Large, But Not In Charge. [Archive] - Bodybuilding.com Forums

rickiecoombs

10-03-2010, 01:16 PM

"Oh, don't be ridiculous; you're just big-boned!"

Last time I checked, bones don't jiggle. Did I miss the memo?

A little bit of history:
As a child, I was very active - TV had not yet taken over, and my days were spent outside. At about the age of 6, I began getting pleasantly plump. I still played outside constantly, and was still very active. By the time I was 12, I was overweight, and extremely self-conscious. I wasn't morbidly obese, but neither was I "average". My mother, bless her heart, would tell me that I was "built like a swimmer" and simply "big-boned".

Now, to give my mother credit, I AM big boned. My ribcage is enormous. But I have seen others who hold the same claim to fame, and big-boned =/= fat. So there.

I dropped some weight in high school, and felt great. But once I began university, and I had to "grow up" (hello, responsibility!) it all came back, and then some.

To make a lengthy story slightly less lengthy; about two months ago, my husband told me I was getting fat. He was being nice. I was FAT.

*Disclaimer: I love the fact that my hubby can tell me I'm fat and not be afraid I'm going to kill him for it. I can take the truth. Most of the time. Haha.*

So, to keep me accountable, I'm beginning this Journal. Agh!!

In the past month, I've dropped 6 pounds, and 2 inches around my waist. We've got a trip booked to Cuba for Christmas, so my goal is to be beach-ready (well, semi, anyway) by December 18th.

You girls are so inspirational to me. Some of the progress pictures here are absolutely unreal. I hope I am eventually able to join the ranks who can say, "I did it!!". Wish me luck!

JJ_Fit

10-03-2010, 01:27 PM

Welcome fellow Canuck! :D *subscribed* Best of luck on your journey! I look forward to following your weight loss / shape-up journey!

rickiecoombs

10-07-2010, 10:15 AM

Anyone remember the Little Engine that Could?

Anyway -

Here I am, again. Let's see... what do I have to report?

Well, I'm still overweight. *gasp* Take me now!

I know it takes time - and patience - but sometimes I wish I could fast-forward ahead three months and see what I'm going to look like. And then, in brief moments of sanity, I appreciate the burn during a workout and realize that I don't want to wish my time away, and that I want to enjoy the feeling of being productive. And the pain. Gotta love the pain.

So - I'm not on this journey alone: my husband is along for the ride. He's not "fat" by any stretch of the imagination. He's what he calls "skinny-fat". Which is fairly accurate. BUT, we started P90X (I know there are a lot of people here who hate that program - please don't judge me!) and holy cow, batman, it WORKS!

Hubby isn't losing fast enough for his liking, so two days ago, he tossed me the scales and ordered me to hide them for the next two weeks. And so, since I am the obedient wife that I am, I did. I guess it's a win-win, because now I won't be so tempted to weigh myself all the time.

Personally, I can see big changes in him. The scale might not be changing, but his body sure is!

My eating habits have improved vastly - although I get slightly cranky when I am chocolate-deprived for significant periods of time. So I've taken to not cutting out chocolate entirely: better to enjoy it in moderation than to completely deprive myself and then binge. Yes? No? Better suggestions?

Before I hid the scales, I hit 141.8 lbs. That was a couple of days ago. I'm hoping to see the 130's when the scale comes out of hiding! I haven't seen the 130's since... um... High School?

In a nutshell: I am still large, but slightly more in charge. Ever-so-slightly.

I think I can, I think I can...

Any tips from you amazing guru ladies?

jbonsall

10-07-2010, 11:14 AM

WooHoo!!! Another hawt Canuck joins the ranks! LoL. *sigh* we are just teh awesomeness. That's great that you and hubby are making this change together, it's nice to have home field support ;) I look forward to "seeing" your progress!! Have a great day!

rickiecoombs

10-09-2010, 10:03 AM

I am ashamed. I was a bad girl. Bad, bad, bad, bad.

I made a carb baby. Can I plead my case?

It was a celebration of seeing an adopted member of the family for the very first time (adopted baby from China!) and in the interest of keeping things simple, the family ordered pizza.

Holy cow (literally!), it was goooood.

So now for the past couple of days, I have been bloated. Ew. I know I brought this on myself, but does anyone know how to get rid of my carb bump? I'm back to eating properly, drinking water, etc, now. Funny how ONE cheat day can make you look like you haven't made any real progress. Guess I learned my lesson.

In other news: hubby found the scales (guess I'll have to find a more clever hiding space than under the bed, huh?) and so I must re-hide them.

I did Plyometrics from Insanity yesterday (because P90X's plyometrics are good, but my body seems to be used to them now) and today I am a very sore girlie. Yay!

Two-ish months 'til Cuba. I am trying not to lose faith in my ability to reach my goal by then.

I think I can... I think I can...

'Til next time,
Rickie

jbonsall

10-09-2010, 10:47 AM

If you're hiding it from hubby... uh.. didja try in the bottom of a clothes hamper? if it's covered in dirty clothes ain't no man I know gonna touch it! :D I'm sure that bump'll be gone quickly, especially since you are right back on track. *shrugs* it's gonna happen but KUDOS for hopping right back on the train to Hottieville you runnin' LoL.

You know you can....
You know you can....
You know you can....

:D

JJ_Fit

10-12-2010, 07:34 PM

If you're hiding it from hubby... uh.. didja try in the bottom of a clothes hamper? if it's covered in dirty clothes ain't no man I know gonna touch it! :D I'm sure that bump'll be gone quickly, especially since you are right back on track. *shrugs* it's gonna happen but KUDOS for hopping right back on the train to Hottieville you runnin' LoL.
:D
Lmao! heads up, Rickie..this Jbonsall girl never fails to bring teh LuLz!!!

And as for the pizza, dont sweat it, get right back on track and get going forward, never look back :D

Oh, how was your thanksgiving?

rickiecoombs

10-17-2010, 07:46 AM

Where to begin?

I have plateaued. Is that even how you spell plateaued? I didn't know you could put four vowels together in a word before...

Okay, so. Here's my problem. Well, one of my problems.

Have I told you girls that I'm back to school? Because I am. After a lengthy hiatus, I decided I had better get my huge butt back to University, and get a piece of paper to prove that I am not a complete dummy. Partial dummy, maybe.

I'm taking predominately first and second year classes, so I am surrounded by children between the ages of 18 and 19. Granted I still LOOK 18, so that helps me out a lot. (Please, please don't ask me how old I am. I have been blessed with my mother's genes. She's a beautiful lady in her mid-fifties. I got the young genes, but not the beautiful ones. Haha - I'll take what I can get!!) But the mentality of these kids is... ridiculous. Anyway. I seem to be off on a tangent.

I have four exams coming up this week. I should - in theory - be able to dominate them, but I am totally overwhelmed at the prospect of the coming week. I am such a pathetic little girl. All I do is eat, sleep, study and work out. I am not very fun. Poor hubby is dealing with me quite well so far - I don't know how he does it.

Anyway. The past little while, my workouts have been petering out (do you guys use that word? Petering? Fellow Canucks?) while my eating has been staying on par. So I'm not gaining, but I'm not losing either.

Any suggestions on the most efficient use of my time when I DO get a chance to sweat? Say I have 30 minutes instead of my normal 1.5hours. What should I do?

**In other news!**
My jeans have been falling off me for a few weeks, now, and so hubby brought me out after an entire day of studying (yes, on a friday night) to buy me some new jeans. I am down a full size, to 29'' waist!! I know it's not small, but wow. That is huge for me. Hubby indulged me, and I left with three new pairs of jeans! Yay!

Mkay... I don't know if this rambling made any sense. Sorry. I feel like I'm in over my head, and that I am barely treading water... and my eggbeater tread is going to stop real soon, and then I am going to have to settle for doggie paddle. *sigh*

rickiecoombs

10-23-2010, 11:20 AM

Lmao! heads up, Rickie..this Jbonsall girl never fails to bring teh LuLz!!!

And as for the pizza, dont sweat it, get right back on track and get going forward, never look back :D

Oh, how was your thanksgiving?

My thanksgiving was great, JJ - how about yours? I had two thanksgiving dinners. One at my mother's, the other at my mother-in-law's. But hubby and I paced ourselves, and got through it without too much trouble. =)

Okay. Please. I need help.

WHY am I constantly hungry? And I mean, constantly. I have never been like this in my life - I used to eat just for the sake of eating. But the past couple of weeks, I have been ravenous on a regular basis. It is NOT good. Any ideas? The only thing I can come up with at the moment is to fill up on water, which I am trying to do. However, my poor bladder is soon going to start committing hate crimes.

Other than that, everything's good. Glad to have a bit of a break in school, so I can really buckle down and get to work in the gym. =)

-Rickie

JJ_Fit

10-26-2010, 07:16 PM

Congrats on the new jeans! 29in. waist is awesome! woot!

As for the hunger...are you eating a balanced diet of healthy fats, lean meats, veggies and less processed carbohydrates? I find that having healthy fats helps to fill me up: peanut butter, salmon, avocado, eggs etc...we may be able to help more if you posted a sample meal plan...like what you eat in a day and we can help fill in the blanks...

rickiecoombs

01-02-2012, 08:42 AM

Oh my...

It has been a year - there are a lot of different faces here... My face is the same - just significantly fatter.

I worked hard last year - got down to 138lbs (which is pretty impressive for me)... and then I went back to school. And hit 160. I gained over 20 lbs in less than a year. I disgust myself.

Anyway. Hubby has had enough with his whale of a wife, and I am using the New Year as a catalyst to get my butt back in gear. Starting with the grocery shopping. Although, I should probably eat before I go, because when I grocery shop hungry, the outcome is never good.

I'm back at the gym, back on this site, and hopefully back to cooking healthy.

So. Current update: I am a fat cow. Current goal: To be less of a fat cow.

MoEcho

01-02-2012, 11:10 AM

rickiecoombs

01-02-2012, 01:22 PM

^^ lol!! I'm sure you're being way too hard on yourself!!

Post some pics/stats and what your diet/training is like. I'm sure a ton of girls here will be all over this to help you out! :)

Cheers! Mo

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mo!

Stats. Ugh.

Jan 2011: Jan 2012:
Chest: 38 Chest: 39
Waist: 29.5 Waist: 33
Hips: 38.25 Hips: 41.25
Thighs: 20.5 Thighs: 21.5
Biceps: 12.5 Biceps: 13

Total inches gained: 9

Posting pictures (right now) would be a suicide mission. Perhaps once I make a significant difference and have faith in myself again.

Diet - I've gone back to basics, making meals out of extra lean ground beef, chicken breasts, brown rice, asparagus/broccoli/carrots/cauliflower, lots of spices and garlic... tonight I made honey-garlic meatballs with brown rice and asparagus. Easy on the sauce, of course.

As for training - I am back to the gym about 5 times a week. I do at least 30 minutes of cardio first thing, and then weight training. I am considering changing that up - maybe 3 days weight training, 2 days cardio? Instead of 5 of both?

I much prefer free weights to machines, but I'm sucking it up and using both. The past little while I've been doing FBWs, but I am open to switching it up. Thankfully, I have a gym buddy (hubby - poor guy) so I don't mind upping weights with dumbell presses etc.

I just don't know what I should be focusing on. Cardio? Weight training? Is there an optimum mix of both? I don't want to be a skinny piece of spaghetti. I want to be strong and (relatively) toned and happy with my poor unfortunate body. I feel like I am right back to square one. Or, rather, square negative one. I have never been this heavy in my life...

Is any of this information even relatively conducive to advice-giving?

*sigh*

MoEcho

01-02-2012, 01:32 PM

Well, before I offer any kind of advice here's yet another question :)

Are you tracking your food intake? I.e. do you actually know how many calories you're eating each day? From the looks of things above it seems you're kinda guesstimating?

rickiecoombs

01-02-2012, 01:38 PM

MoEcho

01-02-2012, 01:47 PM

Yep - Everything gets weighed on my poor little digital kitchen scale... and I input everything into my BodyMedia site, which totals my calories as I go.

Meatballs tonight - added up total calories in all the ingredients and divided by 40 = calories per meatball... etc etc. Am I doin' it right?

P.S. Thank you for spelling "you're" correctly. =) It makes me happy.

ha ha ha You'RE welcome :D :D

What is your calculated maintenance calorie level? Are you eating under that level? I assume you already know this stuff ... just want to check :p

rickiecoombs

01-02-2012, 01:56 PM

ha ha ha You'RE welcome :D :D

What is your calculated maintenance calorie level? Are you eating under that level? I assume you already know this stuff ... just want to check :p

Dear me, you're speedy!

According to the BodyMedia (and I am assuming it is fairly correct - mistake, perhaps?) I have been burning between 2100 and 2400 calories/day over the past week or so. I am eating at about 1500 calories/day. Tempted to go lower, but I am afraid that might be counter-productive.

It has only been a few days since my back-on-the-wagon kick started, so no real changes yet, of course.

rickiecoombs

01-04-2012, 03:33 AM

Well, snow morning. The forecast is calling for 25 centimetres today and another 10 tonight. School information update at 11 - so I may have to get up and get ready for the Grade 4 kidlets later on. But for now, I shall stay in bed with puppy while hubby toddles off to work!

Yesterday was great. Busy, but great. It was the first day back to school after Christmas vacation. Had a long (but fun!) day in Grade 4. Ate leftovers for supper, joined a choir (I've recently moved and don't know anybody in the town where I live), attended said choir's practice, headed directly to the gym. Productive day was productive!

Diet/Exercise so far have been right on track. Of course, it's only day four. I've been consistently upping my weights at the gym, because hubby says "If you can do three sets of 15, it's not hard enough". Haha.

Main issue here today will be to keep myself out of the refrigerator. I get the munchies when I'm home and unoccupied...

MoEcho

01-04-2012, 03:48 AM

Dear me, you're speedy!

According to the BodyMedia (and I am assuming it is fairly correct - mistake, perhaps?) I have been burning between 2100 and 2400 calories/day over the past week or so. I am eating at about 1500 calories/day. Tempted to go lower, but I am afraid that might be counter-productive.

It has only been a few days since my back-on-the-wagon kick started, so no real changes yet, of course.

Agreed ... I wouldn't go lower yet. Give it another few weeks :)

I just realized you're from Canada too .......... sometimes it takes me a while to catch on :p I wish it was a snow day here ... it's just -30 ... YUCK

rickiecoombs

01-05-2012, 02:21 PM

Rickie haz a bad bellie. =( It no is fun.

Anyway.

Snow day yesterday - didn't get to the gym. BUT calories were right on track. I didn't gorge. It might have helped that hubby filled a laundry basket with my Christmas chocolate and put it where I couldn't get at it. I hated him for that, but I loved him for it too. If that makes any sense. Coulda been a dangerous day, otherwise.

Had a chaotic day at school, but it was lots of fun. My stomach started yelling at me right after the kidlets went home and I was doing prep work for tomorrow... Not sure what's on the go. Haven't eaten anything questionable...

Hubby is wonderful though, and did not demand that I make him supper in between bathroom breaks. He ran to the grocery store (quite willingly, I might add - shoulda given him a longer list!!) to get a pre-cooked chicken, and is making broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus to eat with it. What a boy.

Am going to really try to make it to the gym tonight. Chest and back + cardio! Which one should I be doing first?

I want to be non-fat NOW!

*sigh*

MoEcho

01-05-2012, 04:30 PM

I usually start with the weakest body part just cause that's my preference. It doesn't matter really as long as you are hitting both with intensity.

If I'm working antagonistic muscles like chest/back, I usually do one exercise for chest, then one for back, etc etc .... I get a wicked pump in the entire upper torso that way .... and I get to hit each body part whilst I'm still fresh in the workout :D

Just my .2 cents.

rickiecoombs

01-10-2012, 01:01 PM

Just wrote a post and promptly deleted it. GRRR!

Anyway. Short version:

Lost 3lbs as of my weigh-in on Friday, Jan 6th. However much of that was water weight, I don't know... but I'm hoping to be down a little more this Friday (the 13th - eek!)

Been MIA in this journal, but not in the gym or the kitchen. My lifts are stalling which I was getting VERY frustrated with... but I am trying to remember that this is the price I have to pay when eating at a deficit.

We're moving this weekend, which is going to be madness, but hopefully everything will remain under control. My biggest fear is that the in-laws are coming to help us (from about 3 hours' drive away) and they are GOING to want to go out for supper... *sigh*

Anyway. Hangin' in there. =) Perhaps I shall one day again see 127. Perhaps?

rickiecoombs

01-13-2012, 02:58 AM

Weigh-in day!

Down 2.6lbs to 150.4. Slowly but surely.

Didn't get to the gym yesterday, but we're moving - so according to the BodyMedia I burned almost as much as I do on a day when I'm at the gym. That made me feel ever-so-slightly better about missing my gym time.

It's FRIDAY!! Did this week seem super long for anybody else? I felt like it should have been Thursday about three times this week (ie. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday haha).

Happy Weekend!

MoEcho

01-14-2012, 06:07 AM

Congrats!! Progress is progress is progress!! :D

rickiecoombs

01-15-2012, 12:29 PM

Ohmygoodness. I have been gym-less for so long, I am scared of what is going to happen when I go tonight. Maybe I won't even be able to get the dumbells up... Silly moving, taking up all of my time, and breaking all of my vertebrae.

I was informed today that I looked "very slim". I was, of course, wearing a black dress. And, of course, "very slim" is compared to what I NORMALLY look like (which is still not that slim)... but still!! =) Encouragement = helpful. Words of affirmation (anyone read about the 5 Love Languages?) is my #1.

Hubby is also being very encouraging. He is on a cut too - he's what he calls "skinny-fat". He has put on a lot of muscle over the past 8 months or so, but now he's trying to get rid of some of the fat he has acquired over that time. I am beating him (percentage-of-weight-loss-wise) in the weight-loss department! Woo woo! (I try not to gloat, though. He gets sulky. Can I gloat here? Gotta get my gloating out somewhere...)

Anyway. Back to planning this weeks' lessons. Gonna be a busy one.

rickiecoombs

01-28-2012, 08:01 PM

Down 9.6 lbs since January 1st. Woo!

Back in the 140's for the first time in a LONG time.

Had a cheat meal last night and paid for it ALL DAY today... I'm saying I won't be doing that again next weekend... but who knows what will happen by the time next Friday rolls around.

Anyway. I'll be taking Feb 1st progress pictures and re-doing my measurements... And if everything works out over the next few months, maybe I shall even post them...

G'night! :)

latebloomingmom

01-29-2012, 12:41 PM

hello just popping in to say hi and that I like the name of your journal!:)
how tall are you? dont be afraid to post some pics too ok? we all start somewhere. I was a whole lot heavier at one point than I am now...You are a lot lighter than I am..:)

rickiecoombs

01-29-2012, 05:45 PM

rickiecoombs

02-03-2012, 07:36 PM

rickiecoombs

02-05-2012, 08:33 AM

I generally have a cheat meal on Friday nights. Saturday, for about 5 hours, I'm sick as a dog - can't even get out of the bathroom.

Is this normal? Is it because I eat SO clean during the week, and then all of a sudden my body is like - "Woah! Holy grease, Batman!"?

FrmrHoss

02-06-2012, 02:54 PM

So today was my weekly weigh-in... and I lost NOTHING. I don't understand. I am working out every day, and eating at a minimum of 1000 calorie deficit. What's going on with my body?!

I'm attempting to be positive. Since January 1st, I have lost 9.6 lbs, and 6.25 inches.

I still can't help but feel that's not enough.

*sigh*

Gotta keep on truckin'...

As they say, weight loss is not linear... you can plateau for a while and then bam, 3 lbs gone. Happens to all of us, keep your head up and don't overthink things.

I generally have a cheat meal on Friday nights. Saturday, for about 5 hours, I'm sick as a dog - can't even get out of the bathroom.

Is this normal? Is it because I eat SO clean during the week, and then all of a sudden my body is like - "Woah! Holy grease, Batman!"?

I would say it's not abnormal to feel a little more letharged after a cheat meal. But, how big is the cheat meal? Do you make any other adjustments to your Friday macros?

MoEcho

02-06-2012, 05:53 PM

As they say, weight loss is not linear... you can plateau for a while and then bam, 3 lbs gone. Happens to all of us, keep your head up and don't overthink things.

I would say it's not abnormal to feel a little more letharged after a cheat meal. But, how big is the cheat meal? Do you make any other adjustments to your Friday macros?

Totally agree with Hoss. I can go weeks sometimes without dropping 'scale' weight ... just keep trucking. Your progress since January is great!! Just remember that progress is progress is progress ... :p

rickiecoombs

02-08-2012, 06:18 PM

Hoss and Mo - thank you for your words of encouragement. It's nice to hear that there might still be hope for me, from people who actually KNOW what they're talking about...

So.

I think I have plateaued. Possibly. I guess I will have to wait to see until Friday for sure...

As for my cheat meals - on Fridays, I eat light because I know that in the night, I'll be going out. My cheat meals aren't enormous - I can't really put away copious quantities of food. The past two Fridays I was craving (and so that is what I had) Mozza sticks and fries. That was it for my cheat meal. Not that exciting (well, for me it was!). Which is why I wonder why I get SO sick the day after...

Anyway. Still working hard and eating well - with the exception of Friday nights - so I am REALLY hoping to see some movement in the downward direction in a couple of days...

Lifts are still stalling - not that I was ever macho woman - but I am doing my very bestest to keep them at par, and not go backwards too much.

Just made Banana Protein muffins for hubby - and ending up trying them myself. Except for the sweetener-y taste of the protein powder (which I really don't like) they are actually pretty good! I attached a picture. Sorry, I am technologically challenged and don't know/haven't got the patience to learn how to embed. Also - they are in Valentine's themed muffin cups - you can't see them in the photo. I love Valentine's day. Just sayin'.

Oh my.

That's it for me tonight. Long day has been long. Paranoid about Friday's weigh-in, but trying not to psych myself out too much...

rickiecoombs

02-10-2012, 09:00 AM

What does it mean when it feels like your strength is not failing, but your grip is? I was doing DB Bench last night, and felt like I could hardly keep my fingers around the weights - like my hands were going to let go of them any second. It was a disconcerting feeling...

Anyway - weigh-in this morning: 144.4. Down 2 lbs. Finally! =)

Snow day here today, so the schools were shut down. Just got in from shovelling. Man, that is a workout all by itself!

I'm glad to see the scale's moving again (in the right direction!). Gonna go soak my muscles (what muscles?!) and then get some protein in me - mmmm omelettes...

rickiecoombs

02-14-2012, 07:26 PM

Tomorrow's picture day... uh oh... :s

Said photos are not going to be too impressive... especially since I'm going to have Valentine's Day Bloat (henceforth VDB) on the go. No excuses, I know. But my lovely Grade 4's really know how to throw off my diet (ie. by bringing me copious amounts of chocolate). Dear me. I really do hope the pics show at least SOME progress...

I've hopped RIGHT back on the wagon, and did some ridiculous cardio tonight, just to try and offset today's calories a tad.

Photos of truth tomorrow. I will do my best to suck it up and post them, so people can laugh at me.

latebloomingmom

02-14-2012, 07:34 PM

aint nobody gonna laugh at you..I posted my first progress pic at my heaviest which was 285..nobody even snickered:)

rickiecoombs

02-15-2012, 03:17 PM

Thanks, LBM.

Dunno if this is going to work - I've never tried to embed photos before.

Also, I am very afraid to do this. Sorry in advance for the hideousness. I hope it doesn't permanently scar you.

http://i.imgur.com/g8918.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/RjpDH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ndJ72.jpg

Weight -
Jan 2: 155.8 lbs
Feb 15 - 144.4 lbs

ALSO - Please excuse the granny panties. Or, in my case, period panties... (yes, of course you wanted to know that...)

latebloomingmom

02-15-2012, 04:07 PM

I see a big difference..in fact I can see such a big difference I had to look at the dates these were taken and the amount of your weight loss so far..:)

rickiecoombs

02-18-2012, 07:09 AM

I see a big difference..in fact I can see such a big difference I had to look at the dates these were taken and the amount of your weight loss so far..:)

Thanks! :) Your encouragement really helps. Also - I've been looking at those pictures so much that I don't see much of a difference. But hopefully I will continue to make changes to such an extent that by May, I will be able to say, "Look what I did!"

Oh, and the first picture has a typo - should be Feb 15th, like the rest of them. Oops.

February is such a short month - 1 weigh-in less than January. So I need to remember not to be super disheartened when I don't lose five million pounds/inches during the month.

rickiecoombs

06-03-2012, 11:39 AM

I have NOT fallen off the wagon. I've just been busy. As has everyone else, I'm sure, so I guess that's not an excuse.

Anyway. I'm posting more humiliating pictures. I'm hoping that making them public will help me really get my butt in gear. Nothing like a bit of public humiliation to give yourself a kick in the pants, right?

Please forgive the lack of photo editing skills. I don't pretend to know what I'm at.

http://i.imgur.com/xgqkY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FCkwD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/97ohx.jpg

rickiecoombs

06-06-2012, 02:14 PM

Chest day?

Having temporarily lost my spotter (hubby and I are living in different cities for the next couple of months because of work), I am a little apprehensive about chest day. I'll be less inclined to push myself, because I don't want to break my face gettin' them dumbells up.

Maybe I'll ask a random guy in the weight room for a spot. *gasp*

I'm not very brave like that.

BB.com is great. I can hide behind the internetz.

rickiecoombs

06-10-2012, 03:05 PM

texicus

06-10-2012, 03:07 PM

I just about killed myself yesterday while doing DB Flies (Flys?). The weight itself did NOT feel too heavy at all; I just could not keep a grip on it, no matter how hard I tried! My fingers kept yelling, "Rickie! I'm going to let go any second!". Is this a hint that I should invest in a pair of gloves? Or am I doing something wrong?

Drove 3.5 hours (each way) to be with hubby this weekend. Which was totally worth it, because it meant I got my spotter back! So I was able to go whole-hog this weekend, which was awesome. Except for the DB-Fly-of-Death incident.

Been lurking in some of the girls' journals here. They inspire and motivate me. I want to be strong! :)

When my grip began failing on deads I picked up one of those cheap wrist grip strengthener things (you just squeeze it, it looks like a spring with a handle) and did that while reading for homework and within a few weeks I felt it helped significantly. You could also try using the fat bar, although personally I've never used it.

Rennard

06-10-2012, 03:20 PM

Hey Rickie, just stumbled upon your thread here and from what I've seen looking at your pics, you are being hard on yourself. I don't think you look hideous or as bad as you say and you are doing damn well at making improvements. I think if possible, love yourself now while continuing to get even better. Yeah, it's hard when you aren't where you want to be, but you own that this is where you are and you're doing something about it. So you're doing something, it's no problem! You can be strong! That's one of my main goals too. :D

Good luck with the grip thing, I've noticed that I'm hindered with certain lifts because my grip just can't hack it.

You go girl! Never give up and be nice to yourself. :)

gobbles23

06-11-2012, 05:08 PM

Redfizz

06-11-2012, 05:24 PM

That's amazing progress for 6 months' work! You look great! Did you notice how little your thighs touch each other now. And your lower belly is almost gone! You are getting results that people pay $$$$$ for at the lipo office. (And you don't have scars!)

I know how frustrating things can get. When I posted my first set of bikini pics, I kept pulling it up at work shaking my head thinking, "That's my @ss?????" lol. But it inspired me to get off of that mega @ss and move it!

rickiecoombs

06-12-2012, 08:38 AM

When my grip began failing on deads I picked up one of those cheap wrist grip strengthener things (you just squeeze it, it looks like a spring with a handle) and did that while reading for homework and within a few weeks I felt it helped significantly. You could also try using the fat bar, although personally I've never used it.

Thanks! I might have to give that a try!

Hey Rickie, just stumbled upon your thread here and from what I've seen looking at your pics, you are being hard on yourself. I don't think you look hideous or as bad as you say and you are doing damn well at making improvements. I think if possible, love yourself now while continuing to get even better. Yeah, it's hard when you aren't where you want to be, but you own that this is where you are and you're doing something about it. So you're doing something, it's no problem! You can be strong! That's one of my main goals too. :D

Good luck with the grip thing, I've noticed that I'm hindered with certain lifts because my grip just can't hack it.

You go girl! Never give up and be nice to yourself. :)
Aww – thanks! I’m glad you see improvements. I think I just need to stop looking at the pictures and keep lifting. The encouragement is great, but I'm always afraid of being "that girl" who always needs to be told that she's making progress. You're absolutely right when you say that we need to be nice to ourselves. You may need to remind me of that occasionally - Ha! Glad to have you along for the ride! :)

rickiecoombs

06-12-2012, 08:50 AM

Oh! IN! :)

Will catch up tomorrow- bedtime now :p

Edit- I would suggest training your grip! It'll get stronger though anyway in time.

And I agree that you're being way too hard on yourself- you have a beautiful shape! And you've lost a significant amount of inches since January. This thing takes time!! But be consistent and determined and you'll get there :)

What are you doing anyway when it comes to training/calorie intake?? :)
Yay!! Fellow islander! I cannot tell you how excited I was when I found you! Haha – we’re a dying breed, I think!
Also – thank you for your kind words. I know this takes time, and I'm glad I've made a move in the right direction. There are days, though, when I just wish I could snap my fingers and be where I want to be. I guess, though, that if that was the case, I wouldn't have such a feeling of satisfaction looking back after the fact?

