Ride into the Danger Zone.

[LunaLifts]

Hi viccles! Thanks for taking an interest.

So I was using 10lb dumbbells for rear delt raises, but the reps were a little high. I thought 20s would be too high, but apparently not! I officially have no use for my 10lb dumbbells! All my lifts are stronger now.

[viccles007]

Delt raises are burny. Congrats on the PR!

[LunaLifts]

Actually tracked a workout today. Usually I don't bother, but I've been reading a few things that say there's benefits to tracking so I plan to do it more. Maybe not always on here, but at least in a notebook. Another thing I'm seeing a lot of is goal setting, and while I had a couple goals, I never actually thought out my short, and long term PR goals for more than squats, and deads. I have long term goal goals, but they aren't set in stone since I don't know what I'll look like at a certain weight and bf%, that'll depend on how I feel as I go.

I can't really think of a reasonable bench press goal since I haven't been able to give it a shot yet. I want to say long term would be benching 45s but with the weight of the bar that'd be about 135lbs (assuming it's a 7' 45lb oly bar). I don't know if that's doable for someone who doesn't plan on powerlifting. That said, here's my goals, any feedback is welcome.

Short Term:
Bench - N/A
Squats - 100lbs
Deadlift - 125lbs
OHP - 60lbs (I know, weak shoulders)

Long Term:
Bench - 100lbs
Squats - 135lbs-140lbs (My own body weight)
Deadlift - 200lbs
OHP - 80lbs

Like I said, feedback is welcome. Are some of these unreasonable for someone who's not aiming for a larger build? Are some selling myself short? I know I'll have a better idea as I work towards them, but it never hurts to try... well, it could hurt, lol, but you know what I mean!

[TubbyKitty]

Hi Luna...

Well done on starting your log. I will be following you and your progress. Luna and the dumbbells sounds right.

[terar21]

I never know what to do with short term goals because I never know what's reasonable either lol. I do like doing my weekly goals. Super short term and reasonable because I know what to do next. Helps keep me in the present.

And I'm definitely with you on bench. Not planning on training for powerlifting but there's no reason you still can't aim for it in the long-long term. Body weight bench is my goal. It'll definitely take some time to get there. But just gotta keep looking at it step by step.

[LunaLifts]

Yeah benching 45s would be about my body weight (depending on how my body looks as I go on it may be 5-10lbs less), but I don't know how realistic that is. I'm hoping I can squat more than my body weight, but I'd rather set goals I smash, and make new ones than set a goal I can't reach at all.

[terar21]

I bet you can do it. But I agree, definitely more satisfying to see shorter goals get it.

[LunaLifts]

Thanks, I'm going to do my best, that's the one thing that's certain.

Got some extra reps in some of my exercises (push-ups, lunges, and db shoulder press), unfortunately though my back was being stupid so I let the rear delt raises go for the day. (I know, I know, see a dr, I will as soon as I can!) Two days of rest should have it feeling a bit better for next week. I gotta remember to stretch more often, but until I make a habit of it I won't remember consistently.

[viccles007]

I'm not good with my stretching either, its such a chore for me.

[LunaLifts]

Sometimes it's relaxing, and enjoyable. Other times I'll just be bored, and thinking of things I'd rather be doing.
Or I'll have time, and nothing better to do (like right now), but just end up browsing pinterest and 'mirin articles.
>.<

[LunaLifts]

Well yesterday's workout was brief, but good. I was at my boyfriends which means different equipment, and different exercises. Squats (yay!), chest press, lat pulldowns, and barbell overhead press which burns far more than the same weight with dumbbells. O_O Well, it may also be because I was sitting on the floor (only just realized I didn't have to, whoops), and without having your feet on the ground to stabilize you makes it tougher too. I feel good though, and a bit sore. I can sit on the toilet without dying which is always nice the day after squats. lol

Ate a ton of crap over the weekend, today's my birthday but my boyfriend has to work so we celebrated early. With vodka, junk food, and games.

[terar21]

There's nothing better than a post-squat day with toilet-free pain lol.

