Lifting like girls

Of course you did the live workouts, Lisa! I watch all the clips and they do look like fun. Once life has calmed down, I'll re-subscribe. Weirdly I do less walking once winter is over, mainly because there's too much to do in the garden, and with lambing / kidding etc. That might be the time for some Cathe fun.

Bench press day today- stayed at 49kg (4x6) because they were paused reps. Also a killer (to me) superset of goblet squats (x15) plus overhead DB reverse lunges (6 each side). I hate that combo.

Irony of the day? 4 sets of suitcase carries....on the day I'm off on vacation! I'm currently sitting at gatwick airport awaiting my flight details (dh a bit anal about time, so we're here 2 hours early....). I'll be checking in from poolside tomorrow :), on the European leg of the commando family tour!

Hope everyone has had a great weekend
Xx
 
Today was a rest day..sorta! I decided to do a short lower body/ ab circuit. Bodyweight, a$$ to ground squats x 25, single calf raises x 50 ab wheel roll outs x 25. I repeated this circuit 3 times. Not groundbreaking, but something! Justine..safe travels! The pool check in is going to cause serious envy!! OK Karen, Roz, we need our Generals to show us signs of life and physical superiority to keep the underling commando ranks motivated!! General Justine accounted for! ( just kidding, hope all is well)Hope everyone is having a tremendous weekend!
 
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Nutrition was great until a friend showed up with shots......then after a complete buzz hit Arby's.......seriously? they aren't even good! UGH oh well, today is another day

Back and triceps done! One more workout and mesocycle one is done! Wow. I did look ahead and found out my next recovery week is during my spring break! CAMPOUT! :)

Hope everyone is well, I have a ton of homework.....be back Tuesday for legs

Oh! bought Core Max and Stretch Max for the recovery weeks.
 
Lib, have you any plans for recovery week?
Tom- doesn't sound much of a rest day to me!

Lisa, Karen, Roz, hope alls well.

HTS bodyweight version today. Not as intense as a full gym workout (I swear that loading a barbell adds an extra intensity to the workout), but ok. Band clean and press, band rows, ITY raise, bear crawl, double TGUs, divebombers, hard style planks. All good! A bit of swimming today, but I'm missing my dog walks. Food and drink all too yummy, so will definitely need to push myself once I'm home!

Hope the week has started well for you all.
 
Good morning everyone, great to be back. I am feeling like a slug, haven't worked out for a week. So, this morning was the first of Kettlebell Burn. Started out with 15 minutes of TGU, 1-3 reps starting with the weaker side. Used a 16kg, had to drop the weight to12kg after about 8 minutes. Then 15 minutes of supersets of goblet squats, and one arm rows. Used 20kg kettlebell..Then 10 minutes of 20 seconds on, and 40 seconds off, kettlebell swings with 24kg kettlebell. Then a big long stretch. When I read this, it doesn't sound like much, but I was breathing heavy.
Have a great day everyone!
 
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Great to have you back Karen! Today was almost a "don't do" day. I started by getting the 45# bar from squat to bench height...I almost cried!! Sat on the bench for a minute, but decided to try it. I used bar only, hurt!! Again sat on bench, inner struggles going on. Went to 115 2x6, about went upstairs..had a headache (never get these,,no brain to hurt!) back was sore getting off the bench, beginning to think my body is telling me something! I decided to try 135, and it got better. 135x5 155x5 175x5x4x4x4, 155 3x8 and incline bench, 135 3x8 1x7 and finished with pushups x22 x20. What a pathetic whiner!! Glad I stayed, but wasn't a great day. I think my back was sore from the light deads on Sat, but I did do sets of 8?? maybe that was it. Justine, great improvisation and I agree about changing plates!! Karen, the kettlebell workouts are tough..never tried a TGU, but have enough trouble getting up WITHOUT the bell!! Way to start the week ladies!!
 
Today is a rest day. My whole posterior chain is sore this morning. Love that feeling. Wanted to do something to get moving. Ten minutes of kettlebell swings 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. Feels good.
Have a great time, Justine. I'm so envious. We have sunshine, and crystal blue skies, but there is snow on the ground. The skiing is great, but I want a pool right now.
A big HI to everyone, hope you are all well!
 
Karen, you reckon that KB workout doesn't sound like,uch? You've got to be kidding. TGUs take it out of you. I use 12kg. Never dared try a 16kg. I find that it takes a rep or so to get into them. My shoulder (always the left one) feels unstable for the first rep or two. Oh, I'd swap a pool for snow any day. I'm hoping to go skiing (Switzerland) in a couple of weeks time, as my step son is doing a season out there. Meanwhile, the villa in the Algarve is better than the mild drizzly weather back home!

Tom, good on ya getting a workout in when you're just not feeling the love.

Today I did another bodyweight HTS. Not impressive, but at least I did something. Squat press with band, goblet squat with a doorstop (!), 1 armed press ups, speed bench press with a band (the burn), and some other rather silly moves, then a swim (leisurely), then had friends to lunch, and I'm now about to snooze off the pink wine we drank (I never drink at lunchtime, and now I know why).

