awkwardsoul Member

derpderpderp, still can't squat/deadlift with knee pain. I'm just a basket case of injuries. I decided to try more volume again but with that pyramid technique. It was much easier than doing 20 to 50 reps of terror. OHP 1x5 45/45/50/52.5/55/57.5/60/62.5/65/70lbs Bench 1x5 45/45/60/65/70/75/80/85/90lbs Dumbell Rows 1x20…

I'm guessing you aren't eating enough, especially since you are doing a lot of activity. I weigh 30 less than you and I'm eating the same amount on lifting days and I only lift 3 times a week and don't do any cardio! When I started I wasn't tired, just DOMS pain for a few weeks. Calculate your TDEE/BMR, dont' use what MPF…

I'm totally the accident prone type of person. Somehow I messed up my knee while I slept. I decided I'll just do upperbody volume today as squatting bugs my knee. I got inspired with Alan Thrall's video on plateau on 5x5 that I wanted to try it out his program suggestions. Turns out, volume is hard! I was trying for 50…

Squats 5x5 150lbs (warm ups 2x5 45lbs, 1x5 95lbs, 1x5 130lbs). I think my body isn't used to getting warmed up as fast. My knees were still stiff at the start of work weight and I had to wrap them again. I was planning on jumping 10lbs to 155lbs but with my knees I just went up 5lbs. OHP 5x5 60lbs (warm ups 2x5 45lbs) -…

I rest. However, lifting is my main activity and I dislike cardio. I used to do yoga on my rest days (well, everyday) but I jacked my back doing yoga so I'm undecided if I'll start again or not. I used to also do brazillian jiujitsu on off days but I quit that due to various reasons. I might work on my grip (hangs) on my…

I was planning to take the weekend off but I was bored tonight and felt like doing something. That and I wanted to eat a little more, and a nice chocolate whey drink sounded nice. Hey, I swear the ON Extreme Milkshake flavor tastes like a Wendy's Frosty blended with soy milk and ice. Squats 5x5 145lbs (warm up 2x5 45lbs,…

I feared today's SL - it's all the exercises I was told not to do with a messed up back, with deadlifts being the worst out of them all. My back is feeling 100% after my last lifting session (after a 5 week break) so I felt I was ready. Squats 5x5 135lbs - I tried 105lbs first, a 10lb increase from last session, but it was…

A lot of women will use fixed barbell or dumbells until you can work up to the 45lb bar. I started with 35lbs fixed barbell myself. Maybe your gym has a women's bar - those are thinner (great for small hands) and not as heavy (15kg/ 33lbs) I would highly recommend you get fractional plates for OHP - so go up 2 or 2.5lbs…

Yes and no. The error of SL is there's not much in volume, but if you are doing low weight you aren't building strength. Though it really depends on what your goals are. If you are trying to look more cut, then that's diet. Maybe switch to a more bodybuilding program like ICF or StrongCurves. If you are stalling out…

Back at it again, fingers crossed my back feels fine tomorrow. I've been feeling 100% for a week so I felt I was ready. I took the 50% deload on squats, and only a little deload on upperbody, since I've been doing upperbody only the last few sessions. Squats 5x5 95lbs (warm up 2x5 45lb). Really easy but I was really…

I've never heard it called that term before. Anyways, this video address/corrects it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB8KekoCeNg For me, keep your chest up high (as you should) and focus on leg drive.

I thought my back would be better by now, but it seems I've been having good days and bad days this week. I decided I'm going to lift, but no back stuff. All I need is to throw in some curls, and I'm bro'n it up as it's all chest and arm stuff until I get back to normal. Bench Press - 2x5 45lbs, 5x5 75lbs - easy peasy.…

I find cardio really really boring. I did BJJ for awhile but got tired of being injured and treated poorly in class. It's one of those "I enjoy it so I'm sticking to it" things, which I need to get some exercise in. I like beating my own lifts and a bit of competition with others, plus I find lifting helps me stick to my…

I've been out a few weeks after buggering my lower back on yoga (man it confused people I got hurt in yoga instead of lifting!). I've been feeling good for about a week now and decided to give lifting a try with light weight to see how I feel. It went alright though a little stiff in the back. Maybe next week I'll open up…

Hell yes! Squats 5x5 - 215lbs - working back to 225lbs, warmups 2x5 45lbs, 1x5 135lbs, 1x3 175lbs. These went really well. My form weaknesses still is my slouching, especially when the bar is heavy, so I worked on really keeping my chest up. No weird knee breaking first this time too. Bench 5x5 - 105lbs! - YESSSSS a 5x5…

