Okay. On second thought I want to have the buns of steel in order to complete that act, but I won't actually test it out (unless I get any volunteers to pull shards of tin from where the sun ain't in).
I'm from the great white and friggin' freezing north, and this winter I've managed to put on some pretty hefty insulation. So I'm hoping to renovate for the summer. Right now I stand 4"10 (emphasis on *now* as though some day those extra inches will come... off my hips and to my hieght?!) weigh in at 120 with a BF of 24.3% and waist of 27. I'm looking to 1) get BF back down b/w 18-20% and 2) get my weight down to around 110. Last year while marathoning and tackling triathlons I was down to 12%BF at 105, but I feel that 18-20% is more reasonable and sustainable. Essentially, I want something I can stick to and not just temporarily endure for results.
I have a background in med sciences and have four more terms left until I'm done Chinese medicine. Currently, I'm also finishing up a specialist in equine sciences. I spend numerous hours of the week reading, writing, studying and working in a student clinic and often neglect to take care of other aspects as my marks and school tend to be my top priority. My body is one of my most important tools for both shiastu and working with horses, so it's about time to put a priority on that! Those things aside, there's a really cool underwear run in August that I'd love to do... I just don't want my ass jogging a stride behind me.
Here's the last A and B log that I've had for stage one so far
Squat 3 sets (one set at 115, two sets at 125) x 10reps
Push up 3 sets (one set t-push ups with 5pnd weights, two sets regular push ups) x 10reps
Seated Row 3 sets (all set at the 6 plate)x 10reps
Step Ups 3 sets (30) x 10reps
Prone Jacknife 3 sets x 10reps
Deadlift 3 sets (50) x10reps
DB Shoulder Press 3 sets (one set 25pd dbs, two sets 22.5pnd dbs) x10reps
Wide-grip Lat Pulldown 3 sets (two sets on 6.5 plate, one set on 6 plate) x10reps
Lunge 3 sets (40) x10reps per leg
Swiss Ball Crunch 3 sets (10pnd db) x12reps
I never thought I'd do this lol Here are some pics from before the start of stage one. It looks like I'll finish up stage one in two weeks, so I hope to get some pics at the end of stage two and compare.
Squat 3 sets (one set at 115, two sets at 125) x 10reps
...
Deadlift 3 sets (50) x10reps
Welcome. If you are applying some of the Chinese medicine to any aches, pains, or twinges, I'd love to read about it in your log.
Your workouts look very strong, I was just wondering about the large difference in weight for your squat versus deadlift. Are you having some form issues with the deadlift?
__________________ Just because your mother thinks you're special doesn't mean I do
It's not so much form w/ the deadlifts from what I know. I've had two trainers in with me saying that my form is right on, but when I went up to around 70/80ish my low back was killing me during and after. So I assume something's not right! Either way, I'd rather listen to what my back was saying and stick with a lower weight right now. I find Romanian DLs are much easier on my back and work the hams a lot more (at least for my body) so I'm thinking of swapping those into this stage.
For pain management (when you ride in the jumper ring you know about hitting the ground hard and the pain thereafter lol) I do like working with cryotherapy, hydrotherapy and hot/cold variations in general. From the Chinese realm, cupping is where it's at! On the back it's really nice for the muscles as well as correlating reflex areas for organs. If anyone has ever had it done they know the comical popping sound. A flame is placed under a special cup to take out any O2 and it's immediately applied to the flesh creating suction (the practitioner can vary this suction strength). It does look pretty funny when everything sucks up. Most people leave them on and some do quick cupping (when most people waiting to be treated crack up at the popping noises). My favourite thing to do is apply an oil to the back, and once the cup is on rub it around the back without breaking suction. This is actually a comfortable (may I even say enjoyable) form of myofascial/adhesion release, works wonders on the muscles and often gets people drooling on the pillow. Just don't ever do it if you're wearing an evening dress within the week or so after. It doesn't necessarily hurt, but you will have round bruises ALL over you! Another thing is moxabustion, which is great for individual points or targeted heating. The most incredible thing is the way Eastern doctors stretch and manipulate their patients. I'm still learning the art and technique, but I can say that my teacher has stretched me in such ways I felt my body release to the point of bowel movement lol. He actually makes me feel taller!