My dd is sitting her finals (maths degree) but had a panic attack during today's exam. Having children never gets easier. I'm feeling bad about being on holiday whilst she's having a nightmare back home.
 
Just a side note to Justine's previous post. I think my great grandfather died of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. There are no ticks or fleas here, so evidently he was in the mountains (probably the Rockies) I thought it was a fake disease sorta like Montezuma's Revenge, (this is very real, just not the REAL name) or the Dreaded Gombu. But, just finished reading a little family history, and that's what got him. Every day is a surprise! Ok, I'm done.
 
Great workouts to everyone.

Justine, parenting never gets easier? Damn. These past two days have been so hard over here so quick post from me. Justine, sorry to hear about your daughter. Panic attacks and anxiety issues are very real and very difficult. She's lucky to have your support.

Great workouts to everyone. Tom, you get 'er done yesterday, Justine, you're working out on vacation which is amazing by itself, and Karen, your TGUs are impressive. Yay for those DOMS. I have a good friend who has Lyme Disease. Ticks are no joke. Lib, super job on legs!!! Yes, dehydration is no bueno for working out.

Yesterday I wanted to run (away, ha!) so did 6 miles. I don't think this will be a habit but it just felt good again. Today I did GS CT because I needed a known entity. Hopefully this voodoo of poop everywhere all the time (including my 4-year-old's poop incidents...WHY????) and tantrums goes away soon.

Talk again soon.
 
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HI EVERYONE!
I've missed you all! I've enjoyed catching up and reading about your exploits.
We had an unexpected, last-minute family visit -- that and a more-demanding-than-ever toddler and just having generally signed up for too many things this spring sort of took me off the computer this week. I have a feeling the next few months are just going to be hectic.

Lisa, sorry to hear about the poodoo. :( The thing about poop is... it will pass. Hopefully not on the carpet. Sending you loads of virtual hugs and good mama wishes and high fives on your awesome workouts. I love you 6-mile run yesterday, I'm impressed! Do you sometimes find just getting on the treadmill is easier while you're with the kids than doing a DVD?

Justine, I'm sorry to hear about your daughter -- for both of you. I'm sure it must be hard to be away at this time. Best wishes to you all.
Sounds like HTS is an awesome fit for you right now. Wow a 107# ('only', she says!) paused bench for 4x6? That's killer!
I love the sound of the HTS bodyweight. Band clean and presses... trying to imagine how that would work...
I don't know if you've seen Tony Gentilcore's deadlift tutorial where he talks about imagining 'squeezing oranges in your armpits' as a way to engage your lats when setting up for a deadlift, but basically my image of you in Portugal is squeezing the oranges with your killer lats. FYI. :)

Karen, hope you had a good week away. That kettlebell workout sounds brutal! Pretty sure I would have passed out. Sounds like a lot of fun -- plus you get to use your shiny new Christmas presents! Hope you're well.

Tom, hope the headache has passed and you're feeling better. Your workouts are always impressive -- you get some serious volume in at high intensities. And yeah, that high rep deadlifting will get ya...

Lib, CONGRATS on your progress! You should be so proud! The extra freezer sounds like a great investment. I agree with Lisa on the awesomeness of frozen veggies! Especially in winter...
Don't worry about the Arby's... what's important is that you're forming new habits -- it's not about being perfect all the time! (Thanks, Nia: http://www.niashanks.com/screw-perfection/ ) Great work on legs today.

OK, so I've still gotten my lifting in... because I'd go mad otherwise...
I decided to do the Juggernaut program from 'A Thoughtful Pursuit of Strength'. It's a reasonably priced ebook (I think I got it $27 on sale) and I chose this particular program because I really enjoyed in my last program starting with higher rep work and gradually decreasing reps and increasing intensity. That's what this program does -- there are four 4-week cycles, each with a rep range (10, 8, 5, and 3). For 10s, week 1, for your main lift you do 60% of your 1RM for 5x10 (last set can go beyond 10, capped at 20, staying 1-2 shy of failure). Week 2 is 3-5x10 at 67.5% of 1RM, and week 3 builds up with some lower rep work in the 50-70% rep range then one AMRAP set at 75%. Week 4 is deload. You do the same for the following cycles, but with progressively higher %s of your 1RM (and you adjust your max as you go).
Then there's accessory work.
I think I'll also add an extra squat day for front squats, because my squats need work.
Uhh... Sorry for all this detail, but that's the basic idea! I was halfway through week 1 when I last checked in (which was almost a week ago, OMG!). I think my most memorable lifting accomplishment this week was that for squats this week (week 2, so 6.75% of my 1RM for 3x10) I did 135# for 2x20 then 1x20. It was mentally brutal (and kinda fun) but I made it.

