Rules? I Got Yer Rules Right Here.

[Amblus]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Sorry the db idea didn't work out... I tried!

Aw, I appreciate it! I'm just too uncoordinated.

[Amblus]

Hahhaa, I love that I was all, "tonight I'll be doing my final stage 4 B workout." Not so fast, loser. I did B3 last night, so I have one more after that. I should finish Stage 4 next week sometime. Last night went pretty well for me, overall. I really hate hate hate the prone cobra - it's uncomfortable and boring- and it's the only thing I cheated on. Here's the breakdown:

Workout 2B

A1. Wide-grip deadlifts on box - 65/8, 75/8, 85/8 (!)

B1. Bulgarian split squat - 25/8, 25/8, 25/8 (I use a 25lb plate for this)

B2. Underhand-grip lat pulldown - 65/8, 75/8, 85/8 (or 55-65 depending on the gym. This machine is either accurate or 10-15 light. Lets not speculate too much.)

C1. Reverse lunge from box - 10/8, 15/8, 10/8 (this one is hard to go up on for me and keep good form)

C2. Dumbbell Cuban Snatch - 7.5/8, 7.5/8, 7.5/8

D1. Overhead Swissball crunch - 8, 8, 8 w/ 8lb medicine ball

D2. Reverse crunch - 8, 8, 8

D3. Lateral flexion - 8, 8, 8 (on the ball)

E. Prone cobra - 60 sec x 3. Bleh.

Then I did 15 minutes of intervals on the stepmill, resting at 2 or 3 and working at levels 8, 9, 10, 9, 8. Whew.

[Amblus]

It's bed time and I'll be posting today's workout tomorrow, but I just wanted to say that I did three sets of 5 full body pushups today! I was so pleased with myself that I needed to tell someone about it. Serious progress!

[Bytsi]

That's awesome!!! Congrats on the pushups!

[Amblus]

Thanks! I was delighted. I finished up stage 4 last night but forgot to bring my logs with me to update. My big moves last night were to up my deadlift and split squat weight significantly. For the Deadlift my final set was 95lbs, which is my highest DL weight yet, thought I wasn't able to get all 8 reps in.

For the split squat I went from holding a single 25lb plate to holding 20lb dumbbells in each hand on the last two sets. WOW, what a difference. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing that earlier.

In other happy news, my weight is down a bit. I started at 128, went up to 130, and now I'm down to 127. My waist and belly measurements are also each down 1/2". Numbers aside, I can actually SEE my progress in the mirror - butt is higher, legs are more muscular, shoulders more pronounced, and every now and then I get a glimmer of my ab muscles! Woo.

[foodfromafar]

Originally Posted by Amblus

In other happy news, my weight is down a bit. I started at 128, went up to 130, and now I'm down to 127. My waist and belly measurements are also each down 1/2". Numbers aside, I can actually SEE my progress in the mirror - butt is higher, legs are more muscular, shoulders more pronounced, and every now and then I get a glimmer of my ab muscles! Woo.

Fantastic! It's nice when our reflections confirm our hard work!! I wowed your push ups last night but for some strange reason all my posts from last night were gone this morning!

[Amblus]

Thanks! I saw your "wow" comment when I first looked at my thread this morning but couldn't find my most recent post. Then I came back and your post was gone but my newest one had reappeared. This board is being a drama queen.

[Amblus]

I need to remember to grab my log so I can actually enter some numbers, but I did my first Stage 5 A workout on Saturday and damn, I'd forgotten how completely evil the bodyweight matrix is. I did it once and while I was doing it I was making deals with myself in my head ("just finish it once and you can go home!") Then I rested and went ahead and did the second round. Ugh.

My weights were okay - I tried to start with the highest weight I used from Stage 2, but that wasn't entirely successful. My second set of chest presses it took me three tries to get the 25lb dumbbells up. Three tries! My arms were not having it. I did finally get them up and did the reps, but the other sets were all 20lbs.

Today is my Stage 5 B workout and I think I'm going to try and squeeze it in during my lunch break because i really want to go mountain biking after work - it's way too pretty out today not to. A lunch break workout means I'll be doing three sets instead of four (the fourth is optional anyway, right? That wasn't covered in the book), will shorten my ab work and will skip HIIT altogether. Really, mountain biking on our local trails is pretty much defines the word "Interval" so I'm getting my cardio in, just later on.

