Older newbie woman's 8 week don't fall off the wagon log

[tennies]

Goal: Complete 8 weeks of starting strength newbie programming, gain muscle on this 41 year old bod.

Workout 1:
Squat 3x5x40 lbs
Bench 3x5x35
Deadlift 1x5x50

Notes:
This is the first workout, getting the weights right will take a bit of adjustment, I will try 5 lb increases for now, 10lbs on the deadlift. I have been inactive for 3 years, and am 8 weeks post c-section.

Weight: 145 lbs

[jshreck]

Being 8 weeks post c-section (congrats!!); I would recommend not being concerned with your weight increasing right away and just focus on form of exercises. You will probably need another 4-8 weeks of healing before trying to push foward and exert "heavy" weight.

Jerry Shreck
www.varietytrainer.com
www.bestfitnessproductreview.com

[tennies]

Workout 2

Squat 3x5x45
Press 3x5x30
Power Clean 5x3x30

Thank you, Jshreck for the contrats. I will be glad for the extra strength as my little ones grow up.

[applescruffette]

Aw, congrats on your new baby! Rock on you for lifting 8 weeks post C-section.

[Eirikeb]

Impressed! And also, check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm7g571UIZM) at 0:22. Do that with your kid.

[tennies]

Workout 3

Squat 3x5x50
DB Press 3x5x32 (or 16 lb per dumbbell)
Deadlift 3x5x60

I switched to the DB press, I like the range of motion a bit better, and they are more fun to do.

Thank you for the congrats, applescruffette. Eirikeb, I enjoyed seeing the toddler lifting with his daddy, very cute.

[tennies]

workout 4

Squat 3x5x55
Press 3x5x32.5
Power Clean 3x5x32.5

Must make it to workout #5.

Any other women out there logging workouts? I need inspiration.

[milesdyson]

Tennies,

Did you take pictures before you started? Even if you'd never post them here (don't blame you), they can be very useful/encouraging. So if you haven't yet, I'd recommend taking some.

[applescruffette]

Check out Gwynn's log. It's a good read.



I should log here, but I'm afraid my log wouldn't be particularly inspiring. :)

[Mr.City]

Nice numbers

[tennies]

Workout 5

Squat 3x5x60
Dumbbell Bench Press 3x5x36.5
Deadlift 3x5x70

I haven't taken pictures yet, that is a good idea. That would scare me into working out, if I post them where I have to see them every day.

Glad I made it to workout #5. The weights are starting to feel heavier, which isn't a bad thing.

[tennies]

Workout 6

Squat 3x5x65
Press 3x5x35
Power Clean 5x3x35

[alis]

Any other women out there logging workouts? I need inspiration.

Nice log tennies :) I will be following. I am still 31 weeks pregnant but will do my SS log on here when I am able to (my goal is 4-6 weeks postpartum). I did SS for about 8 months prior to my pregnancy.

Good luck!

[tennies]

I am still 31 weeks pregnant but will do my SS log on here when I am able to (my goal is 4-6 weeks postpartum). I did SS for about 8 months prior to my pregnancy.

Good luck!

Thank you, Alis, and good luck with your pregnancy! I felt good enough to workout at 6 weeks postpartum, but the docs said wait an extra two. I also did starting strength before my first pregnancy in 2006, but lost my log book, I can't remember how many months I had been working.

May I ask at what weight you started, and what weight you worked up to? Just curious. When I find my log book I will post.

Heather

[tennies]

Workout 7

Squat 3x5x70
Dumbbell Bench Press 3x5x41.5 (20.75 lbs. / dumbbell)
Deadlift 1x5x80 lbs.

Notes:

Approaching the squats make me cringe at the start of the workout, but I feel so good afterwards. Squat form started to go on the last work set.

Deadlifts felt good.

[alis]

Thank you, Alis, and good luck with your pregnancy! I felt good enough to workout at 6 weeks postpartum, but the docs said wait an extra two. I also did starting strength before my first pregnancy in 2006, but lost my log book, I can't remember how many months I had been working.

May I ask at what weight you started, and what weight you worked up to? Just curious. When I find my log book I will post.


Hi Heather,

You mean workout weights, right? Well, I didn't do a great job the first round, so I hope to eat more and work harder the second time around. Now that I look back in my journal, I realize I only started SS on July 7 until Sep 19! That's only 3 months including an almost one month vacation - that's some bad math! What was I thinking? Anyways, here are my two & a half months of SS.