I’d rave about your phenomenal body, but you already know it’s fantastic, and I wouldn’t want to make your ego bigger than your quads!! Heheh. :) I kid.
I’ll update later re: training/calories. It’s going to be embarrassing. But hey – I’ve already posted photos. How much worse can it get, really?

That's amazing progress for 6 months' work! You look great! Did you notice how little your thighs touch each other now. And your lower belly is almost gone! You are getting results that people pay $$$$$ for at the lipo office. (And you don't have scars!)

I know how frustrating things can get. When I posted my first set of bikini pics, I kept pulling it up at work shaking my head thinking, "That's my @ss?????" lol. But it inspired me to get off of that mega @ss and move it!

Hey Red! I’ve been subscribed to your Journal for a while now (not to sound like a total creep or anything)… Great to hear from you!

I KNOW. Posting those photos was a real lesson in humility. But it’s kind of nice to look back to January and say, “Hey! I DID make progress!”. Unfortunately, then the psycho-type-a-needs-to-be-fit-yesterday woman inside of me says, “Hey! That’s ALL the progress you’ve made?!” Ha.

I'll be a-lurkin' in your journal... You can count on it! :)

gobbles23

06-12-2012, 12:16 PM

Yay!! Fellow islander! I cannot tell you how excited I was when I found you! Haha – we’re a dying breed, I think!
Also – thank you for your kind words. I know this takes time, and I'm glad I've made a move in the right direction. There are days, though, when I just wish I could snap my fingers and be where I want to be. I guess, though, that if that was the case, I wouldn't have such a feeling of satisfaction looking back after the fact?

I’d rave about your phenomenal body, but you already know it’s fantastic, and I wouldn’t want to make your ego bigger than your quads!! Heheh. :) I kid.
I’ll update later re: training/calories. It’s going to be embarrassing. But hey – I’ve already posted photos. How much worse can it get, really?

Haha! I was excited too :D That's soooooo cool!!!! :D

I know how you feel, I was there too! I didn't have an ounce of muscle on me! But everyone has to start somewhere- and you're lucky because you look like you have an awesome bodyfat distribution and a good shape to work with! :) I bet you you'd do awesome if you ate at/a little below maintenance/followed a progressive program!!! And I see you have a bodymedia! I have one too! :D

Aww, thanks :D :p

Cardioconvert

06-12-2012, 12:49 PM

rickiecoombs

06-13-2012, 08:17 AM

Another Canadian gal chiming in here (though not an islander) - I am guessing that if we all came out of lurkdom, you'd be impressed with the number of members in your cheering squad! Your attitude is great and you have come to the right forum to get support/advice from many of the gals in here who have been 'at it' for years.

Good luck and I'll be watching:)

CC

Thanks for venturing out of the shadows to say "hi"! :) I don't know about everyone else, but it is so encouraging for me as a newbie to feel like I have all of these women of vast knowledge on my side. :D

rickiecoombs

06-13-2012, 08:34 AM

Ok. So, training/calories. This is gonna be embarrassing.

I've recently downloaded NROL4W, but haven't started it. Thoughts on that? Should I give it a go?

At the moment, I don't have a hard-and-fast schedule that I stick to. The first workout of my week is almost always chest/back. From there, I'll do legs, abs and cardio - and repeat.

As a general rule, I use DBs only. I've never used a bar. Is that a bad thing? Also, for the record, I am not 100% familiar on the "names" of the lifts. Sorry. I will learn.

Chest/Back:
DB Bench Press
Incline DB Bench Press
DB Fly
Lat Pull-Downs
Seated Rows
Pull-Ups/Chin Ups (One of these days, I will do a BW Chin-Up. I will. One of these days...)
Push ups - just for fun! :)
**I can't do Dead lifts. I am very sad. I see all you ladies posting your ridiculous videos and lift stats and I get oober jealous. I have a slipped disc in my low back... And lifting that focuses on my low back tends to put me in bed for weeks at a time. :( So I am hoping that working on the surrounding muscles will help out my poor broken back. We shall see...

Legs:
Leg Press
Leg Abductor/Adductor (useless, maybe? What think ye?)
Seated Calf raise (the standing one kills my shoulders)
I need to learn to squat. Although, it scares me re:the back issue. Thoughts from you experienced womenz?

Abs: (I don't know what half of these are called - sorry in advance)
Leg raises (I lie on the floor/bench, with my legs parallel to the floor and bring them perpendicular to the floor, repeat. I like them better when hubby can "throw" my legs for me - then I get a little oblique workout too, because he throws them left and right. Did that make any sense??)
Feet to the Heavens (P90X style)
Obliques w/medicine ball
Full sit-ups with medicine ball (usually do these with a partner)

I'm sure 99% of you are shaking your head in disappointment. Sorry. I'm learning. Positive criticism happily taken.

Took a hike yesterday with puppers around Signal Hill. Discalimer: these are NOT my photographs. Just Googled them. But this is what Signal Hill "looks" like. My cardio is the pits. Walking puppers is not a problem. HIKING puppers is a totally different ballgame. Shall have to work on that.

http://i.imgur.com/YjvFV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oZfHc.jpg

Right now, my BodyMedia is my lifeline - so I sure hope it's relatively accurate!

I burn between 2000 - 2500 calories a day. I know that's a big gap, but it really, truly depends on my day. I'm eating around 1400 calories a day. So I am eating at a deficit. The days I burn more, I generally eat more.

As for diet, it consists of a lot of chicken, egg whites, veggies, fruit, greek yogurt, peanut butter, Kashi GoLean Crunch! - you get the picture? I've been told I should try quinoa.

Ok. I think that's all for now. Sorry that this turned out to be a mini chapter book. My bad.

gobbles23

06-13-2012, 09:42 AM

No shaking heads in disappointment- this is a great start! :)

Mkay, training- in my opinion, since you're new to this, you'd be better off working the same muscle groups a few times a week. Sorry to hear about your back- that sucks! But you can still build up some nice leggies! :) I'm not sure how to advise you when if comes to your back injury- but there may be some ladies around here with a similar problem that might know how to train around it. It might be fine if you start out light and build your way up, but I don't know. Leg press/leg extensions/lying leg curls and maybe hack squats might be ok. What gym do you go to??

NROL4W- I feel really "Meh" about that program. I hate how it looks, it has you doing all these funky old exercises. But of course- it's a good starting point if you choose to do it. I think you'd be better off doing something like- 3 full body workouts a week. Something like:

Leg Press
D.B Bench Press
BB/D.B O.H Press
Bent-Over BB/D.B Rows
Pull-ups/chins

And maybe some lying leg curls. But focus on the major muscle groups multiple times a week- better for growth/strength at your point :) D.B's are fine, but it's hard to progress with them unlike the barbell. Sometimes you get stuck on certain reps/weight and you can't make small enough weight increases with d.b increments.

As for rep ranges and such- you could have one heavy day, one lighter day, and one medium rep day. Or you could have 3 heavy days. Just make sure that you increase the weight/reps with each exercise during each workout <-----That's the key to building muscle- progressive overload. Do you record each workout so you know what you did the last time you were there?? That helps tremendously! :) Starting Strength is a super awesome book to look into because it has detailed info on how to do all the compound movements. It's a 3 day a week workout- you can find templates for it though online if you're interested in doing it.

How many times a week are you interested/can you make it to the gym?? :)

Nutrition is important as well, but since you're a newbie you can gain muscle/loss fat simultaneously for at least a year or so. Since you're focusing on fat loss, a ~500 cal deficit a day (or even a bit less) is fine. I also have a bodymedia and mine is extremely accurate for me, so I'd just keep doing what you're doing and adjust if necessary. I also burn more or less depending on the day. Usually anywhere from 2000-2450 lately! Somedays more, somedays less.

edit- though come to think about it, if you can't squat- NROL may actually be better since it doesn't include actual BB back squats. Oh hey, can you do front squats do you think??? They're supposed to be much easier on the spine.

Redfizz

06-13-2012, 09:52 AM

gobbles23

06-13-2012, 09:55 AM

I am doing NROLFW only because am as much of a newbie as I can possibly be. I approach it as "Lifting for Dummies." It's seems to be basic, basic, basic compared to what others are doing on here. But I personally need that. I am trying to perfect the movements such as deadlifts before I really ramp it up in order to avoid injury. I am only in my third month, so I can only add that. :)

Plus I would take Gobbles advice any time! There are some really incredible and knowledgeable ladies and gentlemen in here.

Oh- there's nothing wrong with NROL4W- many people here have done it and saw success with it! It's just that I've also seen people do it and not like it and not see progress with it. The main thing is though is finding something that works for you that you enjoy doing and can stick with! :)

rickiecoombs

06-14-2012, 09:18 PM

Super fast post - it's late and I have to get to bed. Crazy long day...

I tried yoga for the first time ever tonight. I was extremely sceptical... But I tried to go with an open mind (which, admittedly, is hard to do when you're sceptical! haha) and it turns out... it was AWESOME! Definitely didn't burn any calories, but I really think it's something to look into with regards to my low back issues... That problem area feels looser than it has in years. :) Any of you ladies have yoga experience?

Will be a good girl and do a "proper" post tomorrow. Can't wait to hit the gym! G'night, all!

gobbles23

06-15-2012, 04:40 AM

Oh! I've never tried yoga, but I always wanted too! I do some yoga stretches and they feel nice. I'm always sooo tight and sore that yoga always sounds sooo amazing to me :D

rickiecoombs

06-16-2012, 05:46 AM

I'm giving the FBWs a shot. I've just recently gone back to school, so I work out at the University gym, because it's paid for in my tuition.

Lori, it really makes sense what you say about using DBs vs. BBs. I've found that I AM stuck, because the next DB in sequence is 5lbs heavier... X2 = 10lbs. Which, for me, is a big increase. When I head out for a few days with hubby next week, I'll start trying to use a BB, and hopefully when I'm back in town I'll be able to make some progress.

I do write everything down. My book has columns which I've labelled, "Exercise, weight, sets, reps, notes". If that makes any sense. Am I missing anything?

So, yesterday:

Leg press - 3 sets of 15 (how far should I have the seat back? The closer it is, the harder I find it, the less weight I can do... should I aim for closer or farther away?)
DB Bench Press - 3 sets - 17/12/12 - wayyy too easy. BUT, as Lori pointed out, with DBs, I can't go up in my weights, because my issue is getting them up. Once they're in the air, I'm okay. It's getting them there. Which is why it would be nice if I could increase in smaller increments.
DB Bent-Over Rows - 3 sets - 14/12/12 - not sure how my form was on these. But I'm feeling it today!
Chins - were impossible. I got extremely frustrated. Did two sets of 3 with 65lbs of "help". Then one set of 10 with 80. I'm not sure if there is a discrepancy between gyms, but when I'm out with hubby, I can do more chins w/less "help", so I dunno...
Abs

I didn't do the DB Over Head Press because I've actually never done those before, and I wasn't sure which weight to start at. I'll experiment next workout.

I'm really not sure about squats. I also know that I want my form to be good, so maybe I'll watch some videos to get an idea and give it a try.

Hubby's home for the weekend, and the plan is to start packing (we're moving in August), so that will be pretty labour intensive. Hopefully my sore muscles with cooperate. :)

Thanks again everyone SO MUCH for all of your help!! :) Gonna keep on keepin' on... Hopefully I'll see more changes as time goes on - especially with all this expert advice! Heheh.

gobbles23

06-16-2012, 07:45 AM

Nice job!!!! :)

You go to MUN??? :) I went there for a semester, but then I switched over to CONA! MUN is nice, though.

rickiecoombs

06-17-2012, 01:28 PM

Depo Provera!

AGHHH!

Recently had this shot, because (for a vast number of reasons that you're probably not interested in) it is literally the only form of BC I can now use.

Have started researching it.

I am freaking out.

The weight gain stats are terrifying. And the studies don't seem to know what exactly causes the weight gain, which isn't too helpful for me.

Any of you ladies had any experience with this? Scurred Rickie is scurred. :(

gobbles23

06-18-2012, 04:43 AM

Oh, no! I don't have any experience with that- I've never been on any kind of birth control before!! I thought about it a few times, really hard but I'm afraid of the side effects!!!! How long have you been using it? Have you gained weight since you've been on it??

rickiecoombs

06-18-2012, 03:37 PM

Oh! Third page!

Oh, no! I don't have any experience with that- I've never been on any kind of birth control before!! I thought about it a few times, really hard but I'm afraid of the side effects!!!! How long have you been using it? Have you gained weight since you've been on it??

I was on the pill and had 0 side effects. But because of a myriad of issues, I've had to switch to this shot. It has only been 2 weeks since I got it, and so far no weight change... But the horror stories are scurry.

So, here I am with my meagre workout. I know it's nothing in comparison to the rest of you ladies, but I promise - I am working hard. Feel free to giggle, shake your head, and feel superior after reading my weak lifts.

Leg Press: 15/10/14 @ 150lbs
D.B. Bench: 18/10/10 @ 2 X 25lbs - could easily go to 30lbs if only I had a spotter... Just afraid of getting them in the air.
D.B. Bent Over Row: 12/11/9 @ 2 X 35lbs - unsure of form
D.B.Overhead Press: 12/8/10 @ 2 X 12.5lbs - so hard!
Chins: I was a bowl of jello (ie. shaking) by this time, and couldn't do chins. :(
Abs

Also - took puppers for a run in the park earlier today. I almost died. I have no endurance whatsoever.

Advice? More legs? Must research squats.

rickiecoombs

06-19-2012, 10:02 AM

Sunny today! Two days in a row! It just seems too good to be true... :D

Took puppers for a walk around the pond - now she's passed out on the bed, and I'm considering following suit.

Going rock climbing tonight, so I'm not going to "work out". Climbing counts, too, right?...

ANNNNND I'm driving out to see hubby for a few days tomorrow morning, so I'm pretty excited about that. :) Long distance marriage = not fun. Thankfully, he's very understanding and lets me have the puppy during our apart times. As he says, I "need" her more than he does. Sad, maybe, but true.

Happy Tuesday! :)

gobbles23

06-19-2012, 10:09 AM

I know! So nice to see the sun :D

Nice workout you did there :D As long as it's hard for you- that's all that matters!!! Have you ever tried deadlifts??? They'd be a nice addition!! :)

Rock climbing most certainly counts as a workout!!! Burns lots of calories :)

Yay for seeing hubby!!!! :)

rickiecoombs

06-19-2012, 05:48 PM

I climbed the 90 degree wall!

Which, for most people, is no big deal. But it's huge for me. So, yay!! :D

http://i.imgur.com/Uv8MO.jpg?1

Me thinks me's gonna be a sore Rickie tomorrow. :)

rickiecoombs

06-21-2012, 05:57 AM

Drove 3.5 hours yesterday to see hubby for a few days. I walked into his little apartment to find a vase full of beyootiful flowers waiting for me. :) *sigh* If living apart keeps him romantic, maybe we should never live in the same city? Haha.

I bought a week membership for his gym. After climbing the day before yesterday, I really wasn't sure what exactly I was going to be able to work out. So even though every inch of me was sore, I decided to try benching with a bar instead of DBs, while I have my temporary spotter. :D I'm hoping that when I'm "fresh" I'll be able to do more... I was able to do sets of 7, with 65lbs. Hopefully when my chest isn't sore those numbers will go up. And hopefully over the next few months I'll be able to get them up even more? Rickie's such a weak girlie at the moment...

I also made hubby show me how to squat. I have a feeling I'm going to have huge issues with form. I just used the bar last night, so it wasn't heavy at all, BUT I figure it's more important to become consistent in form before adding weight?

I really wish I could deadlift, but that slipped disc in my low back makes it impossible. It also makes squatting a little scary, but I'm more inclined to give that a try than DL.

I'm hoping it's not too unrealistic to hope to see some more progress in my August/September progress pics... :s

rickiecoombs

06-24-2012, 02:19 PM

This has turned out to be a couple of days of splurging. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. My caloric intake is generally pretty low... so maybe it’s not so bad to mix things up a bit for a few days? I’m still working out and getting lots of cardio in (musta walked about 10 kms yesterday), so hopefully it won’t do too much permanent damage. My scale was at home, so I couldn't even do a ballpark estimation of how much havoc I was wreaking.

We took a mini vacay (and I do mean "mini!") to a little community and stayed for a night in a B&B. It was a welcome break. Lots of hiking, and lots of sun! Unfortunately, I'm whiter than Casper and lack the ability to tan. :(

http://i.imgur.com/tyB7f.jpg?2

http://i.imgur.com/40gPw.jpg?1

Now I'm back "home", sans hubby... and hopping right back on the wagon. I weighed myself, and I'm on par for my usual "night-time weight", so hopefully I shouldn't be too worried about the damage that the last few days has done... right?

gobbles23

06-25-2012, 04:53 AM

rickiecoombs

06-26-2012, 04:59 PM

Oh, awesome pics!!! You look great!!! :)

I laughed at your "night-time weight" :D I do that too!!!! lol! Glad you had a good little vacation! If you had dieted during that I would have told you that you were crazy

And I hear you on the whiteness! Me TOO! I've been trying to take every opportunity I can to get out in the sun but it's just too freaking cold yet :mad: When swimming time comes in a few weeks- I'm going to be glowing! lol! I notcie you have a very light complextion though, so that makes it difficult anyway :) I tan eventually, but I need a LOT of sun.

Aww, thanks - you are too kind!

Yah - I am permanently white. I've been all over the world, and it doesn't matter which hemisphere I'm in... I remain as white as the driven snow. :(

SO. I went swimming tonight (also - I hurt my shoulder. Swimming. How is that even possible?) I put on my bathing suit for the first time in over a year, annnnd I discovered... I haz no bewbs! They've packed their bags and moved elsewhere! What is this?! I used to be a solid C. Now I would imagine I'm a tiny B. My clothes is starting to hang on me now... unfortunately, I haz no monies with which to buy clothes that fit. Therefore, I will wander around looking like the ever-so-stylish Paper Bag Princess!

Ah well - I'd rather be wearing too-big clothes than gain back 30 pounds! :)

Love working out with the BB. I can lift more. :) Part of me wants to take progress pics on July 1st... the other part of me is screaming, "Rickie! You're not going to see any difference from the month of June to the month of July! You're just going to disappoint yourself! Wait until at least August!" We'll see which part of my split personality wins that debate. :D

gobbles23

06-27-2012, 04:25 AM

Redfizz

06-27-2012, 06:41 AM

Therefore, I will wander around looking like the ever-so-stylish Paper Bag Princess!

Ah well - I'd rather be wearing too-big clothes than gain back 30 pounds! :)

Hey, if the Olson twins can make billions by wearing paper bags, then more power to you! :D

Love working out with the BB. I can lift more. :) Part of me wants to take progress pics on July 1st... the other part of me is screaming, "Rickie! You're not going to see any difference from the month of June to the month of July! You're just going to disappoint yourself! Wait until at least August!" We'll see which part of my split personality wins that debate. :D

I am taking monthly pics. I don't see much change, but you might catch me at each iteration staring at the two months' pics saying, "I see a angle - and it's concave, not convex! Oh, I think that's a new shadow!" *Shaking head at self.*

I hope your shoulder gets better soon!

rickiecoombs

06-28-2012, 03:04 PM

Paper bag princess! lol! :D Mine have gone down a lot, too! Back when I was in high school- I was a C cup as well! Now I'm a small B. Boooooo! lol! Makes me sad!
Sorry you hurt your shoulder! It's dumb how you can hurt yourself in the silliest ways!!!! Maybe try icing it if it still bothers you today! :)
In for piccies if they happen! :)

Yah. I don’t mind so much about the bewb-lacking for myself. I do feel a little bad for hubby. But I’m guessing he will take a smaller, boobless Rickie over a fat, full-boobed Rickie? I hope, anyway. Ha.
Shoulder seems to be improving. Fingers crossed!

Hey, if the Olson twins can make billions by wearing paper bags, then more power to you! :D
I am taking monthly pics. I don't see much change, but you might catch me at each iteration staring at the two months' pics saying, "I see a angle - and it's concave, not convex! Oh, I think that's a new shadow!" *Shaking head at self.*
I hope your shoulder gets better soon!

Hahaha – YES. Maybe if I was famous, the paper bag look would be socially acceptable in my circles? *Note to self: get famous, so as to eliminate the need to purchase new clothing. :D

Hmm – Maybe that’s a good idea. Perhaps I’ll take pictures anyway, and just not post them right away. At least then I’ll still be keeping track for myself. Might be more helpful in retrospect than at the immediate moment.

So, it occurred to me that I haven’t posted a workout in a while. Maybe I should do that? I just find it so humiliating. I know you’ve gotta start somewhere, but I want to be strong NOW. *stomps feet and pouts*

Bench: 70lbs - 8/7/6
D.B. Bent Over Row: 35lbs x 2 - 12/12/10
D.B.Overhead Press: 20lbs x 2 - 8/8/8 <--- I know this is nothing, but I am still super proud, because 10 days ago, I was lifting 12.5lbs x 2.
Chins: 75lbs of help - 8/5/8 <--- it is my dream to be able to do a BW chin. At this point in my life, I feel as though that is never going to happen.
Leg Press: 170lbs - 15/15/15
Abs

Annnd then I ran out of time.

Oh! And I saw a tricep today in the gym mirror! MY tricep!! :D (I know, I know, sorry guys. Little victories, okay?)

It has been one of those rough weeks so far. Even puppers hasn't wanted to get out of bed in the morning.
http://i.imgur.com/YEC3t.jpg?1

Gonna try to relax tonight with a glass of vino and start packing up my life (moving in August). So, yeah. Just really ready to be out of University (again) and get on with my life... and to finally actually live with hubby. That'll be a nice change. Ha.

/end of complain-fest.

Really, my life is awesome. I need to focus on what I do have. There was a 21 year old girl hit by a car and killed here (and it's a very small city - 150 000 people) a couple of days ago. There aren't 7 degrees of separation here. There are more like... 1.5 degrees of separation. Around here, if you don't know someone personally, you definitely know someone who does know that person. Reality check. I have a lot to be thankful for!

Redfizz

06-28-2012, 03:35 PM

Aw, your puppers looks so huggable!!!

(And let me note that I do see the grammar mistake in my post. Obviously the OCD is driving me insane! lol)

rickiecoombs

07-02-2012, 04:40 PM

Aw, your puppers looks so huggable!!!

(And let me note that I do see the grammar mistake in my post. Obviously the OCD is driving me insane! lol)

She really is! Her name is Jalapeño, but we call her Jale for short (not "Jail", but Hal-y). She is my cuddle bug. And she sheds like crazy. Interesting fact: she's from Pouch Cove - pronounced "Pooch" Cove - which I think is so punny! Har. Har. Har.

Don't worry about the grammar. I'm pretty type A myself. I sympathize.

Holy cow, batman! You take a couple of days without checking this site, and the whole world goes by! Haha.

Anyway. It's back to the grindstone. Didn't do any lifting today, but lots of cardio (it is HOT here today - very atypical for our weather), and hoping for a solid workout tomorrow. (Solid in my books, anyway. Gonna take me a while to get to "solid" in everyone else's eyes!)

Ridiculously bloated here at the moment. Waiting for TOM, but that doesn't seem to be happening for some reason. I'm wondering if it has to do with the Depo Provera shot, but as far as I know, you don't skip TOM unless you've been taking it a year or more. So... not sure what's going on there.

In other news, I wore a pair of shorts to the park today!! This is actually huge for me. Quite honestly, it's the only pair of shorts I actually OWN (because I am so ashamed of my poor body). I've had them since... um... high school? Not sure how they didn't end up in the garbage. Anyway. I wore them. And they fit (ish). It's a milestone.

I've been stuck at 131-133 for the past several weeks... I realize it's not all about the scale, and I am trying not to get discouraged... but I am also wondering if maybe I'm not eating enough, and that's why I'm not losing? Is that possible?

Reeeeally hoping for a good workout tomorrow. Looking forward to August when life is less hectic (hopefully) and some adjustments can be made to my lifting schedule.

gobbles23

07-02-2012, 05:18 PM

rickiecoombs

07-03-2012, 08:05 AM

Ha! Your puppers is from Pouch Cove! :D Cool!

It was VERY hot here, I had a headache from the heat yesterday and today. We spent all day out in town and I couldn't believe how hot it was! I was grateful for the cooler air back down our way!! :)

How long have you been dieting for now?? How much of a deficit are you in? It's normal for weight loss to get stuck for a few weeks and then whoosh off in a big chunk! But other things may be at play as well! Do you have any cheat meals/higher calorie days??? :)

Oh, and yay for wearing shorts today! :D

Rain today! At least it's still warm! :D

I've been eating at a deficit since January. As a general rule, I'm eating at about 1000 calories under maintenance... Which worked like a charm for the first few months. Not so much now... I do have cheat days, yes. BUT I am careful with them, and even on "cheat days" I don't go much (if at all) above maintenance. Should I be cutting out cheat days? I started them just to keep myself sane, because when I started in January, I made such a huge change in my eating habits, I figured having one cheat day a week might keep me from falling off the wagon entirely. I'm almost 30 pounds later, now... so as far as I can tell, it worked! Haha. But if you think I should cut out cheat days, I will listen, O Wise One!

SO. Got up early to hit the gym before class. I am SO ready to be out of Uni. Wayyyyy too many years/too much money spent there. I need a break.

Bench:
70 x 7
70 x 8
70 x 8
DB Overhead Press:
2x20lbs x 10
2x20lbs x 8
2x20lbs x 8
Leg Press:
180 x 15
180 x 14
180 x 12
Chins:
75lbs of help x 8/6/7.5
^^ I hate myself every time I do these.
Seated Calf Raise:
80 x 12
80 x 12
80 x 12
Skull Crushers:
30 x 14
30 x 10
Aaaand then I ran out of time. I really want to try squats, but I'm afraid of starting them w/o hubby around to check my form. Do NOT want to learn squats w/bad form. Bad form = hard to unlearn (for me, anyway).

gobbles23

07-03-2012, 08:34 AM

Echo814

07-03-2012, 10:15 AM

Hey there! Been checking out your journal and congrats on the loss! Your numbers are improving with every workout which is always a good sign :) Heck you're up to some of my lifts and I've been tinkering around with this for two years, stay consistent and you will do far better than me lol.

I don't know how you do it being separated from hubby as much as you are, I did it for two months this year and it was rough! Glad thats changing soon :) The pics or your little vacay are beautiful, I need to see the ocean again sometime.

As for your diet, I think going with the 1000 cal deficit was a bit aggressive, just going by stats I think your maintenance is around 2200 so your daily intake is around 1200? While starvation mode is a myth, the body loves achieving homeostasis and will eventually learn to run on the fuel you give it. The cheat days are a good thing (as long as they are kept in check), they help restore hormonal balance, since dieting causes several of them go a bit wonky. I agree with Lori a diet break is in order since you can't really lower cals anymore. Also you are in the healthy weight range now, so losing is going to be slow going forward or should be anyway to keep from dipping into lean mass, I would aim for no more than lb a week after the break :)

Redfizz

07-03-2012, 03:11 PM

Stopping by to say hi! Wow! 30 pounds! Way to go.

I agree with them. I was eating 1000 calories or less for such a long time that I actually started gaining weight. I maintained when I finally managed to get my calories to ~2000/day once I started body building.

rickiecoombs

07-07-2012, 08:32 AM

So you lost 30lbs since January?? That's amazing! Awesome job! :)

Hmmmm! I think maybe you should try eating at maitenance for a few weeks and then drop your cals again. You might just need a little boost! 7 months in such a big deficit is pretty crazy! If you don't feel like taking a little diet break, then maybe have an above maintenance day once every two weeks and see if that helps move things along a little! Oh! What if you had a day above maintenance, then returned to your diet again for a few days to see if it helped, and if that doesn't cause a drop in weight, then take a diet break for a few weeks?? :)

Awesome workout! :)

Thanks! Yah, it’s more like... 28.8 pounds or something... Am I bad for rounding up?!
Eating at/above maintenance will be very scary for me. Should I expect to maintain/gain during the time I am doing that? And then drop after?

Hey there! Been checking out your journal and congrats on the loss! Your numbers are improving with every workout which is always a good sign :) Heck you're up to some of my lifts and I've been tinkering around with this for two years, stay consistent and you will do far better than me lol.
I don't know how you do it being separated from hubby as much as you are, I did it for two months this year and it was rough! Glad thats changing soon :) The pics or your little vacay are beautiful, I need to see the ocean again sometime.
As for your diet, I think going with the 1000 cal deficit was a bit aggressive, just going by stats I think your maintenance is around 2200 so your daily intake is around 1200? While starvation mode is a myth, the body loves achieving homeostasis and will eventually learn to run on the fuel you give it. The cheat days are a good thing (as long as they are kept in check), they help restore hormonal balance, since dieting causes several of them go a bit wonky. I agree with Lori a diet break is in order since you can't really lower cals anymore. Also you are in the healthy weight range now, so losing is going to be slow going forward or should be anyway to keep from dipping into lean mass, I would aim for no more than lb a week after the break :)

Being away from hubby SUCKS. That's really the only way to describe it. But thankfully it will all be over in August. :D It was a much-needed vacay, and even though I can see the ocean any time I want, it's still really beautiful.

You are basically spot on! I do burn around 2200 daily. And my daily intake is 1200 maximum. There are often days when it is below that. So, I guess if my body is used to that kind of deficit, maybe I should change things up a bit, hey.

Stopping by to say hi! Wow! 30 pounds! Way to go.

