Clothing OPTional--90% More Salacious!

[scribess]

Originally Posted by Juleske

Huh? How does that work?

What do you mean? Indentations from watch, socks or lines/creases from wrinkles in pillows/sheets overnight are indications that you're retaining water. That's what I meant. I seem to always get slight indentations from my watch no matter what I do, but when I wake up with lines/creases from my sheets or pillows, that's a signal to me that I'm retaining more water than usual.

[poppypixie]

Originally Posted by scribess

Have I mentioned sometimes it sucks to be a woman?

When I read this I got Shania Twain in my head but she was singing:

"Man, it sucks to be a woman (do doo do do do)"

And yes, it does suck to be a woman sometimes. Do men find it sucks to be a man sometimes?

[scribess]

Originally Posted by poppypixie

And yes, it does suck to be a woman sometimes. Do men find it sucks to be a man sometimes?

I'd like to know, too!

______________________________ ____

OPT A2
3s, 12r

Step-Ups
10lb DBs

DB face pulls
12.5

Bent over rows
15

Standing curls
12.5

Ball reverse extension
BW

Side plank
L: 58, 39
R: 60, 44

Pithy comments

• I'd considered increasing DB weight for step-ups, but left knee has been giving me a bit of bother lately (not sure why) so I didn't. Did okay today, though, so I think I'll increase next time.
• Think I can increase on rows, but definitely need to focus on staying bent over.
• 1st L plank 1 sec shorter than last time, but added 7 sec to second, so that's good. 1st R plank increased 1 sec; 2nd increased 16. I always hate planks while I'm doing them, but I find I appreciate my progressions on these more than any of the other exercises. Hope this doesn't bespeak of masochistic tendencies on my part.

[Etana]

Originally Posted by scribess

OPT A1

Now I've got a question. Regarding the diet, I'm wondering if the fat is too low for me. I'm starting to get breakouts of eczema, which I used to associate with "evil demon carbs." But I ate a lot more carbs back when I was doing my reset thingummy based on R.E.P.A.I.R. and had no problems--it's just that my dietary fat was higher also. Worst bit of it (right now, at least) is that I'm getting a rash around where I wear my GoWear Fit. So I'm debating about possibly increasing fat, though I hate to modify Leigh's program. Thoughts, anyone?

What kind of fat? more cheese, or more avocados and olives and peanut butter?

I'm making some changes in OPT (I've just started week 8). I'll always wonder if "that's why the weight loss is so slow" but I just have to not be attached to being perfect. I'm not doing intervals; doing dance aerobics instead (I'm sure people here are rolling their eyes...)... I think, personally, give raising the fat a go, and see if it has a positive affect after 2 weeks. Leigh said try to hit the macros, but definitely hit the calories.

[Etana]

Originally Posted by scribess

• I'd considered increasing DB weight for step-ups, but left knee has been giving me a bit of bother lately (not sure why) so I didn't. Did okay today, though, so I think I'll increase next time.
• Think I can increase on rows, but definitely need to focus on staying bent over.

have you watched videos on step ups? When I told Leigh my knee hurt from them, she said to push up from the heel (fire the glute instead of quad I think...)... it REALLY helped

[Etana]

Originally Posted by scribess

just loan her my copy of Fat Loss Troubleshoot (I have it printed out) but my mom does tend to judge things on the basis of grammar. And honestly being an editor so do I, but I'm very thankful I was able to see past the grammar hiccups to the genuine info. So I guess that's also why I'm hoping I'll have smooth success--I could use myself as an example that the program and info does work, despite the typos.

I thought the second version was edited for the typos etc... But I haven't looked to see.. You DO have it, right?

[Etana]

Originally Posted by scribess

Good Lord, you're a couple of needy Nick and Noras! Or insistent Isaac and Inas!* Etana never posted her numbers and never caught any flak for it. *grumbles*

yeah, why didn't I get flak... maybe they just think I'm a frail old lady??? Well, and I haven't been going for 70% RM limit since I'm still in post surgery recovery, rotator cuff sprain recovery.. Ahhh yes, not an old lady, a jock who is in recovery, that's me!!!

