The Year of Magical Lifting

[mom2w]

We have the Oster Blender to go Cup from Walmart. Dh seems to think it's his, but I use it too. It's great because you don't have to pour into a glass and lose some of your hard-earned shake.

(I'm kind of working backwards here)

Not sure what you decided wrt TNT and PN. When Adam first sent me the early copy, we had a few email/PM convos about tweaking. Basically he told me that he & Jeff follow a plan of "we eat low carb except when we're not eating low carb." So I think he's ok with tweaks in general. So if you generally eat low carb but find yourself at a dinner party and you're intrigued by the food at that meal, then go for it and get back on the horse for your next meal. Rather than having scheduled carb up days or meals, just take them as you need them and don't let them get out of control. Just my 2cents.

Good job on the workouts and eats regardless of illness and uncertainty of plans. Not stopping is the key no matter what. You go girl!!

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by mom2w

Not sure what you decided wrt TNT and PN. When Adam first sent me the early copy, we had a few email/PM convos about tweaking. Basically he told me that he & Jeff follow a plan of "we eat low carb except when we're not eating low carb." So I think he's ok with tweaks in general. So if you generally eat low carb but find yourself at a dinner party and you're intrigued by the food at that meal, then go for it and get back on the horse for your next meal. Rather than having scheduled carb up days or meals, just take them as you need them and don't let them get out of control. Just my 2cents.

Adam and I had similar discussions. Eat low carb most of the time, and when you do decide to eat a carby meal, your body is primed for storing most or all of the carbs as glycogen. We don't have to schedule these things for Saturday or Sunday, it just happens to work best for the most people. Gives them a short term goal (five more days, four more days, etc.) to keep them on track.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by SpacecityPaula

You know, you just reminded me of something that I saw that would work perfectly with my New Blender - the oster blend and go cup
Oster Blend-n-Go Cup - Wal-Mart

Originally Posted by mom2w

We have the Oster Blender to go Cup from Walmart. Dh seems to think it's his, but I use it too. It's great because you don't have to pour into a glass and lose some of your hard-earned shake.

Hmmm...I'll keep this in mind if the Personal Blender craps out on me!

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Great that you are feeling so good ... it's nice when you get everything clicking, isn't it?

Yes, it is!

Originally Posted by Mahler

Victoria,
Some nice increases in there and it's great to hear that you are feeling so good.

Thanks, Mahler!

Originally Posted by UpNorth

Go bionic woman, go!

I used to love that show. Not so much on the new one. I think LD watches that one, though.

Originally Posted by mom2w

Not sure what you decided wrt TNT and PN. When Adam first sent me the early copy, we had a few email/PM convos about tweaking. Basically he told me that he & Jeff follow a plan of "we eat low carb except when we're not eating low carb." So I think he's ok with tweaks in general. So if you generally eat low carb but find yourself at a dinner party and you're intrigued by the food at that meal, then go for it and get back on the horse for your next meal. Rather than having scheduled carb up days or meals, just take them as you need them and don't let them get out of control. Just my 2cents.

Good job on the workouts and eats regardless of illness and uncertainty of plans. Not stopping is the key no matter what. You go girl!!

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Adam and I had similar discussions. Eat low carb most of the time, and when you do decide to eat a carby meal, your body is primed for storing most or all of the carbs as glycogen. We don't have to schedule these things for Saturday or Sunday, it just happens to work best for the most people. Gives them a short term goal (five more days, four more days, etc.) to keep them on track.

I guess I'm sort of combining the two because I like the principals of each. It seems like they're kind of melding together. PN + TNT = PNT? Maybe not. But, I guess it becomes more about eating according to a principal(s) then according to a particular name. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some days when I'd like to carb up, because of the circumstances, cravings, etc., and other times when I stick with the "Habits" more closely. Eating is finally starting to become much more intuitive and I have to spend less time "thinking" about it. I'm even getting a much better sense of my calories without having to crunch numbers every day, though I probably should enter a few days again just to make sure I'm still on track. I'm beginning to know when I've met my calorie quota by how I feel throughout the day. I know now when I don't have enough fuel. So, that's becoming intuitive, too. I know I like to have to "earn" my carb meal by doing a workout. That's motivating for me. I like having a finite number of cheats per week. Keeps me on track. I like not having to count calories and worry about everything so much anymore. I like keeping my carb intake to a minimum. I even know what parts of the day I need to avoid carbs. So, I think it's slowly but surely all coming together. Whew!

[Victoria]

Need to correct a typo...

Originally Posted by Victoria

TNT:
Phase 1
Week 2
Workout A3

Superset w/ 45 sec. rest

1A) Static Lunge (2x15x15#) +15#
2A) DB Incline Bench Press (2x12x25#) +5#

Should be...

1A) Static Lunge (2x15x15#) +5#

[Victoria]

Today's Workout:

TNT:
Phase 1
Week 2
Workout B3

Warm-Up:
5 min. on tready, jumping Jacks, scap circles, reach across, arm circles, waiter's bow, hip circles

Mobility: alternating lateral lunge, anterior-posterior leg swings, sidelying rotation extension

Activation: bird dog, fire hydrant to donkey, wall slide (on floor)

Workout:
Superset w/ 45 sec. rest
(weight is per DB)
1A) DB Stepup (2x15x25#) (4 risers + top) +5#
2A) DB Neutral-Grip Shoulder Press (2x15x22.5#) +2.5#

Whew! Now the weights are starting to challenge! Grip will start to become an issue, too, with the step-ups. I still feel that nagging twinge of pain in my left arm, tricep area. It seems to work itself out as I get going in the exercise, though.

