Leah's Lifting Log

[rixatrix]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Okay - here's my monthly update. I kind of feel baffled by this, like what am I doing wrong.

Since the March pictures, we went away for two days and I overate. Then I spent two weeks trying to follow the calorie cycling diet, but not doing as well as I hoped. Then I spent two more weeks taking a break from dieting, trying to eat good foods in moderation. Then I did one week of TNT.

...

Much as I hate to do it, I think I am going to take a weight and BF every morning for a weekly average to try to understand what the heck is going on in my body!

...

On a positive note, I haven't cried or felt ugly, fat, or binged, which is my usual overwraught emotional response to a weight increase. It seems I am learning to view it more like an experiment than like a validation of my worth as a human being.

It's so silly, isn't it? How the scale can carry so much influence. I got on it this morning and it was up two pounds. Before weighing, I was thinking I'd see something nice, since I've been on plan since Saturday night and doing some extra cardio. Naturally, I was disappointed when that's not what I saw. Naturally, I totally forgot that I had soy sauce and canned tuna yesterday - two foods pretty high in sodium. Um, duh.

Reading Precision Nutrition by Dr. John Berardi really helped me think of my results as more of an experiment, like you said. He says to take action and track everything for two weeks. If you didn't get the results you want, make a new hypothesis and test it for another two weeks. It's a methodical approach based on your own results. You're always in control.

It's easy to feel freaked out and want to change everything after one bad weigh-in. But like you said, this past month, you've been following several different approaches and haven't had consistency for long enough to evaluate those approaches. I think your idea to track body weight every day isn't a bad one - it will let you see how certain things effect your weight. I've been thinking about doing the same thing. As it is, I try not to get on the scale between Friday/Saturday mornings (when I do my official weigh ins) and the following Friday/Saturday mornings, because I feel like that's enough time to let me see any real change, rather than just fluctuation's in water, glycogen, etc. (But I will admit I do try to eat really clean the day before the weigh in - extra veggies, cut the salt, no dairy right before bed. Every little bit helps!) I guess you could say I track from low-point to low-point. But it keeps me going.

Anyway, I hope the rest of your day goes better. Sometimes I think we just need to accept that we're going to have discouraged days or anxious days, and we don't necessarily have to do anything but just get through them. Feel better!

[MuscleMom23]

Leah, hang in there, you have made some awesome changes!

What specifically are you worried about? The weight or a body part? I am shocked you weigh so much which means you look great!

[dillytl]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Stats:

1/5/08 Weight: 161.6
4/7/08 Weight: 160.8 (-.8)
BF: 25% No change
Waist: 28.5 / 28 (-.5)
Hips: 41 / 40.375 (-.625)
Rt Thigh: 24.25 / 24 (-.25)

Not sure why I can't size these appropriately, but here they are.



__________________
Leah

Okay - here's my monthly update. I kind of feel baffled by this, like what am I doing wrong.

Since the March pictures, we went away for two days and I overate. Then I spent two weeks trying to follow the calorie cycling diet, but not doing as well as I hoped. Then I spent two more weeks taking a break from dieting, trying to eat good foods in moderation. Then I did one week of TNT.

In the past, if I felt I was trying to diet but sneaking in junk here and there and messing up, I just stayed the same. I also found if I didn't track, but just ate healthy foods until I was full I couldn't lose weight that way, but I stayed the same. Gaining nearly 5 lbs makes me think it was never really lost in the first place.

I have only been doing TNT for one week and I didn't weigh on my starting day, so maybe that was a mistake. I have plugged a couple days into Fitday for a reality check and it looks like I am eating around maintenance or slightly below.

Much as I hate to do it, I think I am going to take a weight and BF every morning for a weekly average to try to understand what the heck is going on in my body!

On a positive note, I haven't cried or felt ugly, fat, or binged, which is my usual overwraught emotional response to a weight increase. It seems I am learning to view it more like an experiment than like a validation of my worth as a human being.

Today: 161.8 24%BF

Food plan:

Breakfast: scrambled eggs w/spinach & feta

Morning snack: 1 jalapeno cheddar sausage, broccoli & cauliflower

Lunch: steak salad w/cheese & ranch dressing

Afternoon snack: leftover chicken & mixed veggie stir-fry

Martial Arts class - yeah!!!! I am really looking forward to this!

Dinner: taco skillet

I will start back with monitoring sleep, headaches etc tomorrow. Sunday I had a terrible migraine and I didn't really feel better until this morning, but I don't consider it diet related, but stress related. I haven't been sleeping that well either, but that is because poor Shawn keeps having bad dreams and I have to wake him up and talk until he feels better and can go back to sleep. He is not really upset, he seems calmer, but he has so many things going through his mind I think. So that is not diet related either.

Leah, ma'dear - I have to ask what your goals are - because I don't see where you need to lose any more weight. You are nice and lean now - I mean - LOOK AT THOSE ABS!! And that back - those muscles!!!!

