Bringing up the Rear Check-In

Saturday I did CleanMax! I got so much done including getting the dogs bathed and my carpets shampooed! DH and I also hung my Jungle Gym suspension trainer up. I haven’t used it yet but it is at least ready now. Sunday I started month 2 of Get Glutes: Bulgarian Split Squat 2x8 @ 15 dbs, 2x5 @ 20 dbs, Sumo DL 2x12 @ 115, 2x8 @ 125, Bench Press 3x7 @ 85, Side Bends 3x12 @ 10 and added on extra upper body work. This morning I did Imax. Tomorrow I have an all-day meeting so I am not sure I will be able to post. Should be back Wednesday though.

Kate I love candy corn and those pumpkins too. Impressive poundage on your lifts! You are definitely gonna break 100 and go beyond!

Carolyn How do you like the Zercher squats? When I did Strong Curves, I subbed regular squats for those because I was nervous about them. Just seems like it would be uncomfortable and wobbly.

Have a great day!
 
Hi everyone!
I don't have any workouts to report :( I was too tired after work today. I'm going to have long days the next few weeks so I don't know how many workouts I'll get in...I miss working out first thing!!

Carolyn I was right there with you and the Twix on Halloween I couldn't stop eating them...added a couple of snickers to the mix too!

Julie I'm interested to see how you like your new suspension trainer.

Kate you're doing great!
 
Hi guys !
Julie ,
Clean max ! That's so funny - doesn't it feel like everything becomes a max at some point ? I can't wait to check out your new contraption - also , great job on month #2 ! 125 on the Sumo's is amazing , not to mention 85 on bench presses !
Carolyn ,
That's great that you can do the bike . My PT's always wanted me to but it hurts my knee - not that they cared ... I'm interested in those bands and how you're using them . I've been working on a standing kickback where I tie my red tubing around one leg and try to pump the other behind me [ does that make any sense ? ] anyway , it's kind of awkward but if I do it right , I really feel it in my glutes . It's so much fun to get new stuff !
Amanda ,
Did you have a good Halloween ? You've got a little one , so I bet it was really cute if he wore a costume . I'm glad you were into the candy too - I love that stuff and don't have any kids - but I eat it anyway ....
I did the same w/o set that I did last Fri , but went heavier on the GB's 45Lbs. 3x20 at the very end just to burn it out .
Have a great night all !
 
Good morning !

Carolyn ,
I just finished a month of Gym Style and I think it's one of Cathe's best . Plus , she looks so amazing it's hard not to be inspired - can I look like that when I grow up ????

I got month #3 of Get Glutes and it looks like I will be able to do most of it ! From what I can tell it's mostly dead lifts and HP which is about all I can do right now ...
Have a great day !
 
Yesterday morning I did workout 2 for month 2 of Get Glutes: 3x8 HT w/an 8 second pause @ 155 lbs., 3x5 Push Press @ 62, 3x6 slide back lunges @ 20, 3x10 lying db rows @ 20, and 3x8 prone trap raise @ 5. Those lying db rows and trap raises are sneaky hard. This morning was X52 premix from X10. I had to pause a few times. I think that is my new Everest. It is quite a killer for me.

Carolyn I have always wanted a suspension trainer and the Jungle Gym is much cheaper than a TRX. I bought the anchors to go with it and DH and I anchored it to the ceiling. I hope you get better sleep tonight.

Amanda I haven’t used the suspension trainer yet. Not sure when I will use it but I will report back.

Kate I love getting new stuff although I am a little nervous to try it out. I know that is weird. I was so excited to get it and now it is just hanging from my ceiling taunting me.

Have a great day!
 
Good morning !

Finally broke 100 on HT last night , no real DOMS today but my body's dragging and I'd love to stay in bed [ cries a river ...]

Deadlift : 1x30 @ 45 Lbs. , 2x10 @ 75 Lbs. , 2x10 @ 85 Lbs. HT single leg : 2x20 @ 45 Lbs. , HT : 3x20 @95 Lbs. , 2x10 @115 Lbs. 100 reps @ 65 Lbs. Elevated GB : 1x100 @ 45 Lbs.

