HighOctane Progress Thread

[highoctane]

Well. I lost the first fucking post I was going to put up tonight. Which is bullshit. But I'm going to try and recreate it because its important. LOL!

So I have news. My cardio story is a long one. A long time ago I was a pretty avid runner. I used to run for about 45 minutes a day and was pretty leaned out at the time. Then I became a big fan of the StairMaster. Partly I think because it felt like I was doing cardio but it was easier. Level 3 of all things which is like mini steps. ANYWAYS. Been thinking a lot about cardio lately.

HOWEVER...today I have news!!!

Eliptical. 45 minutes. Interval training. Was hard as hell, but overall no real problems.

I used to be scared of the eliptical. But today I totally conquered the fear. Not only did I make it through the workout, I burned about 5 times the amount of calories I usually do on the stairs, and it actually loosened my little piriformis issue.

I was a little down in the dumps yesterday because I thought I wouldn't be able to train as hard because I was hurtin so bad. But after today I feel rejuvinated and much better. The plan is to do two more days of the same thing, and then go back to weights on Monday.

I think I made the switch (I really didn't want to at first) because a few people have mentioned now that its the best for thighs/butt. After taking those pictures the other night I for sure want to work on those two areas more so then anything else. My back is so built out, but my thighs just look like shit (IMO).

Anyways, s'all I got. Today was a triumph. I'm pretty happy.

 

[highoctane]

I the eliptical. Did another 45 minute this morning before coming to work at the gym. All interval training, and at a higher level then yesterday. I have found my cardio calling!

 

[highoctane]

OH YEAH...who did an hour on the eliptical today? On intervals? At higher resistance?

That would be me. I suppose it doesn't cancel out the pizza I cheated with last night (cheat meal), but none the less.

So next topic for discussion. I'm really trying to fine tune my cardio for maximum fat burning (shocking eh?) so I've been reading up a lot about heart rate, yadda yadda. I've also been reading quite a bit about the whole "morning cardio on empty" situation. There are a LOT of differing opinions on that. So from heart rate to when I should be doing it, what do you ladies thing?

Also, any suggestions for a decent heart rate monitor?

 

[jenscats5]

I use a Polar for my HR monitor - pretty basic one....got it at Sports Authority....

Congrats on the Elliptical!! I love the ellipitcal too!!

 

[treilin]

Yeah, I am around alright. This on paper journalling is not working out for me. I don't feel like I'm 100% on (even though I'm eating right). It's weird. I work at the gym for 6 hours tomorrow...let me put a full dialogue up then. Had a huge reality check the other night when I took some more pics...ugh. I have so much work to do it's almost depressing. Haven't given up yet though, and don't plan on it. One thing I really need to do, because I still haven't done it, is take some measurements. Because right now I'm really dissapointed in my thighs and I don't feel like I'm making any progress in terms of shedding the remaining fat around them.

Anyways. Yes I'm around. Yes I'm training. Yes I need to go back to logging every day. I don't feel as accountable if I don't.


On another topic...my piriformis is mangled. Any ideas, other then stretching to help work that out? It's only my left side, and it hit me pretty hard doing legs last night (walking lunges). Last time I saw a massage therapist he said it was brutal and felt pretty scarred up and tight. Let me know what you think.

Lastly, I've been trying all week to get up at 6:00AM to get some cardio in and I just CAN'T. It's so freaking brutal hard. I'm not sure if I'm not putting enough heart into it, or not enough sleep, or what. So I'm struggling there. I know I need to make that change, but I just haven't done it yet. I'm hoping Monday.

Well stretching!!! that's about it for piriformis. Maybe try getting in a hot tub and then stretch when in there?!? That way it'll be warmed up. Also always stretch it before, during, and after any leg or glute action including your cardio.