I'm a tea blogger (oolong owl represent!) I have over 500 teas in my collection. I'd say my favorite sellers right now are Mandala Tea, White2Tea and Lupicia. I'm more of an oolong and pu'er drinker. No milk/sugar usually and I prefer steeping with a gaiwan. My tip is to buy SAMPLES. Buy no more than 1oz/30grams. I avoid…

Oh yeah a deload day, everything is easy! Squats 5x5 - 215lbs - working back up to 225lbs. warmups 2x5 45lbs, 1x5 135lbs, 1x3 175lbs. I had a couple reps that I bent the knees first instead of the hips, so I went down weird like a high bar, thus went up weird. Bleh maybe I'll redo 215lb. OHP 5x5 - 70lbs - working back up…

Pretty late lifting session since I had to go do errands during dinner time, bleh. I got an early start tomorrow too, so fingers crossed I'm not all stiff in the morning. Squats 5x5 - 210lbs - 4th attempt. Warm ups 2x5 45lbs/ 1x5 135lbs / 1x3 175lbs. These went really well. Figure I could of just did 215 but decided to…

It seemed I did my challenges well - didn't over eat or die during my conference and I still stuck with my one cheat day this month. I tracked everything so far and kept my streak. I also was great at lifting 3x a week. On not-feeling-great days I still worked in grip work and working on DL form. I didn't get to 220lb DL…

Last lifting session of the month! And my shark week is still killing me. Squats 210lbs 5x5 - working back to 225lbs - warmup 2x5 45lbs/ 1x5 135lbs / 1x3 175lbs. Did it but I want to repeat it yet again as I wasn't happy with form on the last two sets. Mostly fatigue and feeling faint again. OHP 3/1/3/1/3 80lbs 3rd attempt…

For some reason this month's shark week is just killing me, even days before I was feeling beat up despite taking my vitamins and eating for it. I've been doing daily yoga and missed yesterday due to shark week of horrible, so I did a long session today when I sort of felt better. I was getting light headed when I…

MFP's numbers are too aggressive, I like IIFYM's better. The extra protein I find helps fuel me better and less feeling like crap on rest days. Or at least calculate your BMR and TDEE. If you aren't already, use plates smaller than 2.5lbs so you are going up slower. Study form most importantly. Both lifts if you are doing…

I finally had a day where I failed everything and it wasn't too bad. At least for 2/3 it was progress despite the fails. Squats - 5/5/5/5/3 - 210lbs. Working back up to 225lbs. Warm ups - 2x5 45lbs / 1x5 135lbs / 1x3 185lbs. I actually got 5x5 here but my last two reps are horrible form, like I was zigzagging up. Figure…

Have you tried using smaller plates since you've been stalling? Like drop down to 1.25lbs or 2lbs increases instead of 2.5lbs or 5lbs? I think a big thing to consider in your case, which I heard some ladies report on reddit/xxfitness, especially if your body weight dropping fast is that you might not be able to lift as…

whoops, I forgot to log last night's lifting session. Squats 5x5 - 205lbs - working back up to 225lbs - These were easy, like I took the short break easy. I also adjusted the warm up session to be less, which I think has been killing me in the past. Bench 5/5/5/5/3 - 100lbs - working back up to 105lbs - my elbow was doing…

Booo, had a really crappy lifting session today. Squats 5x5 - 200lbs, deload from 225lbs - I was crazy and decided since I've deloaded that I should get ATG, which made this much more difficult since there was no bounce at the bottom. I don't know if I will keep striving to do ATG, it's not necessary and I typical do a…

If you are new to lifting I'd do 5x5 to start - you will get more reps in to learn the form better. Admittedly, I think a weakness of SL 5x5 is there's isn't enough volume to learn form, 3x5 would be much worse! I've been doing SL 5x5 on a deficit since January and doing good. You will get hangry on rest days once the…

Counter to point c I squat and deadlift heavy - I've worked up to 5x5 225lbs as my last work weight. My thighs and calves are getting smaller. I am also drinking protein shakes, casein and eating high protein. Tired of hearing a counter to this of "well my female body type is special and I will bulk." Unless your special…

Back from having achey hip/knee! I did yoga every day for 5 days and I think it helped a bunch on my shoulder flexibility. I was banging out shoulder dislocations more narrow than before and squat warm ups I had the bar lower than usual. Squats 5/5/2/2/2 - 225lbs 3rd attempt - and nope, these were not happening. At least…

I saw a reddit post awhile back that the consensus was if there was indeed women who get bulky just from lifting heavy they should lift just to prove it. As it is false unless you are eating to bulk and taking hormones. Normally we have the testosterone to pull it off.