Thanks everyone!!! My actual birthday isn't till the 25th...hence why I had absolutely no clue and thought it a something related to valentines day, lol. He even baked me a cake... carrot cake, one of my favorites! Yummm! (needless to say the nutrition went a bit out the window this weekend, but oh well... back on track tomorrow!)
Thanks everyone!!! My actual birthday isn't till the 25th...hence why I had absolutely no clue and thought it a something related to valentines day, lol. He even baked me a cake... carrot cake, one of my favorites! Yummm! (needless to say the nutrition went a bit out the window this weekend, but oh well... back on track tomorrow!)
your bf bakes for you...to heck with nutrition!
Happy B-day!
Today's workout went pretty well considering I'm starting to get sick.
So 7B: Deadlifts:
3x8 @80lbs
Alternating sets: DB Shoulder Press:
1x8 with 15s
1x8 with 20s
1x8 with 15s
Lat pulldowns:
1x8 @65lbs
1x4 @75lbs, finished @65lbs
1x8 @65lbs
Alternating sets: Walking Lunges:
3x8 each leg with 10s
Ball Crunches:
3x8 with 10lb DB long-arm version
Notes:
-Deads felt rough but good... my form is getting better thanks to my trainer boyfriend :-) I felt it an awful lot in my quads though, wish I could feel it more in my butt, which is where I need to feel it, lol. But I'm proud of the three sets at 80!
-Had a hard time upping the weights on these... Tried the 20s and managed the set, but I felt like a tol cuz I couldn't curl the DBs to get them to my shoulders... so I had to do this weird little wiggle to get them up the starting position, lol. I knew I couldn't do them for the last set though, so I went back to 15s. I have to see if I can find 17.5s... that would be best I think.
-Pulldowns were fine, the plates are 15lbs each and they only had one 5lb thing to add to it, so I had it at 60plus the little plate, then tried to up it to 75... too big a jump and could only manage 4... need to find another small plate thingy (my terminology is sooo technical, haha)
-I liked the walking lunges a lot better than the back and forth ones... I felt a little more balanced. But my right knee was starting to hurt so I didn't push the weight.
-Ball crunches are getting a little easier... I think I was probably supposed to do more reps but I couldn't remember... oh well, I'll fix it next time.
So on a topic completely unrelated to fitness.....
My bf threw me a surprise birthday party last night with all of my friends that I haven't seen in sooo long! It was perfect! People drove well over 3 hours to come and I had no freakin idea! I know no one else cares, but I was really excited :-D
THAT is awesome!! Sounds like you got yourself a keeper there!!
Hey Girl!
I had carrot cake, too (last week, for my birthday) LOL! I think my Mom thought she was making me something more healthy, since the word "carrot" was in there!
How sweet of your bf to cook for you! Sweet!
Nice workout, too.
Quote:
But my right knee was starting to hurt so I didn't push the weight.
Way to listen to your body, that is the most important thing. I sometimes get a tweaky thing in one of my knees and start to pull back. Glad the walking lunges work.
__________________
Ginger
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." ~ John Bingham
Thanks guys!
Yeah my knees give me issues now and then... it's more consistently now though since I've been lifting. I might post about it in the injuries thread.
Anyway, today my motivation was sooo lacking. The weather here is sooo icky... I find myself looking for an ark since there's definitely a flood of epic proportions going on! I had to wade through a few oceans just to GET to the gym... oye.
Today was the last official A workout of Stage 1 (minus the special one). I also took 1 month pics that I will put in another post. I'm about a week behind the official challengers, so that's how I figure when I'm due for pics, haha.
Warmup: 7minutes on treadmill (walking 3.5), then bodyweight squats, side lunges, butt bridges.
Squats:
1x8 @65lbs
1x8 @75lbs
1x8 @70lbs
Pushups:
1x8 on floor
1x8 on 10"step
1x8 on Smith machine with bar at about mid-thigh height.
Rows:
3x8 @60lbs
Stepups:
3x8 with 5lb DBs, on a bench that was just below my knee-height (probably a little over a foot.. maybe 16 inches?)
Jack-knives:
2x12
1x9
Notes:
-Had to work-in with some big men on the squats.... I felt bad because they had to remove their THREE 45lb-ers from each side so I could do my lifts, haha. 75 was a new high for me, but form started to cave, so I went down to 70... that was a bit rough too...