Have a great day all !
 
This morning I did Scrambled Cycle Max. I am so happy it is Thursday although I will be happier tomorrow when it is Friday. I guess I am always working for the weekend!

Carolyn I think I misnamed the exercise. It is actually called chest supported rows. You sit backwards on an incline bench so you are not really lying down flat but on an angle. Did you try the band HTs? Curious to see how you anchored the band.

Kate Wow! That is awesome that you broke 100 on the HT and those weights for all the exercises are awesome. I still shake my head in wonder at how you do the single leg HT with 45 pounds. I struggled to get 15 reps of those in and had to take mini breaks.

Have a great day!
 
Good morning !
Thanks guys - I think I was so tired when I did them that I forgot to get excited about it !
I did Total Body Trisets upper body last night - Doms in new places today YAY !
Julie ,
Those single leg HT are really hard but my right leg is much stronger than my left so I guess it's worth it . I looked at your new toy on Amazon - it looks really great ! I think there are a lot of exercises in Get Glutes where you could use it to sub for the TRX . Also , one review mentioned that it's great for squats because you can lean back and get the pressure away from your knees - the possibilities seem endless !
Carolyn ,
You'll get there really fast ! There is something so rewarding about strength training - I think part of it is that you can always challenge yourself , then look at that barbell and think , ' I really did that ??? ' Also , I wanted to ask you about Nia Shanks [ is that right ? ]
What kind of w/o are you doing with her ?
Have a great day and [ woo hoo ! ] it's Friday !!!
 
This morning I did Get Glutes month 2 workout 3: Squats 2x6 + 1x10 @ 95, db extensions 3x10 @ 15, 2x30 fast gb @ 40. I added on 30/30 after that. I must have eaten my Wheaties while I slept because I made it through 30/30 without adding any additional break time in. I was so happy that I did Rocky arms and said “yea me!”

Kate Oh TBT upper is crazy with all those pushup variations! My right side is stronger than my left too. I also notice with 1 leg HT that on my left side only I tend to start to angle my body rather than staying square to the step as my set progresses. I guess I better work on that. I think in month 3 I might try my jungle gym with the body saw exercise. We’ll see how that goes with my balance and weak core issues.

Happy Friday!
 
Hi everyone!
Yesterday I did Get Glutes month 3 w/o #1-conventional deadlift 3x5 @ 70lbs, bent over barbell row 3x8 @50, walking lunges 3x20 with 10lbs db's, Arnold press 3x8 @12lbs, reverse hyper 3x20, PPHT burn out 100, bodysaw 2x12 then I threw in the leg work of FlexTrain I love it!! :D I went to wash my face afterwards and my glutes were trembling while I was leaning over the sink!

Today I did Lower Body Trisets and I'm really feeling my legs and glutes today!

Great job on the 100lbs HT Kate! I did have a good Halloween; my son is 4 and was Batman. His costume had muscles it was pretty cute; he loved it!

Carolyn how do you like your new bands? Have you tried the assisted pull up with them; let me know if you like it. I do mine with a chair way out front of me and have the tip of one foot on to assist but wonder if the bands would work better.

Cathe does look killer in STS and Gym Styles; I want to grow up to be like her too :)

Julie what do you think about month 2 I think I liked month 1 better? I liked the first w/o in month 3. I have to watch the videos for the 3rd still I'm not sure about some of the exercises.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!
 
Saturday I got new tires on my car (um why is rubber so expensive?) and then I helped my sister organize her pantry and kitchen. Sunday I did Get Glutes: Bulg Split Squat 2x8@20, 2x5@23, Sumo DL 2x12@120, 2x8@130, Bench Press 3x7@87 and added on extra upper body work and then it was lazy day. This morning I did Imax 2. Do you like Pina Coladas?

