Non-official Stage 1 week 3/10 thread

[JustKim]

Okay I admit I've been all sorts of jealous of the challenge ladies, and the great discussions they've been having and just wanted to start a thread where us "just getting started" and general Stage 1 ladies could chat about how we're doing.

I'm starting week 2 of Stage 1 today. I'm feeling good. I definitely see where he says that women tend to underestimate what they can lift. It seems each workout I am having to really bump the weight up. I'm going to be bumping my DL way up today.

And I admit I struggle with eating more. I've eaten so little for so long to lose weight that it goes against everything to eat so much. But here I ate 2100 or so calories yesterday and was actually DOWN weight wise today. So... I am just going to do the plan like it's written and have faith. But MAN I felt like I had eaten an elephant yesterday though I ate totally clean, low carb and just great. But mentally I felt like a food failure. Thank the Lord for being down in weight today. If I had been up two lbs or something I think I may have lost some resolve!

Anyone already feel stronger? Especially the day I lift my whole body feels strong. My posture is better that day and feels strong. This is the first time in years of exercise that I look forward to it. I played soccer my whole life and still never felt as excited about exercising as I do now. I for the first time ever feel like I could do this for the long haul. I've never felt that feeling. I always feel like I want to give up at any moment.

So how's Stage 1 treating you so far? Feeling great? Struggling with anything?

[Amblus]

I'm starting week four of Stage 1 and I'm really excited about each workout. It's fun to not mess around and really just barge in, do my thing, and leave. I don't have to feel guilty for not spending and hour and a half in the gym! I love that part - quality over quantity.

My goal this week is to definitely add on to my deadlift and squat weights. I'm a cyclist and my lower half is stronger than I think it is. I'd also love to up my shoulder press weight but there isn't anything between the 15 and 20 lb dumbbells, so that's a big leap. We'll see how it goes.

As for the eating - never been a problem for me to eat a lot. I am not trying to lose much in the way of weight so I'm continuing to eat the way I normally do, though I have made some changes to up my protein intake.

[maggieandmommy]

yay! I've been jealous, too! lol

I'm on Week 2 of Stage 1, and I've had to bump up my weights, too, especially the DL. I'll go up on that one again tomorrow (started with 35lbs, went up to 45, and tomorrow I'm going to try 55lbs). Did I read somewhere that you should be able to do a similar amount for DL and something else (Squats, maybe?)? Does anybody remember that? If so, I need to really bump up DL cause I squatted 75lbs on Monday (and was proud!).

I'm struggling with eating more (and eating enough good stuff) and with getting enough protein. We don't really eat eggs or beans here, so that's been a little tricky. Otherwise, I'm feeling great. I'm lovin' this plan and the way I feel about myself. Just after the first week of this, I'm down 4.5 inches. I was up a little in weight this week, but it's also just before TTOM, etc., so who knows. At any rate, the inches part is more important to me anyway.

Thanks for getting this thread started, Kim!!

[Wendy*]

Great idea starting this thread!I'm starting week 2 of stage 1 this week.I've already done week 1 twice and hurt my back doing deadlifts both times.I've been going to my chiropractor every week and I'm about 90% better so I'm starting back up Wednesday.When it comes to deadlifts I'm going to have to start really really light and slowly work up.Hopefully by next week I'll be in full swing again

[maggieandmommy]

Wendy, you might also check to see if there's a trainer at your gym who can watch you do DLs to check your form. Sorry about hurting your back!

[instantblue]

I would love to join a check in! I'm a little farther ahead than the rest of you, I'll be starting my last workout of stage 1 tomorrow. I like the idea of having a group to join, and it doesn't matter to me if we're not all exactly on the same workout.

I'm loving the efficiency of these workouts, too. I like getting it done so quickly, but also feeling like I got a good workout in!

[karenmc6]

Originally Posted by maggieandmommy

Did I read somewhere that you should be able to do a similar amount for DL and something else (Squats, maybe?)? Does anybody remember that? If so, I need to really bump up DL cause I squatted 75lbs on Monday (and was proud!).

great job on the squat! i've read that you should be able to dl a little more weight than you can squat. beats me where i read it since i follow just about every one of lisa~'s links! lol karen

[bas1014]

Hi Everyone! I too am just starting week 2 of Phase 1. Week one was very easy...obviously I didn't have enough weight on the barbell. I found that I could have squatted more weight, but my shoulders and wrists could not have held it. I might be holding the barbell wrong for the squats. I'm going to have DH come downstairs and make sure my form is OK. So far the program has been great, but aren't they always the first week or two??

I'm glad you started this thread. I am jealous of the challenge ladies as well. One question...what makes theirs "official"?