I agree with them. I was eating 1000 calories or less for such a long time that I actually started gaining weight. I maintained when I finally managed to get my calories to ~2000/day once I started body building.

Holy cow! You were gaining on 1000 calories?! That scares me!!

I feel like I’ve been delinquent in my postings, ‘specially ‘cause you gals are posting every day!! I want to THANK YOU all for your input. I appreciate it so, so, so much!

So I ate a total of almost 1700 calories the day before yesterday, and I would say about that yesterday too. It was scary. I still had a deficit, but I feel like a cow today! Haha. I’m going to try to eat at or a bit above maintenance for the next few days, and see what happens. SCARY. Also, not sure how I’m going to fit in all the food! I’m just so used to my egg whites and greek yogurt and chicken and veggies, etc... Should I just eat more of the same? Or more carbs? Does it matter? I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!

I had a good time at the gym yesterday, but I only had about 40 minutes to lift. Can you actually get anything done in 40 minutes? I didn’t feel very productive, but it’s better than nothing, right?

Wondering if I should up my weights. I’m getting, in general, 3 sets of 12 for most of my lifts... The issue with upping weights, though, is that I can’t really do it in small increments for things like the DB overhead press... If I’m doing 20s now, the next up is 25s... And since I’m OHPing 2 x 25, that’s 10 extra pounds – big jump! (for me, anyway!)

*sigh*

So many things for a newb to learn... The scariest part of this week is going to be eating more. But I will persevere. Because you gals know way more than I do, ergo I trust you! :D

gobbles23

07-07-2012, 09:24 AM

Well, way back in the day I was 130-135lbs (when I was 18 or so) and one day I was sick of it so I dropped my calories to 500 cals a day (I read a magazine that said "500 calorie deficit a day" and had no clue what it meant so I assumed I had to eat that amount. lol!) and I did cardio every single day. Sometimes twice a day. In one month I dropped down to 105lbs. Then I got stuck there. I continued to undereat because I didn't know what I was doing and over the course of another year or so I got down to about 98lbs.

After that I ate a little more and started counting calories. I ate 1200 cals a day still in weight loss mode but gained weight back to about 105lbs- 107lbs. Then I found this site that told me my maintenance was 2000. I was like "huh?" and tried eating more but gained a lot back on 1600 cals. I yo-yoed for another year or so before I decided to bring cals up to 2000. I gained on that, but eventually it stopped.

Moral of the story- never drop cals too low for too long! :) At your weight/height I'd stick to 1500-1600 cals a day. Definitely take a diet break for about 2-3 weeks. Normally I gain a few ponds during the break but it falls off immediately once you start dieting again, so don't wory about it and just enjoy the break :)

When I go to diet break mode- I eat whatever I want that fits in my calories (wait, I do that anyway :p ) I eat hamburgers and french fries, lots of peanut butter, lots of whole eggs, bread/peanut butter/honey, drink a few beer, lol! Just get those cals in! :) Don't be afraid of fats or "non-clean" food. Ice cream is good! lol!

Hey! Do you know there's a frozen yogurt place here now!? It's called Menchies! Have you ever been there!?

What are your goals when it comes to weightlifting/physique?? When starting out, simple full body workouts 3x a week in the 3-5 rep range are great! Easy way to get your strength up quickly and take advantage of newbie gains :)

In regards to your question about upping weights though- do: 25'sx however many you can get, don't worry about not hitting 8 or 12 or whatever. Even if you can get them 2 times this week for one set, 3 times next week for one set, etc. It'll be slow going, but eventually you'll be able to do them for sets/reps! :)

vanessa40

07-07-2012, 09:46 AM

Hi,
I had to stop in when i saw your journal title ;)
You have got some great advise here.
Congratulations on the weight loss so far. I can see a difference in your pics.
I have been eating a at about 1100-1200 calories for about 6-8 months.
I think i might need to up my calories a bit. I have been at 133-138 for about a year now.
I would love to get back down to 125 again but like someone above said the closer you get to goal the harder it is to lose. I have subbed so i can keep up with your progress. Good Luck..

rickiecoombs

07-08-2012, 07:34 PM

Moral of the story- never drop cals too low for too long! :) At your weight/height I'd stick to 1500-1600 cals a day. Definitely take a diet break for about 2-3 weeks. Normally I gain a few ponds during the break but it falls off immediately once you start dieting again, so don't wory about it and just enjoy the break

When I go to diet break mode- I eat whatever I want that fits in my calories (wait, I do that anyway :p ) I eat hamburgers and french fries, lots of peanut butter, lots of whole eggs, bread/peanut butter/honey, drink a few beer, lol! Just get those cals in! Don't be afraid of fats or "non-clean" food. Ice cream is good! lol!

Hey! Do you know there's a frozen yogurt place here now!? It's called Menchies! Have you ever been there!?

What are your goals when it comes to weightlifting/physique?? When starting out, simple full body workouts 3x a week in the 3-5 rep range are great! Easy way to get your strength up quickly and take advantage of newbie gains

In regards to your question about upping weights though- do: 25'sx however many you can get, don't worry about not hitting 8 or 12 or whatever. Even if you can get them 2 times this week for one set, 3 times next week for one set, etc. It'll be slow going, but eventually you'll be able to do them for sets/reps! :)

Honestly, Lori, what would I do without you? :D

I'm currently on that "diet break" you speak of. Freakin' terrifying.

And YES on Menchies! Love it! Have you been there?!

Goals - at the risk of sounding unrealistic due to my current physique (or lack thereof)... I want to be small and strong. Essentially, I want to be able to look decent in my clothes (and out of them, for that matter!!), have some actual muscle definition, and be able to lift like a real girl in the gym. Is that too vague? A pipe dream, perhaps?

3-5 rep range?! Really?! Hm...

Tomorrow morning is the beginning of a new workout week, so I will up my weights and see what happens!!

Hi,
I had to stop in when i saw your journal title ;)
You have got some great advise here.
Congratulations on the weight loss so far. I can see a difference in your pics.
I have been eating a at about 1100-1200 calories for about 6-8 months.
I think i might need to up my calories a bit. I have been at 133-138 for about a year now.
I would love to get back down to 125 again but like someone above said the closer you get to goal the harder it is to lose. I have subbed so i can keep up with your progress. Good Luck..

Thanks for stopping by! Yah, I am really thankful for all of the great advice I've been getting. It has been so, so helpful.

I hear ya when it comes to being "stuck" at a certain weight. As suggested, I'm giving the "diet break" a try - we'll see what happens! :)

So. Yes. The week begins again.

Remember how I said I saw a tricep? I really, really did! And I took a picture. Here it is. Please don't laugh - I know it's not impressive. But it doesn't make it any less exciting for me!! Haha.

http://i.imgur.com/4bTF5.jpg?1

And yes, that is a bra you see hanging there. I went bra shopping. I've gone from a solid C to an A. AN A.

*sigh*

I've been between 1500 and 1700 calories for about four or five days now. I feel like a freaking whale, but I am going to keep on going for another few days. I'm wondering if I'll "feel" stronger tomorrow morning when I go to lift, since my intake has been higher the past few days?

Bedtime for me! Looking forward to the next few months - hoping to see some "real" changes! :D

gobbles23

07-09-2012, 04:14 AM

rickiecoombs

07-10-2012, 05:09 AM

I've never been to Menchies- I just saw the sign a few days ago and now I can't stop thinking about how bad I want to go there :D Is it expensive???

3-5 reps for ant like strength for sure :D With your back though I'm not sure what to recommend for legs. I think in your situation though front squats/zercher squats might be the safest option since they're easy on the spine. And as for deadlifts, maybe you could use d.b's and do one leg at a time so you don't have to use a heck of a lot of weight?? But yeah- all you need is a barbell and a simple lifting program that increases weight each workout/week. I'd highly recommend Starting Strength..Actually.....Hmmmm....

Those jeans! Did you get them at Bootlegger!? I do believe I have those :D

Definitely keep going with the cals! I know its scary, but they'll do your body good! :)

Menchie's isn't too bad (price-wise). Flavour-wise, it is awesome (keep in mind I have an ice cream addiction, so I may be biased). You have to go. I am ordering you to go. It is imperative. You pay by weight, SO as long as you don't put heavy toppings on (like pineapple and big chunks of brownie) it's okay. Mine generally cost less than 4$, but I'm pretty stingy. Haha.

I did get the jeans at Bootlegger! I'm a skirt girl, actually, so I only have a couple of pairs of jeans. And since I rarely wear them, I wanted something CHEAP. Hence, Bootlegger. :D

Also, I feel like a cow. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

I only got to 1400ish calories yesterday. I had a migraine and ended up going to bed early out of it, and so I wasn't able to stuff my face any more for the remainder of the evening. Sorry. I promise to do better today!

Thanks for sending me Starting Strength! It looks awesome - the only issue is with me not being medically allowed to do dead lifts... and more recently, squats. :( I complained to hubby, and he said, "You could use the principles for Starting Strength and alter the exercises... Like using a hack squat machine instead of squats, and maybe just focusing on pull ups, rows and shrugs instead of dead lifts..." <-- Is this a sort-of-happy medium? I know nothing can replace the "real thing", but if I'm limited from squats and dead lifts? *sigh*

Yesterday's workout was funny. I upped my weights (except for benchpress, because I have no spotter and didn't have a death wish at the time). So after benchpressing, DBOHPing, DB Bent Over Rows, etc - I figured, "Hey - I"ll throw in some skull crushers for kicks!". Yeah. Right. Could NOT get the DB from my shoulder to behind my head. Wasn't happening. It was a little embarrassing because of all the big burly dudes that were strutting around the gym, but that's okay.

So today will be some form of cardio, and then another workout tomorrow. Hubby says we're taking progress pictures on Saturday, but I am not so sure that's going to be fun, given the fact that I've been eating like a ravenous beast for almost a week now.

In other news - IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!! :D It's supposed to be SUNNY and HOT all week!! (Keep in mind, "hot" for me, is not "hot" for most of you ladies - haha) Unfortunately, I will remain as white as the driven snow, but I will still enjoy the nice weather. :)

gobbles23

07-10-2012, 05:15 AM

rickiecoombs

07-11-2012, 08:44 PM

YES! Replace them with whatever you can do. Exercises don't matter to a T, as long as you're doing some sort of compound leg exercise and loading the weight progressively! :)

Going to Menchies ASAP. lol!

Loving this weather!!! We'll be swimming in Flatrock a lot this week, that's for sure! :D

Went to Menchies tonight, as a reward for werkin' like a little dog over the past two days. Honestly. So ready to be finished school. I'm too old for this crap. HAVE YOU GONE YET?!

AND - I think climate change is actually doing NL some good!! :D Probably sucks for the world in general, but seriously, man - I could live with this weather!

rickiecoombs

07-11-2012, 08:58 PM

Alrighty then. Your faithful bovine reporting for duty. :D

This has been the worst week of life, school-wise. I can't believe the way some adults are... and I keep thinking, "I reeeeally hope YOU'RE not going to be teaching my kids!!" Seriously - how do these people get into this faculty? And how has it taken me almost a decade to figure out which degree to get? *sigh* Excuse me while I go and question my life choices.

Anyways.

Lotsa fun in the gym today. Was totally stressed out and didn't actually have time to go, but I "made" time, and was so thankful in retrospect that I did!

Here's my Question 1. Since I can't follow Starting Strength to the letter (and that really irks my Type-A personality) because of my 85-year-old spinal column, how's this for a FB workout?
Bench Press, OHDB Press, DB Bent over rows, Pull ups, Shrugs, Hack Squat machine, leg press, seated calf raise.
^^ Are some of those redundant? (I am really sorry about the fact that I am making you roll your eyes at my total lack of knowledge)

Question 2: If my workout is going to be cut short, is there a set of "preferred" lifts that I should do? Or is that also an eye-rolling question?

In other news - hubby comes home for the weekend on Friday night, and it's his birthday weekend! :) We've got reservations at GetStuffed, which is a cute little trendy restaurant downtown. Usually I would be concerned, but since y'all have me eating about 1700 calories a day, I'm not too worried. :D

Which brings me to Question 3: at what point should I be starting a bulk? Do I wait until I'm down to my preferred weight, and then pile on the calories so I can gain some muscle?

AND now, since it's 1:30am, and I have to get up at 6:30... I should probably go and cuddle a puppers to sleepies. :)

P.S. At the risk of sounding corny and ridiculous, I just need to thank you ladies again for all of your help. In all seriousness, I couldn't do this without you. 30 pounds down, lots of muscle-gaining (hopefully!) to go!

gobbles23

07-12-2012, 05:16 AM

rickiecoombs

07-14-2012, 11:08 AM

Sounds like a good exercise choice! I would always choose barbell over D.B's just because the increments are smaller, but they'll both do the job :)

As long as you do one exercise per body part (Back/Legs/Chest/Shoulders) you'll be fine.

Up that 1700 cals to about 2200 :D

Wait until you're at your preferred weight to bulk. Bulking should only be used (in my opinion) when you're lifts stall out completely or increases are slow coming. You're still new to this and should be able to make a lot of progress a little under/at maintenance. If I were you I'd keep dieting until I was happy and then raise calories to maintenance so you juice your newbie gains for all their worth! :) OR, of course, if you felt like bulking you could certainly do that too! It'd definitely help you grow muscle quicker. It's individual really! I think everyone should do a bulk at least once in their life! :)

2200?! Um, NO! Haha. Not sure if I could physically consume that much food on a regular basis at this point. Baby steps... right? :D

That sounds like good advice to me... I'm hoping to be where I "want" to be weight-wise by the end of August. Hubby pointed out to me, though, that even when I get to the weight I want to be at, I'm still not going to be happy with the way I look. He reminded me that I'm still going to look "soft", because even though I will have lost a chunk of weight, I still won't have the muscle mass that I want. It's going to take a long time to get to where I want to be, and I think he's trying to prepare me for that. Haha. Good old rational, supportive hubby. What would I do without him?

So my plan (as of right now) is to continue on until I hit around 125, which hopefully I can do by the end of August. At that point, I will see how my lifts do eating around maintenance, and not above. That will be scary, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it!

I am so sore today. Hopefully that means I did something right!! I upped most of my weights yesterday. The ones I didn't increase, I banged out more reps for, so that was also satisfying. But man, I am feeling it today! Love it! :)

This weekend is being christened "The Weekend of Gluttony". Which, I realize, is not actually going to be that terrible, but for me it is.

Hubz is home for his birthday weekend, and there is going to be a lot of eating out involved. Last night we went to Smoke's Poutinerie. Tonight we are going out for supper. Tomorrow his parents are coming into town, so I imagine there will be some sort of meal involved there.

Having been eating at between 1500 and 1700 calories for the past 10 days or so, I am feeling absolutely disgusting. And I'm bloated. Interestingly, though, I haven't gained any weight. If anything, I've dropped a pound or so.

After this weekend, I am going to drop cals a little bit, in an effort to not feel so whale-ish. I don't think I will go all the way back to 1000-1200, though. I think that was too low. Maybe something between 1200 and 1500? I'll try that for a couple of weeks or so and see what happens to my body/mind/lifts.

rickiecoombs

07-15-2012, 12:18 PM

Today's humiliation brought to you by the fact that...

It is one-month-progress pictures time, and there has been no progression - if anything, I see regression. :(

Hubby managed to make both side-on photos blurry, so I didn't have much to choose from. He's cute, though, so I guess I can forgive him. :) Also, July's photos were taken in the nighttime, and that is opposed to the two previous photos being taken early morning.

So, without any more stalling, here they are. Excuse me while I go curl up into the fetal position and berate myself for not doing better. Maybe I'll see some movement in August's photos? *sigh*
http://i.imgur.com/jtEof.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/eXH8F.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/H34PC.jpg?1

I was going to try to save some shred of dignity and post my flexing pictures, but seeing all of all you wimmenz amazing muscles intimidates me and my poor, pathetic ones. Haha.

Gonna hit submit now before I lose my nerve...

gobbles23

07-15-2012, 12:38 PM

Oh, no. You look much better in the July pics- you're back is way leaner and your belly is smaller! :) You're too hard on yourself!

Redfizz

07-15-2012, 07:20 PM

Woah!!! Your body is changing! Amazing progress! (And I love the not-so-smiley faces. :) )

rickiecoombs

07-16-2012, 02:50 PM

Oh, no. You look much better in the July pics- you're back is way leaner and your belly is smaller! :) You're too hard on yourself!
Well thanks, Lori. I certainly don’t see it, but maybe I don’t know what I’m looking for? Haha. Just gonna keep on workin’ hard – hopefully I’ll see some changes over the next few months. In any case - I trust your judgement more than mine! Ha. :)

Woah!!! Your body is changing! Amazing progress! (And I love the not-so-smiley faces. :) )
Thanks Redfizz! :) That’s awfully nice of you to say! This is the first time I’ve actually “stuck” with anything remotely long-term. I’ve often lost some weight, and immediately put it back on (and more besides), but this time I seem to be staying with it. Haha. I still have a weight goal, but now my biggest “goal” is not to look so squishy!! :D (Oh, and I am hoping that one day, those not-so-smiley faces will be ear-to-ear grins with a full set of teeth!! :D)

rickiecoombs

07-16-2012, 02:58 PM

SO. It turns out that a weekend of gluttony leads to a decent Monday afternoon workout. Apparently. I only did upper body today, because I did legs Friday and upped all my weights... Then Saturday morning my legs were super sore, and then when we went out for supper for hubby’s birthday, we walked the 10 km to the restaurant, because we didn’t want to spend money on two cab fares (no, not cheap – POOR! Haha). So when I woke up yesterday morning, I could hardly walk. Hence the reason I left my leggies alone today. Hopefully tomorrow I will no longer be walking around as if I crapped my pants.

ANYWAY.

I compared this Monday's workout (the chest/back part, anyway) to last Monday's workout, and I think there have been some improvements in the past week. I still find it a bit embarrassing to post my numbers here (which is why you'll notice I don't do it very often! haha) but hey...

Bench:
Last Monday- 70x7, 70x9, 70x7
This Monday- 70x12, 70x10, 70x9
^^ I'm afraid to raise this w/o a spotter, but maybe I'll try 75lbs on Wednesday?
DB Overhead Press:
Last Monday- 25(2)x7, 25(2)x4, 25(2)x5
This Monday- 25(2)x9, 25(2)x7, 25(2)x8
DB Bent Over Rows:
Last Monday - 40x8, 40x8, 40x8
This Monday - 45x10, 45x10, 45x10

So, yeah. That is an example of some of my lifts that have improved. After sweating up a storm and being proud of myself, I did some (very assisted) chins/pull-ups, just to remind myself that I am still a pathetic weakling. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. Not sure yet. *sigh*

Cutting back to 1400ish calories this week to see what happens after spending a couple weeks at 1700-1800ish (more this weekend, I imagine). Should be interesting!

In other news - this week is nuts with schoolwork, so hubby took puppers for the week. This is good, because I don't feel guilty for being a bad mommy and staying at school to get stuff done and leaving poor puppers all by her lonesome. This is BAD because I love my puppers so very much, and I miss having her around. Also - the bed is very lonely with no hubby and no puppers to cuddle. :( Sad Rickie is sad.

On the up-side: 14 more school days, and this degree will be done like dinner!!!! :D

gobbles23

07-17-2012, 05:24 AM

Sweet inceases! :) Nice job!

I know I was estatic when I finally finished school! It's a great feeling :) Though I failed to find work here afterwards so now I gotta move :/ Hope you have more luck! :)

chocolateguns

07-17-2012, 05:28 AM

SO. It turns out that a weekend of gluttony leads to a decent Monday afternoon workout. Apparently.

Hahah. Same for me - back when I ran a lot I used to be super speedy on a Sunday morning (post Saturday night cake).

Congrats on being so close to the finish with your degree! Sweet victory is around the corner!

Luvdogs

07-18-2012, 02:58 PM

There is definite progress Rickie! And strength increases are the best! You are doing great.

I would be sad without a pup too. This morning as I woke up next to Genie, I said something about "oh, how I love waking up to her cute face" and my husband said, "you used to say that about me". :o "Oh, you're cute too honey".... :o

rickiecoombs

07-22-2012, 06:12 PM

Sweet inceases! :) Nice job!
I know I was estatic when I finally finished school! It's a great feeling. Though I failed to find work here afterwards so now I gotta move :/ Hope you have more luck! :)

Thanks! :D

Yeah, I’m trying to be excited, but I feel more like a failure. Haha. I’ve been in university for the better part of a decade... I should have several degrees by now! It just took me a while to figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up... The running joke is that I have half of every degree at Memorial University... Ha.

AND – I definitely won’t have a job. The average wait for a position here in the city is 8-12 years. I’m moving to Central to be with hubby (because he’s the one with the permanent job!) and the average wait there is 6-8 years. So... yeah. I’ll be working at something that has nothing to do with my education for
quite some time, I’d imagine.

Even with all that adversity, though, at least I’ll have the degree... And I feel like I’ve never finished anything important that I’ve started before... So it's a start, right? :)

Hahah. Same for me - back when I ran a lot I used to be super speedy on a Sunday morning (post Saturday night cake).
Congrats on being so close to the finish with your degree! Sweet victory is around the corner!

Oh! Cake night! That sounds like a tradition I could get used to! Chocolate is my weakness. I don’t keep it in the house anymore, because I have no self control. The only solution was to just not buy it.

Thanks! :D It will be nice to finally be done. Feels like I've been in university forever.

There is definite progress Rickie! And strength increases are the best! You are doing great.

I would be sad without a pup too. This morning as I woke up next to Genie, I said something about "oh, how I love waking up to her cute face" and my husband said, "you used to say that about me". :o "Oh, you're cute too honey".... :o

Aw, thanks! I really do appreciate all the positive encouragement. It’s so easy to throw up your hands and say, “Ugh. I suck. Nothing’s changing!” I guess part of the problem is that I am looking at myself in the mirror every day. Mebbe I should throw out my mirrors? Hmmm...

That is super cute about waking up with Genie! There's just something about the puppers that makes the worst day seem better. Might be the unconditional love, constant happy-to-see-you attitude, and the fact that they never judge you. I come home at the end of the day, and puppers is there, tail a'waggin', saying, "Mom! You're home! You're really, really home! You're awesome! Can I cuddle you, please?!" :D (Sorry. That might have been overkill. But I swear, that's what she says.)

rickiecoombs

07-22-2012, 06:18 PM

Oh my – it has been a long time since I checked in. I haven’t fallen off the wagon – I’ve just been unbelievably busy. The next two weeks aren’t going to be much better... so I probably won’t be around too much, but I will be doing my utmost to keep up the gym schedule. I’m finding I need it just to stay sane, so getting to the gym shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Hubby took puppy for another week. Call me pathetic, but it makes me very sad. Selfishly, I wanted to keep her with me, but it’s really not fair to her, because I’m going to be ridiculously busy with school. My Poppy (grandfather) was admitted to hospital today, too, so this week is going to be full of uncertainties, and I didn’t think it was fair to have the puppers all by her lonesome so much.

In brighter news, I stepped on the scale earlier this week, and this is what it said!
http://i.imgur.com/AULU4.jpg?1
For a frame of reference, when I graduated high school I weighed 133 pounds. This is seriously huge for me! Also, I tried on my wedding dress yesterday (just for kicks), and it wouldn’t stay up. Literally could not keep it on. I’m 15 pounds lighter than I was when I got married – how many women does that happen to?? :D

I'm feeling a little whale-ish today, but hopefully that's just the weekend talking, and I'll be back to normal by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Really looking forward to August, when hubby and I can live in the same city again, and I get my spotter back... and hopefully by then I will have reached my "goal weight", and can focus on getting strong! :)

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
http://i.imgur.com/Dd3at.jpg?1

Redfizz

07-23-2012, 06:22 AM

Congratulations on hitting the 120s!!! Perhaps you should consider changing your journal name. ;)

Echo814

07-23-2012, 10:34 AM

Hey Rickie! Your progress pics look great! I do think that since we see ourselves everyday it is hard to pick out the changes.

In the 120's! See that diet break did help a lot, though I think you should have gone for more cals lol. That's awesome about the wedding dress! I hope that one day I can say the same thing :)

Congrats on being so close to finishing school, its a bummer that it will take you a while to get a job that related to it though. I bet you're excited to be reunited with hub's and pup soon :)

rickiecoombs

07-24-2012, 02:41 PM

Congratulations on hitting the 120s!!! Perhaps you should consider changing your journal name. ;)
Thanks, Red! :D It was a pretty massive milestone for me. Haven’t seen 129 since that day, but I’m hovering, so hopefully I’ll get back there shortly and continue the down swing.

Hey Rickie! Your progress pics look great! I do think that since we see ourselves everyday it is hard to pick out the changes.
In the 120's! See that diet break did help a lot, though I think you should have gone for more cals lol. That's awesome about the wedding dress! I hope that one day I can say the same thing :)
Congrats on being so close to finishing school, its a bummer that it will take you a while to get a job that related to it though. I bet you're excited to be reunited with hub's and pup soon :)

Hey Echo! Good to see you! :) I was wayyy too scared to up calories any more than they were. When I get to 125 as a regular weight, I think I'll try to eat around maintenance and see what that does for my lifts.

I am so excited to be reunited with hubby and puppers. Living alone in a big empty house sucks. It sucks even more when you're stressed out and have no one to cuddle at night! Haha :D The end is near!

Thanks for stopping by - we've missed you around here!

gobbles23

07-24-2012, 02:44 PM

Ahh, I read your last post but forgot to comment! lol! Awesome that you\re back in the 120's!!! Congrats!!! :D :D

I'd be so lonely without my Stephen around! Glad you don't have much longer to go before you get to see your hubby and your puppy again :)

rickiecoombs

07-24-2012, 02:50 PM

Today was such a weak day at the gym. I got pretty frustrated with myself. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

I went with a girl from my graduating class (long, inspiring story behind her - maybe another post?) who told me after that there was a chick in the gym who was staring at me the whole time. This makes me uneasy. There aren't usually other girlies in the weight room. This girl was tanned (not that there's anything wrong with that - I'm just self-conscious about being so Casper-like), and super thin, so I had that feeling of inferiority before I even knew she was scoping me out. It also makes me imagine she was staring at me because she was mocking me in her head, or congratulating herself on not looking like me. My psychologist would refer to this thought habit as "mind reading". Haha. Anyway. I need to get over stuff like that. Not gonna help me get strong: physically or mentally!

Moving right along.

Another beautiful day here, but I've spent it inside because of the copious amounts of schoolwork I have to do. Awesome. How much you wanna bet when I'm finally finished, our weather will go back to being "typical", and the rest of my summer will be full of rain, drizzle and fog?

So yes. Workout was crappy, pretty thin girl was staring, Rickie's stuck inside. I think that about covers it.

BUT things are looking up, because if I can get enough accomplished before tonight, I plan on rewarding myself by watching America's Got Talent. Don't judge me! :D

Echo814

07-24-2012, 03:05 PM

Holly2710

07-24-2012, 03:15 PM

Hey great progress, I do see changes in the two months. Don't be so hard on yourself, this is a journey. The whole point is to learn as you go and change as a person. It can be extremely difficult, especially when you are in school. I gained 10lbs while taking my first year nursing, mostly from stress and lack of sleep, which made eating right more difficult. Instead of focusing on getting a shredded physique focus on how healthy you feel. Enjoy life and eating healthy, that is the most important part, not how you look.

Luvdogs

07-24-2012, 08:42 PM

America's Got Talent? Is that your only vice? My list: So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol, Biggest Loser, Bachelor/Bachelorette, and saving best for last...Dancing With The Stars :o sleenks off to hide in closet....it's my Prime Time with the pups! Four on the couch with me and one on his own couch! Quite a site..

gobbles23

07-25-2012, 04:04 AM

I agree with Erica!!! Being thin plaes in comparison to being curvy and strong! I know how you feel though, I felt the same way the last time we were at Dooleys and a really thin, tanned blond girl was using the pool table next to us and my single guy friends were oogling her. I felt insuperior! But you know what? Erica said what I was thinking afterwards- no food, not as strong, not as capable going for walks/hikes and all that. Better to be strong! Besides, she was probably looking at you wishing she was lifting what you were! :)

I'm shocked at all this nice weatehr we're haivng! Crazy, hey!? :D

rickiecoombs

07-30-2012, 04:27 AM

What makes that girl better than you? Just because she was super thin doesn't make it so. To be really thin it takes a butt load of under eating plus probably a butt load of cardio, me thinks that would make for a miserable life You have a nice shape coming along very hour glass like and she may have been scoping that out. I have a stick thin friend that claims to be envious of my curves so you never know what is lurking in the minds of others.
Don't be afraid of eating more, I understand the irrational thoughts of gaining weight but your not doing your body any favors by under feeding. Lori and I both have had that problem of years of under eating and then having to repair that damage by actually eating and gaining weight. I gained 10lbs eating at maintenance due to stupid decisions and under eating/dieting at to low cals for the year almost two years before that, luckily part of that was muscle since I was lifting and still fit into my clothes. Just something to put out there, you are still making great progress so I don't want to discredit that at all, just don't like seeing others making the same mistakes :)
Good luck with the homework and hopefully the good weather continues

Hey Echo! Thanks for the pep talk! Haha. It’s funny – I don’t think twice about my size when I’m the only girl in the weight room. I’m only really self-conscious when there are other chickies in there that are skinny-winnies.

I still log all my calories, but I AM eating about 1500 a day, which is 400 more than I used to. My lifts are still increasing, so I’m going to keep doing that until things stall out on me, I think.

