The Year of Magical Lifting

[fengshway]

hey tracy, glad they are helping you figure it all out. I go every year. you never know.

[UConnJulie]

Glad she explained what all that stuff meant ... I had no idea when you asked me to look at it!! Glad you have a good plan of attack ... we'll all be oinking soon!! (My doc just increased my piggy pills to 60mg in the am and 30 mg in the pm!)

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Hi Tracy-

That's great that you got all those tests done. I am such a baby I can't stand to have blood drawn. Hopefully your new supplements will help, although you've been bionic a lot lately already.

Leah

Oh, let me tell you about my blood draw. 15 little tubes before I was through. But, then, as the nurse was putting all those little stickers on the tubes, she realized she had not drawn enough. So, she had to go back in for more! I had the purplest bruise on my arm for a week after that!

Originally Posted by Willie

Heh. I'm in serious trouble when it comes time for me to do this; I don't "do" needles so well, as you noted in the valium / MRI discussion I shudder to think about the next time I need to get my blood drawn.

Just turn your head the other way and whistle a little tune to yourself!

Originally Posted by gregl515

T pushups require coordination. (sigh) ;(

Especially if I actually did them right!

Originally Posted by RacerBill

You bet it does! Nice work.

Very astute. There have been times when I don't feel motivated at all to go to the gym. Then I think about the folks here. After all, what would Mahler do? Can you imagine him missing a workout because he "doesn't feel like it?" NO!!! That usually provides a good kick that gets me going.

WWMD....I like that! That's my new motivation from now on!

Originally Posted by fengshway

hey tracy, glad they are helping you figure it all out. I go every year. you never know.

We girls have to stay on top of these things!

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Glad she explained what all that stuff meant ... I had no idea when you asked me to look at it!! Glad you have a good plan of attack ... we'll all be oinking soon!! (My doc just increased my piggy pills to 60mg in the am and 30 mg in the pm!)

Well, I was as dumbfounded as you were looking at all those numbers. I took a bunch of notes during my appt, and figured the best way for me to really understand everything was to repeat it here. I actually find it all very interesting and it is motivating me to keep even more detailed records so I can see how things change.

[Victoria]

Today's workout:

NROL4W
Stage 1
Workout B3

Warm-up: 5 mins. on tready, jumping jacks (20), scap circles (10 ea), reach across (10 ea), arm circles (10 ea fwd/bwd), waiter's bow (10), hip circles (5 ea fwd/bwd)

Mobility: pigeon stretch (30 sec ea), side/side leg swings (10 ea), yoga twist (10 ea)

Activation: cat/dog (10 ea), single-leg bridge (5 ea), elbow touches (5 ea)

Strength Workout (sets drop down to 12 reps):

Straight Set w/ 60 sec. rest
A) DB Deadlift (2x12x25#dbs) +5#

Now, I know this may sound weird, but I like to watch Cathe Freidrich's workouts on Fit TV. She did DB deads the other day with a 6-sec count on the concentric part of the lift to hit the muscles more deeply. I figured since I'm not using heavy weights yet, this might be a good way to get more out of them. So, I tried it today. It was tough keeping to the entire 6-sec count...it was probably closer to a 4 or 5 sec count. BTW, her body is hot, especially her legs. I cannot imagine for the life of me why any woman would not want legs like hers. I'm so sick and tired of hearing "I don't want to bulk." Shut up and lift for god's sake!

Superset w/ 60 sec. rest
2A) DB Shoulder Press (2x12x20#dbs) +2.5#
2B) Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown (kneeling) (2x12x70#) +5#

Shoulder presses could have been heavier. I barely squeeked out the last reps of the pulldowns.

Superset w/ 60 sec. rest
3A) Lunge (2x12x20#dbs) +2.5#
3B) Swiss Ball Crunch (2x10x25#plate) +2 reps

These lunges are killing me! Anymore and I would have entered the "Puke Zone!"

Notes: I am very happy with how I felt today, especially having done the A workout yesterday. But, I got plenty of sleep and eats, so I think I was well prepared to take the second assualt! Except for having to shift everything over one day next week, I'm all caught up on my workouts.

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

[kfisherx]

Wow Tracy huge learnings this past month for you. Congratulations on your growth. I haven't been in for any sort of check up in a decade or more. I feel a bit of guilt now.

[Victoria]

Thanks, Karla!

On another note....Evil Alwyn 2 days in a row and I am completely bonked right now. I can barely get myself off the couch...

[dillytl]

Originally Posted by Victoria

Today's workout:

NROL4W
Stage 1
Workout B3

Warm-up: 5 mins. on tready, jumping jacks (20), scap circles (10 ea), reach across (10 ea), arm circles (10 ea fwd/bwd), waiter's bow (10), hip circles (5 ea fwd/bwd)

Mobility: pigeon stretch (30 sec ea), side/side leg swings (10 ea), yoga twist (10 ea)

Activation: cat/dog (10 ea), single-leg bridge (5 ea), elbow touches (5 ea)

Strength Workout (sets drop down to 12 reps):

Straight Set w/ 60 sec. rest
A) DB Deadlift (2x12x25#dbs) +5#

Now, I know this may sound weird, but I like to watch Cathe Freidrich's workouts on Fit TV. She did DB deads the other day with a 6-sec count on the concentric part of the lift to hit the muscles more deeply. I figured since I'm not using heavy weights yet, this might be a good way to get more out of them. So, I tried it today. It was tough keeping to the entire 6-sec count...it was probably closer to a 4 or 5 sec count. BTW, her body is hot, especially her legs. I cannot imagine for the life of me why any woman would not want legs like hers. I'm so sick and tired of hearing "I don't want to bulk." Shut up and lift for god's sake!

