Arghlita

So on track today! Busted my butt on the treadmill first thing, ate chicken boobs like a pro all day, mixed it up with Arghlita style "fried rice" for dinner (mine involved 1 cup broccoli, 3oz cooked chicken, one egg and 1/2c rice - husband's involved 1c mixed veggies, 2c rice, one egg because I get first dibbs on chicken boobies). Only thing not done is my homework But I'm on it right now and I'll have an outline before my chicken for tomorrow is done.

Also, I am SO SLEEPY this week. This happens when I'm losing weight, no matter how much I'm eating. I know people are like OMG your calories are too low, but seriously 1800? I don't know, maybe they are but I promised not to mess with my diet for another 5 weeks.

JJ_Sungirl

:hello: Arlighta!

You're doing great, girl. I knew you'd get it together this week. Don't worry about the fatigue. It should go away. Whenever I drop my calories, I have a slight drop in energy, but nothing a few cups of java can't cure I agree that you should keep tabs on your diet for a few more weeks, figure out what is working and dispense with what is not working. Way to go, kiddo!

stonecoldtruth

I get fatigued if I'm maintaining/bulking, but always have shittons of energy when cutting, hehe.

SCT

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To my fellow MIP competitors :bringiton:

DawnMarie

:clapping: WTG I am proud of you!!! Cooking ahead, eating right, kicking ass on the treadmill - you are rocking!!1

I agree with JJ, stick with it!! Grab a diet coke or a coffee ifyou need to and keep on keeping on!

SCT - You are just wrong!!! Not FAIR!!

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JJ_Sungirl

No kidding, ey? Superhuman, that one....

Hey Arligirl,

Did you kick some butt today too? Aim high, baby, you can do it

Arghlita

Well, I stayed on plan with calories and macros although I did eat.... one popsicle. I don't consider that a failure, perhaps there will come a time when I do. I got my homework done and turned in before I hit the gym. Here's last night's workout:

Quads, Hams, Calves
Barbell Squats - Smith Machine
S1: 11r x 45lb - mh
S2: 11r x 45 - vh

Hack Machine squats
S1: 11r x 50lbs - vh
S2: 11r x 50lbs - vh

Lunges
S1: 11r x bodyweight - vh
S2: 11r x body - vh

Stiff Legged Deadlift - so, I reviewed the form and arched my back down like I'm supposed to, and now I feel it in my lower back/butt rather than butt/thighs. Hmmm. Oh, and much much harder this way which generally means I'm doing it closer to "right."
S1: 11r x 20lbs - vh
S2: 11r x 20lbs - SH

Lying Leg Curl
S1: 11r x 45lbs - h
S2: 11r x 45 - vh

Freestanding calf raises plus two DB (10 each)
S1: 24 x 10lbs - h
S2: 24 x 10 - h

Calf press on leg press machine -
S1: 20r x 160lbs - SH
S2: 20r x 160lbs - SH - OMG How will I drive home hard!

JJ_Sungirl

Popsicles..mmmmmm I don't even remember what those are like. I haven't had one since I was in my early twenties, I think! hehehe

What a crazy leg workout. :clapping: You should have some bigtimes DOMS! Wishing you awesome, hard-earned DOMS! Work it!

Have a great weekend!

Arghlita

JJ - yes and no. I had a few "misfires" but not much pain or soreness. You know when you are walking along and suddenly your muscle just doesn't do what you expect so you stumble a little? Maybe that's just me.

Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps (day three)
1. Seated Dumbbell Press
S1: 11 x 12.5lbs - mh
S2: 11 x 12.5lbs - h

2. Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
S1: 11 x 10lb - vh
S2: 11 x 10lb - sh

3. Rear Delt Flyes - You know, these hurt my tits and I think I need a substitute.
S1: 11 x 12.5lb - h
S1: 11 x 12.5lb - h

4. Barbell Curl
S1: 11 x 25lbs - vh
S2: 11 x 25lbs - sh

5. Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curl
S1: 11 x 10lbs - vh
S2: 11 x 10lbs - sh

6. Hammer Curl
S1: 11 x 10lbs - vh
S2: 11 x 10lbs - sh!

7. Close grip Bench Press
S1: 11 x 30lbs - h
S2: 11 x 30lbs - sh - I finally feel like it clicked for me.

8. Lying Tricep Extension - 2 DB
S1: 11 x 7.5lbs - vh
S2: 11 x 7.5lbs - sh

9. Rope pushdown -
S1: 11 x 60lbs - sh
S2: 11 x 60lbs - Muscle failure

Okay, dilemna - should I go to 2x12 before I go to 3x8? 2x12 and 3x8 are logically the same number of reps, but 3x8 would be easier than 2x12, right? Or should I do 2x12 then 3x9? Right now I'm leaning toward 2x12 then 3x8 with weight adjustments.

