Analysis Paralysis

[HARRYBEAST]

hell yeah nice squatting

Nice fight on the 200

[penny0527]

Bench and squat over bodyweight were my ultimate goals. Congrats again!

[anandagirl]

Yeah you can!

Woop woop!

hell yeah nice squatting

Nice fight on the 200

Thanks Harry!

Bench and squat over bodyweight were my ultimate goals. Congrats again!

I'm really happy with my progress to my year end goals

[penny0527]

Repost your year end goals so we can see them again?

[anandagirl]

Repost your year end goals so we can see them again?

I was just thinking that I needed to go back and see them again

End year Goal Update
1. Pull 300 - Getting there, last pull PR was 265
2. Squat 225 - Again, getting there. 200 as of yesterday
3. Bench 150 - Ah crap, not getting there. LOL My original goal was 120, so I thought that was close, but after squashing my original DL goal of 200 and my original squat goal of 150, I set the bench bar a bit high. PR is currently 117
4. Lose 20 lbs of fat. - HA! We'll see LOL

[LunaLifts]

Hahahaha! I only promised that in my vlog But I'll try to keep that promise here too

Keep it everywhere.
I'll be watching. O.O

Starting to think more seriously about competing. I was thinking of just choosing a meet this fall, but I'm not ready. Not "I can't lift enough" ready, but monetarily I'm not ready. My goal for the rest of this year is to start collecting the equipment I need to compete: Singlet, USPA approved wrist wraps, knee and elbow sleeves. My belt is approved, so there's that.

Yaaaas! You'd crush it.

In the meantime, I am staying pretty much on track. Funny enough, cutting calories means I eat better. Higher protein, more micros, more fiber. Getting the pill organizer is helping with the supplement taking issue, although I have a hrd time taking my morning supplements. I've been feeling pretty good this week, so what I'm doing must be working. My hip is feeling pretty good too. Doing a little stretching post workout and in the evenings, but not like I was doing before. I am pretty much only visualizing my lifts between sets though. And I can finally say I can squat more than my bodyweight

Yay too all of this!
I relate so much to the bolded part. Gotta prioritize the good stuff when there's less calories to work with, though I'm hoping I can continue the trend as my calories go up. Not that there aren't some nonsense, and some very empty cals, but better managed, and with better overall macros.

[anandagirl]

Yay too all of this!
I relate so much to the bolded part. Gotta prioritize the good stuff when there's less calories to work with, though I'm hoping I can continue the trend as my calories go up. Not that there aren't some nonsense, and some very empty cals, but better managed, and with better overall macros.

Agreed! I always worry that cutting my calories will result in strength going down, but I think the pre-workout meal is helping a lot with that. Fingers crossed for success!

[SophieM]

Congrats on the PR's!!!

[LunaLifts]

Agreed! I always worry that cutting my calories will result in strength going down, but I think the pre-workout meal is helping a lot with that. Fingers crossed for success!

My strength is usually ok aside from deads, but I think a more mild deficit would prevent that.
I just can't manage a mild deficit with high weekends, I'd offset too much, lol. My other lifts still improve, OHP has stalled, but hasn't dropped (and it's OHP so it's a chit like that anyway).

[HARRYBEAST]

You seem to have the same problem as me understanding that fat loss and true strength training are not optimal together. I would prioritize them and focus on one more than the other.

[bigwade800]

vlog coming

[FallenAngel80]

Well done on your squat PR, woman! Saw it on IG

[penny0527]

You seem to have the same problem as me understanding that fat loss and true strength training are not optimal together. I would prioritize them and focus on one more than the other.

I used to think this but now I'm not totally on board with this thought process. In the end you may lift less but you will also weigh less in comparison. The thing to do would be to compare your bodyweight to weight lifted ratio before and after the weight loss. The person needs to decide if the extra bodyweight is worth the extra weight lifted. If I can lift 20 more pounds with 15-20 more pounds of bodyweight then what have I really gained?

Oddly enough my bench max actually went up after I dropped weight.

[thebigzakbowski]

Congrats on the squat pr! And your bench will get up there too only positive thoughts allowed

[anandagirl]

Congrats on the PR's!!!

Thanks lady!

My strength is usually ok aside from deads, but I think a more mild deficit would prevent that.
I just can't manage a mild deficit with high weekends, I'd offset too much, lol. My other lifts still improve, OHP has stalled, but hasn't dropped (and it's OHP so it's a chit like that anyway).

I think my visualization is going to help offset any strength "losses" because in the past I'd be like "ehrmegerd! I'm dieting and weak!"

You seem to have the same problem as me understanding that fat loss and true strength training are not optimal together. I would prioritize them and focus on one more than the other.

Nope.

vlog coming

I know what you're going to say, but there is no in between for me. I'm either eating healthy or eating crap, and eating crap does not get tracked accurately.

