Jacked kiddos!
I wonder if it’s like ballet or cheerleading where there’s a lot of pressure to maintain a certain weight. That has to be stressful.
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Also, there’s some evidence that Russia and other countries gave their female gymnasts what they called “brake drugs” to delay the onset on puberty. I assume that’s what we call puberty blockers these days.
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I had a whole thing typed out, but I’m pretty sure that’s another one of those opinions that people won’t like so it’s probably better off left alone.
I think female hormones should be less smoke and mirrors for sure, and that could quite possibly lend itself to helping women lose weight. I still stand pretty firmly on the ground that calories matter more than hormones, but I do believe that both are in need of being reasonably dialed in.
My daughter (7) is in gymnastics and has a super faint outline of a 6-pack when she flexes at like 55lbs or something. She eats mostly like you’d think a 7 year old eats, but she likes veggies and protein - we only limit sugars/chocolate.
A little of both. You don’t have to be very fat to be considered “fat” as a female gymnast, but ballet and bulimia go hand-in-hand (dark humor, sorry).
Seems like communists and communists-in-hiding have a lot in common, whether in the US or Russia.
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I get the impression that most doctors have no idea, and those who do haven’t quite reached the masses yet. Women’s health just hasn’t been studied enough. But Dr. Tyna Moore, Dr. Patrick Flynn, Cyntha Thurlow, Gabrielle Lyon, Jade Teta, and others seem to be on the cutting edge with information about it.
It’s okay for you to disagree with me. We can still be friends. 
This is a common idea, for sure. And to be honest, there have been times when I’ve counted calories and gotten great results! But there have also been times when I’ve consumed a ton of calories, dropped exercise (calorie output) significantly, and gotten fantastic results. So yeah, I hear you, but I think hormones are even more important than what people think.
Here’s a possibility I pulled from my butt: If your hormones are on point, then calories matter more. If your hormones are messed up, then continuing to decrease them won’t help you. Please note, my butt could be wrong about this.
I have a couple family members who are calorie counters. They’ve been tracking for probably around a decade. They eat at maintenance a lot of the time, but since they always want to lose weight, they eat in a deficit more often. They are never lean nor are they happy with their bodies.
But they are not alone. This is a common phenomenon and it’s not because they need to restrict calories harder or do more exercise. My best guess is it’s hormonal.
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Leg Press
Chest Press
Arnold Press
Other Delt Stuff
The last workout was pretty simple. Still no pulling exercises, and actually certain things like dips seem a little risky. I’m not sure what it’ll do to the stitches between my scaps but I’m almost giddy to restart. Maybe it’s time to add load again instead of reps.
Here’s the strongest I ever got with these.
EMOM: 5X5 with just a bit of extra weight.
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We’ve been getting lectures about sub protection all quarter from my prof whose advisor died of melanoma
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I had made a comment on another log about an observation I’ve had with dips that has not applied to any other lift I’ve seen so far.
About a decade ago, I had a gym bro that was a form of a trainer for me - he’s who showed me TNation in the first place. He said that once I get 10 bodyweight dips, to just slap on a belt and a 45lb plate and do those, even if reps were very low. Did 3 last time? Do 4 next time, Malcolm X style (by any means necessary).
Lo and behold, I went from maybe 4 reps with a 45lb plate to 10 reps in like 2 weeks. This makes no sense.
I have a about a dozen ‘clients’ myself (not paid, just friends who use me as a coach in varying degrees), and I’ve had them to the same thing - with the same result.
Normally, I’d NEVER recommend adding weight that quickly as 5-10lbs increase on a lift is slow, steady, and reliable progress. But this has worked with myself, and at least 10 other guys I’ve had do this, and their Dip strength has shot up like crazy because of it (at least in the short term).
I actually tried this again in my own programming as I was already hitting 15+ dips with a 45lb plate. I should have added a 10 or 25lb plate, but instead I went with a 45, and still made very rapid strength gains as a result. I don’t have a good explanation for it.
Men have proportionately much stronger upper bodies than women, but I would venture to say that ladies should attempt this approach once hitting 10 bodyweight dips, and immediately move to a 25lb weight added. Reps are going to drop considerably, that’s fine - just keep beating the logbook.
TL;DR: if you can hit 10 bodyweight dips, try adding a 25lb plate and see how quickly you progress in strength here. I like load over reps for this (and about everything else).
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It’s crazy! But you’re onto something here.
Do you think this phenomenon is a nervous system thing? Maybe you had the strength all along – from various forms of pressing – but just needed the ability to recruit it with some progressive jumps in weight.
I believe it.
That’s a great recommendation. Our big box gym doesn’t have a belt that you can attach weight to, so I may have to visit the T Nation HQ gym and do some more with chains. I think those weighed 25 pounds.
Do you notice a difference with how/where you add load? I don’t want to hold a dumbbell between my feet because it seems like that would change the leverages or something. Maybe a weight vest would work well.