And yeah, I think it was definitely harder without feet stabilizing and less ability to push with the whole body. I've only tried it standing though. It's so hard not to cheat and push.

[LunaLifts]

Yeah, I don't have the ceiling height for standing. Sitting still kills, it's just better sitting on a bench/seat instead of the floor.

Today's workout was pretty good. I wasn't really feeling it (nothing new lol), but I know what songs to start with to get me going. I usually play something upbeat so I can start dancing a bit, and once the blood is pumping I'm good to go. At least it's about 10 degrees cooler than yesterday, which is why I put it off for today.

My preworkout hasn't expired (it does next month), but it's been getting clumpy. I don't know if they changed the formula though. I was talking to someone about cellucor, and them changing their C4, and they make the one I take (N.0. Extreme). The newer one I have has stayed powdery so far so they must have changed that too. It's not gross, and it still dissolves, it's just weird. It has the consistency of "moon sand" if anyone's ever played with that that. lol

I get to get a new one soon because I'm almost out so I'm trying C4 (may have mentioned that), plus N.O. Fury because I do like using nitric oxide boosters. I'd just rather have a more energy-based supp, and add that separately to see how it works.

[terar21]

Do you work out in a garage gym?

Jealous about the new supplements. I want to do some new supp experimenting with my preworkout but don't want the water fluctuations right now. But I think I'd prefer pure energy supp and adding in other stuff too.

That's a really weird consistency!

[LunaLifts]

Nah, if I'm at my dad's place (I hang here while Jay (boyfriend) is at work) I work out in my room. If I'm at Jay's I'll work out in his room. My room has a lot of space, and limited equipment, his is more equipment, limited space. lol.

I've tried Jay's C4 before, and it wasn't bad. It was awhile ago, so I don't remember if I liked or disliked anything in particular. Just gotta hope I can get out to get some soon. Need to go food shopping too, but the brakes have been all flipped up lately.

[terar21]

Lol opposite problems. I'd let to get some home equipment too. I need to restock on food as well but my lack of food is pure laziness.

(I just did a double take because my brother's name is Jay and his girlfriend is your height lol)

[LunaLifts]

And finally the page loads! Flippin hate when BB doesn't feel like working right. :/ Some days it's just the forums, but I can't even get a workout tracked.

That said I had a pretty awesome workout Sat.
Day one: My quads are probably gonna be sore tomorrow.
Day two: Quads, and hams are killing me, but I'll be alright tomorrow.
Today: Holy crip, I'm a crapple!

I did sissy squats (on knees, I'm not that strong lol), and I felt it pretty hard during the exercise. So I was expecting to be sore from it. The hammy pain I did not see coming. I did two sets of deads, and the reason I didn't do a third was back concern not leg exhaustion. My legs are just killing today. Maybe it's also due to not getting nearly enough calories Sat. Though I'm sure I'd still be pretty damn sore today.

Went up 10lbs on lat pulldowns. They were starting to get easy, chest press is getting there, but I can't up that by 10lb at once, lol. I did try, but went from 12 reps to 5. Barely five.

That's funny, Jay may be a common name, but 5'9" isn't a common height, lol.

Gonna try to finish tracking Sat's workout, but I'm getting tired of trying to be patient with this crap. I've only gotten one exercise down, because everything is loading like I use internet explorer. >.< Let's hope this post goes through.

[viccles007]

Nice job on the lat pull down increase!

[LunaLifts]

Thanks viccles.

Well, I lost a half pound in the last six days, so that's discouraging. I had one day that was really low (not intentionally), but I thought I would have at least been able to offset that other days, and maintain. I was doing well up until now so it's just kind of a bummer. It's difficult not to be hard on yourself, because it's like, how do you fail at gaining weight? :/ Like anyone I want to be able to make the most out of the time I have to build, so any setback is a kick in the teeth.

Sorry for whining, just needed to vent.

[terar21]

Omg the site being down was VERY annoying.

Congrats on the lats! Big increase!

Legs feeling better? I've never tried sissy squats.

[LunaLifts]

I lose my mind when the site is down, lol. I love coming on in the morning, posting, getting my motivation for the day. When I can't do that it's frustrating.

