gixbr Member

Thanks for the tip. I think my problem is forcing my back backwards when my hips are not there yet so I end up just squeezing my lower back. I feel pain even when practicing at home without the bar. It's not the worst injury, it only hurts while I'm doing it and maybe a couple of hours later, but it's gone the next day. I…

It's very overwhelming when you start, there are so many opinions out there, but you have to know sometimes there isn't one right answer, a lot of things work well for different people even if it's the wrong approach. An example of the things I struggled with in the beginning: - About doing cardio: Cardio or no Cardio?…

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep working on mobility and will use the bar only for now. I'll also try to record myself at the gym and post it in the form check thread.

1- I was so afraid to hurt myself when I started. I did my first row and already thought I shouldn't be doing that. But I kept going anyway, watching videos on youtube and reading about form has helped me tons. I'm not afraid of hurting myself anymore, I know my limits and I don't push them too hard if I don't have a…

It will, but it will also use up some of your muscle which you need to keep burning calories. That's why it's recommended that you do strength training + eat enough protein so you lose mostly fat and keep the muscle you have. The iifym calculator tells you how much protein/fat/carbs you should eat to maintain your lean…

Sounds reasonable, it looks like you are on the right track. When did you start and have you seen a good constant weight loss?

I was looking for this post. Definitely read this and the one about setting your macros: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets OP, I've read a few times that starting with TDEE - 30% when you have a good amount to lose is a good starting point. And adjust it from there.

No need to sigh. Like I agreed with someone else here, I think it will be ok for now but it can affect her metabolism if she keeps eating way below her BMR until she reaches her goal weight. I know super overweight people are put on a 1000 calories diet by doctors, which is necessary. I'm just trying to make sure she…

If that's really your BMR I envy you and beg, PLEASE PLEASE don't mess it up. Eating less than you are supposed to will just mess up your metabolism, and when you hit 30 like me, you will wish you hadn't damaged something that is so important for maintaining your weight. Because I didn't know better and was on and off…

I second the bodyweight workouts and other than that maybe try to walk everywhere as much as you can. Walking is a great way to know a new place. It really depends on the destination but you should be able to incorporate cardio in your sightseeing. For example when we were in Paris we walked like 30,000 steps a day, in…

You'll lose body fat if you eat on a deficit, heavy lifting and tracking your macros will help you keep the LBM you have. Cardio is not essential but will boost fast loss because it's burning calorie, although it's not necessary if you already on a deficit.

I don't know about Shred, but judging by the name I imagine it's all cardio. I do Body Pump and it's more endurance training than muscle building because of the lower weight + high reps + no rest between sets. I still like it though but from what I've learned here, I know I won't be building muscle soon doing Body Pump…

This is silly but can you be in this position without falling on your back? http://crossfitexp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/mobility-squat.jpg I was having lower back pains every time I tried to squat deep, like I was supposed to and started doing leg press instead while my back healed. I then heard about something…

Right???? I think the problem (for me) is, my body holds on to the weight until one day I lose like 4lbs at once, it's happened several times to me but when it's been 3 weeks and I'm working my *kitten* off at the gym and having great workouts I'm really hoping to see constant changes and get disappointed when I don't. As…

I want to hate you for that but that's just badass of you, congratulations! :flowerforyou:

Thanks everyone for all the replies, it's nice and encouraging to read about others' success and struggles. Sometimes it's kinda depressing when you see stories about girls eating 1800 cals a day, lifting only 3 times a week and with "the fat just melting off". Why not me too?!!?! :sad: The constant question in my head is:…

I just wanted to point out something that others didn't mention, for me the big difference between Pendlay rows and Bent over row is that your body should be parallel to the ground with your butt sticking out. I don't worry too much about touching the plates on the ground because I'm still on 80lbs but I go as low as I can.

We had a discussion recently about this topic on the 5x5 group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1245627-cardio-how-much Looks like finishers are a good addition to your workout routine. I myself run on the elliptical for 15 mins after every workout and sometimes I use the elliptical again on off days for about 30…

Eventually you will find out that everyone has a different opinion on which one is the best, also your taste will play a big part on this. I've gone through 4 different brands and here's what I found out about my taste on protein powders: - Non whey protein doesn't mix very well with water/milk and the texture is a big…

I use Fitocracy and love it. Like you said they kind of turn into a game and it's fun to get points and level up when you log your workout. I also like that they have a description of the exercise and a video showing the right form. I log my warm up exercises, accessory and cardio.

I'm a broken record because I've recommended the same thing over and over :laugh: but since you have questions about protein intake, etc... I was a total newbie and reading 'The New Rules of Lifting for Women' really helped me understand the basics of weight lifting, specially for women. It was hard to keep up with all the…

Thanks for the info on the barbell complex, auddii. Doing a google search for Chad Waterbury I found this article: http://chadwaterbury.com/finishers-for-fat-loss/ It seems like a cardio routine to burn that extra fat after your workout. I've been doing 15 minutes of elliptical after my lifting routine and I might try…

I'm just going by what the program says: "Common time for the workout is around 1.5 hours.". I also saw another user here who mentioned it takes her 2 hours sometimes. You might not rest as much between sets.

Some people around here have mentioned this program a few times: http://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/jason-blaha-ice-cream-fitness-5x5-novice-workout I picked two exercises from the list that I wasn't already doing ( the whole workout takes 1.5 hours, yikes) and have been doing Tricep Extensions and incline curls…

I think there are a lot of people here who have a lot to lose, myself for example. My goal is to lose around 40lbs but that was before, now I want to get in to a size 6 jeans and will be happy with my weight when I get there. I'm overweight and only started SL two weeks ago but I already feel stronger and pants feel a…

I recommend you read New Rules of Lifting for Women. I don't follow their workout plan but it's such an educational read about heavy lifting for women, they explain all the "science" behind strength training and why all women should be doing it. After you're done reading the book you should "innocently" bring up the…

Please tell us your secret.

One of these three options : a chef, has a chef roommate/girlfriend/boyfriend or has a lot of money to eat out every day. I ruled out #3 because the plate is always the same :D #jealous

Yesterday was my first day on SL and I dislike Pendlay rows already. It didn't hurt my back but it put a lot of unnecessary stress on it, I can only imagine it gets worse when I start lifting heavier. I was looking for an alternative and landed on this post. To the people who do inverted rows on the Smith machine, how do…

Hi Bryanna, I'm just starting SL and I have pretty much the same concerns and questions as you do, we almost have the same weight loss goals too! I've done the lower weights/high reps workouts in the past and they have worked great for me but this time I really want to try something different so I'm trying to push back all…