These were my last work weights (x5 or x1 for deadlift)..
Squat- 45lbs -> 115lbs (PR 135lbs)
Bench- 45lbs -> 65lbs (PR 75lbs)
Press- 30lbs -> 55lbs (PR 60lbs)
Deadlift- 145lbs -> 185lbs (PR 190lbs)
Power Clean- 55lbs -> 75lbs (PR 95lbs)

5'5 and 119lbs bodyweight.

I'm going to eat more the next time around... :) That was an issue for my progress.

[TonyaB]

Great Job Heather. I know how tough it is after a c-section! You inspired me to post my log.

[tennies]

Wow, thank you, Alis, your lifting weights look great. Thank you for posting! And Tonya, I will check out your log as soon as I can. The more women posting here the better!

[tennies]

Workout 8

Squat 3x5x75
Press 3x5x40
Power Clean 5x3x37.5

Workout was this morning instead of last night, I fell asleep with the baby after getting the older one to bed. Woke up too late to workout! Will do the next one as planned Friday night.

The press just felt so difficult today, my left arm felt very weak, and I couldn't balance my grip. I found out why after my 3 sets...I had an extra 2.5 lbs on the left side! Ooops! I had never done that before. Won't again, if I can help it!

Was sore on the warmup sets for the squats, but was able to finish and felt good about them.

[Gwynn]

Wow I'm very impressed by your post c-section progress. Damn but you ladies that lift after having babies are tough! Nice to have some company.
Cheers!
Gwynn

[TonyaB]

I agree with Gwynn, you are tough!

[tennies]

Workout 9

Squat 3x5x80
Dumbbell Bench Press 3x5x46.5
Deadlift 5x90

This workout was for Saturday morning, as I feel asleep again with the children Friday evening.

Workouts are starting to feel heavy, so I have to watch my form! As soon as I have time will post a squat check.

Thank you for the encouragement, Gwynn and Tonya!

[applescruffette]

I wish I would have been smart enough to do SS right after I had my babies. I think it rocks that you are right in the swing of it after a C-section, too. Tennies, is your baby cooperating and letting you sleep/recover? :)

[tennies]

Tennies, is your baby cooperating and letting you sleep/recover? :)

Hah! I haven't had more than 3-4 hours of continuous sleep in almost 3 years. Occasionally I get 5 hours of sleep in a row now if I skip chores and go to bed by 8:30 pm with the children.

Typically the toddler is up twice a night, and sometimes more often than that. The baby sleeps well in the early evening, wakes up to nurse once around 12 am to 2 am. But the baby is restless after 4 am until the house wakes up.

Since the new baby, my husband takes care of the toddler at night, but I still wake up when I hear them anyway.

Mornings are the hardest, I am a little stiff, sore and grumpy when I roll out of bed, usually by 6 - 7 am when the toddler starts running about.

[TonyaB]

Hah! I haven't had more than 3-4 hours of continuous sleep in almost 3 years. Occasionally I get 5 hours of sleep in a row now if I skip chores and go to bed by 8:30 pm with the children.

Same here. At 3 years old, the boy still wakes me up at least once, if not more, during the night, which results in frequent insomnia. I just read a blog about being active while pregnant and some of the benefits. One was you would have a better sleeping baby. I had to laugh at that one. The boy has never been a good sleeper, despite my being very active during pregnancy. I was lifting up till a few weeks before he was born and still walking long distances up till two days before. The only reason I didn't go for a long walk the day before they induced me was because it was a holiday and we were busy with family things.

Tonya

[isis]

You two are both so amazing! When my babies were little I never had the energy to do much of anything for myself, and here you are going to the gym on a regular basis and lifting heavy!

[tennies]

Hi Isis,

I have a power cage in a spare room, I work out from home. If I had to get in a car to drive to a gym I would never make it there.

I find that when I have little energy and am depressed, exercise is the only thing that helps. If I can form the habit of working out, my daily life is easier for it.

[tennies]

workout 10

Changing format to pounds x reps x sets, seems easier to read

Squat 85x5x3
Press 40x5x3
Power Clean 40x3x5

Sore throat coming on, I am hoping against a full blown cold. I was glad I could workout tonight, I almost fell asleep again with the children.

[tennies]

Workout 11

Squat 90x5x3
Dumbbell Bench Press 52x5x3 (26 lbs/dumbbell)
Deadlift 100x5

I am now sick with a cold, oh well.

Each time I lift I have a twinge of doubt that I can do all the reps. So far I have made it, but boy these lifts are starting to feel heavy.

