Laser Focus

[LunaLifts]

Glad you're feeling better, and yay for ab goals! Good luck with leaning out that last bit, it can be stubborn.

[shesprints]

Glad you're feeling better, and yay for ab goals! Good luck with leaning out that last bit, it can be stubborn.

Yeah, both my brother and I have trouble getting visible abs even when we're lean (and he's athletic--he used to play D1 tennis). It's just our build. Hence my focus on core work lately; I think I just am not good at activating those muscles, and so they are small; plus that's where I hold some fat.

But I'm not chasing a particular aesthetic, I'm chasing athletic performance and body comp is following. That's very helpful, I'm finding.


So today I'm at Canyon Ranch! It's so fun here. All kinds of classes. Today I've done...


3.34 mile easy run outside (hilly, woof)

some calisthenics on my own:
Band pullaparts behind, overhead, front 3 x 8 each
Scapula pushups 3 x 10
Assisted pullup parallel grip red band 3 x 3, 1 unassisted, 2 red band
Dips 3 x 3
Box jumps 24" 3 x 3
Pushups 3 x 5
(low volume, just hate to miss my pullups)

40 min Pilates

40 min boxing
(we did some cool footwork drills that remind me of track; I was the fastest, not that it's a competition, and I can really feel my improved strength and conditioning on the heavy bag)

And now I have to teach a student via Skype. But tomorrow I'm genuinely free.

The food here is great, I'll give you that. Great for low fat high carb eating. Hoping I can get some sleep tonight; been having trouble with that, perhaps due to caffeine too late in the day. Today I cut myself off at 10am. We'll see.

[Fiction2Fitness]

X.X

I can't even imagine cutting off at 10 am. Then again, some days I don't start caffeine until after that time.

The place and workouts sound fun. Enjoy the time, especially when you get the day of freedom.

[shesprints]

Yeah, but I think the caffeine is contributing to my insomnia. Had less today and napped HARD in the afternoon. Felt so good.

Today was fun but easier. All I did for a workout was a run and some messing around to show my mom some glute exercises.


Run--3.06 miles easy


Oh, and I did some archery later. Had a nap, like I said, and soon I'm going to go to bed for real. My body is SORE, especially my back, perhaps from boxing?

I'm also moving from my strength and low intensity cardio phase into explosiveness and speed training. Lighter weights for legs, more intense running. More focus on athleticism. Will still deadlift because I love it, but will alternate front and back squats and perhaps add some power cleans.

[shesprints]

Bleh. Woke up hungry at 3am even without caffeine. Probably was too far below maintenance by bedtime. So I had midnight snacktime and went back to bed.

But had a good work out when I got up.

Band pullaparts behind, overhead, front 3 x 8 each
Scapula pushups 3 x 10
Animal crawls inchworm, leopard, bear, chicken back/forward
Assisted pullup blue 3 x 4
Assisted chinup blue x 5, red 2 x 2, blue x 5
Cossack squats 3 x 10 each way
Pistols off box 10lb 3 x 4 each
Dips 3 x 4
Pushups 3 x 5

+

Run--3.7 miles
.5 mi easy
20 min tempo @ 7:30
.5 no easy

7:30 pace feeling nice and smooth. Cutting back a bit on lifting legs helps for sure.

[shesprints]

Actually slept last night. Calories were lower (ha, lower... 2750) and likely will be today as well, since my appetite's down, as was the intensity of today's workout:


I hour Pilates
[I'm getting a lot better at maintaining tension through my entire core AND keeping shoulders back and down at the same time, though my left shoulder keeps sliding out of place and clicking... will stay on it]
The instructor for this class is hardcore. She has us do pushups with a hover + hold at the bottom before pushing back up.

+

3.05 miles easy run

Now chilling on my couch with bare feet so I can work on toe mobility. Srs, that's a thing. I want to recruit the muscles in my feet better for balance and such.

[FannySkelper]

Actually slept last night. Calories were lower (ha, lower... 2750) and likely will be today as well, since my appetite's down, as was the intensity of today's workout:


I hour Pilates
[I'm getting a lot better at maintaining tension through my entire core AND keeping shoulders back and down at the same time, though my left shoulder keeps sliding out of place and clicking... will stay on it]
The instructor for this class is hardcore. She has us do pushups with a hover + hold at the bottom before pushing back up.

