SilentDrapeRunners Member

Also, you'll probably find that your energy and strength will decrease when you decrease your calories. I've noticed a slight decrease in strength/energy just dropping from 2100 to 1950. So if your workouts are fairly intense (and you want to maintain that level of intensity), you'll have to eat a sufficient amount to fuel…

I was at 2100 calories for the entire month of March. Gained about 3 pounds to get up to 107 lbs, which is good for me, but I'm going to slow it down a bit. So this week I dropped down to 1950, and my weight has been dropping every day this week. Probably just water weight I imagine. But my point is, don't be surprised if…

I've gained 5 lbs. in 12 weeks. The bulk of that was last month when I increased my calories to 2100

The original old-school Mcdonalds cheese danish. I can't find a picture of it :(

That's awesome, kudos to you. I've been tempted, but haven't yet (and probably won't ever be brave enough). Last year, I went to this weeklong conference for my job (with networking opportunities and such), and my boyfriend convinced me not to bring it, because weighing my food may not leave the best impression. He said I…

Good luck and welcome! I'm currently bulking/maintaining (I'm doing a few months of bulking then I do a month of maintenance, then repeat the cycle). I'll probably do this for the next year. But it's a work in progress since I just started bulking in January of this year. I'm still trying to determine exactly what my…

This diet sounds like the perfect way to crash your metabolism!

Makes sense- you have to make sure you've bulked enough, because otherwise it will just be an endless cycle of returning to where you've started. And you don't necessarily have to cut after you make it to 130 or higher- you can just maintain so that you're not losing your gains but also not gaining more as fat. That's what…

Well I'm new to bulking, so I'm no expert by any means, but it looks like you're progressing well. Maybe gaining a little quickly, but maybe not since some of the gains could be due to water weight, etc. If you feel good at the calories/macros that you're at, and you're progressing in your workouts (progressing in reps or…

I'm having the same difficulties as you, as you know. It is frustrating, and I agree the timing is not ideal. Especially when almost everyone else (but not everyone) is cutting right now. I think 'hey I want to cut too!' But I know that for me at this point in time, it's best to just stick to the bulking path. I figure…

So I started doing 3 cardio HIIT sessions last week. Prior to that, I was just doing 1 (sometimes maybe 2, but rarely). I figured that worst case scenario, I could just increase my calories or stop the cardio if I started losing. But actually I've just been gaining! And not just a little, a lot- in just this week I've…

Sweet, my bar weighs 13.2 lbs (not that it really matters for my progression, but good to know). My boyfriend actually mentioned it a couple days ago when I was complaining that I was a weakling- he said 'shouldn't you include the weight of the bar?' He also did some bench presses at the weight I've been doing and said it…

Hmmm, I've been lifting for about 8 months too (for the year prior to that I was doing strength training with dumbbells, etc.). When I started bench pressing I was doing 20 lbs. and now I'm at 40 lbs. 4x6. Yes, when I'm doing my 8-10 rep ranges, I BP 25-35 (depending if it's barbell or dumbbells). I don't count the weight…

I'm doing Mike Matthews's (muscleforlife.com) Thinner, Leaner, Stronger program. For example, for chest I'll do 3 warm-up sets, then do 4 sets in the 4-6 rep range, then 7 sets in the 8-10 rep range. Every week for each exercise I move up in reps. Then once I hit the top of the rep range I'll move up in weight. I am…

Question for all you lifting ladies: when you started lifting, how much were you bench pressing? (I just arbitrarily picked the bench press probably because it's my favorite but I could have picked squats, deadlifts, etc.). The reason I ask is because I'm bench pressing 40 lbs. right now and that seems really heavy to me!…

Also, vitamins/supplements could potentially help too. I've taken vitamins off and on, but never thought they really did much to alleviate my depression. But very recently, I've noticed an improvement in my mood/energy levels when I take them vs. when I don't take them (I take a multi-vitamin, fish oil, probiotic, vitamin…

It really depends on the person and the type of medication. For me, I've lost weight on pretty much all of the antidepressants I've been on (currently and in the past- and I've been on many different kinds). Some have caused more weight loss than others (stimulants). I do think that some meds have had an effect on my…

Yes, in general, cardio will result in muscle loss/lack of muscle gains. If your main goal is bulking (trying to gain weight/muscle mass), you should generally limit the amount of cardio you do. Having said that, if you do choose to do cardio, 20-30 min. HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts are best in order to…

Well I guess in his defense, he does provide very good, evidence-based information in his books and his online articles. And his supplement line is good too (a little expensive, but high quality). So I've trusted and agreed with a lot of what he's said until now. But I understand what you're saying completely, and I agree.…

I don't really have any important events or deadlines to meet. I guess my mind just has a tendency to revert back to autopilot mode/mindset which is 'gotta get more lean!' Especially since I've been working towards this for almost a couple years now. But I know I've made progress. And I think the best way to make more…

So I emailed my 'personal trainer' (not really my personal trainer, but the closest thing I'll get to a personal trainer at least while I'm making a meager salary and debt-ridden). Anyway, he's Mike Matthews- I've been doing his program for almost a year now and he's helped me out along the way- he responds to any and all…

Good point...I think that's true for me. I'm putting on weight (approaching 106 lbs., woohoo!), but I don't think my BF% is increasing as drastically as I feared it would. So that's good. So for now, I'm just going to remain at 2100 calories. I also upped my fat macro and decreased (not drastically) my carbs. That's really…

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming! Did I say somewhere that my periods are messed up (if I did, then I didn't mean to). To clarify, my menstrual cycles are normal- I have a period every month. So that's not an issue, luckily. Just curious, what do you think my body fat % is? I have calipers, but I really question their…