We all have to start somewhere. If we were happy at the beginning of our journey with what we looked like then why would we even bother on here?!?! You came here because you wanted a change, and you know change does not happen over night. It's going through up and down days, days you feel so pissy... days you feel awesome. It's not just going to be a switch that you fall into. It takes much persistence, dedication, and work. If it's something you truly want to do to change yourself then quit focusing on where you are at, and the negatives, and figure out where you want to be. It's hard to move forward when you are so roped up with the now.
Stay away from the mirror, the scale, etc... Get your initial assessments done and then just focus on working. You truly have to embrace yourself at wherever you are at. If you hate someone do you want to be around them all day? Do you try and get away from them, avoid them? Well you can't avoid yourself, quit hating yourself, quit putting yourself down or else your going to make it that much more difficult to deal with yourself. Love yourself, enjoy who you are, and live life with a purpose.
Sorry on a rant but I've been there.... and there is nothing like freedom from realizing that there is more to life then being self absorbed and pointing out all your faults and negative attributes. You are going to morph yourself into some huge ugly creature that noone wants to be around because all you do is complain and give off negative vibes and drain people with your demeaning talk about yourself. How can anyone support you if you can't even halfway support yourself?
Find the positives and build from there. We are all a progression working towards our destiny. Noone is perfect.
You are doing great by getting to the gym and hitting weights, and trying interval training, and working at it. Prop yourself don't negate yourself.

 

[highoctane]

Well, things are going really well I'd say. Cardio is fantastic. I'm going to pick up my monitor tonight to make sure I'm training in the right zone. I did 60 minutes on the eliptical last night, and I got in my Chest/Shoulder/Tri workout on Monday, followed by 30 minutes of eliptical again. I haven't missed a workout, and I've been eating clean. I finally got the chance to take my measurements, which I won't post until 4 weeks from when they were taken to see if I've made any progress from that standpoint. People are making comments that I look smaller. I don't see it, but then again I see myself every day! Either way, I think things are going well overall. I'm gonna kill the food journalling for now (just for now), take it back to basics, and just focus on day by day, eating clean, and getting my workouts in. I'm also interested to see where my body fat % ends up 4 weeks from when I first had it done.

Treilin, good advice, but I think we are all hard on ourselves. I don't think I'm self absorbed, I don't think I point out my faults all the time, and I don't think I drain people with demeaning talk about myself. If somehow it came across that way, it wasn't my intent!

In terms of the piriformis issue, the eliptical has worked WONDERS in loosening it up. I can still feel its a bit tight, but nowhere near what it was last week. We'll see how my leg workout goes on Friday. That will dictate whether or not it's actually really healed a bit.

In terms of the positives (because I agree with Treilin that focussing on the positives has been what has gotten me this far), I'm doing a freakin hour on the eliptical without an issue. That, and the fact that I used to suck at making fish (don't laugh! LOL!), and the other day I threw some haddock in the oven and it turned out absolutely perfect after a few tips from good 'old Mom.

 

[highoctane]

Bump! Couple more days to go and I get my next BF% test done. Been a while...and I'm VERY interested to see the results! Things are going really well more recently. I have come to the decision that not logging my food on here every day sucks, and makes it hard to track what the hell is going on (obviously...I'm pretty sure I already knew this LOL!).

I feel renewed, things are going really well. My cardio workouts are absolutely stellar. Piriformis has really loosened up since I started on the elliptical which I mentioned before, but can't believe how much it's helping.

I am taking a well deserved mini-vacation this coming weekend, 3 days off of work in a row for me is absolutely unheard of. I want to use the time to get in the gym, train hard, relax on my down time, and see some friends I haven't seen in AGES. And well...obviously clean...because I still don't have this schedule thing down pat.

Overall I feel tighter. Things are going well, and shortly (IE. tomorrow) I will be journalling/documenting once again. There is progress there though, the BF% numbers should prove it!

 

[florencia]

OH YEAH...who did an hour on the eliptical today? On intervals? At higher resistance?

That would be me. I suppose it doesn't cancel out the pizza I cheated with last night (cheat meal), but none the less.

So next topic for discussion. I'm really trying to fine tune my cardio for maximum fat burning (shocking eh?) so I've been reading up a lot about heart rate, yadda yadda. I've also been reading quite a bit about the whole "morning cardio on empty" situation. There are a LOT of differing opinions on that. So from heart rate to when I should be doing it, what do you ladies thing?

Also, any suggestions for a decent heart rate monitor?

Polar!!!By all means!! I had the m51 I think that was the model....worked great for me, cals from fat was my favorite now I have polar 625X because it has pedometer...polar by all means is the best!!!No interference...etc

 

[florencia]

http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/images/piriformis.stretch.gif

 

[highoctane]

Yeah I actually did go out and buy the polar....and it linked up with the equipment at my gym in no time...SUPER slick!!!! It has actually helped quite a bit. Now I know exactly how to max that workout out whereas before I am pretty sure I was all over the map.

I've been jonesin to get to the gym all night. I can't freakin wait!!!