Carolyn I am lazy too when it comes to some workout stuff. I keep meaning to try and do those banded HT with one of my larger bands but it is tied to my chin up bar and I just don’t want to take it off and then have to put it back on when I do chin ups. Yep lazy! You could definitely try doing some form of hip thrusts or bridges daily. When I did the 30 day hip thrust challenge, my glutes were in a constant state of soreness (the good kind) and I think I got pretty good results towards the end of the month.

Amanda I don’t think I have ever experienced trembling glutes after I am done. That would be awesome! I think I actually like month 2 a little better. I do miss the American deadlifts and reverse lunges because those seemed to get my glutes good.

Have a great day!
 
Hi everyone !
Hope you all had a nice weekend . I was off today , so I tried Slide & Glide and I could do it !!! I was really careful but had no pain , so I did Double Trouble - I think it's my first cardio in almost a month ...
Last night I did TBT Upper and followed with Get Glutes #1 , month #3 : Dead Lifts { I warmed up with 1x30 @45 Lbs. } 1x8 @75 Lbs. , 1x8 @ 85 Lbs. 1x8 @ 95 Lbs. Bent over barbell row : 1x8 @45 Lbs. , 1x8 @ 55 Lbs. 1x8 @ 65 Lbs. Seated one arm Arnold Press 1x8 @ 15 Lbs. , 1x8 @ 17 lbs. , 1x8 @ 20 lbs. Reverse Hyper 3x20 . PPHT Burnout 1x100 @ 65 Lbs. Body saw 2x15 .
Carolyn -
You're there !!! Once you hit 90 lbs. you can break 100 - I think you'll start to feel a good pump in your glutes . I also think it's fine that you really start to feel it 8-12 reps in - I think I do too . That's why I always up the reps when I can .

Julie -
I really like TBT upper and can't wait until I can do the lower w/o . You're right , those push ups are killer - have you ever worked your chest to the point that your collar bones hurt the next day ? That was me today . How do you like month #2 ? I remember crazy DOMS from it !
Amanda -
It looks like you're doing great ! How do you like month #3 ? So far , I like what I see and most of the w/o's are doable with my bad knee , but I skipped the walking lunges . Isn't it great when your legs and butt are shaking ? I really felt last nights w/o today too .

Have a great night !
 
Carolyn your son was Batman too :)

Today I did some abs, glute activation and stretching....I'm still sore from Sat. and Sunday. Do you ladies find doing the conventional and sumo deadlifts a lot harder then doing the straight leg? I think it's harder to actually lift it up and put it back down to the ground. I think that, the walking lunges and the HT burnout are what did it to me.

Kate your numbers are awesome and you were worried about your numbers when we first started this check-in! ;)

The body saw is where you're in a plank position and slide forward and back while holding the plank position. I used my discs, you can also use a towel or suspension trainer. I really felt that in my abs.

I think I need to get a straight bar; I had one in my wish list that I was going to get from Amazon and today when I went to buy it, it wasn't Prime anymore so I'll have to wait until it goes back-I hate to pay for shipping when I know I eventually won't have to. I also need to get some more plates so I can catch up to you guys!

Have a great night!
 
So last night I dreamed it was Wednesday (not sure why) but I was a little disappointed when I woke up and realized it was only Tuesday. Oh well. I did do my Get Glutes workout: HT pause 3x8 @ 160, BB push press 3x5 @ 62, sliding skater lunge 3x6 @ 20, chest supported row 3x10 @ 20, trap raise 3x8 @ 6 and added on additional back work. Then I let the dogs out and got another surprise … snow. Only about a 1/2 inch but still.

Carolyn Yea on getting to 90 lbs on the ht! You will get over 100 in no time. Sounds like your glutes are coming around too and starting to feel it. I have noticed this month when doing the hip thrust pause (where you hold the top position for 3-8 seconds and really squeeze the glutes) that I am really getting a good burn in the glutes. Hehe! Maybe the Miss America Deadlifts have you twirling the barbell like a baton.