Superset w/ 60 sec. rest
2A) DB Shoulder Press (2x12x20#dbs) +2.5#
2B) Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown (kneeling) (2x12x70#) +5#

Shoulder presses could have been heavier. I barely squeeked out the last reps of the pulldowns.

Superset w/ 60 sec. rest
3A) Lunge (2x12x20#dbs) +2.5#
3B) Swiss Ball Crunch (2x10x25#plate) +2 reps

These lunges are killing me! Anymore and I would have entered the "Puke Zone!"

Notes: I am very happy with how I felt today, especially having done the A workout yesterday. But, I got plenty of sleep and eats, so I think I was well prepared to take the second assualt! Except for having to shift everything over one day next week, I'm all caught up on my workouts.

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

Cathe is my HERO!! I have a ton of her DVD's. If I wasn't following Leigh's plan right now, THAT is what I would be doing. I'm still doing lots of her aerobic workouts now - saves me from the monotony of the dreadmill!! Here's my CATHE collection:

[missjane]

Tracy, that was a KICK ASS workout! We did the exact same workout today, and I am in awe of your numbers!

[Willie]

Nice work Tracy!
I'm still loving the energy scale!

[Fitwit]

Hey Tracy, glad you went to get "checked out." I am just like MissJane when it comes to docs, but I plan to go for a physical soon. Good luck getting it all sorted out.

[nutbar]

Did ya at least get a lollipop?

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by dillytl

Cathe is my HERO!! I have a ton of her DVD's. If I wasn't following Leigh's plan right now, THAT is what I would be doing. I'm still doing lots of her aerobic workouts now - saves me from the monotony of the dreadmill!! Here's my CATHE collection:

Wow...that's quite a collection. I don't that I'd ever do one of her workouts, but for some reason I just like watching her show...

Originally Posted by missjane

Tracy, that was a KICK ASS workout! We did the exact same workout today, and I am in awe of your numbers!

...thanks, but I feel like I still have a loooong way to go.

Originally Posted by Willie

Nice work Tracy!
I'm still loving the energy scale!

Thanks, Kate!

Originally Posted by Fitwit

Hey Tracy, glad you went to get "checked out." I am just like MissJane when it comes to docs, but I plan to go for a physical soon. Good luck getting it all sorted out.

It's not an easy thing to do, but so important...

Originally Posted by nutbar

Did ya at least get a lollipop?

Noooo...just the bill!


Major rest day for me today....

[tkinsley]

Damn Tracy. Sounds like you got quite the workup.

Here's one thing in re: cholesterol--it's a snapshot in time, and only repeated measurements will give you the actual range. Mine WAS in the 140s pre anabolic diet--it's STILL over 200 now, and I've been off it for a couple of months. Anyway, diet can play a large role in the numbers, and I think yours is close enough to the upper limit of the normal range/desirable range that I wouldn't stress about it.

Do you remember what your absolute ferritin was? How about your iron and transferrin, and your total iron binding capacity (TIBC)? If your overall iron levels are normal, you don't need to constipate yourself pushing tons of iron. Ferritin is your storage iron, after all--it takes years to deplete it for most. Women, for obvious reasons (DAMN that Aunt) tend to have more of a deficit.

Cool on the thyroid. Lots of women end up with these antithyroid antibodies and hypothyroid because of it, so you're in good company. Are you on synthroid or the T3 replacement? (I can never remember the name).

Alright lady, have a great day.

Tina

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by tkinsley

Damn Tracy. Sounds like you got quite the workup.

Here's one thing in re: cholesterol--it's a snapshot in time, and only repeated measurements will give you the actual range. Mine WAS in the 140s pre anabolic diet--it's STILL over 200 now, and I've been off it for a couple of months. Anyway, diet can play a large role in the numbers, and I think yours is close enough to the upper limit of the normal range/desirable range that I wouldn't stress about it.

Thanks, Tina. I'm going to let my diet and exercise manage it at this point. It may not be alarmingly high right now, but I think it's worth watching. I'll have to remember to have the numbers rechecked down the road. The last time I had blood work done, several years ago, I remember my numbers were on the high side of normal. I can't remember my cholesterol specifically, but I think it was on the high side of the normal range, which means it probably hasn't changed much. Maybe, then that's normal for me. Where is that paperwork.....?

Do you remember what your absolute ferritin was?

49

How about your iron

167

and transferrin,

55.5

and your total iron binding capacity (TIBC)?

301

*I have no idea what these all mean...*

If your overall iron levels are normal, you don't need to constipate yourself pushing tons of iron. Ferritin is your storage iron, after all--it takes years to deplete it for most. Women, for obvious reasons (DAMN that Aunt) tend to have more of a deficit.

Good point. Doc did talk about getting more iron from food first, then using a supp if I felt I needed more. I think I'll start with the food first...

Cool on the thyroid. Lots of women end up with these antithyroid antibodies and hypothyroid because of it, so you're in good company. Are you on synthroid or the T3 replacement? (I can never remember the name).

Armour (piggy pills ) Glad to know I'm in such good company.

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by dillytl

Cathe is my HERO!! I have a ton of her DVD's. If I wasn't following Leigh's plan right now, THAT is what I would be doing. I'm still doing lots of her aerobic workouts now - saves me from the monotony of the dreadmill!! Here's my CATHE collection:

I LOVE Cathe!!! I don't have quite as many of her DVDs Tracey, but probably 6-8!! I haven't done any in a while ... hopefully I'll be able to get back to it to some degree ...

And Tracy, I agree ... her body is actually my ideal ... if I could just transfer my head to her body, that would be my ideal!!