+

3.05 miles easy run

Now chilling on my couch with bare feet so I can work on toe mobility. Srs, that's a thing. I want to recruit the muscles in my feet better for balance and such.

GSP went on and on in his autobiography about feet being the most important thing in athletic performance

[shesprints]

GSP went on and on in his autobiography about feet being the most important thing in athletic performance

Sweet, just downloaded that for my Kindle.

So now the question is, should I become one of the douchebags with the Vibrams?? Hmmmmm.


Today I hit upper body and easy cardio. Feeling low energy. Hoping it's PMS (feels a bit that way) because I've been dealing with amenorrhea likely linked to my recent fat loss. I don't like missing periods, though happily I never have to worry about pregnancy cause I'm not f*cking dudes right now. But it's still dangerous because of potential bone density effects. I've had THREE stress fractures and do not want to ask for trouble here. That's part of why I am staying around maintenance calories right now.

We'll see.


Workout:

Band pullaparts 3 directions 3 x 8 each way
Scapula pushups 3 x 10
Dead hang 1 min
Assisted pullups blue 3 x 3
Assisted chinups red 3 x 3
Pushups regular 2 x 8, decline 2 x 8
Bench 100lb 3 x 5
OHP curly bar 55lb 3 x 8
Dips 3 x 2

+

3.05 miles easy run

[shesprints]

Feeling somewhat better today. Honestly, I just can't sustain the deficit right now. I don't sleep and can't focus. Went back up to 3k calories from 2700 yesterday, will be in that ballpark today too, already feel a lot better. Plus tomorrow is my day off working out; much-needed.

The good news is I have my brain in order and have been able to WRITE again. OMFG. This is a complete rewrite of the novel I was working on last year, if that's familiar to anyone. It's much easier to have the discipline to approach it when I'm a. on top of my OWN fitness game, since I'm writing about athletes and b. well-fed.

The bad news is the tremendous work stress I'm under. One of the parents of a kid I tutor is straight up INSANE, and I'm constantly needing to soothe her fears and insecurities and paranoia. O WELL.

Workouts:

Pilates 55 min

Easy run, 3.05 miles

will be working all day so I may break my 1 cup of coffee a day rule in order to survive.

[LunaLifts]

Sorry about the work stress, but on the plus side, you're into your writing again which can help you escape that stress for a bit. It's good to have stuff like that to take your mind off everything else.

[Fiction2Fitness]

Yay for writing! Blah to the stress. I wish I could say I've been writing lately but not so much. Maybe in November since it's national novel writing month, I will make some progress too. Hope the writing continues for you and the stress decreases.

[FannySkelper]

Feeling somewhat better today. Honestly, I just can't sustain the deficit right now. I don't sleep and can't focus. Went back up to 3k calories from 2700 yesterday, will be in that ballpark today too, already feel a lot better. Plus tomorrow is my day off working out; much-needed.

The good news is I have my brain in order and have been able to WRITE again. OMFG. This is a complete rewrite of the novel I was working on last year, if that's familiar to anyone. It's much easier to have the discipline to approach it when I'm a. on top of my OWN fitness game, since I'm writing about athletes and b. well-fed.

The bad news is the tremendous work stress I'm under. One of the parents of a kid I tutor is straight up INSANE, and I'm constantly needing to soothe her fears and insecurities and paranoia. O WELL.

Workouts:

Pilates 55 min

Easy run, 3.05 miles

will be working all day so I may break my 1 cup of coffee a day rule in order to survive.

Is that the book about those wrestlers having gay sex with half nelsons? Hnnnnngggg wait what

[DannPM]

Holy crap, you've added some insane muscle mass and definition since I last checked in (and it's been awhile.) Looking absolutely beast! Great job!!!!

[shesprints]

Sorry about the work stress, but on the plus side, you're into your writing again which can help you escape that stress for a bit. It's good to have stuff like that to take your mind off everything else.

Yeah. For awhile, writing was causing me stress because I kept comparing myself to other people and getting anxious, but I've finally centered myself a bit and am simply enjoying the story. I've also fixed some plot holes that were getting in my way.

