Share your progress !

[Mme. Chaucer]

My hope is to have a cheat day once a week, once I am where I want to be (except for Thanksgiving, which will be a cheat fest before I'm where I want to be). It will be a challenge for me. I am an "all or nothing" type of person; addictive and bingeing behavior abound. If I start with the delicious bread, for example, it's almost impossible for me to stop at a reasonable dose of it. Much easier to avoid it altogether. Anyway, my ideal is to change my ways about all of that. I love food so much it would be a shame to give up most of its pleasures - but I also love having a pretty bod (for an old lady).

[bobdole]

Been a couple of weeks since I checked in - My staple lifts have gone up another 20 pounds or so each again (work sets, I don't bother with max testing really) in the past 2 weeks. My isolation exercises seem slower to gain, but compound lifts like benching/dead lifts/squats/rows have increased about 50lbs since starting out something like 5 weeks ago when I started weight training (which I started after losing 35lbs over 4-5 months to anyone new).

 

Back in highschool at my "peak" I was very nicely shaped but only could bench 115 (haha) and dead lifting about 150. I've blown past those marks benching 130lbs now (still haha - but better heh) and deadlifting 170lbs. The machine I'm using tops out at 170lbs and I know I could probably do 200lbs as a work set. I guess I'm going to finally have to join a gym. The all-in-one thing at my apartment workout room has become to inadequate.

 

I got down to 164lbs when I was losing weight. I've now gained back up to 170 this morning - but I'm pretty sure most of it is muscle gain. My stomach is even flatter after the weight gain. 6lbs in 5 weeks sounds about right I think as a complete beginner going hard at it. If I ate more I think I'd probably be getting even more gains, but I'm paranoid now since "being a bit chubby" not even a half year ago.

 

I'm eating about 2400-2500 kcals a day at 5'11 170lbs with a completely sedentary life except for my workouts 4 days strength at about an hour each and 2 days cardio at 30mins each.

 

Visually - I can definitely tell I've made some progress. Someone told me to think of 6lbs of steak - THAT(about) is what I've gained in 5 weeks. My pecs exist now (compared to nothing before), my triceps nicely protrude when I straighten my arm, and an ex girlfriend from high school drooled over my delts last Saturday.

 

I just keep getting more and more excited and look forward to my next workout everyday and am actually annoyed with my rest days! I know they're for my own good though

 

Anyways - The end Comments are welcome - but I just post for the hell of it.

[eerie_reverie]

7 mile run, sprinting last mile. It was so windy my eyes were tearing up so I could barely see. I should probably find some daylight hours to run in. Running where I do in the dark, it's probably just a matter of time till I stabbed.

 

I feel nothing today. I wore my new nylon socks and now even my feet don't hurt.

 

Really happy with my progress. My endurance improves every day.

 

I am hoping to beat my brother in the 5K turkey trot next thursday.

Edited November 18, 2010 by eerie_reverie

[Star Gazer]

7 mile run, sprinting last mile. It was so windy my eyes were tearing up so I could barely see. I should probably find some daylight hours to run in. Running where I do in the dark, it's probably just a matter of time till I stabbed.

 

I feel nothing today. I wore my new nylon socks and now even my feet don't hurt.

 

Really happy with my progress. My endurance improves every day.

 

I am hoping to beat my brother in the 5K turkey trot next thursday.

 

Good job, Spook!!

[Leigh 87]

Hey every one,

 

CHAUCER - wow it is scary that even naturally slim women face the fact that aging can make it hard to maintain a slim weight. I fairly average ( bone size) so I bet it will be very hard to maintain my current 116- 115 lbs.

 

I hope I do not have to resort to a 1200 - 1300 calorie diet when I hit my 40's; 1600 to 1500 I can handle, but no lower omg! And wow, it must have been hard to go from being a big eater, to having to actually try to eat small amounts.

 

 

I had to gain weight at one point as I was underweight, and was worried how I would handle it when I reached my goal weight, and had to maintain on normal amounts!.

 

It turns out that it was not that different eating normal am ounts. I eat 1500 - 1800, sometimes up to 2000 if I am very active now. I am only 5 ' 5 and 116 ish so I do not need much to maintain.

 

 

 

QUESTION TO YOU ALL - With my running, I am ready to manipulate the speed OR distance. Which do YOU think?