Well done on your squat PR, woman! Saw it on IG

Thanks Jo!

I used to think this but now I'm not totally on board with this thought process. In the end you may lift less but you will also weigh less in comparison. The thing to do would be to compare your bodyweight to weight lifted ratio before and after the weight loss. The person needs to decide if the extra bodyweight is worth the extra weight lifted. If I can lift 20 more pounds with 15-20 more pounds of bodyweight then what have I really gained?

Oddly enough my bench max actually went up after I dropped weight.

Yes! I also feel like I need to do it now, especially since I'm not ready to compete and summer/Fall is easier for me to stick to a cut. I'm not a competitive powerlifter at this time and I'm not happy with my current weight, so this is the time to make the change, not when I sign up for a meet, you know? The next 6-8 months will be about improving the entire package - body composition and lifts.

Congrats on the squat pr! And your bench will get up there too only positive thoughts allowed

It will eventually, but I laugh to think that my goals were to improve deads by 80 pounds, squats by maybe 75 pounds, and 50 pounds to bench, my slowest to improve

[anandagirl]

CGDB Day, August 17

Close Grip Decline Bench
PR's:
130x2 5/5/17
125x6 6/30/17
105x8 6/22/17

45x8
55x8
65x5
75x3
95x2
105x1
125x6
126x4 - Miss 2
126x2 - Miss 4
106x8 - rep PR

Strict Press
PR's:
Strict Press
81x3 7/9/17
85x1 12/29/16

65x3
75x1



Wide Grip Lat Pulldown
3x90x12

Dumbbell Shrug
3x50's x12

Rear Delt Raise
3x15's x12

Hammer Curls
3x17.5's x12

[bigwade800]

I know what you're going to say,
NO, you have no clue what I'm going to say

but there is no in between for me.
That actually means you choose there not to be.

I'm either eating healthy or eating crap, and eating crap does not get tracked accurately.
Again, that's a choice

Allow me to make the video

I dieted down from 375, that we know of, to make the 308 weight class and totaled elite at 48 years old. And, I didn't go keto or ape chit either. I still had pizza weekly and did it over a period of time.

It can be done without losing your mind.

[anandagirl]

I know what you're going to say,
NO, you have no clue what I'm going to say

but there is no in between for me.
That actually means you choose there not to be.

I'm either eating healthy or eating crap, and eating crap does not get tracked accurately.
Again, that's a choice

Allow me to make the video

I dieted down from 375, that we know of, to make the 308 weight class and totaled elite at 48 years old. And, I didn't go keto or ape chit either. I still had pizza weekly and did it over a period of time.

It can be done without losing your mind.

I swear to you, I am not depriving myself No Keto, no low carb, very sensible

Edited to add: but you'll make the video regardless and I will watch it and like it

[penny0527]

Make the video, Wade.

I don't do anything crazy either. I cut slowly. This last week is about as crazy as I get and it wasn't even bad although.....I. miss. Carbs.

[anandagirl]

Deadlift Day, August 18

Front Squat
PR's:
165x1 7/8/17
145x3 6/23/17

Paused:
130x1 7/27/17
125x3 8/11/17

45x8
65x5
95x3
115x1
135x1
166x1 - PR by 1

Trap Bar Dead, Flat Handle
PR's:
210x1 6/2/17
200x3 6/9/17

135x3
185x1
215x1 - PR by 5

Deadlifts
[size=-3]PR: 265 7/1/17
3x240x1

Banded Deadlift, Blue Band
3x200x2
Started with the blue band and second set was not locking out so I moved to the purple



Seated Leg Curl
3x125x12
I was on the STRUGGLE BUS with these, and on my last set I realized I put the pin in the wrong plate LOL Guess I should move them up to 115

Seated Calf Raise
3x105x15

Leg Raises
3x10

Crunches
5x15

[thebigzakbowski]

awesome! Congrats on the PRs!

[Fiction2Fitness]

Nice work lifting. You're making great progress on your goals. Even if you miss a couple you still get somewhere and can adjust and make them new goals later. Might have to check out this video people are mentioning when it comes up. I do silly things like run Sheiko while trying to maintain a deficit. Should be interesting. ;-)

[tina722]

You should be able to at least maintain strength while cutting. If done properly you should still gain strength.

Adding some thoughts/actions that have helped me out on previous diets, probably all common sense and you know, but just incase:
- eliminating breakfast or other meal that you don't care about
- being picky about food choices and meal timing (do you really want that, are you really hungry enough to finish EVERYTHING on the plate)
- Prioritizing protein
- Bribes for getting through the week/month of dieting
- Stepping away from the diet (one day) when its time of month because I die if I'm low calorie then
- planned refeeds
- scheduled diet/body comp review/evaluation and end date (like your pictures, graphs, charts, anything that helps me see progress throughout)

FWIW, you should look at pics or vids from a year or two ago - even if you haven't seen weight changes I am pretty sure I've noticed the body comp changes.