Off for breakfast. It feels so weird to eat a ginger/cinnamon/cardamom congee with a protein shake lol! Guess it's just the best of both worlds!
Although I have a few inches on you, I have a very similar body type and very similar goals.
I think your attitude and what you are looking for is very healthy and you are headed in the right direction! Good luck with your schooling and your goals.
Remember when school starts butting in with the healthy life style that all the schooling in the world doesn't mean a whole lot if you feel like crud all the time.
So I officially feel (and probably look) like a Creme Egg. Lifted yesterday, but my eating for today and yesterday has been nothing but nutritional crap... probably macros of 90% carb from sugar and 10% protein from the turkey. Calories... lol, I've decided to not even count. Oh well, back on track tomorow. Still not pleased though.
Deadlift: did a set at 60 and two sets at 70 (10 reps)
I felt the 70 a tiny bit in the low back, so I'll try not to push further than that right now
DB Shoulder Press: two sets at 25 dbs, one set at 22.5 dbs (10 reps)
Wide-grip Lat Pulldown: all three sets on the 6 plate. I didn't put an extra half plate on top this time and felt my form was better and worth the slight cut in weight (10 reps)
Lunge: all three sets at 45 (two 22.5 dbs); I do my lunges walking across the studio infront of the mirror... I find it works me harder and I can lunge deeper when I walk as opposed to stepping forward and stepping back. Holy bazooka joe! By the time I do 13 lunges I feel like collapsing, so it's a huge mental and physical challenge to do 20 to work both legs before resting. My forearms are also pretty dead by the time I finish each set too.
Swiss Ball Crunch: three sets with a 10lb db (12 reps)... I find the key to sexy abs (if you're capable) is resistance.
This was my last workout with 10 reps in each set, so I'm stoked to get into the 8 rep sets. Curious to see if I can bump the weight up.
Came to the realization about how nearly all women have grown attached to weight. I just feel like it's so engrained, and specifically in myself. I've gained a pound since I started, but have dropped over 1.2% BF. Yet when I looked at the number on the scale, I was really dissapointed. Like shit, I'm not 110 lol. It didn't matter psychologically that I'd lost fat and gained muscle; that fucking number!! I will say that when I walk out of the gym after lifting I feel empowered and damn sexy. But it's such a struggle. I know that weight isn't everything and that compositiong is of greater importance, but the way I rationalize and think doesn't necessarily change the way I feel. That number means nothing yet everything to almost all women...
Off to pout about my eating, get the anger out and get over two days to make sure the next seven don't suffer!
Back on track eating wise! Woohoo! Sometimes it's not the cheat itself that does me in, it's the mentality of "fuck it" behind that and goin' all out after the fact. It's what takes me from eating a brownie to eating three, plus M&Ms, a burrito and essentially anything that isn't moving in my condo (with the exception of my cat... Harry is 20lbs and a big boy... sometimes he sits like a cornish hen and I wonder what he would taste like with some butter, herbs and crisped skin... JK!!)
Feeling a bit off and tired, so I didn't increase weights as much as I had hoped. I think I'm going to stick with this squat weight, as coming up was much harder than going down (and the muscles were shaking all the way lol). The step ups in combo with the prone jacknife are always so friggin brutal.
Squat: 3 sets at 135 (8 reps) Row: .5 sets on 7, 1.5 sets on 6.5, 1 set on 6 (8 reps) T Push Ups: 3 sets of 10 reps Step ups: 3 sets at 35 (two 17.5 dbs) 8 reps Prone Jacknife: 3 sets of 15 reps... increasing the reps definitely felt harder by the end as I was really watching the clock and keeping the rest intervals tight. By the end of the SU and PJ combos I was sweatin' like I'd done my dirty business... actually, I don't even sweat that much on a good night lol
Hi Jenn,
I just wanted you to know I read your reply. Thank you for the detailed information. I've heard of cupping (but only in the celebrity rags), but the bruising aspect of it didn't make it sound very appealing. I've been going to a Doctor of Chinese medicine for acupuncture. I'm going to definitely ask her about the stretching/manipulation.
I always left my dna on the floor during step-ups/jackknife combo, so I could relate to your description. Workout looks good (especially for someone who was tired).
