Stephanielynn's Journal: Finding the beauty in the beast

[stephanielynn76]

omg that's seriously amazing... just wondering, before you break a pr or lift a heavy weight or something, do you amp yourself up and if yes how? i realize a lot of it has to do with being mentally prepared.

and as for squats have you tried low bar? They feel so much better (imo) and not as hard on the knees.

Haha! Thanks! Girl I go into my "beast mode zone" when I get in there. I think fear is what holds a lot of people back from their full potential. I was terrified of not being able to get those 55's up and it turns out I didn't even need help on the first set (required a little on the second). I have never tried low bar but I'm thinking it would be worse. My problem is my tendency to lean forward. I think having the bar sit lower might make that worse. I'm going to work on some exercises where the weight is held in the FRONT of the body to help "train" myself to stay upright and not go into "good morning mode."

In! You're so inspiring

Awwwwww... thanks hun!

[stephanielynn76]

FRIDAY - JANUARY 25TH - PULL

DB Curls (unilateral - one arm at a time)
40's x 10 PR
40's x 9
40's x 4
35's x 10

Wide-grip Plate-loaded Lat Pulls
100 PPS x 8
100 PPS x 8
100 PPS x 9 PR
70 PPS x 10 (drop set)

Seated Plate-loaded Row
90 PPS x 9
95 PPS x 8 PR
95 PPS x 6
70 PPS x 9 (drop set)

While I did set some PR's this workout (I attempt to do that every workout while bulking btw)... it wasn't as "strong" as my "push day" on Wednesday. I guess ya can't rock them all.

[potatoe]

Curling 40lb db's for 10 reps? Pics of arm nao.

[stephanielynn76]

Curling 40lb db's for 10 reps? Pics of arm nao.

You mean my fatcepts? Srs brah... that's all they look like at this point. I did get a lot of strange looks picking those up and curling them though... LOL

[potatoe]

You mean my fatcepts? Srs brah... that's all they look like at this point. I did get a lot of strange looks picking those up and curling them though... LOL

They Can't be worse than mine. My biceps are turrible. So weak.

[stephanielynn76]

Well, not all that impressive but here ya go...

[stephanielynn76]

^^I've got very long arms with long muscle bellies. It takes a lot of muscle mass to even make a little bump there... :/

[Botika]

Well, not all that impressive but here ya go...

You underestimate your awesomeness, bi's look smashing!

[stephanielynn76]

You underestimate your awesomeness, bi's look smashing!

Well thanks!!! I do think I don't really realize what I look like to other people. Today the girl checking me out at the store said, "You work out a lot don't you?" After getting over my initial surprise I just smiled and replied, "Oh yes, I love lifting weights." She says, "I'm working on getting some 'guns' myself..." ... and she flexed her arm.

[potatoe]

I do arms today. Will take pic after I finish.

[ms_mac]

FRIDAY - JANUARY 25TH - PULL

DB Curls (unilateral - one arm at a time)
40's x 10 PR
40's x 9
40's x 4
35's x 10

Wide-grip Plate-loaded Lat Pulls
100 PPS x 8
100 PPS x 8
100 PPS x 9 PR
70 PPS x 10 (drop set)

Seated Plate-loaded Row
90 PPS x 9
95 PPS x 8 PR
95 PPS x 6
70 PPS x 9 (drop set)

While I did set some PR's this workout (I attempt to do that every workout while bulking btw)... it wasn't as "strong" as my "push day" on Wednesday. I guess ya can't rock them all.

40's!!! Wowzers!

[Miranda]

^^I've got very long arms with long muscle bellies. It takes a lot of muscle mass to even make a little bump there... :/

join the club

[thehobbes]

Wow curling the 40s is no easy task. I wouldn't even bother you if you were curling those dbs in the squat rack.

[Cardioconvert]

^^I've got very long arms with long muscle bellies. It takes a lot of muscle mass to even make a little bump there... :/

join the club

Member of that club too!

CC

[stephanielynn76]

I do arms today. Will take pic after I finish.

deliver or negs...

40's!!! Wowzers!

Wow curling the 40s is no easy task. I wouldn't even bother you if you were curling those dbs in the squat rack.

LOL!!! Haha! Thanks! For whatever reason my biceps have always been one of my stronger muscle groups. It's funny how that works.
...And Hobbes you can rest assured I have never curled anything in a squat rack!

join the club

Member of that club too!

Glad you feel my pain ... I have heard it said that it's harder and it takes longer to build the mass on longer limbs but in the end it looks better. What do yall think?

[stephanielynn76]

SATURDAY - JANUARY 26TH - LEGS

Seated Calf Press
90 x 20
100 x 15
100 x 15
70 x 25 (^^drop set)

Butt Machine
170 x 10
175 x 8
180 x 8 PR
100 x 15 (^^drop set)

Plate-load Squat Machine
140 x 10 Warm-up
270 x 10
290 x 8
320 x 3 PR
140 x 20 (widowmaker)

^^I followed that up with a few light sets of goblet squats and GHR's.

