Paichka
07-31-2005, 09:12 PM
Okay, so I thought I'd post this outside of my journal, so I can get the wisdom of the entire board involved.
I weighed myself this morning -- 164. ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR POUNDS. I am up 10 pounds since I last weighed myself, two months ago at my PT test. Now, my measurements are all the same, so this gain is mostly muscle. I have put on 10 pounds of muscle in two months. If I were a guy, that would be awesome.
However, I am a girl and I'd like to fit into my clothes when I go home on leave next month, so I need help. Here's what I've been doing:
Day 1: PM -- Legs & Shoulders
Day 2: AM -- run, PM -- Chest & Triceps
Day 3: AM -- run, PM -- Back & Biceps & Abs
Day 4: start over at Day 1
Day 5: same as Day 2
Day 6: same as Day 3
Day 7: Rest
etc.
I think I've gone up in muscle so much because I've been eating more than usual (usually around 2200-2400 cals) and I've really been neglecting my running. This past week especially, I only ran once. I tend to drop cardio first before I'll drop a weights workout.
Here are my options:
1) Stop lifting.
Just kidding.
2) Stop lifting legs -- I've gone up 100 pounds in my max squat in six months. I'm happy with the amount of muscle I have on my legs right now, I'm considering cutting my leg days out of my lifting program entirely, and replacing them with cardio intensive plyometric workouts.
3) Switch my lifting focus to lifting for endurance. Start lifting for 12-15 reps instead of 6-8, and up the number of working sets to 6-8 instead of 4. I've been playing around with pyramids recently -- starting at 12 reps and working my way down to 1 at my max weight, then going back up to 12. Do you think pyramids are a good endurance workout, or should I stick with straight sets of 12-15? Or is endurance lifting even something I should be considering?
4) Stick with what I've been doing, but make sure that I'm not skimping on my cardio. Make SURE I do at least 4-5 sessions of cardio a week, for 40-50 minutes each. This sounds like I ton I know, but I was an endurance athlete for many years (swimming & rowing) and my body can handle more cardio than the average bear.
5) Embrace the fact that I am a natural mesomorph and keep lifting like a beast. Guys like girls who outweigh them. Really.
Comments? Seriously, I know I shouldn't freak out -- all my guy friends were like, "what are you complaining about? you're an AMAZON!". I enjoy being able to lift as much as I can...but 164 pounds. That's more than I've ever weighed before in my entire life. Ever. I was a lightweight rower in college, and that had me at 135...I can't believe I'm 30 pounds heavier than I was 3 years ago.
help?
Sunny
I weighed myself this morning -- 164. ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR POUNDS. I am up 10 pounds since I last weighed myself, two months ago at my PT test. Now, my measurements are all the same, so this gain is mostly muscle. I have put on 10 pounds of muscle in two months. If I were a guy, that would be awesome.
However, I am a girl and I'd like to fit into my clothes when I go home on leave next month, so I need help. Here's what I've been doing:
Day 1: PM -- Legs & Shoulders
Day 2: AM -- run, PM -- Chest & Triceps
Day 3: AM -- run, PM -- Back & Biceps & Abs
Day 4: start over at Day 1
Day 5: same as Day 2
Day 6: same as Day 3
Day 7: Rest
etc.
I think I've gone up in muscle so much because I've been eating more than usual (usually around 2200-2400 cals) and I've really been neglecting my running. This past week especially, I only ran once. I tend to drop cardio first before I'll drop a weights workout.
Here are my options:
1) Stop lifting.
Just kidding.
2) Stop lifting legs -- I've gone up 100 pounds in my max squat in six months. I'm happy with the amount of muscle I have on my legs right now, I'm considering cutting my leg days out of my lifting program entirely, and replacing them with cardio intensive plyometric workouts.
3) Switch my lifting focus to lifting for endurance. Start lifting for 12-15 reps instead of 6-8, and up the number of working sets to 6-8 instead of 4. I've been playing around with pyramids recently -- starting at 12 reps and working my way down to 1 at my max weight, then going back up to 12. Do you think pyramids are a good endurance workout, or should I stick with straight sets of 12-15? Or is endurance lifting even something I should be considering?
4) Stick with what I've been doing, but make sure that I'm not skimping on my cardio. Make SURE I do at least 4-5 sessions of cardio a week, for 40-50 minutes each. This sounds like I ton I know, but I was an endurance athlete for many years (swimming & rowing) and my body can handle more cardio than the average bear.
5) Embrace the fact that I am a natural mesomorph and keep lifting like a beast. Guys like girls who outweigh them. Really.
Comments? Seriously, I know I shouldn't freak out -- all my guy friends were like, "what are you complaining about? you're an AMAZON!". I enjoy being able to lift as much as I can...but 164 pounds. That's more than I've ever weighed before in my entire life. Ever. I was a lightweight rower in college, and that had me at 135...I can't believe I'm 30 pounds heavier than I was 3 years ago.
help?
Sunny