1.5 hours DDR

What's DDR?

[Etana]

Originally Posted by scribess

OPT A1
3s, 10r all.

Wide stance DB deadlifts
30

Swiss ball bridge
BW

Swiss ball Flys
10

Neut. Grip shoulder press
12.5

Prone supermans
BW

Wood chops
17.5

what are the weight numbers: kilos or pounds? total or each:
deadlift 30: is that 30 lbs for each hand or both combined, or kilos?

[Pips]

There's a thread about step-ups, it explains what Etana mentioned about pushing up from the heel, and it has some other tricks as well. I think its in the NROL4W section of the forum, prolly in the FAQ.

[scribess]

Originally Posted by Etana

What kind of fat? more cheese, or more avocados and olives and peanut butter?

I'm making some changes in OPT (I've just started week 8). I'll always wonder if "that's why the weight loss is so slow" but I just have to not be attached to being perfect. I'm not doing intervals; doing dance aerobics instead (I'm sure people here are rolling their eyes...)... I think, personally, give raising the fat a go, and see if it has a positive affect after 2 weeks. Leigh said try to hit the macros, but definitely hit the calories.

I'd likely increase my cod liver oil supplement. I currently take 1 tsp. But I think I wrote later on that the eczema is starting to clear up (after a couple of higher dietary fat days--more fish and dairy), so that was the culprit. I am still hitting the calories; largely just decreasing carbs to fit in the fat.

Originally Posted by Etana

[/list]have you watched videos on step ups? When I told Leigh my knee hurt from them, she said to push up from the heel (fire the glute instead of quad I think...)... it REALLY helped

Knee problem wasn't due to doing step-ups themselves--it was kinda achy before that and I felt it more so on woodchops, actually, than step-ups. Probably something like I'm sitting twisted at work (lots of typing at computer while referencing a book that's laid flat off to the side).

Originally Posted by Etana

I thought the second version was edited for the typos etc... But I haven't looked to see.. You DO have it, right?

Yes, I have it. (It'd be kinda hard to do OPT without it! I lucked out and won a copy back in hmm April when Leigh did an impromptu contest thingummy on The FitCast. But there are still typos.

Originally Posted by Etana

yeah, why didn't I get flak... maybe they just think I'm a frail old lady??? Well, and I haven't been going for 70% RM limit since I'm still in post surgery recovery, rotator cuff sprain recovery.. Ahhh yes, not an old lady, a jock who is in recovery, that's me!!!

What's DDR?

Yes, jock in recovery! I'm not quite sure I'm at 70% RM, either, but since I'm still fairly new to DB training, I figure it's not a bad thing to work on getting form down.

DDR = Dance Dance Revolution

Originally Posted by Etana

what are the weight numbers: kilos or pounds? total or each:
deadlift 30: is that 30 lbs for each hand or both combined, or kilos?

Pounds. I started waayy too light on the DLs so I'm not sure which of my WOs you're looking at, but whatever I posted is the weight for each hand.

BTW, Etana, if you hit the +quote button, you can multiquote posts and not have to do a new post each time you want to respond to an individual post.

Originally Posted by Pips

There's a thread about step-ups, it explains what Etana mentioned about pushing up from the heel, and it has some other tricks as well. I think its in the NROL4W section of the forum, prolly in the FAQ.

I'll have to check that out--I do have NROL4W (bought it before deciding I need to focus on fat loss first) which I've been referring to for form when it has OPT's exercises. Had read about pushing up from the heel but I probably only remember to do that around 70% of the time.

[scribess]

Weigh in: 148.4 (eventually I'll have to get a new scale--I had no idea my weight fluctuates day-to-day like normal people and that my scale needs a larger difference [at least a pound, probably] in order to register it. Otherwise it gives me the old weight. Anyway, now I'm only .2 lbs away from my lowest weight on OPT)

Sleep: 4:54 Social nights always lower my sleep. Can't be a hermit, though.

