Tenacious DM and the Log of Destiny

[DirtyMartini]

Yeah I re-read the plan B drink instructions this morning and I'm going to do the same thing you're doing - get closer to a 1:1 ratio on the protein:carbs.

I do think we were too high on the calories. I made pork chops last night and instead of making them as-is, I cut them in half lengthwise (so that they were 1.5" thick instead of 3" thick) and we ate one each. Last time, we each ate a 3" thick pork chop - twice the calories. so I think we're just used to eating too much...

I'll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks & post results of our "experiment". Thanks for your thoughts and help!

Seems like this should be so easy...

[Libellula]

I keep having frustrating days, too, and you are the one who told me i don't need to be smaller! All of my body fat is on my tummy and lower butt, giving me cottage cheese thighs, but I am going to keep plugging away

You are definitely an inspiration, don't let a few "bad" days get you down! You are doing so well, it's really impressive!

[DirtyMartini]

Well I had a total f*** of a workout today

It wasn't SO bad, but you know, I just can't master the "rack" grip on those front squats. I've read & read about them and finally got my elbows up high enough by widening my grip, but I can't get up enough inertia on my way up to push that bar up. So, per the bf's advice, I just did a regular overhand grip on the bar and did my front squat/push presses this way. It's discouraging. I feel like a loser.

Here's my workout

front squat/push press: 2x10 @45. yet again.
step up: 2x10 @10e on weights bench
dumbbell one-point row: 2x10 @20e

*insert crying here*

static lunge, rear foot elevated: 1x10 @10e
push-up: 1x7 floor, 1x3 bench, 1x8 floor, 1x2 bench
plank: 2x 55 seconds.
cable woodchop: 2x10 @ 20

I think I'm having some major hormonal fluctuations or something. I flipped out on Sunday and had a major pity-party, and then cried in the bathroom today at work for no apparent reason, and then couldn't keep myself from crying in my workout today.

I'm getting enough sleep, I think I'm eating okay, I'm getting plenty of exercise... I don't know. My period came several days early, though, so I'm thinking this is a clue that it's hormonal.

Sometimes i hate being a girl.

[ledove]

I just can't master the "rack" grip on those front squats. I've read & read about them and finally got my elbows up high enough by widening my grip, but I can't get up enough inertia on my way up to push that bar up. So, per the bf's advice, I just did a regular overhand grip on the bar and did my front squat/push presses this way. It's discouraging. I feel like a loser.

I read that you should get your heads as close to your shoulders as possible, but not on your shoulders. I also find that if I kind of squeeze my elbows toward each other that they stay up better.

As for coming up, I try to drive up with my hips as much as I can once I clear parallel. Most times, my heels barely leave the ground, but the bar goes up. Then the trick is to catch it before it hits the ceiling

I think I'm having some major hormonal fluctuations or something. I flipped out on Sunday and had a major pity-party, and then cried in the bathroom today at work for no apparent reason, and then couldn't keep myself from crying in my workout today.

I'm getting enough sleep, I think I'm eating okay, I'm getting plenty of exercise... I don't know. My period came several days early, though, so I'm thinking this is a clue that it's hormonal.

Sometimes i hate being a girl.

Eh, know the feeling. Only my hormones come on as times of being very angry and snippy with everyone Male. (Sometimes Female, too, if they look too happy.) I'd hardly gotten to work this morning when I had to go take a long walk so I wouldn't kick my boss--sometimes it's not a good thing to know that you can kick your boss in the head :eek

[DirtyMartini]

Originally Posted by ledove

I read that you should get your heads as close to your shoulders as possible, but not on your shoulders.

Yeah, it says that in NROL4W, but I physically can't do that. I read in Starting Strength that if you have long arms, which I do, you'll have trouble with a narrow grip and that a wider grip can help. I tried that and voila - elbows went up. It's so damn awkward, though. One day I'll get it!

sometimes it's not a good thing to know that you can kick your boss in the head

And yet, at the same time, oh so gratifying

[Libellula]

i can totally agree with that statement

[DirtyMartini]

My best friend is a lot more "into" fashion than I am, and is self-employed. As such, she has hired a personal consultant a couple of times to help her learn how to dress properly and she's passed on some tips to me. Lately she mentioned something about how her consultant told her that she knew how to pick out a pair of black slacks, and that not very many women really did. And I looked at mine the other day and they're too short! I never even noticed...

Ever since her email about that, and since I've been doing NROL4W, I've been paying a lot of attention to my clothes. And I've noticed that several pairs of my pants are just too short on me. And so are my shirts!

I look SO much better when I wear tops that go to the middle of my hips. My long torso just looks so crappy with shirts that go to my waist, but of course since my torso is long, that's where most shirts stop!

So I've realized that often when I look in the mirror and think I look bad, it's because of how my clothes fit me, not because of my body. Major mental breakthrough!!

[ledove]

Originally Posted by ledove

I read that you should get your heads as close to your shoulders as possible, but not on your shoulders.

Now there's a funny typo: not wanting your head on your shoulders. And two heads are better than one. I should not try to write anything after doing one of Alwyn's workouts--my brain is scrambled!

