EmbeeKay Member

I I probably wasn't clear enough in my original question. I know exercising one muscle group only could lead to physical imbalances. Obviously I don't want that. But I do know that in the bodybuilding world, it's not uncommon to hear "I'd like bigger delts" or "I need more size in a particular area." A bikini competitor I…

Ok I should have thought my question out a bit better. I would like to keep quad growth minimal, but I don't mind growth in hamstrings. I would like to keep upper body muscle the same... wouldn't MIND a little more size in my pecs or back, but not probably going to really focus on it. I know I'd gain fat in a bulk, but…

I started with Strong Curves and a set of adjustable dumbbells. There's NO shame in starting out lighter than you need to, to get the feel of good form. My husband showed me how to deadlift, starting with a broomstick. Good luck! I love strength training - I hope you will too!

I've been interested in this too. As far as I know, all it entails is adding a small amount of calories gradually and keeping careful track. I personally have too much going on lately to screw with my TDEE (stopped breast-feeding, still cutting, etc.) to try to do it myself but it's definitely worth a try, especially for…

Thanks guys :)

How are you feeling, OP? About a month ago I experienced this too, and the next morning I woke up with a second bout of strep throat (I had just finished a round of antibiotics, which apparently did not work). Hopefully you are feeling healthy.

Thank you! This is great.

So my weight drop has leveled off, I haven't lost any more on the scale since I posted a couple weeks ago, but we've also had a couple trips and family events where my diet has not been on track. It's funny, I thought summer would be an easy time to cut, so much fresh produce and fresh air, but it occurs to me now, unless…

I did, but I stuck with lighter weight, higher reps and definitely listened to my body. I was doing a modified version of Strong Curves. At the time, I only had adjustable dumbbells, so I wasn't deadlifting or squatting more than a hundred pounds. :/ At 30 weeks, even bodyweight squats were aggravating my SI joint, so I…

You look awesome! Way to go! It's nice when you can get back into it without having a massive amount of recovery just to get back to square one.

I LOVE running this time of year, but I don't want to lose the muscle I've worked to gain, so I am alternating running days with lifting and every day I eat more than enough protein. Hoping for good results despite increased cardio!

I recommend checking out Kara Corey on Youtube. She is a pro bikini competitor and has a TON of amazing content. I was interested in competing, but decided (after watching her videos) that it's not for me - but she obviously loves the sport and is extremely knowledgeable. I know that my relationship with food is too…

150 pounds?! You GO girl! Amazing!

Same boat here. I feel frustrated. I put so much effort in, this past fall/winter/spring, and when I compare before and afters, I don't see much change. When I focus on strength goals, I feel more immediate gratification, but at the end of the day, I'm lifting because I have specific aesthetic goals and those trump…

Is 30 young? Haha. I'm a mom of four (6, 4, 2, and 1), I work out at home, and I'm active on MFP so I'd love more friends! Feel fee to add me!

This isn't a movie, but the show Friends. It makes me cringe.

I totally relate to the original post. And it doesn't have to do with my calorie intake at the time, I could be trying to gain on 2500 or trying to lose on 2000 and it doesn't matter. I have no problem (for the most part) sticking to my calorie goal UNTIL I introduce desserts. If I eat those highly palatable foods, high in…

I find that nothing satisfies the evening snacky urge. Whatever I eat, it's not enough. I just want to keep eating. I've found the best thing for me is to brush and floss after dinner and be done. If I feel snacky, I just have fun imagining what I will eat tomorrow.

The first 4-5 pounds came off within a couple days, the rest, a steady decline. No, I don't use a weight trend app. I plan to, but honestly, this past year this whole process was so messy, with the new baby. I didn't do anything in an organized way. How am I feeling - not quite as lean as I'd like yet, glutes still flatter…

How do you know/what do you do - if you are cutting too quickly? This whole past year has been a circus for me, but through it, I did manage to train pretty consistently and overeat (despite my best efforts to recomp) so I ended up with 15 pounds to lose three weeks ago. I know some was water weight, but I also KNOW some…

I haven't been participating in this thread but I've been following along and had to chime in here. I've been "cutting" since March (unsuccessfully) and have hit wall after wall like what you've described. Our fourth baby (we had 4 within 5 years) is almost a year old and he's my worst sleeper yet. I also started…

You'll lose water weight, be miserable for two and half days, get nice clear skin, feel mentally clear and feel proud of yourself, vow to "eat clean" forever, break your fast, "eat clean" for a few days, go back to normal, and back up goes the scale. That's been my experience. It's a waste of time. I do plan on fasting for…

Yes, I completely agree with this. I can’t emphasize this enough: Don’t let what is likely INCORRECT information, ruin what sounds like great progress. Also, you say you have an unhealthy relationship with scales. Keep that in mind here. How are your clothes fitting? Have you taken measurements? Pictures? I am 10 pounds…

....aaaand never mind, I read the article – looks like some of the recommended alternatives to kettle bells at the end of the article might be a good option for me :-)

Thank you for the great tip and article. Possibly dumb question, but is there anything wrong with substituting a heavy dumbbell for a kettle bell?

Interesting. Yes, the doc recommended using more padding. He actually kept saying, “Try using a bridge,” and I was wondering if that was an actual thing I should look up. I certainly know that my pad was not upside down because that happened once and ouch! I knew it. Not because of my nerve but because that bar was…

Thanks guys. Yeah, the doctor didn’t seem appalled when I asked if I could do them again in the future. He suggested more padding, different positioning. We will see. I’m going to try to get an epic squat in the meantime. B) And I know there are lots of different things I can try. (Bridges are good, but if I load the bar…

Hey everyone, just wanted to update here. I still have little to no feeling in about an 8” portion of my lateral thigh. After the responses on this thread, I stopped barbell hip thrusting, and I saw a rehab doctor yesterday. I explained the situation to him, he did an exam, and he very confidently diagnosed me with lateral…

Having lost the baby weight four times now while breast-feeding, this is what I’ve picked up along the way - 1. Pick your calorie goal and stick to it. But be willing to modify as necessary! I’ve seen a lot of moms (myself included) set a goal too low; over time, fatigue sets in and milk supply is affected. They give up…

Hey! I can relate. The longer you do it, your grip will improve. Keep at it. I started lifting a year ago with similar weight and now my grip is significantly stronger. Good luck!