Yay for writing! Blah to the stress. I wish I could say I've been writing lately but not so much. Maybe in November since it's national novel writing month, I will make some progress too. Hope the writing continues for you and the stress decreases.

Haha so about NaNoWriMo... I am SO NOT A JOINER OF THINGS. You can tell from this log that I cannot even follow a program someone else has created. But if you do well with that kind of group support, I say go for it. For me, joining NaNo or something like that is a sure way for me to get writer's block and shut down entirely. Just how I am.

Is that the book about those wrestlers having gay sex with half nelsons? Hnnnnngggg wait what

Actually, I've substantially changed it and made it less... hm, porny? The original version is very different from the current iteration. You have to understand that the first draft was written for my fanfiction friends who basically asked for porn. The rewrite is much more a standard, though dark, novel, rather than so much erotica.

Holy crap, you've added some insane muscle mass and definition since I last checked in (and it's been awhile.) Looking absolutely beast! Great job!!!!

Thank you bro! You're looking good too--starting up your log again? Still running? The secret to my success is CARBS and LOTS OF THEM. And bodyweight exercises for upper body bearing in mind I'm a female with pretty big legs, so just my bodyweight is a lot and has turned my arms from stick arms to moderate guns.

Also helped getting off of an antidepressant drug that seemed to make my body both hold onto fat and fail to improve fitness-wise (both studied effects of the drug). I'm not depressed now so I don't need it. Hurrah.



Today's workout was only OK, though I was looking forward to it so much after my day off yesterday. It looks good on paper but I felt a little foggy-brained. Kind of a Benadryl hangover, if you've ever had that.


Band pullaparts 3 ways 3 x 8 each way
Scapula pushups 3 x 10
Animal crawls (leopard, bear, crab, chicken forwards and back)
Assisted chinup facing grip red band 3 x 3
Cossack squats 3 x 10 each way
Dips 3 x 3
Pistol squats off box 10lb 3 x 4 each leg
Box jumps 3 x 3
GHR 3 x 8
Lat pull down facing grip w/ single hand release 55lb 3 x 6 each hand
Single leg hamstring curl 55lb 3 x 6 each leg
Pushups 3 x 6


+ interval run

4 miles total
easy warmup and cooldown
1200m (.75mi) @ 7:03
800m (.5mi) @ 6:40
400m (.25mi) @ 6:18
200m (.125mi) @ 6:00
100m (.06mi) @ 5:27
-->with a 400m (.25mi) jog between each interval


Like I said, not my best workout but I felt nice and warm after my run. I do enjoy that about hard cardio; it warms my muscles up from the inside.

[shesprints]

Today I work all day so I got in a quick morning workout.

3.1 miles easy run

55 min Pilates

And I'm sorry, but counter to popular myth I do NOT get anything like the ab workout from compound lifts that I do from doing Pilates movements. Best thing I've ever done for my core. I actually feel muscle in there now.

Was talking to my brother about lifting. Seems we both have lagging ab muscles but genetically big legs (both fast runners, too). He also has to do a lot of direct ab work--fwiw he is seeing results from Ab Ripper X.

[DannPM]

Thank you bro! You're looking good too--starting up your log again? Still running? The secret to my success is CARBS and LOTS OF THEM. And bodyweight exercises for upper body bearing in mind I'm a female with pretty big legs, so just my bodyweight is a lot and has turned my arms from stick arms to moderate guns.

Also helped getting off of an antidepressant drug that seemed to make my body both hold onto fat and fail to improve fitness-wise (both studied effects of the drug). I'm not depressed now so I don't need it. Hurrah.

Maybe start back logging sooner than later. About a year ago our non-sleeper baby pretty much nulled my willpower to keep a decent diet and I'm pretty much a strong dad bod right now lol. He's MUCH better sleeping now but I'm currently curtailing my bad habits from sleep-deprived dietary hedonism.

I developed some probably non-clinical binging habits that I need to stop. I've been successful so far though over the last week. Definitely plan to start the hybrid training style up again. I can still run un-winded though, which is a plus!

[shesprints]

I'm sorry to hear about the binging habits. I know that can be related to sleep deprivation or excessive calorie restriction for a period of time. I, at least, was shocked to see how high my calorie needs are with my current program (heavy on cardio as well as lifting). I know you were dieting pretty hard for awhile. I look forward to seeing you back to your hybrid training, though. I always like company over here in my GPP corner.