Originally Posted by DirtyMartini

And yet, at the same time, oh so gratifying

Well, yes, that, too

Originally Posted by DirtyMartini

My best friend is a lot more "into" fashion than I am, and is self-employed. As such, she has hired a personal consultant a couple of times to help her learn how to dress properly and she's passed on some tips to me. Lately she mentioned something about how her consultant told her that she knew how to pick out a pair of black slacks, and that not very many women really did. And I looked at mine the other day and they're too short! I never even noticed...

Ever since her email about that, and since I've been doing NROL4W, I've been paying a lot of attention to my clothes. And I've noticed that several pairs of my pants are just too short on me. And so are my shirts!

I look SO much better when I wear tops that go to the middle of my hips. My long torso just looks so crappy with shirts that go to my waist, but of course since my torso is long, that's where most shirts stop!

So I've realized that often when I look in the mirror and think I look bad, it's because of how my clothes fit me, not because of my body. Major mental breakthrough!!

I started watching What Not To Wear back in college. After one episode, I went back and started trying on my clothes based on their recommendations. I realized that most of my clothes were too large! Somewhere I'd gotten the idea that I was a size or two larger and had just kept buying clothes without trying them on because I hates the shopping.

I have short legs and arms and torso and everything, so everything is too long on me. Hey, I know--I'll start cutting off the extra parts of my clothes and send them to you to lengthen yours

[stingo]

Originally Posted by ledove

I have short legs and arms and torso and everything, so everything is too long on me.

How does that affect your Tae Kwon Do/sparring?

[mel]

Interesting stuffs in here....a coupla things that made me think....

sometimes when I have stuff going on that feels hormonal, it's actually food related. Sometimes something is missing or maybe I've overdone a certain macro and it actually creates a hormonal type situation.

The mirror stuff is too true. Clothes and the way we look in them can have a great effect on our body image....as can the hormonal feelings. If you have work stress and other stuff going on, it probably will be carried out in a negative way on what you see in the mirror.

I know that when other stuff is going wrong, I hate the way I look too. I tend to transfer the negative energy right to my body image.

On the front squat, when you pull up into the front squat position, let your pinkies slide out on the bar and maybe even let your fingers spread wide in their grip. Most of the weight of the bar should be in your palms and your hands should be bent at the wrists, allowing the elbows to shift up. You probably know that stuff already, but maybe something in there will help make it easier.

You are doing great things! Keep it up!

mel

[DirtyMartini]

Well, I think that the birth control I'm on (the ring) is a contributor. instead of having regular periods like i do when I'm not on hormones, it actually makes me have NON-regular periods. I need to call my dr & get a prescription for something else, because I'm tired of my periods coming a week early & lasting twice as long as they should... and I suspect that my hormones are all messed up as a result.

However, I totally agree on the food part of it as well. Especially if I'm not eating enough. And stress... I started a new job and am still training so I'm not "I'm so busy!" stress, but it is "OMG I have to learn so much, how am I going to remember all of this" stress.

I relaxed and read last night, so I'm hoping that helps.

Originally Posted by mel

Most of the weight of the bar should be in your palms and your hands should be bent at the wrists, allowing the elbows to shift up.

Hmm... well, that's not true with the rack grip. With the rack grip, the weight of the bar should be on your delts and your fingertips should be just steadying the bar into place. There should be nothing in your palms at all.

...aaaand that's what I have trouble with. I can barely get the 45lb bar up with the rack grip so I'm just going to stick with a regular overhand grip (I think that's what it's called anyway). When we do these again in stage 5 (it is 5, right?), I'm going to do them with the rack grip.

[ledove]

Originally Posted by stingo

How does that affect your Tae Kwon Do/sparring?

I have to guard my head a lot more, because to taller people it's an easy target. And I have to be very much warmed up and flexible before sparring so I can kick them in the head. Or ribs, if they're really tall. Being short does make it easier to guard your ribs, though. Other than that, my strategy is hitting hard and fighting in close on tall people. Some of the better fighters in our school are the shorter ones, actually (one girl is under 5' tall and she regularly whips everyone), and Master Khan is only about 2" taller than me. Just gotta learn to use what you got.

[LWilson212]

Sorry you've been feeling shitty. Hormones suck! I get depo provera injections and like every birth control it has its issues. But, I haven't had a period since I started it like five years ago. I love that part!

I totally know what you mean about clothes not fitting. I hate shopping so I order stuff online and if it isn't quite right I'm often too lazy to send it back, so I just keep it. In the next week or so I'm planning to purge my closet of everything that is too short, waist is too big, or generally makes me look frumpy. There is a lady I work with at H&R Block and every time I see her she is wearing the same thing - a pair of black stretchy Chico's type pants and a stretchy polka dot blouse. It is a great outfit. I was thinking I would rather get one or two outfits that I feel great in and just purge the rest.

[MuscleMom23]

Ugh. clothes. My legs are too long and my shirts too short. It's awful. I commiserate. Evidently Stacy and Clinton still say to go shopping and try on stuff until you find something that fits! I finally did that with jeans and thankfully found something LONG enough!

It does make you look frumpy with ill fitting clothes. What a difference if you get something that fits! Or to know if you are tall or petite and not normal LOL!

[DirtyMartini]

So, watching our calories seemed to have worked.

Since Sunday, I've lost 1.2 pounds and the boyfriend lost over 3.

[kfisherx]

Ah hah!! Now that you know it will be easy!!! And perhaps that will also help your overall mood too. In fact perhaps you should not rush right