We had an awesome week weather-wise! It’s foggy and drizzling here today, but we’re not used to so much sun, so the ground definitely needs the hydration!

Hey great progress, I do see changes in the two months. Don't be so hard on yourself, this is a journey. The whole point is to learn as you go and change as a person. It can be extremely difficult, especially when you are in school. I gained 10lbs while taking my first year nursing, mostly from stress and lack of sleep, which made eating right more difficult. Instead of focusing on getting a shredded physique focus on how healthy you feel. Enjoy life and eating healthy, that is the most important part, not how you look.

Thanks, Holly! Being in school does make it hard. It’s even harder, because hubby lives in a different city, and I hate cooking for one person. Fortunately, that is all coming to an end, so I can soon return to my kitchen and cook delicious suppers for two! :)

America's Got Talent? Is that your only vice? My list: So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol, Biggest Loser, Bachelor/Bachelorette, and saving best for last...Dancing With The Stars :o sleenks off to hide in closet....it's my Prime Time with the pups! Four on the couch with me and one on his own couch! Quite a site..

Bahaha – yea, AGT is actually my only vice! It probably helps that I'm taking six courses this summer, so I don't actually have time to watch anything else. Technically, I don't have time to watch AGT either, but if I didn't make the time for some brain relaxation, I think I'd go nuts. Fun fact: I didn’t have a TV until I got married... So I read a lot of books. I don’t really feel the need to have a television, because I didn’t grow up with one... Puppers watches it with me, too! She prefers to be on top of me – best seat in the house. Poor girl thinks she’s a lap dog (she’s a Rottweiler cross).

I agree with Erica!!! Being thin plaes in comparison to being curvy and strong! I know how you feel though, I felt the same way the last time we were at Dooleys and a really thin, tanned blond girl was using the pool table next to us and my single guy friends were oogling her. I felt insuperior! But you know what? Erica said what I was thinking afterwards- no food, not as strong, not as capable going for walks/hikes and all that. Better to be strong! Besides, she was probably looking at you wishing she was lifting what you were!
I'm shocked at all this nice weatehr we're haivng! Crazy, hey!?

Hai, Lori! :D

Honey, you’ve got the best of ALL the worlds. You’re little, curvy AND strong. I wanna be you when I grow up! :)

Yeah - I think I'll feel better about being around skinnies when I am actually strong. Then I can flaunt my muscles... Haha. Actually, the mirrors in the weight room at MUN are pretty flattering. Triceps all over the place. :D I am much less defined in the mirrors at home. Ah well. I'm hoping for big things in August, when hubby and I live together again, and I get my spotter back, and I reach my goal weight so I can up my foodz and lift moar! :)

rickiecoombs

07-30-2012, 04:38 AM

These long breaks between posts seem to be becoming a trend. Makes me feel a little guilty. I have been on track with everything; I'm just lacking the time to come in here and write about it.

On the UP side - ONE MORE WEEK! Holy crap! After almost a decade of university, I will finally have a degree. Ugh. Talk about failure! Haha. I should have a Ph.D. by now. :)

At that point, life gets busy in a different way, because I have to pack up and move to join hubby. It's amazing how much crap you have - you just don't realize it until you have to MOVE it all!

The gym has been good to me lately. Friday's workout was particularly enjoyable. I really felt it on Saturday, which is good, because I've been finding lately I'm not always feeling sore the following day. I like to feel sore. Makes me feel like I might have actually accomplished something... haha.

I've been seeing 129 more regularly on the scale, which is also exciting. Unfortunately, I still feel like a bovine when I'm in public, because most of my clothes are so baggy that I look much heavier clothed than what I do nekkid. Hopefully when we only have one set of bills to pay, I can invest in some new clothes. Hubby doesn't want me to throw out my old clothes, just in case I get fat again. Haha. :)

Gotta go get ready for class. Gonna be bored out of my mind from 11-4, and then I am desperately hoping to get to the gym, and take puppers for a walk (I took her back this week - two weeks without her was too long). I feel a little whale-ish after the weekend... which is funny, because I didn't eat that badly. Ah well!

Hoping to be around a little more this week! Happy Monday! :D

gobbles23

07-30-2012, 05:09 AM

Echo814

07-31-2012, 11:57 AM

Hey Rickie! Sounds like you have a lot going on.

Glad you are enjoying eating more, sounds like a good plan with keeping up with it until you stall. The last few lbs with take a little bit longer but it will be worth it in the end :)

I remember when I first lost 50lbs a few years ago and not having anything to wear. Having clothes that dont fit right doesn't help with how you feel for sure. Hopefully you can go on a shopping spree once you hit goal so you can enjoy your new body :) I agree with Lori, keep some of the bigger clothes if you plan to bulk, I think some woman get upset with the weight gain that comes with bulks because they try to wear the same clothes and they get tight and stop fitting. I kept some of my "fat" clothes and while being pregnant is different than bulking it helps to have things that fit lol.

rickiecoombs

08-09-2012, 06:57 AM

Yay on finally being finished university! I'm excited for you :)
I like to feel sore after my worouts too :D It makes me say- oh, that exercise REALLY worked that body part, you know? Makes it seem like you did it right. Haha!
I know the feeling too of your clothes not fitting you all too well. I'm in need of a new wardrobe myself! :) Oh, and keeping the bigger clothes is a great idea if you plan on bulking in the future! I had to go buy a few pairs of fat jeans the first time I bulked so they'd feel nice and loose on me when everything got too tight! lol!

Thanks! At the moment, I’m not really sure what to be doing with myself!! :D

Yah – if I’m not sore, I wonder what I did wrong! Haha.

I’ve gone through most of my wardrobe now and stored away the clothes that is too big for me (which is the high majority of it). It’s labeled “The Bulk Box”. Hubz kept calling it the Bulk Barn. *sigh*

Hey Rickie! Sounds like you have a lot going on.
Glad you are enjoying eating more, sounds like a good plan with keeping up with it until you stall. The last few lbs with take a little bit longer but it will be worth it in the end :)
I remember when I first lost 50lbs a few years ago and not having anything to wear. Having clothes that dont fit right doesn't help with how you feel for sure. Hopefully you can go on a shopping spree once you hit goal so you can enjoy your new body :) I agree with Lori, keep some of the bigger clothes if you plan to bulk, I think some woman get upset with the weight gain that comes with bulks because they try to wear the same clothes and they get tight and stop fitting. I kept some of my "fat" clothes and while being pregnant is different than bulking it helps to have things that fit lol.

Hey Echo! First - it's amazing that you lost 50lbs! Go you!

Yeah, I’m noticing the last few pounds are taking some time to get off. About a month ago I was stalled at 133, and I upped my calories for a couple of weeks, and when I went back to “normal” eating, I dropped to 129. Now I'm stuck at 129! Haha. I think I’m going to try (emphasis on the try) to stop caring about the scale and really focus on lifting as much and as often as possible.

Yah- I think keeping the bigger clothes is going to help psychologically when I bulk...Because if I had to stuff myself into the clothes I’m wearing now, I’m sure I’d be very uncomfortable. It’s nice to haveclothes that fit.

rickiecoombs

08-09-2012, 07:00 AM

Well. I’m baaaaack!

Hopefully there won’t be another hiatus like that one for a while! As per usual, gym and diet have been more-or-less okay – I just haven’t had time to get to a computer.

So. I am OFFICALLY a teacher! An unemployed teacher, but hey. Also – I now live with hubby again!!!!! I’ve moved to be with him, now that school is done (he’s the one with the permanent job).This is so very exciting for me, because we’ve been apart for a year and a half now. I get to cook suppers for TWO now! Oh my. Hubz, puppers and me – all under the same (tiny) roof. It’s so nice.

On the downside, where we live is absolutely tiny. As in, 10 000 people. Everybody knows everybody’s business. It’s also very clique-y. I’m giving it a two-year window, and if it doesn’t grow on me, hubby is gonna start looking elsewhere for a job. But hopefully I will learn to love it. The town is actually quite nice. And active.

In other news – I actually have some colour! Well, I’ve gone from white to a darker shade of white... but it’s still pretty exciting. My BodyMedia’s imprint is indelibly marked upon my left arm. Hehe. It has been unusually hot here. My Irish roots are having trouble dealing with the heat. :)

Now that I am with hubby again (translation: now that I have a spotter) and I’m not in school, I can get to the gym more frequently...so I’m thinking about doing a split instead of three full-body workouts a week... Whaddya think? I’ll try it out unless someone orders me to STOP immediately. In which case I’ll stop. I’m good at following orders from people who know way more than I do!

I did chest and back yesterday – and tried to put everything into it, because I figure if I’m gonna do a split, then I can go all out because I’ll get more of a rest in between. Is that logical? I am SORE today. It’s awesome.

Anyway. That’s long enough for now. Happy Thursday,everyone!! :D

Echo814

08-09-2012, 08:44 AM

Congrats on finishing school! A job will come along I'm sure, it surprises me that they don't need teachers out there though, in the States we need them bad.

Awesome that the move went well and you three are together again :) Sounds like the place you live has potential but there is always the option of relocating.

I would say stick with the full body as long as you are recovering, if you are having a hard time being able to improve your lifts, reps or weight, then move to a split. As someone new to lifting you can hit each body part three times a week and get the most benefit from it, with splits you usually only hit them once a week and have less potential for gains. I emphasis this because the majority of your gains (weight increases, muscle growth and rate in which they increase) will be made in the first 6-9 months of lifting, after that they will start tapering off and most people switch to splits. Here's a link to Lyle McDonald's write up on training for a beginner http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/beginning-weight-training-part-1.html

gobbles23

08-09-2012, 08:49 AM

Congrats on finishing school! A job will come along I'm sure, it surprises me that they don't need teachers out there though, in the States we need them bad.

She lives in Newfoundland :p lol! Told you this place sucks! :)

Erica is spot on! A 4 day push/pull or upper lower would also work well if you want that extra lifting day! :) If you're intereted in that let me know! I have a few good programs like that saved on my computer :)

So glad you're all living together again! That must be so nice! I can't wait until the day Stephen and I get our own place :)

rickiecoombs

08-10-2012, 07:09 AM

Ohhhh my - I suddenly have ALL of this time to myself, and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BE DOING! I predict a long night at the gym. Ha.

Upper/Lower, eh? So two upper days, two lower days, and mebbe I can throw in an abs on the fifth day once in a while? I'd like to get to the gym at least 4 times a week - that's how often hubby is there. Is upper/lower still some semblance of a split (please forgive my complete ignorance). I mean, I realize it's not a full split, but it's also not a full body workout every time you're at the gym... right? *sigh* Why must I be such a slow learner?

Also - Lori - It's funny that you say this place sucks (I'm not arguing with that) but I still don't want to leave... Go figure... I've often thought about that. There are so many downfalls to living on a remote island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean... and it is so friggin' EXPENSIVE to get off it... But at the same time, I can't imagine raising a family anywhere else. Hm.

chocolateguns

08-10-2012, 07:15 AM

gobbles23

08-10-2012, 07:25 AM

I love it here too- I more meant sucks in an abundance of unemployment kind of way :) My goal in life is to make enough cash away for the next few years so I can buy a piece of land/house down here and settle away and have children :) I do not want to raise them away either!

An Upper/Lower split comes in a few different forms. They usually have 2 heavy lifting days (one upper, one lower) and 2 hypertrophy lifting days (8-12ish reps) Some have 4 days of moderate/light lifting- I prefer having power days.

Push/Pull is based on planes of movement. So say- vertical push pull day will have you in a vertical position pushing and pulling things (O.H presses/Upright rows, chin-ups, etc.) Horizontal days you'll doing things in a horizontal position (bench press/bent over rows/push-ups, etc.) The one I like does this and splits up your leg days so one day you do mainly hamstring exercises + triceps, and then there's a quad day + biceps. The format also follows a 5x5 rep scheme for your heavy compounds and 8-12 reps for your secondary exercises.

They're not full body, but will have you hit some body parts multiple times a week and are based around mostly compound movements with a combination of higher/lower reps so you get the best of both worlds.

This is an example of a push/pull routine I mentioned above. It's one of my favourite programs and a few ladies around here are currently running it/have ran it:

http://www.wannabebig.com/training/bodybuilding/baby-got-back/

I usually make up my own version of upper lowers and choose mostly compound movements for all 4 workouts and do both heavy upper and lower workouts in the 3-5 rep range and make the other two hypertrophy workouts in the 8-12 reps range. I can't find any examples of that at the moment, but here's a program similar that one of the girls here did and really liked:

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/daves-upper-lower-split.html

I'll look around some more and post more later but I've got to go do my workout at the moment! :)

Echo814

08-10-2012, 10:06 AM

I would love to live in a beautiful place like Newfoundland :) It's hard to leave a place that your heart is in for sure :)

I feel you with the boredom. I'm still looking for work and am just about finished with my classes until fall. I would go adventuring but it's to darn hot out here lol.

rickiecoombs

08-11-2012, 05:03 PM

I can't believe how expensive flights are too...I looked into it (from Toronto), and it was like $700 return with Porter! Wtf! Nothing direct, either!

Awesome that your hubs will be your spotter - I love working out with my partner. He slacks off and I yell at him :p

It's ridiculous, hey?! And it's even more expensive to drive off the island, because the ferry is unbelievably expensive (not to mention unreliable). And yet, people (ie. Me) continue to live here! Haha. Go figure!

I love it here too- I more meant sucks in an abundance of unemployment kind of way :) My goal in life is to make enough cash away for the next few years so I can buy a piece of land/house down here and settle away and have children :) I do not want to raise them away either!

This is an example of a push/pull routine I mentioned above. It's one of my favourite programs and a few ladies around here are currently running it/have ran it:

http://www.wannabebig.com/training/bodybuilding/baby-got-back/

Thanks, lady! I'm gonna give this one a try, I think. ^^ Could be interesting.

I would love to live in a beautiful place like Newfoundland :) It's hard to leave a place that your heart is in for sure :)

I feel you with the boredom. I'm still looking for work and am just about finished with my classes until fall. I would go adventuring but it's to darn hot out here lol.

Yep - for all its faults, Newfoundland sure is beautiful. Well, as long as the weather holds out! :D I actually have an uncle by marriage from Toronto who loves visiting here in the summer because of all the fog. He loves fog. Crazy man.

I'm trying my best to enjoy the boredom thing... life has been so busy for so long, and it's going to pick up again soon. Trying not to complain about being bored... but you know how it is! :)

rickiecoombs

08-11-2012, 05:22 PM

Oh. My. Goodness.

What a horrible gym session. Please excuse the ranting (/complaining?) which is about to occur.

So, I was all pumped this evening to have an amazing workout - this new program looks fun and challenging, and I was excited to give it a try. Since I'm not "allowed" to do real squats, I attempted the hack squat machine. What is the amount of weight you're lifting before you add plates? Anybody know? I suck. Let's leave it at that.

So I toddled along to the leg press. Which, in the University weight room, I can do 220ish on, for three sets of 12. So since this exercise was supposed to be high weight, low reps, I figured I'd put it up to 240, which is like... an 8% increase. Should NOT have been an issue to get at least a couple of reps out. Couldn't move it.

I was frustrated, but I moved the machine back down to 220. Couldn't move it.

I was getting really mad. So I thought, "Hey - Auntie Ham uses her rage. It makes her STRONG." Lowered the weight a little more, channelled my rage, and tried again. Nothing.

Seriously people - I ended up doing sets at 150lbs.

How on earth can there be that much of a disparity between leg press machines?

I was so disheartened by this entire thing. Hubby, of course, being the rational man he is, pointed out that I shouldn't be focused on the number I'm moving, but on getting a good burn going.

Still, though, a 70 pound difference between machines? How is that even possible? Surely I must have missed something.

Anyway. I kept on trucking, and did biceps after that (I haven't done a bicep-focus exercise since... well... a long time ago - but it's in the program, so hey!) and tried out the EZ Bar for preacher curls and standing curls... Kept it light because I didn't know what to expect - I've never used the EZ Bar before.

THEN I tried deadlifts. I only used the 45lb bar, though, because... well, it was my first time, and I have slipped discs, and didn't really feel like doing something stupid and throwing my back. So they were easy-peasy, but I wanted to see what they felt like, and to make sure I had proper form. Hubz supervised. It was helpful. I think I like these! They're a little scary, because my back is at stake, but I'm hoping that if I am not foolish and keep it light, maybe it could be okay? Maybe?

So, the bottom line is I'm trying not to get too upset about this ridiculous workout. I'm doing a lot of "new" exercises that I've never done before, and I can't expect to be strong right away, especially when I'm using muscles that aren't used to being used (although this still doesn't explain the leg press issue). Just gonna have to keep on keepin' on, right?

In other news - trying to decide whether to take progress pictures on the 15th, or wait until Sept 1st. Hubby is going on a cut again in September, so that could be interesting meal-wise! :) Gonna have to get creative.

gobbles23

08-12-2012, 04:51 AM

Echo814

08-12-2012, 11:32 AM

Are these plate loaded leg presses or the ones where you stick a pin in the weight stack? I notice a big difference in two different machines and when I switched from LA Fitness to Golds I went from doing the pin weight stacks to the plate loaded leg press and found that my working load went down. Also check the seat placement if its the weight stack machine, I noticed if my knees are closer than a 90 degree angle it messes with the numbers too.

Don't worry once you are used to the new routine and exercise's you will be progressing no problem :)

It's awesome that you and hubby are working out together and will soon be dieting together!

rickiecoombs

08-13-2012, 06:53 PM

OH, I understand that one completely! I don't know what gym you went to- but we always go to Global, and the first few times we went there I used a hack squat machine. The machine was so hard to use, that I could barely use just the sled. I put 25lbs on ONE side and did a few measly reps with it and that was it. It was SO HARD! lol! Then the last time I was there I found a new machine called a Hammer Strength Hack Squat. The sled alone only weighed 54lbs, and I was able to put an absurd amount of weight on the sled. Both machines had the same set-up/movement, but were totally different in difficulties!

Don't worry about the weight though- as long as it's challenging for you you're doing good :) Different exercises are much harder at first as well, but you'll get the hang of them and they get easier the more you do them. That program is my all time favourite, I'm excited to see how you do with it!

That's cool about the deadlifts! I don't know how to advise you on those. Just be careful, go slow with them, and if anything feels funny- stop immediately. But I'm sure you know that! lol! Maybe you could ask your doctor about them???

Ooooh, it's cool that you and your hubby are both going to be dieting! And that you guys workout together! Isn't it just the best?

Yah - I'd be interested to know what the weight of the sled is - I couldn't find it written anywhere... But even though I felt completely useless just trying to get the thing going, my legs are dead today, so I'll take that as a good sign. :)

I'm going "slow" at first with these exercises, because I haven't even heard of some of them before... I don't want to max out and hurt myself, so I have a feeling that the first week or so is going to be just getting a feel for where my starting point is. I'm actually kind of excited! :D

Yah - maybe I should ask my doctor about the deadlifts... I'm just afraid she's gonna tell me to stop. Haha. Easier to ask forgiveness than for permission, right? :)

I love having hubz to spur me on. And it's fun to spot him - makes me feel needed. :)

Are these plate loaded leg presses or the ones where you stick a pin in the weight stack? I notice a big difference in two different machines and when I switched from LA Fitness to Golds I went from doing the pin weight stacks to the plate loaded leg press and found that my working load went down. Also check the seat placement if its the weight stack machine, I noticed if my knees are closer than a 90 degree angle it messes with the numbers too.

Don't worry once you are used to the new routine and exercise's you will be progressing no problem :)

It's awesome that you and hubby are working out together and will soon be dieting together!

Both gyms were stick-a-pin-in-the-weight-stack ('cause that's totally the technical name for them!) leg presses. So I dunno. You'd think they'd be standard...

Thanks for the encouragement! It's really nice to have people rootin' for ya. :D Hubby is bulking right now - so it's really hard to be a good girl while I'm trying to cook these massive meals for him. Gonna be nice when he's only eating 2.5 times as much as me instead of... 5 times as much. hah.

rickiecoombs

08-13-2012, 07:10 PM

Yay! Semi-successful night at the gym! At least, it was way less frustrating than the other day, so I have no complaints.

Today is Day 3 of the "Baby Got Back" program that Lori posted. I think I might like it! It has a lot of "new" exercises (for me) so I'm going really light on weight - 'cause I really don't know what I am capable of lifting.

Question right off the top: I was doing lateral raises, and my shoulders were cracking up a storm. The weight was light. I had hubby come over and lay his hand on my shoulder to see if he could feel it - and he made me stop immediately. So I tried the movement without any weight - just moving my arm in the motion, and the shoulder still cracks. I'm going to have to ask my doctor about it - but do any of you have insight into what that could be? Hubz has shoulder issues too, but he has rheumatoid arthritis, so I'm guessing I have a different issue altogether. Haha. Needless to say - I didn't get that exercise in tonight. I guess I should look up some alternatives?

Day 3 - Vertical Push-Pull, Calves, Abs

Chins - 5x5
+60x5
+60x5
+60x5
+60x5
+60x5

Hammer High rows 3x8
70x8
70x8
70x8
(I had never heard of these before. Is this the right machine? Haha)
http://i.imgur.com/2pfcl.jpg?2

Standing Side Laterals 3x8
Nope.

Arnold Press 5x5
Also new for me
15x5
15x5
15x5
15x5
15x5

Seated Calf Raise 3x8
120x8
120x8
120x8

Weighted Ab Crunch
90x8
75x20
80x17

Had some issues with those crunches. Ah well.

So - bottom line is that it's going to take a few days to work out the kinks, but I think this could be fun! Yay! :D

Anyways. Gotta go be a good wifey. More later! Happy Monday Night!!

rickiecoombs

08-15-2012, 11:23 AM

'Tis a good day! Nothing in particular has happened to make it a good day... It's just one of those Rickie-is-contented days. :)

Woke up this morning and rolled out of bed, but puppers looked at me like, "You're kidding, right? I'm not moving". She cuddles with me in the morning when hubz goes to work. She takes up 3/4 of the bed. And she has her own specific blankets. Bit of a bed hog, but she's cute, so I let it go. Hehe.

http://i.imgur.com/0CRh2.jpg?1

I am really having fun with this Baby Got Back program. Yay! Still going really light on the weight, just until I figure out what it is I'm capable of... These 5 sets of 5 reps are really new to me. However, I'm sore all over, so I will take that as a positive sign!

Day 4 - Hamstring dominant, quad accessory, triceps

Romanian Deadlifts - 5x5
Easy peasy... could but trying not to kill my poor, old-woman back... :(
65x5
75x5
75x5
75x5
75x5

High Foot Placement Leg Press - 3x8
100x8
100x8
100x8

Seated Leg Extension - 3x12-20
45x20
45x20
45x20
(And then hubby comes along to show off, maxes out the machine for 20 reps. Pft.)

Skull Crushers - 5x5
I had to tuck my chin for these - because I kept hitting my head every time (I know, I know, skull crushers, Rickie). Is it normal to have to tuck?
35x5
35x5
35x5
35x5
35x5

Cable Pressdowns - 3x8-12
These felt easy last night, but my triceps are dead this morning... so hey. No complaints!
40x12
45x12
45x12

And it's not in the program for Day 4, but I threw in a couple of BB Bench Press reps just to see if I could get to 80 (since I have a spotter now). I could. Yay! Now I know for next time!

In other news, the University is doing research on obesity in Newfoundland (we're the most obese province in Canada - 34%!) and is looking for volunteers... They do a DXA scan to measure bone density, body fat percentage and body fat distribution... Scary! So I've volunteered for that, and will hopefully be going in on August 21st. I'm mostly worried about the bone density, actually, since the Depo Provera injection I'm on causes bone loss. :s

As for body fat - I already know I have lots of it, so I'm going to try not to worry about it too much. I'm a work in progress.

Took progress pictures this morning - but I'm pretty sure the flash/lighting made them look horrible... May possibly try again tomorrow morning, but we'll have to wait and see.

Happy Hump Day, people! :D

marathonmom262

08-15-2012, 11:35 AM

Echo814

08-15-2012, 11:35 AM

Hey Rickie! Happy Wednesday!

Did you have pain with the crackling or felt something actually grind rather than pop? I get a bit of popping in my shoulders when I do them and haven't had any issues so far, but if you have actual pain you might want to get it check out.

Glad you are liking the program, it's in my list of things to try once I can take training seriously again. It's good to take it slow at first to find out what you can safely do, but you're doing great so no worries :)

Awesome that you are doing the dexa scan! It should be interesting to see what the shot has done with bone density, with lifting and getting enough calcium and vitamin D you should be able to correct anything if its a bit off.

Puppers is tooooooo cute lol. I Cuddle with the cats once hubby leave's makes it much more comfy :)

gobbles23

08-15-2012, 11:38 AM

Oy! I don't know about the shoulders- best to be safe than sorry! My shoulders make crankling sounds sometimes too, but as long as it doesn't hurt during/afterwards I don't mind it too much. I actually don't do laterals a whole lot anymore. Some other great shoulder exercises are: B.B O.H Presses, d.b shoulder presses, upright rows, front raises, and bradford presses! They're my staples! :) In addition to arnolds- they're awesome too.

The leg press with the pins is way harder. I did my workterm at the YMCA and I went to their gym a few times and that's what they had! I couldn't do nearly as much weight as the plate loaded one :)

With skull crushers I usually bring the bar just above my forehead, but everyone's forearms are a diffferent length, so it's hard to say. As long as your arms are at a 90 degree angle you should be good :) Your workouts look awesome :D

Yay for dexa scan! My bone density was barely average and I'm not too happy about that. But I'm glad I know- now I can work on getting it well above average! Ahh, you may want to print off the map to follow- I seriously got lost in there. After Tim Hortons, you take a right and go straight down the hall. You come to a little lunch serving place and you take a right. Not the first right though like I did :D You have to go PAST that place, THEN take a right. Hahahaa! :p That place is huge! Dr. Sun is actually a woman and she's super nice!!!! :)

Happy Wednesday!

rickiecoombs

08-17-2012, 06:58 AM

Nice work! And what a great opportunity to volunteer for the research and maybe get some good data on yourself at no cost - I wish something like that would pop up around my area.

I really loved your line "As for body fat - I already know I have lots of it, so I'm going to try not to worry about it too much. I'm a work in progress." Now that's something I can certainly relate to! Progress ahead!

Hi! Thanks for stopping by! :) Yeah - when Lori mentioned that the Uni was doing this research, I thought it would be silly of me not to volunteer for it. Kinda concerned about my bone density.

Haha - yeah, hubby is a little concerned about what my reaction is going to be when I get the BF reading out of the scan. But quite honestly, I know I have a massive amount of body fat, so I'm not going in with rose-coloured glasses. The 30lbs I've lost is progress, my lifts are still increasing, and I feel so much better about myself. That's what I need to focus on. :)

Hey Rickie! Happy Wednesday!

Did you have pain with the crackling or felt something actually grind rather than pop? I get a bit of popping in my shoulders when I do them and haven't had any issues so far, but if you have actual pain you might want to get it check out.

Glad you are liking the program, it's in my list of things to try once I can take training seriously again. It's good to take it slow at first to find out what you can safely do, but you're doing great so no worries.

Awesome that you are doing the dexa scan! It should be interesting to see what the shot has done with bone density, with lifting and getting enough calcium and vitamin D you should be able to correct anything if its a bit off.

Puppers is tooooooo cute lol. I Cuddle with the cats once hubby leave's makes it much more comfy

Hey Echo!! :D Yeah, the shoulder was hurting and cracking. Not so much grinding. Thinkin' about asking the doctor about it... or mebbe I'll get hubz to show me his physio exercises that he does for his shoulders.

This is the first bonafide "program" I've done (besides p90x - and I didn't stick to that 100%) that has a real schedule. It's nice. It tells me what to do, and which days to do it. I need guidance. So being told what to do is nice. :)

Yah - I'm interested to see how my bones are doing. Like you said, though, I'm hoping that all the weight bearing exercises and the calcium/vitamin D I'm taking will offset any major issues.

Aww, thanks! I love her. She is my cuddle bug. She tends to make it difficult to get out of bed some mornings... I'm trying to convince hubby that now we need to get a kitty to complete our animal family. And, well, maybe another dog... Haha.

Some other great shoulder exercises are: B.B O.H Presses, d.b shoulder presses, upright rows, front raises, and bradford presses! They're my staples! In addition to arnolds- they're awesome too.

The leg press with the pins is way harder. I did my workterm at the YMCA and I went to their gym a few times and that's what they had! I couldn't do nearly as much weight as the plate loaded one

With skull crushers I usually bring the bar just above my forehead, but everyone's forearms are a diffferent length, so it's hard to say. As long as your arms are at a 90 degree angle you should be good Your workouts look awesome

Yay for dexa scan! My bone density was barely average and I'm not too happy about that. But I'm glad I know- now I can work on getting it well above average! Ahh, you may want to print off the map to follow- I seriously got lost in there. After Tim Hortons, you take a right and go straight down the hall. You come to a little lunch serving place and you take a right. Not the first right though like I did. You have to go PAST that place, THEN take a right. Hahahaa!That place is huge! Dr. Sun is actually a woman and she's super nice!!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Thanks for those other shoulder exercises! Maybe I'll sub them in for laterals while I'm trying to figure out what's going on with my freakin' shoulder.