Superset w/ 45 sec. rest
2A) Goblet Squat (2x15x30#) +5#
2B) DB Pullover (2x15x10#) +2#

Love the goblet squats! I've gotten much better at these, getting below parallel. But, today I felt a twinge in my lower back while squatting with the 30# db. So, during the second set, at the 8th rep, I put the DB down and finished BW only. May be a bit overly cautious, but I do not take chances with my back. Funny thing, though. When I put the DB down, on the very next rep, I shot straight up and nearly fell backward without the counter weight.

Straight Sets
3) Plank (1x70 sec.)

Damn, I didn't check my previous log carefully enough. I forgot I'd already increased to 70 secs on the last workout. So, that's all I did today!

Energy Level: 1 (bonk) 2 3 4 5 (bionic) = 4ish

Notes:
Sometimes I can't tell the difference between "lack of energy" and fatigue from a good workout.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Victoria

I used to love that show. Not so much on the new one. I think LD watches that one, though.

The Bionic Woman? You know it.

[L'ilJ]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

The Bionic Woman? You know it.

I hate to break it to you...but I hear it's canceled.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by L'ilJ

I hate to break it to you...but I hear it's canceled.

I think you're lying. You don't hate to break it to me.

[lance02]

Hey Victoria -- workouts are looking good! I hear you on the goblet squat and decreasing weight -- it can really feel "light", and coming from a heavier weight. I've noticed that especially in the NROL Strength routines, when the program has me go to lower weights on BB squats, the lighter onese (which normally feel quite heavy), seem much easier. Smart choice, anyway, on being careful with your back.

[Mahler]

Energy Level: 1 (bonk) 2 3 4 5 (bionic) = 4ish

I love the Energy Meter.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Mahler

Energy Level: 1 (bonk) 2 3 4 5 (bionic) = 4ish

I love the Energy Meter.

So do I - if you ever need a title for a new log, I'd suggest From Bonk to Bionic

[UConnJulie]

Nice job on the workouts!!! And the energy meter is great ... I'm feeling below bonk right about now!! Nap time!!!

[Columbus_George]

Originally Posted by L'ilJ

I hate to break it to you...but I hear it's canceled.

It appears to be currently "on hiatus or fate to be determined"

the futon critic - the web's best primetime television resource

the futon critic is a great place to keep track of TV shows.

[Victoria]

Thanks, everyone! Now, I've got some workouts to post...

Monday's workout:
Couldn't enter it Monday morning. Woke up to an ICE STORM!!! grrrr.....and we lost power!!! I'm just glad I got my workout in.

TNT:
Phase 1
Week 3
Workout A4

Warm-Up:
5 mins on tready,
Jumping jacks, scap circles, reach across, arm circles, waiter's bow, hip circles,
Mobility: pigeon stretch, ant/post leg swings, yoga twist
Activation: cat/dog, hip corrections, wall slide (on floor)

Workout:
(weights are per DB)
Superset w/ 45 sec. rest
1A) Static Lunge (3x15x10#) -5#, +1 set
2A) DB Incline Bench Press (3x12x20#) -5#, +1 set

Superset w/ 45 sec. rest
2A) Hip Extension (3x15xBW) Straight Leg for more challenge, +1 set
2B) Seated Row to Neck (3x15x25#) -5#, +1 set

Straight Sets
3) Prone Cobra (1x70 sec.) +10 sec.

Energy Level: 1 (bonk) 2 3 4 5 (bionic) = 4-5

Notes:
This phase of the TNT workouts adds an additional set to the supersets, so I dropped the weights slightly. In retrospect, I probably could have kept the weights the same and still plowed through it.

[Victoria]

Today's Workout:

TNT:
Phase 1
Week 3
Workout B4

Warm-Up:
5 min. on tready, jumping Jacks, scap circles, reach across, arm circles, waiter's bow, hip circles
Mobility: cradle walk, pigeon stretch, side/side leg swings, yoga twist
Activation: cat/dog, hip corrections, prone Ts & Ys, 10 kneeling pushups

Workout:
Superset w/ 45 sec. rest
(weight is per DB)
1A) DB Stepup (3x15x20#) (4 risers + top) -5#, +1 set
2A) DB Neutral-Grip Shoulder Press (3x15x20#) -5#, +1 set

Superset w/ 45 sec. rest
2A) Goblet Squat (3x15x25#) -5#, +1 set
2B) DB Pullover (3x15x8#) -2#, +1 set

Straight Sets
3) Plank (1x80 sec.) +10 sec.

Energy Level: 1 (bonk) 2 3 4 5 (bionic) = 3-4

Notes:
I slept poorly the night before last and a bit too hard last night. So, I was expecting to struggle a bit through this workout in terms of energy. But, I felt better than I thought I would.

Same deal with this workout. Added an additional set to the supersets and decreased the weights slightly, but probably could have pushed through if I'd kept them the same. I did feel a bit of a twinge in my lower back again doing the goblet squats. I checked my form--I think I was leaning a bit forward--and continued without any further problems.