 

I am leadning towards increasing the SPEED, before I increase the distance. I do not want to do both at once. First of all, increasing the SPEED is more time efficient in the long run, which will come in handy for when I start studying my degree next year. I will want to be able to run faster and be in and out of the gym fast so I can study a lot.

 

Whats more, is that I want to be able to run FAST, before I can run for LONG PERIODS. I DO want to be able to run for long periods, however; I want to be able to fun for longer distances AT A HIGHER speed.

 

I would not feel as good about being able to run for longer, when I can not really DO IT at a decent speed.

 

 

What do you guys think?

[eerie_reverie]

5 beers followed by a 5 mile run. Conclusion: being drunk is not conducive to exercise.

[redmelon]

Did a Tabata workout at CF tonight. 8 rounds of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds resting. You do as many as possible in that time and keep count. Rowing, air squats and pushups. Totally butt kicking.

[USMCHokie]

5 beers followed by a 5 mile run. Conclusion: being drunk is not conducive to exercise.

 

I will have to respectfully disagree with this one...some of my fastest runs have come whilst completely blitzed at 3 AM in 20 degree weather in nothing but a tshirt and shorts after a night at the bars...well, at least I felt like I was running fast...

[Surrealist]

I will have to respectfully disagree with this one...some of my fastest runs have come whilst completely blitzed at 3 AM in 20 degree weather in nothing but a tshirt and shorts after a night at the bars...well, at least I felt like I was running fast...

 

Yeah but I reckon lots of us could run fast under such circumstances when we're being chased by an armed gang of inebriated crazy delinquents!

[Star Gazer]

Did a Tabata workout at CF tonight. 8 rounds of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds resting. You do as many as possible in that time and keep count. Rowing, air squats and pushups. Totally butt kicking.

 

Yay! Good for you!! Tabatas are my favorite! When described they sound easy, but they kick butt! I love rowing tabata, and double unders tabata. But not mountain climbers or burpees.

 

I felt weaker this week in terms of strength (couldn't complete a rope climb WOD), but kicked ass cardio wise. The opposite is usually true, so I'm not sure what to make of it.

[Surrealist]

I had a pretty good training today with back and bi session, one of the few bodyparts that isn't suffering injury or susceptible to injury.

 

 

• Heavy seated pulley rows working up to 125 kgs (275 lbs) for 10 good reps
  
• Pulldowns working up to ~75 kgs (165 lbs) for 10 reps - I dont go too heavy on these
  
• Deadlifts working up to 190 kgs (418 lbs) for 10 good slow reps
  
• Barbell curls working up to 60 kgs (132 lbs) for 10 reps but cheating these a fair bit, but they still work great
  
• Seated dumbbell curls working up to 20 kgs (45 lbs) dbells each for 10 reps also some cheating involved to get the reps.
  

I actually find this very relaxing, which would be strange to most people. I felt pretty agitated about some things on the way to the gym this morning, and the heavy back training in particular so relaxes my mind and body (neurotransmitter releases in the brain etc). That is the therapeutic value of such activity.

[eerie_reverie]

7 mile run.

 

I wonder what is the deal with the allegation that runners should be eating pasta all day. I am still avoiding carbs of the flour/ grain variety and I am really happy with my performance.

 

Are there any runners out there who don't eat a lot of crabs?

 

In other news, over the last couple days, I have finally started noticing changes in my body. I've been staring at my stomach all day. It is the flattest it's been since high school, almost exactly like I want it. Maybe I can run the marathon in one of those sports bra tops. :bunny:

[Surrealist]

 

Are there any runners out there who don't eat a lot of crabs?

 

 

I'm pretty certain there's a lot of runners out there that don't eat a lot of crabs. I haven't eaten any crabs in years. I don't mind crabs though, quite yummy though I recall if I ate too much they use to make me feel a little queasy. We use to get the big mud crabs and they have plenty of meat in them.

 

Anyway congratulations on your progress. Sound like a very fit person.

[Star Gazer]

7 mile run.

 

I wonder what is the deal with the allegation that runners should be eating pasta all day. I am still avoiding carbs of the flour/ grain variety and I am really happy with my performance.

 

Are there any runners out there who don't eat a lot of crabs?

 

In other news, over the last couple days, I have finally started noticing changes in my body. I've been staring at my stomach all day. It is the flattest it's been since high school, almost exactly like I want it. Maybe I can run the marathon in one of those sports bra tops. :bunny:

 

Lots of CrossFitters are runners, and those who are really dedicated do paleo, which doesn't have carbs of the flour/grain variety. Also avoids potatoes.

