I'm back! I'm finally well and ready to get going again with the weights. I finished Stage 7 on September 12th and haven't lifted anything since then. I'm going to re-do Stage 6 starting this Thursday and I'm really looking forward to getting back to it.
I never intended to take nearly two weeks off from lifting but I'm really glad I did. Aside from being sick, I really needed a rest - both physically and mentally. I was feeling really burned out by the end of Stage 7, so the time off was just the thing.
As for other stuff, I have done a few mountain bike rides and tomorrow is my horseback riding lesson! I always look forward to that.
big congrats on getting through stage seven! sorry you were sick, but glad you're feeling better and rested up. here's to stage six and the quest for a chin-up!
Hi hi! Sorry for being slack about updating. the past week or so has been up and down with the workouts because it's the time of year when after-work bike rides are precious - the daylight is starting to go but the weather is PERFECT, so I've been skipping the gym in lieu of the bike. I just know that in a few weeks I'll be lucky to get in one ride a week.
Stage 6 is going fine but I'm still nowhere near doing a chin-up. I did, however, knock out eight tricep pushups in a row! I never thought I'd be able to do that. It felt really great.
Here's a question for you guys: by Stage 7 I'd gotten up to 100lbs on my deadlift but can't seem to crack 70-75lbs on my squat weight because the bar hurts too much. I get pain down my back from the bar resting on my shoulders. I know I have it on my traps and not my neck, but it still hurts and makes me scared to do more. It makes me a little crazy to read that other folks are squatting over 100lbs in Stage 1 because I feel like I'm WAY behind, especially having done the whole program. Am I just being too hard on myself?
Okay, that aside, here's how I think this week is going to go:
Monday: yoga
Tuesday: stage 6
Wednesday: off or bike ride
Thursday: stage 6
Friday: off
Saturday: stage 6 and spinning class
Sunday: off or bike ride (depending on the weather)
Hi hi! Sorry for being slack about updating. the past week or so has been up and down with the workouts because it's the time of year when after-work bike rides are precious - the daylight is starting to go but the weather is PERFECT, so I've been skipping the gym in lieu of the bike. I just know that in a few weeks I'll be lucky to get in one ride a week.
Stage 6 is going fine but I'm still nowhere near doing a chin-up. I did, however, knock out eight tricep pushups in a row! I never thought I'd be able to do that. It felt really great.
Here's a question for you guys: by Stage 7 I'd gotten up to 100lbs on my deadlift but can't seem to crack 70-75lbs on my squat weight because the bar hurts too much. I get pain down my back from the bar resting on my shoulders. I know I have it on my traps and not my neck, but it still hurts and makes me scared to do more. It makes me a little crazy to read that other folks are squatting over 100lbs in Stage 1 because I feel like I'm WAY behind, especially having done the whole program. Am I just being too hard on myself?
Okay, that aside, here's how I think this week is going to go:
Monday: yoga
Tuesday: stage 6
Wednesday: off or bike ride
Thursday: stage 6
Friday: off
Saturday: stage 6 and spinning class
Sunday: off or bike ride (depending on the weather)
You might want to give the Manta Ray or the Sting Ray a try.....one is for back squats, the other for front squats. It might help with your back issue.
I thought I replied to this (I swear I did!) but it's gone, so here goes again: thanks for the advice! I'd never even heard of the Manta Ray, but it sounds like it might be just the thing.
I did a yoga class last night after not doing yoga for, oh, nine months or so. I do not recommend this. I assumed I'd be better at some of the positions because I'm stronger now, but no, it still hurt a lot and was really hard. Really, really hard.
Oh, I like yoga, just not after a 9 month break. So far this week I've stuck to my projected schedule. Tonight I do my third Stage 6 A workout and tomorrow is a rest day! Woo. Other than that, I got nothing. Boring week.
Hi, sorry for the lack of updates. I've been dragging my feet through a repeat of stage 6 and I am SO OVER IT. Completely bored with stage 6. I only have two workouts left and by then I'm hoping my Power Training book will have arrived.
One thing I decided this week: I'm never doing a squat/push press ever again. It's nearly impossible for me to do correctly with any real amount of weight and it hurts. Bleh, not worth it. Squat, yes. Shoulder press, totally. Squat/push press, never again. I like that Power Training lets you pick your exercises and I'm hoping that's one I can skip forEVER.
That said, I am so excited about starting a new program! I need to be excited about lifting again.
I pretty much hate front squat/pp too. I am supposed to be starting NROL Fat Loss II and it has front squats. I am dreading it, but I know I need to work on them.
Another PT'er! Based on all the others doing it around here, it is high up on my list of possibilities, too.
Hi! I had a few setbacks last week because my allergies were terrible. I wanted to lift on Thursday but had a really bad headache and skipped it. So, I have one more Stage 6 WO to complete, which I'll be doing tomorrow. On Saturday I had a good workout, but still not quite there with the chin ups! Oh, well, maybe another month or two, I'll keep trying.
Yesterday it was beautiful out so we did a late afternoon mountain bike ride. I love riding when the leaves are turning...except that leaves are slippery and acorns are like giant ball bearings. I was sliding out all over the place. Still, it was fun!
My other favorite thing from this weekend is SOUP. I made a roasted butternut squash soup that is SO freaking good. I made a ton and will be having it for lunch the next few days. I love autumnal food.
Are you still planning on starting PT? The soup sounds great!
Yes, I got the book in the mail last night and I really need to take some time to read through it and figure it all out. It sounds great from what I've read so far, but there's definitely an info gap - an assumption that the reader already knows a certain amount about lifting. Thankfully the NRs helped fill most of that gap.
I'm probably going to try and start PT next week. I have one more Stage 6 workout (tonight!) and the rest of the week will probably look like this:
tonight - stage 6 final workout
Wednesday - HIIT
Thursday - short weights workout (I might try practicing some of the PT exercises I'm not familiar with), spinning class
Friday- rest
Saturday -rest (I have an out of town craft show)
Sunday - mountain bike ride
I'm back on the wagon! I did my first Power Training workout last night. I'm doing push/pull workouts 3x a week. It's not a long workout but it really kicked my butt. I am feeling it today! Here's what I did:
Seated Russian Twist - 4 sets of 10 w/ 6lb medicine ball Plank - 4 @ 45sec ea
I went very light with the weight on the front squat (I used a pre-weighted bar) because I really want to start over and work on form. Still, three sets of 10 was REALLY hard. Front squats are a killer. I followed this with 12 minutes of HIIT on the stepmill.
So, question: do I try to do cardio tonight or should I take the day off and do HIIT tomorrow after my weights workout? I'm pretty sore today, but I also took Monday off to recover from Sunday's mountain bike ride. I'm still struggling with the less-is-more thing.
Wow! That's a great workout! As far as the cardio vs. HIIT thing, I would think that all things being considered, it's whatever you want to do. You don't want to overwork yourself today and mess up your recovery from lifting, but if the cardio isn't too intense it should be ok. But if time is an issue or you want to ramp up the metabolic aspect of your lifting, HIIT tomorrow after weights is a great idea. I say do whatever you feel like!
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