This workout in general was my favorite so far and I'm happy it comes back in Stage 5. The Body Matrix is true evil, but it feels so good to finish it! I've made big (for me) gains this stage and I'm really starting to see muscle, which is fantastically rewarding. Here's my start and finish weight to show the gains:
Stage 3 Gains
A1. One armed dumbbell snatch - 10 lbs to 25lbs
B1. Dumbbell single-leg Romanian Deadlift - 20lbs to 25lbs
I've finished Stage 3 but I don't have a workout to post because I left my log at home. I tried to go up on everything and was exhausted afterwards, which is always rewarding in it's own twisted way. I've been sleeping really well because of Stage 3. This is my "rest" week and I'll start Stage 4 on Saturday. Here's how I'll probably spend my week:
Today: mountain bike ride
Tomorrow: rest
Wednesday: Spinning class
Thursday: rest
Friday: mountain bike ride or HIIT (depending on the weather)
Saturday: Stage 4
Sunday: depends on how Saturday goes!
I took body shots after finishing 3 and I was disappointed when I lined them up next to my pics from February. I really can't see changes in the photos at all even though I can tell I'm stronger and I can see the muscle in the mirror. My weight is still a couple of pounds up from when I started (started at 128, now at 130) and I'm pretty sure that's muscle. It better be! I do think I need to concentrate more on diet, as I tend to let sugar slip in uninvited more and more often. I love to eat though, so I need to come up with a happy medium. I'm never ever going to be happy eating cottage cheese mixed with chocolate protein powder and calling it dessert, is all I'm saying.
I have trouble with the sugars too. I was eating cottage cheese last night and thought about putting my chocolate protein powder in with it - did not sound good at all! I will try it one of these days and maybe I will like it?
I put protein powder in my cottage cheese last night and choked part of it down before adding sugar. I didn't love it; it was nothing like a treat. I think I'd rather stick to eating it plain and expecting it to taste like cottage cheese.
I have been dutifully eating my cottage cheese and plain yogurt but I'm never going to love them the way I love cheese cake. *sigh*
Quote:
Originally Posted by beach_plums
I put protein powder in my cottage cheese last night and choked part of it down before adding sugar. I didn't love it; it was nothing like a treat. I think I'd rather stick to eating it plain and expecting it to taste like cottage cheese.
You guys are hilarious! Years ago, I tried to make a healthier tofu cheesecake...it was a total disaster. My older kids still tease me about the nasty tofu cheesecake... I'm a diehard NY cheesecake fan. I do like cottage cheese, but ack, I cannot imagine it with pp in it!
So, this is my rest week and I've spent it resting and also taking short, but fun, mountain bike rides with my husband. We have great trails near our house so after work we can ride our bikes to the trails, ride for an hour and then be home in time to make dinner.
Yesterday the gym on the campus where I work had a staff health day, so I went to talk to a personal trainer and get my body fat measure. They used an Omron (which I know isn't that reliable) and it clocked me at 23.3% with a BMI of 21.5. Hmph. It's not the worst number in the world but I'd certainly like to get it lower. I've been watching my diet much more closely this week, because I think that's the key. I eat well, but I think I'm just eating too much.
Oh! This is hilarious - In talking to the personal trainer I mentioned that I'd been lifting heavy and was doing a specific program. His response?
"Oh, yes, I've seen you lifting and you do lift heavy. However, if you want to see definition you should do lighter weight with high reps."
I think he used the word "tone" too. I spend a lot of my weight rest times criticizing what the personal trainers are doing with their clients. I mean, Barbie weights? Check. Squats on the smith machine? Check. Using the preweighted barbells in the squat cage? CHECK CHECK CHECK.
I think he used the word "tone" too. I spend a lot of my weight rest times criticizing what the personal trainers are doing with their clients. I mean, Barbie weights? Check. Squats on the smith machine? Check. Using the preweighted barbells in the squat cage? CHECK CHECK CHECK.
I've been noticing this a lot lately too! It makes me crazy to watch.
It's also coming up on finals (I go to a college gym), so I see a ton of people on the bikes doing homework and studying. I can't imagine that it's doing any good.
I've been noticing this a lot lately too! It makes me crazy to watch.
It's also coming up on finals (I go to a college gym), so I see a ton of people on the bikes doing homework and studying. I can't imagine that it's doing any good.
My favorite are the folks who spend their lunch break on the exercise bikes that have little TVs mounted to them. They watch their soaps, mouth hanging open, and pedal slooooowly.
I suppose it's better than nothing, but if your cardio doesn't even get your heart rate up, what's the point?
I used to read on the elliptical too! I wasn't fooling myself because I was very aware that I wasn't working out that hard but I figured it was better than sitting at a desk eating
Le sigh indeed. How annoying about the trainer! One of my good friends meets with a trainer and luckily for her from what she tells me he is pretty tough. I would hate to have to argue with her about things a trainer told her about using light weights/high reps!
Oh, to be fair, I've been guilty of flipping through a magazine on the elliptical while warming up. I try not to do it anymore, but sometimes the new Star Magazine is all that's getting me in the gym.
I think it works if you think of it less as a proper workout and more as a "walking desk" - that is - adding activity where you'd otherwise be just sitting. Not that anyone you see has that in mind but if you see me - that's what I'm doing.
Or, maybe I'm just jealous because if I even attempt to read while moving, I get sick. That includes ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, cars...
I understanding using it as a warm up or moving desk. I'm pretty sure that's not what these girls are doing though, especially since they're on them for well over the hour and twenty minutes I'm in the gym.