Arghlita

Tried on my new bikini today - the one I've been wearing (FOR THE PICTURES ONLY!) is an XL juniors size which is simply too small for me. I've had to sub a different bikini bottom every time anyway. So, I bought a size 18 bikini to wear for upcoming pictures on the assumption that a bikini in my size might look better than shoving into a too-small one. Apparently my lower half is still a little bigger than an 18 although the top fits better.

Guess who weighed 215.6 this morning? Me! Yeah, anywhere within 215 was my official "back on track for real" weight and I finally saw it this morning. I won't be making 208 by Monday, obviously, which would have marked 50 pounds lost. I will, however, make that next month for sure. Still aiming for 199.9 by the second week of September and I promise I *will* take pictures of me in the dress.

Arghlita

Chest, Back, Abs (Day one - but I changed reps on day two apparently)
1. Flat Barbell Bench Press
S1: 11 x 45 - mh
S2: 11 x 45 - h

2. Incline Dumbbell press
S1: 11 reps x 15lb - h
S1: 11 reps x 15lb - vh

3. Cable Crossovers
S1: 11 reps x 20lbs - vh
S2: 11 reps x 20lbs - vh

4. Wide Grip pull up - assisted (this is how much I'm lifting, not how much assistance I need)
S1: 11 reps x 40lbs - vh
S2: 11 reps x 40lbs - vh

5. Seated cable rows
S1: 11 reps x 70lbs - h
S2: 11 reps x 70lbs - vh

6. Bent over 2DB row - think I need to refocus on this exercise next time
S1: 11 x 15lbs - h
S2: 11 x 15lbs - vh

7. Decline Reverse Crunches
S1: 22 - sh
S2: 22 - * Muscle failure

8. Incline Crunch
S1: 24 - SH - muscle failure and diziness.

Okay, I pushed right to the edge there and it felt like my nose was going to bleed so I switched to a different ab exercise for the next set
S2: 24 - vh

JJ_Sungirl

YAY ARLIGHTA!!!! I knew you could do it!!! :clapping: Good work! You have really shown to everyone that you are intent on reaching your goals and have taken the steps to do it! You rock!

About your ab exercises, I would advise you to change to some core work, as it is more efficient and will not put any pressure on your neck, shoulders and spine ...you said something about feeling like you were going to get a nose bleed and had dizziness...too much pressure on the head, maybe? Anyways, here's a link to a great site that features lots of workouts and more specifically core exercises. Core exercise targets all parts of the abdominus and oblique groups.
http://exercise.about.com/od/abworkout1/
Click on the core strength link.

You may find that these exercises are more functional to everyday activities, enhance your balance and will work your lower back and hip stabilizers. There's nothing wrong with wanting to build a six pack, but you should focus on the entire abdominal group and lower back too Just my 2 cents, let me know how it goes!

Arghlita

JJ - I actually have a whole video of core work from t-tapp.com and I was just working up to it, but I'm going to have to come up with a new step in between. I may start doing it now but only do a few reps of each exercise - or I could just pick one or two exercises and do those instead.

The diziness is brand new (well, I remember it from the Army and it was BP then rather than spine), and I think my blood pressure was high from pushing myself a little too hard. Now I know where that line is I won't be crossing it again!

I think the incline crunches have to go, but I really like the decline reverse crunches - I was doing both flat and it wasn't quite challenging enough - both are modifications of what Tom Venuto suggests. My goal is to be able to support my body weight and lift my legs up like I used to and that's more important to me right now than seeing the muscles. With at least 60 pounds left to lose, I'm not thinking about a 6 pack yet so I agree with your analysis that core work would be better - I was heading that direction but I was trying to be cautious about changing this workout too much.