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What a shame. It’s so common. 
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Amos tversky- would have won at least 1 Nobel prize if he had been alive
I hadn’t thought of a “why” to this, but… I remember an old article somewhere talking about why SkullCrushers are a great choice simply for the “I don’t want to die” factor (meaning you can load more weight) - which sounds a lot like a nervous system thing to me. Could absolutely be related, good theory.
Honestly I’ve only ever done a plate belt like this as I keep my rep-ranges typically 6-12 reps, so im at the point where I need two 45s and a 25 to stay in that rep range 
I would actually opt for this if I had one that went up to the weights I’d need it for. Much less risky than the unavoidable “clapping” of plates happening unreasonably close to some sensitive male anatomy. 
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Yeah that does make sense.
Seems like they’re so heavy, they won’t be separating. There’s a big guy at my gym who uses two 45’s on a belt, but the weight may attach a little lower. That’s definitely an obstacle for males I hadn’t considered.
HAHAHA
The chain around the neck is hard to get used to at first. But it tips your torso forward slightly so you end up hitting some of the upper trap area as well.
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Thursday’s workout
The constant itching of these stitches is making me feel rage on a physical level now. So the biggest perk of yesterday’s workout was distraction. Making muscles burn is a great strategy when some other body part is irritated.
Loaded Walking Lunges, abbreviated rest between sets
Arnold Press: 3 x 12
Dips: 5-10
Lateral Raises: 15-20
Take a Tip From My Husband
Chris hides cans of Spike from me around the house. Long story. It’s weird. But it’s what we do.
Anyway, I found this one with a cute note on it, and it totally made my day.
So I highly recommend surprising your wife with a funny note.
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Well that was a ridiculous weekend.
I’ll get to it in a sec but first today’s workout:
• Leg Press
• Booty Machine
• Walking Lunge
• Arnold Press
• Lateral Raise
• Chest Press
I tried to do dips, but kept failing at 2 reps, which is weird since last week I was knocking out sets of 5-10. Go figure. The body is weird.
And stitches come out tomorrow, but if I follow the directions, I still have two more weeks of not training back. That’s weird though, right? If the stitches are coming out then how could I pop one?
So yeah, the weekend was pretty silly. From discovering – while out in public – that my jeans were split right up the middle…
to wearing matching onesie pajamas to an “ugly Christmas sweater party” in which most adults just wore normal clothing.
On the drive there, I asked Chris, “Hey, what if this is an ugly Christmas sweater party, but most people just don’t dress up?” And he said, “GOOD.”
And then that actually happened.
Also, no matter how ruggedly handsome you think my husband is, he can rock a head-to-toe Santa dog onesie like nobody else. It makes his butt look even cuter. It was not nearly as flattering on me.
This was an alcohol-free shindig. So that’s another thing to keep in mind. Don’t dress wacky unless you can have a drinky. Lesson learned.
And that brings me to the next important point. There is NOTHING sexy about full-body pajamas. I slept in mine because it was so warm and soft, but as soon as I could nudge Chris awake the next morning, I ripped that thing off and seduced him right away.
Wearing something that makes you feel like a potato will eventually make you want to prove you’re not.
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That’s why you’re getting 17 new ones for Christmas.
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Apparently that’s an every day thing with me, as I just want to be slathered in butter, bacon, cheese and sour cream and paired with a 20oz ribeye.
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Literally dressing like a potato sounds delightful. I’m in.
Being vaguely potato-shaped because of your outfit is slightly less appealing, though warm.
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I had a good AND disturbing derm appointment yesterday.
The nurse who removed the sutures (not stitches, as I accidentally wrote above multiple times) did an amazing job. She was lovely and we became instant friends.
Also, my favorite challenge – and the coolest way to gamify discomfort – is to close your eyes, smile, and act like it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world. It works with everything from PRP shots to the scalp, dry needling in your neck, root canals, you name it.
If you react, you lose. If you don’t flinch at all, you win, and yesterday I won. Mmmmmm I just LOVE the feeling of little wires being removed from my back flesh. Give me more of that!
So. Much. Fun.
But what made the appointment disturbing was what she told me: no intense exercise or back training for six more weeks. WHAT?! It’s supposed to be less time! Apparently the doctor put stitches underneath the flesh that you can’t see. And it takes months to a year for the body to dissolve them.
So I’ll just go by his original advice and wait two more weeks.
And then she said another thing I didn’t love: “Because you now have a history of dysplastic nevi, you need to get checked every three months.”
Ugh. So in my sweetest voice I said, “That’s a gamble I’m willing to take. My goal is not longevity.” And then we had a hilariously morbid discussion about fun ages to die.
Also, guess whose birthday it is! 
Tell him HBD if you see this today.
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You really don’t want to tear fascia - be careful.
Happy birthday, @Chris_Shugart!
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