Stephanielynn's Journal: Finding the beauty in the beast

[gobbles23]

Oh! No more deload! Yay! They are so necessary, but so freaking boring!

[cmg1976]

The most I did was 115lbs for several reps but not to failure. I think had I not already been so tired I would have attempted more. Now I want to start benching more regularly. I must find a decent spotter...[/QUOTE]

I've seen you post around that you aren't particularly strong but I think that is an excellent bench! I'll be ecstatic when I don't have to put little 5 and 10's on the bar myself. A spot that doesn't involve teabagging a sweaty stranger, right? lol. Told you that would be stuck in my head forever!

[thehobbes]

Well Santa's out as a spotter. What bout the tooth fairy? At least you know she's not gonna tea-bag you!

[NatK]

I'm a little late, but in!! Love reading your posts stephanie

[pharty]

115 is great are you kidding me???
I have boy spotters and have never been t-bagged lol.

[stephanielynn76]

Oh! No more deload! Yay! They are so necessary, but so freaking boring!

No kidding! Deloads make me feel like I'm being unproductive and lazy.

I've seen you post around that you aren't particularly strong but I think that is an excellent bench! I'll be ecstatic when I don't have to put little 5 and 10's on the bar myself. A spot that doesn't involve teabagging a sweaty stranger, right? lol. Told you that would be stuck in my head forever!

Hahaha! Thanks! Actually the guy that spotted me yesterday did just fine. Maybe the tea-bagger was just a perv???

Well Santa's out as a spotter. What bout the tooth fairy? At least you know she's not gonna tea-bag you!

LMAO!

I'm a little late, but in!! Love reading your posts stephanie

Thanks girl! I'll check out your journal too!

115 is great are you kidding me???
I have boy spotters and have never been t-bagged lol.

Well that makes me feel a LOT better. I will keep working on it though... I'd love to have some "wheels" on my bar eventually too!

[stephanielynn76]

MONDAY, JANUARY 21 - LEGS

Belted Calf Raises
120 x 20
130 x 16
140 x 15

Prone Ham Curls
110 x 12
120 x 8
120 x 6

BB Squats
Warmup:
bar x 20
111 x 12
122 x 10
133 x 9
Working sets:
144 x 5
Widowmaker -100 x 20

Squats are a struggle for me. I'm having a difficult time with making very much progress on them and I still have issues with my form. I watched some "Squat Rx" videos on youtube to try and figure out how to improve. I really need to video myself to see exactly what I'm doing. I know for certain I tend to push my hips up before my upper body which ends up looking like a half-squat half-good morning. Today I focused to keeping my upper body more upright and driving it up. This was easier to do with lighter weight but as soon as it started getting heavier, my form started to suffer. I need practice. In addition to my training today I tried out a few other exercises (goblets & zerchers) with light weight just to get a feel for them. I also did some of the recommended stretches. I am so gonna be sore tomorrow!

[cmg1976]

MONDAY, JANUARY 21 - LEGS

Belted Calf Raises
120 x 20
130 x 16
140 x 15

Prone Ham Curls
110 x 12
120 x 8
120 x 6

BB Squats
Warmup:
bar x 20
111 x 12
122 x 10
133 x 9
Working sets:
144 x 5
Widowmaker -100 x 20

Squats are a struggle for me. I'm having a difficult time with making very much progress on them and I still have issues with my form. I watched some "Squat Rx" videos on youtube to try and figure out how to improve. I really need to video myself to see exactly what I'm doing. I know for certain I tend to push my hips up before my upper body which ends up looking like a half-squat half-good morning. Today I focused to keeping my upper body more upright and driving it up. This was easier to do with lighter weight but as soon as it started getting heavier, my form started to suffer. I need practice. In addition to my training today I tried out a few other exercises (goblets & zerchers) with light weight just to get a feel for them. I also did some of the recommended stretches. I am so gonna be sore tomorrow!

Can you post a video of your squats? I did that for a squat and deadlift form check a couple days ago and I got tons of help (mostly in the over 35 section).

[kimm4]

MONDAY, JANUARY 21 - LEGS

Belted Calf Raises
120 x 20
130 x 16
140 x 15

Prone Ham Curls
110 x 12
120 x 8
120 x 6

BB Squats
Warmup:
bar x 20
111 x 12
122 x 10
133 x 9
Working sets:
144 x 5
Widowmaker -100 x 20

Squats are a struggle for me. I'm having a difficult time with making very much progress on them and I still have issues with my form. I watched some "Squat Rx" videos on youtube to try and figure out how to improve. I really need to video myself to see exactly what I'm doing. I know for certain I tend to push my hips up before my upper body which ends up looking like a half-squat half-good morning. Today I focused to keeping my upper body more upright and driving it up. This was easier to do with lighter weight but as soon as it started getting heavier, my form started to suffer. I need practice. In addition to my training today I tried out a few other exercises (goblets & zerchers) with light weight just to get a feel for them. I also did some of the recommended stretches. I am so gonna be sore tomorrow!

The goblet and zerchers will def help. I find front squats extremely helpful too. Even though they're a quad dominant exercise, they're very helpful when it comes to practicing form.

