[quote]Belle Curvy wrote:
Well I just posted a question in the Beginner forum. I don’t know how to put weight on the bar for a deadlift. See this is why I like machines. I keep watching to see if anyone is setting up but they don’t do it when I am looking. I know I could ask, but I am so tired of not knowing. SO I thought I would ask here first.
Do you put a bar on the squat rack and put the weight on it? Or do you put the weight on the bar on the rack with all the bars?
I tried to Google how to do it but it just shows you how to do a deadlift or a squat, not how to actually put weight on a bar.
It may seem so obvious but I just have never done it before or seen it done.
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When I used to deadlift in the cage, I would set the hooks on the lowest setting and load the bar from there, then pick up one end at a time and set them on the ground. Now, I just load one plate on each side, and when I have to load a second plate on a side, I roll the bar and the first plate onto a 2.5lb plate placed on the floor.
Well I used the squat rack to load the bar and it worked! I put on 25lbs and I did quite a few. A gentleman came over to speak with me and mentioned I had some balance issues and he also showed me how to use dumbbells to do the deadlifts. He also showed me goblet squats where I can also use dumbbells.
Thanks again for the help. It really did help. I did use the suggestions and I did it. Thank you.
p.s. and I met a person who was very helpful
Another thing the man had me squat down with my feet flat, no weight, nothing in my hands and he was telling me to keep my chest up and back flat and just stay there for a while to get the muscles stretched.
He also said that I do not have a lot of flexibility right now so he showed me a box squat. He told me I could start at a higher level box or seat and get lower and lower.
Does anyone have suggestions on how to get flexibility in your ankles and hips for the squat and deadlift? Should I just sit in that squat position for a while? It did loosen me up a bit.
I fell off the wagon a little last week. I didn’t go to the gym at all. I was off a few days because of my ankle and then I seem to have fallen back to the ways of not going.
Another thing that bummed me out was I went out with some girl friends from work and we went to dinner which has a bar kind of clubby area. We were all there and I went to the ladies room and when I walked past this table of three guys one of them said “holy cow” and they all laughed. How can people be so mean? Probably some of you would have ripped them a new one and stood up for yourself, but I just wanted to go home. I didn’t want anyone else to see me, I just wanted to hide. So that contributed to my “why even bother going to the gym” that had me slide on to my sofa and not move.
I indulged in some self pity and cinnabons for a couple of days and then I got really bored.
Today after work I stopped at the store and bought food to make my dinner instead of just buying some fast food. I know I should not use a tv show as inspiration, but The Biggest Loser is on tonight and I do like to watch it.
Tomorrow I have made plans to go to the gym with a friend from work so I am going to use that as a step in to getting back on track.
I almost wanted to post a bunch of lies about how I had been going, that I can lift heavier, that I have been eating nothing but good food, but the sane part of my head told me that was crazy.
I agree with mom-in-MD, now you are back and that is what matters. If something like that happens again, get pissed off and take your anger out at the gym!!!
You really are doing awesome! If you can, keep us updated as much as possible for the next couple of weeks so that we can make sure that you are still hanging in there!
[quote]Belle Curvy wrote:
Another thing that bummed me out was I went out with some girl friends from work and we went to dinner which has a bar kind of clubby area.
We were all there and I went to the ladies room and when I walked past this table of three guys one of them said “holy cow” and they all laughed. How can people be so mean? Probably some of you would have ripped them a new one and stood up for yourself, but I just wanted to go home.
I didn’t want anyone else to see me, I just wanted to hide. So that contributed to my “why even bother going to the gym” that had me slide on to my sofa and not move.
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I know it’s hard to do, but when you encounter that negativity let it make you angry, and then use that anger to help you achieve your goals. Even if you’re doing something good for yourself just to spite some asshole, it’s STILL good for you!
Stuff like that helps me when I’m feeling down and don’t want to do what I know I should be doing, I just think of some nasty thing some jerkwad said to me and use that anger to get me motivated.