Ah. You do skull crushers lying down. Hm. Perhaps I should try this. I have been doing them seated with a dumbell. It has been three days, and my triceps are still sore. Love it!! :D

Thanks for the advice - will definitely print off the map! Haha. That hospital is absolutely brutal. I'll probably print your directions, too. And I'm a bit Type A, so I'll probably be there 30 minutes early. Because I hate being late for things. So hopefully that will be one situation where my anal-retentive behaviour will come in handy. Haha :D

rickiecoombs

08-17-2012, 07:17 AM

It's Friday! Hubby starts his vacay at lunchtime today - I am so excited!! :D

We are going to his parents' place this weekend - a lot of his family is home from away (and his family is freakin' massive) so they're having lots of family celebrations. This is going to involve copious amounts of food. Also, there will be no gym. I'm a little frightened. Hopefully between me and hubby, we'll be able to keep me on the semi-straight-and-narrow.

In other news:
I did my first ever bodyweight chin up(s) yesterday!!!!!!!

Words cannot describe how excited I am about this! Yes, my hands were quite close together, and yes my palms were facing me, so it was basically all bicep action... But I DID it! Multiple times!! I didn't think this day would ever come! WOOOO!

*cough* sorry.

Anyway. Now that I know that chinups are attainable, I'm hoping that pullups are, too! Yay! :D

Yesterday's workout was good, if a little tiny bit short. I'm feeling it today, though, so I'm happy.

Day 1 - Horizontal push pull

Rack Pulls - 5x5
These weren't hard, but I've really been feeling my back lately... Not sure if I should lay off this type of exercise or not... :(
75x5
85x5
85x5
85x5
85x5

Bent Over Rows - 3x8
Tried these with a BB for the first time. Usually I do them with a 45lb DB... But these feel much different.
45x8
55x8
55x8

Bench - 5x5
First "real" sets at 80. Didn't expect them to be so easy.
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5

Incline DB Press - 3x8
These were fun!
25(2)x8
25(2)x8
25(2)x8

Of course, in between these sets, I was constantly running over to the bar to make sure I could "really" do a chinup, and that it wasn't all in my imagination. Haha. Giddy Rickie was giddy at the gym last night. :D

Like I said, this weekend I'll be at my in-laws, turning down food. And then we have to go back to the city (where our house is) to move everything out in order to get it tenant-ready for September. It's going to be a busy "vacation". And we won't be around our gym. I'm hoping maybe the YMCA in the city will take us on day passes... if it's not too expensive. Anyway. Workout clothes have been packed. Hoping for the best. I get panicky when I'm away from the gym. Haha.

Happy Friday, everyone!! Hope y'all enjoy your weekend!

marathonmom262

08-17-2012, 07:33 AM

Woooot! Sweet bodyweight chinup news - congrats! What a great accomplishment. I bet you were dancing in your chair while you were typing that (I know I would be!!)

gobbles23

08-17-2012, 08:14 AM

OH, fun!!!! :D Have a great weekend! :)

Congrats on doing your first chin-ups! I remember that day- it was freaking awesome! Be proud!!!! Those things are hard :D

And wow- great benching! That's really strong for someone who hasn't benched before! :D You're so awesome :D

The YMCA is crazy. I think a day pass is $11. That's the one thing we told them that was stupid about their business when we did up their marketing communications plan for our internship. They have all sorts of low income plans for people who can't afford a membership at any other gym, yet a day pass there is more expensive than at global (which is $10) So stupid.

Echo814

08-17-2012, 01:54 PM

Congrats on the chinup! Its amazing what we are capable if we just do it and not doubt :) Bent over rows with BB hit my back differently than DB's too.

Don't fret to much about being on vacation, eat sensibly and enjoy yourself :) If you can't get to a gym you can always do body weight stuff just to keep active.

Redfizz

08-21-2012, 06:07 AM

Congratulations on your chin ups!!!!!!! What an accomplishment!

Wooooooo!

rickiecoombs

08-21-2012, 08:11 AM

Woooot! Sweet bodyweight chinup news - congrats! What a great accomplishment. I bet you were dancing in your chair while you were typing that (I know I would be!!)

Haha - I really was! I was pretty much doing the seated Hokey-Pokey. :D

OH, fun!!!!Have a great weekend!

Congrats on doing your first chin-ups! I remember that day- it was freaking awesome! Be proud!!!! Those things are hard

And wow- great benching! That's really strong for someone who hasn't benched before! You're so awesome

The YMCA is crazy. I think a day pass is $11. That's the one thing we told them that was stupid about their business when we did up their marketing communications plan for our internship. They have all sorts of low income plans for people who can't afford a membership at any other gym, yet a day pass there is more expensive than at global (which is $10) So stupid.

Thanks! I'm a little paranoid now, because I've been away from the gym since Friday. Hubby has been teasing me, saying that all my muscles are going to fall off because it has been four days since I lifted. :( Meanie.

Also - about the benching. I think maybe my caption was misleading? I've benched before, but that was my first time trying 80lbs. I starting BB benching maybe four weeks ago? I think? My goal is to eventually bench my bodyweight. Which I realize is going to take a long time - but that's what goals are for, right?! Maybe I should start making some shorter-term goals... hmmm...

YMCA doesn't make any sense! They didn't listen to you educated people when you told them to fix it?! Mebbe you should go down there in person and flex at - I mean threaten them. I checked out GoodLife, and it looks like they have free 3-day passes? I'm gonna give them a try. Hopefully that works out, because I don't think I can last another day without lifting something heavy.

Congrats on the chinup! Its amazing what we are capable if we just do it and not doubt :) Bent over rows with BB hit my back differently than DB's too.

Don't fret to much about being on vacation, eat sensibly and enjoy yourself :) If you can't get to a gym you can always do body weight stuff just to keep active.

Thanks!! :D I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt different about the BB rows. I don't know if it's good-different or bad-different... but we'll see over time, I suppose.

Ah - words of wisdom. :) Not fretting is the hard part. Well, spending time with in-laws that love sodium and deep-fried food is pretty hard, too. Haha.

Congratulations on your chin ups!!!!!!! What an accomplishment!

Wooooooo!

Thanks! :D "Woooooooo!" is probably what I actually said after the first one I did! Haha. Much to the embarrassment of hubby, who had to deal with a wooooo-ing wifey at the gym. :)

rickiecoombs

08-21-2012, 08:34 AM

Well. It has been quite the few days. Left Friday to spend the weekend with hubby's family. He has a massive family, which is pretty typical for Newfoundland - 'cause really, what are ya gonna do when you live on a destitute island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean besides... breed?! My family is quite small (just my parents and a sister!) so I find spending time with his family really awesome, but overwhelming at the same time. Anyway. There were lots of babies, so I was happy. :)

There was also a lot of food. I'm not really sure what other provinces and states are like in general, but I do know that NL is quite a food-oriented place. Even moreso in the smaller communities on the coast, where hubby is from. Anyway. I didn't eat as much as I would have six months ago, but my poor body still took a beating. I weighed myself this morning, and my "morning weight" was 132, when it has been consistently 128-129 for the past couple of weeks. It's going to be nice to get back to eating "normal" food again. (Not that I don't enjoy the occasional gluttonous evening... But four days is a bit much!!).

Drove into town (which was "home" for me until a couple weeks ago) this morning to get the DXA scan done. It was really interesting!

So the bottom line is, I'm a fatty, but my bones are awesome! :D Haha. I knew my BF% was going to be high, so I was prepared for that. Total BF% was 32.7. Which I realize is high, but it's nice to know, because I have something to work toward! I kinda sorta wish I had done this six months ago when I was 30lbs heavier... I wonder what my BF% would have been then?

Anyway. They said I could come back in 6 months or a year and get it done again - which I think is a really great idea, especially if I see major improvements by then!

Hubby was surprised that my BF was slightly above "average". He said, "but as far as everyone else is concerned in NL, you're skinny!". That's a testament to how overweight a lot of people are here. :( Anyway, "average" is not NL's population, but North America, I do believe.

The place where I hold the highest percentage of bodyfat is my hip/thigh area. The BF% for there was over 40%! Which is really something, because the rest of me ranged from 31-35%. Crazy, hey?!

The good news is that my bones are really healthy. I was a little worried about that, given my family history of osteoporosis, and the Depo Provera I'm taking. When I was first prescribed the drug, I was surprised that they didn't do a bone scan right away, just to get a base-line of where my bones were health-wise... Ah well. Now I have an almost-base-line scan. :)

So yes. Over the next few days, I want to sit down and figure out my "goals". Maybe 3 month goals, 6 month goals and 12 month goals? Does that sound realistic/reasonable?

Anyway - I have to clean/pack up this house before I move out for good... It's amazing how much crap you accumulate over time! We've been in this house for three years, and I have no idea what I'm going to do with all the junk. The apartment we're going to be living in in the "new" town is absolutely tiny, so we can't really take anything with us. It has to be stored, sold or chucked. :(

Hoping to have a productive day, and get to the gym tonight! Have a great Tuesday, everyone!! :D

Echo814

08-21-2012, 10:11 AM

Hey Rickie! Glad you had a good time visiting family :) I can relate to the huge family thing, hubby has 5 siblings who have two kids each and I think 5 aunts and uncles on each side of the family. I come from a family with only my parents, two sisters, niece and nephew. It's definitely a major change :) I wouldn't worry about the three or so lbs, give it a couple of days and you should be back to normal.

That's great about the bone report! As for the BF% it looks like you hold the typical female body fat pattern. The bright side is you are at a healthy weight and average BF, now you can work on changing your body composition :) I think having little goals that you achieve before hitting a big one is a good idea.

I feel ya on the moving thing, this last move we had to cram a 3 bed house into a 1 bed apartment lol. You never realize how much crap you have until you move :D

gobbles23

08-21-2012, 11:24 AM

Haha! My family is pretty large as well! There are 3 of us siblings, plus my step-brother on my mom's side. Both of my older brothers have fiances, and one has a little boy. Then dad re-married and my step-mother has children. So our family gathering can be kind of big sometimes! I love it :)

Yay for awesome bones! I need to get me some of those! :D I hear ya on the BF! My hips and thighs were 30%!!! I was shocked! lol! But yeah- the obesity here is insane. Probably from everyone drinking too much and eating fast food all the time with no exercise! I see that sooo often.

Hope you have a great time at the gym tonight! Which one are you going to? :)

Luvdogs

08-22-2012, 02:08 PM

A few years back I did the under water body fat test :eek: It freaked me out a bit and because of that, I had to do it several times to get a good reading. I was getting ready to do a show then (didn't compete) and I was 17.6%. Wish I was there now! The Dexa is a pod you sit in? How long does it take?

Redfizz

08-24-2012, 01:59 AM

I had never heard of the DXA scan. (Note to self: Check it out.)

One of the reasons I lift is for my bones. My honey's bb Mr. State X 3 or 4 time champ had 30% more bone density than average at the age of 50. In fact, he had the bones of a ~24 year old.

Glad you had a great time! I used to live in one of the top 3 fatty states in the US. It was horrible. There were no sidewalks and the only social thing to do was eat. I met a lady on a flight who was on her way to visit her hubby who had a 2-year contracting job there. I asked her, "So how much has your hubby gained since being there for only 4 months?" 35 pounds! :eek:

Craziness.

rickiecoombs

08-29-2012, 06:37 PM

Hey Rickie! Glad you had a good time visiting family I can relate to the huge family thing, hubby has 5 siblings who have two kids each and I think 5 aunts and uncles on each side of the family. I come from a family with only my parents, two sisters, niece and nephew. It's definitely a major change I wouldn't worry about the three or so lbs, give it a couple of days and you should be back to normal.

That's great about the bone report! As for the BF% it looks like you hold the typical female body fat pattern. The bright side is you are at a healthy weight and average BF, now you can work on changing your body composition I think having little goals that you achieve before hitting a big one is a good idea.

I feel ya on the moving thing, this last move we had to cram a 3 bed house into a 1 bed apartment lol. You never realize how much crap you have until you move :D

I love hubby's family. When I'm visiting the in-laws, I do sometimes need to take a self-imposed time out, though... Just to get my heart rate back to normal... haha.

Yah - finally back from "vacation" (ie. visiting family and moving). I'm hoping that within a week, I'll be back to normal Rickie weight. :)

YES - I have been saying that exact sentence for the past three weeks, literally. "You don't know how much crap you have until you move!" It's unbelievable! Not fun. Our 1 bedroom apartment is stacked top to bottom with boxes now... and the rest is being stored. Gonna take a few days to weed through everything and figure out what should stay and what needs to go.

Haha! My family is pretty large as well! There are 3 of us siblings, plus my step-brother on my mom's side. Both of my older brothers have fiances, and one has a little boy. Then dad re-married and my step-mother has children. So our family gathering can be kind of big sometimes! I love it

Yay for awesome bones! I need to get me some of those! :D I hear ya on the BF! My hips and thighs were 30%!!! I was shocked! lol! But yeah- the obesity here is insane. Probably from everyone drinking too much and eating fast food all the time with no exercise! I see that sooo often.

Hope you have a great time at the gym tonight! Which one are you going to?

Yay for big families!! I love 'em. My MIL had a party last Friday night, and there had to have been about 70 people there - all immediate family. (Immediate = parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, first cousins)

Such a culture of eating here. Hubz and I had a bit of a rant about it on one of our long drives to/from around the bay. We hang out, we eat, we drink. No wonder we're a bunch of fatties!

I didn't go to the gym after... Day pass was 15$! WHAT?! I'm hoping that overhead pressing and deadlifting suitcases/boxes for the past week will have sufficed?

A few years back I did the under water body fat test :eek: It freaked me out a bit and because of that, I had to do it several times to get a good reading. I was getting ready to do a show then (didn't compete) and I was 17.6%. Wish I was there now! The Dexa is a pod you sit in? How long does it take?

The DXA scan was like getting an X-Ray. I lay on a table for about 10 minutes, and I got scanned. Haha. It wasn't too bad. I'm hoping I'll get to go back in a year... and mayyyybe I'll even see some positive results!

I had never heard of the DXA scan. (Note to self: Check it out.)

One of the reasons I lift is for my bones. My honey's bb Mr. State X 3 or 4 time champ had 30% more bone density than average at the age of 50. In fact, he had the bones of a ~24 year old.

Glad you had a great time! I used to live in one of the top 3 fatty states in the US. It was horrible. There were no sidewalks and the only social thing to do was eat. I met a lady on a flight who was on her way to visit her hubby who had a 2-year contracting job there. I asked her, "So how much has your hubby gained since being there for only 4 months?" 35 pounds! :eek:

Craziness.

Yes! Do! :D

Wow - that's amazing! I hadn't really considered the bone benefits until after I started lifting... and then once I learned about all the great things lifting does for your bones, I was even more motivated to keep going. Me no wants osteoporosis!!

Craziness is right... If you visited this island, I imagine you'd be disgusted by the number of obese people we have. I know they're everywhere, but seriously, 1/3 of the population? That's obese, not just overweight! It's nuts.

rickiecoombs

08-29-2012, 06:43 PM

I'm back!

I need to post tonight's workout, but I think it will have to wait until tomorrow... Kind of in excruciating pain, and not sure what to do.

I am super careful with my stoopid back, and I always take it easy because I don't want to end up in a wheelchair... but tonight while doing EZ Bar curls, my back just gave out. As in, rep 3 was fine, rep 4 - BAM. Gone. I can't even describe the feeling... Feels like my two halves (torso upward and hips downward) are separated from each other. I was so surprised - I figured if I was going to kill my back, it would be doing deadlifts.

Anyway. Not sure what to do. Currently lying on the couch with ice on my back... no idea what I could have done - whether it would be bone or ligament related... and which one would be worse?! Haha. What do I do?! In this new little town where it takes 2 weeks to see the freaking doctor, otherwise I can wait 7 hours in emergency... Will probably wait it out for a day or so and see what happens. :( I was so excited to get back to the gym...

Anyway. Gonna come back later when I can think straight. Oh! Robaxacet! Gonna go take a few of those!

gobbles23

08-30-2012, 03:59 AM

Luvdogs

08-30-2012, 02:23 PM

One day I was doing yard work and had a similar experience, just fell to my knees! That never happened to me before. I see a chiropractor every 5 weeks. When that happened I went more frequently, but I'm just in maintenance mode now :D Ice is the best...and puppy kisses (cures almost everything)!

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy83/georgelll/Kisses%20and%20Hugs/Kisses.gif

Redfizz

08-30-2012, 06:10 PM

Aw, Rickie!!! I am so sorry. I would post something cute, but there's nothing better Luvdogs' puppy lovin' pic.

Please keep us up to date. Get well soon!

Echo814

08-31-2012, 09:52 AM

Oh wow hon, I'm sorry about your back! Hopefully its just mad and will calm down. Keep us posted and I agree rest and ice for now and maybe a Dr can get you in sooner :)

rickiecoombs

09-02-2012, 08:43 AM

Wow! That's one expensive day pass!? :eek: And I know. When my brother/our friends come home from away every Christmas, there's just 2 whole weeks of gatherings, booze, and food. lol! I love it but it takes it's toll on you :D Hahaha! I'll miss that this year.

Oh no! Sorry to hear about your back That's not cool at all! Rest up and take it easy! Definitely go and see about it if it gets worse!

You're not gonna come home for Christmas?! Oh my - you are one brave Newfie! Haha.

Yah, I've been pretty much non-mobile... Really hoping it fixes itself... :(

One day I was doing yard work and had a similar experience, just fell to my knees! That never happened to me before. I see a chiropractor every 5 weeks. When that happened I went more frequently, but I'm just in maintenance mode now :D Ice is the best...and puppy kisses (cures almost everything)!

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy83/georgelll/Kisses%20and%20Hugs/Kisses.gif

Crazy, hey? How you can be completely fine one second, and in unbearable pain the next! I've been alternating hot and cold... not sure if anything really helps, but I figure it's worth a shot.

PUPPY! :) Thanks for that! Love it!

Oh wow hon, I'm sorry about your back! Hopefully its just mad and will calm down. Keep us posted and I agree rest and ice for now and maybe a Dr can get you in sooner :)

Thanks, lady! :) Fingers crossed!

rickiecoombs

09-02-2012, 08:45 AM

Aw, Rickie!!! I am so sorry. I would post something cute, but there's nothing better Luvdogs' puppy lovin' pic.

Please keep us up to date. Get well soon!

Hehe - it sure is a great puppy picture! :)

Thanks! Update on the way!

rickiecoombs

09-02-2012, 09:12 AM

This is day four of the Horizontal Rickie. Boooo. Anyways. I'm gonna post Wednesday's workout just to say I posted it, even though it's late, and even though it got cut short due to back stupidity. Pft.

"Day 2 - Baby Got Back"

Hack Squats - 5x5
Found out that the sleigh/machine itself weighs 60lbs, so I don't feel quite so bad for finding them hard the first time I did them.
60x5
60x5
60x5
60x5
60x5

Leg Press - 3x8
Found these hard - still amazed at the discrepancy between the machines!
150x8
150x8
150x8

High Foot Placement Leg Press 3x12-20
For dem hammies! Last set was near impossible, but did 'em!
110x20
110x20
110x20

EZ Bar Preacher Curls 3x8
Anybody know how much the EZ bar weighs? These weren't hard, thought maybe next time I should go up a few lbs (until my back died, anyway).
EZ+10x8
EZ+10x8
EZ+10x8

EZ Bar Curls 3x8
EZ+20x8
EZ+20x8
EZ+20x4 <-- this is where my back died, and I fell on the floor.

So the workout was cut short, but it was going alright up until then. So disappointed, because I was really looking forward to getting back to the gym after that week of gluttony.

I'm used to sciatic issues, because I already have slipped discs, but this pain is really localized, so I don't think it's a disc thing. Hubz is of the opinion that it might be muscle/ligament related. That's gonna be freakin' annoying if I've pulled/torn something...

HOW do you manage to do that to your BACK doing CURLS?! Really, people?! Ugh.

Anyways. That's my story at the moment. Hubby insists it will be at least a week before I can lift again. He takes good care of me, because goodness knows I'd have been back in the gym before now and put myself in the hospital or something. I am really hoping that this injury will fix itself, as long as I'm nice to my body. And, as hubby has said in all of his wisdom, as long as I continue to eat properly, I won't be putting myself that far behind. Might lose strength in the short term, but it will be better in the long term to just let myself heal, and then get back at it. On that note - I'm back to 129! :)

Hoping to maybe take puppers for a little hobble - er, walk - this afternoon and see how that goes. I'm goin' stir crazy here! haha :)

Happy Sunday!

gobbles23

09-02-2012, 10:01 AM

Redfizz

09-02-2012, 10:25 AM

Aw, Rickie, your hubby sounds wonderful.

I am sad to hear that you are still out of commission. Perhaps we could set up a SyFy B monster movie bb.com date for us injured folk. There's nothing like partaking in libations with friends and watching quality movies like Dinoshark.

rickiecoombs

09-04-2012, 06:45 AM

Oh, no!!! Try some very light stretching and apply some heat!! My glutes can get really tight and wreak havoc on my lower back/legs/hips. Might not be the same thing, but getting everything loosened up may not hurt. Sometimes tight muscles press up against the nerve and aggrivate everything. Rest and get better soon!

Nice workout though :D Way to kill it! :)

Yah - I'm hoping stretching (gently haha) will help. I'm dying to get back in the gym. I get jealous every night when hubz heads off to lift without me. :(

Aw, Rickie, your hubby sounds wonderful.

I am sad to hear that you are still out of commission. Perhaps we could set up a SyFy B monster movie bb.com date for us injured folk. There's nothing like partaking in libations with friends and watching quality movies like Dinoshark.

Y'know, he really is wonderful. That being said, we've only been married three years. Should I expect that to change?? Haha. In all seriousness, I think I've got a good one. Too good, really. Part of me is convinced that at some point he's going to meet someone who's actually good enough for him, and then he's gonna leave me. I know that's a negative attitude, I just can't figure out how I landed such a nice boy!

Yes. You bring the puppers, I'll bring the movie! :D

rickiecoombs

09-04-2012, 07:33 AM

Well then. My back was feeling pretty good yesterday, and I was tempted to rebel against hubz and go the gym. But then I thought that maybe I should wait one or two more days, just to make sure. No point on going back the first day I feel half okay, and then messing myself up again. Took puppers for a nice, long, brisk walk instead. :D She was a happy girlie.

Made pulled chicken in the CrockPot last night for supper, threw it in frozen with a bit of Apple Butter BBQ Sauce and a can of A&W Root Beer. Neither of those things are particularly good for you, but once you divide it up into three-ish servings (one for me, two for hubz), it's actually not bad, calorie-wise! And surprisingly tasty!

I'm getting stumped on recipes using chicken or extra lean ground beef... Been looking in the cut-friendly recipe thread... Not sure what to make tonight.

Had a load of stuff dropped off today from our old house. I have NO idea where I'm going to put everything. What a massive adjustment. They brought all my "art", but I only have one or two walls to put it on... so it's going to be a rather eclectic assortment of artwork all on one wall. Haha. Should be interesting.

In other news, our dehumidifier bit the dust. In this basement apartment, we need a dehumidifier... so on my list of things to do today is to try and find someone who can maybe fix it. Because goodness knows I haven't got $250 to buy another one. :( Could be difficult finding someone, because this town is so tiny.

BUT. I am finished school. I live with hubz. I haz a cute puppers. Rickie shall not complain! :D

gobbles23

09-04-2012, 12:31 PM

Part of me is convinced that at some point he's going to meet someone who's actually good enough for him, and then he's gonna leave me. I know that's a negative attitude, I just can't figure out how I landed such a nice boy!

lol! I'm like that too! :D I'm treated way too good!

Sounds like things are going well for you!! I can't wait to live in a house and have supper woes and stuff :D Hahaha! We're thinking of buying a crock pot too, so we can have supper cooked sometimes when we get off work. Nice to have easy meal ideas/recipes to make. How about chili!? You can make a decently lower calorie steak chili! That's going to be one of our staples. Yummers! :D

Redfizz

09-05-2012, 05:07 AM

I am glad that you are waiting to lift until you are fully healed. Remember, your honey needs you in perfect working condition, too. ;)

Echo814

09-05-2012, 09:28 AM

Hey Rickie! Glad the backs feeling better! Maybe it was just a tweaked off muscle that needed resting and not bone or ligament related. You may have posted in back in your journal somewhere but what happened to your back to make it so weak if you don't mind answering :)

Yay for husband being awesome and taking care of you :) Never think you don't deserve to be with him, he choose to be with you for a reason ;)

rickiecoombs

09-06-2012, 10:12 AM

lol! I'm like that too! I'm treated way too good!

Sounds like things are going well for you!! I can't wait to live in a house and have supper woes and stuff :D Hahaha! We're thinking of buying a crock pot too, so we can have supper cooked sometimes when we get off work. Nice to have easy meal ideas/recipes to make. How about chili!? You can make a decently lower calorie steak chili! That's going to be one of our staples. Yummers!

Yes! Get a CrockPot! Best thing since sliced bread - throw it all in before you go to work, come home from work, take plates from cupboard, pile food on plate, stuff face with food, profit. Haha.

I am glad that you are waiting to lift until you are fully healed. Remember, your honey needs you in perfect working condition, too.

Ah, yes. About that... :)

Hey Rickie! Glad the backs feeling better! Maybe it was just a tweaked off muscle that needed resting and not bone or ligament related. You may have posted in back in your journal somewhere but what happened to your back to make it so weak if you don't mind answering

Yay for husband being awesome and taking care of you :) Never think you don't deserve to be with him, he choose to be with you for a reason ;)

Yah - my back issues are a pain (pardon the pun). I slipped a disc at a very young age (16). It was hitting the sciatic nerve, and I was in bed for months. I've never experienced pain like that in my life. I've never had kids, but one woman told me she'd rather have 15 more children than deal with sciatic pain again. So hopefully I'm good to go for labour. Haha :D

Anyway, surgeon didn't want to operate because I was so young/still growing, and hoped that the disc would dissolve and I'd be okay. I still have chronic pain, but it's nothing like it was back then, and the pain is just a part of "normal" life now. I always hurt, but it's (almost) always bearable. There are certain things that I can't do anymore, unfortunately... had to give up snowboarding/skiing, can't go sliding in the winter time (we get a lot of snow), can't run, can't do fun, high-impact things in general. BUT at least I'm mobile, and at least the pain is manageable.

This is why deadlifts are very scary for me. It's ironic that whatever happened to my back happened during curls. My upper back seems to be perfectly healthy. Lower back, not so much.

My hubby really is awesome. He has been a very cuddly boy lately - I think it's because he's not used to living together yet. Haha. He loves coming home at lunch and supper and having all his meals ready to go. :)

So nice to live under the same roof again... :)

rickiecoombs

09-06-2012, 10:29 AM

Well. I have made the executive decision that I am going to make my return at the gym tonight. Gently.

I don't want to do anything stupid, so I won't lift as much as normal (which isn't very much anyway haha) but I think my back is good enough to start going through the motions again. If it goes okay, I'll take it from there.

Thankfully, my weight is still slowly going down (127.8 this morning) even though I haven't been to the gym in over a week. The weekend is coming up, and we usually have a cheat meal, but I'm a bit apprehensive about that because I was stuck at 129 for SO long... and now the scale is finally budging... Gah. Gotta stop caring so much about the scale!

Been a busy couple of days, since I've gotten back on my feet.

Turns out the dehumidifier is toast. There's one on sale for 200$, so we may have to spring for that. My father is an Electrical Engineer, and when I told him our dehumidifier broke, the poor old geek got all excited. Asked me to keep the dehumidifier so he could play with it and see if he could fix it. We have to buy another one, regardless, because it's going to be weeks before we can go see mom and dad for a weekend. I just thought it was slightly adorable that he wants to have a go at it. My dad is such a nerd. I am my father's daughter. :)

I also put up some art... I made the mistake of posting the picture to Facebook and asking for opinions... I got some great ideas, but I was an idiot, because the pictures are attached to the wall now, so I can't exactly go moving them around (Command hooks - they're awesome!). Oh well. What's done is done. Hopefully it will suffice.

http://i.imgur.com/1AQrw.jpg?1

Speaking of Facebook, I was looking through old photos from a couple years ago, and was horrified at the fat face that belonged to me! Oh my goodness! How come no one told me?! Haha.

I made quinoa for hubz last night - it was the first time he'd had it. I wasn't sure he'd like it, but it seemed to pass the test! So on tonight's menu is chicken stirfry and quinoa. I think. Or maybe brown rice. Guess I'll see what he prefers tonight.

I'll try to post tonight's workout this evening or tomorrow - fingers crossed everything works out and the back cooperates! I miss lifting!

Happy Thursday, people - we've almost beat the week!! :D

rickiecoombs

09-07-2012, 09:11 AM

First gym session in over a week was a success! I took it easy, just to be safe. But I had a great time. :)

First things first - I immediately had to check and see whether or not I could still do chin-ups. I did 4(ish) in a row! Yay!

