I just weigh. I measure once a week or so, I'm too lazy to do that every day Graphs are very insightful! I like the graph at www.bellygraph.com, but there's tons of ones about. What I like about the bellygraph one is that it updates the picture automatically. So you can put one up on any page, and if you add a few days, they show up everywhere.
Yup, cortisol was helpful back when our ancestors had to run down mastodons or whatever. For exams, not so much.
I hope you do get a whoosh after exams, though!
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
Seriously, major props for eating at a deficit through exams and ups and downs on the scale. I usually have a hard time getting through fridays. Just cuz its friday!
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lost Dog
Plus, my desire to remain stunningly attractive outweighs the call of the cheesecake. mostly...
(not-so) Quick Q : where would you want to spend a week in July?
My dear partner just mailed me his holiday weeks and asked me to book a holiday as we are the eternal postponers.. that is, we just won't go if we haven't booked anything. Original plan was to drive to Austria and spend 2 weeks total driving and walking in the country side.
However.. if we book a city holiday sounds nicer.. where to go , where to go?
Brussels is off sorry, too boring esp for 1 week. Was thinking Vienna & Budapest perhaps? Budapest since a friend lives close to it (so not Prague & BP is closer).
Rome would be totally too hot in July, right? The plus side is that I've already got 1-2 guides .. we planned to go but never went...
An organized bus tour would make it possible to see a LOT in a short time but.. but aren't we too young and smart to do this? Esp if you've been a guerilla camper yourself?
Come one.. help me out!
I've been wanting to go to the Balkans, Croatia, etc, but really know nothing about how it is now after the war... or where to go... but I've always heard it's beautiful geographically...
And here (the last 12 dots or so) we see the effect of high stress and cortisol on fat loss. Not very positive. I've definitely been eating at a deficit, so technically I could get a woosh after I take my last exam tomorrow and my cortisol levels drop (cortisol leads to insane water retention, apparently). More likely, the cortisol has been working against me all this time (cortisol insanely counteracts fatloss, too, apparently), and I won't see much effect.
Exciting, isn't it?
cortisol: so how do you get that to drop?
stress: so how do you get that to drop? end of exams should help you...
I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but it's reassuring for me to see someone else in deficit, lifting etc, who is not losing weight. I'll be interested to see the next few weeks for you, and fingers crossed for us both...
So why do some women/people lose steady, and some not?
but you don't have much to lose, that's part of it, no? and you had a real nice low just 10 days ago..
cortisol: so how do you get that to drop?
stress: so how do you get that to drop? end of exams should help you...
I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but it's reassuring for me to see someone else in deficit, lifting etc, who is not losing weight. I'll be interested to see the next few weeks for you, and fingers crossed for us both...
So why do some women/people lose steady, and some not?
but you don't have much to lose, that's part of it, no? and you had a real nice low just 10 days ago..
Yes, I feel your pain now, it's very frustrating My BF says:"why are you so upset, you look fine?". I say "It's not that, it that I set a goal, work hard for it, and yet don't seem to reach it".
But yes, cortisol should go down when the stress goes away and the last 10 pounds are always hell (and for a real fitness competitor there's 10 more pounds to lose after that, those must *really* be hell!). But I'm already working on a plan for the next attempt, partly inspired by you and your 1-ingredient foods!
Thanks for the link to the bellygraph page. That is fun and I've created a graph that I will post on a few of my pages.
Yay for graphs and pictures! Graphs are great for seeing a pattern amongst the swings
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gen
Seriously, major props for eating at a deficit through exams and ups and downs on the scale. I usually have a hard time getting through fridays. Just cuz its friday!
Thanks! Fridays are okay, but weekends... we need a bigger house so I can be further away from the fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by scribess
Yup, cortisol was helpful back when our ancestors had to run down mastodons or whatever. For exams, not so much. I hope you do get a whoosh after exams, though!
Well it's nice to know that, should a mastodont run down the streets of Leuven, I'll be prepared! Famine and mastodont ready, is what we are
Regarding those back extensions (sorry, I just now got around to reading your log, so this is going back some), I used to hate them too, but after making myself do them for a while I got to like them. When you're tired of regular ones, you can add a twist when you are at the top of your extension, to work the obliques as well. It's hard as hell, but feels so good afterward. . . .
And to go really, really far back, to your original pics you posted about your hourglass shape. . . .lucky, lucky you....what I wouldn't give for a waist like yours! Your BF I'm sure is right, you "look fine"! (probably an understatement after doing Alwyn's workouts for a while)
Thanks for visiting my log, and the encouragement. I am excited to start stage 2, but HORRORS!!! I just looked at it, and those damn step ups are in it!!!
Scale still says 72kg. Right where I started two months ago! Oh well, time to call it quits for this attempt and start slowly working up to maintenance. Good thing I'm still hot
I've read up a bit on cortisol and learned a few things for my future exams (and other high stress periods):
stress + strenuous workouts + deficit = triple strength cortisol elevation = catabolism and other undesirables
Next exam period, I will take a workout break and stick to long walks and other relaxing activies, while keeping my kcals at maintenance.
