Okay so I am having brain fog, but I think it was Jen Heath that said dairy causes bloating and now that you are off things are getting better. I of course in one of my journey’s became latrose intolerate. I think it is one of those menopause things, that I am finding out about after the fact. The gluten thing I keep thinking about too. I don’t eat a alot of grains anymore. I do know pizza gets me though, heart burn city and the white dough just about gags me any way.
Digestive issues also go with thyroid. I suffer terrible with and of course I have Acid Reflux and can’t take medicene for it as it makes me very constipated. So right now I live with the burping. I take digestive enzymes to help get me thru. Oh this menopause thing. If is isn’t one thing it is another. I have been on a menopause site learning many things. There are more common things that the doctors just don’t catch. I think as with the thyroid, they just don’t want to deal with.
I think that you are doing good experimenting with different foods in you life and your weight is coming down.
I am basically holding my own. I really think that I am going to have to track everything I eat again, if I want to lose weight, but I guess at this moment I don’t want to. A little stress with my youngest daughter and her boyfriend, going thru menopause,(definately started here), empty nest syndrome and the worst, this stinking weather. We had 57 degree weather last week, today it is zero. Spring where are you??? People here in Iowa are oh so ready for good weather.
Hey Karen-
THanks for always popping in and checking on me!
The gluten thing totally caught me off guard…I had no idea! I’m still curious if the allergy is still there…even though what my mom was describing sounded like an intolerance…As much as my body is intolerant to carbs I wouldn’t doubt it! I look at a donut and gain 10 pounds!
Anywho:
Had a pretty good training day despite not even wanting to go…my daughter for some unknown reason has been waking periodically through the night The hubby has to go in there and calm her down, because I seem to have the opposite affect…
LEGS!
Db sumo squat
3x15x80
Leg Press-
2x20x90
2x10x180
2x5x280
Split Squats
3x12x70
Single leg DL
3x10x30
Hip add/abb
3x12x200
Back Ext
3x10x140
Ab crunch machine
3x20x75
Polished that off with 25min of Random “fun,” on the bike-Level 12…
I don’t know what it was, but I was sweating so much today!! Maybe my thermostat is starting to work!
I’m bummed. I found this Quinoa pasta at the natural food store, and the first ingredient is Wheat flour, grrr…
And on another random thought. I decided not to do that strongman comp in June…I totally spaced the family trip we are taking to go home (MI) we’d be getting back the day I’d have to leave to drive up…
I figure I can take more time to get extra strong, build up the endurance and lean down some more. Aside from that, I’m still in PT for my knees!!It would be nice to do something more local anyway…The comp was up in PA, probably 8 hrs from here!
I really have my heart set at doing SOMETHING to ring in my 30th b-day though!
I think I am going to follow in Sbsmart’s footsteps and do the Maximal Strength program…just got the book today, and it looks awesome! It has a bunch of different stuff that I’ve never tried, and I think it will help me with stepping up the intensity in my training!
As long as I keep the cardio,it will be all good! I plan on adding a circuit day as well like it suggests…
I think I am going to follow in Sbsmart’s footsteps and do the Maximal Strength program…just got the book today, and it looks awesome! It has a bunch of different stuff that I’ve never tried, and I think it will help me with stepping up the intensity in my training!
As long as I keep the cardio,it will be all good! I plan on adding a circuit day as well like it suggests…[/quote]
Just my 2 cents…
If your goal right now is fat loss, focus on fat loss. Max Strength is not about fat loss at all. On the program, yes you can lose weight, but it’s all diet based. On a program designed to increase your ‘max strength’, your body will tend to want more calories to fuel this however.
I know you tend to be very focused on the scale. I think the only way you will be able to mentally enjoy this program and be fully committed to it the whole way through is if you literally toss out the scale for the entirety of it and only use measurements to track your body changes.
If at the end you step on the scale and see you’ve gained say, 5lbs but you’ve tracked your measurements the whole way through and see positive changes in that you’ll be in a better position to handle it mentally.
hmm, you gotta point there Court…I know SB was saying something like that too…
But what is a “fat loss,” program anyway?
I’ve been making steady progress with a “bodybuilding program.”
I’ve made progress with a 5x5 program before(lost 20lbs in two months!)
I think you can make progress with any program…Besides, I’m not lifting to lose weight. I’m lifting because I LOVE lifting, and it maintains the muscle that I have…the progress that I have made lately, I believe has been diet and C-A-R-D-I-O!!
I get what you are saying though, and I respect that. Maybe I’ll sit on my hands a bit, and just keep at what I’m doing…
[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
Maybe I’ll sit on my hands a bit, and just keep at what I’m doing…
If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right? [/quote]
That’s the smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say If you’re still making strength gains and you’re still losing weight and inches, why would you change? I’d wait until you stall and then see what you feel like doing.
I watched Bartl go through it as well and even though he was hardly having any carbs (which for him means fat loss), he still put on weight. His measurements told him it was (mostly, anyways) muscle, but still.
I just meant that for you, since it seems you measure most of your progress by scale weight, this may not be the best program. I have nothing against the program, and in fact, will likely do it myself at some point. I think it brings great results for strength gain. I hear you about lifting because you love it, just my opinion on this specific program since I am rather familiar with it.