Stats for Tuesday, June 23
Cals burned: 2356 (crappily low)
Cals consumed: 1627 (148.9p/122.9c/64.6f; 37%p/29c/34f)
Deficit: 729

Activity

• 30 min Pilates
• 15 min walk at work
• OPT A2 (details listed previously)

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by poppypixie

And yes, it does suck to be a woman sometimes. Do men find it sucks to be a man sometimes?

Originally Posted by scribess

I'd like to know, too!

One day I'll tell you what exactly they do to me every 3 months for the next several years. Ha! Bring on the mamogram and the pap smear. I'll trade ya. So yes there are times.

Most days it ain't all that bad. The world as your toilet is a huge bonus not to mention all the statistical advantages.

[scribess]

Originally Posted by Deserve

One day I'll tell you what exactly they do to me every 3 months for the next several years. Ha! Bring on the mamogram and the pap smear. I'll trade ya. So yes there are times.

Most days it ain't all that bad. The world as your toilet is a huge bonus not to mention all the statistical advantages.

I'll grant you the statistical advantages, but I'd have to say that since dogs can't pee anywhere they like, or at least not without punishment in certain places, neither can men. Just sayin'.

[scribess]

Figured this would be apropos to post today given my abysmal sleep last night.

For this edition of Deficit Theatre, of course we have our regular players, me

and my body

represented by the sock puppet. But we also have a new player, Annoying Bunny Brain

likely to be abbreviated as ABB, and so named because of my brain's tendencies to bounce along willy-nilly from one thought to the next. So I present to you Nocturnal Deficit Theatre. Let us begin.

Me: (blissfully aslumber) Martian ice cream topping? Well I guess I could pop over there...

My body: Hey. Three a.m. Time for a pee break.

Me: Mars has bathrooms?

My body: HEY! Pee break!

Me: (awakens fully, claws at night mask, grumbles, goes to take care of business, returns to bed)

My body: Ahh! Isn't that preferable to having an accident?

Me: Shut up and let me sleep. You'll wake up you-know-who.

Annoying Bunny Brain: Yeah, that really would suck, having to clean sheets in the middle of the night. But hey, maybe if you drank less water before bed, that'd take care of the problem!

Me: Oh, crap.

ABB: But then that'd lead to dehydration, wouldn't it? Or would it? Are we seriously incapable of going eight hours without drinking water?

Me: (starts to clench and release toes, then calves, and onward up the body in an effort to relax)

ABB: Better be careful with that toe-clenching, 'cause sometimes we get that painful cramp. Really ought to get a tennis ball or something to roll on. That'd probably help. Foam rollers are great, but they can only do so much.

Me: Shut up! Sleep is important!

ABB: Oh. Right. Sorry.

Me: (continues tensing and releasing of muscles, starts in on making breathing slow and even)

ABB: (in the background) Chim chiminey chim chiminey chim chim cheree... a-da-da da-da-da hmm hmm-hmm hmm hoo...

Me: You are not singing "Chim Chim Cheree."

ABB: (starts to flash up the little DDR arrows in time to the song) Hey, have you noticed that our calves are getting more defined from DDR? Of course, they're still unbalanced--the left is in better developed, have you noticed? Very strange, since the right arm is stronger than the left, and we are right... um, sided.

Me: Chim chiminey chim chim-- oh, CRAP!

My body: Hey. I'm hungry.

Me: It's 3:30 in the morning! We're not eating!

My body: If we did eat, we'd probably have less problems with ABB over there.

ABB: I like cupcakes!

My body: I really think we should reconsider this whole deficit thing. I mean, is it worth the lost sleep?

ABB: With sprinkles! Oh, well, not really. Because sprinkles are generally just sugar with chemical additives for color, right? But they at least look pretty.

Me: (wishes desperately for an "off-switch" for her brain)

ABB: Wouldn't that also shut off things like breathing? Not a good idea.