I can't read on the treadmill, but I can read on the stairmaster. I can usually read during SS and get pretty sweaty, but HIIT? Fugedaboutit!!! I just read for w/u and cooldown on HIIT days...
When else can I read "People" or "Us" and not feel too guilty?
Hey great to see your finishing stage 3 now, wow! I finally updated my log, and popping in to see how you are doing. Would love to see how you do on stage 4. Me, I'm already itching to get to the final cutting stage but am going to stick it through.
Hey! Good to see you back. I'll be posting my first two Stage 4 workouts later this evening. I did A1 on Saturday and it went pretty well except for the front squat/push press which still hurts my wrists.
Also, am I the only Stage 4 person still doing 30 degree pushups? I can barely finish the sets out at 30 degrees (with elbows in close) so I'm pretty sure there's no way I can do them all on my toes yet.
My weekend was grand - beautiful weather and lots of mountain biking! The weight lifting is definitely improving my cycling, as I'm much strong on hill climbs than I used to me.
I didn't watch the eating so well, but I'm back on the wagon today. sigh.
You need to TRY them on your toes. You may just be surprised.
Oh, you're right! I should just go for it and not worry about getting all the reps in. I really really want to be able to do real pushups, so might as well start trying, eh?
Oh, you're right! I should just go for it and not worry about getting all the reps in. I really really want to be able to do real pushups, so might as well start trying, eh?
When I started doing them on my toes I would just do as many as I could that way, finishing the rest on my knees. It took a while (and it's still a struggle), but try a few and see how it goes.
Hi! Can y'all see my sad face from here? SAD FACE HERE. I had one of those workouts where you just want to lay down on the floor and cry but, you know, the gym floor is kind of nasty so you don't. Stage 4, Workout A is my least favorite ever.
Can I just bitch for a sec? I cannot do the front squat/push press. It hurts the hell out of my wrists and I've tried every variation. I can do exactly four reps before I have to stop and let my puny wrists recover. It sets a bad tone for the rest of my workout because I'm already feeling like a weakling. A weakling with hurty wrists. I'm considering subbing in alternating sets of squats and overhead presses because it's just not working out with fs/pp and me. It's over.
Also, I tried full body pushups tonight and I got exactly four reps with decent form (elbows in) before I collapsed on the mat. Second set - 4. Third set- 1. One sad little pushup. I despair.
Other than those two minor complaints, I did okay tonight - suffered through my step-ups like a good girl, went up to 25lb dumbbells for the lunge, and did my last set of one point rows with 25lb dumbbells as well. Not pretty, but I did it.
Usually when I have a bad workout my next one is WAY better, so here's looking at you, Saturday.
If you're thinking of alternating sets of FS and presses, then maybe try the FSPP with DB's on your shoulders? Do the squat with DB's on shoulders, and then press them up as you come up (instead of a bar that hurts wrists)... You could even use a neutral grip that way. It's not "as written" but at least it might be a little closer to the original intention of the workout?
If you're thinking of alternating sets of FS and presses, then maybe try the FSPP with DB's on your shoulders? Do the squat with DB's on shoulders, and then press them up as you come up (instead of a bar that hurts wrists)... You could even use a neutral grip that way. It's not "as written" but at least it might be a little closer to the original intention of the workout?
You are brilliant! I haven't tried it yet with dumbbells but I'll bet that would work. My wrists are still sore from last night and I just couldn't imagine suffering through another set of barbell FS/PP. THANK YOU.
So, like I mentioned, every time I have a really bad workout the next one is usually pretty good! I did B2 on Saturday and I'll do A3 today. I keep forgetting to bring my log in to record my numbers, but B2 went really well for me - I deadlifted 80lbs and upped my split squat weight to 25lbs.
Tonight I'm going to try the front squat/push press with dumbbells to see if that will solve my wrist issues. I really hope that does it. Thanks for the great suggestion, Bytsi!
Yesterday I met with the dietitian on campus (where I work) to get her to help me with my diet a bit. I told her the program I was on and gave her an average day of food I eat. She helped me to tweak it a bit and cut out some extraneous calories. I've been eating over my calories for a while and I need to get everything in line to make this program work to it's best advantage.
If you're thinking of alternating sets of FS and presses, then maybe try the FSPP with DB's on your shoulders? Do the squat with DB's on shoulders, and then press them up as you come up (instead of a bar that hurts wrists)... You could even use a neutral grip that way. It's not "as written" but at least it might be a little closer to the original intention of the workout?
Thanks to Bytsi, I tried this on my first A of stage 4. I liked it but felt it more in my shoulders but didn't hurt my wrists at all. I am going to try it with the bar next time and compare.
Okay, so I tried the fs/pp with dumbbells and it didn't really work. I couldn't figure out how to hold them and how to rest them on my shoulders. No matter what I did, it felt awkward. So, I'm back to the bar. I'm finding the shorter, pre-loaded bars work better than the Oly bar, but still painful. I just can't go heavier than 40lbs on this one, I guess. Anyway, I only have one more Stage 4 A workout left, so I'll just suffer through and hope it never comes back.
Anyway! Here's my most recent A workout, which was Tuesday:
I tried to go up a little for everything this go round, and I seem to be making progress. Doing step-ups with 25lb dumbbells is SO FREAKING HARD. I definitely needed my 90 seconds rest after each set.
Tonight I'll be doing my final Stage 4, Workout B.
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