Also, wow at that FS. It's moving up really quickly.

[thehobbes]

Making it rain PRs up there, aw yeah!

Agreed, should be able to maintain strength and even improve lifts on a cut. Practically nobody is lifting at 100% efficiency so you don't need to gain mass to improve your lifts, just do them more efficiently.

[LunaLifts]

(do you really want that, are you really hungry enough to finish EVERYTHING on the plate)

This is such a big issue for me, I may be mindful when I start to eat something, but I lose that entirely, and just end up chomping anyway. It's ok for my planned and tracked calories, but if I could reel in dinners during cuts it'd go a lot smoother.

[anandagirl]

awesome! Congrats on the PRs!

Thanks buddy!!

Nice work lifting. You're making great progress on your goals. Even if you miss a couple you still get somewhere and can adjust and make them new goals later. Might have to check out this video people are mentioning when it comes up. I do silly things like run Sheiko while trying to maintain a deficit. Should be interesting. ;-)

I haven't yet seen it, but when I do, I will share here Unless Wade beats me to it

You should be able to at least maintain strength while cutting. If done properly you should still gain strength.

Adding some thoughts/actions that have helped me out on previous diets, probably all common sense and you know, but just incase:
- eliminating breakfast or other meal that you don't care about
- being picky about food choices and meal timing (do you really want that, are you really hungry enough to finish EVERYTHING on the plate)
- Prioritizing protein
- Bribes for getting through the week/month of dieting
- Stepping away from the diet (one day) when its time of month because I die if I'm low calorie then
- planned refeeds
- scheduled diet/body comp review/evaluation and end date (like your pictures, graphs, charts, anything that helps me see progress throughout)

FWIW, you should look at pics or vids from a year or two ago - even if you haven't seen weight changes I am pretty sure I've noticed the body comp changes.

Also, wow at that FS. It's moving up really quickly.

I have, I don't feel like I look all that different I'll have to dig some up and see what I can find. Maybe I'll post them here so I can get other eyes since you're hardest on yourself, you know? I have started with my pants - I have four pairs of pants in varying sizes I pulled out when I was cleaning my closet, and now I have them hung in the bathroom with the largest on top, smallest on bottom. I am trying them on weekly and I'm hoping I will fit into them all by October-ish. The largest is one size smaller than I am not, the smallest is maybe 2 sizes, but the sizes vary because of the cut and fabric - curvy vs straight and stretchy vs no stretch. What kind of bribes are you talkin' about? LOL

Making it rain PRs up there, aw yeah!

Agreed, should be able to maintain strength and even improve lifts on a cut. Practically nobody is lifting at 100% efficiency so you don't need to gain mass to improve your lifts, just do them more efficiently.

Here's to this!

This is such a big issue for me, I may be mindful when I start to eat something, but I lose that entirely, and just end up chomping anyway. It's ok for my planned and tracked calories, but if I could reel in dinners during cuts it'd go a lot smoother.

100%. If it tastes good, I want more

[anandagirl]

Bench 8/21
PR's:
112x1 6/7/17
105x6 5/16/17

Paused Bench
107x3 6/13/17
117x1 6/19/17

Flat Bench, Medium Grip
45x8
65x5
75x3
95x1

Paused
105x1
115x1
118x1 - PR time warp pause though....

Touch and Go
90x6
95x6



Dumbbell Bench Press
12's x35
2x20's x 25

Wide Grip lat pulldown
3x90x12

Dumbbell Shrug
3x50's x12

Rear Delt Raise
3x15's x12

Hammer Curls
3x20's x12

Going to be stricter on my PR tracking. If I don't do a legit pause, I'm no longer tracking it as a paused PR. 118 went up and actually felt good, but that time warp got me. I knew it was a short pause, but still felt paused. Of course watching the vid, I think "what pause?" I did get an offer of a spotter, out of the blue. Although, nobody really knows how to spot. I only know what I've watched on video. I did tell him to not touch the bar unless it drops, but his hands were there anyway. He says he didn't touch it, and I think he might be right, but you can't tell. And now I'm thinking I need to watch it again, I bet I didn't show control at lockout because he was rushing the rack. Oh well. Maybe wade will give me another shot at 118 before making me do 119. Not likely, but maybe

Sleep has been off, so my butt didn't get up today. I had a choice of going to the gym and being late to work or getting to work early and leaving early, so I chose the latter.

[FallenAngel80]

Well done on the PR, woman! Can't wait to work back up and get to that ton!

[anandagirl]

Well done on the PR, woman! Can't wait to work back up and get to that ton!

Thanks Jo! PR's are hard work but they give you a sense of accomplishment too

[FallenAngel80]

Thanks Jo! PR's are hard work but they give you a sense of accomplishment too

Definitely, and you're working hard for them