Day 3 - Vertical Push-Pull, abs

Chins - 5x5
It's really amazing what a difference the width of your grip has on the ability to do chin-ups! I used a machine, and a wider grip - couldn't even get close to BW. Last set was really hard.
55x5
55x5
55x5
55x5
55x5ish

Hammer High Rows - 3x8
Not sure if palms should be facing me or away from me. Wanted to try 80lbs, but was determined not to do anything too stupid, so I did 75lbs
75x3
75x3
75x3

Arnold Press - 5x5
Really like these - although after my last set, hubz pointed out something about my form (wish he had done that sooner!) so next time I'll probably feel them more.
15sx5
15sx5
15sx5
15sx5
15sx5

Leg Raises
Love these. Like 'em even better when I'm on the floor and hubz throws my legs for me, but he wouldn't do it b/c he was afraid it would re-injure my back.
BWx15
BWx15
BWx15

Weighted Ab Crunch
Like these, too.
75x25
75x25
75x25

So I didn't do anything stupid (well, in hubby's opinion, doing abs was risky/stupid) and took it easy. Had a great time. Didn't kill my back. Got the DOMS a l'il bit, so that makes me happy. :)

Hubby being on a cut makes it easier for me to stay on track, too. Although, even when he was bulking, he was pretty good about not letting me binge. :) He was expecting a big "woosh" of a loss in his first week or two of cutting, and that hasn't happened, so he's a bit frustrated. He's actually pretty strong - and he pointed out people in our gym who lift about the same as him and are really jacked. He's not happy, 'cause even though he lifts just as much, he doesn't look like he does. I don't really know what to tell him... He works so hard, and I just wish he was happy with the results. Poor boy. <3

Anyway - it's Friday! I'm a happy girlie. Next week I've gotta start pounding the pavement, going around to all the schools and trying to convince them to call me when they need a substitute (supply) teacher. Pretty sure NL is the only place in the world that calls it "substitute teaching" haha.

And, just 'cause I've been reading about everyone else's pets around here... Here's puppers, saying, "Dad, you're stinky..." :D
http://i.imgur.com/SmUzL.jpg?1

vanessa40

09-07-2012, 10:19 AM

Echo814

09-07-2012, 10:36 AM

Congrats on the weight loss! Don't worry about the cheat meal, as long as you stayed in your deficit there's no reason not to go enjoy yourself :) I feel ya on looking at old photos of yourself, I actually refused to have my picture taken from age 18-26, there are some out there but not many :o

I think the way you have the art hung up looks good, very balanced and almost symmetrical. I like the painting of the trees with the red background... wonder why :D

Nice return to working out and still being able to do chinups! Having hubby dieting with you will make it easier :) Is he trying to eat less or is he actually counting calories with you? Some people experience huge wooshes when they start dieting and others dont. If he's not in that big of a deficit it could explain the slow loss.

Good luck on the job hunt, in the US it's substitute teacher too. Puppers is cute like always :)

Redfizz

09-07-2012, 03:46 PM

Awwwwww! What a perfect day! Puppers and Friday!

Way to go on the workouts. And you've got yourself and awesome man. :)

gobbles23

09-08-2012, 06:49 AM

Pull-ups with a wider grip are defiitely harder! I can't do any. Hahahaa! :D

I think the wall with the pictures looks great! I like the contrast :) I love the red one with the trees- it's super cool!!! :D

Glad you were able to workout without hurting your back :) That's great!!!!!

Your hubby sounds like a great guy! :D

Luvdogs

09-08-2012, 10:40 AM

Cute puppy pic!! :D I know a lot of people poo poo the scale, but I need my scale! It keeps me honest. I weigh every morning (I even write it in a little calendar I have in my bathroom drawer :o ). That may not work for everyone, but it does for me! I also go by the mirror and clothes, but seeing the number is different. I gained 20lbs+ a few times because I didn't want to weigh myself. I'm ok with the number going up if that's my plan (like a muscle building phase).

I feel you husbands pain. I think I should look bigger than I do too! :D

rickiecoombs

09-10-2012, 09:57 AM

AAAHHHH You know me i am a sucker for the puppy pictures
You are so lucky to hace a hubby that is as into fitness as you are. Steve works so much and is out of town on business it is hard for him to fit any time in. He tries when he can but it must be nice to hve that understanding..am i rambling again or making any sense...lol

Wow i am impressed by your chin ups. It has been ages since i even tried one .
Good luck next week pounding the pavement. I have the upmost respect for teachers. I think they are the most underpaid profession. Please forgive any spelling errors ;)

Yeah - me too. Puppy pictures make everything better!

I've begun to realize how fortunate I am to be married to someone who makes it easier to be healthy! It really is great.

Thanks! Chin-ups were my ultimate goal; I honestly thought I'd never get there!! Now I have to modify my goal - chin-ups with wider grip, and maybe even pull ups :)

Thanks for that encouragement. I've only had four months of "real" teaching experience, but I have never worked harder in my life than I did during that time!!

Congrats on the weight loss! Don't worry about the cheat meal, as long as you stayed in your deficit there's no reason not to go enjoy yourself I feel ya on looking at old photos of yourself, I actually refused to have my picture taken from age 18-26, there are some out there but not many

I think the way you have the art hung up looks good, very balanced and almost symmetrical. I like the painting of the trees with the red background... wonder why

Nice return to working out and still being able to do chinups! Having hubby dieting with you will make it easier Is he trying to eat less or is he actually counting calories with you? Some people experience huge wooshes when they start dieting and others dont. If he's not in that big of a deficit it could explain the slow loss.

Good luck on the job hunt, in the US it's substitute teacher too. Puppers is cute like always :)

Hi Mommy! :D Thanks! I did have a cheat meal after - the sodium showed up in my weight, but I imagine I'll be back to "normal" by tomorrow... hopefully...

Thanks! I love that painting, too. My brother-in-law's girlfriend painted it for me. She's super artistic. She also did my wedding cake. AND she drew the picture on the bottom left (next to the painting with the trees). She took one of our wedding photos and replicated it. You can't really see in the photo I have posted, but it's pretty amazing. She even has a little piece of tulle attached to my "hair" in the picture for my veil - adds that little 3D element. I love it!

Hubz is counting calories. He is eating at a fairly large deficit - I'm trying to get him to eat a bit more. He did end up having a tiny "woosh", which was a relief for me, because I don't like it when he's stressed out. :(

Thanks! I think she's cute, too. Loves her, I do!

Awwwwww! What a perfect day! Puppers and Friday!

Way to go on the workouts. And you've got yourself and awesome man.

Hey Red! Been reading your journal, just no time to post - will be over there shortly! Haha.

Thanks!! 'Twas a good day, for sure. Ended with a movie and popcorn - nice treat!

I really do have an awesome man, don't I? I told him you said that - he needs the ego boost sometimes. :D

Pull-ups with a wider grip are defiitely harder! I can't do any. Hahahaa!

I think the wall with the pictures looks great! I like the contrast I love the red one with the trees- it's super cool!!!

Glad you were able to workout without hurting your back That's great!!!!!

Your hubby sounds like a great guy!

Wide-grip chins/pullups have been added to my goal list. Haha.

Thanks! I'm gonna have to tell the artist that everyone loves her painting! She'll be happy to hear that. Apparently I'm getting a new canvas for Christmas. I can't wait!!

I was super happy that my back survived, too! Hopefully it's onward and upward from here.

Hubby is definitely a great guy. Me and you got two good ones, my dear. Them Newfie boys. Can't beat 'em. :D

Cute puppy pic!! I know a lot of people poo poo the scale, but I need my scale! It keeps me honest. I weigh every morning (I even write it in a little calendar I have in my bathroom drawer ). That may not work for everyone, but it does for me! I also go by the mirror and clothes, but seeing the number is different. I gained 20lbs+ a few times because I didn't want to weigh myself. I'm ok with the number going up if that's my plan (like a muscle building phase).

I feel you husbands pain. I think I should look bigger than I do too!

I weigh myself every morning, too. It's total habit. I also weigh myself before I go to bed, to gauge how my "night weight" is doing. How anal retentive is that?!

Oh my dear - you're full of muscles! :D I think you look great!

rickiecoombs

09-10-2012, 10:20 AM

Busy, busy, busy! It looks like I've got two workouts to post today!

Saturday - Sept 8th - "Day 4"
Romanian Deadlifts - 5x5
I was scared to do these, because of my latest back issue... But I did 'em anyway. They were so easy, but I'm really afraid to add weight. I think I've decided to go up by 5lbs every couple of weeks, until they start to get difficult. Maybe. We'll see.
75x5
75x5
75x5
75x5
75x5

High Foot Placement Leg Press - 3x8
Too easy. Maybe need to adjust the seat to get greater range of motion.
110x8
110x8
110x8

Seated Leg Extentions - 3x12-20
Found these really difficult while I was doing them, but no DOMS from them after... weird... Guess I'll up the weight next time, so I won't be able to get the full 20 reps.
45x20
45x20
45x20

Skull Crushers - 5x5
Love 'em!
35x5
35x5
35x5
35x5
35x5

Cable Pressdowns - 3x8-12
45x12
45x12
45x12

And then hubs was ready to go, so I clued up for the day.

Sunday - Sept 9th - "Day 1"
Bench - 5x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5

Incline DB Press - 3x8
Found these harder than last time, for some reason. Ah well.
25sx8
25sx8
25sx8

Rack Pulls - 5x5
Wanted to add more weight, but didn't want to risk the back, as per usual. Ugh.
85x5
85x5
85x5
85x5
85x5

Bent Over Rows - 3x8
55x8
55x8
55x8

Seated Calf Raise - 3x8-12
120x8
120x10
120x10

DB Flys
Grip is SO bad. I swear I am going to break my face one of these days.
20sx12
20sx12

I am sore all over today, and it feels great! My lower back is sore, too (a good sore, though), so obviously those deads are doing something, even though they feel too easy.

Hubz took a photo of me at the gym on Saturday, and I was pleasantly surprised. I mean, I realize I have a long way to go, but when you look at it alongside my photo from January... not so bad! :) Not gonna repost the hideousness that is January's photo. If you REALLY want to see it, go back a few pages! Haha.
http://i.imgur.com/scFKl.jpg

I went to a couple of schools today, just to show my face, and remind them that I'm on their substitute list. That's what I'll be doing for the next several days, I would imagine. Although, probably not tomorrow, because hurricane Leslie is supposed to be dropping by. I predict I'll be home all day curled up with a puppers. I can live with that. :)

I also bit the bullet and bought a dehumidifier. Plugged the thing in a couple hours ago, and it's almost full already. This apartment was DAMP. It'll be nice to get dressed in the morning and not feel like you're putting on clothes straight out of the washer!

Puppers pic of the day (because, really, can you really complain about that?)
http://i.imgur.com/TNszD.jpg?1

Two workouts have made long post long. Sorry! Happy Monday, everyone!! :D

Echo814

09-10-2012, 11:07 AM

Nice workouts Rickie! Glad you were able to do the RDL's without back issues flaring up. Maybe strengthening the lower back with help with your issues in the long run :) I say add weight as you are comfortable with it, don't push it, doing something is better than nothing :) For the leg extensions maybe add in single leg work on those for a set or two at lower weight and then go into higher weight with both, I swear I feel it so much more if I do single leg first.

It's that humid in your apartment :eek: I can stand dry heat but wet heat or cold is always bad! Good luck with getting a substitute job, keeping yourself fresh in their minds will probably pay off :) Stay safe in the hurricane and cuddles with the puppers is always a good thing :D

Luvdogs

09-10-2012, 01:10 PM

Your workouts are looking strong! I agree with above, go at your own pace with back issues. Better safe than sorry! Keep your shoulders blades pinched together on those RDL's (that's what I visualized when doing them), back flat.

Pupper pics always welcome :D

Redfizz

09-10-2012, 05:30 PM

Is that a Body Media on your arm or just an mp3 player? If it's a Body Media, do you like it? I have heard good things, but I just haven't coughed up the money just yet.

Awwww, pupper! He is so cute!

rickiecoombs

09-14-2012, 03:23 PM

Nice workouts Rickie! Glad you were able to do the RDL's without back issues flaring up. Maybe strengthening the lower back with help with your issues in the long run I say add weight as you are comfortable with it, don't push it, doing something is better than nothing For the leg extensions maybe add in single leg work on those for a set or two at lower weight and then go into higher weight with both, I swear I feel it so much more if I do single leg first.

It's that humid in your apartment :eek: I can stand dry heat but wet heat or cold is always bad! Good luck with getting a substitute job, keeping yourself fresh in their minds will probably pay off :) Stay safe in the hurricane and cuddles with the puppers is always a good thing :D

That's what I was thinking - doing back exercises at a low weight with turtle-slow increases might actually help with the issues. Fingers crossed!

Ooh! Single leg! I always just write off single leg exercises as "strong people exercises", but I think that's a great idea! Thanks!

It is so humid. I'm so thankful to have this dehumidifier. We empty it at least twice a day.

Your workouts are looking strong! I agree with above, go at your own pace with back issues. Better safe than sorry! Keep your shoulders blades pinched together on those RDL's (that's what I visualized when doing them), back flat.

Pupper pics always welcome

Thanks! :) And thanks for the form tip. That's a good way of putting it. I always get hubz to watch me for the first set to make absolutely sure my form's okay.

I haz no puppers pictures today... but it's nice to know they'll be accepted if I put them up!! :D

Is that a Body Media on your arm or just an mp3 player? If it's a Body Media, do you like it? I have heard good things, but I just haven't coughed up the money just yet.

Awwww, pupper! He is so cute!

Hey Red! It is a BodyMedia! I can't say enough good things about it! I mean, it obviously doesn't do the work for you... but it is just so informative! Before I had it, I really had no concept of how many calories I was burning on a daily basis. My range is massive. Depending on the day, I can burn anywhere from 1600-2600 calories.

It's seriously an awesome tool. I started wearing it back in January, and it has definitely been a help in getting these 32lbs (so far) off. I really think it's a great investment.

Thanks! I think she's the cutest puppers in the whooooole apartment! (This is what I always tell her - just so her head doesn't swell, and she begins to think she's the cutest puppers in the whoooooooole world... 'Cause then we might have some attitude problems!)

rickiecoombs

09-14-2012, 03:39 PM

Oh, I haz been a delinquent Rickie! Not that I've been bad in the gym/foodz department, just that I haven't had two seconds to sit down and write a real post. By the time I catch up with everyone else's journal, I'm outta time! :D

Tuesday, hurricane Leslie came through. We just got a lot of rain - not a lot of wind. The city (I just moved from there), however, had 130km/hr winds, and destroyed a lot of property. Power is still off in some areas. Thankfully, no casualties (that I know of).

http://i.imgur.com/SSV1A.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/KLlef.jpg (Yes, that is a barn on top of a Corvette)

Well, on Wednesday, I did a circular loop (geographically) around the region I live in. It took most of the day, but I got around to some schools, talked to the Vice Principals (because they're the ones that call the subs), and tried to sell myself as much as possible.

The very first school I walked into... they found out I had French (I didn't do any French in University, so I can't be hired for a full-time French position, legally. But I graduated High School French Immersion, so I speak the language.) and the VP says, "are ya busy Friday?". Whoooo!

So I'm driving along to the next school on my list (45 minutes down the road) and my phone rings; it's a school I visited the day before. "Are ya booked for tomorrow?" Whooooooo!

So, yesterday and today were my very first days as a substitute teacher!!

My degree is for Kindergarten to Grade 6, but as far as substituting goes, if they're desperate, you could be teaching any grade.

Yesterday was Grade 3. Today - Grade 7, 8 and 9. Gotta love Junior High School students and their raging hormones. Friday is jeans day, but I didn't wear jeans (as much as I would have liked to!) because I look very young... And I needed something to differentiate me from the students. How sad is that? I had lunch duty today, too, and one of the teachers saw me patrolling the hallways and said (thinking I was a student), "Excuse me, you're not supposed to be here". I laughed and thanked him for the compliment. :D

Anyway. These schools are a fairly lengthy drive, but I'll do anything at this point to get some work. Anywhere within a 150km radius of where I live, I'll go. It's exhausting, because the school day is long, and the drives are long, but as long as I'm making some money and getting some experience... gotta pay your dues, right?

I'd write out yesterday's workout, but this post has already gotten way too long for anyone to read!! Guess I'll go catch up with everyone else; hubby is playing in a tennis tournament, so it's Friday night all by my lonesome. Happy Friday, everyone!! :D

Redfizz

09-14-2012, 03:49 PM

Hey Red! It is a BodyMedia! I can't say enough good things about it! I mean, it obviously doesn't do the work for you... but it is just so informative! Before I had it, I really had no concept of how many calories I was burning on a daily basis. My range is massive. Depending on the day, I can burn anywhere from 1600-2600 calories.

It's seriously an awesome tool. I started wearing it back in January, and it has definitely been a help in getting these 32lbs (so far) off. I really think it's a great investment.

Holy cow! Is that because you adjust how much you eat according to what you burn? Must...buy...body media! We have personal property taxes due, car insurance, car maintenance (90k service with timing belt change), doggie down for a tooth cleaning all in about a month's time. Perhaps I can sneak one in and no one will know. ;)

Thanks! I think she's the cutest puppers in the whooooole apartment! (This is what I always tell her - just so her head doesn't swell, and she begins to think she's the cutest puppers in the whoooooooole world... 'Cause then we might have some attitude problems!)

Awwwwwwww... There's nothing better than a humble, grateful, happy puppers!

gobbles23

09-15-2012, 07:00 AM

Hi Ricki!!!!! :D

Wow, you look tiny! :D

Awesome that you're getting to teach!!! Woohoo! How are you liking it!?

Happy Saturday!!! :D

Luvdogs

09-15-2012, 02:41 PM

HI Rickie, I tell Genie she's the cutest puppy in the whooooole universe! She's like: "yeah, so why do you dress me this way?"

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w278/gymgirl62/Geniesnewcoat2.jpg

Redfizz

09-15-2012, 05:47 PM

^^^^Hahahaha!^^^^^

She doesn't look too happy.

My honey tried to buy a brown bowler hat from the Halloween costume section. I told him no way and asked if he could find one in pink or I may consider it if I could put flowers on the rim, to which he said no way. LOL

rickiecoombs

09-15-2012, 07:31 PM

Holy cow! Is that because you adjust how much you eat according to what you burn? Must...buy...body media! We have personal property taxes due, car insurance, car maintenance (90k service with timing belt change), doggie down for a tooth cleaning all in about a month's time. Perhaps I can sneak one in and no one will know.

Awwwwwwww... There's nothing better than a humble, grateful, happy puppers!

I generally aim for about 1400 calories/day, just because the calorie burn averages out over the week (usually). Like, Saturday might be a super low burn day, but during the week, I burn way more... So I don't really cut back hugely on the days I'm not burning much... does that make any sense? Haha.

But, yeah. I discovered that on average I burn about 2100 calories a day, so I adjusted my eating habits accordingly. And voila - 32 pounds later and still goin' on down!

I really think you can sneak one in without anyone noticing. You can do it all ninja-like. :) I think they're only about $150. Which, really, is a lot of money (to me), but well worth it! C'mon... you know you wanna!

/peerpressure

:D

Hi Ricki!!!!! :D

Wow, you look tiny! :D

Awesome that you're getting to teach!!! Woohoo! How are you liking it!?

Happy Saturday!!! :D

Hai!

Really?! Fo' realz?! That seriously made my day! (Maybe even my week!!)

I am liking it. It's exhausting, because I'm substituting, so it's a lot of thinking on your feet with no time to prepare, but it's good experience (how's that for a run-on sentence? Bad teacher! Haha). And the pay isn't too bad, either. :)

HI Rickie, I tell Genie she's the cutest puppy in the whooooole universe! She's like: "yeah, so why do you dress me this way?"

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w278/gymgirl62/Geniesnewcoat2.jpg

D'awwww. The things we do to our puppies. She just doesn't realize that dressing her that way shows how much you love her... or something... Haha. Oh my, our poor doggies.

http://i.imgur.com/6gmtL.jpg?1 <-- There's a whole wizard costume (that she wore for Hallowe'en) that goes with this hat. Mean mommy is mean.

rickiecoombs

09-15-2012, 07:45 PM

Happy Saturday, everyone! :)

Romanian Deadlifts - 5x5
Added 5lbs today. Still feels super easy, but I think I'm going to try to go up 5lbs per week (back-willing) until it starts feeling hard. Hubs wasn't there today to watch my form, but I think it was okay.
80x5
80x6 (oops! Lost count - silly teacher, can't count to 5 properly...)
80x5
80x5
80x5

High Foot Placement Leg Press - 3x8-12
Getting too easy - also had to adjust the seat after first set to get proper ROM
110x8
110x15
110x12

Leg Extensions (single leg) - 3x12-20
Thanks to Echo for the single leg suggestion - Did six "sets" in all - three for each leg. Let's see if I feel it tomorrow! Goodness knows it was hard to do at the time. With only 15lbs per leg! I'm such a little weakling. Haha.
15x17
15x17
15x17

Skull Crushers - 5x5
Went up 5lbs to the 40lb dumbell today. Gonna work on getting awesome ROM with this before I go up again.
40x5
40x5
40x5
40x5
40x7 (just 'cause I could :))

Cable Pressdowns - 3x8-12
Also went up 5lbs on these. Yay! I like it when the lifts go up. Kinda surprised, because I've been on a perma-cut...
50x12
50x12
50x12

Weighed Ab Crunch - 3xUntil it Hurts!
Happened to glance in the mirror while doing these, and saw a kid curling and staring at me. Made me very uncomfortable. Not sure what was so fascinating. Had the almost irresistible urge to inform him that lifting weights works better when you're not gawking at other people. Grr.
85x25
85x25
85x19

Leg Raises (dunno what to call these)
BWx20
BWx20

I've also entered the "OBF Fall 2012 Transformation Challenge" - http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=147805403. I don't expect to win or anything - just thought it could be fun and motivational. Maybe? I told hubs, and he was all like, "But haven't you already MADE your transformation?!" Haha. Loves him, I do.

And now I head off to bed for some lack-of-beauty-sleep. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! :D

Redfizz

09-16-2012, 12:01 PM

You're going to to do so well in the challenge!!!!

Let us know if you need to vote or anything for ya, since I cannot rep you anymore right now. ;)

rickiecoombs

09-17-2012, 05:37 PM

You're going to to do so well in the challenge!!!!

Let us know if you need to vote or anything for ya, since I cannot rep you anymore right now. ;)

Aw, thanks!

I think they judge by before/after pictures... After losing 30ish lbs, I'm more-or-less at my "ideal" weight... So I'm trying to milk my newb gains before they stall out on me, and get a bit of muscle. But I'm not really sure how much of a "change" I'm going to see visibly over the next four months... Ah well. Just a little bit of incentive to keep on keepin' on! :)

rickiecoombs

09-17-2012, 05:54 PM

Well. Two workouts to post.

Sept. 16th, 2012

Bench - 5x5
These are pretty easy, but I want to be able to physically touch the bar to my chest for each rep before I move up 5lbs. Soon, hopefully!
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5

Incline DB Press - 3x8
Found these really hard (harder than usual) but not sure why...
25sx8
25sx8
25sx8

Rack Pulls - 5x5
Super easy, but watching the back. Have decided to go up to 90 next time
85x5
85x5
85x5
85x5
85x5

Bent Over Rows - 3x8-12
Also easy. Still afraid for back.
55x12
55x12
55x12

DB Flys - 3x8-12
These are brutal - not weight-wise, but grip-wise. I swear I'm gonna break my face pretty soon
20sx12
20sx12
20sx12

Sept. 17th, 2012
This was a very short workout. I tried real live squats for the first time ever! Hubs made sure I went super deep, so that made me happy. I realize I'm weak. :( Anyways, once I did my a$$-to-the-grass squats, my legs were toast. Hubby promises they will get easier quickly, and that I just need to get used to the motion.

Squats - 5x5
60x5
60x5
60x5
60x5
60x5

Leg Press - 3x8
After squats, um, yeah.
150x8
150x8
150x8

EZ Preacher Curls - 3x8
EZ+15x8
EZ+15x8
EZ+15x8

Annnd then I just about died. I was starving, the gym was like a sauna (no AC - what's up with that?!), and I had no energy. But three exercises are better than no exercises, right? :)

I counted in my book, and I've been to the gym nine times in September so far. That's because my back gave out the very beginning of September, and I had to take a week off... :( Ah well.

Super low on energy, not sure why. The days have been super busy, driving hours and hours to schools in an effort to show my face and get some sub time. It would also be TOM if I wasn't on that injection, so I'm wondering if I can still have symptoms of TOM (exhausted, starving) without having an actual period? Haven't had one in... four months or so.

Anyway. Gonna go catch up with everyone for a few minutes, then head to bed. Hope you're all having a great start to the week! :)

rickiecoombs

09-18-2012, 02:50 PM

I've officially posted my pictures to that Transformation Contest... hopefully they'll be accepted. Everyone else is showing their face, but I'm a little paranoid about doing that.

Okay, let's be honest... I just don't like my ugly mug! Haha.

Today was an exhausting day of more driving. According to my odometer, I've put about 1000km on my car in the past 5 school days. Le sigh.

Anyway - currently trying to decide if I'm going to head to the gym, or take a night off. Hmmm...

Happy Tuesday, everyone! :D

cyanotikat

09-19-2012, 03:06 PM

Luvdogs

09-20-2012, 10:35 AM

Is the Transformation contest in the female forum?

Good job on the ATG squats. You need to give yourself more credit! You are doing very well. Any reason no TOM for four months? I used to be like clock work until the last year. Probably getting close to...menopause :eek:

rickiecoombs

09-20-2012, 11:31 AM

I really didn't want to show face at all, but everyone else was. I wonder if I can edit them with smiley faces like you did lol. So are you bulking for the contest?

I would imagine you can edit them and no one will be any the wiser. :D (Well, besides me and you!)

I'm not bulking, nope. Still cutting. The scale is still going down (albeit VERY slowly), and my lifts are still going up (also slowly), so I'm going to continue eating at a slight deficit until I stall out altogether, I think. Then, I'm hoping to eat at/slightly above maintenance for a while, and see how the lifts do. Seems like, right now, being a newb is still benefiting me in that I can lose weight but increase my lifts. I'm guessing that's gonna stop pretty soon.

Is the Transformation contest in the female forum?

Good job on the ATG squats. You need to give yourself more credit! You are doing very well. Any reason no TOM for four months? I used to be like clock work until the last year. Probably getting close to...menopause :eek:

Ummm... It's in the contest forum, I think. I posted the link on p.6 of this journal... I think... Haha.

Thanks! You're so kind! I'm trying really hard, but I'm reading these journals, and you wimmenz are so freakin' STRONG! Ah well - gives me something to work for.

No TOM because I'm on a BC injection called Depo Provera. It's heavy-duty stuff, and I don't really want to be on it, but I don't have a choice at this point in my life. Long, convoluted story that people on here definitely don't want to listen to! :D

Menopause, hey? I'm not looking forward to that. Hopefully it's a few years down the road for me. :)

rickiecoombs

09-20-2012, 11:37 AM

Well, today has just been a crappy, crappy day. Not gonna get all emo on here, don't worry. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I took yesterday off from the gym. I didn't really want to, but I don't think I had missed a day in five days straight, so hubs thought it would be wise to give my body a little rest. Back at it tonight, though, hopefully.

Was looking at my progress photos. Not sure where I should go from here. There has definitely been progress since January, and I've lost almost 35lbs, but I feel like it actually isn't that much progress for 8 full months. Ah well. I guess I'll keep on truckin', and re-evaluate in a few months. Here's me:

http://i.imgur.com/z8FHc.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/v1ixD.jpg?2http://i.imgur.com/XoCqg.jpg?1

Suggestions? I'll gladly take any constructive criticism I can get! :)

geek23ka

09-20-2012, 12:35 PM

ellybelle

09-20-2012, 12:55 PM

I dont have a suggestion either, but i have to add that your butt is amazing!!!! i want one!!

gobbles23

09-20-2012, 01:52 PM

WOW! What awesome progress you're making! I think it's incredible what you've done! Stop being so hard on yourself! This is not easy and you're looking awesome! :D Great job! :D You really should be proud! Wow! :D

I'd say keep going for a while longer if you want to bulk, but if you're not interested in that I think recomping would be a good option for you as well where you are right now. Maintenance/a little below and keep lifting and you'll do great! You can also keep making gains while dieting at the stage you're at, so you could do that too. What are your goals? What would you feel most comfortable doing? I think bulking should be saved for when you really need it.

PunkyCindy

09-21-2012, 06:21 AM

Wow, you look amazing! Agree with the squat booty comment :)

Redfizz

09-21-2012, 02:43 PM

I agree! You have a squat booty now!!! It looks like you've gotten rid of what little cellulite you had. You're looking amazing.

And what is it with a bunch of us feeling like we've wasted months? Have you noticed that? Maybe it's the change in seasons. :confused:

You look AMAZING!!!!!

rickiecoombs

09-22-2012, 09:41 AM

no suggestions, just a comment that this difference is striking. you see it most in the side and back view. your belly obviously shrank and your whole midsection looks tight and shapely now. and your butt. omg. you got yourself a real live squat booty now. you should be proud.

Aww. Thanks!! :D Squat booty? Really?! Just from hack squats?! Hmm... I wonder if it will get even better now that I'm doing real squats? :)

I dont have a suggestion either, but i have to add that your butt is amazing!!!! i want one!!

Thanks, Ellybelle! I'll trade you my butt for your beautiful skin tone - how about that?! :D I'm whiter than snow, no matter what season. :(

WOW! What awesome progress you're making! I think it's incredible what you've done! Stop being so hard on yourself! This is not easy and you're looking awesome! Great job! You really should be proud! Wow!

I'd say keep going for a while longer if you want to bulk, but if you're not interested in that I think recomping would be a good option for you as well where you are right now. Maintenance/a little below and keep lifting and you'll do great! You can also keep making gains while dieting at the stage you're at, so you could do that too. What are your goals? What would you feel most comfortable doing? I think bulking should be saved for when you really need it.