Skipping tonight's workout and going for a long walk again, me thinks. Maybe I can get the boyfriend to join me, make it romantic
Come say hi, we're rehearsing at the park tonight. You should be able to hear us!
__________________
Vegetarian, consumer of large quantities of Quark cheese
Working my way from 76.4 to 58 kg (168 - 127.6 lbs)
Lifting a bit, schedule varies. Barbell weight: 22kg/48.4#
Scale still says 72kg. Right where I started two months ago! Oh well, time to call it quits for this attempt and start slowly working up to maintenance. Good thing I'm still hot
I've read up a bit on cortisol and learned a few things for my future exams (and other high stress periods):
stress + strenuous workouts + deficit = triple strength cortisol elevation = catabolism and other undesirables
Next exam period, I will take a workout break and stick to long walks and other relaxing activies, while keeping my kcals at maintenance.
Skipping tonight's workout and going for a long walk again, me thinks. Maybe I can get the boyfriend to join me, make it romantic
catabolism: just looked it up... Leigh suggested maybe I stop resistance training and substitute walking. If my weightloss is still slow, I may make Week 9 rest week extend for 2-3 weeks of no resistance work, and more walks, and then pick up and finish the last 3 weeks of resistance... Have you thought of how to reduce stress otherwise?
I don't feel stressed, other than the resistance work and not enough sleep, both of which I can control, really. Don't know what else is stressing me. Oh, deficit, yeah... well gotta keep that.
Quote:
I've also made sure to look extra grumpy in these pictures, so that when I suck my stomach in and smile happily in a few months or so, everyone will congratulate me on my achievements and buy any fitness equipment I may have used in my awesome transformation
I just looked back at your photos... you really are prepped for those AFTER photos of you smiling proudly! It will come... remember the muscles inside your body are realigning or something. Something must be happening with all your work. Must be must be must be happening
Have you thought of how to reduce stress otherwise?
Not really, i just get VERY stressed during exams, so it really just requires 2-3 weeks of situation control. Otherwise I'm pretty laid back
Quote:
Originally Posted by Etana
I just looked back at your photos... you really are prepped for those AFTER photos of you smiling proudly! It will come... remember the muscles inside your body are realigning or something. Something must be happening with all your work. Must be must be must be happening
I don't think so, I think sometimes your work is just really for nothing, and I don't have a problem with that. Sometimes you do something and nothing happens, then you learn from that, and hopefully don't do it again. Sometimes you do something and there's nothing to learn. I know that if 10 pounds is my biggest problem in the world, I pretty much win at life.
Seriously, major props for eating at a deficit through exams and ups and downs on the scale. I usually have a hard time getting through fridays. Just cuz its friday!
Amen to that.
__________________
Past performance is not indicative of future success.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
I don't think so, I think sometimes your work is just really for nothing, and I don't have a problem with that. Sometimes you do something and nothing happens, then you learn from that, and hopefully don't do it again. Sometimes you do something and there's nothing to learn. I know that if 10 pounds is my biggest problem in the world, I pretty much win at life.
Harsh, but true--though I'd say that at the very least, you learn what doesn't work, not just "nothing." Or you learn that something is up with your body so you know to head to the doc and get tests done.
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
I don't think so, I think sometimes your work is just really for nothing, and I don't have a problem with that. Sometimes you do something and nothing happens, then you learn from that, and hopefully don't do it again. Sometimes you do something and there's nothing to learn. I know that if 10 pounds is my biggest problem in the world, I pretty much win at life.
I absolutely agree with this! If my biggest concern is losing 10lbs then overall, I'm doing pretty well. Still it's frustrating when hard work doesn't result in some visible differences.
Not really, i just get VERY stressed during exams, so it really just requires 2-3 weeks of situation control. Otherwise I'm pretty laid back
Who doesn't get stressed during exams! I used to go through hyooooge amounts of licorice at this period.. only many years later I learnt about its' stress-reducing effect.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juleske
I don't think so, I think sometimes your work is just really for nothing, and I don't have a problem with that. Sometimes you do something and nothing happens, then you learn from that, and hopefully don't do it again. Sometimes you do something and there's nothing to learn. I know that if 10 pounds is my biggest problem in the world, I pretty much win at life.
That's why mostly young people worry about how they look and most people with young kids & jobs no longer have time to worry about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gen Seriously, major props for eating at a deficit through exams and ups and downs on the scale. I usually have a hard time getting through fridays. Just cuz its friday!
Thursday is THE biggest party-ing day here in town since most students go home on Friday.. where they continue the party-ing on Fri & Sat night with their home town buddies. Most students go home every weekend as they live within fairly close proximity of their home town (Belgium & Netherlands are really small countries). Once they start working on their theses, they tend to stay in their university town for the weekend, especially when they also land part-time jobs.