I am looking to upgrade to an Olympic bar and plates. Does anyone have any bar recommendations for a woman, or should I look for a bar with 28.5 mm diameter? Need I be picky about the diameter, or will a 30 mm bar do as well? What is a good price for a beginner's bar? I don't think myself or my husband will be lifting beyond 300 lbs, if that, at the moment!

I am also wondering about shoes, I have been lifting barefoot so far. Will Chuck Taylors be worth the money, or should I spring for good shoes? I have flat feet.

It is time to get serious about this lifting thing I have going on.

Thank you all!

[tennies]

I never posted my height, I am 5'1" and a bit chubby at 148! Love that post-baby baggage. I can't restrict calories by much, as I am breast feeding.

Does any mom here have experience breast feeding and losing weight postpartum? I always loose the bulk of it by two weeks postpartum, but 10 lbs always seem to hang on. Add 10 lbs from the previous pregnancy that never left, and 10 lbs from before that and I am roughly 30 lbs overweight. Blech.

I want to start monitoring my body weight and composition. Can anybody tell me if calipers are useful and accurate, and how to use calipers, or recommend a reference site?

I am hoping that the muscle I gain will eat up some of this fat.

[applescruffette]

Your numbers look great :)

I would spring for good shoes. I have the black and white Adidas lifting shoes that sell for $200, but shoebacca.com had them on sale for $100 back in December. I too have flat and wide feet, but these shoes still work well for my feet. I wear Chuck Taylors daily because I ADORE them and the various colors they come in (I have 3 pairs currently), but I never liked lifting in them. Before I got my WL shoes, I actually much preferred this cheap-o pair of boot-looking dressy shoes from Wal-Mart that had a heel that was very flat to the ground.

I had lost 123 pounds after the birth of my 2nd daughter. I started the weight loss when she was about 6 months old. I nursed her until she was 12-1/2 months old. I just dieted like I was NOT nursing, but I certainly had the fat stores to do that...you are nowhere near the size I was, so you might not get away with that. I had lost well over half of my 123 pounds while I was nursing. Now I'm dealing with the consequences of that; I lost a hell of a lot of muscle, but you obviously won't because you're lifting and I didn't.

[isis]

Did you reduce the weights on squats or is that a typo? You're making great deadlift progress....and heavy is how it's supposed to feel.

I have a B&R men's bar and a women's Eleiko bar. I love my Eleiko, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are the kind of girl who would rather have a really nice bar than a diamond ring, because it costs about the same. There is absolutely no reason I couldn't do my whole program with the men's bar...but I still love my Eleiko.

An advantage of a women's bar is that it is 25mm instead of 29mm, which makes the hook grip easier to do for the power clean and much easier to do for the power snatch. If your hands are smaller than average that might be more important for you.

I used to have a budget bar that cost about $150...but it quit spinning after I dropped it a few times (with bumpers). The Rogue bar is a good inexpensive bar which I use at a gym I go to and it seems to hold up well although the black finish wears off. But if I were to start over and could only have one bar for under $300, I think I'd choose the B&R women's bar.

If your husband starts doing the program it won't be long before his deadlift gets over 300 pounds.

[TonyaB]

Hi tennies,

I'm still nursing my boy at over 3 years. Yeah, I'm a hippie like that. Anyway, I lost all the weight I gained in pregnancy by about 6 months postpartum doing 3 days of lifting and 2 or 3 days of intervals or cardio of some sort. I didn't restrict food, but I ate real food that didn't come out of a box or a fast food place and I didn't stuff myself silly. Most of the time anyway :). My husband is the cook most of the time and I remember asking him several time to make side dishes because I was still hungry. I was 165 before I got pregnant and I'm bouncing between 165 and 170 at the moment.

I'm 5'6 and would look a lot better if I lost about 10-15 lbs of fat. I did it once last year while limiting my food to the point I was dizzy and following a fat loss specific workout plan. It may have affected my milk supply, but by then my boy was 2 years old and eating well. I lost a lot of the muscle I gained along with the fat, injured my shoulder doing high rep crap and gained all the weight back. The dizziness and hunger is part of what led me back to a lower carb style of eating. Maybe if I wasn't nursing, I would react differently. I won't know till we stop and I'm too lazy to wean the boy right now. We're down to bedtime/nighttime and occasionally snuggle time. Some days he doesn't ask at all. Other times, quite a lot more than I want.

