Kara's Lifting Adventure

[Littlemermaidklb]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

You look AMAZING!!! Way to go!!!! Your abs are definitely more defined, and I can see a big difference in the back view too, especially your waistline in the back view.

Thanks!! Being that my backside is my problem, this is good to hear, er.. read, hehe.

Originally Posted by sveta

Kara, you look GOOOOOD You're actually getting pretty close to your avatar my dear...you do have nice legs though lol
Great job girl!

Haha!!! This cracked me up! I'd need to lose 5 years, get bright red hair, and grow some boobs to look like my avi, but thanks so much!

Originally Posted by missjane

Nice Job, Kara!

Originally Posted by dillytl

Kara - you look MAAAAHVELOUS, ma'dear!!!!! AWESOME job!!!!

Thanks girls!!

Originally Posted by brianb

Everyone already pretty much said it all, looking amazing as you always do. My gorgeous muscle-bound girlfriend :-D

"Muscle-bound" eh? Hehe, that's almost like my mom calling me her "little bodybuilder" the other day Thanks for taking my pics again love!

[Littlemermaidklb]

I like this workout. Not quite as much I liked workout A of stage 3, but I do like this one.

A: Front squat/pushpress:
3x8 with 50lb barbell

B1: Step-ups:
3x8(e) with 12.5s

B2: DB 1-pt Rows:
3x8 with 25s

C1: Static lunge, rear foot elevated:
3x8(e) with 12.5s

C2: Pushups:
1x8 with Smith bar about 3 or 4 inches above knee height
1x8 with bar at knee height
1x4 with bar at knee height, finished to 8 at same height as 1st set

D1: Planks
120sec
100sec, 20sec

D2: Side crunch off back ext.
1x8(e) with 25lb plate (total oops! this was hard!!)
1x8(e) with 15lb plate

Tried some steady-state running at the end thinking that the HIIT I'd been doing might have helped... well it might have, but not much, haha. I have soooooo far to go to get where I need to be with my running, it's not even funny! I only managed to go about 0.4 miles (at 6.5mpr... took about 4 min) before I said screw it. How pathetic. I am definitely not in as good of shape as I thought!

Notes:
-I like the push presses... the last few reps are still pretty darn tough so I don't think I can up in weight yet.
-I tried to do better form-wise with teh step-ups today, really concentrating on the leg muscles. I still hate these with a passion!
-Static lunges I can probably go up in a little bit next time. Whichever leg I do first, when I switch legs the quad of the back one (the one that I did first) gets tweaky.
-Pushups were ok... my arms were shaking hardcare after those and the planks! Phew!
-Planks... I got SO CLOSE to getting 120sec on the 2nd one... but not quite. Ugh.. hopefulyl next time I can do it.
-The first set of side crunches was a fluke! I grabbed the 25lb plate because that's what I use to do the actual back extention with and since I was using the same piece of equipment I guess my brain decided to go on vacation for a second and forget what exercise I was doing. I managed to eek them out but it wasn't very pretty.
-Running sucks.... why must I learn to do this for fitness tests? Not a happy camper. Needing to be able to run 1.5miles doesn't sound like a big deal, but to someone who hates running.. well it's a big deal, lol. And I did it after the workout because for the fitness test it comes last... after sit-ups, a 300meter sprint, and pushups. Gotta get that endurance up before I actually have to take this thing! (Thank goodness it'll be at least 1.5 to 2 years before I do take it, hehe, but since I've got so far to go, I need all the time I can get!)

[Littlemermaidklb]

Just a "drive-by" post to say that after a lovely weekend with Bri (in which I did not track my food very well) I am back on track I think. I hit my cals and macros almost dead on.
Cals: 1986 (the year I was born, hehe)
Fat: 33%
Carbs: 36%
Protein: 30%
The timing of the meals wasn't great, but I got it all in by the end. The interesting thing is that I've been waking up STARVING recently... which Bri was happy about since he always wakes up starving and he was glad the first thing I wanted to do was eat too, hehe. Cuz I usually tend to bum around for a bit, and come on here before deciding it's breakfast time!

And btw... shameless plug for the boy's log... he started one recently and just posted his before pics (he just started NROL). He likes that I've been so motivated by the people here and everything so he figured he would start trying to commit to this place and a log a bit too. So go check it out and leave "constructive criticsm" for him.

[Kirjava]

Awesome workout, Kara! I'm so impressed with your planks. Plus, 50lb barbell push/presses? Nice!
Good job on the macros, too.
I also always wake up starving....it can make leisurely weekend morning brunches a real headache for me!

