mstawnya Member

That being said, I hate my butt too. :)

I think you look amazing! We are our own worst critics and sometimes I think it's worse when you put so much time into being healthy and working out because you focus on those troublesome spots. Try to focus on what you love. Look into your eyes, flex your muscles and know that you are just the way you are supposed to be…

Well, shoot. It looks like my version of pushups and lunges is like the Stage 2 version. Awesome numbers, girl!

Thanks! I lifted before New Rules, but only with dumbbells up to 20 lbs. max. I love the barbell! I feel like I've adjusted a few things (like the lunges & step ups) so I'm probably not following the book to a tee, but I feel good and strong! Sounds like you're doing great!

I struggle with those darn lunges. I want to add weight, but my balance is off when I alternate legs. So, I've been staying in one place, back foot on a bench and do all of the lunges on one side and then switch. I can feel them more in my hamstrings this way so I hope it's okay. Last week, I did walking lunges, but felt…

Holding steady with my beans each afternoon. Bedtime is still a challenge. I've been averaging 11:30ish and even went to bed at 9:30 one night. A little better than last week.

Workout 6A today: Squats: 125. I was dying to get to 130, but 125 was pretty tough today. Pushups: put my feet on a weight bench and lifted one leg up. Dare I say I"m liking pushups these days? Seated Rows: 110 lbs. I thought my arms were going to be yanked from the sockets at rep 7, but finished them. Step ups: 100 lbs.…

How old is your baby? It took me longer & longer to bounce back after each of mine (I have 3) and I still have loose skin and stretch marks on my lower belly. That's okay. It is what it is. Just keep working out, eating well, and doing your best. I think you look fantastic!

My weight lifting cals range from 230-260 including rest times. I just record what I did on this site, but put the calorie burn in as 1 cal so I don't mess with my numbers too much. :)

I've been following the book's guidelines as far as calories and eating back any cardio calories. If you're looking to lose weight, you'd just subtract some calories. I also have my macros set at 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat, but I don't follow the meal plan/recipes. I think you should choose whatever protein powder…

I'm doing great on adding beans each day, but the 11 pm bedtime has been pushed to midnight the last few nights. Ugh. I'm dragging and feeling it.

Question about the lunges: how do I increase the weight if I feel like my hands are going to be pulled out of the sockets? It's a wrist/finger grip issue when they just hang down at my sides. I'm using 25 lb. dumbbells to do the lunges. My ideas so far are to either put them up on my shoulders or to get a short bar and put…

Stage 1-doing workout 4 B tomorrow... Caloric Intake: Lift days: 1961, Non Lift days-1716, plus I eat back all of my cardio calories Lifting Days-MWF (I warm up with a 10 min. run and try to finish with a run as well-about 2 miles max) Cardio-lift days-about 20 min., non lift days-I take a class for an hour, sometimes run…

Thanks! I'll try that on Friday and see how it goes. :)

I've been taking a class at the Y on my off-lifting days and eating back all of the calories. I have to say that I don't give it as much effort as I did in the past (use lighter weights and maybe do jumping jacks instead of jump squats), but I enjoy it so I'm going to keep doing it as long as I feel good. I'm also trying…

I did my step ups in the squat rack yesterday too and it worked out pretty good. Now I feel like I can add more weight without ripping my hands out of the sockets. :) I was doing the step ups with 30 lb. dumbbells (super awkward) so I moved up to 70 lbs (including the barbell) and it was good so I went up to 80 lbs. for my…

Super smart! I'm totally going to do that with my kids today. :)

You are amazing! Congrats on your weight loss and dedication!

I pulled the step into the squat rack today and did the step ups with the bar & weights on my shoulders today. It was a little strange, but that way I could add more weight.

Fantastic! Congrats!

My grocery list always has these: spinach protein powder avocados bananas sweet potatoes eggbeaters cheese salsa blueberries Greek yogurt cottage cheese (high in sodium, but a good protein source)

I'm just starting my third week tomorrow, but have been doing cardio so far. On lifting days, I run a mile to warm up and a mile afterward if I'm feeling good. On off days, I've been either running or taking a class (but I make it more low impact). Good luck!

Last week, I did mine with a weight plate and even with 15 lbs. it felt light (and awkward to hold onto). Today, I held a 40 lb. dumbbell across my chest and that worked great. I did 20 of them that way because I felt good and will definitely increase the weight that way next time. Good luck!

I'm going to have to adjust my goals because I just can't give up my cereal. It would be like sending one of my kids away (which I sometimes want to do, but then they suck me back in with their sweetness). I'm going to call it a win though since I was eating 3 cups a day a couple of weeks ago. My "eat more beans" goal is…

Thanks! Trying not to get discouraged, but I don't want to wear bigger pants. :)

Welcome. I just started last week and am loving it so far. Still trying to squeeze in some cardio, but it's pretty tough.

I ate some beans! And they were good! Still gonna eat a bowl of my nightly cereal though. I need it!

I'm only in the second week and haven't measured anything, but my jeans were tight yesterday! Ugh. Surely I'm not getting all buff in 4 workouts? ;)

Sounds right to me. :) Sorry you had a jackknife incident-those suckers are tough!

Well, I haven't made any cereal progress (yet), but I am soaking some beans right now! :)