[eerie_reverie]

Lots of CrossFitters are runners, and those who are really dedicated do paleo, which doesn't have carbs of the flour/grain variety. Also avoids potatoes.

 

Ah, cool.

 

I am definitely going to join CF after my marathon. :bunny::bunny:

[Leigh 87]

I increased my running speed to 11.2 kilometres per hour today, for half hour; I decided to increased the speed, rather than the distance; although I will vary between the two.

 

 

I have also reached my " hot" weight; 114.4 ( 52 kilos) yay. Of course I want to lose more, but I wont because I do not want to lose my casual jobs and ruin my life:) ( I cannot be too thin and maintain normal mental and cognitive functions - I always act off. I am not good at being too thin).

 

So, I am at my goal weight and so far I have started, and finished all of the 30 minute runs I have set for myself - even the times I felt like stopping before the 30 mins.

[Leigh 87]

STAR - when I ate an exclusively paleo diet, I got about 40 - 45% from my calories from carbs, and about 30 and 30 from protein and fat.

 

EEVIE - I had enough energy - and did not crave carbs on that. I got all my carbs from sweet potato and fruits and veg, with minimal honey on occasion.

 

I never tried running marathons on 45% carbs though - perhaps 50 - 60 & carbs would provide more readily available energy for marathons. I would dedinitly eat at least 60% carbs if I was training for a full on marathon.

 

So long as you eat the right amount of calories to maintain, u will not gain weight or cause anything bad to happen to your body by eating higher carbs - and you will perform better in the marathon.

[redmelon]

Yay! Good for you!! Tabatas are my favorite! When described they sound easy, but they kick butt! I love rowing tabata, and double unders tabata. But not mountain climbers or burpees.

 

I felt weaker this week in terms of strength (couldn't complete a rope climb WOD), but kicked ass cardio wise. The opposite is usually true, so I'm not sure what to make of it.

 

Hmm, that's weird, Star. I'll be interested to hear how things go this week!

[Leigh 87]

I ate too much macadamia nut butter out of the jar this morning so I went for a run at the gym; even though I felt like stopping before I was even half way through the run, I persevered for the full duration of the goal I set for myself.

 

The results are evident lately! I am 114 lbs! I am back at my slim and sexiest weight now - but need to stop losing weight right now.

 

I like maintaining, cos I am not exercising as much! To lose weight, I needed to exercise extra, cos I hate going super low calorie.

 

It is good to just do 30 - 60 mins Pilates or Tracey Anderson method, and another 30 mins or so running or other activity. Keeps me healty without having to do extra to lose weight:)

[Surrealist]

That's the problem with diet vs exercise - it is soooooo much easier to ingest 500 calories than it is to expend it through exercise.

[Mme. Chaucer]

Specially on Thanksgiving! Heck, I expect to ingest quite a few more than 500 calories.

[eerie_reverie]

Ran a 5K turkey trot on Thursday.

 

Crushed by my dismal performance. I finished in 26:12, which is almost 3 minutes over my PR... WTF?

 

My excuses are:

 

-I was freezing waiting almost an hour for the race because I'd accidentally spillt a bottle of water in my pants

 

-it was hilly, which concerns me because Austin, where I'll be running the marathon, is a hilly town, and I have never run hills

 

-I wasn't feeling "it" as my brother bailed on me so I didn't have anyone in mind I wanted to beat

 

I realized after the race that my Ipod sports thing which is supposed to measure miles is not calibrated correctly, which also sucks as I'd been relying it to measure mileage for my long runs. It's about .05 miles short for each mile.

 

I feel like a fraud calling myself a runner, but hopefully, the feeling will pass.

[Star Gazer]

Hmm, that's weird, Star. I'll be interested to hear how things go this week!

 

I didn't go once this past week... it was only open 3 days, and I just couldn't get there.

 

But I noticed a REMARKABLE improvement in my stamina and leg strength today when I went skiing for the first time this season. My legs didn't burn until the 4th hour!

[sb129]

Spook there is no point training on flat terrain if the race is on hills!

[eerie_reverie]

Spook there is no point training on flat terrain if the race is on hills!

 

I know! I am planning to incorporate hills into my workouts. The trouble is, there aren't many real hills where I live. I might have to get on the treadmill.