[Celestialmom]

Originally Posted by beesknees

Been perusing the boards today especially the FLTS forum. I am just kind of cruising along right now eating 1600 calories a day and seeing what happens. I feel good and am not starving and my workouts aren't suffering for the most part.

Boy I haven't been here in forever and I've got lots of comments!!! Between travelling to Gettysburg, archery festival, and starting school I have been absent from most logs lately it seems...
Anyway, this is what I'm at also. Do you eat more on lifting days? I try to do 1600/1800 but I figured it at 140# and I'm down to 133/134 so I'm wavering about refiguring. I do like eating.

Originally Posted by beesknees

I was also thinking about the "its harder to lose the last 5 pounds thing." Full disclosure: I will admit that for most of my life, save 5 years or so, I was pretty okay with my body and my appearance. Okay enough to not really want a change. It wasn't until recently that I realized what I was doing wasn't going to cut it for much longer and the weight would keep slowly (read 2-3 pounds a year) creeping up. So I can not relate in any way with understanding what its like to need/want to lose more than 10-20 pounds.

That hit me after baby #2--I had always been able to eat what I wanted but all of a sudden I wasn't a teen anymore! But it took me till 2 years ago to realize that I really did have 20 (or more) pounds to lose.

Originally Posted by beesknees

I have been frustrated at times but I think everyone has. My weight doesn't seem to move a whole lot. I am encouraged though by the way some of my pants are fitting. I have some dress pants that have been a little loose since I have had them but they are getting to the point where I can pull them off without un-buttoning them. They probably look ridiculous and sloppy now. Not professional at all. I know this is a good thing but I would also love to see the movement on the scale even though I know how unimportant it is. Its hard to break free from it!

Amen sista! It is hard--but GREAT on the large pants! I actually just found a seamstress locally that will alter several pair of pants and shorts that are just too big for me also.

Originally Posted by beesknees

Last nights workout:

Stage 7 Workout 1, round 2

Barbell Squat:
8 x 95
8 x 95

Alternating Sets
Static Lunge w/rear Foot Elevated:
15 x 15's
15 x 15's
15 x 20's
15 x 20's

Push Up:
15 x BW
15 x BW
15 x BW - feet on step
15 x BW - feet on step

Rom. Deadlift:
15 x 55
15 x 55
15 x 55
15 x 55

Dumbbell bent over row:
15 x 15's
15 x 15's
15 x 15's
15 x 15's

Had TONS of energy. Must have been the spaghetti dinner from the night before! Either way this felt good. I was way tired at the end, but not as bad as in the past. Still a little sore after each of these workouts.

My in-laws are still in town and took us out to eat last night. I was so proud of myself. We went to Champps and I got a half Greek salad. It was about the size of a side salad and there is no way it was half of the full serving. No complaints here though it was just the right amount. Greens, chicken, red onion, cucumber, a few olives and a couple crumbles of feta with basalmic dressing. I haven't entered it on my counter yet but I am guessing it was within my range for the day. Going out to eat is always a challenge for me and I think I passed with flying colors. It felt good!

Originally Posted by beach_plums

Great workout! You're kicking stage 7!

I can't say that I've ever seen anyone vacuum the sidewalk either, but, growing up, there was a lot of watering the dirt--not trying to grow anything in the dirt, just watering the dirt.

Originally Posted by beesknees

More coffeeeeee.......and its only 8:00 am. Stupid Olympics! I keep telling myself to get to bed earlier but I just keep watching. At least gymnastics is over now.

Well Dh and I went on our usual bike ride last night. About 55 minutes - heart rate was consistently in the 150's, so that is about 75%. My legs were very tired. I wasn't necessarily sore from the lifting I did Monday, but they were most definitely fatigued.

Its been a busy week and I haven't had time to make some of my usual food I bring to work. I have been calorie compliant, but my macros are off. Higher on the carbs than I would like to be. After this week is over everything should be back to normal for a while. Tomorrow is DH's birthday so we will be going to dinner, then Friday morning some of our friends are coming to stay with us for our big party we are having on Saturday. I have already decided to just have fun and not worry about this weekend as hard as it already is even just thinking about it! Its funny though, even when I say I am going to not worry about it, lately I still do better than I would have in the past because I am conscious of it and seem to be more mindful about portions and have been making the best decisions I can. I think its something that just starts to become ingrained or second nature at least.

Originally Posted by beesknees

Well I got to bed a little earlier last night. Still want more coffee

Last nights workout:

Stage 7 - Workout 2 - round two

Incline Bench Press: (used dumbbells)
8 x 30's
8 x 30's

Bent over row:
8 x 55
8 x 55

Alternating Sets:

Dumbbell squat w/feet on plates
15 x 20's
15 x 20's
15 x 20's
15 x 20's

Shoulder Press:
15 x 20's
15 x 20's
15 x 20's
15 x 20's - whew! That last set is rough

Step up:
15 x 15's
15 x 15's
15 x 15's
15 x 15's - I think I can do more weight until I get to the last set.

Negative Chin Up (in lieu of lat pulldown)
I tried a real chin up and almost got there. Its getting closer!
1 x BW
1 x BW
1 x BW
1 x BW

After this another busy night! Grocery shopping for the party this weekend. I ate well yesterday, too. Today is DH's birthday. 27! Old man. Not sure what we are doing - he didn't know if he wanted to go out to eat or not. I bet we will. I will do my best to eat right!

On a side note, I have been holding steady with my weight for the past few days. I looked back at when I started this and my measurements aren't that much different. My hips and waist are a tiny bit smaller, but when I look in the mirror I look a lot different. Mostly though, I feel different. Just better. We will see for realz when I take pictures in a few weeks. I guess right now that is the best way for me to measure progress.

Happy birthday to dh!
Your weights on those Stage 7 workouts are impressive! Especially the shoulder press, lunges and stepups. I hope I'll be able to even DO all those reps when I get there...