For shoes, I'm either in socks or wearing super-flat shoes that sort of resemble Chucks. Chucks never fit me right, but I've never lifted in them either. I've got pretty flattish feet. I'm not lifting heavy enough for this to matter yet. I've had a lot of pain in the sole of my right foot since about the middle of pregnancy and I've mostly alleviated it by taking about 6 grams of fish a day (good for the baby's brain too!) and working out without shoes. I always wear mule type tennis shoes in the house because of chronically cold feet, but one day I dropped a bottle of Franks RedHot on myself and had to wash them. It took two days for them to dry even with the drier and after walking around with out shoes for two days, the pain was gone. I still get it every now and then. I should mention that the house shoes have changed a few times, so I can't blame this particular pair.

My bar is a cheap sporting goods store bar. I have no idea what will happen if I drop it, but I've never been uncomfortable with the diameter or length. I don't have particularly small hands, though. It came with what are probably knockoff bumper plates. I don't know how good the bumpers are either, but it was on clearance for the same price as the other bar so I got it. I've never seen a bumper plate set in a sporting goods store again, but I'm in rural BFE.

I hope you feel better soon. Colds are never fun. I generally continue working out if I have a cold if it stays in my head and my energy is ok. I might not try to make any gains while sick. Or might lay around and surf the internet instead.

Tonya

[applescruffette]

I have a Bella Bar from Rogue. My mom bought it for me for Christmas. I am really happy with the bar, and my mom was happy with the service from Rogue. I have no experience with other decent bars.

TonyaB-I nursed my third and last baby until she was 2-1/4 years old, and that was because she weaned herself. It was so much easier for us to wean that way than for me to initiate it. I wish I would have done that with my other 2 babies. Sometimes people would look at me like I had an extra set of eyeballs when I told them that she was still nursing (I didn't do it out of the house after she was about 1), but oh well. I think you're doing a good thing if he's not ready to wean. :)

[Gwynn]

Bar - I've never bought my own but I've been pretty happy using a standard bar.

Shoes - I started with chucks but quickly bought a pair of VS. I will Never Go Back. Especially for squatting. I often DL in chucks still because I have pretty long femurs.

Eating - I am going to continue tooting the same old horn and tell you not to restrict calories while lifting! I have a lot of experience training (my whole dance career) on severely restricted calories. While it was not great for my health, it was totally possible. But what you are doing now requires calories. You are doing something that requires new muscle. If you eat at just above maintenance that's where the body recomp will happen. If you eat below maintenance there will come a point where your body will rebel. That's where you'll stall. It's tough to believe that eating more will help you recomp, but it works!

[tennies]

Your numbers look great :)

I would spring for good shoes. I have the black and white Adidas lifting shoes that sell for $200, but shoebacca.com had them on sale for $100 back in December.

I had lost 123 pounds after the birth of my 2nd daughter. I started the weight loss when she was about 6 months old.

I had never heard of shoebacca.com before, thank you for the link! I couldn't find Adidas lifting shoe there, I will check with them again. And wow, after losing 123 pounds you must have felt you were walking on air!


Did you reduce the weights on squats or is that a typo?
I love my Eleiko, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are the kind of girl who would rather have a really nice bar than a diamond ring...

But if I were to start over and could only have one bar for under $300, I think I'd choose the B&R women's bar.

If your husband starts doing the program it won't be long before his deadlift gets over 300 pounds.

Hi Isis,

Thank you for noticing my log mistake, I fixed it, thank you!

I do like nice things, but I can't justify an Eleiko to my husband at this stage! I might be able to buy the B+R bar, thank you for your thoughts on this. My husband does not lift many barbell lifts, he loves his BodySolid home gym. Funny, I brought the power rack, plates and dumbbells to the marriage, he brought the BodySolid!

I can understand why someone would love the Eleiko, the reviews on thier bars on the web are just glowing.



Hi tennies,

I'm still nursing my boy at over 3 years... I lost all the weight I gained in pregnancy by about 6 months postpartum doing 3 days of lifting and 2 or 3 days of intervals or cardio of some sort.

...Maybe if I wasn't nursing, I would react differently. I won't know till we stop and I'm too lazy to wean the boy right now. We're down to bedtime/nighttime and occasionally snuggle time. Some days he doesn't ask at all. Other times, quite a lot more than I want.


Tonya

Hi Tonya;

How nice you are nursing at over 3 years! I had to stop at about 2 1/2 years with my older boy, as it became too painful during my pregnancy. He misses it, and I don't think he was ready to wean. Enjoy the snuggles with your boy!