RE deadlifts: When I first started doing deadlifts, I had some muscle discomfort (but not pain) afterwards. Once I determined that the muscles were just responding to not being exercised, I felt more comfortable increasing the weight. But I definitely are conservative about the weight I chose for this exercise. You might want to check to see if you are relaxing your core muscles during the movement. That would cause additional strain on your back.
__________________ Just because your mother thinks you're special doesn't mean I do
Yesterday I hit the indoor track to do a run. After warming up the legs I needed to stretch the groin so I jumped to the wall in the outside lane (specifically reserved for WALKING.. there are four lanes; one for walking, one for speed walking, one for passing and another for running). I started the stretch, and I soon as I got down this assmonkey (who saw me from like 500 meters away!) who was running bumped me while doing a disgusted pissed of sound?! Umm... there were three other lanes and he shouldn't have been running there anyways... and there was NOONE else on the track. So I spent 30 minutes lapping him multiple times with extreme satisfaction lol.
So I just finished a piece of oreo cake (SO worth it lol) and decided it would make me feel better to log today's workout.
Deadlift three sets at 70lbs (8 reps)
DB Shoulder Press three sets with 25lb dbs (8 reps)
YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS! With the reps down I was finally able to do all three sets with 25s! You know what this means? Time to try the 27.5s!!
Wide-grip Lat Pulldown two sets at 6.5plate and one on the 6plate (8 reps)
Lunge three sets with 50lbs (25lb dbs)
OMG! By the time I finished the last set I could feel my heart pounding in my head, eyes, throat, chest, stomach and ass! Boooyah.
Swiss Ball Crunch three sets with a 12.5lb db (15 reps)
oh my abs are going to hurt tomorrow morning lol... it's normally not until I laugh the next day until I realise those crunches really worked that case of 24
Under a lot of stress with school, wedding, "hubby" and finding a new home (just sold and need to be out of our place by the end of May... we just need a new place to go lol!). Eating is suffering a bit today from that, but I did get the workout in. If only the diet was as consistent as the working out!
Ooooooooooh the pain. I'm pretty good for stretching post workout, but for some strange reason I never seem to bother stretching after riding horses. Now, yesterday I spent around two hours riding horses predominantly in a "half-seat" (essentially you do a sustained squat while squeezing the adductors to keep your ass outta the saddle while looking graceful and pretty). All was good and in working order this morning as I was still capable of riding other things But near the end of my workout when I hit the step ups and jacknifes my right groin was really bothering me. To the point where I was sticking my fingers deep in to relieve tension periodically... and it wouldn't have looked so bad if it wasn't at the origin of adductor longus (this is where you go and look it up to see the muscle and realize that "Hey, that's pretty close to the vagina!").
I'm on break from Chinese medicine/shiatsu until April 15 now, so no official diagnosis or daily treatments I know for sure that it's at the origin of adductor longus, but I've also had iliopsoas problems in the past and know that might also be involved. I'll inspect later to check for swelling (just iced 'er), but it is really tight, painful to palpate, walk and lift the leg. The other difficult part is that I'm hypermobile, which means I can do all my groin stretches to max ROM and still not release or really stretch it. I'm going to try hanging my leg (from hip down) off the side of the bed in a little bit to see how that goes. Hip and groin issues are torture!!!
Today's workout went well aside from touching myself infront of all the boys...
Squats: 3 x 135lbs x 8
Okay, I grunted a few times on the last set lol... I went a little deep and needed to let out a few sounds to make it back up (at least those sounds didn't come out of my ass... although I'm sure that day will come... it's happened riding... but I could blame it on the horse *and you know it's bad if you can pass a fart of as coming from a 1,500pnd animal*)
Rows: 1 x 6.5plate x 8
2 x 6plate x 8
T-push ups: 3 x BW x 10 (why take these down in reps?! I'm surprised reps aren't supposed to increase for these)
Step ups: 3 x 40lbs (20lb dbs) x 8 per leg
Prone Jacknife: 3 x BW x 15 (I had to drop onto my elbows during the last set... combination of groin letting out and causing some pain in the low back)
Long story short, last night was a stressful one in the household. I decided that since I haven't shopped for clothes since last summer I could do a small retail therapy run. Went of to Winners and picked up an amazing pair of yoga shorts, a sweet/sexy/stylish pullover for the gym and when I'm in clinic and a really nice CK black workout top (all for $80... I love Winners!). Normally I wear clothes that cover up, but this shirt shows off my shoulders and upper back. I wore it to the gym and got a few stares... worth the dough lol! I felt fierce and sexy!