I'm looking forward to talking to everyone over the next 6 months.
Beth

[Jenn Equestrian]

I'm on week two of stage one; I modified a bit by starting out with 10 reps as opposed to 15, but I am totally feeling ferocious and foxy by the time I leave the gym. These workouts are killer but feel so good! Last workout my squats were at 115 and I managed to bump my db shoulder presses up to 25pnd dbs (I think next workout I'll do 27.5pnd dbs and hopefully be up to 30 by the time I take it down to 8 reps).

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who's "coping" with eating more calories (now, if we were allowed "crap" calories like cake and cookies I'm sure I'd have no problem adding tonnes extra lol). For years I've eaten restricted low cal, so it's like going against nature for me. I'm not weighing in daily, but will hop on after TOTM to check in on BF and weight (fingers crossed this works well lol!). Just have to remind ourselves that Lou, Alwyn and Cassandra clearly know what they're talkin' about and I should just shut up and eat more cals lol! Doesn't hurt to try at least.

ps: step ups suck when you're 4"10 lol!!

[JustKim]

yeah step ups suck when you're 5'6 too (gotta love em!)

[frogguruami]

Originally Posted by JustKim

yeah step ups suck when you're 5'6 too (gotta love em!)

Step Ups just SUCK! LOL (so do lunges!)

I just started week 4 of stage 1. After yesterdays workout I thought I was going to puke! LOL I wasn't even able to finish the last set of jackknives.

So far I have not lost any weight but I have lost 4.5 inches in the first 3 weeks. I don't know about body fat because I can't find a reliable way to measure it. All the gyms around here use calipers and I am overweight so calipers are really unreliable.

[citymouse]

Hello everyone. I'm on week 2 of stage 1. I'm really enjoying it so far too.

My squats suck...I just can't seem to get low enough without toppling over. But I can deadlift just fine. I did 105 lbs this last workout and will bump it up when I start 12 reps next workout. I don't know why I have such a hard time with squats. Always have. I can't do dumbbell squats ok, but something about having the bar across my back changes everything.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with everyone else in stage 1!

[nancysmithwp]

I've been jealous too!

I'm about 3/4 way through phase I. I'm doing 95 on the squats if I'm right about the bar being 45 pounds. I keep meaning to ask someone. And 85 on the deadlifts. So I guess it's pretty even for me. Grip strength is limiting my step ups. There's no good way I can see of getting the bar on my shoulders over to something I can step up on.

I can feel my knee getting so much more stable. I was so wobbly when I started, and now things are evening out. I think this workout is doing wonders for evening out the imbalances in my body and making me STRONG. I'm loving it.

I've been tracking my food though, and my protein normally only runs 15% of my food when I don't do the PWO! So I'm working on this now.

[maggieandmommy]

Nancy, something that you said confused me...

Originally Posted by nancysmithwp

Grip strength is limiting my step ups. There's no good way I can see of getting the bar on my shoulders over to something I can step up on.

Maybe I'm doing step-ups wrong. I hold a dumbbell in each hand and step up onto a bench and back down. Do all of my reps on that leg and then switch to the other leg. I'm not sure where the bar over the shoulders comes from. Maybe you're just stepping up with a lot more weight than I am? (I'm holding 20 lb dumbbells in each hand.) Thanks for clarifying!


I'm clearly going to have to up the weight on my deadlifts, obviously. Ok, I'm going to bump that up steadily and see what tomorrow holds.

oh, and step-ups suck when you're 5'10", too. You guys are right--step-ups just suck. lol

[GinaKina]

I'm in Stage 1, almost halfway through (will be tomorrow).

I can't really say I'm feeling that much stronger though. Well, I guess I should clarify. I am lifting more than when I started the program, but I have lifted heavier in the past...I just had to decrease to start with the increase in reps (I don't think I've EVER done 15 reps before).

[DirtyMartini]

Don't worry, you'll reduce your reps and increase weight soon enough.

[KayB]

OK, this thread has drawn me from lurkdom! Tomorrow I'll do workout A for the fifth time. As I'm not always doing 3 workouts per week it's taken me a bit longer to get this far. I really tried to work on proper form for the first several workouts so I didn't go as heavy as I could on the weights.

I also do several modifications. Since I'm working out at home I do leg assisted pullups with my flowbar instead of lat pulldowns. I do the lunges onto an incline because my knees like them better that way. Because of shoulder tightness I can't easily grip the barbell with it on my back so I switched to front squats.

Eating the extra protein is a bit of a problem too, since I don't eat soy & I'm lactose intolerant which leaves out the whey. I'm working on it!

I've lost an inch off my waist already & I'm psyched! I'm enjoying working out at my own speed and with my own music! Yahoo!

Kay

[JustKim]

I'm so glad everyone's glad to have this thread! And it's great to see how many lurkers and brand new members are posting. So many single posts, ladies with 2 or 3 posts. Love it!