Excellent! hard work and sweat feels damn good!
Did you superset those? That looks like a great little circuit.
keep it up belle… you have all of us routing for you!
so much great information… just keep moving, small goals are a good thing to keep you motivated
make one… reach it… and set another 
and most importantly IF you have a slip up, (which we all do, i blame the hormones) acknowledge it, then let it go …dont dwell on a simple mistake!!
[quote]robilyn29 wrote:
keep it up belle… you have all of us routing for you!
so much great information… just keep moving, small goals are a good thing to keep you motivated
make one… reach it… and set another
and most importantly IF you have a slip up, (which we all do, i blame the hormones) acknowledge it, then let it go …dont dwell on a simple mistake!!
[/quote]
Some words from the wise.
[quote]Mascherano wrote:
[quote]Doc L wrote:
I support this post. Esp the ‘cunt’ part ;-*
Go get 'em Belle. Above all things consistency is key. Enjoy the journey and don’t worry so much about the destination. You will get there eventually. [/quote]
Beautifully said and so true!!
Doc L - where you been girl?[/quote]
Hey Bebay 
Been busy. Still up to no good…haha!
[quote]Nikki9591 wrote:
[quote]robilyn29 wrote:
keep it up belle… you have all of us routing for you!
so much great information… just keep moving, small goals are a good thing to keep you motivated
make one… reach it… and set another
and most importantly IF you have a slip up, (which we all do, i blame the hormones) acknowledge it, then let it go …dont dwell on a simple mistake!!
[/quote]
Agreed!
Some words from the wise.
[/quote]
Thanks everyone. I am really proud of my eating the last two days. I know two days is not a lot, but it is a hallmark moment for me.
My knees are really sore from my workout last night. I am pretty sure a lot of it is just because of my weight and being new, but does anyone have any good tips on working with sore knees?
Tonight I went for a walk with a girlfriend after work. We did 3 miles and we kept a good pace. I think the walk helped my soreness in my butt and my hips.
Tomorrow night I will be doing upper body. I will drop the lateral raises and flyes and stick with the db chest presses and the over head press. I thought I would do some lat pulldowns and rows and they have Hammer Strength machines at my gym where I could do some more press/push and pull work. I did a circuit type workout for my lower and I thought I would do the same for my upper. This way I can go back once my muscles have caught their breath and hit them again. I know it has only been a couple of days, but so far so good! And no drinking in a week. That is huge.
2 days of clean eating is an achievement. Hell, 12 hours for me is worth a celebration.
You’re doing really well so far, you should be proud. You’re eating well, working out well and consistently. Keep it up love.
Very nice.
For the knee pain:
Next time you go to train lower body, change your warm up some. Do some light high rep leg extensions / bodyweight squats / squats with an empty bar (whatever you can do for a 20-30-40 reps). Your knees should feel “tight” before you start your working sets of the lunges, etc…
When you do your lunges does your forward leg’s knee pass your toes? It shouldn’t. Watch your form. Are you smashing them into the ground? Don’t do that either 
If they hurt right now, try pushing your chair back from the computer and do a hundred office chair extensions. Than tonight when you go to bed you can ice them.
fish oils would be a good idea for those joints, I take mine a couple times a week, especially after hard leg days. amd yeah! on the no drinking. I love myself a nice drink too but sometimes I give myself whole weeks without a drop and the truth is I feel better, less bloaty and such.
[quote]Nikki9591 wrote:
2 days of clean eating is an achievement. Hell, 12 hours for me is worth a celebration.
You’re doing really well so far, you should be proud. You’re eating well, working out well and consistently. Keep it up love.[/quote]
This!! Excellent job! Keep it up.
And walking with a buddy is a great idea - I might do the same.
I’m with brocandy - def remember to warm up the joints prior to working out. I also have knee pain every once in a while. I feel ya.
Belle, nice job on the two days of good eating and consistent gym work. One day at time, one small step after another to reach your goals.
[quote]kimbakimba wrote:
Belle, nice job on the two days of good eating and consistent gym work. One day at time, one small step after another to reach your goals.[/quote]
Exactly
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao-tzu
Well I am still on track!