[brianb]

Originally Posted by Littlemermaidklb

And btw... shameless plug for the boy's log... he started one recently and just posted his before pics (he just started NROL). He likes that I've been so motivated by the people here and everything so he figured he would start trying to commit to this place and a log a bit too. So go check it out and leave "constructive criticsm" for him.

thanks hun you're the best... criticize away! *ducks*

[dillytl]

I just noticed your new member title "Mom's Little Bodybuilder" - I LOVE IT!!!!! That's awesome!

[Littlemermaidklb]

Originally Posted by dillytl

I just noticed your new member title "Mom's Little Bodybuilder" - I LOVE IT!!!!! That's awesome!

Haha thanks Tracey! When I was talking to my mom on AIM the other day she actually called me her little bodybuilder and I thought it was hilarious, so I used it. Her name is Tracy too btw... I'm trying to get her to join this place too... but she's too into her bodypump classes to start really lifting right now. I keep telling her than once I'm done with this program I'm giving it to her! She keeps telling me she's "too old" to do a "lifting program" but I keep telling her I'm about half everyone else's age on here and you're all kickin my butt and putting my weights to shame! So we'll see what happens!

[GinnyLou]

Oh Miss Kara! Now that I am away from the evil work computer that won't allow me to view pictures, I just took a look at your pictures. You are feeling a difference, because there is a very noticable change going on! I would steal from small children to have a waist like yours and your upper body looks strong and that has to feel good. You are changing your entire body and you seriously look strong. Too cool.

[Littlemermaidklb]

Ginger you are too sweet! Thank you! I just wish I could squat/deadlift myself like you can! There's a definite change in your pics too, you're doing sooo great!

[SpacecityPaula]

Fantastic Job Kara!

[Littlemermaidklb]

Today's workout felt Great! And as I was coming out of the gym I got a picture text message and some great news! My guidance counselor from high school who I've kept in touch with for the last few years, and his wife just had their first baby!!!! An absolutely adorable baby boy named Colton! Too cute for words
Anyway, here's the workout from today:

A: Deadlifts:
3x8 with 85lbs

B1: BSS
3x8(e) with 20lb DB

B2: UG Lat pulldowns:
3x8 with 80lbs

C1: Reverse lunge from step:
3x8 with 15s

C2B Cuban:
1x8 with 7.5s
2x8 with 10s

D1: Ball crunches:
3x8 with 12.5lb DB longarm

D2: Reverse crunches:
2x8 on the floor

D3: Side crunch off the back ext:
1x8(e) with 15lbs
*some old guy was hoggin the apparatus for my 2nd and third sets so I didn't do them... but that's ok cuz my sides were killing me today anyway!

HIIT (for the first time in what feels like forever!)
5 intervals of 1min hard,. 1.5min at 3.5mph
intervals 1-3 at 8mph, 4 and 5 at 8.5mph

Notes:
-I've hit a bit of a plateau with the deads I think. I can lift it, but I think my form could be better... so I'm stuck here for a while
-Went up in the BSSs, which was pretty exciting!
-Felt a little wobbly on the reverse lunges, otherwise I might have gone up a little in weight.
-Ab stuff went well, nothing too thrilling to speak of.
-UG lat pulldowns.. I like these a lot. I just wish there was another 5lb increment weight... the next jump is to 90lbs, which I am SO not ready for!

[kfisherx]

Kara great workouts!!! You are definately making good progress especially for being on a deficit.


It is funny but when I typed your name, I typed Karla. So many other people on here call me Kara. Now I see why. Names are so similar.

[Littlemermaidklb]

Thanks Karla!
Yeah I've seen people call you Kara in your log and I wondered if your name was Karla or Kara so I just didn't call you anything for fear that whichever I chose would be the wrong one!
Thanks for the compliment! I'm not really trying to eat at much of a deficit. It just sometimes happens that way. And other times I go a bit over. For the past week or two I'v tried keeping the cals down by only about 100-200, which isn't too big a deficit. I haven't noticed any change since I've been doing things that way, but my monthly friend paid me a visit during that time too, and we all know she tends to screw everything up anyway! So for now I just keep on chuggin away... hehe

[dillytl]

Your mom should SO join!! Then we can have you, your mom AND your honey on here together!!!!

[brianb]

Originally Posted by dillytl

Your mom should SO join!! Then we can have you, your mom AND your honey on here together!!!!

I for one love that idea and I'm stubborn like woah and you got me to join so your mom can't be that hard babe haha