The Beautiful Gain

Training
342

So quick update:

Last nights soccer match went just fine. My team lost 6-5, but I played well. Still didn’t score though. Made a couple great passes, also tried out some fancy moves (back heel pass).

Still don’t like indoor b/c of the playing off the walls, which automatically means that players can check you into them like its a hockey game. Not to mention that last nights game was coed, which is no problem since I like playing with guys (assuming they don’t all think they’re Lionel Messi) - helps me play better in the long run since they’re usually better players than most girls. Last year I even practiced with a boys college team 2x a week. That was awesome except they had a huge squad and some of them still believed that I as a woman wasn’t worthy to receive the ball. At any rate, boys are still generally bigger and more agressive, so you can get pretty banged up. Got two new bruises. Its so weird, I’m usually not a big bruiser but lately have been getting all black and blue (and green!) - could I have some sort of deficiency?

Today I’m going to do some endurance work - SS with random HIIT added in, then pilates. Already ate 3 eggs and a slice of whole wheat toast (not from the freezer). Don’t normally eat bread as you might imagine, but I figured for a 45 min run its merited.

Tomorrow I shall return with noticias regarding squat day. Wish me luck!

343

Soccah! I used to beg to play the field in indoor - I’m one of those aggressive, checking assholes. haha

My girl is a soccer supahstar, now retired, too bad she doesn’t keep a log on here, you two would probably get along great!

344

I hear you on playing with the boys, it’s usually way more challenging (and hence way more fun), once you’re able to prove to them that you’re competent with the ball.

And yay for bruises! I bruise easily as well. I can’t help about the deficiency thing, I’ve never cared enough to look into it. :slight_smile:

345

Yay! I’m glad that you guys dig soccer playing too - its fun stuff.

Trained this am, I think the squats went smoothly. I do have the sensation that I’m leaning forward, especially when I get low. Any recommendations on this?

Started with mobility and foam rolling

BBBS - 5x75, 95, 105, 115, 125
Step ups - 4x12x40
Hypers 4x15x20
Ab wheel - 4x10

Still a bit fatigued so didn’t do anything after the lifting. And normally I look forward to Sats when I get the studio to jump rope and other stuff. oh well.

2hrs in total - i was working slow today.

Anyways, this is the first time I use a barbell on the step ups. I liked it. The first set I used a lower step just to get a feel for it. Then added another small riser on top. I think they went well! I was wobbly on some reps, but i was really trying to use just the working leg (esp the glute) - so clearly there’s room for improvement and getting stronger, which is great!

I think I was doing the ab wheel correctly. I did it on my knees, it was pretty tough! I asked my friend Marissa (not brunch Marissa, big boobs Marissa) who was working out behind me if it looked correct, she said “sure”. lol.

I’m just going to have a quick wigne - put on a couple of pounds! I really, really need to get the diet in check. Must dedicate myself to this ASAP.

Have a great Sunday y’all.

Bobbi, forgot to say on RBlue’s log, thanks for showing the vid of the pullups, I am having shoulder problems, good to see there’s another alternative.

346

you sure those bruises are from soccer playing? :wink:

i like your BBBS…i can’t believe i was working in that high range and higher (before the pain set in) the 95 i put up last night was enough for me. i too, have a bit of forward lean. although even without weight, there isn’t much difference. meaning that the lean looks about the same.

maybe my hips are so jacked i can’t even do a bw squat? not really, but it’s tough now.

fun on the soccer-they were trying to get an indoor team together at work.

what is a wigne? i doubt that it’s all that serious… but if you think so, get on the AD with me girlfriend! :slight_smile:

347

[quote]Mascherano wrote:
I do have the sensation that I’m leaning forward, especially when I get low. Any recommendations on this?[/quote]
Could be a number of reasons. Where is the bar placement? What’s your actual mobility warm-up look like?

348

HAHA! T - I meant to whigne, as in bitch and moan.

How the hell do you spell that? Still says its spelled wrong…

349

[quote]PB Andy wrote:

[quote]Mascherano wrote:
I do have the sensation that I’m leaning forward, especially when I get low. Any recommendations on this?[/quote]
Could be a number of reasons. Where is the bar placement? What’s your actual mobility warm-up look like?[/quote]

Thanks Andy, and I should also clarify that I feel as though it might be a combo of a torso lean and my whole body leaning forward, esp when coming out of the squat. Is that possible?

I’ve been trying to keep the chest up, as well as what Kimba recommended a while back, which was to look up - and I think this has helped for the most part.

Here’s where I think the breakdown happens - everything is fine on the descent until I get down into the squat. Here I think I tend to lean the torso in a bit, so then when I’m coming out of the squat, instead of shooting straight up, my whole body leans forward. Does this make sense?

Maybe it has to do with where I’m initiating the upward movement?

Anyways, I’ve got the bar placed on the upper back which i do by creating a shelf when I duck under the bar (tight upper back, elbows high and back) - i’m sure there’s a technical name for this.