-Pushups... well I was determined to try them from the floor... I managed, but I couldn't get all the way down, so my form was probably pretty terrible. Then I tried a step that wasn't very high off the floor... same problem. Went back to teh Smith machine for the last set and only barely eeked out the last few reps
-Rows are pretty solid.. couldn't find a mid-size plate to up the weight a bit, but that's alright
-Step-ups were better today. I like the higher step, it's harder, but I feel it more. I'm not as worried about "cheating" on these anymore. I try not to help with my back foot but sometimes I just can't make it play dead. That's ok though cuz I still use my working leg a lot more than the back leg, so I think I'm ok.
-Jack-knives... I dunno what my deal is.. I just can't finish my last few reps with these stupid things. My balance goes out the window and my abs are shaking too bad and I can't do them anymore... ugh.
Nutrition info I will try to post in a day or two.. I havea mid-term tonight I need to do some studying for so the food journal activities are on the back-burner for a moment. I'm doin pretty good though overall.
Thanks guys!
-Jack-knives... I dunno what my deal is.. I just can't finish my last few reps with these stupid things. My balance goes out the window and my abs are shaking too bad and I can't do them anymore... ugh.
Don't feel bad about this--I think this just means they're a great exercise for you and you'll definitely improve! Just be patient and I bet your strength gains will really show here the most in a little bit. (this is the world's most impatient person telling someone to be patient...so...I feel your pain, trust me!)
Great workouts! You're doing awesome. We're just about in the same place, workout wise--today I did 6B. Even though the thought of posting pics is quite shudder inducing. (for me! Not you. )
We should start a new thread of "for those not in the 'official' women's challenge who want to post pics".
Hey--I'm a February baby too. (the 18th). How sweet of your boyfriend. He cooks/throws parties for you/is also a trainer? Nice! Keeper material.
OK Here's my month 1 pics... I don't see a change and my scale weight went up by about 1.5lbs. I didn't take measurements.. probably should have. I took them about a week ago, but between now and then there won't be much change. I guess I'll post those as my starting measurements:
Chest (armpit level): 31"
Chest (Under bust): 29.5'
Waist (smallest part): 27.25"
Hips (At bone, where most jeans sit): 32"
Hips (~3inches lower than other measurement): 37"
Weight: 135.5
Height 5'4"
Pics (Left is start, right is current):
Sorry about the different sizes... I'm technologically retarded most times, lol
We should start a new thread of "for those not in the 'official' women's challenge who want to post pics".
Haha, I like that idea too! I really wish I could have taken part in the Women's Challenge, but came across this board just a little too late!
And great job on the workout, Kara! It looks like you're doing really well. Are you looking forward to moving onto stage 2? I'm only a few workouts away and can't wait, I'm definitely ready to start some new exercises.
We should start a new thread of "for those not in the 'official' women's challenge who want to post pics".
I like this idea too :-) I wanted to join the challenege but joined the forum seriously the day after it started... bah humbug, lol.
Thanks for the compliments guys! I really appreciate it!
Marygrace, I'm definitely looking forward to moving on.... I like that I can progress with the weights a bit on these exercises... but I am getting bored of them... can't wait to start something new.... however, those frontsquat-pushpress thingys look HARD!!!!
Kara, I see definitely a difference in your ab-area! Good job!!!
I 'm quite a few workouts away of stage 2, but I 'm looking forward to it too. Frontsquat-pushpress is a tiring exercise, but I like it a lot! I used to do it quite a lot because I like this sort of combination exercises. And euhm, lots of strange looks when you 're doing these
Notes:
-Had to work-in with some big men on the squats.... I felt bad because they had to remove their THREE 45lb-ers from each side so I could do my lifts, haha. 75 was a new high for me, but form started to cave, so I went down to 70... that was a bit rough too...
But, hey, you asked and got them to remove the plates instead of waiting and getting steamed that they were hogging all the stuff you needed again .
Great progress in your workouts and in your one month pics!
You look amazing... your before pictures are amazing and your after pictures are amazing I told ya, you working out is like polishing a diamond... only that diamond is getting a hell of a lot stronger hehe I'm always so proud of you love, keep up the amazing work.
Your pictures look amazing. You have wonderful definition and EVERYTHING to be proud of with that rockin' body!! Hope you are feeling better and good for you for making it through a tough workout when you weren't at 100%. Sometimes those make me feel the most proud! (in some sick way, I suppose. . .)
Keep up the hard work-I've really enjoyed reading your thread and seeing your progression with the workouts. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day! Did you get that sweet boyfriend of yours anything special?
Thanks Lorianne and Tracey!