Who doesn't get stressed during exams! I used to go through hyooooge amounts of licorice at this period.. only many years later I learnt about its' stress-reducing effect.
I had no idea that licorice does that! That's pretty cool to know. Unfortunately, I hate licorice, and most candy in general. Now pastries and chocolate on the other hand... that's what I reach for in stressful times. Of course, I like the stuff that is so high in fat.
I had a frozen yoghurt today, it was glorious. My maintenance week will feature:
one midsummernights dinner,
one cook-off (for said dinner)
one parental visit,
one teambuilding day (with lavish lunch, of course),
one company course day (with lavish lunch, of course),
one company lunch (lavish, how did you guess?)
one party.
Yes, there's a reason I picked this particular week for maintenance week Truthfully, with all that it'll be hard not to over. Maintenance is only around 2100, and that's assuming I have time to workout, walk an hour, and bike to work. But I'll give it my best shot (and a lot of periodic fasting).
Do some workouts (or even don't do them?) walk lots & lots (not too fast, just a lot), and simply eat less meals.. and who knows you might even come back leaner!
ENJOY!
NYC Native.. licorice is pretty amazing.. it helps soothe your throat when you're having a cold, is good when having stomach (ulcer) problems, it is used to treat women with PCOS.. and licorice root extract is frequently one of the ingredients found in anti-stress supplements.. I even read it might even help with fat loss as it also has an effect on cortisol (well yeah, stress = cortisol, right)
For a former licorice addict like me .. that was too good to be true
The only real downside.. it seriously affects blood pressure in a negative way and makes you retain water too. If your BP tends to run on the high side, NOT a good idea. Also , which was the reason I abstained from it for a few years, it lowerd T-levels (see PCOS) and that's supposedly bad news when wanting to build lean muscle mass..
There's licorice root tea as well and lately I've been buying licorice root powder which is a neat addition to aforementioned tea.
Do some workouts (or even don't do them?) walk lots & lots (not too fast, just a lot), and simply eat less meals.. and who knows you might even come back leaner!
ENJOY!
Thanks, that's the plan! The workouts and walks, that is
I had a frozen yoghurt today, it was glorious. My maintenance week will feature:
one midsummernights dinner,
one cook-off (for said dinner)
one parental visit,
one teambuilding day (with lavish lunch, of course),
one company course day (with lavish lunch, of course),
one company lunch (lavish, how did you guess?)
one party.
Yes, there's a reason I picked this particular week for maintenance week Truthfully, with all that it'll be hard not to over. Maintenance is only around 2100, and that's assuming I have time to workout, walk an hour, and bike to work. But I'll give it my best shot (and a lot of periodic fasting).
It's going to be awesome!
Sounds like an awesome plan, one that I am quite envious of! But I guess in just over a week's time I'll be having my own maintenance week.
I just got the original NROL, and was reading it last night when I came across a passage regarding the back extension machine. I think you were discussing the fact that you use the machine, not realizing it isn't what Lou meant when he assigned the exercises on back extensions. On page 31 of NROL, he says, regarding machines in general, this: "Only one movement--the back extension--imitates the deadlift. And we like the back extension, as long as you do it on the device known as a Roman chair, as opposed to the weight-stack machine, which is dangerous."
On page 33, there's a sidebox titled "Exercises We Hate #2" and it says "Why we hate it [the back extension machine]: The machine exerts a compressing force on your spinal discs while you're extending backward. In Low Back Disorders, McGill describes the exercise as 'the easiest way to ensure herniation' of a disc. A few sets probably won't do any damage, but the heavier the load you use, the fewer sets and reps it takes to make a disc go boom."
I have only seen a Roman chair in one gym I used to use. Most gyms have the type where the feet are lower, like the pic you posted of the machine in the park (it was in a park? that's odd). But I think even that one will work mostly like the Roman chair, and it's way better than the machine.
Jules, I'm sure you'll have lots and lots of fun on your maintenance week. It sounds like the perfect break from all the hard work and studying you've been doing.
Espi - I'll have to give the licorice root tea a shot. I'm not fond of licorice candy because of the texture - most candies give me the heebie-jeebies because of that issue! Only chocolate and a few sweets float my boat. Since my blood pressure tends to be on the low-end, I should be fine, too. So off to my local health food store to find myself some licorice powder!
In Low Back Disorders, McGill describes the exercise as 'the easiest way to ensure herniation' of a disc. A few sets probably won't do any damage, but the heavier the load you use, the fewer sets and reps it takes to make a disc go boom.
Eep! Is that this McGill? If so, then I'm defenitely not touching that machine again! I already have back issues, and they're not a fun thing to have. From now on, I'll be using the Wannabe Roman Chair
__________________
Vegetarian, consumer of large quantities of Quark cheese
Working my way from 76.4 to 58 kg (168 - 127.6 lbs)
Lifting a bit, schedule varies. Barbell weight: 22kg/48.4#
Graphs are very insightful! I like the graph at 
Still it's frustrating when hard work doesn't result in some visible differences.
Linear Mode