People are jerks. I work as an entertainer and I hear a lot of negative things about my appearance. I used to let it get to me but now it’s just something else I use to push me forward.
I had a great day today. I went to the gym at noon and there was hardly anyone there.
I did
Leg press (I am doing heavier and fewer reps)
3x8 140, 180, (tried 230 but it was too heavy!), 180
walking lunges
2 laps holding 22.5lbs
bent over row
3x12 50lbs (I think I can do more weight)
chest press
3x12 50lbs
hack squat machine
bodyweight x8
50lbs x 8
standing calf machine
3x 70lbs
eating is much better, I have a mini-Snickers a day in the afternoon with a hot cup of tea.
Altogether I have lost 13lbs since starting. It isn’t a lot of weight for the time I have put in, but I feel good, I’ve gone down a size, and I may finally be learning how to take care of myself and be healthy.
I FINALLY get the jitters when I eat too much sugar. I think I had sugar immunity from all my bad eating habits. I still like donuts, now I just have them once a week. I had one yesterday but it was eaten while I walked around Balboa Park, which is lovely in the mornings if you have a chance to see it.
Thanks to all of you about trying to get angry instead of feeling bad! I am going to give that a try next time. Although I actually hope there isn’t a next time.
I would like some help with how to put together a routine that I should do when I get to the gym. Right now I am going three times a week, both Saturday and Sunday and usually on Wednesday evening.
I do like doing the leg press and the hack squat machine so I do those every time.
Here is what I usually do when I go.
leg press
hack squat
cable row
lat pull down
glute ham raise
standing calf raise
overhead dumbbell shoulder press
chest press machine
So that is what I usually do when I go. I like that, and I am comfortable in doing those even when I go up in weight.
Are those enough to make a change, because nothing is changing now.
Sometimes I have to wait to get to things or find room. Because I go when it is busy I usually don’t get off the machine until I am done with my 3 sets. Is that really that bad of a thing to do?
I have cut back on cardio and I am really afraid as I have gained back 3lbs. Can I lose weight just lifting weight?
Now what did you cut back on cardio again? wags finger
I thought you were working with a trainer??
How is your nutrition going? Really that’s the most important part Belle!! Seriously…I’m sure you’ve heard this, but you can’t out train a bad diet! It’s very true…It’s taking me awhile to figure stuff out, but now I can preach it sista!
If ever I’m stuck, or not making progress, I look at how I have been eating…
Be honest with yourself!
As far as the list of exercises, I see you prefer full body which is fine…what reps/sets have you been using?
I should have bumped this when I started my new threads =)
I have continued to lift so for Skyel and CBear, thank you, but I do train with weights.
My question was specific about cardio and where some of you fit it into your training plan.
I did add a new couple of new activities, tire throwing and sled dragging(my neighbor filled in a tire with concrete and we drag it all over the place). For a while I was trying lunges with the big bag of dog food but it shifted on me and I wrenched my knee! I did feel like an amazon (even at my height) while doing that though! ;>
Its really a matter of how YOU can fit it in…
Personally, I’ll do 20 min ss cardio after training, enough to elicit mouth breathing(if there is time!) And another walk in the evening…
In between days I’ll do intervals or just a longer walk(45min). In September Im going to start the couch 2 5k program!
[quote]Belle Curvy wrote:
My eating is better but I don’t even notice when I am cheating! Just out of habit I put the food in my mouth. When I picked up my friend to go walking she had brought me a fresh baked holiday cookie and I ate it and I just didn’t think. I just popped it in my mouth.
I did go shopping today and I bought some good food and some jello and the sugar-free pudding.
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take baby steps. its the only way to success. going to fast you will burn out. I say this as soon to be former fatty, have lost 27lbs to date. is to focus on losing weight in segments, what I’m saying focus first on losing 10lbs first in say 2 to 3 months. then look at your progress, then change any things not working then, set another weight loss goal. Its much easier on the mind then,