Me: (sighs and gives in) How about "Hakuna Matata"?


You may now envision me and my body taking bows. ABB is likely entranced with the lighting fixtures and making shadow puppets.

[NYC_Native]

Bravo, for another excellent performance of Deficit Theater! *Claps*

[Pips]

*applauds loudly*

[scribess]

Originally Posted by NYC_Native

Bravo, for another excellent performance of Deficit Theater! *Claps*

Originally Posted by Pips

*applauds loudly*

Thank you, thank you. We are not here all night, as trying to sleep well is the gaol.

______________________

Weigh in: 147.2 Love it when my new low is 1 lb less than my old low! Sure to go up tomorrow, though.

Sleep: 6:24

Stats for Wednesday, June 25
Cals burned: 2565 (expected more than this; think my NEAT is decreasing)
Cals consumed: 1433 (144p/119.9c/45.4f; 40%/32%/28%)
Deficit: 1132

Activity

• 2 15 min walks at work
• 50 min on elliptical at 70% MHR (around 135-140 BPM, for those interested in my cardiovascular fitness)
• 50 min DDR

I'm thinking now I may not be able to fit in OPT A2 tomorrow after all. I'm spending Fri night at my parents', which means I need to get my packing done earlier than I would otherwise, particularly since they offered to take me out to dinner. Seeing as I'll run out of food right about then (unless I decide eating dry cereal or oats is suitable, that is), I'd like to take them up on it. However, that means I'd have about an hour at home after work before I'd need to leave to get to their place. Guess it'll depend on how much stuff (cleaning apt, packing, etc.) I get done tonight. Maybe I'll be able to do at least two sets. Heck, even 1, esp. if I really upped the weights.

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by scribess

I'll grant you the statistical advantages, but I'd have to say that since dogs can't pee anywhere they like, or at least not without punishment in certain places, neither can men. Just sayin'.

I'm just saying that rarely is the condition of a gas station a big concern when I stop on a long road trip. That is a huge bonus.

[scribess]

Originally Posted by Deserve

I'm just saying that rarely is the condition of a gas station a big concern when I stop on a long road trip. That is a huge bonus.

True, but I'd have to say (or at least I'm assuming) that Number 2 is the great equalizer.

[Naive]

LOL @ deficit theatre, I can totally relate!!!! Congrats on a new low.

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by scribess

True, but I'd have to say (or at least I'm assuming) that Number 2 is the great equalizer.

I always said it was a bonus not the win.

[Juleske]

Yay for theatre!

[scribess]

Originally Posted by Deserve

I always said it was a bonus not the win.

I think I'll say sometimes it sucks to be human and leave it at that.

Of course, other times it rocks.

Originally Posted by Naive

LOL @ deficit theatre, I can totally relate!!!! Congrats on a new low.

Originally Posted by Juleske

Yay for theatre!

Thanks!

[scribess]

Boy, can I sweat. At least I should be pretty well detoxified.

OPT A1
Still 3s, 10r. Weights are in lb since my PowerBlocks don't list kg. I use both DBs (i.e., actual weight lifted is double) for all except woodchops.*

Wide stance DB DL
32.5

Swiss ball bridge
BW

Swiss ball flys
10

Neut. grip shoulder press
15

Prone supermans
BW

Low-to-high woodchops
20

Plank
90/67/60

Pithy comments

• Increased weight on SP and woodchops. Need to focus on stabilizing core during woodchops--I shifted a couple of times.
• Plank 1 increased 3 sec; 2 increased 1 sec; 3 increased 7 sec. I was looking ahead to the plan for weeks 5-8 and was a little sad to see that planks aren't included. Ah well.

*Etana's earlier questions made me realize perhaps I should clarify what, exactly, I'm doing.

[scribess]

Weigh in: 147.2 (this is my last weigh-in till July 8 due to vacation)

Sleep: 5:49 At least I'll have plenty of time to chillax in the car tomorrow and Sunday.