I did upper body on Friday.
17.5lbs for chest press 10 reps
15lbs for overhead press 10 reps
15lbs for skull crushers 10 reps
repeat 2 times
25lbs dumbbell rows 3 x 10 reps
lat pulldown 50lbs 3 x 10 reps
cable rows 60 3 x 10 reps
HITT for 15 minutes on the bike. I kept the rpm at 80rpm for 60 seconds then 30 seconds at 100rpms.
I felt good. I worked hard.
My nutrition was spot on.
Saturday
Walked with friends for 3-miles and then did a Yoga DVD.
Nutrition was pretty good, we did have some chips and salsa.
Sunday
Lower body.
warmed up for 10 minutes on the elliptical.
Leg press 90lbs 10 reps
calf raises on same leg press
I felt like challenging myself and was able to do 90lbs with one leg!
leg press 180lbs 10 reps
forward lunges 10 reps
swings with 12lbs medicine ball
repeat 3 times
step ups
3 times each leg 10 times
20 minutes on the treadmill.
I felt good. I still second guess myself about working hard.
What is the opinion of about the hip abductor and the hip adductor machines?
Damn, you’re putting up some pretty impressive numbers. Celebrate every victory; and good eats and consistent workouts are victories.
Also, so you don’t think I’m ignoring your question, I never tried the hip abductor/adductor machines but the other ladies have some feedback on it.
[quote]Nikki9591 wrote:
Damn, you’re putting up some pretty impressive numbers. Celebrate every victory; and good eats and consistent workouts are victories.
Also, so you don’t think I’m ignoring your question, I never tried the hip abductor/adductor machines but the other ladies have some feedback on it.[/quote]
Nikki! I can’t even DB press 20lbs!!! haha! But, I did them fast, explosive likes CT says to do. I think I will be sore tomorrow! How great is that!
I think I am going to try the hip machines.
My gym also has Hammer Strength machines and I have read good thins about those. Does anyone have an opinion of those?
There’s various opinons on the good girl/bad girl machine (or ab/ad machine)… The fact is, it’s a movement you don’t perform in real life, so some say it’s pointless to do. Yes you abduct/adduct your legs but not while seated (unless sliding across a car seat, for instance - not something you really need to get strong at).
Although the adduction part could be useful if you intend to crush a man’s ribs between your thighs.
I have not used a Hammer Strength machine but they are pretty much the gold standard.
Nice work, Belle! You must be so proud of yourself staying on course and working so hard.
I don’t have a strong opinion on machines. I tend to use free weights pretty much exclusively. But machines definitely work the muscles. And any movement is good when you’re just getting started.
Hello! I haven’t fallen off the planet. I have been staying with a friend while my apartment was being fumigated for ants. I have been keeping up with staying active. I walked at least 30 minutes every day.
I hve been trying for working out every other day. Tonight I went for a nice morning walk with my cousin and we did 3 miles around the high school track. Tonight I met up with a friend that was going to show me what she does. We did a lot of machines but it was nice having someone to work out with. I will be resuming my regular workouts with my progress.
That’s awesome to hear Belle.
Your determination is super inspiring.
BELLE- I am super late to your party. My apologies.
Your progress so far looks good. I am glad you want to be here on this site, because as you can see- there are plenty of ladies and gentlemen who will be nothing but supportive, and cheer you on along your journey. We will also call you out when you’re slacking, or are full of shit. Be prepared for brutal honesty at times.
Let’s seeeee. ah bread: I used to LIVE on bread, as I believe N said, some people think it is an everyday, maybe even every MEAL thing. No. No no. I probably only eat bread once a week. And as someone else said, that Ezekiel bread or w/e it’s called is your best choice.
also the hip ad/ab machines aka “goodgirl/badgirl” or as I like to call them “fuck me/fuck me not” machines. I like them. the first few times I did them, my legs were sore as hell for days.
As far as machines, I tend to stay away from them. I am more of a BB/DB exclusive kind of gal. However, a combo of all three is a good method to stick to.
_Mel