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?
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.
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.
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
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!
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
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
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.
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.
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AM, homeschooling mom to Wild & Wacky, see my fitness journey here, my training log here and my everything else blog here.
Consistent practice equals consistent progress.
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!
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.
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
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).
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!
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!
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Kim. Not Kimberly, not Kimmie, and certainly not Kimbo. Just Kim. Though it was frankcassiesmom for a blink of an eye.
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!
Kay
There is also pea, hemp and rice protein. They can be a bit grainy though. But there are options! The Whole Foods here carries several dairy free/soy free varieties.
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AM, homeschooling mom to Wild & Wacky, see my fitness journey here, my training log here and my everything else blog here.
Consistent practice equals consistent progress.
There is also pea, hemp and rice protein. They can be a bit grainy though. But there are options! The Whole Foods here carries several dairy free/soy free varieties.
Thanks for that information! Any online sources? I'll check out the stores next time I make it to the BIG city.
Just finished stage 1 workout 5B.. sweet! It took a while to feel like I was getting into a groove. These types of lifts and the high reps were showcasing all kinds of weaknesses: balance, upper back, that pesky rib that likes to pop out and cause me to beckon the chiropractor...
I'm still cautious with squats, because I feel like bad form=horrible accident waiting to happen. But, the deadlifts feel awesome, and I hit the "puke zone" with step ups the other day, so I figured that I've got the weights figured out.
Do not be afraid to eat real food after a workout.... A lot of times I'll cook up a batch of chicken breasts and I'll snarf down one after I workout at the gym at work.
And to the poster who asked about what makes it "official" the folks that are in the challenge all started at the same time and have committed to doing measurements and pictures the first monday of the month. But there's a lot of folks in the official challenge that are just finishing up stage one (me being one of them) because life has interfered (in my case I was sick for about a month).
With that said, anyone is welcome to post in the official threads. There are many who do even though they aren't technically a part of the challenge. The More the Merrier and we're a pretty merry bunch around here.
__________________ It all starts with the mind, but the thoughts, the intention aren't enough. Action needs to come next. Dream it, believe it, plan it, execute it, celebrate it. - Wendy
I too was very jealous of not being a part of the "official" thread and was hoping that something like this would start.
I'm in the 3rd week of the program but currently am down with the flu. I've been fighting this since last Friday and can't wait to get back to my workouts. I'll be posting more regularly with you all once I do start back.
But, for now..........Thanks so much for starting this thread!!!!
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"Become better than you used to be, not better than someone else." ~ Leigh Peele
Hi, I've done the stage 1 workouts A and B twice now. I'm really enjoying it so far and my whole body feels quite wobbly after each workout. Trying to do it 3 times a week, but am not going to stress out if I can only fit in 2 times.
HI ladies! Look at all the lurkers that have come out of hiding! I posted Stage One pic thread for after you are done with stage one. I wanted to see everyone's progress at the same juncture ya know?
The guys have an official thread so I guess the girls started one. I was late so I didn't get in on it. I have 3 more workouts to do and I am finished with Stage 1. I have had many many set backs. I hold the world's record in length of time it takes ot finish Stage one LOL!
[quote=LisaC;517291]Just finished stage 1 workout 5B.. sweet! It took a while to feel like I was getting into a groove. These types of lifts and the high reps were showcasing all kinds of weaknesses: balance, upper back, that pesky rib that likes to pop out and cause me to beckon the chiropractor...
Hi everyone! Great thread. Lisa C, I totally agree with you. I'm on Stage 1, workout 5. When I first started doing DL, I had pretty bad form and felt it more in my back than anywhere else. I had a PT help me with my form, now my glutes and hammies (which are horribly out of balance with my quads) feel jelly-like afterwords, I love it!
I don't remember seeing anything about being about to squat/DL the same weight. I'm DL 75lbs but I'm squating 115. Is this weird?
Hey Kia. You might have the key about the squat/DL difference when you said that your glutes/hammies are out of balance with your quads. Most of us are probably this way (squatting more than DLing). I think that Alwyn designed this program (and especially this stage) to try to help us balance out some of those imbalances. At the moment I'm feeling pretty happy with my squat weight (75), so for the next week or so I'm going to work on upping my DL weight. Today I DLd 60 lbs, though, so that's a vast improvement over the 45 from last week!
I'm new here and am just beginning Week 2 of Stage 1 as well. I've been unofficially doing the workouts for about a month now, but due to a hectic traveling schedule, I got sidetracked. So, I'm starting over and keeping track this time.
I just entered my week one stats and took some pictures last night. I plan to post progress each month.
It's very motivating to see people's results. You ladies are looking great!
Non-official Stage 1 week 3/10 thread
karen
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