Sorry for this interminable post! I will try to check in regularly but I know the next few months are going to be busy (and harder to get online because my daughter doesn't like it when I'm online when I'm around her now -- and I don't just do whatever she says -- but on this particular point I try to because I do want to give her my full attention). She is a good cheerleader, though. Today while I was working out, so said, 'Go, Mama! I'm proud of you!' :D She's my inspiration.

Hugs and high fives all around! Best wishes to you all.
Roz
 
Good morning! For all you mamas, remember, this too will pass. Maybe. Mine are all in their 30's, and they're still a pain sometimes.
Anyway, this morning was workout B of Kettlebell Burn. Fifteen minutes of clean & press. Ladders 1-3 reps per side. Started with 12kg. Finished with 16kg. Then 15 minutes of get up sit up, with lunges. 12kg for situp, 16kg for lunges. The finisher was 10 minutes of swings, 20 seconds on 40 seconds off 20kg.
Have a great day, all!
 
Karen, does Rocky Mountain spotted fever still exist? It's weird to hear how our forebears died. You sound like you're having a great time with the KBs. I'd love to do something like that, but I don't have enough bells. I'll have to stick to swings.

Good to hear from you, Roz. Juggernaut sounds tough. How can you call those squats 'kinda fun'? Hope you have a fun busy time, rather than it being stressful. X

Lisa, Karen's right, in some ways children don't get easier as they get older- but eventually most of them don't need their poo clearing up. Not sure they ever really stop the tantrums, though.....

Another band workout today, the most interesting move being a one legged squat with a band around the thigh, and attached to a post. Keeping the knee rotated outwards and pressing against the band was surprisingly tricky.

Can't wait to get home and back to some proper weights (I'll be starting phase 3 of HTS this weekend).

I promise I didn't squeeze oranges in my armpits a la tony gentilcore!

Hope all are well
 
Justinef said:
Karen, does Rocky Mountain spotted fever still exist? It's weird to hear how our forebears died. You sound like you're having a great time with the KBs. I'd love to do something like that, but I don't have enough bells. I'll have to stick to swings.
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Yes, Rocky Mountain spotted fever does exist. It's present day name is lyme disease. Medicine has come a long way, since my great grandfather's day. Rarely do people die from this now.
For me, the stress with children changed, as they grew older. When they are infants, and toddlers, it's a physical stress (lack of sleep, and cleaning the poo, and other messes) teenagers, are an emotional stress, (they feel a need to be rebellious. All a part of gaining their independence. I think I put one daughter on restriction until she was 100. She teaches school now, and has kids of her own. Paybacks are well, you know.) They do grow up, and become contributing members of society. Thank goodness.

Justine, use a dumbbell. I think you could get a great workout with a DB. Just a thought.
 
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Finals are tough. I'm sorry she is dealing with anxiety, that's tough also.

Thanks, Roz.

Thank you all, it's nice to know I am not the only one who struggles with taking a day off.

I talked to my intern advisor. This is he only person on campus I have communication issues with (and she runs the conflict resolution department). It was another miscommunication. She th Get I was trying to use hours worked last semester for this semester. No, I was trying to use last semester hours done for last semester, but still needed more hours, so just combined the two semesters. (Hope this makes sense to you all) so, I was figuring all hours combined. Her solution was forget last semester since she gave me an A, and focus only on this semester. So, now I feel like I cheated. Ugh.

The worst part is, we were going to bring a great program to our community (where I live), for the middle schoolers of girls to help create connections/bonds with a group of girls.....and it isn't happening now. We were supposed to set it up to begin in January, but she forgot, and now she wants me to wait until the end of the semester. I start grad school in the fall, was hoping to have people signed up and trained, and a group in progress before I started grad school. I was hoping to have two groups going in fall. But, now I have to do it all while beginning grad school. Just all together frustrating, and the girls are the ones loosing out
 
Sargent Slacker (Willie AWOL) reporting in....sorta! I have done nothing since Mondays chest w/o. I'm pretty sure I was hit by a bus Monday night, and didn't even make it to work..unusual for me. I did go yesterday, probably shouldn't of, but survived. I think I will do a little R&R till Monday and rest. I really haven't missed a day for a while that I didn't double up on later, so maybe some rest is called for, (can't hurt the elbows either)! Justine, hope your daughter is dealing with the stress of testing (remember those days) and survives this ordeal (mom too)!! Karen, you must have quite a selection of KBs, I just have singles at 20,30,40,50 pounds (made more sense to me, but wished I had gotten metric since everything with them seems metric...don't gloat Justine, Brits win again!) I think I would be able to dunk if I was doing KBs, because my arms would be like gumby. wouldn't have to leave the ground!! 6 miles Lisa?..can't hang..voodoo poop..CAN'T HANG!! Roz, good to hear from you, 135# squats x 60.....REALLY CAN'T HANG!!! Lib, two kinds of advisors, good and bad! Can you select another?? Hang in there if not. I remember a lot of advisors in college were IDIOTS! but most were helpful. Great w/os everyone!! Wish I had contributed to the poundage, but "I'LL BE BACK!!
 
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