You know that 5 lb gain is not fat - no way did you eat that much! I'm still betting it's water weight based on the changes in your diet over the past month.

Sorry to hear Shawn is having bad dreams (and causing you some bad night's sleep!) Maybe the martial arts class tonight will help him get rid of some stress and help him sleep!

[LWilson212]

Originally Posted by Fitwit

Leah! Your progress pics look great! Your back is sooo muscle-ly!

Thanks Karen! Shawn thinks this is the part of me that's responded best to training - he always says I should look at my back more.

Originally Posted by rixatrix

It's so silly, isn't it? How the scale can carry so much influence. I got on it this morning and it was up two pounds. Before weighing, I was thinking I'd see something nice, since I've been on plan since Saturday night and doing some extra cardio. Naturally, I was disappointed when that's not what I saw. Naturally, I totally forgot that I had soy sauce and canned tuna yesterday - two foods pretty high in sodium. Um, duh.

Reading Precision Nutrition by Dr. John Berardi really helped me think of my results as more of an experiment, like you said. He says to take action and track everything for two weeks. If you didn't get the results you want, make a new hypothesis and test it for another two weeks. It's a methodical approach based on your own results. You're always in control.

It's easy to feel freaked out and want to change everything after one bad weigh-in. But like you said, this past month, you've been following several different approaches and haven't had consistency for long enough to evaluate those approaches. I think your idea to track body weight every day isn't a bad one - it will let you see how certain things effect your weight. I've been thinking about doing the same thing. As it is, I try not to get on the scale between Friday/Saturday mornings (when I do my official weigh ins) and the following Friday/Saturday mornings, because I feel like that's enough time to let me see any real change, rather than just fluctuation's in water, glycogen, etc. (But I will admit I do try to eat really clean the day before the weigh in - extra veggies, cut the salt, no dairy right before bed. Every little bit helps!) I guess you could say I track from low-point to low-point. But it keeps me going.

Anyway, I hope the rest of your day goes better. Sometimes I think we just need to accept that we're going to have discouraged days or anxious days, and we don't necessarily have to do anything but just get through them. Feel better!

The scale has always carried a huge emotional burden for me, which is why I stopped weighing. But right now I feel a really strong need to understand and I really like the two week concept. That should be enough time to see what is going on and decide if I need to make changes.
Thanks for the encouragement! I'm really glad I have this class to look forward to tonight.

Originally Posted by MuscleMom23

Leah, hang in there, you have made some awesome changes!

What specifically are you worried about? The weight or a body part? I am shocked you weigh so much which means you look great!

Thanks Kelly! Specifically I would like my legs to lean out. I don't really care what I weigh, except for a feeling of moving in the wrong direction, you know? I want to stay with TNT plan A for the full month to see if it will help me in changing my body composition. My stomach has been absolutely tortured by this huge shift in my eating habits and I think I need to wait for that to calm down to judge anything.

Originally Posted by dillytl

Leah, ma'dear - I have to ask what your goals are - because I don't see where you need to lose any more weight. You are nice and lean now - I mean - LOOK AT THOSE ABS!! And that back - those muscles!!!!

You know that 5 lb gain is not fat - no way did you eat that much! I'm still betting it's water weight based on the changes in your diet over the past month.

Sorry to hear Shawn is having bad dreams (and causing you some bad night's sleep!) Maybe the martial arts class tonight will help him get rid of some stress and help him sleep!

Thanks Tracey! You are such a sweetheart! My main goal is to lean out my legs. But I was trying to remind myself that changes don't happen that quickly. One year ago when I started NROL, my upper body didn't look particularly muscular. And of course, there wasn't a certain day that I woke up and saw now I have muscles. It happened slowly over time. I just have to keep reminding myself.

[Chanceous]

Yeah, look at your photos. You're tripping. Why are you on a diet? :-)

[LadyNoir]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Specifically I would like my legs to lean out. I don't really care what I weigh, except for a feeling of moving in the wrong direction, you know?

Don't go too hard on yourself. I feel like we are in the same boat when it come to goals and results so far. My goal was to get those lean carved legs and butt. But so far all the progress seems to be in my arms. But I know the muscle is there I can feel it! It's just got to show it's self sometime. I think just maybe that it's the last place we'll see it. We just have to keep at it and be patient. We're going in the right direction!

[DirtyMartini]

Originally Posted by LadyNoir

Don't go too hard on yourself. I feel like we are in the same boat when it come to goals and results so far. My goal was to get those lean carved legs and butt. But so far all the progress seems to be in my arms. But I know the muscle is there I can feel it! It's just got to show it's self sometime. I think just maybe that it's the last place we'll see it. We just have to keep at it and be patient. We're going in the right direction!

That's funny - I really want dead-sexy arms & shoulders, and I feel like the places I'm making the most progress are my ass & thighs. I don't really care about those, I want my upper body to look good!

How about we trade?