I get what you are saying though, and I respect that. Maybe I’ll sit on my hands a bit, and just keep at what I’m doing…
If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right? [/quote]
That sounds like a good plan. Maximum Strength isn’t going away so whenever you are ready you will have it there for you.
Also, it will probably be best to start after you have stabilized your eating. It is hard for me to get enough quality calories while doing this (I eat lots of meat, dairy (cheese and yogurt), and whey protein). I found that if I am not always on top of my meals I become completely ravenous and will eat anything I can get my hands on (this is when the clean eating goes out the window). So you need to figure out how you can take in over 2000 calories on your current eating plan (I believe you are still eating vegetarian, or vegan, I’m not sure). Just some things to think about from my own experience!!!
I have to agree with court and sbmart2… you said you opted out of the strongman so there is no need to focus on strength as a primary. Focus on the fat loss and the program that is working until you are happy with where you are at. You still are strong and you will have a good starting point to accomplish Max Strength with even bigger #'s.
Speaking up for myself a bit here…the focus has shifted away from the scale for some time now…Since I have been at this for some time now, I’ve had to get into the mindset of not just doing healthy things because I have to, but WANTING to do and have these behaviors because it’s for the best for now and beyong!!
I’m fine with making (painfully) slow progress, because whats going to happen when I do reach maintainence land? I have to KEEP working hard, if not harder…people always want to see rapid progress, without changing there behaviors…so when they get hawt abz or reduce there cellulite, what in there mind has changed? Will they be happy then?
And yes, still working on the diet…I’m just learning after almost 30 years of life that I have intolerances to certain foods!! Um, no more vegetarian, that was just a couple days worth, and now I gag every time I think of beans…ugh…
Strongman stuff is not completely out of the picture…just not in June since I forgot about a family trip to MI.
I dunno…I just get bored and like to mix it up…alternating high reps and low reps keeps it interesting! And there’s no reason why I can’t incorporate new exercises!
And I just got NROL of lifting for men in the mail, HAHA!!
And because I was feeling silly I wanted to see what it was like to bench with the Smith machine…
1x5x115
1x4x140
Do those count as PRs? why is it easier to do things in the Smith Machine?
Oh ya, BIKE!
25 min-60/90…level 5 recovery/Level 15 trying to keep it above 70…if it went below I’d punish myself with an extra 10s…;<
Good advice from your friends and also by yourself. You know what you want and are going for it. Don’t change what isn’t broke yet. Change will need to come later. You are doing so awesome and it is tough to get around this thyroid stuff, but I think it is possible. You are finding what your body won’t tolerate for now and that is a major learning process.
You are a strong lifter and are realizing you need to add the cardio. I was giving the girls a bad time over at FA about getting in their cardio… Amanda hates it too and so do many others. It’s where I am more comfortable with, but I know the importance of lifting and I wouldn’t give up for nothing now. Almost 52 and still wanting to get stronger and lose this body fat that I have put on.
I had such a great cartoon that I was going to send to you gals, but I deleted it. It was picture of an older, over weight lady lying on her back, balancing the scale on her feet in the air. A better way to weigh yourself. I will have to see if my sister still has in her archives, because it was too to the point without passing it on.
ya, I got wrapped up in the whole notion that cardio is bad. Lift heavy weights! But I think that more or less applies to those that are already lean and are lifting for strength comps…I still believe it’s important not to neglect the other side though…
I’m just trying to find my balance…I love lifting to stronger, but I know it’s important to have the endurance as well!
So I did the first upper body workout from Max strength… I figure there’s no law saying I can’t use the workouts every once in awhile for something different.I switch up my reps/sets every three weeks anyway!
Bench-5x4x115
Neutral grip db bench- 3x10x30s alternated with
Medium grip row-4x10x100
Prone trap raise-3x12x8s alternated with
Lying side lateral raises-3x12x8s
Side planks-3x30s/side
I was surprised that I had finished in like 45min!..there’s no set rest times if I recall, so I just went by how I felt…
Cardio
walk 3.5 for 2 min
light jog(4.2) uphill @ 12%incline for 1 minute-- 4 rounds took about 15min
[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
I was surprised that I had finished in like 45min!..there’s no set rest times if I recall, so I just went by how I felt…
[/quote]
It’s not the workout length that takes the time, it’s all the foam rolling and mobility! Bartl used to take more time doing that than the actually weights sessions.
And the rolling/mobility is an extremely important part of that program and training in general. Now that I’m spending 30-40min on rolling, mobility and prehab, my body is starting to love me again.
So I did the first upper body workout from Max strength… I figure there’s no law saying I can’t use the workouts every once in awhile for something different.I switch up my reps/sets every three weeks anyway!
[/quote]
(shakes head) you are so bad! LOL, I thought you weren’t going to switch. Are you still doing the biggest loser thing? Anyways have fun with Max strength.