Thanks. I don't do them often, but last time it was a little too heavy of an increase. Guess my dumbbell OHPs are doing their job.

My legs are alright. Worked through the DOMS yesterday, and thought I was going to be in trouble today, but I think working them helped a bit. A little sore, but I can make it up stairs, and sit on the toilet, so I'm pretty good. lol

[terar21]

Lol that's what I use as my baseline too...can I walk up the stairs and sit on a toilet

[LunaLifts]

FOOOOOOOOD!
We finally went food shopping (my dad was willing to risk a ticket at this point), and there's so much awesome chit to eat now! I missed my parmesan-y fish, and snacks, and I got a bunch of my favorite protein bars, and soda because easy calories. Omg, and everything bagels for breakfast sandwiches!

I fluffin' love food! Seriously, I have been so down for days, and just knowing I don't have to worry so much about getting enough calories, and having something good available (I was about to the point of just eating plain brown rice just to have something), has made my mood so much better. Lol.

That's my whole update, just wanted to cheer about food. >.<

[viccles007]

Agree - YAY FOR FOOD!

[terar21]

Yay food!

[LunaLifts]

So, being out of preworkout I figured I'd try to just psych myself up, and deal. After all, it's not like I always used it. I started out without it, went a long time without it too. I got this.

I did not have this.

I tend to get really into it once I get going (and get past my lunges). Today was the opposite. Got through my lunges fine, and something just dropped. Probably didn't help that I had to cut my rear delt flyes because my back was bothering me too. I was just so done, I tried to superset chest flyes into my crunches (which are usually just something to do between rear delt flyes and shoulder presses), pulled my shoulder a bit. Didn't hurt really, mostly just aggravated me further.

Decided f*ck sissy squats, I'm just doing some Arnold presses (been wanting to swap them with my shoulder presses for fun). At that point I felt better. I love both Arnold, and regular shoulder presses. I was disappointment in most of my workout, but my lunges, and shoulder presses were good. Basically the whole middle sucked.

I later did some negative pull ups and chin ups, because I did still feel down about the crap workout.

Next time should be better. I think it was just a bad day. Hopefully I get out to get my bar soon. Even if I can't afford the plates yet, just having the bar around will be motivating (plus at 45lbs it's enough to do 5lbs more on OHP).

Speaking of which, I think I have to get a 7' bar, however if the store itself has a 6' bar of the same brand (online they have a 7' bar for $88, and their 6' is a different brand and $130), I was thinking I may get that. Eventually we'll need a 7 for a bench, but that's a long way off. 7 is great for deadlifts, but I feel like it'd be a little much for OHP, squats, and good mornings?

[terar21]

Awwww I feel your preworkout pain. I was without mine end of last week and my god...struggle lift.

I would go ahead and get the 7' bar.

[LunaLifts]

I ended up ordering a 6ft bar since I don't need it for a bench anytime soon, and I think it'll be better until I improve my balance. It has a 500lb capacity which is 200lbs more than the 7ft I would have gotten. It's plenty for what I need right now. Plus it saved me some money I can put towards weights, so I can get back to my preworkout faster. lol.

That said I kinda lead up into a depression that was brief, but rough. Which would explain why I struggled so much with my other workout. Got in a great one yesterday. Just glad to be out of that mess, and back to routine.

[viccles007]

Glad you got in a great workout yesterday.

[LunaLifts]

Thanks Vic.

So I am SO FLUFFIN EXCITED!! Not only did I get my bar, (got here in just two days!), but my wonderful, supportive, amazingly sweet boyfriend ordered me some preworkout when he ordered his. Soon I'll have pwo again, and since I prefer to deload when I need to cycle off it, I'm going to deload for a bit until it gets here so I can get on that cycle again.

Hopefully by then I can get to the store for a couple 10lb plates (all I can afford, and all I need to get started), and collars because if a plate does slip off, I do not have the floor for that. Then I can fix up my routine. Maybe even go back to splits soon. I like having the extra day to lift chit every week.

I'm gonna play with my bar later, because it's my new toy, and I'm excited.