I am thinking of waiting until I have done about 6 months of Starting Strength, reassess my appearance and will adjust diet. I love my whole food diet, and make my own bread which is probably my downfall right there.


I have a Bella Bar from Rogue. My mom bought it for me for Christmas. I am really happy with the bar, and my mom was happy with the service from Rogue.

Thank you, I will be looking at the Bella bar too, so many bars to choose from!



...I've been pretty happy using a standard bar.

Shoes - I started with chucks but quickly bought a pair of VS. I will Never Go Back.

Eating - I am going to continue tooting the same old horn and tell you not to restrict calories while lifting!

Hi Gwynn,

Thank you for your advice, I will probably be getting shoes at some point and won't rely on Chucks. I feel my feet wobble during the squat now.

I won't restric calories, but I do want to monitor my fat levels while I am lifting, just to see what my body does.

[tennies]

Squat 95x5x3
Press 42.5x5x3
Power Clean 42.5x5x3

This workout was Saturday morning instead of Friday evening, one or the other of the children were up until 11 pm or so, I never had a free moment. This morning's workout was performed under the watchful eye of an active todder, while the baby napped. Hard to keep the toddler away from the weights, but he wanted to watch more than he wanted to play.

I am halfway to my goal of completing 8 weeks of training of 3 days each week, so far so good!

[tennies]

Another question, what is a good price for olympic size plates used? I found 255 lbs for $150, or .58/lb on Craigslist, not sure if I will buy them. These are York plates, nothing special, no rubber coating etc, (2/45 2/35 2/25 2/10 4/5 2/2.50 ).



Thank you!

[TonyaB]

Another point about my cheap bar...I keep getting metal slivers from it. I'm going to take some super fine sand paper to it soon. Something to think about.

[tennies]

Squat 100x5x3 (These felt better for some reason than the 95 lbs last workout!)
Dumbbell Bench Press 57x5x3 (28.5 per dumbbell)
Deadlift 110x5

Workout was Tuesday evening 11 pm. after Monday involved unexpected guests until 11pm, and a sick toddler who woke up with a croup like cough just as I was starting the first set of squats! This week I will adjust the schedule to Thurs and Saturday, and resume the following Monday and skip the 2 day break.

I will be getting the Bergener & Rippetoe women's bar (more bar than I will ever need, but again, I like well made useful objects), and some good shoes soon. We are picking up used olympic plates for about $.45/lbs, (a little expensive but retail around here is worse), as I have outgrown the 100 lbs or so on my standard set.

[TonyaB]

Glad to hear you're getting a good bar. Sick kids are no fun. Great job sticking with it even with the interruption in your schedule. 100 lb Squat! Woot.

Tonya

[tennies]

Workout 14

Squat 105x5x3 -->These were hard, chin kept wanting to pop up, and my form almost turned into good mornings. I think I will increase by 2.5 lbs now, rather than 5 lbs per workout.

Press: 45x5x3
Power Clean: 45x3x5

[tennies]

Workout #15

Weight(lb) x Reps x Sets

Squat 93x5x3
Dumbbell Bench Press 57x5x3
Deadlift 113x5x1

Missed Saturday's workout, my child was sick to his stomach and the second cold in two weeks took over my head and chest. Blech.

Got the new bar, and I set the squat back a little.

Tonya - that last 100 & 105 lb squat was incredibly hard! My back was sore from it all the next day. Form was much better this time at the lower weight.

[fnet]

I admire your dedication, Tennies. I've been trying to get my wife in the weight room for years. She's usually much smarter than me but she labors under the misconception that running is the best form of exercise, despite the numerous foot problems she's developed over the years. I suppose hearing me banging and shouting down in the basement and emerging covered in chalk dust and stinking of liniment (not to mention the milk-belly) doesn't exactly tip the scales in my favor.

[tennies]

Workout #16

Squat 95.5x5x3
Press 48x5x3
Power Clean 53x5x3

Form on the squat was unsteady today, not sure what was going on. Knees were crackling and popping, chest went low, had to remember to push with my hips up. I will have to videotape it somehow to see what is going on.

On the power clean, I can't get more than my heels off the floor, and can't seem to get much jump.

My cough is getting a little better, and the children seem to be sleeping a bit more soundly so far this week, which means my recovery should be a bit faster if I can catch up on the sleep.

[tennies]

She's usually much smarter than me but she labors under the misconception that running is the best form of exercise, despite the numerous foot problems she's developed over the years.

