When the Log rolls over...

[foodfromafar]

Sounds like you're making a great plan. It's great that you're learning how to adapt your workout schedules to fit your travel schedule. I hate it when I can't make it to the gym because of schedule conflicts.

[Bytsi]

Good plan - and welcome back from your trip!

Do you think cutting 300 kcal during stage 7 will be too much? Seems like stage 7 is SO hard and intense, I'm not sure I could handle a cut of calories during it!

[beach_plums]

Thanks Pauline and Bytsi.
Somehow, in my mind, doing the calorie cut in stage 7 when the focus is fat loss seems like a good idea. I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. It does look hard, but I want to really take advantage of the fat loss. We'll see how it goes.

Speaking of hard...I just did stage 6 A for the first time. I had no idea that four exercises could hurt so much! Here's how it went:

Negatives: I did chin-ups instead. 2 sets of 2, 1 set of 1. I just couldn't get that second one up for the third set.
lat pulldowns: I think I did 10 sets. I'm pretty sure I did 2 sets of 2 @ 129lbs, 5 sets of 3 @ 112 lbs, 2 sets of 2 @ 112 lbs, and 1 set 1 @ 112 lbs. Not exactly how it was written, but on the second set @ 129, I didn't get the bar all the way down. The next handful of sets, 112 was too light, then got hard. The lat pulldown station doesn't have anything between 129 and 112, so I compromised and did sets of 3 until I couldn't anymore.
Barbell Split squat: 1 set 10 @ 45lbs, 1 set 10 @ 50lbs. My legs are still shaking! I'll go for 55lbs for the sets of 8 and go from there
2 sets of 10 pushups on the floor. I can't decide which method to use to make it harder for the 2 sets of 8 next time around. I think I might be leaning towards holding in the down position for 2 seconds.

Afterwards, I was feeling pretty good--silly me--so I shot some baskets with bf. I did horribly! My arms were so heavy and jell-o-like.
Came home and tried an new rice protein; I like it much better than the other one I've been using. I think I'll get the new one from now on (I had a sample)

Good thing today-watermelon. We bought 1/4 of a watermelon on the way home. We've already polished of half of it. It's delicious!

[Bytsi]

I can't wait to try stage 6 - may be sooner than I think if I get sick of stage 5 too quickly!

[Celestialmom]

Hey, great job staying on track through upheaval and traveling! That's the hardest so kudos for you! The fact that you're not expecting miracles and a 2#/week weight loss, gains in lifting, etc etc probably helps keep it doable. (MODERATION, my nemesis!!!)

And, glad your bike is out of the shop! Now I can be jealous, b/c I've decided no bike riding until my knees improve. I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed nature!

[beach_plums]

Well, so much for being in town all week...I'm unexpectedly off to PA tomorrow morning. This time not for work. I'm doubting that I'll be able to workout while there, since I'll be with family (that's the good part of the trip). I'll be seeing cousins and aunts and uncles that I haven't seen in ages, and meeting one cousin for the first time.
So, I'm going to squeeze 6B in today at lunchtime and pack my workout clothes, just in case.
I'm a little nervous about the eating part while out there. I'm travelling all day Thursday and Sunday, so food is going to be hard. And, my relatives aren't much interested in eating healthy or on a schedule. I'm going to bring some snacks for myself so that I can at least control my blood sugar and some of what I eat.
Anyway, this is cutting me down to two workouts this week again instead of the three I was hoping for. But, it's just going to have to be OK.

And, glad your bike is out of the shop! Now I can be jealous, b/c I've decided no bike riding until my knees improve. I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed nature!

No riding! Oh, I'd go insane. 2 weeks is about all I can take, and that's only because I had to. I'm on my bike year-round (weather permitting in the winter) and love it! But, yes, take care of your knees!
The shop did a great job on my bike. It's just like new again.

Good things: I'm really struggling with this one-my grandmother passed over the weekend, and it's been rough. I'm excited to see my mom tomorrow, although last night she made me cry and I'm guessing it'll happen again when I see her.
I think that about covers it.

I'll probably update again after lunchtime with my workout details...

[beach_plums]

Alright, the pathetic little gym in my office building isn't so bad if you don't need a squat rack. It actually pretty decent for stage 6 B, with the exception of the back extension.
Here's how it went...Reverse lunge w/1 db: 1 set 10 @ 35 lbs, 1 set 10 @ 40lbs
When the Log Rolls Over-Let the Challenge Begin

[Celestialmom]

So where are you going in PA? You should come downhill biking at our little mountain, but for some reason I figure you'll be in Southern PA, not up here in the boondocks! I've done that drive many times (CO to PA and back) and DON'T envy you at all. I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother also, but I hope you can find some comfort in family...

[foodfromafar]

Sorry about your grandma. I hope you have a great time visiting with the relatives. It's so fun to catch up. Face each meal one at a time. Do the best you can and don't sweat it!