Kate So glad you found cardio you can do! I agree with Amanda those numbers are awesome. I have had DOMS so bad in my chest that my collar bone hurts. I thought I was just weird for getting that so glad to know I am not alone.

Amanda Conventional and Sumo DL are much harder but I figure they are probably more functional than a straight leg dl. I think they also work more muscles and probably have a higher post exercise calorie burn. I accidentally ordered something from Amazon that I have ordered in the past and it was free shipping. Well I wasn’t paying attention and was in a hurry and ended up paying shipping. I was so mad.

Have a great day!
 
This morning I did Afterburn Double Trouble premix. That is my favorite way to do that workout. I really don’t think I could do it straight through anymore.

Carolyn I hate the cold. I actually think snow is pretty but I hate driving in it. I have a 45 minute 1 way commute that is almost all country roads or open interstate so the wind drives the snow right across the roads and makes them stressful to drive on. If it would just snow on rooftops, trees, and yards, I would be ok with it. I am so excited that you are feeling your glutes. That is a nice feeling to have.

Have a great day!
 
Hi guys !
Last night I had to go to the mall so of course I went by Dick's and splurged on Hex dumbels with the rubber coating on the ends [ 12's & 25's ] - now I wish my others matched ! They feel great in my hands too , even though there's quite a bit of black grease on them , but nothing that some Windex can't handle ...
Then I did a late night LB w/o : Dead lifts 1x30 @ 45 Lbs. , 2x10 @ 85 Lbs. , 1x10 @ 95 Lbs. Single leg Romanian dead lift 1x12 @ 10 lbs. 1x12 @ 15 lbs. 1x12 @ 20 Lbs. Single leg HT 2x 20 @ 55 Lbs. both legs . HT 3x20 @ 95 Lbs. , 2x10 @ 125 Lbs. 1st set 10 sec. hold , 2nd set 20 sec. hold . Elevated GB 3x20 @ 55 Lbs.
Julie -
I'm glad I'm not the only one too ! I've had DOMS in my chest that went up to my neck - I always thought I was just being sensitive . It was good to do some cardio finally but I felt strange being so cautious . When you do deadlifts and you're using a lot of weight , do you feel your lower abs sort of jump into action ? I don't know how else to describe it and I guess they're protecting my back but it feels kind of intense !
Carolyn ,
Amanda described the Body Saw perfectly . I really like those - you can feel them all down the back and midsection and they're easy on the body . I love winter too ! Not driving in bad weather , but I love the cold and don't mind the dark in the morning and night . I know , I sound like a vampire but it's the heat I don't handle very well .
Amanda ,
You're right - I was really shy about my weights . I'm so used to not building muscle well but it seems like the process sped up after a while . I also think that it makes a huge difference hitting those muscle groups more than once a week . Do you get better results doing one body part a week like in STS or XT ? Or do you like to hit them 2 or more times a week ?
Have a great day !
 
I had a really hard time getting up this morning. I was snuggling with Maggie and getting close to just staying in bed. But I got up anyway and did Pedal Power. I did the regular mix instead of the scrambled premix. I really worked on focusing on squeezing my glutes during the standing portions.

Carolyn I think I like the bw 1-leg hip thrust better too. I can focus more on form. When I did them with 45 lbs. I had a hard time and not because my glutes would get tired, I think my quads were taking over. Wow 20s for 1-leg RDL is awesome. When I did them last in August I was using 8s and 10s. I have issues with balance though. I live in central Illinois, about 200 miles southwest of Chicago. In the middle of corn and soy fields. The view is lovely (insert rolly eyes).

Kate Yea new fitness toys! I don’t know that I feel my lower abs jump in to action as you say. I will have to pay attention next time I do them. I do know that after I started doing heavy deadlifts the first few times my lower abs had crazy DOMS in them. I love the shorter days in the winter too. People think I am nuts but I go to bed early so having the sun go to bed at the same time as me is perfect.

Have a great day!
 