Today I felt like getting back to some compound lifts, though I kept it light.

Band pullaparts 3 ways 3 x 8
Scapula pushups 3 x 10

Superset:
Front squats 95lb 3 x 5 fast
Deadlifts 135lb 3 x 5 fast

Assisted pullup blue x 4, 3, 3
Assisted chinup red 3 x 3
Plyo pushups 3 x 5
Dips 3 x 3
Lat pull down w single arm release 70lb 3 x 4 each side

+ 3.33 miles run
mostly easy but with 4 x 40-second strides @ 6:40, 6:31, 6:18, 6:00


Feeling kind of bleh today as well, not sure why--though I actually slept well last night. Or at least--I woke up like 3 times but got back to sleep and woke up for good at 7:40. That's majorly late for me. I think increasing protein helped with that so I didn't wake up hungry. Going to keep % protein a bit higher and see how I feel.

Oh, and then gym today was funny. There were mostly women in the weight section. One was this JACKED lady who was maybe 2 inches shorter and 10-20 pounds heavier than me (mostly muscle) who was banging out 225lb squats and weighted chinups. Then there was this other lady practicing Olympic lifts who is slighter than I am. It was like before, during, after with me as the "during." I was mirin the jacked woman's delts hard. She was doing a lot of back work like bent over BB rows and single arm DB rows (with 60lb!) that I should probably include in my routine. For some reason I have trouble establishing mind-muscle connection with those movements, though.

[shesprints]

I have got to fix my sleep issues. Last night it wasn't that I was hungry--I ate a good amount pre-bed--but it was so hot >< all of a sudden that I was all sweaty and kept waking up. Bleh! At least I got some quality writing done while insomniac.

Today was my recovery day, Pilates and easy run, as usual.

Pilates--55 min

Easy run--3.05 miles

The instructor asked me to do more advanced versions of some of the moves in future as she can see I've improved. Super happy with that. Core strength is important for so many of the athletic things I'm doing. I'm also planning out my schedule for once I start BJJ--thinking of doing that Tuesday/Saturday, and perhaps lifting Wednesday and Sunday. Maybe some upper body on Monday as well because I do well with frequency over volume there ("greasing the groove").

[LunaLifts]

Sorry to hear about the sleep issues, but yay for writing. All the best ideas come in the middle of the night
I sometimes have trouble sleeping, because my feet will get really hot. I'll have no socks on, no blankets on my feet or legs, and the AC blowing on them, and they'll be super uncomfortable. Sometimes I put a cold water bottle between them, to roll around. It does help, but then I'm not sleeping, because I'm kicking around a water bottle.

Yay for the pilates progress too, awesome that you're not just making progress, but making progress others can see.

[Glopop11]

Great journal! I did a Pilates class for a couple months and wow, my abs got rock hard, though not visible. I'm hoping I can get back to that class starting this week.

A year ago when I was using a trainer I said "I'm not a joiner, I won't ever do any classes, especially that silly Pilates stuff." The sneaky gal had me doing Pilates in some of our session without me even knowing what it was!

[shesprints]

@Luna thanks! Sadly the sleep issue is not improving... two nights of barely any sleep now. UGH. I hope I can take a nap this afternoon. Then I guess I need to get candy for trick-or-treaters so I'm not the building evil troll.

@Glopop, yep, I definitely felt some sort of internalized misogyny phobia toward Pilates, but it turns out it's legit af. Plus, honestly, on my own I'm awful about core work and mobility, and Pilates is a great and convenient way for me to fit those both into my routine in a fairly mindless way.


So bleh. I barely slept again, not sure why. Woke up at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep. Had a bunch of coffee (bad idea, but I was so droopy) and went to the gym... I was going to make my run into a tempo but without sleep I couldn't do it, so I did some easyish intervals instead. Also probably a good call as my right hip is rather sore/stiff/achy.