Leah, you look fantastic. You look STRONG!

[DanceDiva]

Originally Posted by Chanceous

Yeah, look at your photos. You're tripping. Why are you on a diet? :-)

Leah, this comment made me smile.

However, I would say about the only thing that you are doing "wrong" is measuring your progress against the body part you want to change the most. We are just those types that hold junk in our trunk, and it's not going to be as quick to move.

You are doing wonderful.

[LWilson212]

Originally Posted by Chanceous

Yeah, look at your photos. You're tripping. Why are you on a diet? :-)

Thank you so much - this cracked me up! I love how all of us girls say everything with lots of words, but the guys keep it short and sweet.

Originally Posted by LadyNoir

Don't go too hard on yourself. I feel like we are in the same boat when it come to goals and results so far. My goal was to get those lean carved legs and butt. But so far all the progress seems to be in my arms. But I know the muscle is there I can feel it! It's just got to show it's self sometime. I think just maybe that it's the last place we'll see it. We just have to keep at it and be patient. We're going in the right direction!

You're right - we are going in the right direction! Patience and determination is all we need.

Originally Posted by DirtyMartini

That's funny - I really want dead-sexy arms & shoulders, and I feel like the places I'm making the most progress are my ass & thighs. I don't really care about those, I want my upper body to look good!

How about we trade?

Leah, you look fantastic. You look STRONG!

Thanks DM! I think your arms and shoulders are progressing nicely. None of this is gonna happen overnight, but it will happen.

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

Leah, this comment made me smile.

However, I would say about the only thing that you are doing "wrong" is measuring your progress against the body part you want to change the most. We are just those types that hold junk in our trunk, and it's not going to be as quick to move.

You are doing wonderful.

Thanks Tracey. I agree that measuring my success against one body part is foolish and self-defeating. I am trying to hold on to my excitement about weight lifting and getting stronger and just let the rest go.

Last night's workout:

My first martial arts class was awesome! The first two sessions are going to be one-on-one to bring us up to speed for group classes. We learned some basic foot moves, defensive stance, punches, kicks, and one self-defense move. The instructor held a foam block for me to practice the punches and kicks and checked out my form and corrected some stuff. Everyone was really nice and I didn't feel intimidated or uncomfortable or anything. To finish off, we reviewed everything we learned all together. It was a great workout and fun as hell!
The best was, most of our hobbies are stuff Shawn has been doing since he was a kid and he is always riding my butt about being too timid and needing to push my limits more. This is the first thing we have ever taken up together with both of us as beginners. At then end of the class when he had us do all the moves we learned, Shawn was doubled over sucking wind hard during the kicks and had to take a little break. I was pretty excited about my superior stamina. Not that it is a competition or anything, but it still felt cool.
I was feeling kind of crappy all day from my head and face hurting, but this class got me so pumped I forgot all about it. When we got home we changed clothes and jumped on our bikes for my first ride of the season. Yeah!! This is the start of my 5th riding season and I didn't feel hesitant at all. I wanted a motorcycle for a long time, but I was always too scared. My first two seasons I was still nervous a lot. Last night everything felt like second nature and I was filled with amazement at myself that I am doing something I never thought I could do, and doing it without hesitation and fear holding me back. It was awesome!

Today's food plan:
(Weight: 160.8 BF%:25)

Breakfast: 3 slices bacon, scrambled egg, asiago cheese
Morning snack: string cheese and beef jerky
Lunch: steak salad w/cheese & ranch dressing
Afternoon snack: tuna w/mayo
Dinner: either broiled tilapia parm w/collards or taco skillet

Evening: pre/post workout shakes

Tonight is Hyp II C1 - There are some exercises in here I've never done before, so it should be fun.

[Bytsi]

My first martial arts class was awesome!

I'm so excited for you!!! It's such a great sport to take up together - enjoy kicking Shawn's butt

[stingo]

It's always a competition - whoever says different isn't working hard enough, or is selling ya something. Glad to hear you had such a great time, and great job in getting out of your comfort zone - that's when you know you're truly alive.

[dillytl]

so glad you liked the martial arts class - and BONUS on your superior stamina!!!

And I'm glad you were able to get out on the bikes!!! I told Kevin the other day after our ride I had forgotten just how much freakin' fun it is! Now all we need is some warmer weather and some SUNSHINE!! Ever since our first ride last weekend, I've been anxious to get back out there but Ma Nature just ain't cooperating!!!!

[MuscleMom23]

Oh gosh Leah, TKD kicked out my timidity. I AM WARRIOR LOL! And stayed that way!

As to the leg lean out, I saw something by John Berardi that said sometimes it takes 2.5 years to lean out the legs doing everything right. So you are doing the right things.

I am bummed too, cuz my upper will look awesome and my bottom will look like a train wreck... Even still now, I losing up top and not down below, wth?

[GinnyLou]

Leah,
Hey girl! I was looking at your update pictures and I am so jealous of your muscles. You rock!