Another positive is that my triceps were still aching this morning from the last workout's shoulder presses. Before NROLW I was doing Arnold Presses which limited the weight more than just the shoulder press, and I also never fully straightened my elbows in the extension phase. Naturally I have built, large and defined triceps (freakishly so... I get a lot of comments lol! The lighting in my befores doesn't show any definition anywhere in my body even those there are some areas with quite pronounced definition... have to figure out what to set the camera on to get it all in for the next ones) but these exercises seem to be bringing these babies out even more. Yipee! Once I get the eating down to take off a bit more fat these babies will be blazing for the summer! Can't wait to walk by the chicks in tube tops with stick arms and show 'em what a real woman looks like!
So today was the last regular B workout in stage 1. Can't believe a month has gone by!! Although my eating has been far from where it should be, I haven't missed a workout. The diet is such an important part, so I really need to dedicate myself to it (ie dealing with my emotions in a more constructive way than oreo cake or chocolate... the problem is the amount of stress I'm dealing with is leaving me with very little energy to devote to what's going on mentally... thus the sugary carbs are there for me lol. Oh twinkies, how you have never let me or the scale down...). On a positive note, I feel like I'm finally lifting like a man. Don't you love it when the man after you goes to use the bar and keeps the weight the same or has to take some off!! Or when you wear a sexy/feminine shirt that shows your figure and you blow them away when you pull out the heavy dbs and do hardcore exercises?! Right now I feel like we should equate our tits to balls and we sure got 'em!
Todays workout:
Deadlift: 2 x 80lbs, 1 x 70lbs, x8
DB Shoulder Press: 1.5 x 27.5 dbs , 1.5 x 25 dbs, x8
I'm so stoked that I did these w/ 27.5lb dbs!! After finishing the sets, I adopted a Russian accent and proclaimed that I was strong like bull
Wide Grip Pulldown: 1 x 7plate, 2 x 6.5plate x 8
Lunges: 3 x 50 (25 dbs) x 8
Lunges suck... they make me work too hard lol
SB Crunch: 3 x 12.5db x 15
The next two workouts will be AMRAP. Do we do the weight we used in the first set of the first workout, or the final weight we used on the first workout set (the first set I was conservative but bumped up the weight by the third set)?
Here is a comparison to where I was at the beginning of this stage and where I am now:
Squats: started at 45, now at 135
Deadlift: started at 65, now at 80
Push ups: started with regulars, now doing T pushups (some w/ weights)
DB Shoulder press: started at 15lb dbs, now at 27.5lb dbs
Seated row: started at 57.5pnds, now on 6.5 plate (kinda curious how much this would be in pnds)
Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown: started on 5 plate, now on 7 plate
Step ups: started with 5lb dbs, now using 20lb dbs
Lunges: started with 15lb dbs, now using 25lb dbs
Prone Jacknife is about the same
Swiss Ball crunches: started using 10lb db, now using 12.5lb db
I'm pleased and starting to feel strong!! Looking forward to the new adventures in Stage2 and bringing on the HIIT!!
The next two workouts will be AMRAP. Do we do the weight we used in the first set of the first workout, or the final weight we used on the first workout set (the first set I was conservative but bumped up the weight by the third set)?
The point of the AMRAP, according to Alwyn's blog, is to show us how we underestimated ourselves at the beginning of Stage 1. Since some of your weights jumped so much (WTG on the squats!), you'll likely get bored quickly on the lowest weights. You could start with whatever weight first felt challenging.
I used my ending weights, just to see if I was still underestimating myself, and found that I was on some. (And on others, I was about right.) But using that higher weight might wear you out faster and make doing the later lifts harder...
Medal was handed out at the end of a marathon (that one was after the Toronto Waterfront). Most of the runs I've done give out medals which make for pretty cool displays and souveniers. They also make you feel *special* lol. I'm all about the free swag like shirts, water bottles and metals that make you feel like a total hardcore professional athlete
I still think the can would hurt. I've considered the coconut, but I wouldn't want to be the person who has to drink that milk (I will go no further). Coconut hair might also itch and scratch a bit too much for my liking.