My food has been great during the week - I'm tracking my calories and really focusing on the quality of what I eat, but as usual, all that falls apart on the weekend. I really need to dial that back because it's so hard to refocus every Monday. Wah.

[beesknees]

I need to remember to grab my log so I can actually enter some numbers, but I did my first Stage 5 A workout on Saturday and damn, I'd forgotten how completely evil the bodyweight matrix is. I did it once and while I was doing it I was making deals with myself in my head ("just finish it once and you can go home!") Then I rested and went ahead and did the second round. Ugh.

My weights were okay - I tried to start with the highest weight I used from Stage 2, but that wasn't entirely successful. My second set of chest presses it took me three tries to get the 25lb dumbbells up. Three tries! My arms were not having it. I did finally get them up and did the reps, but the other sets were all 20lbs.

Today is my Stage 5 B workout and I think I'm going to try and squeeze it in during my lunch break because i really want to go mountain biking after work - it's way too pretty out today not to. A lunch break workout means I'll be doing three sets instead of four (the fourth is optional anyway, right? That wasn't covered in the book), will shorten my ab work and will skip HIIT altogether. Really, mountain biking on our local trails is pretty much defines the word "Interval" so I'm getting my cardio in, just later on.

My food has been great during the week - I'm tracking my calories and really focusing on the quality of what I eat, but as usual, all that falls apart on the weekend. I really need to dial that back because it's so hard to refocus every Monday. Wah.

I pretty much could have written this myself! I always make deals with myself. Like with intervals. If I am not feeling it I will tell myself just do 4 and then by the time I get out there I end up doing 6 anyway.

I am also curious about the 3-4 sets. I always try not to skimp but I am wondering what the benefits of 3 vs 4 are.

Annnnd, I completely agree about week vs. weekend eating. I do really well during the week. I go back and forth about having a few bad meals and a few beers on the weekends and having fun, vs. being super strict and most likely a few pounds lighter, but not necessarily as happy? Dilemma.

[Amblus]

I go back and forth about having a few bad meals and a few beers on the weekends and having fun, vs. being super strict and most likely a few pounds lighter, but not necessarily as happy? Dilemma.

Yes! This is exactly how I am.

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by Amblus

Yes! This is exactly how I am.

X3! (but not like my past weekend - no point in eating something that makes ya' sick )

[foodfromafar]

I make deals with myself about parts of workouts just about every time! Intervals especially!

[sidonia]

There's really nothing I tell myself I can't eat...I just make sure it fits into the calories for the day! If I wanna have pasta, I have it...if I wanna have a mini snickers...I have it. If I wanna have a Magners Cider on the weekend...I'll have it dammit! You have to live life and have fun too..otherwise it might pass you by...

I just started reading your log...but super congrats on the push ups...I am still doing the body weight knee ones...but maybe someday.....

[Amblus]

I did the Stage 5 A workout last night and made some gains, which was good. I think I did the rows at 75lbs (+5) and I did my last plank on the ball/bench, which I'd never tried before. I I was really afraid I'd fall off the ball in front of everyone, but managed to stay put for two sessions of 30 seconds. Go me!

My biggest struggle has been with the chest press. I can press 25lb dumbbells but I have the hardest time getting them up. It took me, no shit, six tries to get them in position. I think I must be working my shoulders hard in the exercises that come before because that is just ridiculous. The 20lb dumbbells are too easy, so really need to move up. Very frustrating.

Ooh, in other news, on Wednesday night I did my first horseback riding lesson in nearly 20 years! I used to ride when I was a kid but quit at 17. A friend of mine recently started taking lessons and invited me to come with her. I LOVED IT. So much fun! I can't afford to go every week, but I think I'm going to try 2x a month for a while.

[mel]

Congrats on the push ups!!! And on the horseback riding. I grew up on a horse, but haven't ridden consistently in years. I always miss it whenever anyone talks about riding.

mel

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by mel

Congrats on the push ups!!! And on the horseback riding. I grew up on a horse, but haven't ridden consistently in years. I always miss it whenever anyone talks about riding.

mel

X2
I quit riding about 8 years ago... I miss it too.