Thank you for the continued support - it really makes a difference to me in ways I can't begin to describe. I took a friend to the airport this morning - his dad bought the tickets out of BWI and we're in northern VA - so I was up at 3:30am and my sleep and eating was all messed up. I wanted to sack the whole day. I came home, napped, ate a protein cookie and hit the treadmill. My legs started aching immediately and I wanted to give up. I stuck it out for half my normal time as a compromise, but then I wanted to screw up my diet. Instead I IM'd a friend who set me back on course. While it hasn't been a progressive type of day, I haven't given up or gone backward and some days that is enough.

Arghlita

Update: Apparently the diziness yesterday and trouble with my cardio today is another cold. They've been better since I had my tonsils removed last year but I still get them frequently. (I had some related symptoms tonight after babying myself most of the day - I was carrying groceries up the stairs and got super dizzy).

I'm going to try for a minimum of 8 hours of sleep and then see how I feel when I try to get my morning cardio. If I'm okay for 35 minutes, I'll go ahead and lift on the new 3x8 arrangement and lighten all the weights. Otherwise I'll put it off until Thursday and focus on getting better.

Arghlita

I'm glad I made soup yesterday - today is going to be all about getting better.

JJ_Sungirl

Sounds like a plan, Arli. Get plenty of sleep and get well. Take your time getting back to your cardio and lifting. Its better to err on the side of caution to fully recover and maximze your workouts. *hugs* wishing you wellness!

Arghlita

Make that tomorrow for getting better - I went to get my tires replaced and it took 4+ hours then I narrowly missed a MAJOR accident on the way home - I was cut off at an intersection by a police cruiser coming the opposite direction and when I braked hard to avoid him, I almost got rear-ended and crushed between the cruiser (that paused in the middle of the left turn across 5 lanes) and a big truck behind me. It's hard to explain, but because the police car was turning left across traffic on a downhill slope, I couldn't see the car until it was 10 feet from the intersection and I was 20 feet from the intersection on a 45MPH road. The body of the car was rocking from the force of the stop and I honked as I slammed on the brakes to warn the people behind me. The cop gave me a dirty look... whatever, I did the best I could and the big ass truck behind me managed to stop just short of me.

When I got home, I grabbed the mail fully intending to dump it and hit the sack for a nap - but we had two letters from the car insurance company.

Telling us our insurance was canceled as of last week. And their office hours? Over before our mail is normally delivered.

Between being sick, tired, and scared I totally flipped out on the phone with the bank - they were really nice about it, but apparently the day the insurance check came through we were $15 short. Because the check was for $27 more than I thought is was - my husband made it out and told me the "normal" amount when I asked - but it was extra for being a week late so on the ONE DAY we were short it came through!

I was able to get things cleared up and get a new policy before my husband came home... but I'm really not relaxed or rested right now. He wasn't happy about trying to **** with this after working 3 hours late and having to come in 3 hours early tomorrow and I can't blame him.

Pluses: Car is fixed, never going to that shop again. Insurance is on the cars, no accident. I did not record all of my food today, but I didn't eat much because the car was supposed to take 45 minutes more - every time I asked. I'm getting in bed now and tomorrow IS another day and I didn't screw up today. If I didn't make much progress at least I didn't go backward.

Thanks for your kind wishes - I hope to be working out by Thursday but no way will I be up for leg work tomorrow.

Arghlita

I appear to be having an allergy attack rather than a cold - my eyes are runny today.

Also, my periodic craving for Uno's chocolate WOW that's a lot of calories struck hard this week.

But I tamed it with a combination of one serving of No Pudge and two protein cookies. While it still has too much sugar for my liking, 250 calories (about) and 2g fat is a nice sub for the 1600 calorie monstrosity I keep craving. The protein cookies help a lot, but I was craving the brownie texture as well. For a small caloric price I was able to really tame the craving with a HUGE brownie full of melty chocolate bits.

One of my friends is trying to engineer a sugar-free or reduced sugar No Pudge recipe, and I look forward to that - I'm helping her out with suggestions.

DawnMarie

Arghlita I am soooo proud of you and happy for you!! Even with life's craziness and health setbacks you have kept on moving forward and fighting the cravings and making awesome progress!!! 215!! Woo-hoo!! 199 will be coming soon!!! Rest and get healthy and then keep kicking a$$ - you are doing great!!! Pretty soon the 18 bikini will be too big and then the XL and so on.


Doing the happy dance for you in my mind!

P.S. that Brownie sounds wonderful....Mmmmmm

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