That marathon was actually my last and fastest so far. I clocked in at 2:55:15 (it's funny that I can't remember anyone's phone number but that one will always be set in my mind). No plans for any in the near future, so I'm sticking with 6 miles and under in my regular runs right now. It's so much simpler to do the shorter runs!! No preperation and less mental challenge (slacking is the greatest thing to me). The only negative about taking down milelage is that it makes it harder to splurge on ridiculous numbers of calories without tipping the scale lol.
All the medals are packed up for moving, but I totally would dig a little display in the office/den!! Are you doing any marathons/runs in the near future?
There's a really tempting run in the summer here; the only catch is that you run it in your underwear (a tight ass is a necessity for that... no way I'm jiggling and flopping infront of anyone lol)
So today was the first A workout in stage 2. Wow! What a wake up call. I'm definitely glad looking back that I started from the very beginning, because this one totally whooped my ass! I was breathing heavily and the heart was a racing.
There was also some total akwardness... first of all, the squat & press was very wierd. I couldn't get the barbell to rest in the groove and the pressing part was harder than anticipated. I did one set with just the bar and then did another at 65 (and had to take it down to 55). Am I the only one who's having/had difficulties or gone from a decent squat weight to barbie squat/press weight? This one annoys me a bit and also got my wrists a bit as well.
I loved the one point db rows... it's just finding the balance for a sustained period. I did them with 22.5lb dbs, but could only do 4 reps before I'd lose my balance and kilter off a bit (and put foot down in fear of smacking precious face off sweaty bench or metal barbell). Talk about a good story for a black eye or missing tooth though... you'd get to say you were mastering the feat of a one point row and then go into the impressive details of the exercise. Maybe next time I won't put my foot down...
My fave part of this one was absolutely the wood choppers. Hello obliques!! Is this one supposed to really work the arms, b/c I primarily feel it in the abs and obliques!?
All in all, this one really made me sweat. Me likely. This is such a wicked challenge to the body and the exercises certainly get the attention of others around. The guys at the gym have been so awesome and have accepted me as part of the tribe. I laughed today as well. The cable station for wood choppin has a pull up bar on the top and another guy was using it. He saw me walking toward and was like "so sorry, here you can use it" lol. It's like 7 feet in the air, so I cracked up saying it would take a hydraulic lift to get me up there and that I wasn't quite at the stage of doing pull ups. He got all mad at me and said that I was so wrong and that I had more muscle than I thought. These guys are so awesome and make me feel really confident and comfortable working in the "mens room".
__________________ It all starts with the mind, but the thoughts, the intention aren't enough. Action needs to come next. Dream it, believe it, plan it, execute it, celebrate it. - Wendy
Here's my current motivation. We placed the order on a beautiful wedding dress, and it will be ready by mid-summer. Current goal is to have goddess muscularity in the shoulders, chest, arms and back to rock this baby. I also pledge to post photos of when we go to put it on again
Being a total tomboy and living in jeans and a t-shirt this was the most fun experience ever. It's so nice to jump outta workout clothes or manure infused jeans and boots and put on something so luxurious and etheral. Felt like a little princess (and my mom started crying because I was finally the little *girl* she waited three boys to have lol). Kind of want to do pullups in the thing for the shock factor lol... the strapless nature of the damn thing might lead to risk of other things pulling up and out of the dress though....
Without further ado (this is not me in the pictures!!)
__________________ It all starts with the mind, but the thoughts, the intention aren't enough. Action needs to come next. Dream it, believe it, plan it, execute it, celebrate it. - Wendy
lol Bytsi... I will have to use that one to start making the fiance jealous. Tell him about the enormous, tall, dark and handsome man I mounted and rode while he was out Okay, this is a workout forum lol. Things are going too far. Ooooh dear. Maybe the heavy lifting is boosting my testosterone! Definitely boosting something!