Looks great Steph!

[thehobbes]

Nice weight on squats nonetheless, never met a person who said squats came easy to them haha. Kimm4 has good squat advice there, Zerchers are pretty badass, you will love em!

[stephanielynn76]

Can you post a video of your squats? I did that for a squat and deadlift form check a couple days ago and I got tons of help (mostly in the over 35 section).

That is an excellent idea... I need to do that. I saw your vids... your squats are spot-on. Great job! I know with me... at lighter weights I feel like my form is good. It's when I'm trying to push myself up to those heavier numbers that I struggle.

The goblet and zerchers will def help. I find front squats extremely helpful too. Even though they're a quad dominant exercise, they're very helpful when it comes to practicing form.

Looks great Steph!

Nice weight on squats nonetheless, never met a person who said squats came easy to them haha. Kimm4 has good squat advice there, Zerchers are pretty badass, you will love em!

Thanks ladies! It's good to know I'm not the only one struggling with form. I think the Zerchers and goblets are just what I need so I can practice keeping my body upright (preventing the tendency to good morning the move).

So I accomplished nothing today other than some homework for my class and downing a couple of apple martinis. No training. I can barely walk from yesterday so I'm taking it easy.

... I'm craving Lucky Charms...

[Botika]

Thanks ladies! It's good to know I'm not the only one struggling with form. I think the Zerchers and goblets are just what I need so I can practice keeping my body upright (preventing the tendency to good morning the move).

Have you seen this video? I found it really useful....

[stephanielynn76]

^^Yes I watch a lot of that one but it's so darn LONG. I found the Squat Rx vids easier to watch because they are shorter and broken down into different topics.

[Botika]

I found the Squat Rx vids easier to watch because they are shorter and broken down into different topics.

I'll have to check those out! Thanks.

[thehobbes]

Did you say LUCKY CHARMS?! OMG may have to get some of those tomorrow, have not had em in ages. I always sort out and eat the crappy cereal part first and then wind up with a giant ball of marshmellows at the end. Nom, nom, nom!

[stephanielynn76]

Did you say LUCKY CHARMS?! OMG may have to get some of those tomorrow, have not had em in ages. I always sort out and eat the crappy cereal part first and then wind up with a giant ball of marshmellows at the end. Nom, nom, nom!

^^LMAO.... I do the same thing!!!! It's all about the marshmallows baby! I tell the kids not to pick them out of the box... then I do it when they aren't looking

[gobbles23]

Lucky Charms!? I haven't had those in ages! Oh, YUM!

I love goblets and zerchers! They're fun! I miss my heavy d.b's for goblets Box squats are awesome for getting better at regular squats, too. They're my favorite. I don't even do regular squats anymore! Haven't in YEARS. Hahha! We don't get along very well!

[stephanielynn76]

WEDNESDAY - JANUARY 23RD - PUSH

Incline DB Bench
50's x 10
55's x 6 - PR
55's x 5

Pull-pin Shoulder Press Machine
130 x 10
140 x 7 - PR
140 x 6

Close-grip Bench Press on the Smith (weight added, not counting bar)
85 x 9
90 x 6
90 x 6 - PR

Zumba

^^As much as I hate deloads... sometimes they are just what I need!!!! I'm so stoked to have gotten those 55's up. I had a guy there ready to spot in case I couldn't do it... didn't even need him! BAM!!! Then I finally got dem wheels up on my CGBP... something I've been working towards for months. Brb feeling like a badass all up in the gym t'day! Woot woot!

[dreahere]

Wow! In awe of those 55s!

[stephanielynn76]

Lucky Charms!? I haven't had those in ages! Oh, YUM!

I love goblets and zerchers! They're fun! I miss my heavy d.b's for goblets Box squats are awesome for getting better at regular squats, too. They're my favorite. I don't even do regular squats anymore! Haven't in YEARS. Hahha! We don't get along very well!

Well I'm in good company then because I haven't done anything but box squat for a long time now myself! I feel lost without my box!

... and I did have the Lucky Charms yesterday...

[pharty]

I used to pick the M&Ms out of the trailmix.

[gobbles23]

I used to pick the M&Ms out of the trailmix.

WHY!? M&M's + nuts + raisins = awesomeness!

Awesome inclines Stephanie!

[-H-]

55's?!?!
Amazing!!!

[pharty]

Whoohoo totally missed the workout too busy thinking about Me Lucky Charms I guess!
PR city

[thehobbes]

Wow 55s on incline is EXCELLENT, great job! Other PRs as well, I think this calls for a BOOM - PRs EVERYWHERE!!!

[toodlepip]

55s...wow...seriously impressed!

[stephanielynn76]

Thanks for da luv errybody!!!

Well... I may have owned those 55's yesterday but they have come back to bite me today. Brb stuck in my shirt cuz I can't lift my arms.

So, how abnormal is it that my incline chest exercises are much stronger than my flat? My friend swears it's because my shoulders are stronger than my triceps. Thoughts?

[locolala]

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.

[BubsNBean]

In! You're so inspiring

[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!