[beach_plums]

One of these days I'm going to stop running around like a chicken with its head chopped off...PA was ok. It had its good moments. It had its not so good moments. I was in Pottstown and Boyertown, south-side, but still a lot like the boondocks.
I discovered that my cousin's husband is a meat-head. I love it! He's totally about weights and cars (we had a lot in common). And, at lunch after the service for grandma, he mentioned he was going to sneak away to workout. I ended up going with him and two of my cousins. We worked out, the other two swam. It was good. I managed to get S6A2 in! It was very exciting for me.

Food--I did ok. I think I was a little too parinoid about eating while there; today the scale is down .5lbs. That's the wrong direction for me. But, I think it could also have been because I had an extremely early dinner yesterday and went to bed. I was so tired. But, at least I slept good.

Thursday, I'm off and running again...this time it's for me though! My bf and his son left yesterday for the beach, I'm meeting them there late Thurday night for 2-1/2 days of sitting on my behind relaxing. I think I deserve it. In the mean-time, I'm going to get two workouts in.

Speaking of workouts, here's S6A2 in PA...
Chin-Ups: 2 sets 2, 1 set 1
underhand grip lat pulldowns: 1 set 2 @ 130, 7 sets 3 @ 115, 2 sets 2 @ 115--I really felt my under-eating here and tired out quickly.
Barbell Split Squat: 2 sets 8 @ 55lbs
Pushups: 2 sets 8 holding for an extra 2 seconds in the down position./
Cousin's husband wasn't done yet, so I also did planks: 3 sets @ 30s each w/feet on a bench, arms on a ball. I'm still feeling these. Ouch!
And, since he still wasn't done, I did box jumps too.

I left the gym completely exhausted, and when I got back to my aunt's house, I ate a lot! My mom actually commented on how she'd never seen me eat so much. One of the neighbors made bbq beef, so I had a heaping helping of that on a half of a hamburger bun and several helpings of salad.

[marthand99]

I'm really sorry about your grandma, Christina.

Great workout, though! I'm impressed with your totally challenging planks. I'm still in the "basic" phase. Not to mention those pushups held in the down position. You are strong!

I'm glad you get to get away for a bit and relax!

[kfisherx]

Way to sneak a workout in around the relatives. I find that working out makes all travel so much easier. It is fun to try to figure out the new gyms too.

[beach_plums]

Thanks everyone. It's been a rough week.

Karla, I totally agree, getting that workout in was the best thing I could have done while out there (except maybe buying my new eco-drive watch...). It was such a great release and a nice escape from the maddness at my aunt's house.

Marty, I thought I was going to fall over doing those darn planks. So, I only managed to hold them for a short amount of time. It was the first time I've tried them. It's painful!

At lunchtime today, I went down to the little gym in the building again for S6B2:
Reverse Lunge, one dumbbell on shoulder: 2 sets 8 @ 45 lbs-This was really hard to get up to my shoulder. On top of that, I'm pretty sure I bruised my right shoulder with it. I've got to find a better way to hold these.
Dumbbell 2-pt Row: 2 sets 8 @ 40lbs
Dumbbell Push Press: 2 sets 8 @ 25lbs. I'm just not getting the hang of these. I'm going to keep trying though.
Back Extension: since I was at the little gym again, instead, I did 2 sets of 12 with a ball on a bench again, using a slower, more controlled motion. It works.
Include Reverse Crunch: 2 sets 3 on a steeper incline.

I almost forgot...my cousin's husband, before I mentioned anything about working out asked if I did because of my arms. Apparently he could see definition in my arms. That rocked! And, when we went to the gym, they were going to sign me up for a two day pass as a youth. I look young, but not quite 17-young! Instead, they gave me a 2 week trial, which was even better than being confused with someone 16 years younger.

[foodfromafar]

That is so great that you got to workout in the midst of your visit. When my mom died, I worked out every day during preparations and the funeral, etc. It kept me sane even though my siblings thought I was nuts.

[beach_plums]

I thought I'd do a quick update on measurements and whatnot because I really haven't in a while. I've been following NROL4W pretty well, although I did skimp on stage 5 because of too much stress, not enough time, and travelling for work.
Feb-July
weight: 136.4-141.2 (+4.8)
Chest: 33-32 (-1) I don't think this can get any smaller--at least I hope not! There's nothing like being a 33 year-old female with the chest of a small boy.
Waist: 26.5-26 (-.5) I don't think this can get much smaller either.
Hips: 39-37 (-2)
Thigh: 23.5-22.5 (-1)
calf: 13.75-14.5 (+.75)
biceps 10.5-11 (+.5)
BF% 26-24.5 (-1.5%)

I'm pretty happy with this-I've been losing where I need to and gaining where I want to. I'm about half way through stage 6 (or will be after lunchtime today) and plan to finish this out with full force and pound my way through stage 7. I'm hoping that by the end of stage 7 BF% will be down a point or so.
I haven't totally decided on my next move (except for joining the next women's challenge if I fix my camera/get a new one). I'm considering repeating stage 6 & 7 in NROL4W, but I also have the orignial NROL, so I might move into that. I've still got some time to decide though, so that's good.

[foodfromafar]

Those are great measurements! I'm already thinking about what to do next and I'm just finishing Stage 3. Have a lot of time to decide!