I HAVE decided though, upon further thinking, that I will do the workouts for two weeks to gauge progress,see how I feel, etc…
I know, I’m bad! I can’t help it though…the workouts look so FUN, and I’m getting bored with my routine…
It’s not much different from what I’m doing now…the big three are lower in reps, but the assistance stuff is still high reps…and since theres no set rest periods I can still keep it intense by minimizing rest times…also still keeping the cardio…
My energy has been soaring lately since giving up wheat!! I miss dairy more…Ill be the first to admit that Metabolic Drive tastes “whey,” better than my Pea protein!
I’m not worried about not having energy is what I’m getting at…and if I’m feeling sluggish I’ll up the protein a bit…
At this point in my life I am used to living without carbs, and it’s just the way it’s gotta be…FOR ME! It doesn’t mean it has to be that way for anyone else that may read this…It’s taken me two years to figure all this food stuff out ON MY OWN!
I haven’t had a single piece of junk or a “cheat meal,” in over a month, and I am down 5 pounds…so you tell me if eating didn’t have anything to do with that!
I think I will celebrate this Sunday with some cheesecake…gotta test the results of adding something back in anyway.
I don’t think I’m even going to add wheat back in(ever!) dairy on the other hand is hard to live without
[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
I haven’t made the full switch…just mixing it up!
I HAVE decided though, upon further thinking, that I will do the workouts for two weeks to gauge progress,see how I feel, etc…
I know, I’m bad! I can’t help it though…the workouts look so FUN, and I’m getting bored with my routine…
It’s not much different from what I’m doing now…the big three are lower in reps, but the assistance stuff is still high reps…and since theres no set rest periods I can still keep it intense by minimizing rest times…also still keeping the cardio…
My energy has been soaring lately since giving up wheat!! I miss dairy more…Ill be the first to admit that Metabolic Drive tastes “whey,” better than my Pea protein!
I’m not worried about not having energy is what I’m getting at…and if I’m feeling sluggish I’ll up the protein a bit…
At this point in my life I am used to living without carbs, and it’s just the way it’s gotta be…FOR ME! It doesn’t mean it has to be that way for anyone else that may read this…It’s taken me two years to figure all this food stuff out ON MY OWN!
I haven’t had a single piece of junk or a “cheat meal,” in over a month, and I am down 5 pounds…so you tell me if eating didn’t have anything to do with that!
I think I will celebrate this Sunday with some cheesecake…gotta test the results of adding something back in anyway.
I don’t think I’m even going to add wheat back in(ever!) dairy on the other hand is hard to live without
[/quote]
If you like the workouts, and have already decided to try it then just do it!!! I think you should commit to the 12 weeks. There isn’t much sense in just doing it for two weeks. You will get great strength results. If you aren’t measuring yourself by the scale anymore, then you will enjoy the strength and muscle gains. Definitely do the packing day so you can see your progress from start to finish.
[quote]sbmart2 wrote:
If you like the workouts, and have already decided to try it then just do it!!! I think you should commit to the 12 weeks. There isn’t much sense in just doing it for two weeks. You will get great strength results.
If you aren’t measuring yourself by the scale anymore, then you will enjoy the strength and muscle gains. Definitely do the packing day so you can see your progress from start to finish.[/quote]
[quote]Court wrote:
sbmart2 wrote:
If you like the workouts, and have already decided to try it then just do it!!! I think you should commit to the 12 weeks. There isn’t much sense in just doing it for two weeks. You will get great strength results.
If you aren’t measuring yourself by the scale anymore, then you will enjoy the strength and muscle gains. Definitely do the packing day so you can see your progress from start to finish.
The only part sbmart missed is:
“BUT DO THE DAMN ROLLING AND MOBILITY TOO!!!”[/quote]
I can’t believe I forgot that!!! Thanks for picking up my slack. I think I will start a forum topic called, How foam rolling and mobility work have changed my life.
I was just thinking earlier,whoops didn’t do the rolling…but did the mobility
I DO like the workouts!! So I’m just going to GO FOR IT!! My body loves to put muscle on anyway, not worried about that…I’m more focused on losing BODY FAT% anyhow…
Speaking of that…I had a body comp done…three months in, and I BF is down 8%!!! I think that’s good, no?
Funnily, I’ve only lost 2 pounds of scale weight…meh…but remember those pesky 7 pounds I gained in 2 weeks during the holidays? eyeroll So sine January I basically relost the seven pounds, and an extra 2…
I gained 1 inch on my calves, and 1 inch on my thighs(muscle) I LOST 11cm off my thigh…12cm off my tricep and 10cm off my Abs!! I am now in the acceptable range for body fat, WOOT!! What’s funny about that is that I’m still 30 lbs over weight roughly…so I imagine when I get there, I’ll be RIIIIPED!!!
Also, I am down
4 inches off my HIPS
5 inches off my waist!!
3 inches off my chest!!
And I gained an inch in my biceps…
Who says you can’t build muscle and lose fat?
So now I want to prove that you can build strength, even if you do eat rabbit food
the way I see it, I’ll always be in a restricted state with food…it has to be that way to control my weight unfortunately…
If you’re still making strength gains and you’re still losing weight and inches, why would you change? I’d wait until you stall and then see what you feel like doing.
I can’t help it though…the workouts look so FUN, and I’m getting bored with my routine…