Hi Fnet;

People never change until they are ready. I got here through stumptuous.com and body for life. Stumptuous.com is a great site for inspiring women to lift, although they aren't as good with programming as Starting Strength is.

I just want to be strong enough to keep up with my young ones, take them hiking, camping, biking and not be a sore wreck. And if I end up looking better as a result, so be it!

[TonyaB]

I just want to be strong enough to keep up with my young ones, take them hiking, camping, biking and not be a sore wreck. And if I end up looking better as a result, so be it!

Yay tennies.

[tennies]

Workout 17

Squat 98x5x3

Dumbbell Bench Press 59.5x5x2, 59.5x2x1! --> Left arm failed on the last set after 2 reps. Will repeat this weight next workout.

Deadlift 123x5x1

My form felt okay on the squats this week, although the last set 2 reps felt like I was going to fall forward on the toes, got to watch that.

The deadlift this week was lip bitingly hard.

Last couple of weeks have been tough to get 3 workouts in, hopefully this week will be better, although it has had a rough start. Still on the wagon!

[Mr.City]

You can do it. Just think about it, you're accomplishing more than in a single session than the collective workouts of every bicep n' bench fool who walks the gym clad in their Tapout T-shirts.

[TonyaB]

Way to stick with it! It can be so easy to let life derail your plans and it's great to see you make progress even when it's tough.

I have days where I think I want to go back to my kettlebell lifting because that's relatively easy for me. I'm not so bad at strength/endurance stuff and it's easy to fool your self that you're making progress. Starting Strength? This is hard. It takes a lot of mental strength to know you're going put more weight on the bar than you did last time when it was hard and still get under it! So, way to go with a surgery, a new baby and a family.

Tonya

[tennies]

Workout 18

squat 100.5x5x3

press 50.5 x5x3

power clean 55.5 x 3 reps x 4 sets, --> son woke up after 4th set, needed help getting back to sleep!

Thank you all for the support! Form on the power clean was sloppy, I will repeat this weight next time. Squat and press were doable.

Thinking about cutting sugar from my diet, except on Sundays when we have family get-togethers. Sad to think of no more vanilla ice cream, no more 77% dark chocolate, or orange juice. Fresh fruit still in at the moment, though. I haven't made up my mind just yet whether to cut out white flour too. I can bake with fresh milled whole wheat and rye, if I can find the time.

[tennies]

Squat 103 x 5 x 3

Dumbbell Bench
59.5 x 5 x 2
59.5 x 1 x 1
59.5 x 4 x 1
(failed during the 3rd set, waited a bit longer and did the other 4 reps)

Deadlift
133 x 5 x 1
(amazed this even came off the floor)

Reason to workout: Weightlifting means osteoporosis kept at bay!

[TonyaB]

Reason to workout: Weightlifting means osteoporosis kept at bay!
Reply With Quote

So does nursing in an odd way. I believe you lose bone density while nursing, but then when you're done, the body puts on new bone mass that makes it stronger than before. Provided adequate nutrition and weight bearing exercise :)

[tennies]

Workout 20

Squat 105.5 x 5 x 3
Press 53 x 5 x 3
Power Clean 55.5 x 3 x 5

Power cleans felt all over the place, second set sloppy and felt too heavy, form better on 4th set which felt good.

Tonya, good to know that this nursing will aide bone health in the future, I get something back!

Another reason to weight lift: metabolism keeps me much warmer, all the time now.

Tracking calories for future planning, yesterday ate 2600, today 3000! I had no idea I was eating so much. Today hit 3000 because of some oat cookies that were in front of me as I sat at my desk.

If it weren't for my husband watching the 3 year old as he gets out of bed (for the fourth time before 10:30 pm!) I wouldn't be able to lift.

[tennies]

Workout 21

Monday would have been 8 weeks, but since I missed 4 workouts, thought I would add those onto this log as I set my goals for my next log. Will continue this log to 24 workouts.

Squat: 108x5x3

Dumbbell Bench: 62x5x3 (31 / dumbbell)

Deadlift: 123x5 --> was supposed to do 143, but it didn't budge. Did the last warmup for 5 reps and called it a night. 10lb jump on the deadlift now a thing of the past. I will try 5 lb increases from here on. The 123 lbs barely budged.

I haven't gained weight, so I must be gaining muscle. Here's to that extra little bit of testosterone I might also gain as a result of all this. :D

Since I haven't entirely fallen off the wagon, I consider this log a success. Now I need to figure out a reason for the next log! I think diet is the next thing to tackle. I have started tracking calories just to see where I am at.