It's very helpful and the people who run the…

Hi all! I'm 45 and have been strength training off and on for six years. I started out with Jillian Michaels DVDs, then went through NROLFW, Strong Curves, SL5x5. Then I spent a while just focusing on Yoga. Then I fell off the fitness wagon entirely and haven't completely managed to get back on until now. I started SL5x5…

Hi all! I'm getting back on track. I gained about 10 lbs last year (and was about 10 above my "goal" weight before that) and want to get back to the lower weight and higher degree of fitness I enjoyed a couple of years ago. It's definitely harder these days. Perimenopause is really kicking my butt. But I'm trying to kick…

Only a few months left of 2017 (!) but I'm just re-starting Stronglifts after several years. My goals: 1. Get my muscles back 2. Make them show (aka lose about 10-15 lbs of fat) 3. Be consistent with my workouts--SL 3x per week; Yoga 2x per week minimum Hi all!

Hi folks--I've been on MFP for years but haven't been active for quite a while. I'm a new vegan (since January 2017) and am really enjoying plant-based living! Nice to meet you!

Hi, fellow vegan here trying to get re-committed to MFP. Adding you now.

Good for you, pixlamarque! I think the first few days are the hardest in some ways--it's also hard once the novelty wears off and you're sick of all paleo foods! I've been trying some new recipes to mix things up. These were both delicious: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/255438610089667578/ (I added a jalapeno for the last…

Freckles--I ordered mine from Amazon. It's better than the regular bar pad because it's a lot denser. No more bruise belt!

Day one of phase 3 in the advanced program--those Zercher squats are a killer! And sumo deadlifts take some getting used to. But it's always fun to have a new routine. Keeps it from getting old. For anyone considering getting the Squat Sponge, I can't recommend it enough. And it's a big help with the Zercher squats,…

Thanks, JKDLady! I finally found this explanation of the rest-pause and constant tension methods: http://bretcontreras.com/random-thoughts-12/ (this is for phase 3 of the advanced program). I joined the FB group and WOW some of those ladies are thrusting huge weights! I feel like I've been slacking off ;) Starting phase 3…

Good luck, Justaspoonful! It is hard at times. I made banana bread for the family the other day (not a paleo-friendly version in the least) and it practically killed me not to have any. Sugar is really, really tough to give up!

The thinking behind not weighing or logging is that a Whole30 isn't really supposed to be a diet, per se. So you're just supposed to focus on eating healthfully and intuitively and not on losing weight/counting calories. I followed the program 100% the first time I did it (last summer). I didn't log, didn't weigh, wasn't…

Sounds like everyone's doing well! I have to give props to the Squat Sponge Bret recommends for hip thrusts--it's so much better than the regular bar pad my gym has. Makes a huge difference! I have one more workout of weeks 5-8 (which really took me longer than that because I stopped for a bit partway through). I was…

I'm doing StrongCurves now and like it a lot. BUT, I started with New Rules and then did StrongLifts 5x5 for a while. If you're new to lifting, I think you'd be better off starting with New Rules. It gives you a really good, well-rounded program to follow. Then, you could move on to a more specialized program like…

Hi all, I started a Whole30 (my second) on the 21st as a spring reset. I'm sticking to the program, just not obsessing about finding impossible-to-find non-sugar-cured bacon. Regular bacon it shall be. (But, honestly, I'm kind of sick of bacon at this point in my mostly-paleo existence.) The first week has gone well,…

Hi all! I was out of sorts for about a month, so sorry I haven't been checking in with this group. Just letting myself get derailed with messy life stuff. But, I'm back and have had a really good week. I'm doing a Whole30, which makes me feel fantastic (basically, it's a month of no sugar, no grains, no processed food,…

That's great on the squat PR! I'm like Karine, much stronger on the lower body...I only bench 75 3x5, and that's hard. I'm nowhere near being able to do unassisted pull-ups :(

Hmmmm I've never even heard of Zercher squats! Now I'm dreading them :) Finished week six today and took my progress pictures. I'm not going to post them because they really show no progress, though I did lose a miniscule amount of weight and my measurements decreased a teensy bit (but could just be how I tightened the…

Thanks for posting Bret's suggestion, Freckles. That's a really good idea. Though, I struggle more in just getting to the gym more than 4x a week than recovering from the workouts--I think I've only done 4x once since I started the program--usually I just do 3 and *maybe* manage a short cardio treadmill session on an off…

Hi all, Hope you're doing well! Not much to report here--the Norovirus is coursing through my house, so I haven't gotten to the gym much this week, which is frustrating. Hoping to go tomorrow and Saturday, so I'll at least have 3 workouts. I'm so ready for spring and fresh air to come! Amanda

Hi Auby, I definitely have days (um, weeks...months) like that. And you're right, the more often you skip, the easier it is to skip. TOM does make a difference in my energy levels and also in my diet (the week before is always a carb-fest). Sometimes I look at the success stories thread to get me motivated again, or at…

Hi hamheather, I did NROLW and StrongLifts before starting SC and I went straight to the advanced program (even though I can't do an unassisted chin-up to save my life...). I, too, thought going back to a bodyweight-only program wouldn't be challenging enough. That said, some of the bodyweight exercises in the Advanced…

Okay, ladies, just posted picks of my flabbiness in the "inspiration" thread. Looking at the progress from start to now (4 weeks) I do see some changes, so that's exciting. And I've only lost 2.5 lbs in that time. So, if I could really get my diet dialed in, I think I'd see some more results with the fat loss...now to…

Okay, I haven't posted pics for a long time...so we'll see if this works. Final pic on right (date cut off) is today, 3/18. Which program you are running? Advanced Gluteal Goddess Where you are in your current program. Just starting week 5 How long you have been doing strong curves. Starting week 5; 3-4 times a week If you…

Hi ladies, Sorry I haven't been around much. It's been a crazy week. Just finished week 4 of the Advanced program. I'll take pics/measurements on Tuesday (4 weeks exactly) and perhaps will post progress shots. My diet hasn't been on-point this last week or 10-days, though, so I'm thinking I won't see a big difference.…

Hi ladies! Week three down...liking the program better now that I'm more used to it and have the set-up more streamlined. Not loving the bruises on my hipbones, but they do make me feel tough! Okay, okay, Robsgirl and Gigi, you've inspired me with your butt bravery--I'll put up progress pics on the thread next time I take…

Hi Rob's girl, and thanks for the link, Gigi! I do find those hip thrusts uncomfortable! I don't know if I'll post my progress pics in the thread (yet) but I did take pictures when I started and this morning, after 2 weeks and 8 workouts. I was really happy to see actual progress! My butt's already a bit higher.…

Hi all, Just started my third week today, and still enjoying it--though I really hate the way the bar feels on my hips during barbell glute bridges/hip thrusts. Ouch. And so awkward getting it into place...but, small sacrifices if ti makes my butt look better. I've lost a couple of lbs thanks to very careful eating and am…