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foreigngirl
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welcome, mommy...I am in the same situation, I feel ya on everything u say...
My Extremely Overdue Intro. (Loooonnng)
- Thread starter musclemom
- Start date
Thank you all for such a warm welcome 
!!! It’s nice that even a curmudgeon like myself can feel welcome!!! And I really want you guys to know how much I appreciate your input. Looks like I’ve got a lot more reworking to do 
Sassy – Nope, spreadsheet doesn’t break out carbs/fats/pro currently (unless I get ambitious). I do know that between 25% and 30% is coming from protein, 20% or less from fat and the rest unrefined carbs (I don’t/can't eat bread grains, and don't eat processed foods). I wasn’t so focused on the percentages since I’ve only been at this for three months solid months and I seem to be leaning toward powerlifting. I know I’ve definitely lost body fat since my weight is within 5 pounds of what it’s been for months and a pair of jeans I bought way back when, which didn’t fit in February (well, not while I was breathing at least), fit comfortably as of Memorial day weekend.
I had passingly thought about Pilates but I’m a major hermit (I even work from home). I really won’t go to a class or a gym ... yeah, yeah, I know, it’s on tapes these day, but I know myself and historically I have never stuck with that type of workout routine. I like my basement, I like the iron but anything that looks vaguely like floor exercises, I have zip enthusiasm for (it's so far down there ...)
Sassy and Shadow: I thought I might get yelled at for too much of something. I’m using some of the ab workouts more as core warmups/back stretches, not trying to trim my abs with it, I know I can’t. As far as I’m concerned anything that stretches/strengthens the muscle in that region is okay by me, I’m not built to have a small waistline anyway. My primary back problems lay in that whole region (my back is VERY bad, in a nutshell this time last year I was convinced I was, at the ripe old age of 39, going to be wheelchair bound and on drugs for the rest of my life from the pain. When I started losing weight I was able to tie my own shoes and get in and out a chair, yipee, then I was able to start walking more). I physically cannot do some of the common (best) mid and lower back exercises – well, at least now, and maybe not ever – so I’m trying to be creative within the limits of my health issues. I really need something beyond plain stretching that loosens, stretches and warms the muscles of the back/torso before my weight workout, even working chest/shoulders, and my machine doesn't row.
The rep range ... I was really spinning my wheels back in April, with no progress after a month and a half (and no growth) and on the advice of an internet friend (who is a record holding natural powerlifter) I switched up from doing 3 sets x 10 reps to 6 sets x 6 reps or so (when I’m getting to 8 to 10 reps a set I bump the weight up and start back at 6). I’ve really had excellent success with it overall. On the first of March it was all I could do to bench the empty bar, by the end of April I had been stuck at 70 pounds over a full month, and now I’m pushing the 100 range.
Shadow, I’m afraid I don’t understand the “every day is a kidney day” comment, forgive me, I’m still a newbie
I’m printing up your comments and saving them to my “training” folder and obviously will have to take a long hard look at my training schedule, again (sigh).
Thanks again for everthing, I do appreciate it!
Best, Harriet
!!! It’s nice that even a curmudgeon like myself can feel welcome!!! And I really want you guys to know how much I appreciate your input. Looks like I’ve got a lot more reworking to do Sassy – Nope, spreadsheet doesn’t break out carbs/fats/pro currently (unless I get ambitious). I do know that between 25% and 30% is coming from protein, 20% or less from fat and the rest unrefined carbs (I don’t/can't eat bread grains, and don't eat processed foods). I wasn’t so focused on the percentages since I’ve only been at this for three months solid months and I seem to be leaning toward powerlifting. I know I’ve definitely lost body fat since my weight is within 5 pounds of what it’s been for months and a pair of jeans I bought way back when, which didn’t fit in February (well, not while I was breathing at least), fit comfortably as of Memorial day weekend.
I had passingly thought about Pilates but I’m a major hermit (I even work from home). I really won’t go to a class or a gym ... yeah, yeah, I know, it’s on tapes these day, but I know myself and historically I have never stuck with that type of workout routine. I like my basement, I like the iron but anything that looks vaguely like floor exercises, I have zip enthusiasm for (it's so far down there ...)
Sassy and Shadow: I thought I might get yelled at for too much of something. I’m using some of the ab workouts more as core warmups/back stretches, not trying to trim my abs with it, I know I can’t. As far as I’m concerned anything that stretches/strengthens the muscle in that region is okay by me, I’m not built to have a small waistline anyway. My primary back problems lay in that whole region (my back is VERY bad, in a nutshell this time last year I was convinced I was, at the ripe old age of 39, going to be wheelchair bound and on drugs for the rest of my life from the pain. When I started losing weight I was able to tie my own shoes and get in and out a chair, yipee, then I was able to start walking more). I physically cannot do some of the common (best) mid and lower back exercises – well, at least now, and maybe not ever – so I’m trying to be creative within the limits of my health issues. I really need something beyond plain stretching that loosens, stretches and warms the muscles of the back/torso before my weight workout, even working chest/shoulders, and my machine doesn't row.
The rep range ... I was really spinning my wheels back in April, with no progress after a month and a half (and no growth) and on the advice of an internet friend (who is a record holding natural powerlifter) I switched up from doing 3 sets x 10 reps to 6 sets x 6 reps or so (when I’m getting to 8 to 10 reps a set I bump the weight up and start back at 6). I’ve really had excellent success with it overall. On the first of March it was all I could do to bench the empty bar, by the end of April I had been stuck at 70 pounds over a full month, and now I’m pushing the 100 range.
Shadow, I’m afraid I don’t understand the “every day is a kidney day” comment, forgive me, I’m still a newbie
I’m printing up your comments and saving them to my “training” folder and obviously will have to take a long hard look at my training schedule, again (sigh).
Thanks again for everthing, I do appreciate it!
Best, Harriet
RottenWillow said:
OMG, I almost spit out my cereal laughing.
J
jenscats5
Guest
Harriet -- Depending on if you have cable & what type of service you have -- if you have Video on Demand they may have some FREE Pilates sessions there, ranging from 15 to 30 mins. I do them on occasion as the movements really help with my DOMS.
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