Aw, Lori. Thanks!

Yeah, bulking terrifies me, especially since I've been trying for so long to get weight OFF. My goals? Well, I don't want to ever compete in any capacity, but I'd like to be small and hard, instead of small and soft. Haha. If that makes sense. I think I'll be most comfortable doing what I'm doing for now. I mean, I'm eating at a 600-800 calorie deficit most days, and my lifts are still slowly increasing. Once my progress stalls out altogether, I think I'll up my calories a little bit and try recomping. Thanks for the advice - I really appreciate it!

Wow, you look amazing! Agree with the squat booty comment

Thanks, PC! :D

I agree! You have a squat booty now!!! It looks like you've gotten rid of what little cellulite you had. You're looking amazing.

And what is it with a bunch of us feeling like we've wasted months? Have you noticed that? Maybe it's the change in seasons. :confused:

You look AMAZING!!!!!

Hey Red! Missed you! (Is that creepy? Haha)

Thanks! I dunno what it is about some of us feeling like we've been wasting our months - it's funny. Maybe it will all turn around this Fall. Hopefully it will be a turbocharged few months, and we'll make crazy progress. By Christmas, we'll all look like Lori! :D

Well. Talk about a pick-me-up! You guys are just too kind! :) I really appreciate all the kind words.

I'm hoping that over the next few months, I'll start to see what little muscles I have growing under there... they've gotta be there somewhere, right? I think that being whiter than the driven snow also doesn't help... Gotta come up with some strong lighting... haha

rickiecoombs

09-22-2012, 10:07 AM

Holy CRAP. I just wrote a post. Twice. The computer ate it. TWICE. I had all sorts of little notes written in about some of the exercises. SO FREAKIN’ FRUSTRATED.

Anyway. Moving right along.

Oh the DOMs. :D

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

RDLs – 5x5
100x5
100x5
100x5
100x5
100x5

High Foot Placement Leg Press – 3x12
115x12
115x12
115x12

Single Leg Extensions – 3x12-20
20x16
20x16
20x16

Skull Crushers – 5x5
40x5
40x5
40x5
40x5
40x5

Cable Pressdowns – 3x12
55x12
55x12
55x12

Friday, September 21st, 2012

Bench – 5x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5

Incline DB Press – 3x8-12
25sx8
25sx8
25sx8

And then my sister called (she lives in another province) to tell me that she’s been admitted to hospital. The doctors think she may have Fatty Liver or HELLP. She’s 7.5 months pregnant. So if either of those is the case, they have to deliver the baby, like, NOW. :( Anyway. Needless to say, by the time I got off the phone with her, my body had cooled down and my mind wasn’t really in it... Sorry guise.

Rack Pulls – 5x5
115x5
115x5
115x5
115x5
115x5

Bent Over Rows – 3x8
I only did 2 sets...
65x8
65x8

Today is supposed to be squat day, but dem hammies are super sore. Could be interesting!

Hope y'all are having a great weekend - be back later!

gobbles23

09-22-2012, 03:05 PM

Oh my goodness! :eek: Hope your sister is ok :(

Nice workouts!!! Have a great weekend!!! :)

Redfizz

09-22-2012, 05:22 PM

Oh my goodness. Sending positive thoughts to your sister. Let us know how she and the baby are doing, please?

Luvdogs

09-22-2012, 09:21 PM

You look amazing! Big difference. You need to change the title of your journal! Perhaps: Not Large and In Charge!

rickiecoombs

09-24-2012, 07:26 AM

Oh my goodness! :eek: Hope your sister is ok :(

Nice workouts!!! Have a great weekend!!! :)

Yeah... kinda worrisome. She had a miscarriage last summer, so she didn't tell anyone about this pregnancy until she was super far along.

Thanks! :D

Oh my goodness. Sending positive thoughts to your sister. Let us know how she and the baby are doing, please?

Thanks, Red - will do!

You look amazing! Big difference. You need to change the title of your journal! Perhaps: Not Large and In Charge!

Aww - thank you! Hmmm - are we able to change our journal titles? Haha.

rickiecoombs

09-24-2012, 08:00 AM

Disclaimer: this post may be slightly disjointed. Sorry in advance!

I'm home dying with the flu today. It started creeping up on me on Saturday, and yesterday it just hit me like a semi. Runnyeyesandnose/10 :( So it looks like I'm gonna have to take a couple of unscheduled rest days. Which sucks, but I need to get better. I was sick this past winter and refused to stop, and ended up with pneumonia. So. Lesson learned. Spent my day yesterday drinking tea and eating chicken soup.

They sent my sister home from the hospital, but she is going back and forth every day for more and more tests. They can't figure out what's going on. Her obstetrician is sending her to a gastroenterologist today, so hopefully she'll have some answers by this afternoon. She and her hubby (AND their two foster kids) were planning to come home for the long Thanksgiving weekend (Canadian - which is the first weekend in October), so that's all up in the air now. I really hope everything works out okay. It's a bit frustrating, not being able to help out with the foster kids, or cook supper, or take her to her appointments, because we live in different provinces.

In other news - I have a perma-bruise on my right shoulder from Skullcrushers. Haha. I always hoist the DB to my shoulder before I bring it behind my head, and now I have a bruise there that will not go away. Maybe I should start doing BB Skullcrushers? We shall see. I do so love my DB SCs though... :)

Also - I upped the weight on my RDLs by 20lbs last time I did them. I know I said I was going to go up slowly, but they were just so freakin' easy! Anyway, I feel like 100lbs is a better starting point for me. We'll see how it goes from here.

Annnd... I've been thinking about trying the whole EC stack thing. I'm a little bit wary of it, but maybe I could give it a shot? Anyone have any experience with it? Happy stories? Horror stories? Just trying to get the maximum out of my body. Might be of some use during this OBF contest? Not that I'm aiming to win, but I am aiming to make progress. Off to a great start by getting the flu. :D

I've decided that I think I like real squats. I'm not doing much weight with them, because I'm trying to go super deep. (Emphasis on the trying). Is there a definite consensus on what perfect form is for squats? Some people seem to swear you have to go below parallel to do them properly, others say that below parallel has a much greater risk of injury... I just want to do them with good form and without killing myself.

I thought I saw some little baby quaddies after squats on Saturday? Can you see them? It's a funny angle, and I'm super pale, so it's hard to see anything, I know... sorry...
http://i.imgur.com/iXpSX.jpg?1

Anyways. Gonna sniffle off to the kitchen and start hubby's lunch. I am such a walking stereotype. Haha. I happen to be one of those women who like cooking for their man. :D Will be catching up with y'all shortly. Although, I'm sure the rest of you responsible people have day jobs/children to look after. *sigh* Oh to have my own classroom... Foreverasubstitute.jpg.

Redfizz

09-24-2012, 08:09 AM

Sweet quads! I saw them before I read that you were wondering if they were there. Nice. :)

Awwww, so sorry that you aren't feeling well. I swear by Zicam. It's expensive (at least in the states), but it works. At the first sign of anything, I start taking it. It supposedly also reduces the time of sickness. Get the pills; the spray tastes awful.

Hoorah for not having to induce labor, yet! Hopefully that's a good sign, and hopefully they'll figure out what is going on and that it's nothing major.

Get well soon, Rickie!

DieselsMom

09-24-2012, 08:29 AM

Wow great transformation - you have done amazing work in the last 8 months be proud of yourself.

Glad to hear so far your sis and babe are good, hopefully they figure it out without having to induce labour. Rest and get better soon.

Echo814

09-24-2012, 10:16 AM

Hey Rickie! So much to catch up on!

Glad you got some sub work in, sounds like the pavement pounding you did has paid off. Bummer about being sick, when you're around kids its bound to happen though. Load up on some vitamin C and drink plenty of fluids :)

Congrats on the ATG squats! My thought on squats is go as low as you feel you wont injure yourself. For ATG lighter weight is better since you are putting so much pressure on the knee joint to get back up out of the hole. As for the RDLS you are working in the 5 rep range so you are not fatiguing your back which is fine, for optimal muscle growth progressive overload and not muscle fatigue is the key :) Good luck with the contest! I think you will do very well :)

Sorry to hear about your sisters pregnancy issues :eek: I'm so glad it wasn't HELLP, I had a friend that developed it and she had to deliver her baby at 26 weeks or she and the baby would have died. Luckily both mom and baby lived thanks to the amazing neonatal unit in NM :) Does she have gestational diabetes or high blood pressure before ? Hopefully they figure out whats wrong.

gobbles23

09-24-2012, 11:31 AM

WOW! I saw the picture of your legs and was like "Is that ricki!?" and doubled checked the title! Holy smokes woman! :D Nice job! :D

Sorry to hear your sick :( Drink lots of soup and green tea with honey and feel better soon!

Hope everything turns out ok for your sister! That's scary :eek: Fingers crossed for you and yours! :)

I personaly LOVE my ec stack. It's awesome. Start out with a low dose and increase gradually and you'll be fine. As long as you take the smallest dose possible at first to figure out your tolerance.

Cardioconvert

09-25-2012, 02:22 PM

You look amazing! Big difference. You need to change the title of your journal! Perhaps: Not Large and In Charge!

I second this suggestion - you are doing very well and it is showing in the photos nicely - keep up the good work!

CC

Redfizz

09-25-2012, 03:21 PM

Do you want to hear a good *facepalm*? I had read your journal a while back when you had dropped same major poundage or something like that, but I didn't have time to post at the moment. So when I hopped on later, I wrote, "You should change your journal title!"

It was later that I realized I hadn't written that in your journal.

Needless to say I probably offended someone who put a lot of time and thought in their journal title. I couldn't figure out whose it was to clean up my mess.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg821/scaled.php?server=821&filename=facepalmyk.jpg&res=landing

rickiecoombs

09-26-2012, 04:37 PM

Sweet quads! I saw them before I read that you were wondering if they were there. Nice.

Awwww, so sorry that you aren't feeling well. I swear by Zicam. It's expensive (at least in the states), but it works. At the first sign of anything, I start taking it. It supposedly also reduces the time of sickness. Get the pills; the spray tastes awful.

Hoorah for not having to induce labor, yet! Hopefully that's a good sign, and hopefully they'll figure out what is going on and that it's nothing major.

Get well soon, Rickie!

Hey Red! Thanks! I got way too excited when you said you saw the quads before you read that I was wondering if they were there. Haha :D

I looked up Zicam - I don't think they sell it in Canada. It sounds like it could be similar to ColdFX. Really hoping this stupid cold settles down soon. I want to lift things! My muscles are going to fall off! *whines* (what muscles?! hehe)

Wow great transformation - you have done amazing work in the last 8 months be proud of yourself.

Glad to hear so far your sis and babe are good, hopefully they figure it out without having to induce labour. Rest and get better soon.

Thanks! Hubz tells me the same thing. He says, "Rickie! Stop complaining! Your six-months-ago-self would slap you for complaining about the body you have now! Haha. Wise hubby is wise.

More on my sister to come...

Thanks for stopping by!

Hey Rickie! So much to catch up on!

Glad you got some sub work in, sounds like the pavement pounding you did has paid off. Bummer about being sick, when you're around kids its bound to happen though. Load up on some vitamin C and drink plenty of fluids

Congrats on the ATG squats! My thought on squats is go as low as you feel you wont injure yourself. For ATG lighter weight is better since you are putting so much pressure on the knee joint to get back up out of the hole. As for the RDLS you are working in the 5 rep range so you are not fatiguing your back which is fine, for optimal muscle growth progressive overload and not muscle fatigue is the key Good luck with the contest! I think you will do very well

Sorry to hear about your sisters pregnancy issues I'm so glad it wasn't HELLP, I had a friend that developed it and she had to deliver her baby at 26 weeks or she and the baby would have died. Luckily both mom and baby lived thanks to the amazing neonatal unit in NM :) Does she have gestational diabetes or high blood pressure before ? Hopefully they figure out whats wrong.

HAI mommy of a cute bouncing baby boy!! :D I've been drinking tea and water like it's going out of style. I have to pee every 3.5 minutes or so. Haha.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm excited to be doing real squats and RDLs, and even more excited that my back hasn't given out yet!!

Nope - my sister has neither gestational diabetes nor high blood pressure. :( Really, she's extremely healthy in every other way. The doctors are very perplexed.

WOW! I saw the picture of your legs and was like "Is that ricki!?" and doubled checked the title! Holy smokes woman! :D Nice job!

Sorry to hear your sick Drink lots of soup and green tea with honey and feel better soon!

Hope everything turns out ok for your sister! That's scary Fingers crossed for you and yours!

I personaly LOVE my ec stack. It's awesome. Start out with a low dose and increase gradually and you'll be fine. As long as you take the smallest dose possible at first to figure out your tolerance.

Hai! Thanks! That makes me so happy! Seriously - you people are all such good encouragement and motivation!

Soup+tea is what I've been drinking for three days now. Ready to get better and move ON. Ugh. :D

I second this suggestion - you are doing very well and it is showing in the photos nicely - keep up the good work!

CC

Thanks, CC! I'm honoured that you came by! :)

Do you want to hear a good *facepalm*? I had read your journal a while back when you had dropped same major poundage or something like that, but I didn't have time to post at the moment. So when I hopped on later, I wrote, "You should change your journal title!"

It was later that I realized I hadn't written that in your journal.

Needless to say I probably offended someone who put a lot of time and thought in their journal title. I couldn't figure out whose it was to clean up my mess.
BAHAHAHA. Ohhh Red. You make me laugh. :D

rickiecoombs

09-26-2012, 05:00 PM

I don’t know what it is with bb.com and my disappearing posts. :(

Anyway.

This is my fourth unscheduled rest day. I was going to go to the gym tonight, but I don’t want to do myself in. Maybe tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow.

My sister’s liver enzymes sky-rocketed (even more), and she had to get a steroid shot this morning to help develop the baby’s lungs. She had a second shot this evening. She’ll be admitted to hospital tomorrow morning, where they’ll monitor her... and when the enzymes get too high (which, as far as the doctors are concerned, they will), they will perform an emergency C-section. This is predicted to happen within the next day or two. She isn’t showing ANY other symptoms of fatty liver or HELLP, which is why the doctors are so confused.

My sister is ridiculously calm about all of this. I put it down to the fact that she’s an engineer – she is so good at compartmentalizing. If it was me in the situation, I’d be a total basket case. As she puts it, as far as bad situations go, this is the best possible bad situation. Haha. Does that make sense? She’s only 29 weeks, but the baby is measuring at 32 weeks, and it's four-ish lbs. Apparently it looks extremely healthy, and shows no signs of being affected by whatever is going on with my sister. So while it will be a preemie, and it will be a long road ahead, the most likely outcome will still be okay.

I just really wish I could be there. I feel completely useless. It’s hard to be so far away, and so incapable of helping in any capacity. Ugh.

Moving on.

So. My plan for the night is to go to bed early, and to be GOOD AS NEW in the morning! (That’s the plan, anyway). If that plan is successful, I will (hopefully) go to a few more schools with my resume in the morning, and then head to the gym tomorrow night. Hopefully my lifts won’t have suffered too much. People take rest weeks all the time, right? :)

Sorry for dumping all over you guys! More positive post tomorrow, okay? Hope y’all are having a great week! :D

Redfizz

09-27-2012, 03:33 AM

Cardioconvert

09-27-2012, 05:03 AM

Oh boy - just read your post about your sister - that is quite concerning. Will send out positive vibes - please take care.

CC

DieselsMom

09-27-2012, 07:48 AM

More vibes for your sister!

Don't worry about what is done - move forward and get back to the gym it will help with the mental stress. I know about living far away from family it is hard to worry about them and not be able to do anything. I am in AB most of my fam is in SK.

rickiecoombs

09-29-2012, 11:41 AM

Oh my goodness. If it's okay with you, I am sending positive thoughts to your sister and her baby. And I hope you're feeling better. Perhaps you're having sympathy sickness for your sister since she's not worrying. :)

It is certainly okay! I would never turn down positive thoughts! Thanks, Red - I really appreciate it. I'm starting to feel a little better. I think it's just a slow process because I've been working and my body hasn't had a chance to rest properly yet. Hopefully the weekend will do it some good!

Oh boy - just read your post about your sister - that is quite concerning. Will send out positive vibes - please take care.
CC

Thanks, CC! It's pretty stressful at the moment, but I have the outlook that everything happens for a reason. I have to keep that attitude, otherwise, I think I'd go crazy!!

More vibes for your sister!

Don't worry about what is done - move forward and get back to the gym it will help with the mental stress. I know about living far away from family it is hard to worry about them and not be able to do anything. I am in AB most of my fam is in SK.

Thank you!! You're right - the gym certainly does help with mental stress. It's awful being far away from family, hey? I've never been to AB - never been that far west. Does that make me a bad Canuck? :D

Thanks for all the positive thoughts, vibes and support, guys! I really, really appreciate it. I'll be back later with a couple workouts/updates - but right now I have to run to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients for tonight's cheat meal. :D

gobbles23

09-29-2012, 01:05 PM

:eek: Best wishes for your sister! Hope everything turns out ok!!!

rickiecoombs

09-29-2012, 07:10 PM

:eek: Best wishes for your sister! Hope everything turns out ok!!!

Thanks, Lori! Me too!!

rickiecoombs

09-29-2012, 07:24 PM

Supper was delicious - nachos, cheese, salsa, sour cream, ground beef, refried beans... om nom nom nom :D

Sister news: the liver enzymes have somewhat stabilized today, so they're letting the baby stay put for the time being (yay!). The doctor is also hoping to that they will be able to induce her when the time comes, instead of doing a C-section (yay again!). I imagine it will be slightly less painful to give birth to a 4lb preemie than an 8lb full-term baby. Although, my sister said that this child apparently has a very large head. :D

So, anyway - not much has changed. They're going to leave the baby for as long as they can, and when (if?) the enzymes get really high (which is when everything else starts shutting down, apparently) they'll get bebe out ASAP. I am slightly less stressed out, I think. The doctors that are handling her seem to be very competent (I have no tolerance for incompetent people), and they are watching her like a hawk. It's all gonna be okay. The baby will be a preemie, but it's a healthy baby, and unless some major disaster occurs (which could happen during any pregnancy), it should work out in the end. Thank you all for your kind words, and expressions of concern. So much. Seriously. <3

*exhales deeply*

September 27th, 2012
Chins – 5x5
I think I might go down to 50lbs of help next time. For one set, at least.
55x5
55x5
55x5
55x5
55x5

Hammer High Rows – 3x8
90x8
90x8
90x8

Arnold Press – 5x5
Managed to get two sets out with the 20s. Had hubby spotting me, so he had my elbows under control :) These are hard!
20sx5
20sx5
15sx5
15sx5
15sx5

Weighted Ab Crunch
90x25
90x14

Leg Raises
Gotta find some new ab exercises. These really used to kill me, and I don't feel the DOMs like I used to...
BWx25
BWx20

September 29th, 2012

RDLs – 5x5
I swiped hubby's straps today - it's so nice not to feel like you're gonna drop the bar! :D I'll be upping to 110lbs next time, I think.
100x5
100x5
100x5
100x5
100x5

High Foot Placement Leg Press – 3x8-12
115x10
115x10
115x10

Single Leg Extensions - 3x12-20
25x15
25x14
25x14

Bench – 5x5
I've been stalled here for a long time, and I still find it really hard. I'm going to try at least one set at 85 next time, just to try to overload and get myself moving again.
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5

So. That's it from me! Been a busy week, but no real complaints other than my flu doesn't want to completely clear up. I guess I just need a couple of really good nights' sleep. Went to bed early last night (yes, on a Friday night - I'm such an old lady :( haha) and slept for 11 straight hours. I plan to hit the hay now and get another 9 solid hours, hopefully.

Will do my best to catch up with you all tomorrow - hope you've all had wonderful weekends! :D

Redfizz

09-29-2012, 07:30 PM

So happy mommy and baby are doing well. *Sigh of relief*

Gotta find some new ab exercises. These really used to kill me, and I don't feel the DOMs like I used to...

I am pretty happy with the New Rules of Lifting for Abs. He has some nice research in there along with many alternative core exercises.

TMcDermid

09-30-2012, 10:49 AM

rickiecoombs

10-01-2012, 07:40 AM

Your log is awesome! Great workout journal! I hope things workout the best for your sister and I hope you hit the next week hard! I look forward to stopping in again.

Thanks, Teach! It's a new week, and a new month! Gonna try and kill it! :D

So happy mommy and baby are doing well. *Sigh of relief*

I am pretty happy with the New Rules of Lifting for Abs. He has some nice research in there along with many alternative core exercises.

Hey Red! Thanks for that suggestion. I've... "invested" in NROLFA - I'll have a look at it here shortly. :)

Updates on my sister to come!

rickiecoombs

10-01-2012, 08:17 AM

Happy October!! :D

Well, things are looking really good for my sister. It's pretty crazy - they almost delivered her baby last week, but held off, and now the doctors are thinking that it was some kind of virus that made her liver enzymes go wonky. So, good thing they didn't deliver! They're still not sure of anything - it could still be fatty liver... but in the absence of any other symptoms, they're taking it as a good sign that her enzymes are going down. Yay! If this is the case, she could go to full term!! :D It's all very relieving.

Took October progress photos/measurements today. According to my Excel spreadsheet, I'm down in weight, but measurements are exactly the same. Go figure.

Last workout of September!
September 30th, 2012

Incline DB Press - 3x8
I'm going to try one set at 30s next time - we'll see how that goes.
25sx8
25sx8
25sx8

Rack Pulls - 5x5
Planning to go up to 120 or 125lbs next time. Still trying to be nice to my back.
115x5
115x5
115x5
115x5
115x5

Bent Over Rows - 3x8
These felt a little funny. Not sure whether or not to go up to 70lbs next time or not.
65x8
65x8
65x8

Skull Crushers - 5x5
I still love these. <3 Perhaps next time I'll get two sets with the 45lb DB?
45x5
40x5
40x5
40x5
40x5

Cable Pressdowns - 3x8-12
Wanted to get three sets of 12, but decided I should stick to good form for 10 reps rather than get the 12 reps and compromise form.
60x12
60x10
60x10

I really needed that workout. Was in such a bad mood last night - no idea why. I'd guess PMS, but I haven't had a period in many months, so I dunno if that's even possible! :D

So that was the last workout of September. Altogether, I had 15 trips to the gym last month. I threw out my back doing EZ bar curls (still not sure how that happened) at the beginning of the month, and had the flu last week - so I missed some time. All things considered, I'll consider 15 workouts okay, and aim for more in October! Thankfully, most of my lifts have increased this month (a little bit is better than not at all!!) and I'm hoping this will continue. I'm wondering when I'm going to stall out, because I am eating at a deficit. No complaints - I'll take it while I can!

I had ice cream last night, for the first time in... months. It wasn't even good ice cream (remember - I live in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere) but man, did I ever enjoy it! I love ice cream. Preferably good ice cream, but last night I settled for less than mediocre and it was still thoroughly enjoyable.

Back on the wagon I go!

In other news, I am hoping to go "home" for Thanksgiving (even though my sister won't be there :() at which point I need to invest in a few articles of clothing. I'm really running out of clothes that is teacher-appropriate... and even though I can't really afford anything at the moment, things are getting a little desperate, especially now that the weather is turning colder. My plan is to go through my "Winter Clothes Bin", take what still marginally fits me, and buy a few things when I go home this weekend. There is almost literally nowhere to shop here.

I'm looking for a recipe for pumpkin spice latte - there is no semblance of a Starbucks around here... I've Googled a few recipes - have any of you made your own?

That's all my rambling for now - hope you're all having a great Monday!! :D

Luvdogs

10-01-2012, 07:18 PM

DieselsMom

10-01-2012, 08:23 PM

Great work. Clothing wise are there any consignment shops where you are going? I have even bought a suit and leather duster jacket at thrift shops for under $100 for both!

Great news about your sister, I am happy they held off. Here's crossing fingers to a full term babe!

gobbles23

10-02-2012, 07:56 AM

Wow, great workouts in here :D

Glad your sister is ok! :) I'll cross my fingers for her too! :D

15 workouts in one month is great! I only did 14 :D Hahaha! You beat me! :)

I love ice cream too- it's delicious! :D Definitely one of my favourite things to eat!

Redfizz

10-02-2012, 08:04 AM

Hiya Ricki! WOOOOOOO!!! on the baby being safe. Amazing that the doctors actually chose to do things naturally while keeping an eye on it rather being scalpel happy. What a relief to know that they're in good hands.

I like the idea of the consignment shopping. I have found some cute stuff that way.

Echo814

10-02-2012, 10:44 AM

So glad to hear both baby and mama are safe! It's crazy what a virus will do to a pregnant woman, the immune system is usually not up to snuff so things like that happen. She's blessed to have great Dr's around her and having a full term baby is always the best outcome :)

Workouts are looking great chickie! You're making great progress so no worries there :) Bench is one of the hardest lifts for most woman to progress in, I bought baseball bat weights that weigh a lb to use when going up 5lbs wasn't possible. If you could sneak them in I would maybe try that if the 85lbs is a no go.

I'm having the reverse problem with clothes! Been raiding my "fat" clothes and some don't fit lol. I agree try a consignment store or if there's shops like Goodwill in Canada, I've been lucky and found some nice brand name clothes there for cheap :)

geek23ka

10-02-2012, 12:16 PM

i'm really happy to hear your sister is being watched closely and that the doctors think it might have been a virus rather than HELLP. even if she has to deliver, 4+ pounders tend to do really well in level II as well as level III NICU's. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

you're getting close to deadlifting your own weight! and i hear you on bench. i've been stalled and injured for so damned long on that lift. OHP, too. it's very frustrating. do you have microweights? they can help move along progress.

luvdogs, that pumpkin shake looks yummy. thanks for posting it.

rickiecoombs

10-08-2012, 05:58 PM

You're lifting some great weight !!

Oh, ice cream! My all time favorite dessert. My second job ever (first was Kentucky Fried Chicken) was at Baskin-Robbins :D I gained 40lbs working there (I wonder if the profit margins went down during my employment?). On slow nights we would get the taster spoons and go all teh way down the freezer units...not a good thing. I was quite hefty in those days, pushing 200lbs.

Pumkin Spice Latte? I made a pumpkin spice protein shakes last week (post workout):

1 cup coconut milk (or regular milk)
32gr vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup pumpkin or butternut squash (cooked)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
dash of cinnamon
(I also had my vitamins, creatine in there too)

whip it up in my bullet blender. It was quite good and nice for a change.

Aw, thanks! I'm trying, and I realize I have a long way to go, but I just gotta keep on truckin', right?

That protein shake recipe looks SO good. Gonna have to try to find some pumpkin spice! :D

Also - if I worked at an ice cream shop of any kind, I would be absolutely doomed. Doomed.

Great work. Clothing wise are there any consignment shops where you are going? I have even bought a suit and leather duster jacket at thrift shops for under $100 for both!

Great news about your sister, I am happy they held off. Here's crossing fingers to a full term babe!

Hi!! :) Nah - no consignment shops... I love consignment/vintage-y boutiques. I did, however, go shopping in my childhood-best-friend's closet!! :D

It was such a huge relief about my sister - she's 31 weeks now, but the baby is measuring at 33, and its head is measuring at 34... ouch! Haha

Wow, great workouts in here

Glad your sister is ok! I'll cross my fingers for her too!

15 workouts in one month is great! I only did 14 Hahaha! You beat me!

I love ice cream too- it's delicious! Definitely one of my favourite things to eat!

Hai, Lori! I'm catching up in your journal! Being MIA for a week is bad news when it comes to the journals here! Haha. :D

Wooo! I beat Gobbz at something! When I can compete lifting-wise, THAT will be something to celebrate!

Thanks for the crossed fingers - she's doing awesome!

Ice cream is one of those things that you are so grateful it exists, and so frustrated it exists, all at the same time... hehe.

Hiya Ricki! WOOOOOOO!!! on the baby being safe. Amazing that the doctors actually chose to do things naturally while keeping an eye on it rather being scalpel happy. What a relief to know that they're in good hands.

I like the idea of the consignment shopping. I have found some cute stuff that way.

Hai Red!

I love your cheer!! I was also amazed/so glad that the doctors held off for a few days - so often they seem to jump the gun. It may have helped that my sister's hubby is a doctor, and so they are basically giving her the royal treatment. Always helps to know people!

LOVE consignment shopping! Unfortunately, we're pretty limited here. I'm on my way over to your journal, too - I can't even imagine how much I've missed!

So glad to hear both baby and mama are safe! It's crazy what a virus will do to a pregnant woman, the immune system is usually not up to snuff so things like that happen. She's blessed to have great Dr's around her and having a full term baby is always the best outcome

Workouts are looking great chickie! You're making great progress so no worries there Bench is one of the hardest lifts for most woman to progress in, I bought baseball bat weights that weigh a lb to use when going up 5lbs wasn't possible. If you could sneak them in I would maybe try that if the 85lbs is a no go.

I'm having the reverse problem with clothes! Been raiding my "fat" clothes and some don't fit lol. I agree try a consignment store or if there's shops like Goodwill in Canada, I've been lucky and found some nice brand name clothes there for cheap

She really is blessed - and she's one of those people who is so accomplished and beautiful, and basically perfect - and you want to hate her, but she's so freakin' awesome, it's impossible to do anything but love her all to pieces! Haha. I've lived in her shadow my whole life, but it's not her fault that she is so talented and well-put-together. :)

Thanks! Bench is so frustrating! I tried 85 and since I had hubz to help me out, I managed it - hopefully I"ll be able to keep moving up.

