Bringing up the Rear Check-In

WOO HOO !
Sorry - I got the set ! Apparently they lied about the free shipping [ it didn't apply to freight ] but they did give me 20% off from it so I caved . The funny part is that I wanted to make sure I could lift 45 lbs . over my head . My bar was loaded to 50 lbs. and I couldn't do it . So I removed 5 pounds and then I could ! I guess that's what I meant by the bar weight being right up against what I can lift ...
I got a few 2.5 plates because it's clear I will be taking baby steps , but what a relief it will be to have what I need ! Combined with my 30 lbs. weight vest - watch out !
You three are so much stronger than I am - it's almost embarrassing to tell you my weights , but oh well -
Xtrain legs - 30 lbs. on all standing work , 5 lbs . ankle weights for barre and floor .
GG strength -Box squats 40 Lbs .3 sets 10 reps
Single leg hip trusts 30 lbs. 3 sets 15 reps each leg
Good mornings 40 lbs. 3 sets 15 reps .
I did notice a huge difference even in the Cathe workouts now that I'm doing those glute activations everyday . Tommorrow morning should be interesting when I try to walk ...
 
Kate Yay I'm glad you got your barbell set!! I think you and I are probably pretty close in the weights we use- for GG those are the same weights I used for the first workout. I want to do the workouts a couple of times to get them down and then I'll to increase my weights. Do you use your vest a lot I've been debating on getting one for awhile?

I haven't done Xtrain for awhile so I can't remember what weights I used for that but I generally use the same weights as Cathe with the exception of STS; she's super strong and I couldn't hang with her! :(

Tonight I did 2x15 HT with 50lbs, 1x20 at 50 lbs and Stretch Max.

Have a good night!
 
Morning Amanda -
I have Cathe's 10 Lbs. and a MIR 30 Lbs. that's adjustable and I love them - aside from giving my wrists a break from the heavier weights , it also feels like the weight is evenly distributed around me so it helps my form too .
That sounds like a great workout ! I think Stretch Max is one of the best out there and doing it after weight work feels terrific .
Do the box squats kill you ? They really get into the low end of the move - exactly were I need it - but the sounds I make while doing them are priceless !
Have a great day !
Kate
 
Hi Carolyn ,
Thanks for the encouragement !
Thank goodness for ice - I'm glad it calmed down overnight . Good thinking doing upper body today . I love that Xtrain w/o . I did it on Mon . and still feel it this AM.


Have a great day !
Kate
 
Kate I've been eyeing the MIR 30 pound vest and thought it would be useful especially with Pyramid LB; I use dumbbells for that one and it moves so fast by the end my hands and forearms are so tired from holding all that weight the entire time.

Yes the box squats are killers! Don't worry I'm grunting too, that step is too low! ;)

Carolyn- Glad your knee feels better!!

Have a great day!
 
Today was day 4 of the Hip Thrust challenge with 2 sets of max reps of a hip thrust march. I had never done this before and could really feel it in my glutes. I also did KPC but had to skip the abs because I was running out of time.

Amanda You will definitely get the strength. I think the 12 week program from SC helped me increase weight fast but I have been adding on barbell hip thrusts for a few months before I started. I think when I first started doing HT, I was at 105 lbs. for 10 reps back in April. For bridges, I started at 75 lbs. for 12 reps back in April. I have always felt like I can go heavier on HT than GB. Not sure why.

Carolyn I am glad your knees are feeling better. I can always tell I need new shoes when my feet start aching. Your room is about the size of mine, 10’x11’. I have a big mirror on my wall too and I love it. Listening to my body is something I continually work on. I’m like you and try to push past the pain sometimes to my own detriment.

Kate I am so excited for you that you got the barbell set. I just know you are going to love it and before you know it you will be adding weight to it for your upper body lifts. You are probably pretty close to me in weight or at least not far off. And as Carolyn said, there are no shame in numbers. The only place we will go is up from here.

Have a good day!
 
Today I did GS Back, Shoulders and Biceps, 10 min. on the trampoline, 3x15 HT at 65lbs and a stretch.

Julie You did increase your weight fast, that's awesome! I looked up the HT March that does looks like a burner!

Have a good night!
 
This morning I did another day from the hip thrust challenge. It was glute bridges with a 45 lb. barbell for max reps. I got 40. Then I did High Step Training. I really enjoyed that one because a lot of the moves seem to be compound or work upper and lower together. Makes it feel like an efficient workout.

