Rules? I Got Yer Rules Right Here. - Page 3 - JP Fitness Forums

Amblus · 05-14-2008, 10:34 AM

Thanks for reading!

I really hate the front squat/push press too. I'm so not looking forward to it's reemergence in stage 4.

Amblus · 05-16-2008, 02:02 PM

I did my final Stage 3, Workout A last night:

Stage 3 Workout A4

A1. One armed dumbbell snatch - 20/6, 25/4, 20/6

B1. Dumbbell single-leg Romanian Deadlift -20/6, 25/6, 25/6

B2. Barbell bent-over row - 65/6, 65/6, 75/6 (+10!)

C1. Dumbbell single-arm overhead squat -5,10/6, 10,20/6, 10,20/6

C2. Dumbbell incline bench press -20/6, 25/6, 25/6 (finally got two sets @ 25!)

D1. Plank - 3 @ 90 seconds

D2. Reverse wood chop -35/6, 40/6, 45/6 (+5)

Body matrix - 2:20, 2:35

This workout in general was my favorite so far and I'm happy it comes back in Stage 5. The Body Matrix is true evil, but it feels so good to finish it! I've made big (for me) gains this stage and I'm really starting to see muscle, which is fantastically rewarding. Here's my start and finish weight to show the gains:

Stage 3 Gains

A1. One armed dumbbell snatch - 10 lbs to 25lbs

B1. Dumbbell single-leg Romanian Deadlift - 20lbs to 25lbs

B2. Barbell bent-over row - 55 lbs to 75lbs

C1. Dumbbell single-arm overhead squat - 5/10 - 10/20

C2. Dumbbell incline bench press - 20lbs to 25lbs

D2. Reverse wood chop - 25lbs - 45lbs

Amblus · 05-19-2008, 08:22 AM

I've finished Stage 3 but I don't have a workout to post because I left my log at home. I tried to go up on everything and was exhausted afterwards, which is always rewarding in it's own twisted way. I've been sleeping really well because of Stage 3. This is my "rest" week and I'll start Stage 4 on Saturday. Here's how I'll probably spend my week:

Today: mountain bike ride
Tomorrow: rest
Wednesday: Spinning class
Thursday: rest
Friday: mountain bike ride or HIIT (depending on the weather)
Saturday: Stage 4
Sunday: depends on how Saturday goes!

I took body shots after finishing 3 and I was disappointed when I lined them up next to my pics from February. I really can't see changes in the photos at all even though I can tell I'm stronger and I can see the muscle in the mirror. My weight is still a couple of pounds up from when I started (started at 128, now at 130) and I'm pretty sure that's muscle. It better be! I do think I need to concentrate more on diet, as I tend to let sugar slip in uninvited more and more often. I love to eat though, so I need to come up with a happy medium. I'm never ever going to be happy eating cottage cheese mixed with chocolate protein powder and calling it dessert, is all I'm saying.

beesknees · 05-19-2008, 12:09 PM

Great gains in stage 3! Lookin good.

I have trouble with the sugars too. I was eating cottage cheese last night and thought about putting my chocolate protein powder in with it - did not sound good at all! I will try it one of these days and maybe I will like it?

Amblus · 05-19-2008, 12:11 PM

I have been dutifully eating my cottage cheese and plain yogurt but I'm never going to love them the way I love cheese cake. *sigh*

beach_plums · 05-19-2008, 01:55 PM

I put protein powder in my cottage cheese last night and choked part of it down before adding sugar. I didn't love it; it was nothing like a treat. I think I'd rather stick to eating it plain and expecting it to taste like cottage cheese.

foodfromafar · 05-19-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amblus

I have been dutifully eating my cottage cheese and plain yogurt but I'm never going to love them the way I love cheese cake. *sigh*

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach_plums

I put protein powder in my cottage cheese last night and choked part of it down before adding sugar. I didn't love it; it was nothing like a treat. I think I'd rather stick to eating it plain and expecting it to taste like cottage cheese.