I've got a all my "fat" clothes in storage - I refuse to throw them out. If I ever go on a bulk/manage to get pregnant, I'm gonna need 'em! Hope you're doing well! I'll be checking up on you shortly!

i'm really happy to hear your sister is being watched closely and that the doctors think it might have been a virus rather than HELLP. even if she has to deliver, 4+ pounders tend to do really well in level II as well as level III NICU's. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

you're getting close to deadlifting your own weight! and i hear you on bench. i've been stalled and injured for so damned long on that lift. OHP, too. it's very frustrating. do you have microweights? they can help move along progress.

luvdogs, that pumpkin shake looks yummy. thanks for posting it.

Hey!! Thanks for your positive thoughts! So far, so good, as far as sister is concerned. Crazy...

Is deadlifting your own weight an accomplishment that I'm unaware of?! :) Haha. YAY!

I don't have microweights, but I do have hubby, so he was a dear and spotted me.

Hope you've had a great weekend!

rickiecoombs

10-08-2012, 06:10 PM

Holy cow, batman!

What a busy week. I still got to the gym, and my diet was in check, but there wasn't a spare second to keep up with the journals here. Hopefully I'll have a few minutes over the next few days to drop in and see how everyone's doing!

So I have four workouts from the past week - but I won't post them all. That would be overkill. I'll just post tonight's.

Incline DB Bench Press - 3x8
These were really easy with the 25s last time, so I thought I'd try 30s - could hardly get them up!!
30sx8
25sx8
25sx8

Rack Pulls - 5x5
Up 10 lbs from last time. I feel these in my upper and lower back - is that normal?
125x5
125x5
125x5
125x5
125x5

BB Bent Over Rows - 3x8-12
65x10
65x10
65x10

Skull Crushers - 5x5
With a DB - not a BB (sitting up). ROM was way better with 40s, but I wanted to try to get the 45s up - hopefully ROM will improve with this.
45x5
45x5
40x5
40x5
40x5

Cable Pressdowns - 3x12
60x12
60x12
60x12

So that was tonight at the gym! There's a guy there who is there every night around the same time as us... I told hubz tonight that the two of them are like women; their periods have synced up. This guy and hubz seem to have the exact same workout schedule lately. They both need the squat rack for deads, they're both doing wide-grip pullups... They're gonna have to re-jig their schedules, because it's really funny watching the two of them wait for the other to be finished.

Spend a whirlwind weekend at home with my parents/in-laws. It was really nice to see everyone, but it was so busy! And since I was in a real live city for a change, I needed to do some shopping. Only a little, of course, because we are beyond broke, but I was/am in desperate need of clothes appropriate for teaching. I managed to get a pair of dress pants that actually fit me, a sweater... a couple of crew neck long sleeve t-shirts that I can dress up with a pretty scarf... and a pair of jeans (for jeans day Friday!) that are size 26! I have NEVER been a size 26! :D

Tomorrow's squat day, and I'm super pumped! I can't squat much, but MAN, I'm sore for days after! Love it!

Anyways - I'm babbling, and I could continue, but I should go and see how everyone else is, and try to get to bed a decent hour so I can get up with the sun in the morning!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!! <3

gobbles23

10-08-2012, 06:21 PM

Wow Ricki! You are killing it in here :D

Great job with the workouts!!! You're getting really strong! :D

And fitting into a size 26! :eek: Congrats! Such a nice feeling :D

You sound so happy! Glad you are enjoying the teaching and everything else :) So happy for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! :)

ellybelle

10-09-2012, 09:21 AM

Annnd... I've been thinking about trying the whole EC stack thing. I'm a little bit wary of it, but maybe I could give it a shot? Anyone have any experience with it? Happy stories? Horror stories? Just trying to get the maximum out of my body. Might be of some use during this OBF contest? Not that I'm aiming to win, but I am aiming to make progress. Off to a great start by getting the flu. :D

Hey Girl!

So glad to hear sis is doing well!! Iv been doing the EC stack for about 6 week, at first i felt pretty jittery as im a tea drinker...(iv never drank a cup of coffee in my life, weird i know). i started on the lowest dose and i still havent increased it to the max. I had a BIG problem binge eating which is a lot more psychological/hormonal then anything else. The EC stack stops me from binge eating completely. Because iv been on it for 6 wks im scheduled to take a 2wk break from it, im not sure how i will react coming off it. I will be doing another round though, i suffer from seasonal affective disorder and my eating habits get exponentially worse during the winter season so im hoping this will get me through without too much damage.

I also read that you've been missing your TOM due to depo, you should count yourself lucky. when i took depo i gained 40lbs and bled continuously (i took it for a year).

Echo814

10-09-2012, 09:32 AM

Congrats on the size 26 jeans! Keep up the great work chickie you're doing awesome!

Looks like you are progressing very nicely on this program! It's on my list of things to do once buns outta the oven and I want to to improve my back.

Hope you had a great holiday yesterday and ate some yummy foods :D

PunkyCindy

10-09-2012, 10:42 AM

Just catching up...

First I want to thank you for dropping in my journal..it means alot. :)

I'm so glad about your sis and baby.

arnold curls are one of my favs (I hate to admit it but I do them just to look at my forearms in the mirrors lol)

congrats on the jeans! wow!

keep up the great work!

TMcDermid

10-09-2012, 05:38 PM

rickiecoombs

10-09-2012, 05:38 PM

Wow Ricki! You are killing it in here

Great job with the workouts!!! You're getting really strong!

And fitting into a size 26! Congrats! Such a nice feeling

You sound so happy! Glad you are enjoying the teaching and everything else So happy for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanks Lori!! :D I'll take any encouragement I can get!

I was so excited to get into those jeans. I couldn't believe it. I had tried on others that fit, which were a size 25, but I guess it's all in the style. Anyway - these were on sale, which is why I bought them. Well, that, and the "S" embroidered on the back pockets is subtly sparkly. :D

Things are going well, yes! Now that hubz and I finally live in the same place, we don't have two costs of living anymore, and that's just such a huge relief! Hopefully things will continue to look up, the bank account will continue to grow, and I'll be able to start paying off this massive debt I have incurred!!

Hey Girl!

So glad to hear sis is doing well!! Iv been doing the EC stack for about 6 week, at first i felt pretty jittery as im a tea drinker...(iv never drank a cup of coffee in my life, weird i know). i started on the lowest dose and i still havent increased it to the max. I had a BIG problem binge eating which is a lot more psychological/hormonal then anything else. The EC stack stops me from binge eating completely. Because iv been on it for 6 wks im scheduled to take a 2wk break from it, im not sure how i will react coming off it. I will be doing another round though, i suffer from seasonal affective disorder and my eating habits get exponentially worse during the winter season so im hoping this will get me through without too much damage.

I also read that you've been missing your TOM due to depo, you should count yourself lucky. when i took depo i gained 40lbs and bled continuously (i took it for a year).

Hey Elly! Thanks for stopping by! :)

Thanks for sharing your experience with EC stack. I didn't have a spare minute this weekend to get to a supplement store, but my plan is to do that on my next trip into the city. That, or maybe I will order online. Hubz is not yet convinced that it's a good idea. I tell him that I won't know until I try!!

WOW! You bled the whole time?! Crazy! I know the list of side effects is unbelievable... I am so grateful that I haven't had any. It was literally my only option - otherwise I would have stayed away because of all the horror stories I've heard.

Congrats on the size 26 jeans! Keep up the great work chickie you're doing awesome!

Looks like you are progressing very nicely on this program! It's on my list of things to do once buns outta the oven and I want to to improve my back.

Hope you had a great holiday yesterday and ate some yummy foods

Hey Echo! Thanks! :D

My back has a LONG way to go. I am constantly stripping down, flexing, and asking hubby, "Can you see my back muscles yet?" And the poor man is constantly trying to say no as nicely as possible. Haha! :D But I really do have crazy back DOMS sometimes, so I am hoping that in the next month or two, my little muscles will make an appearance.

I had a fantastic holiday, thank you! I got to see my in-laws and my parents. I am really close to my mom and dad, so it was really good to be home. I don't think they wanted us to leave :( My sister and I have been out of the house for ages, but I have always lived in the same city. I think me being gone is leaving them with a bit of "empty nest syndrome". We were treated like kings this weekend. I'll take it! :D

Just catching up...

First I want to thank you for dropping in my journal..it means alot.

I'm so glad about your sis and baby.

arnold curls are one of my favs (I hate to admit it but I do them just to look at my forearms in the mirrors lol)

congrats on the jeans! wow!

keep up the great work!

Hey PC!!

My dear - I don't always post in your journal, but I always read it. You are an inspiration to me!

Sister and baby seem to still be doing just fine!

My next set of Arnolds is tomorrow! Can't wait!!

Thanks! The jeans were a huge shock - a good one, of course!

Thanks for for stopping by! :D

rickiecoombs

10-09-2012, 05:52 PM

Sleepy Rickie is sleepy... trying to convince myself to take the puppers for a walk tonight. Not sure if I am going to succeed. I am, as of yet, unconvinced. Haha. :)

Had a super short workout today. We went to the gym at a time that is unusual for us, and the place was packed. To make matters worse, there was a guy curling in the squat rack. CURLING. SQUAT RACK. WITH DUMBELLS. Oh my goodness. I almost went over and beat him up (I totally could have taken him). But I resisted. Just barely.

My alternative course of action was to stroll over and ask how many sets he had left, possibly in a tone that conveyed my absolute rage. He said he could move. I did not protest. :D Squat rack acquired!

Squats - 5x5
I have no idea what was up with these today. I realize I'm a weakling, but the jump in weight this week was unexpected. I shall not complain about an increase on the bar! :)
75x5
85x5
95x5
95x5
95x5

^^Also, there was a guy who jumped in between my sets... to curl what I was squatting. As in, I used my BB to squat, he would come in behind me and curl my BB. Made me feel rather like a pansy.

Leg Press - 3x8
These were next to impossible. Not sure why I suck so much.
160x8
160x8
160x8

EZ Bar Preacher Curls - 3x8
These cause a blinding pain in my forearm "bone". I'm sure it's not the actual bone. My guess is that my forearms are seriously lacking in strength compared to my biceps? Perhaps I shall have to look up some forearm exercises...
EZ+20x8
EZ+20x8
EZ+20x8

And then hubby was ready to go. :( Oh well - better than nothing, right?!

I made pumpkin muffins this afternoon. They are amazing. I altered the recipe a little, and it works out to just under 150 calories per muffin - and they're pretty big muffins! I threw in a handful of chocolate chips... but I think they'd be awesome with or without. Highly recommended. Might try pumpkin protein muffins, next time. :D

http://i.imgur.com/UD5tE.jpg?1

Speaking of muffins, I'm almost at my calorie intake for the day, and I am freakin' hungry. Dunno why. Maybe because this weekend was full of turkey goodness, and my body wants the same amount of food it got for the 2.5 days over the weekend. My weight certainly suffered, but I'm hoping to be back to "normal" by Thursday.

Tomorrow's hump day! It's also Arnold Press day! Yay! Perhaps I will give Bradfords a go, too. We shall see.

G'night, everyone! :)

vanessa40

10-10-2012, 11:34 AM

Ok the pumpkin muffins look great. You and Julia are killing me with the pumpkin...lol
Workouts are looking good too ;)

rickiecoombs

10-13-2012, 05:28 PM

Hey coming in to check in and you have done a lot since I have least stopped by! Great job that is for sure. A size 26 and being your personal best is amazing and your journey isn't even close to being over. I hope you are very proud of yourself and you embrace every moment of this quest. You will remember this turning point for the rest of your life. Awesome job. I can't wait to see what you get up to the next time I pop in!

Thanks, teach! When I look back to January's photos, I realize how far I've come... but I still have so far to go! Thanks for the encouragement! :D

Ok the pumpkin muffins look great. You and Julia are killing me with the pumpkin...lol
Workouts are looking good too ;)

They are magically delicious! And at 150 calories per muffin, who can resist, really? I made a double batch tonight - 12 with chocolate chips, 12 without. :)

Thanks for stopping in!

rickiecoombs

10-13-2012, 05:44 PM

Help me!!

When I do EZ bar preacher curls, I get this searing pain in my forearm "bone", which I imagine is just the muscle close to the bone, or something. I'm assuming it's because my forearms are lagging way behind my biceps (?). Anyway, I generally just work through the pain.

A few days ago, I got the same pain while spotting hubs on his DB Bench Press. He wasn't going to be able to get his last rep up, and I didn't want him to drop the DBs to the side (not good for shoulders at the best of times, but especially when you have rheumatoid arthritis!) so I really had to put my back into helping him get them up. The pain in my left forearm was excruciating. I figured it was just a little strain, and it would go away.

Today I was doing incline DB press, and when I tried to get the 30s up, not only could I not move them, but I thought I was going to cry from the pain in my forearm. The pain goes from my elbow joint, all the way down into my pinky finger. I generally have a very high pain tolerance, what with dealing with sciatica on a daily basis - but I was having a hard time keeping it together at the gym this afternoon. Felt like a major pansy. :(

Anyway, it seems to only hurt when I'm doing the "push" motion, not the "pull" motion. So DLing is okay, but benching, not so much. Is this making any sense to anyone?

Hubz thinks I should give all exercises that need forearm use a break for a week or so... that eliminates a lot! Have any of you ever had an issue like this? I was not too impressed with this new development. :(

In other news, the scale has been up about two pounds consistently for about a week now. I don't understand, because I am constantly eating at a deficit. My initial reaction is to cut calories, but I'm not so sure that's a great idea, since I'm generally eating less than 1400 a day as it is. I don't want to undereat, but my brain is all - "holy crap, you're getting fat again!".*sigh*

Frustrated Rickie is frustrated.

Other stuff going on as well, but these are the two fitness related things in my life that are stressing me out right now. Haha.

Won't bother to post my last two workouts - they were pitiful. Except for rack pulls. I graduated to big-girl plates! :D

And on that note, I shall go catch up with everyone else. Hope you're all having a great weekend!

gobbles23

10-14-2012, 08:21 AM

Luvdogs

10-14-2012, 02:22 PM

Pumpkin muffins look great!

Regarding your forearm, probably a sprain which can take a long time to heal (I had /have tendonitis in my left wrist and it is just now not bothering me after 2.5 months!). Don't wrap your thumb around the bar when you do push exercises or pull, really. It helps take the forearm out of play. While my wrist was healing I used more machines and kept my thumb behind the bar. I still do that on the machine preacher curls. I still can't do UH grip bicep moves. I can do hammer moves or a slight outward grip with thumb back. Ice your forearm too. Also, straps will help you keep the weight without bothering your grip too much. I love my Versa Grips!

rickiecoombs

10-15-2012, 11:08 AM

Oh, that's weird about the pain! It could be a sprain for sure. Just try doing what you can without pain and take it easy on that arm! It'll heal over time, as long as you be careful with it. I'm after getting a few small injuries like that, and while they suck- they usually do go away after about a week or so of not doing what makes it hurt.

The scale is stupid! lol! You're at a normal, healthy range of weight now so things will be slower than they were. You might want to try incorporating a cheat meal/cheat day/refeed day at this point every 10-14 days or so Lots of carbs, over maintenance- low fat! Also- stress can have that effect on your weight, too. Relaxing and having a beer with a slice of pie could definitely help :D

Congrats on using the big girl plates for rack pulls!! :D That's super impressive! :D

A week or so? I can deal with that...

The scale IS stupid! Haha. :D I'm glad you agree! I'm trying not to sweat it too much. My convocation is this Friday, so we're going to Get Stuffed for supper on Saturday. I do believe that will qualify as a cheat meal. :D I also have EVERY intention of getting a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks, since I will be in civilization for about 48 hours.

I was SO excited to put the 45s on there. Now, when I can do that for RDLs, I'll be even more excited!!

Pumpkin muffins look great!

Regarding your forearm, probably a sprain which can take a long time to heal (I had /have tendonitis in my left wrist and it is just now not bothering me after 2.5 months!). Don't wrap your thumb around the bar when you do push exercises or pull, really. It helps take the forearm out of play. While my wrist was healing I used more machines and kept my thumb behind the bar. I still do that on the machine preacher curls. I still can't do UH grip bicep moves. I can do hammer moves or a slight outward grip with thumb back. Ice your forearm too. Also, straps will help you keep the weight without bothering your grip too much. I love my Versa Grips!

The pumpkin muffins ARE great. So unbelievably delicious.

Oooh! The thumb thing makes so much sense. Thanks for that!

I use hubby's straps for DLs and Rack Pulls (sometimes), and they help SO much. He has graduated to hooks now, because his joints are pretty much shot. :( Silver lining - I get his straps! Haha.

SO.

It turns out that you use your forearm a LOT in everyday life. Who woulda thunk? Here I was, thinking it was gonna be easy to rest Mr. Forearm for a week. Nuh uh. Gonna have to try a little harder there, Rickie! OUCH!

I need to revamp my workout plan for the next week or so. I'm hoping I can go back to normal next week. Fingers crossed.

Things I can't do - a very general list: Triceps, Biceps, Chins, Arnolds, Bench
Things I can maybe, hopefully do?: Squats, deadlifts, Rack Pulls, Hammer High Rows (?), Leg press, Leg extensions, BB Bent Over Rows (?), Core work, Cardio.

So basically, my upper body is gonna get a break for a while. Thankfully, I tend to feel DLs in both my upper and lower back.

And now, I must go and be a good housewife and start supper. Chicken, quinoa and asparagus. Om nom nom. :)

Hope everyone's had a great start to their week!

Echo814

10-15-2012, 02:43 PM

rickiecoombs

10-16-2012, 05:28 PM

Bummer about the forearm pain! Your plan on taking it easy with exercises that involve your forearms.

I agree with adding in the refeeds, also some experts recommend a diet break every 8-12 weeks to keep things moving along, so a week off at maintenance cals to help re-balance hormones. Don't worry about it, when I last lost weight at a steady click I would be down 2lbs one week, up a lb the next, no change and then down another lb or two. Annoying as all hell but the human body is a rather nonlinear thing lol.

Your trip sounds like the prefect opportunity to do the cheat day :)

Diet break it is gonna be! :D Looks like I might be taking a bit of a gym break, too. :eek: I am seriously trying not to care so much about the scale - not sure why the stupid thing has such a freakin' huge effect on me! All well. Gonna try and not to get psyched out. The operative word here being "try". :)

I am SO excited about the meal on Saturday. It's a restaurant we've only been to twice (because we can't afford it! Haha) and it has been amazing both times.

rickiecoombs

10-16-2012, 05:36 PM

Alright, ladies and gentleman. Looks like Rickie is going to be taking an unscheduled couple of rest days. Hubz is recommending a week.

Did squats last night at the gym (yay!!). The bar was hurting my poor neck, but I refused to use the pad thingy, because all I can hear in the back of my mind is Auntie Ham calling it a "p*ssy pad" :D Anyway. Settled it a little further back on my traps and it was slightly less painful. :)

I had a pain at the top of my right leg - in the groin area, but I had stretched before squatting, and it wasn't too bad, so I just kept on trucking through my forearm-less workout.

Tonight, I decided to do RDLs, since I am limited in the upper body department. Yeah. Leg/groin did not like that so much. Anyway, whatever I started to hurt yesterday, I definitely finished hurting it tonight. Not sure how or why, because the weight didn't feel too heavy, and I stretched before lifting, but maybe it's just my body's way of saying, "Hey! Gimme a break!"

Maybe? Maybe not?

I've been averaging 4/5 days a week at the gym. Because, let's face it, if a day goes by and I'm not lifting something, I feel a little lost. But dear hubbyband thinks that Rickie is due for a little bit of a break to let all my muscles rest up. So the plan is to go stir crazy for the rest of this week, spend the weekend home for convocation, and get back to the gym on Monday, hopefully. That's a six day break. All (and I use that word lightly) my muscles won't fall off in six days, will they?! :eek: (No, that is not a serious question... But... Someone reassure me, all the same... :D)

In other news, you can kinda sorta see where my delts want to be, so that's exciting! Maybe in a couple months, there'll be no doubt! Haha. :D

thehobbes

10-16-2012, 07:47 PM

Hi RC! :) Subbed to this! Catching up a bit and you are making me lol all over the place. You have a great combo of lifts in here, compounds everywhere, glad to see that! :cool: Sorry to hear about this forearm injury. This may sound like a silly question but where specifically in your forearm is it hurting? And what were you doing when it started bothering you? If it was on curls or some type of pulling I'd guess you brought your arms down further than usual and strained the muscle that connect the bis to the forearm. Ugh yeah that's kinda like a shoulder injury (it's involved in every upper body lift) but you can't tape it up like a wrist. I hope you're trying to rest/ice that thing as much as possible. Sucks though, no avoiding using your arm in daily activities. Not sure how long it's been hurting but did you see a doc about it?

So that was tonight at the gym! There's a guy there who is there every night around the same time as us... I told hubz tonight that the two of them are like women; their periods have synced up. This guy and hubz seem to have the exact same workout schedule lately. They both need the squat rack for deads, they're both doing wide-grip pullups... They're gonna have to re-jig their schedules, because it's really funny watching the two of them wait for the other to be finished.
LMAO!

Had a super short workout today. We went to the gym at a time that is unusual for us, and the place was packed. To make matters worse, there was a guy curling in the squat rack. CURLING. SQUAT RACK. WITH DUMBELLS. Oh my goodness. I almost went over and beat him up (I totally could have taken him). But I resisted. Just barely.

My alternative course of action was to stroll over and ask how many sets he had left, possibly in a tone that conveyed my absolute rage. He said he could move. I did not protest. : D Squat rack acquired!
Hahaha, this is great stuff!

EZ Bar Preacher Curls - 3x8
These cause a blinding pain in my forearm "bone". I'm sure it's not the actual bone. My guess is that my forearms are seriously lacking in strength compared to my biceps? Perhaps I shall have to look up some forearm exercises...
EZ+20x8
EZ+20x8
EZ+20x8
Honest opinion on forearm work, unnessesary if you're doing compounds like benching, dl, ohp, pullups, row. Anything where you have a challenging amount of weight in your hands (and you do since you're not baning out 15 rep sets) will naturally build up forearms/grip. It's kinda like doing a bunch of tricep kickbacks instead of doing bench/incline, compounds are the more efficient way to go about it, just my opinion though, some people love their wrist curls.

Help me!!

When I do EZ bar preacher curls, I get this searing pain in my forearm "bone", which I imagine is just the muscle close to the bone, or something. I'm assuming it's because my forearms are lagging way behind my biceps (?). Anyway, I generally just work through the pain.

A few days ago, I got the same pain while spotting hubs on his DB Bench Press. He wasn't going to be able to get his last rep up, and I didn't want him to drop the DBs to the side (not good for shoulders at the best of times, but especially when you have rheumatoid arthritis!) so I really had to put my back into helping him get them up. The pain in my left forearm was excruciating. I figured it was just a little strain, and it would go away.

Today I was doing incline DB press, and when I tried to get the 30s up, not only could I not move them, but I thought I was going to cry from the pain in my forearm. The pain goes from my elbow joint, all the way down into my pinky finger. I generally have a very high pain tolerance, what with dealing with sciatica on a daily basis - but I was having a hard time keeping it together at the gym this afternoon. Felt like a major pansy. : (

Anyway, it seems to only hurt when I'm doing the "push" motion, not the "pull" motion. So DLing is okay, but benching, not so much. Is this making any sense to anyone?
Ohhhhhh is it more towards the bottom/inside of your arm if you were palms up? Pulled wrist flexors? I was initially thinking it was bicep related, have had that strained brachio-saurous (lulz like the dinosaur is how I remember that thing) many times. Dr Ham - zero medical background, but a crapload of injuries over the years. :p

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i12/keyson83581/Forearm-anatomy.jpg

Did squats last night at the gym (yay!!). The bar was hurting my poor neck, but I refused to use the pad thingy, because all I can hear in the back of my mind is Auntie Ham calling it a "p*ssy pad" :D Anyway. Settled it a little further back on my traps and it was slightly less painful. : )

Hahaha! :p

EDIT: Oh crap, sorry I wrote a whole novel in here :o, there were just so many cool/interesting posts in here srs!

thehobbes

10-16-2012, 08:25 PM

http://i.imgur.com/40gPw.jpg?1
OMG MISC SHIRT!! :D I soooo gotta get me one of those. Also ran across adorable pup, dawwwww, wouldpet/10.

Haha ok I'm done bothering you (for today lulz.)

gobbles23

10-17-2012, 05:57 AM

I think that sounds like a great idea Ricki! My body always tells me when it's time for a break! Eat up, rest up, and I bet that scale will be ready to move again when you get back to it all! Supposing you're also going to use this time to take a break from the diet as well? It'll do your body good to have lots of rest and nutrients to repair itself with :)

marathonmom262

10-17-2012, 08:48 AM

^^^ Yes yes yes! The Gobbles is a smart lady:)

You may be super antsy this week but try to enjoy the time available to spend being productive in other ways as you said. Keep reminding yourself every day that at the end of the rest period you will be healthier and better able to go at it full steam ahead.

Almost spit my coffee out at the "Auntie Ham calling it a p*ssy pad" comment - thanks for the good laugh!

Echo814

10-18-2012, 09:33 AM

Totally sounds like your body needs a break :) I've gotten that groin pain before and its not fun at all. Lulz at the p!ssy pad :D I never know it existed until I went to Golds and found it on one of the barbells, I kinda looked around like WTF is this thing.

I agree rest, maybe do some light stretching and keep up with normal activity. Eat at your actually maintenance too, the body needs all the nutrients to repair whatever is wrong and if there is an actual injury :)

rickiecoombs

10-22-2012, 05:32 PM

Disclaimer: in an effort to seem like a completely natural, normal, healthy human being, I am going to write as though I am not totally pumped that Auntie Ham has written in my journal.

But if you have a mental picture of me doing a happy dance, you wouldn't be too far off the mark.

Problematic Rickie has problems.

Catching up a bit and you are making me lol all over the place. You have a great combo of lifts in here, compounds everywhere, glad to see that! Sorry to hear about this forearm injury. This may sound like a silly question but where specifically in your forearm is it hurting? And what were you doing when it started bothering you? Sucks though, no avoiding using your arm in daily activities. Not sure how long it's been hurting but did you see a doc about it?

Honest opinion on forearm work, unnessesary if you're doing compounds like benching, dl, ohp, pullups, row. Anything where you have a challenging amount of weight in your hands (and you do since you're not baning out 15 rep sets) will naturally build up forearms/grip. It's kinda like doing a bunch of tricep kickbacks instead of doing bench/incline, compounds are the more efficient way to go about it, just my opinion though, some people love their wrist curls.

EDIT: Oh crap, sorry I wrote a whole novel in here :o, there were just so many cool/interesting posts in here srs!
OMG MISC SHIRT!! I soooo gotta get me one of those. Also ran across adorable pup, dawwwww, wouldpet/10.

Haha ok I'm done bothering you (for today lulz.)

Um. HI!!

*swoon*

I was spotting hubby when my forearm first "officially" gave out. It hurt like crazy while doing EZbar curls, but the pain always went away once my sets were done. I haven't seen a doctor, but I'm hoping that the week's rest will help it.

Yah, my puppers is pretty awesome. There will be more pics of her to come, I'm sure. :)

MISC shirt - eBay!

You are more than welcome to write a book any time you so desire. :D Seriously - I am honoured that you came by - thanks!

I think that sounds like a great idea Ricki! My body always tells me when it's time for a break! Eat up, rest up, and I bet that scale will be ready to move again when you get back to it all! Supposing you're also going to use this time to take a break from the diet as well? It'll do your body good to have lots of rest and nutrients to repair itself with :)

Hey Lori! I sure hope that scale is ready to move - I feel a little whale-ish after this week. I went to the gym last night for the first time in about five days. Just did some core work - didn't want to overdo it. I was going to go tonight, but I decided to give my body one more day. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be 100%. Fingers crossed!!

^^^ Yes yes yes! The Gobbles is a smart lady

You may be super antsy this week but try to enjoy the time available to spend being productive in other ways as you said. Keep reminding yourself every day that at the end of the rest period you will be healthier and better able to go at it full steam ahead.

Almost spit my coffee out at the "Auntie Ham calling it a p*ssy pad" comment - thanks for the good laugh!

HEY mm! :D

She sure is smart! There are a few gals on here that I really look up to, with regards to advice. It's so great to have such a huge knowledge base to pull from!!!

I was antsy this week - in my mind. I was too busy to feel it much in my body - but in my head I was all, "Rickie, you are getting fat, fat, FAT!"

Haha - glad I could get a laugh out of you! I actually did think that in real life - it's crazy how much I read on here affects me in the gym! :D

Totally sounds like your body needs a break I've gotten that groin pain before and its not fun at all. Lulz at the p!ssy pad :D I never know it existed until I went to Golds and found it on one of the barbells, I kinda looked around like WTF is this thing.

I agree rest, maybe do some light stretching and keep up with normal activity. Eat at your actually maintenance too, the body needs all the nutrients to repair whatever is wrong and if there is an actual injury

Hai! Yeah... I was talking to a dancer-friend this weekend, who (when I told her about the groin issue) was all, "Uh, oh, Rickie - gotta rest that up - that can take a while to heal sometimes!" Now I'm scurred. :(

I haven't gone too overboard with the food (except for maybe on Saturday), but I certainly have been more lenient with myself. I'm bAack on my normal eating schedule now, though - hopefully I will see some more results!