As far as Valentines day, I sent him a card, lol. I'm not too big on Valentines day and since we live in different states now we won't see each other. Last year we cooked dinner for each other and the year before that we did little photo presents since we'd only been together like 2 months by then. But we have since agreed that valentines day is a rip off holiday made-up by the card/candy/flower people, haha! So next time I see him we'll do dinner or something, but nothing big... we're both poor grad students anway, lol!
This food update is well overdue.. it's been almost 2 weeks! Not that you guys probably even read all this food stuff anyway, but it's nice for me to put it all in one place with my workouts. So... backtracking all the way back to Feb 4th:
Monday 2/4 (no workout)
Total cals: 2042
Fat: 66g, 29%
Carbs: 262g, 48%
Pro: 117g, 23%
Tuesday 2/5 (workout)
Total cals: 2053
Fat: 76g, 33%
Carbs: 182g, 33%
Pro: 172g, 33% (All 33%... I thought that was cool, hehe)
Wednesday 2/6 (No workout)
Total cals: 1864
Fat: 70g, 35%
Carbs: 145g, 30%
Pro: 161g, 35%
Friday 2/8 (No Workout)
Total cals: 2420 (wow)
Fat: 81g, 31%
Carbs: 297g, 47% (double wow)
Pro: 128g, 22%
Saturday 2/9 (Workout... and surprise party, so tracking wasn't very good)
Total cals: 2009 (prob a low estimate, hard to track some of this stuff)
Fat: 54g, 24%
Carbs: 285g, 55% (wow...)
Pro: 104g, 21%
Sunday 2/10 (No workout)
Didn't track because we had so much random food at Bri's aunt's hosue I couldn't figure out how to put it all in fitday and was too lazy to try, lol... oh well.
Thursday 2/14 (No workout)
Total cals: 1893
Fat: 44g, 21%
Carbs: 224g, 47%
Pro: 150g, 32%
Obviously there were a few days in there where I could have been much better. Those happen to also basically be the days I visited the bf, lol. With birthday parties and going out to eat, and lots of homemade food I didn't know how to track, it was a rough weekend tracking-wise. But I got back on track this week for the most part.
I still feel like my carb numbers are really high some days... But I don't think I eat a lot of starchy stuff, so I don't know where it all comes from. Some is definitely from fruit, and a lot of it comes from my breakfast in the morning which almost always consists of 2 eggs, a glass of orange juice, and two pieces of toast. And I have a hard time getting in a lot of protein some days.
I don't know... I guess I just feel like it's such a rollar coaster with my eating. I feel like I'm always paying attention to it and watching it, but some days I take in a boatload of cals, others I don't, some days I have way too many carbs and little protein, and other days my protein is perfect.... so I don't know. The food is definitely the hardest part of this whole thing for me... Plus my weight went up over the course of the month... which I know I shouldn't care too much about, but contrary to what the bf tells me, I feel like I my belly sticks out farther than it used it. Not by a lot, but just noticable enough for me to be bothered. But this varies day by day as well so I don't even know if you can tell in my pics. Oye... I'm rambling, I'm sorry... I should stop, lol
Officially done with Stage 1 (except the special workouts) !!!!!!!!!!!
Warm-up: 5 minutes on treadmill at 3.8 pace, 5% incline for most of the 5 minutes
Deads:
3x8 @ 80lbs
Alternating sets of DB shoulder press/Lat Pulldowns:
DB Presses:
1x8 w/ 15s
1x8 w/ 20s
1x8 w/ 15s
Lat Pulldowns:
2x8 @65lbs
1x5 @76lbs, 3@65lbs
Alternating sets of Walking Lunges/Ball crunches
Lunges:
3x8 with 12.5DBs
Ball crunches:
3x12 with 12.5lb DB held long arm
Notes:
-Whew! That was a toughy! I think I'm starting to get callouses from the grippy part of the oly bar when doing deads. The last few reps of the 2nd and 3rd sets felt really difficult today, I probably should have went back down in weight a bit, but my pride wouldn't let me, haha.
-Couldn't find 17.5 DBs for the presses.. that would have been ideal, but oh well. I managed the 1 set with 20s better than last time, but it's a darn good thing I went back to 15s for the last set... barely got the last rep out.
- I feel a bit stuck with the lat pulldowns. I can't find another 5lb plate thingy to put on, the actual plates jump from 60 to 75, so I use one 5lb-er to get to 65, and 70 would probably be just right... but no such luck. So I managed a few at 75, but had to go back down to 65. Bummer.