Weights:

Band pullaparts 3 x 8 3 ways
Scapula pushups 3 x 10
Dead hang 1 min
Assisted pullup blue 3 x 4
Assisted chinup red 3 x 3
Pushups 3 x 8
Squats 115lb 3 x 6
Bench press 95lb 3 x 6
Single arm lat pulldowns 40lb 3 x 6 each

+

3.4 miles run
mostly easy, with 1 min @ 7:30 pace
and
7 x 1:00 @ 7:00 pace


So yeah, lighter weights mostly working on form and a moderate interval run and hopefully that'll tire me out enough to sleep.

Bleh. Feel awful.

[shesprints]

Took a day off and also took it easy today--my hip is hurting, which makes me very cautious. I think stretching + Pilates helped. I've also been ravenously hungry and tired! I think I got behind my carb requirements a bit so I'm making sure to eat enough of them today.


Run--3.05 miles easy

+ 55 min Pilates


And pancakes for lunch. It's actually quite difficult to eat enough carbohydrate unless I make a concerted effort. I think many people who claim that they overeat carbohydrates are really overeating a mixture of carbs and fat. It's legit hard to get 100g in a meal without feeling overfull, but since my needs per day seem to be between 400 and 500g, that's what I have to do.

[LunaLifts]

Not sure if I've brought this up before, but have you tried melatonin for sleep? It make take a few tries to find the dose that works for you, but it does work well. Only thing besides my anxiety meds that puts me out when I need it.

I hear you on being hungry, last couple days I want to eat a ton, but also don't. It's odd. Like I'm hungry a lot, but it doesn't seem like "real" hunger, because when I think about actually eating something I'm "meh" about it. Maybe it's the season, or anxiety, or being off with my workouts, or off with tracking... Globdamn I need to get consistent again. >.<

I think you're right about the overeating carbs and fats thing. I mean, it's easy to eat quite a bit of refined carbs, but think of how many carbs are eaten with fat sources. Processed meals/foods are high in fat and carbs, pizza has cheese, rice and potatoes have butter, pasta can have cheese, or cream-based sauces, breads for sandwiches with cheese and/or mayo, etc.
Since trying to focus on more protein, I find my diet tends to be less carbs, and more protein and fat without trying to cut carbs (anymore, I did do lower carb for my cut for the sake of switching things up).

[Fiction2Fitness]

Haha so about NaNoWriMo... I am SO NOT A JOINER OF THINGS. You can tell from this log that I cannot even follow a program someone else has created. But if you do well with that kind of group support, I say go for it. For me, joining NaNo or something like that is a sure way for me to get writer's block and shut down entirely. Just how I am.

Ahh. Yeah, it doesn't work for everyone. When I first made the attempts I'd never written a full story let alone novel length. Over the years, it helped me reach the goal of writing a novel. Most of the time it helps me focus on a single project as I tend to have several going at once. Though this year I'm writing 3 novels... so much for focus. lol. I need to do rewriting and editing too. Think that will be my focus in December and January.


And wait... *reads over other comments* Writing m/m?

If so you have my attention even more. ;-)

[shesprints]

@Luna at this point I trust my appetite. I think my workouts are so depleting and long that I KNOW what I feel after is genuine hunger, so that keeps me in touch with my satiety signals throughout the day, as well. Sometimes, however, running upsets my stomach (like today) and it's not so much that I'm stomach-hungry as that I can sense my energy is low and I need carbs to refuel. I've gotten quite good at reading my body signals lately, I think. Realized, tracking backwards, that I'm losing about 1/2 lb a week on 3k calories, which puts my maintenance around 3250. That's what the Symmetric Strength website predicts for my stats, incidentally.

@Fiction2Fitness, I suppose we all work differently. I'm a self-directed person: that is why I do not perform well when coached. I also need to be in my own space to write well. Too much outside input makes it very difficult for me to remain focused. But yes, it has a gay relationship of sorts; it's about a closeted gay (or bi, it's never entirely clear) college wrestler who winds up involved his coach. It's not particularly romantic; it's more... idk, f*cked up, coach is living vicariously through him and wants to control his life, etc. The other main character is straight and has a relationship with a girl. (That relationship is also f*cked up, because the guy is socially awkward and doesn't know how to treat women as people, is very jealous, etc.). Oh, and there's even a lesbian in there. I suppose I'm playing with the theme of our culture's current sexual fluidity. It's personal to me, since I was closeted for a long time. But the story's less about sex and much more about the sacrifices required to be truly great in a sport and the ways it can warp a person. Anyway. GL with your writing. I'm trying to keep myself focused and also do some "method acting" with my workouts--since I'm writing about athletes, I always want to get in character by pushing myself hard.