Cardio: Zumba

[thehobbes]

What is a Butt Machine? Nonetheless, good job getting a PR on said Butt Machine.

[stephanielynn76]

What is a Butt Machine? Nonetheless, good job getting a PR on said Butt Machine.

LOL! This here contraption...

[thehobbes]

Ohhh yeah we have one of those, glute thing (is broken atm.) 180?! Per leg? I've only done 110 the few times I've tried it, holy shat you have superior glutes!

[stephanielynn76]

Ohhh yeah we have one of those, glute thing (is broken atm.) 180?! Per leg? I've only done 110 the few times I've tried it, holy shat you have superior glutes!

Haha yes, 180 per leg. I do have a pretty big ass... or so I've been told. This old lady at the gym calls me "melons."

[thehobbes]

That's impressive! Hmmm shall I yell MELON BUTT in the middle of a Walmart and see how many seconds it takes for me to get beaten up? I'm thinking about 27, those motorized scooters are pretty speedy.

[stephanielynn76]

That's impressive! Hmmm shall I yell MELON BUTT in the middle of a Walmart and see how many seconds it takes for me to get beaten up? I'm thinking about 27, those motorized scooters are pretty speedy.

Bwahahahaha! Meh... I've seen you lift... I'm pretty sure you could take 'em.

[cmg1976]

SATURDAY - JANUARY 26TH - LEGS

Seated Calf Press
90 x 20
100 x 15
100 x 15
70 x 25 (^^drop set)

Butt Machine
170 x 10
175 x 8
180 x 8 PR
100 x 15 (^^drop set)

Plate-load Squat Machine
140 x 10 Warm-up
270 x 10
290 x 8
320 x 3 PR
140 x 20 (widowmaker)

^^I followed that up with a few light sets of goblet squats and GHR's.

Cardio: Zumba

What is a plate-load squat machine? All I can come up with in my head is a leg press... In any case, that is a ton of weight!

[stephanielynn76]

What is a plate-load squat machine? All I can come up with in my head is a leg press... In any case, that is a ton of weight!

The one I use looks something like this. I face forward (towards the machine) on it. I go all the way down as low as the machine allows (till it hits the rubber bumper) so it's a pretty low squat.

[Miranda]

Glad you feel my pain ... I have heard it said that it's harder and it takes longer to build the mass on longer limbs but in the end it looks better. What do yall think?

depends how you put it. the rate of muscle gain is the same regardless. but obviously you have to spread the same amount of muscle over a larger surface area so it looks like less than it actually is . . . or 'long and lean' as opposed to 'bulky'. dunno if that's 'better' for BB. a lot of it has to do with your build and bone structure too. you can be tall and proportionately large to go with it. or you can be tall and built like a bird. it's like comparing a mastiff to a whippet.

BBing is all about illusions. if you take a good look at many competing women (not pro FBBers), you notice they don't have all that much muscle. (only slightly talking out of my arse here.) now, of course they have 'more' muscle than your average non-training woman, but it only looks like a lot because they're so lean. put them in tracksuits and they're stick figures.

[Big_Sky_Guy]

Have to love the week after a deload!

[dreahere]

Awesome PRs up in here, Stephanie. You have some crazy upper body strength 180 on the glute machine is insane too. I only ever got up to 120 on that back when I used to do it all the time.

[NatK]

Haha yes, 180 per leg. I do have a pretty big ass... or so I've been told. This old lady at the gym calls me "melons."

Lol "melons", that is awesome!

[cmg1976]

The one I use looks something like this. I face forward (towards the machine) on it. I go all the way down as low as the machine allows (till it hits the rubber bumper) so it's a pretty low squat.

I see, thanks. I haven't noticed anything like that but there are a few machines I haven't paid attention to so at my gym. I'll take a closer look and see if we have one of those- a variation for when I don't want a barbell on my back for whatever reason would be nice.

[megdaig]

depends how you put it. the rate of muscle gain is the same regardless. but obviously you have to spread the same amount of muscle over a larger surface area so it looks like less than it actually is . . . or 'long and lean' as opposed to 'bulky'. dunno if that's 'better' for BB. a lot of it has to do with your build and bone structure too. you can be tall and proportionately large to go with it. or you can be tall and build like a bird. it's like comparing a mastiff to a whippet.

BBing is all about illusions. if you take a good look at many competing women (not pro FBBers), you notice they don't have all that much muscle. (only slightly talking out of my arse here.) now, of course they have 'more' muscle than your average non-training woman, but it only looks like a lot because they're so lean. put them in tracksuits and they're stick figures.

Haha..yup. I look sickly thin at the end of a cut. I keep thinking, there is a point where you no longer look good in clothes (because nothing fits or hangs right) but look smokin naked