Mobility warm-up is really geared to hip flexion and opening up the hips - this being my major problem, tight hip flexors. They’re a bit better, but still pretty tight. Then usually i foam roll.

Maybe I’m over thinking things…

Anyways, if this at all helps uncover my problem, once in talking to Jim I asked where he thought I’d stall on the squat and he said that I won’t stall, that I’ll fall forward, citing that I’m too tight. This is true, but I think I may also have a problem with that whole firing glute bit.

350

Whine.

Same thing happens to me - unless I place my feet really wide and really, really concentrate, I’m doing squat-mornings. It goes without saying that hip mobility is crucial, but so is ankle mobility and t-spine mobility. The body will always find a way to do a movement, so if you’re lacking mobility in one or more areas, it will find it somewhere else (usually the lumber vertebrae). Just keep working your mobility because you don’t want to end up with low back pain like mine. It’s not at all fun.

351

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
“Feels nice to be nice.”

I bet you’re always at the top of everyone’s guest list. When I see you’ve posted, I always know it’s going to be a positive, encouraging comment. The world could use more of this . . .

[/quote]

so true!

we need moar masch back pics. asap!

352

Make sure you think of sitting FAR back with a nice little arch in your back. Lead by sticking your ass out. A lot of people squat by bending their knees. When you push up, drive your chest up and your elbows forward.

353

YES! I think I understand what you’re saying and it sounds right.

I cough watched Steve do this when he showed me the squat. Leading with the ass. Also, maybe this is what he meant when he said “push the bar up”.

lol! I just practiced, here’s what I’m afraid of,

a) overthinking and getting stuck at the bottom
b)arching my back on the way up

But i’ll try them weighted and see. Maybe this will help me get more explosive!

Thanks!

354

Think of your elbows as steering wheels, and pushing them forward on your way back up…it might be a matter of hand placement too? If you take a closer grip, this helps keeps the upper body tight…

anyone anyone?

355

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
Think of your elbows as steering wheels, and pushing them forward on your way back up…it might be a matter of hand placement too? If you take a closer grip, this helps keeps the upper body tight…

anyone anyone?[/quote]

I can’t help my mind went blank with the picture of Masch sticking her but wayyy back. Sorry.

356

'Sup, Masch… just catching up…I’ll definately be hitting you up when I get to NYC. Maybe I can come watch one of your matches.
I may bring my cohort of strange friends to cheer you on…
Don’t be alarmed.

357

Do you squat in a cage? If so, set the pins to alleviate the concern about getting stuck in the bottom. Or, better yet, get a spot to provide assistance if you need it on the way up. I prefer a spot because I tend to lurch forward on occasion when the weight gets heavy. When I start to squat, the first movement I make is to arch my back and shift my ass bbaaaacccckkk before I even start down. I look up. I try to squat with speed and bounce out of the hole. Wish I could do it as well as I “try” to do it!

358

[quote]nlmain wrote:

I can’t help my mind went blank with the picture of Masch sticking her but wayyy back. Sorry.[/quote]

moar pix and video! :slight_smile:

359

Snapper and MIM, awesome advice. I’ll write it down with the rest of my cues. Let’s see what works.

nlmain, lol! you’re not the only one imagining the ridiculousness of me sticking my ass out.

kimba, vids are on their way - gotta stay honest if I want to make any serious gains.

Skye, hellz yeah!! That’s all I gotta say.

360

Today’s workout felt pretty darn good. First bench day. I’m still moving pansy-ass weights, but hey, baby steps.

BP - 5x45, 55, 65, 75, 85 < didn’t need a spot on these, phew. I think I did them right, felt like a full body workout
Chins - 5, 4, 4, 4 rested 30 secs and eeked out another 2 < My pr is 7 consecutive on these, but its been a while, so I’m giving myself the benefit of the doubt
DB rows - 2x12x30, 12x35, 15x35 < got in a few more reps on the last, souping up for 40 on the next round
pushups w/ 10lb plate - 3x15, 1x20 < got in 5 more pushups on the last rep. yee-haw!

Finished it off with this little number (done 2x)
jump rope 3 mins
24 squats w/ 15lb db
24 alternating lunges
24 jump lunges (one side then the other)
24 jump squats
4x 45lb plate push

Left me huffing and puffing and cursing - good times!

Seriously, I think these upper body workout are going to blow up my arms! Yikes. Doesn’t help that one of the trainers, Julio, was admiring my ‘pumped up’ arms and then one of my colleagues commented that my arms were looking bigger. WTF?! Lets hope I can lean these out a bit with the cleaned up diet. I don’t mind the muscle so much, just the layer of fat around it.

Also may have fixed my spot neurosis - gonna do bench days with my friend Julie. Clever Mascherano.

361

That bench is just fine. 85 is my current PR, so not pansy-assing the weights please. :wink: