Stage14 Member

I continued with 5 lb increases (10lb for deads) until my first set of failed reps. Then I went back to the last weight I could successfully do, did that for one workout, and started upping by 2.5 for OHP/row and 5 lb for deads (I haven't hit that point for bench yet). When I fail next time, I plan to just follow the…

I used to just crank up my music and focus on me. But the truth is that after 2 years, I finally decided that it was better for me to spend the money and invest in home equipment. I truly think some people, like me, will never be truly comfortable at the gym no matter how silly it seems.

I wouldn't log anything that isn't intentional exercise, personally. But that's just me.

For me personally, convenience was a huge factor. I joined Anytime because there was one close to both my house and my work (I pull a lot of 14 hour days with a 2 hour dinner break). Neither have a huge selection of machines, but it worked best witH my schedule and it had the two things I actually really wanted (good free…

You can manually change your calorie goal itself under Goals (I beliebe that is where it is) instead of changing the weightloss rate. Find a TDEE calculator online (scooby's workshop has a pretty good one) and include your exercise in the activity level you pick (1 to 3 hours per week light exercise, or whatever fits you).…

Never ignore joint pain.

You can enter it in the Cardio section under strength training, but the truth is that there is no good way to accurately calculate weight lifting burn. The numbers are pretty low if you're lifting heavy and taking adequate rest periods in between each rep (at least for beginners), so you're likely better off not counting…

Weight loss is all about your diet. Exercise can help you maintain a bigger calorie deficit, but really the goal to working out isn't usually just weight loss because it doesn't work without the diet component. That being said, 20 minutes on the elliptical 3X a week is a great place to start with a workout.

I'm another advocate for free weights for 2 reasons. 1. You can get a full body routine done in around 30 minutes, 3 a week, so it does more in less time. 2. I never got results when I was using the machines, but saw results quickly once I switched to compound lifts with free weights (visible differences started showing in…

You body naturally fluctuates 3 to 7 lbs throughout any given day. Also, starting a new workout will cause a temporary gain in water weight because your muscles retain more water to repair themselves. In short, you likely didn't actually gain any weight.

You dont want to lose weight, you want to lower your body fat percentage. Up your calories so that your deficit is half what it is now to keep from losing more muscle, make sure you're getting plenty of protein, and start a full body strength program. You don't have to lift weights, but it will probably give you the…

I recently found a fantastic deal on a used weight set, so now I work out at home. But when I did the gym, I would walk there, lift free weights, then jog home. If the weather wasn't cooperating or I was working out straight after work, I'd do 10 minutes on the elliptical to warm up before lifting, then maybe the treadmill…

Other than your diet being very restrictive, I don't see anything you're doing "wrong". Are you NETTING around 1200 each day? As in, eating back your exercise calories? Eta: you could definitely eat more and lose more slowly while retaining muscle. I don't think 1200 is the Uber evil that some make it out to be, but if you…

Your goal already has a deficit built in, so you should be netting your calorie goal. Eating at a larger deficit can cause issues from accelerated muscle to nutrition deficiency when your goal is already that low.

If you're thin otherwise, you probably shouldn't lose anY more weight. Your best bet is to work on body recomposition to get your body fat percentage down. Try weight lifting or other heavy strength training.

Definitely deads and squats. I guess I'd probably pick OHP for my third because while it's the bane of my existence, it's got the most real world application of the remaining compound lifts.

I honestly hadn't thought much of it until now, but the only ones I see deadlifting in my gym are the girls who come in and work with the regular guys. There aren't really any other female regs in the weights area, but sometimes one of the guys will bring a sister/girlfriend/etc and coach them through a workout. They…

Look up dynamic stretches. They are designed to help "warm up" your muscles. Then once you're feeling a little looser, you can try stretching some and soaking in a bath of epsom salt (this is the best thing I've found for serious muscle soreness!). I wouldn't normally advise painkillers for sore muscles, but if you're…

I am also a super picky Eater and honestly I started out searching southern cookbooks and websites for veggie dishes that sounded at least palatable. Once I learned to eat cooked veggies in casseroles and sauces, it's been much easier to move to healthier sides. I now eat zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli…

If you can't eat a regular meal without puking, your body is completely out of whack. I think you need to talk to a nutritionist, stat. It sounds like you may have shot your metabolism and there is no way you are getting enough protein and fat with your current diet. That's important for more than just losing weight. A…

Not really, no. You aren't on my fitness "journey" or "adventure" anymore than I am on yours. We aren't sharing some special bond just because we happen to be running or lifting weights in the same general location. I'm not rude to people when I'm working out, but it does annoy me when I'm focused and straining at…

Sweat pants. Long in the winter, cut off into capri length in the summer. I just grab a generic pair from the mens section of walmart or the dollar store (with a drawstring) so they are really loose and not fitted around the butt. Not the most stylish gymwear, but if you're working out, who really cares how you look?

You arent gainjng muscle mass. What is 'not much' weight or inches? It may just be a matter of unrealistic expectations. However, your post also says you weigh things on occasion. If you aren't weighing things all the tune, my first guess is that you are eating more calories than you think you are.

I find I operate best with 4 days working out and 3 days resting. I usually put two back to back then space out the third one between the 4 workout days. However it all depends on what you're doing. When I was doing g c25k I rested every other day like the program says to.

I'm considering starting it again. I got through half of level 2 last time and got derailed. I was definitely seeing results with it though. And it is much tougher than you would think. You should feel proud!

If this big event is something like a weight loss competition at work, go with cardio. If it is something you want to look good for, start a heavy lifting program. It's much more effective for body recomposition, so while you lose more slowly, you get more visible change. By the way, 30DS is cardio. It has a strength…

What type of video was it? When I do something like Balerobica that breaks everything down into segments, I enter each one (12 minutes calesthenics, 7 minutes stretching, etc) into calorie calculator at healthstatus.com. I have found it to be pretty darn close when compared with my HRM. When I do something like 30 Day…

Just a note, but if the 45lb olympic barbell is too heavy for you, StrongLifts also has some suggestions on their site for female beginners. I've avoided doing 5x5 for the last year because there are certain lifts that I know I'm not up to an empty bar on yet after recovering from an injury. I finally actually read through…

It depends on what kind of dumbbells you have. If you have a selection of different weights that are heavy for you, then you can definitely see results. If you have a set of neoprene covered dumbbells in pretty colors that top out at 10lbs, then you probably won't be able to do much with those in a heavy lifting program.

These are my top 5 songs on my workout playlist right now. If you can't tell, I'm on a punk pop kick right now... Turn You Down - The Dollyrots We can't be friends - American Hi-Fi Hey Mario - Patent Pending Hooray for Beer - Bowling for Soup Take on Me - MxPx