You guys are hilarious! Years ago, I tried to make a healthier tofu cheesecake...it was a total disaster. My older kids still tease me about the nasty tofu cheesecake... I'm a diehard NY cheesecake fan. I do like cottage cheese, but ack, I cannot imagine it with pp in it!

Amblus · 05-19-2008, 05:04 PM

Ha! I tried to make a chocolate pie once with silken tofu and it was completely inedible. I don't know if I should blame the tofu for that, though.

Amblus · 05-22-2008, 07:22 AM

So, this is my rest week and I've spent it resting and also taking short, but fun, mountain bike rides with my husband. We have great trails near our house so after work we can ride our bikes to the trails, ride for an hour and then be home in time to make dinner.

Yesterday the gym on the campus where I work had a staff health day, so I went to talk to a personal trainer and get my body fat measure. They used an Omron (which I know isn't that reliable) and it clocked me at 23.3% with a BMI of 21.5. Hmph. It's not the worst number in the world but I'd certainly like to get it lower. I've been watching my diet much more closely this week, because I think that's the key. I eat well, but I think I'm just eating too much.

Oh! This is hilarious - In talking to the personal trainer I mentioned that I'd been lifting heavy and was doing a specific program. His response?

"Oh, yes, I've seen you lifting and you do lift heavy. However, if you want to see definition you should do lighter weight with high reps."

le sigh.

Bytsi · 05-22-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Oh! This is hilarious - In talking to the personal trainer I mentioned that I'd been lifting heavy and was doing a specific program. His response?

"Oh, yes, I've seen you lifting and you do lift heavy. However, if you want to see definition you should do lighter weight with high reps."

Oh dear gawd... will that stupidity EVER go away?

Amblus · 05-22-2008, 09:33 AM

I think he used the word "tone" too. I spend a lot of my weight rest times criticizing what the personal trainers are doing with their clients. I mean, Barbie weights? Check. Squats on the smith machine? Check. Using the preweighted barbells in the squat cage? CHECK CHECK CHECK.

beach_plums · 05-22-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amblus

I think he used the word "tone" too. I spend a lot of my weight rest times criticizing what the personal trainers are doing with their clients. I mean, Barbie weights? Check. Squats on the smith machine? Check. Using the preweighted barbells in the squat cage? CHECK CHECK CHECK.

I've been noticing this a lot lately too! It makes me crazy to watch.
It's also coming up on finals (I go to a college gym), so I see a ton of people on the bikes doing homework and studying. I can't imagine that it's doing any good.

Amblus · 05-22-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach_plums

I've been noticing this a lot lately too! It makes me crazy to watch.
It's also coming up on finals (I go to a college gym), so I see a ton of people on the bikes doing homework and studying. I can't imagine that it's doing any good.

My favorite are the folks who spend their lunch break on the exercise bikes that have little TVs mounted to them. They watch their soaps, mouth hanging open, and pedal slooooowly.

I suppose it's better than nothing, but if your cardio doesn't even get your heart rate up, what's the point?

beesknees · 05-22-2008, 10:33 AM

I used to read on the elliptical too! I wasn't fooling myself because I was very aware that I wasn't working out that hard but I figured it was better than sitting at a desk eating

Le sigh indeed. How annoying about the trainer! One of my good friends meets with a trainer and luckily for her from what she tells me he is pretty tough. I would hate to have to argue with her about things a trainer told her about using light weights/high reps!

Amblus · 05-22-2008, 10:36 AM

Oh, to be fair, I've been guilty of flipping through a magazine on the elliptical while warming up. I try not to do it anymore, but sometimes the new Star Magazine is all that's getting me in the gym.

LisaS · 05-22-2008, 10:39 AM

re: reading on cardio equipment.

I think it works if you think of it less as a proper workout and more as a "walking desk" - that is - adding activity where you'd otherwise be just sitting. Not that anyone you see has that in mind but if you see me - that's what I'm doing.

beach_plums · 05-22-2008, 10:54 AM

Or, maybe I'm just jealous because if I even attempt to read while moving, I get sick. That includes ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, cars...
I understanding using it as a warm up or moving desk. I'm pretty sure that's not what these girls are doing though, especially since they're on them for well over the hour and twenty minutes I'm in the gym.