Today I didn't feel so great--stomach issues from eating too much onion yesterday, I guess. BUT after my easy run today my hip feels a whole lot better. I need to take it easy on the speedwork for a bit, I suppose. I made up for that by doing extra lifting. I'm experimenting with higher frequency bench as that is my weakest lift at present.



Weights:
Band pullaparts 3 ways 3 x 8
Scapula pushups 3 x 10
Cossack squats 3 x 10
Dead hang w scapular retraction 1 min
Deadlifts 175lb 2 x 6
Pushups 3 x 8
Neutral grip assisted chinup red band 3 x 3
Dips 3 x 3
GHR w/ 10lb 3 x 8
Single leg prone hamstring curl 60lb 3 x 6 each leg
Lat pushdowns with bent bar 40lb 3 x 8
Single-arm lat pulldowns 45lb 3 x 6 each arm
Assisted chinup blue band x 6
Assisted pullup blue band x 3
Bench press 95lb 3 x 5


+ 3.05 miles easy run


I did the lat pushdowns with the bent bar instead of straight because I saw a guy at the gym doing it, asked him why, and he explained it hits lats better for him. Can confirm. When I use a straight bar I feel it more in my core and too much in triceps.

Proud of being able to do GHR with added weight. That ain't easy.


Because of my upset stomach, lunch was fat free Greek yogurt mixed with lactaid cottage cheese and... a whole bunch of Pop Corners chips. Low fiber. Crunchy. Salty. Carbs. IDK. Hope it keeps me going through work this PM.

[shesprints]

Had a good day yesterday. My work had happy hour and I had a great conversation with a bunch of coworkers about writing, art, BJJ, and the fact that about half the people in our tutoring company are gay (srs). We're corrupting the youth! Oh no! There was a reasonably attractive girl there (who I think is a lesbian but didn't know how to ask... but she lives above a famous lesbian club in Park Slope, so). In typical fashion I was so scared I basically ignored her the whole night and talked to other people. I'm a dumb. But in my defense, I did learn that she lifts... but no cardio. Sigh. Just trains her back so she can do pullups. I recognize this as a legitimate endeavor but honestly respect someone who's interested in all-around fitness more. So tired of trying to date girls who have hipster body. You know, like just no muscle anywhere, no ass (could forgive this if they have good b00bs but meh), and soft flabby stomach/no waist from drinking beer all the time. C'mon lesbians. GET IT TOGETHER.

/rant


Anyway, today was an easy day. Due to my stomach hurting yesterday I wound up eating about 400 calories under maintenance, so I took it easy at the gym.


Pilates--55 min

+

3.05 miles easy run


My body is glad for the bit of a break I'm taking from speedwork. I'm always leery of hip pain, since that's where I've broken my leg three times (the femur near the hip joint).

[Fiction2Fitness]

Ahh, very interesting. Stories can certainly have sexual details while not being in the romance or even in erotica genre. Depends on where you take a story and how you write it. I write a variety of m/m from young adult all the way to erotica. My stories vary. NaNo and college helped me to where I can really write from anywhere with any background noise, setting. If I can get myself to write and not get distracted with things like online forums. Good luck with the method acting and story.

As for the rant... I can't figure out how to get a date so pretty much ignore girls at time or just assume they are straight. At my other store we had a decent percent of staff that was gay being over in Hollywood. Even met one of the assistant manager's boyfriend at an event. I joined a couple of groups on meetup in order to get out more but I'm terrible at being social and never really have asked someone else out before. Though would appreciate a nice squat booty. ;-)


Nice bit of cardio for an easy day there.

[shesprints]

@Fiction somehow I forgot or didn't know that you are also queer? I think a lot of queer women write m/m fiction. My theory is it is a power fantasy thing while retaining the element of same-sex attraction, but I'm not sure. My pet peeve, though, is that women who write m/m often feminize their male characters terribly. I don't believe I have that problem myself. All about dat BB.COM LYFE. If I can't learn how to speak fluent toxic masculinity here, where can I?