Stats for Thursday, June 25
Cals burned: 2518
Cals consumed: 1555 (147p/129.6c/53.3f; 38%p/32c/30f)
Deficit: 963

Activity

• 2 15 min walks at work
• OPT A1 (details listed previously)
• 2 hours NEAT from packing, cleaning apt. Again, was expecting a higher burn. If I weren't already going on vacation, I'd consider a refeed--I'm trying to keep my NEAT at the same level, move at the same speed, etc. I don't think 6 lbs would decrease my burn so much. Keep forgetting to check my morning temp, but I suspect it's lowered.

Also took measurements this morning for benchmarks. I'm planning to use measurements to keep myself in check during vacation since I don't think my aunt has a scale, and even if she does, it likely won't match mine. But I can bring along my Myotape.

Neck	Bicep	Bust	Rib cage	Waist		Hips	Thigh	Calf	Totals	Inches Lost
					Abdomen
11.75	10.25	37.5	33.5	31	37.375	40.625	22.5	14	226.75
11.75	10.25	37.375	33	30.625	37.25	40.625	22.25	14	225.375	1.375
11.75	10.5	37.25	32	30	37	40.625	21.625	13.75	222.75	2.625
11.75	10.5	36.25	31.25	29.5	36.25	40	21.5	13.625	218.875	3.875

I'm pleased. 3.875 inches lost over five days (normal measuring day is Sunday) isn't too shabby. Granted, part of that is likely from last week due to water retention on Sunday. But still. 7.875 inches lost since beginning OPT. For 3.5ish weeks, I think that's pretty good.

[NYC_Native]

You lost almost 4 inches in 5 days - I'd say that's quite the accomplishment. For me, it takes a month to see a notable improvement in measurements. I think I lost an inch off my hips over the span of 5 months last year, and that's been that, LOL.

Have fun on your trip. And if you manage to find time to go to Austin, definitely visit Waterloo Records (if you're a music junkie).

[poppypixie]

I've never heard of Myotape but I just looked it up and it looks great! May have to invest...

And congrats on the inches lost. You have done a great job! Enjoy your trip.

EDIT: Ok, so I ordered a Myotape but it is payday....

[scribess]

Originally Posted by NYC_Native

You lost almost 4 inches in 5 days - I'd say that's quite the accomplishment. For me, it takes a month to see a notable improvement in measurements. I think I lost an inch off my hips over the span of 5 months last year, and that's been that, LOL.

Have fun on your trip. And if you manage to find time to go to Austin, definitely visit Waterloo Records (if you're a music junkie).

Yeah, I keep seeing the measurement going down and thinking maybe I'm pulling the tape too tight or not measuring at the right spot--but then I decide I can't second-guess myself too much. I'm noticing changes in pictures and mirror, so something's happening. Pants are somewhat looser--part of it is that I was pushing things to muffintopville, so it may be a bit longer before clothes are truly loose on me.

Austin, sadly, is out. Original thought was that recently-relocated uncle and aunt in Austin would host us Coloradans and aunts and grandmother (who live in Tyler). But apparently grandmother doesn't take to travel well anymore, so we're nixing that for now. Will probably do Christmas in Austin.

Originally Posted by poppypixie

I've never heard of Myotape but I just looked it up and it looks great! May have to invest...

And congrats on the inches lost. You have done a great job! Enjoy your trip.

EDIT: Ok, so I ordered a Myotape but it is payday....

I love my Myotape! Here in the states, at least, it was pretty cheap. $3.00 and change on amazon.

[Etana]

Originally Posted by scribess

Boy, can I sweat. At least I should be pretty well detoxified.

OPT A1

Can't wait to see how you lilke the DB Get Ups
Have a good trip, be gentle with your family and with yourself.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by poppypixie

I've never heard of Myotape but I just looked it up and it looks great! May have to invest...

And congrats on the inches lost. You have done a great job! Enjoy your trip.

EDIT: Ok, so I ordered a Myotape but it is payday....

You chose wisely.