We both get to celebrate for sure, oh darn, I have an excuse to make (and devour) cake. Thank you!
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Wednesday 3/20
Burning off cake
75KBS
1.25 mile walk w/ 10lb pack
More spring to report today, high of 60F today. Yay! Ready to start getting camping trips and hikes in. Hubby has a few hikes he wants to do, but they are 10+ miles long, so we need to train a bit for those.
Birthday was a success. We took down a total of three sushi rolls, a bowl of ramen and the lava cakes. Went to bed with a full, bloated belly. Honestly didnāt sleep that well either. I am realizing just how much I like the āsunken inā stomach feeling with a cut. It was a fun cheat day, but I donāt feel like I needed it. Good spot to be in.
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Ha, I was just posting in my log that Iād faked sick to avoid a luncheon. I feel really happy with my bland-ass chicken, zucchini spirals, riced cauliflower, and green beans.
Oh, and snow here today. Just a little, but still.
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I got a little nauseous just reading that. I canāt even remember the last time I ate chicken.
Donāt worry, we have some in the forecast this weekend. Winter isnāt done with us yet, spring is teasing though, Iāll take it when I can get it.
Thursday 3/22
JN Essentials - Week 1, day 2
DB Flat Bench
5, 6, 5 x 50, 11 x 45
Lat pull down
11, 10, 10, 11 x 90
Seated DB Shoulder Press
12 x 25, 12, 11 x 30
Seated Cable Row
12 x 90, 12, 12 x 100, 12 x 50
Skullcrusher - 2 x 12 x 20
SS
BB Curl - 2 x 10 x 50
15 minute walk outside
This program uses a few drop sets and back off sets. I am really liking the burn on those. I didnāt realize I was missing more pump until now. My lats were on fire after the pull downs and I felt like I was doing the āBodybuilderā walk with my arms out the rest of the session.
Only two days in, but I am loving this program.
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OMG, I loved this so much! Perfect description and really happy-making.
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It was great for the posture!
Sunday 3/24
JN Essentials - Week 1, day 3
Hip Press
12, 12, 12 x 315, 11 x 340
Assisted Nordic Curls
4 x 10 x BW-80
Leg extension
2 (12, 10 x 105, 60) drop set
Donkey Kicks
SS
Cable crunch
2 x 15
10 minute treadmill walk
Oh man. Those drop sets remain the king killer of this program. Pump like I have never had every session. They are awesome.
I swapped in donkey kicks for calf raises. Becauseā¦ My arse needs more work to be Phat.
I donāt know if itās just one of those weeks, or if itās the new program. I have been relentlessly hungry all week. Ended up going over calories multiple days. I felt hungry after every meal and snack. My protein was high, hell, yesterday I had 210+ grams of protein and I still gave in and took down many cups of popcorn (my treat that I have been going past my allotment on). I donāt know why I bought popcorn kernals. I know I canāt have those in the houseā¦
Anyway, Iāll get back on track this week. I have had a pretty okay time this whole cut until now, so itās been nice to not white knuckle it for weeks on end.
Tomorrowās weigh in could be less than ideal.
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Iāve been struggling with hunger this week, too. I couldnāt stop eating chicken and grapes Saturday watching TV. Iād had a sensible dinner, like 6oz of fish, a pile of veggies, and a half cup of rice, then just COULD NOT STOP with the chicken and grapes. I ended the day 350kcal over.
When do you increase to maintenance?
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Hey, at least it was high protein. Means you were truly hungry, right?
Wellā¦ I was going to stop the cut after 12 weeks, which would be at the weigh in tomorrow. I am half tempted to continue another week to make up for this week being mostly over calories. Then maintenance all through April.
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Oof, hard decision!
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I know! One more week would make dates line up nicely too. Itās likely to get extended.
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Okay! One more week!
I completely support your decision. 
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Fantastic, hopefully Iāll get a big whoosh and will have minimal rebound up for maintenance!
You are going all the way till June right? Do you anticipate being your goal weigh by then and you are shooting for all of it to drop in one stint?
Currently the plan is to finish out the challenge on the cut, but it could change. Because in thinking about your question, I realized that not only do I not expect to be at goal by then, but that I am not budging at all. Iāve been at the same weight for a month now, with small fluctuations upward. Iāll have another this week for Easter, which will be an Italian feast with my in-laws.
But like you, I havenāt been tortured, so I guess Iāll just hold tight and see what happens. I do feel good. Iāve just started measuring, which I wish Iād done sooner, so hopefully Iāll see some progress there.
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Always happy to make people think! The second part sucks a bit, I feel you there. Gets demoralizing quick to not budge, then go up. Starts to feel like you are spinning your wheels.
This is good, I am glad itās not taking a toll and not moving. It sounds like you are dialed in and itās just a matter of patience. Easier said than done!
Tuesday Weigh-in
150.6, +0.4lbs
Macros:
Steps: 75k
No surprise for the bump, as you can see, my calorie average was up with Hubby Bday dinner, and a couple of popcorn rampages.
Was I hoping it would magically go down? Of course. Definitely confirms I want one more week of buffer before starting maintenance. Might not make any difference, but itās worth the extra week. Taking a progress photo later too, see if things are improving there.
I do have family staying with me, but seeing them is usually pretty motivating to lose weight. I am the only one in my family that isnāt overweight or obese. Which probably helps explain why I struggle to drop weight so much.
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Tuesday 3/27
JNās Essentials, Week 2, Day 1
Hack Squat
6, 6, 6 x 180, 10 x 135
Incline DB Bench
10, 10, x 40 8, 8 x 45
Seated Hamstring Curl
11, 11 x 120, 12, 12 x 60 (Dropset)
T-Bar Row
11, 11, 10 x 55
DB Curl
2 x (15 x 20 drop 12 x 10)
Lateral Raise
2 x (10 x 12 drop 12 x 5)
Cable Crunch
15 x 60 drop 15 x 30
10 minute treadmill walk, hill program
Hack squats were way easier this week. Unfortunately, I can feel my pesky disc start to get upset on the last heavy set. I need to increase the weight, but I might have to swap it out for leg press, I just canāt get enough weight off my shoulders on the hack machine. Sucks, thought they would okay since there is a lot of back support on the machine. All well, the program has substitutions listed for every exercise.
Everything else went well, increased either weight or reps. I was slacking on both of those with the last program, but I am making myself add the weight. You know, progression as it should be. Most importantly, I can still hit the reps with good form. I think I will be making some awesome progress soon .
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Lol I know this far too well.
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Me too. Iām not sure Iāll ever be able to allow myself salty snacks. There be dragons!
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