I always do cardio. 3 mile easy run is kind of my minimum just to feel normal. It's sometimes hard to get started, but once I'm in the groove it's automatic.


So, good news: I skipped 2 periods while I was cutting on calories that I now think were too low, and now I got my period again. So I'm hormonally healthy and not going to get horribly injured/sfx again (I HOPE). PMS explains some of my foggy-headedness the past couple of days, plus the low appetite and stomachache. Feel much better today so tried some heavy squats. I was surprised at how easily 165 went up given that I haven't had any serious weight on my back for several months (too scared of getting crushed during cut). I could've done more but wanted to save some energy for running. Actually, I'm pretty sure the hard runs I've done lately have sapped my energy for squatting too--I only ran easy this week, which explains the improvement in the lift.


Band pullaparts 3 ways 3 x 8
Scapula pushups 3 x 10
Dead hang 1 min
Squats 135lb x 6, 155lb x 3, 165lb x 2, 155lb x 3, 135lb x 6
Assisted pullup blue 3 x 3
Assisted chinup red 3 x 3
Pushups 3 x 8
Incline bench 65lb 3 x 6, 85lb x 4
Lat pulldowns to chest w/ squeeze 70lb 4 x 8
Bench dips 3 x 10
Single arm neutral grip pulldown with 1 hand release 55lb 3 x 4 each hand
TRX pistol squat 3 x 8 each leg


+ 3.3 mile run mostly easy
w/ 5 x 40-second strides @ 6:40 pace


Only bummer is I tweaked my neck/upper trap/cervical spine on the left doing incline bench somehow. Bleh. I have something weird going on in that are I don't like. Am lacrosse ball rolling it right after I get off the computer.

[shesprints]

So in Pilates today the instructor had us doing a move and mentioned "this should burn off some of that Halloween candy." Annnnd that is why I dislike group classes. She's awesome at actually teaching Pilates, but I LOLed a little bit because I will bet $100 that I eat more candy than anyone else in the class, and I am fitter and have more muscle 'cause guess what, I use that glucose to lift weights and stay within my TDEE. I'm probably leaner eating candy than I would be avoiding all sugar, because my workouts are better. Srs. Anyway.

Today:

3.12 miles easy run

+

55 min Pilates
(did the advanced version of moves, held one-legged bridge for a really long time. Full pistol squats will soon be mine.)


Surprised at how fresh and good I felt today considering I squatted moderately heavy yesterday. I think I can up the ante on my lifts somewhat since I'm eating better (read: more) now. Also experimenting with higher fats because of a study tina22 posted in my thread on amenorrhea--I don't want to lose my period again as I continue leaning out.

[Fiction2Fitness]

@Fiction somehow I forgot or didn't know that you are also queer? I think a lot of queer women write m/m fiction. My theory is it is a power fantasy thing while retaining the element of same-sex attraction, but I'm not sure. My pet peeve, though, is that women who write m/m often feminize their male characters terribly. I don't believe I have that problem myself. All about dat BB.COM LYFE. If I can't learn how to speak fluent toxic masculinity here, where can I?

I always do cardio. 3 mile easy run is kind of my minimum just to feel normal. It's sometimes hard to get started, but once I'm in the groove it's automatic.

I suppose since you picked the username shesprints, one might expect regular cardio. ;-)

As for myself, I probably haven't mentioned who I date much since well, I haven't dated in years. Doesn't come up in my own journal and I try not to take over other people's with too much on myself. I'm basically asexual but I still have a romantic side so want a relationship just that isn't very physical. It is fun at times to confuse people with it though cause asexual and writing erotica usually aren't a common combination. The theory on why some write slash is probably true but of course it varies. Some straight women are really into it too whether it's erotica or more anime style like Yaoi. For me, I've just always had ideas that involve gay boys, some of which came from dreams as I am sometimes male in my dreams. It's probably a weird mix of reasons for me that I don't even all understand. I also never was a "write what you know" follower. Though I started erotica more as a challenge. It was first just to see if I could and just kind of escalated from there. I prefer my YA and fantasy stories but the romance is fun to write too.


Good luck with the higher fats experiment. Makes sense considering the use for that macro when it comes to hormones. I'm not very lean but I've had issues in past even when obese so on occasion I check out my fat intake and iron to make sure I'm not going too low.