Amanda Looks like you increased your weight this week from earlier. Are you feeling more comfortable with your form? Do you have a full trampoline or one of the minis? Either one sounds like a fun way to get in cardio. I have thought about getting a mini but just haven’t researched it enough yet. Plus DH might kill me if I bring another fitness toy home right now.

Have a great day!
 
Today I did Tabatacise premix 1-3, 10 min. trampoline and GG strength #1.

Julie Yes I did increase my weight a little :D; I'm feeling more comfortable with my form- after about 2 reps I get my tilt right and then I'm able to hold it. I was going to do GBs last night and started with a couple but didn't feel it as I can now with the HT so I switched to the HT I love that burn!

I have a JumpSport mini trampoline it's fun; I like to use it for 10-15 minutes while I watch the news or to warm up sometimes.

LOL I know what you mean my DH is always saying another workout video!?!?! How many do you need, do you use all of these? I have to space out my fitness buys so I don't get in too much trouble :p

Have a good night!
 
Carolyn I think it's good to modify when you need to; better to do that then get injured!

I don't think I ever get the full benefits of what I do because sometimes I don't always eat the way I should....and I can't give up chocolate!
 
Hi everyone ,
We had some really wild weather here in the NorthEast ! At around 7 PM Wed . all my power went out - lucky for me I have a back up generator , but my cable was out for almost 2 days . It was one of those crazy mountain storms where the rain is blowing sideways into the house and you wonder if the windows will hold ! Everything is fine though and no one I know had any damage . I'll check back in tonight !
 
This morning I did more hip thrusting and did something I can’t believe I am actually telling others about. I set up my barbell to do heavy hip thrusts and after the 2nd set I realized I needed to go down in weight for the 3rd set. I took 5 lbs. off the left side of the barbell and must have had a mind blip because I did my 3rd set and then went to take all the weights off and realized I left the 5 lb. plate on the right side. After that awesomeness, I did Cardio Core Circuit.

Carolyn I felt a slight soreness in my glutes the next day but not what I was expecting. Maybe I didn’t do them right or long enough. I tend to “max” out early because I get tired of counting. Good job on doing the walking, LBT, and the bridges and thrusts. I do not really like walking lunges. I have balance issues. I think you will still see good results even with modifying.

Amanda I definitely feel it more in my glutes with thrusts than bridges. Hmmm … I may have to get me a mini trampoline but sneak it in the house. I am right there with you on not eating the way I should to get the results but then again I am willing to make that sacrifice to keep some of my goodies.

Kate I’m so glad you are still standing after that. Sounds scary!

Have a great day!
 
Today I did GS Chest and Triceps; that's a tough one I don't know how they do all those straight leg push-ups I have to do them from my knees.

JulieThat's too funny about the barbell this morning!

Carolyn and Kate I'm glad you made it through the storms safely!

Have a good night
 
Hi guys ,
It looks like I'm having some leftover network problems - loading seems really slowed down ...
Carolyn - I have to laugh because I've had generator guilt too - holed up in my office doing Cathe workouts !

Julie - I love that story with the barbell ! I can totally relate .

Amanda - I finally did the GG strength w/o #2 . I've kept my weight at 50 lbs. for all my lower body last week so I'll be trying 60 next week for as many as I can do safely . Last week I tried HT 100 rep challenge at 60 lbs. but my muscles started to fail at 25 reps - I was actually happy about that because it means that my glutes are [ finally ] really working !
I'm really impressed so far with this GG program . Between the activation exercises , and the 2 weekly Strength w/o 's my legs , glutes and lower back have really locked into all of my Cathe w/o's . So after 3 months of Xtrain , the LB work almost feels new to me - or new to my butt , I should say .
Today is a much needed rest day . Yesterday was Super Cuts , GG Strength #2 finished off w/ 100 rep HT .
 
Kate Awesome job on GG#2 you're upping your weight fast! I'm keeping mine at 40 for the lunges and box squat those are harder for me but I'm doing 50-65 for the HT, GB and deadlifts. When I did the box squats on Thursday night I did one set at 40 and then dropped down to 30 :eek: it's hard to get back up from so low!!! I'm really liking the program too; I feel like I'm already getting a lot out of it and it's only been two weeks.

I got the yoga DVD you mentioned and tried Magically Hips yesterday; I really liked it and felt like I got a lot of tension out once I was done. I'm going to try and do this one weekly. The little dog in the beginning was hilarious.