-Went up a bit on the lunges today. Used 12.5 DBs instead of 10s. I felt more balanced, which is good, and felt them in my butt/hamstrings... also good. My knees are still a bit retarded... the bf needs to hurry up and get that doctorate so he can fix me, haha.
-Ball crunches... went up a bit in weight on these too and it was pretty difficult. Used a 12.5 DB since I had them out. Much harder than the 10.
Bye Bye Workout B with high weights! Next time I'm goin back to some pretty low weights... hopefully with very high reps!
This food update is well overdue.. it's been almost 2 weeks! Not that you guys probably even read all this food stuff anyway, but it's nice for me to put it all in one place with my workouts.
Oh, please do post it! I find seeing what other people are taking in to be very useful.
Have to dash now but will be back later for an actual comment on it.
What you posted was great...I just meant, "don't think people aren't interested when you post it." It must have come out weird. If you're able to post what you ate, that's cool too--I find it really helpful to see what others are doing, but it's up to you, of course!
I don't know... I guess I just feel like it's such a rollar coaster with my eating. I feel like I'm always paying attention to it and watching it, but some days I take in a boatload of cals, others I don't, some days I have way too many carbs and little protein, and other days my protein is perfect.... so I don't know. The food is definitely the hardest part of this whole thing for me... Plus my weight went up over the course of the month... which I know I shouldn't care too much about, but contrary to what the bf tells me, I feel like I my belly sticks out farther than it used it. Not by a lot, but just noticable enough for me to be bothered. But this varies day by day as well so I don't even know if you can tell in my pics. Oye... I'm rambling, I'm sorry... I should stop, lol
I hear ya. I feel like some psychotic split-personality freakazoid with the food thing! I swear I can eat the exact same things two days in a row and have the numbers come out differently.
At least he remembered, even if he got the day wrong.
HAHA! He knows when the actual day is, he wanted to make the party a little far from the actual day so I wouldn't get wise to it. Making it near-ish to Valentines day did the trick, I had no idea! He's a good thinker
Quote:
No, we want you to post videos of you eating the food.
Hmm, lol.. I could work on this! JK.
And Diane, I hear ya! I eat a lot of the same things and the numbers are sometimes so crazy... who knows. I really don't want to get overly anal about it... I need to have a life that doesn't revolve around food and tracking, and blah blah blah. But for now, I try... hopefully I'll get into a rhythm at some point.
And Diane, I hear ya! I eat a lot of the same things and the numbers are sometimes so crazy... who knows. I really don't want to get overly anal about it... I need to have a life that doesn't revolve around food and tracking, and blah blah blah. But for now, I try... hopefully I'll get into a rhythm at some point.
Excellent point! It is such a challenge just to go through a day knowing you are eating well and eating enough of the right things, etc., etc. . .
I've kind of abandoned my hardcore obsession with every 1/2 gram of everything I put in my mouth. I still keep track, but there is a fine line between tracking and adding too much stress to your life by being overly-compulsive! You've got a really good outlook on the food thing and it sounds like you are doing well with your eating.
I do not like these workouts! AMRAP is not fun! I was bored to deaeth but I definitely felt it. Ugh, not looking forward to the special B workout.
Anyway, enough complaining.... here it is. I didn't get as many on the squats that I thought I would, I'm a bit upset about that.. anyway:
Squats:1x34 with 2 10lb DBs
* now do them with about 70lbs Pushups: 1x31 using kitchen counter (about hip height)
*now do them at mid-thigh height Bent over rows: 1x60 with 10lb DBs
* Now do seated rows with 60lbs Step-ups: 1x40 eachleg, with bodyweight and 1 stair
*Now do them with a knee-high step and 5lb DBs (I hate these with a passion, I still feel wobbly as ever and somehow still think I don't do them right) Jack-knives: 1x15, tuck version. These aggravated the hell out of me! I think I've been getting worse at these, not better, and this proves it. My balance was all over the place. To be honest I think my legs gave out before my quads. And I know I'm not even working quads on this, but they were all shaky from the squats and step-ups and I just couldn't do anymore.... I'm really pissed about these.
Overall... not happy. But I was pleased with the bent-over rows. I probably could have kept going, but my biceps were feelin it (weakest muscle in my body, haha) They're still shaking as I write this, lol.
for me! Not you. ) 
Plus my weight went up over the course of the month... which I know I shouldn't care too much about, but contrary to what the bf tells me, I feel like I my belly sticks out farther than it used it. Not by a lot, but just noticable enough for me to be bothered. But this varies day by day as well so I don't even know if you can tell in my pics. Oye... I'm rambling, I'm sorry... I should stop, lol
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