YoBecca

I work full time, and pack a lunch every day. As I also have to deal with packing lunches for 2 kids, eating an on-the-go-breakfast, and sorting out dinner for a family of 4, I batch cook on Sunday as much as I can -- at least my weekday breakfasts/lunches, fresh veggies for the week, and some easy-to-grab protein/meat. I…

Hey! I have been wearing 2 every night for...a few years now. They aren't an instant fix, and if you are having active inflamation/pain, regular icing and stretching (not at the same time;)) are essential to getting it under control. But sleeping with the SS will help reduce the inflamation, help the pain go away, and help…

I would recommend seeing a chiro who works with athletes/sports medicine, or else a really good physical therapist. I was having serious lower back pain while doing SL, and my chiro got me tuned up in no time. Foam rolling your legs and hips can help with back issues also (as they are often connected). For the actual pain,…

Christine - FWIW I switched from traditional running shoes to more minimalist (NOT actual minimalist, but the more-minimalist Pure line from Brooks) and noticed a difference. I would consider lowering your weight a bit - you aren't JUST working your glutes/hammies/quads, you are also working all those tiny stabilizing…

My pre-half no-lifting rest is in effect until next week, but I did hit the kettlebells today. Been doing a circuit with a 25lb. bell that includes one-legged deadlifts - they're pretty fun, and b/c you do it for time w/o resting, you feel the burn. I like it. Qski - WORD on the mirror thing. It took me a few weeks b/f I…

Ditto what Dani said - form videos from someone who knows what they are doing > spotty advice in person. Squats with bad form will jank up your knees and back quick, so it's worth the effort to develop perfect form with just body weight squats before adding any weight. What worked for me (both in terms of tweaking my form…

Hey ladies!! I've been MIA for a few weeks - a perfect storm of crap events, paired with Halloween (which is a really big deal in my house). Halloween was all good fun, but the crap events included spraining my ankle a few weeks ago, which has kept me out of the gym, and being swamped at work (including hitting the office…

Never apply heat to inflammation - RICE is your friend. Try a shorter, slower run and see how it feels. The shoes may be the problem, but most likely it was going to long/too hard without training up to it.

Tonight was supposed to be a lifting night, but the hubs didn't get home until so late....too tired to go. So, I'll go tomorrow night after my kickball game. Frankly, I think the bod could use an extra day. But I'm running my last long training run this weekend - 11 or 12 miles - so I would be in better shape then had I…

Amyrebeccah - are you on the shorter side? I'm a shorty (5'2") and have a hard time stabilizing myself on bench unless I put something under my feet. I put a Reebok aerobics-type step with one level of riser on either side of the bench to put my feet on, which gives the effect of the bench being a few inches lower to the…

Form video looks great, Lydia. I see you powering through the same part that's killing me these days too, and I was worried about being too good-morningy there too. But if Bumble says that looks good, then that's what I'm gonna shoot for too! (I think I have more of a hinge than you - shoulders rise a bit more swiftly than…

I hear ya - I was on a plateau for the entirety of law school. I think preplanning your food, and packing all meals/snacks in advance, is the best strategy. Plan, before you shop, what you're going to have everyday for breakfast, lunches for the week, and a few snacks you can alternate. Stick to what you've planned. It's…

Are you *sure* that's the same guy? ;) You both look great, and what a lovely wedding pic!

The sort of ankle injury you've described isn't similar to achilles/heel/calf issues that come with, say, plantar faciaitis, etc. You can't really address an ankle injury with stretching. It sounds like classic overtraining, increasing mileage too much too fast. In addition to rest and ice, invest in some compression -…

I have noticed a stronger side, too - especially on squats, as the reps add up. Oy. Last night was w/o B. First, I had a cocktail party/reception thing - an alumni event for my law school - and despite the free booze/wine/beer, I stuck to non-alcoholic drinks so I could hit the gym after. I felt very virtuous. I did:…

Looking back, you say you go up in miles every week. I don't think it's a huge deal that you're at 11 this early - lots of people stay trained at around that distance. BUT, you shouldn't be going up in mileage every week - that's likely what's causing your injury (overtraining + going up too fast). A better plan, if you…

Give it some rest, ice it (put youself on a schedule, ice it 20 minutes every 2 hours or so). But it sounds like you need to give it some compression while you run and during your recovery. Get an ankle brace that gives a decent amount of compression and wear it during every long run, and for the rest of the day (at least)…

Yes, roars all around! I *finally* got some bumps tonight: Squat - still 5x5 @ 100lbs - still fighting for that form, and don't want to move up until I have it nailed. BUT Rows - 70 lbs., 5x5 and it felt easy-peasy! Excited to move up next time to 75 lbs, which is my current PR Bench - 90 lbs 5x5 - finally! after weeks of…

6550mom - I have been there. More than once - it's so frustrating. What has worked for me in the past has been pushing myself in a new way - I assume that it kicks the metabolism up (I'm no broscientist here), but it works. For me, that has meant (these are things I've done at different times, not all at once, but they all…

Congrats on the PR Lydia & congrats on pushing to failure Stef! Alicia - sounds awkward. :S Lifting-related NSV: at bootcamp we start and end each 4-week cycle with a PT test - 1 mile run for time, and 1 minute each of pushups, sit ups and dips. I've been struggling with pushups since starting SL. It has surprised me, b/c…

Another question - how many warm up sets do you guys do? I usually do one set w/ just the bar, one with something less than my working weight, then go to my working weight. (And body weight squats). That seems fine for most of the lifts, but w/ deadlifts that's just 3 total sets. (Well, I do 1 set of good mornings as…

Macy - I use Strong Log. It's very no frills, just lets you log, see your history, and your PRs. It doesn't tell you what to do. I just track what I do, and use the notes to keep track of ... notes (like when I fail at a higher weight or adapt anything).

Good point on the Halloween costumes - mine is a viking (whole family plan!), and there's a corset/miniskirt/boots situation.

Good for you! Stick with it - you will see and feel the results. My 2¢: As far as losing gains strength-wise, you won't. Even if, for example, you used to do 60 lbs on the OHP machine, you will be working harder and getting stronger doing a 45 lb. OHP with a barbell. Don't compare the numbers from the machines to the BB…

Curious to hear what you ladies' protein goals are, or what you're reading about protein goals. I don't actually know what my BF% is, accurately, so I can't accurately calculate my LBM. But, I'm getting 110-150 grams of protein a day from food (usually 120-135g), and my LBM is about 120 (ballpark? Based on a BS BF%, so it…

THIS! Mother of 2, full time employed here. I work out early, and have added weights at night. My usual week (notice I arrive home at 7:15, have to be out the door by 7:50 to get my son to school - that's tight in the morning. I premake my breakfast, and all lunches, and I eat and do makeup in the car.) 5:00 - wake up…

Guess who totally dominated her OHP tonight, ladies? That's right, ME! W/o B, and after doing OHP seated since the Great Back Eff-Up of the summer, I had no choice but to do them standing tonight (new gym, no bench with the right rack). I made some big form corrections after watching a few Rip videos, and they were NBD at…

Ditto here - this is why I'm sticking at my current weight until I'm the boss of form at it. THEN I'll move up. I have to focus on every. Single. Squat.

Re: protien powder - I haven't done it in a while, but I used to make coffee smoothies with it: cold coffee (I'd make extra the day before), protein powder (chocolate or vanila flavored), and ice in the blender. it would be like a frappe, and the protein powder sweetened the coffee. Not the extra caolories of fruit or…

I prefer Moving Comfort bras - the Fiona or the Juno. They adjust well as you lose weight, so you can wear them even as you drop sizes.