Todays a rest day for me.

Have a good night!
 
I stayed the night at my mom’s on Friday so for Saturday’s HT challenge I was supposed to do 3 sets of single leg HT with a 3 second hold at top for max reps. I couldn’t find anywhere to do them comfortably so I had to do them off the tub. I only got 5, 5, and 4 out of each set. I wonder if I could have gotten more if I had a good set up. Sunday I did 2 sets of a single leg HT for a max hold time. I was able to hold each leg, each set for 30 seconds. Then I 4DS Kickbox, weights first premix. Love doing it this way as the cardio first wears me out and I can’t go as heavy on the weights later. This morning I did Bootcamp from the Intensity series. Man those squat thrust climbers really sneak up on you.

Carolyn That’s what I thought too that my right cheek is going to be stronger than the left. Maybe I should intentionally mess up the other way next time. Hope you enjoyed your bike ride! DH and I have thought about getting bikes but I worry he wouldn’t actually use it. He isn’t really into working out.

Amanda Great job on all those pushups! Those are the hardest part of that workout I think. It also has a little dread factor for me. It’s weird but I sometimes feel pushups from knees working my chest harder. I think it is because I go deeper that way.

Kate I love Super Cuts!!! I think that is my favorite from XTrain. I say that now but I bet next week I would say it is All Out or Hardstrikes or Ride. Maybe I should just say I love them all. Great job on increasing your weights and really feeling your glutes. I think Bret said that when your glutes start cramping that is a sign that you are activating them.

Have a great day!
 
Amanda -
Well , I'll see how 60lbs. goes this week , but the reps aren't too high in those sets so it seems doable - this week , I'm doing GG before , instead of after my Cathe w/o ! I'm so glad you got that DVD - I'm fitting it in once a week and seeing so much improvement in my hips and back . And that little dog is too funny ! I find Eoin to be sort of a lovable goofball which is nice - it keeps the mood light .
Carolyn -
B&G is such a classic - I remember the first time I did that DVD - I could barely walk for a week ! I know what you mean about feeling the HT in your thighs . I haven't tried doing them with my feet elevated yet [ I have with GB's ] but I'm pretty sure Brett said that would shift the work to the glutes as well .
Julie -
I love that you used the tub - That really is dedication - and creativity too !
Super Cuts is great and I know what you mean about picking a favorite - there are so many great ones to choose from . I feel like the longer I'm on Xtrain the more I realize how SMART it is - the way she worked out the extras and bonuses really enables you to work each muscle group much more than once a week . I'm done in 2 weeks and know how much I'll miss it .

Have a great night !
 
Hi everyone!
I didn't get my workout in today :(....back to it tomorrow.

Julie- I just did one of the Intensity Bootcamp pre-mixes for the first time last week; I really liked it- really good sweat fest in a short amount of time. I'm going to do that one more often. You are dedicated; did your mom wonder what you were doing?? :D

Lol Carolyn- the glutes seem pretty finicky huh? I have to have my tilt just right so I feel them!

Kate-What height/ how many risers are you using on your step for the box squat I was using 3 but I might start using one more set? This would be another time where your vest would come in handy!

Have a good night!
 
This morning I did not want to get up and work out. I was so tired I could have stayed sleeping. But I got up anyway and did Athletic Step plus 2 sets of the hip thrust march. I noticed this morning that I have some pretty nice glute DOMS. Made me smile!

Carolyn Love B&G! I don’t normally pay attention to music in workouts but I love “Somebody’s Watching Me”. Keep working on those thrusts. Maybe try to imagine pushing your hips up as far as you can and squeezing your cheeks together as hard as you can at the top of the thrusts.

Kate Well the tub wasn’t the most comfortable and was a little short but I got em done. I hope I don’t have to do that again. I like XTrain and STS but I have done them for so long I think I am tired of body part splits and getting excited about doing GG since they are total body workouts. I may have to add on extra upper body work because it just seems skimpy.

Amanda I don’t think my mom saw me. She probably just assumed I was going to the bathroom. Although I came out a little sweaty and out of breath so you think she would have asked. 3 risers seems sort of low for box squats. I am not quite 5 foot and use 4 risers. When I do full squats, I use 2 risers just as a gauge to make sure I am squatting to full depth (and as a safety catch in case I think I can’t get back up).

Have a great day!
 
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