valerieschram Member

I second this book! It saved me when I had twin babies and no sleep schedule. At your child's age, all 4 of my children were going to bed around 6:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. and took 2-3 hour naps. I can't recommend that book enough!

I don't think it's harder to lose weight, but I do find that I have to be at a much lower weight to feel comfortable with my body. I have friends who are hourglass shaped and weigh more, but look great because of where the weight falls. If I am even a few pounds overweight, I look it.

Yes, this has happened to me a few times. Looking down while squatting is apparently a controversial and unconventional way to squat.

"Into the Wild." I didn't hate the book, but the movie actually had more details.

I like everything bagels with lox and cream cheese. Sweet bagels just seem wrong to me!

There are too many good books out there to pick just one! One of my all-time favorites is "The Poisonwood Bible." There are also a lot of books that I have read that were very eye-opening that I think everyone should read, but that are not necessarily page-turners or fun to read! I would include among them, "The Jungle,"…

I went to a wedding once where the couple had small bottles of wine with their own label on it. They created and bottled it themselves--not sure where they did this. I can see brewing your own beer too. It was memorable and not a trinket to junk up your house.

My favorites are butternut squash risotto, butternut squash turkey chili, and butternut squash and chicken tagine: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-risotto-2/detail.aspx http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-and-turkey-chili/detail.aspx http://www.bhg.com/recipe/chicken/chicken-and-squash-tagine/ (I…

I like RunKeeper. It even gives you verbal updates every 5 minutes regarding your distance and pace. It really encourages me to haul *kitten* to beat my pace. I have shaved a minute off my mile time using it!

I pack a lot of fruit (apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries). I also do dried fruits (mangoes, apricots, cherries). Sometimes, I will fill a small container with frozen fruit and a few dollops of yogurt. By lunch time the fruit thaws and the yogurt has been kept cold. I also pack baby carrots, slices of cucumber, and…

I think I am going to start doing SL just 2x/week. I might do something with higher reps. that involves more muscle endurance for my 3rd strength workout each week to change things up. Not quite sure exactly what I'll do. Any suggestions?

Back to the gym today after a 2 week vacation. I guess I should deload a little and ease myself back into it? I'm not quite sure how much to deload. Maybe I will just see how heavy my most recent weights feel first.

Completed my last June workouts: Squat - 85, OP - 55, Dead - 120, Bench - 65, Row - 70. I am going on vacation for two weeks, so I won't be able to lift. Does anyone have any good suggestions for a body weight workout to do while on vacation? I've searched a little on google. Some routines I found did not seem to be…

Still here! Squats-85, Bench-65, Row-70, Overhead-55, Deads-120. I have also added assisted pullups and dips to the end of my workouts with the hope of one day being able to do them unassisted!

I generally do light cardio after lifting (like recumbent bike, elliptical on moderate level, or walking). I do heavier cardio on non-lifting days (long runs, interval running, intense elliptical). Altogether, about 6 days of cardio a week. I just enjoy food and drink a little too much and like to have the extra exercise…

My last May numbers: Squat - 85 Bench - 65 Row - 70 Overhead Press - 55 (After 6 long weeks stuck at 50, I finally moved up!!! Taking up to five minute long breaks in between sets and a 6 day rest seemed to do the trick.) Deadlift - 120

I will be at the beach Friday and Monday, so these will be my last May numbers: Squat: 85 Bench: 65 Row: 70 Overhead Press: 50 Deadlift: 120 I went up a little in everything except for overhead press. I guess I need to get some fractional plates to move up any.

Do you add it to the end of A or B or both?

I was just curious as to when you were adding pullups and dips. Do you do it at the end of workout A or B or both? I would like to add these in also. I don't want to overwork any muscles, so I wanted to know if anyone had an opinion about when to add them.

I have seen them on Amazon.

I think I keep my elbows closer to my body too, and they sort of move behind me instead of out. I am still not sure if this is right or not!

I don't do any. These lifts already work your core. I also have separated ab muscles and a belly button hernia and a generally messed up ab area from having twins and two additional kids w/in 5 years (all by c-sections)! I can't really do crunches and stuff like that because it makes the ab separation worse. Hopefully,…

My May #'s: Squat - 75 Bench - 60 Pendlay rows - 70 Overhead press - 50 Deadlift - 115 (my bodyweight, yay!) I definitely haven't added 5 pounds every week--can't do it without my form suffering. I am ok with that.

I did a week long safari in Kenya followed by a week at the beach in Zanzibar and Pemba (islands that are part of Tanzania). I've also been to Egypt, Grenada, Panama, Jamaica, Mexico, Russia, lots of other European countries, and lots of states. I haven't really gotten a chance to tour Asia and Australia part of the world…

Take a plain hummus recipe and add cilantro and jalepeno (Whole Foods makes a great cilantro jalepeno hummus too). I also like plain hummus with siracha sauce mixed in.

Bump to hear responses.

Old Navy has some really cute and affordable suits. I have this one and love it: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=52005&vid=1&pid=898516&scid=898516012.

I thought your squat looked pretty good. I would also like to know how you can tell if you are using your hip too. I too have read the 46 debriefing on Squats! I have found that when I look down a little (imagining there is a tennis ball under my chin like Rippetoe suggests), I do feel it engaging the posterior chain more…

Thanks! I think I will just go with slow and steady and skip the bulk/cut then. There is something unsettling about purposefully putting on weight after you've worked so hard to get it off!

I actually posted a question related to this on the general board, but I only got one response. I think I will now try you ladies, while we are on the subject. My question was about strength training while in maintenance. I do not wish to lose any more weight, but I would like to have a lower bf%. Will strength training…