The avatar man is a KWPN registered Dutch stallion that I worked with in the Netherlands. He was actually just a wee lad at 2 years old in that pic and topped out at 17hh (which is pretty big for the Dutch boys). Right now I'm working out a contract to ride an 18hh Han/TB for a woman, so I'll probably post a comical avatar when the time comes displaying petite me and monster him. It's all cute and comical until it's 120pnds of me vs. 1800pnds of him (I call that strength training exercise the "two hand row on horse's face to stop from running off the edge of the earth" move... Alwyn didn't have that one in stage 2 though... hermmm)
Off to ride my smooth, dark, soft and silky linens with my hairy ragdoll cat.
The avatar man is a KWPN registered Dutch stallion that I worked with in the Netherlands. He was actually just a wee lad at 2 years old in that pic and topped out at 17hh (which is pretty big for the Dutch boys). Right now I'm working out a contract to ride an 18hh Han/TB for a woman, so I'll probably post a comical avatar when the time comes displaying petite me and monster him. It's all cute and comical until it's 120pnds of me vs. 1800pnds of him (I call that strength training exercise the "two hand row on horse's face to stop from running off the edge of the earth" move... Alwyn didn't have that one in stage 2 though... hermmm)
He is gorgeous!!! Before I quit riding (yeah, I know... ) I had a gorgeous baby Holsteiner. I'm 5'2" and he was 16.1h as a coming 4-year-old (unbroken too - ugh!) when I got him. Unfortunately, I fed him more than pasture and he had a late growth spurt (dang warmbloods!) and topped 17h. Too much for stubby little legs on me!!! Got him to training level and then life intervened and I ended up selling him and haven't ridden since... what a sad story!!!!
I have definitely done the "two hand row" to avoid death on horseback... luv that one
Nice to see a gorgeous horse, even if it is only online... I've gotta get out to a barn soon - making me miss the ponies... Can't wait to see your pic of the new Han/TB (my trainer had an 18.1h Hanoverian that she showed Prix St. Georges / trained through Grand Prix - I got to ride him a few times and did piaffe, canter pirouettes, etc on him - WOW WOW WOW - but he thought I was an annoying gnat on his back, I think! )
Yesterday evening was the first installation of stage 2 workout B.
Kept the deadlifts at 70.
Did the Bulgarian SSs with a 35pnd db.. oh wow these work my rear unlike the traditional squats!! I was kind of deflated starting at 35, but it was actually a suprising push.
The underhand lat pulldowns actually worked my abs a lot while doing them. Not sure if this means my form was off? I did them on the 7 plate plus a half plate added on top; I'm still trying to figure out how much the increments really are in pounds. The guys laughed at me hanging like a monkey off the bar. Essentially I had to stand on the seat, grab the bar (which I could hang off of without it coming down), slip my feet under the thigh thingies and pull myself down with my feet and then knees/legs.
Reverse lunges w/ frwd reach from step. Ummm, wow! Holy cardio challenge while killing my legs. Grabbed the barbie's at 10lb dbs, because I certainly was not gonna go any higher last night! Starting to miss using the bigger and heavier dbs
Prone Cuban DB snatches were pretty sweet. Yet again, deflated back to the barbies with 10lb dbs. Alwyn, you're making me feel like a wuss!!
Did reverse crunches on the incline bench which is always pretty intense, but really disliked the lat flexions (not challenging, awkward and I'd rather use another exercise so I supplemented side plank push-ups)
Overall, there are some moves I really like and others I'm not so hot on. It's hard to go from using heavier weights to using 10lb dbs Really don't like that part of the new stage.
Reverse lunges w/ frwd reach from step. Ummm, wow! Holy cardio challenge while killing my legs. Grabbed the barbie's at 10lb dbs, because I certainly was not gonna go any higher last night! Starting to miss using the bigger and heavier dbs
Prone Cuban DB snatches were pretty sweet. Yet again, deflated back to the barbies with 10lb dbs. Alwyn, you're making me feel like a wuss!!
...
Overall, there are some moves I really like and others I'm not so hot on. It's hard to go from using heavier weights to using 10lb dbs Really don't like that part of the new stage.
That's how I felt on most of these, too--they tell us to lift heavy weights and then throw in these little movements that require the Barbie weights! I used 5-lb DBs on the Cubans, and some days could only grind out another rep by reminding myself that I would not be beaten by 5-lb DBs.
I don't know about the Rev. Lunge w/ Forward Reach, but I think that most of the little shoulder exercises are rehab/prehab-type exercises--little things now that will pay off later for shoulder health.