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Morning -
Last night I did Pyramid UB [ I wanna rock ! Yes , I admit I liked that metalhead song ...]
and after I looked like I'd worked on my car - why do they grease the DB's like that ? It's not like there are moving parts - but really I adore these with the rubber heads ! The 25's look huge ! I can't believe Cathe does bi's with them - I just graduated to 15's for curls and it's still hard .
Julie ,
I had lots of family in Ill. and lived there after high school . We lived in Macomb and I worked in a store on the , " Square " . I grew up in NYC , so it was really different and fun for an 18 year old - great memories ! Oh , but the winter driving ! Blizzards and - 50 below windchill - you have my sympathies ! It makes sense that you'd have DOMS in your abs from lifting heavy - I haven't yet but I do always get that weird kick - I think my body's just saying , " Whoa " .
Carolyn ,
I actually like the RDL but also have balance issues , so I do them standing in front of my desk , just close enough so that I can reach out with my free hand . I'm not supporting myself or using it to push off so I don't see it as cheating but I can do them without falling over that way [ which helps - HA ... ]
Have a great day !
 
This morning I did Get Glutes: Squats 3x6 @ 100, pushups 2x20, 1x15, db back extensions 3x10 @ 20, gb 2x30 fast @ 40 (that’s a butt burner), side lying hip raises 2x10, crunches 2x25. Plus To The Max step cardio, step tabata, and 30/20. So glad it is Friday. Now if my work day can go by fast so I can get home.

Kate I like that song too. Can’t say I have noticed it in PUB but I do notice it in KPC for some reason. I like the looks of those types of dumbbells. I have the plain metal hex ones and those come a little greasy too. I don’t get why they would have grease on them. What a small world. I live about 30 miles east of Peoria so I am familiar with Macomb. Yes the winters are not nice around here which is why I tend to dread winter.

Carolyn I meant to add to my post that it isn’t cheating to use something to balance yourself during single leg deadlifts. Bret says he has to hold on to something as well for his balance. I try to go light on those and focus on my balance so I can try to increase my balance. Not sure if it is working or not. I definitely am imbalanced between sides. My left side is very unstable compared to my right side. Oh boy, that is a tough decision between LL and B&G. They are both goodies. I vote for LL because it is deadlift heaven!

Have a great day!
 
Morning girls !
Why did I get up at 4:30 Sat. A.M ????
Last night I did the floor section and bonus from Great Glutes . I'm not sure why , but maybe I thought it would be a good glute activation warm up . I used a 5 lb. ankle weight for the floor part - must say , I didn't feel it that much compared to the burn I used to get from B&G . Maybe you need to do all of those squats and lunges first ?
I was going to try Get Glutes strength #2 but decided to add a bit of it to my set instead .
Deadlifts : w/u 1x30 @ 45 Lbs. ,2x10 @85 Lbs. , 1x10 @ 95 Lbs. Romanian Deadlift : 1x12 @ 15 Lbs. , 1x12 @ 20 Lbs. , 1x12 @ 25 Lbs. Single leg HT : 2x20 @ 55 Lbs. each side HT : 3x20 @ 95 Lbs. 2x10 @ 125 Lbs. - 20 sec. hold 1st set , 20 sec hold 2nd set .
Carolyn ,
I didn't use any weight for the RDL until I figured out that I had to be able to steady myself in order to do them at all . I tried it with my 25# last night and could really feel it at the end of the set - but I've been practicing a lot and had done pizza presses first . I don't know why my DB's came out of the box like that - the last piece of equipment that had any grease was my barbel and that was pretty slight . Have a great sweatfest today ! I totally know how that feels to need that - enjoy !
Julie ,
I figured when you said you lived in central Ill. you'd know of Macomb . I think the University is really the only reason anyone would know about it . Small world indeed ! There's a longer version of that song in KPC - it goes really well with the combo's in that section - I really miss KPC !
I wanted to ask both of you - do you use lifting gloves ? I really don't because w/o's seem easier without them but I just tried again . My hands and forearms were on fire ! I must feel like I need to hold on much tighter or something - I do much better without them ...
More coffee for me -
Have a great day !
 
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