My routine...comments & suggestions please.

[Puddles]

Hey Puddles,

The only thing i would suggest is maybe start working some more freeweight exercises in and reduce the reliance on machines and cables. When starting out it's cool to use machines just to get your body into the groove, but the benefit which free weights provide over cables and machines is like night and day IMO.

By using free weights, you will also notice your grip strength will increase dramatically, because you have no mechanical advantage to asist you.

If your forearms are proving that much of a problem for you, use straps, particularly for your back work.

We just started some bench presses...I'm shaky but I'll learn control soon I hope! Being able to do free weights makes me feel stronger than just using the machines.

Hubby suggested some wristwraps a couple of weeks ago...we just haven't gone to get them yet. I did get gloves for my hands to help prevent callousses...I'm such a girl! LOL

Thanks, Vinyl.

 

[vinylgroover]

We just started some bench presses...I'm shaky but I'll learn control soon I hope! Being able to do free weights makes me feel stronger than just using the machines.

Hubby suggested some wristwraps a couple of weeks ago...we just haven't gone to get them yet. I did get gloves for my hands to help prevent callousses...I'm such a girl! LOL

Thanks, Vinyl.

Stcik to barbells and dumbells and you'll be untstoppable Puddles.

Cool, just add wrist straps to the shopping list after the stool and full length mirror

 

[starfish]

Puddles...

What program did you follow when started in order to lose weight? Dietwise...

 

[Puddles]

Puddles...

What program did you follow when started in order to lose weight? Dietwise...

This is basicly how I've been eating for the past year:

Breakfast:

2 big cups of coffee with about a cup of skim or 2% milk and fat free coffee mate and splenda (I know this has a lot of carbs and coffee's not good but I simply can not kick my coffee addiction and I like it light and sweet.)

and about 2 hrs. later...

A protein shake (lean body for her with water now...I was using something else that had more carbs and fat)

or

A piece of multigrain bread.

or

oatmeal made with water (rarely though...it tastes like shit)

or

egg beaters


Snack (some days, not all days):

about 2 to 4 oz. grilled chicken or lean steak burger, depending on how hungry I am

Lunch:

4-6 oz. Protein on a salad (grilled chicken, burger, canned chicken, tuna, salmon) with about 2 tsp. raspberry vinnagrette dressing. If I didn't have a snack, sometimes I'll add a piece of that multigrain bread.

Snack:

2-4 oz. protein (chicken or burger) on a night when I'm home

or

protein shake (on a night I've gone to the gym)

Dinner:

4-6 oz. protein with veggies, usually broccoli

Snack:

If it's late and I'm still hungry I'll have a rice cake or a piece of multigrain bread or a little more protein, depending on what else I've eaten during the day.

Water: I drink 3/4 to 1 1/4 gal/day...wish I could manage more.

I average one cheat meal a week...sometimes pizza, sometimes something healthier, sometimes something worse. I had cheesecake last week and it was delicious! I was induldging and had spent a relaxing day at the spa and shopping with a friend.

 

[makedah]

Only 2 tsp. dressing? My WORD! I'd rather eat it dry. That'd be JUST enough dressing to frustrate me!!!

 

[Puddles]

naaa....2 tsp. is just right...the raspberry wallnut vinnagrette dressing, made by Ken's Steakhouse, is very strong in taste...it's especially great to cover up the taste of the tuna and I put it on my salad before I cut it up into the tiniest pieces...like chopped onion size pieces so the flavor gets mixed in very well. Try that specific dressing...at least once and let me know what you think!

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

Hey Puddles, I just wanted to say, if that's you in your picture at 141 pounds...then damn, you're lucky, because you look really good.

 

[TEXgrl]

Only 2 tsp. dressing? My WORD! I'd rather eat it dry. That'd be JUST enough dressing to frustrate me!!!

here's a cool trick for salads....get your dressing on the side and dip your fork in the dressing, just to lightly coat it on the tips and then poke your salad, you get a little taste of dressing in every bite, but don't go thru much.

 

[grlpwrd]

Thanks for this discussion, ladies. You gave me good ideas to incorporate into my training.

 

[Puddles]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions.

Spatts, MUCHO thanks to you for your insight! You said, "Remember that machines like the ab/adductor kind of appease that portion of the gym crowd that still believes you can target burn body fat. If you truly want to strengthen those muscles, you will want to do those moves with your hips lower than your knees, something those machines aren't designed for. " What specific excercises would you suggest that I do?

I looked at a lot of the video clips that you did, too. I like the seated squat idea and will try to remember your form when I do them! Hubby's been good at keeping me in line. LOL We both like your split ideas, but our schedules are so wacked that our off days are when we need them, so they will varry, but we liked the overall order.

I had to laugh when I read this, "I am imagining you laying on a chest supported t bar row, trying to work your back after ab day, and having the pad KILL to lay on. " I get so sick to my stomach when I do this excercise! Maybe moving it to another day will help.

Veggie...you have no idea how your comment made my day! I am enjoying looking better as you can probably tell by my avatars. LOL