Keep up the good work! (And I love your tall, dark, and handsome fella there.)
Just got off the phone with mommy dearest. Background synopsis is that my parents have always battled with weight and have been dieting for 40+ years with plans that work but they can't stick to (Bernstein was the worst with the best results and biggest gain after lol). They also managed to instill their eating habits into all four children Long story short, my mother is 59 and still obsessed with looks and weight (there is literally nothing more to her... there is nothing beyond appearances or the surface and I'm sadly not joking). She's had lipo once, implants twice after the first was botched, threadlift, collagen, restalyne and botox and continues to do so. Last year she also ELECTED to get the laproscopic band put on (she did not NEED it.. she was 5"0 and 170lbs) instead of investing into the surgery for my brother who is 375lbs and would have benefited greatly. She's lost weight, but never exercised (probably been 30+ years since she's walked anywhere, why not drive!). The only problem is since she's started losing weight she's been REALLY critical of everyone and their eating habits. She rides my father and calls him names and only calls me to see what size I am or how much I weigh. This is after two years of me battling with BDD and orthorexia. I've battled staying away from the scale and learning balance and that numbers do not define me. It's so hard to have someone like this in my life.
Today she called to ask how I've been doing yadda yadda and a few minutes in asked what size I was because she's now wearing that and what weight I was because she ways this. I didn't give her any numbers but said I had put on a few pounds over the past month because I've been dealing with a lot of stress and eating to cope with it. I also said that I'm feeling really strong since starting a new workout program and feel more confident even if I've gained a bit. At this point she starts screaming and asking why I don't have any self control (sorry I don't have a band restricting my stomach so I literally cannot eat!) and that I'll be too fat to wear my wedding dress. I've gained weight but not size lol! Ugg... I just have a rough time dealing with her superficiality. A wonderful example of my mom is that she has a disabled/wheelchair parking permit yet is fully able to walk for hours on end in 4" heels through the mall?! She justifies it because she just bought a new car and the disabled spots are wider so people won't be as likely to ding her doors. Plus, it's closer so she won't have to walk as far If you can't tell, I harvest some deep hate against this woman.
On to a better more constructive note now that's off my chest (if only she called pre-workout I really could have pushed hard!!):
Squat and press felt a bit better today. Did olympic bb with 10lbs added on and this was still torture. Put up to 145lbs after my last set to do squats... increase my confidence and actually lift as opposed to the wussy weights I'm using on the new exercises.
Step ups were good as usual, but the one point row drastically improved from last time! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY love these! Did them with 22.5lb dbs and will try to increase the weight next time since the whole balance without smacking head off bench thing is under wraps now. I think the secret to these is intense focus (which can be hard in the workout room with so much going on)
I also really enjoyed the rear foot elevated static lunges today as well. Did them with 17.5lb dbs. My elevated leg was shaking like crazy in a working way lol!!
Pushups same as always. Plank as always (love the way my whole body starts to shake near the end)
Another part I enjoy massively are the woodchoppers!! Teehehe! Next time I do these I'll envision swinging a baseball bat at my mothers fake face Oh that was mean, but I'm in a mean mood lol.
Overall I think I like the A workout in Stage two much more than the B. Tried to do a light run after on the track but my muscles felt zapped and empty. My stride got really short and choppy so I decided tomorrow I'll come back with fresh legs and put in an actual run.
Last edited by Jenn Equestrian : 04-11-2008 at 04:19 PM.
Reason: Adding that I'm getting my period any time, so this exacerbates the phone call even more!!
A log so that I can crush a can w/ my bare ass!
Here are some pics from before the start of stage one. It looks like I'll finish up stage one in two weeks, so I hope to get some pics at the end of stage two and compare.
I know for sure that it's at the origin of adductor longus, but I've also had iliopsoas problems in the past and know that might also be involved. I'll inspect later to check for swelling (just iced 'er), but it is really tight, painful to palpate, walk and lift the leg. The other difficult part is that I'm hypermobile, which means I can do all my groin stretches to max ROM and still not release or really stretch it. I'm going to try hanging my leg (from hip down) off the side of the bed in a little bit to see how that goes. Hip and groin issues are torture!!!
RANT RANT RANT RANT!!!!!
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