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Right, I've been meaning to start one of these for ages, now is a good a time as any I suppose! Backstory (for those who care) Being a chubster snuck up on me. I was a bit overweight for most of my teens - not unheathily so but I was not what you'd call thin. I went to college and started work in a pub. I drank a lot - in particular cider, at least 2-5 pints a night. There are around 200 calories in one pint of cider. I did not know this. I also ate junky food, often eating at the pub between shifts. Chips with chilli and cheese on top was a favourite. I guess the nature of the job kept me from getting too fat though. When I was 21 I went to Australia for 3 months, and put on a lot of weight. I ate and drank like I always had, and I guess the lack of any exercise or job that kept me moving made me balloon. When I returned I remember weighing myself and being shocked that I was 15 stone (210lb). This was the heaviest I had ever been. I constantly thought 'I'll start the diet tomorrow' but never got round to it. I passed my driving test too so all the walking/cycling I did was out of the window! Pics at my heaviest-  (ahh look at me smoking in a pub) I got a job working in a cafe which, while being an active job, also meant I had unlimited access to all the chips, bacon and ice-cream I could eat. I took advantage of this and although I lost a bit of weight was still a big girl. It was around this time I discovered the calories in a pint of cider and switched to vodka/spirits. I actually lost about a stone after doing this. In early 2003 I finally had a bit of an epiphany...I spent so long thinking 'oh if only I had started a diet 3 months ago I would be thinner now' that one day I finally decided to START the thing. I remember standing in the kitchen of the cafe and thinking 'make today the start of that 3 months'  Me at about 145lb I did rather well. Due to having an active job, being young and eating not much but home made soups and stir-fries, I managed to lose 3 stone in 3 months, and got down to 10 stone (140lb) at my lightest. I also started my first serious relationship which helped with my self-esteem. However it got to the point where my friends and family started worrying about me, I was losing around 3 pounds a week and as far as they could see I was becoming disordered/anorexic. I don't believe I ever was (definitely not anorexic), but it did get me obsessing about my weight for the rest of my twenties. Even at my lightest I believed my thighs were still fat. I was thin, but now I believe it was what we call 'skinnyfat'. I didn't exercise at all, just watched what I ate like a hawk. This was fine, I gained a bit but I managed to maintain this weight for years. As I reached the end of my twenties I got up to about 168lbs. At about the same time my marriage ended due to a rampant alcoholism problem. I had a bit of a mad phase where I did not drink alcohol but did lots of drugs and partying, and lost a load of weight. Anyway to cut it short. Around the time I joined these forums I met my current SO who is one of those people who can eat anything and never put on weight. He is my height (181cm) and weighs 140lb. Me at my skinniest. He is skinny. I didn't realise how skinny I was. Over the last few years my weight has crept back up again. I got up to 182 last year. Now I am firmly in my 30s and it is not as easy to lose weight as it was when I was 22! I am happier than I was then, I am coming to terms with the shape of my body (pear 4 lyfe) and I'm enjoying eating food and not internally calculating how many calories I've eaten, or whether I can still encircle my wrist with my thumb and pointer. It is actually telling to me now that I can remember my weight fluctuations through my twenties, that's how obsessive it got. ANYWAY I started doing Zumba with a friend for a bit of a laugh last year, and then this developed into training up to do a 5k charity run, which I managed to do in under 30 mins. I was going to the gym and doing lots of cardio and starting to use the weight machines. I got chatting to another friend about exercise and she asked me if I wanted to try doing a program with her that she'd started before.  This was taking me away from the cardio and the weightlifting machines, and into bodyweight exercise, ending with doing heavy lifting. I'm hooked. Although I have only lost a few pounds in weight, I can fit into jeans that I haven't been able to for many years, since my drug binging skinnyfat days. Difference is I feel fit and happy and feel STRONG! I've made pretty good progress, I can feel all these muscles moving around and growing and it is really exciting to feel the changes that lifting barbells is doing to me.  Loving ma traps - just after a workout so nice and swole. (post-Christmas)BIKINI SHOT!!!!  So this is where I am as of this morning. Stats! Height- 181cm Weight-178lb Hips- 44 inch Waist- 29 inch I have ALWAYS hated my butt and hips, and one of my main goals is to get a nice round squat-butt! I am really interested to see how swole I can get too. Being as I am a tall girl it's be cool to look like some sort of awesome Valkyrie/Amazon woman. I'm on Fitocracy as Rondette, and here is an example of my most recent full workout. This one was particularly hardcore. (For me) quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,636 pts Dec 24, 2012 At the moment I am averaging 2 trips a week to the gym but I am hoping to increase this in the New Year to 3. Mon, Weds, Fri. I have quit smoking for 6 months now, and have quit drinking for 4 months. I am happy to talk about either of these things in my log as well, especially about booze troubles, as that has also been a major factor in my adult life. So for my  I am going to aim to back squat 132lb (PROPERLY PARALLEL) by April 1st. I want to work on my form because although I have squatted 110lb I don't think my legs went parallel to the floor.So this is my first post and this is my log! Amazonia awaits! 
Rondette fucked around with this message at Jan 1, 2013 around 21:56 |
| # ? Jan 1, 2013 21:52 |
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| # ? May 25, 2013 04:48 |
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Good luck, came for the space cats and was not disappointed. (Your hips are great, by the way. You remind me of Voodoo Doll who also looked amazing before she started and looked even better after!)
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| # ? Jan 1, 2013 21:57 |
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ABOUT BLOODY TIME, YOUNG LADY. You already look drat good, I'm eager to see what comes next. P.S. I don't know how you gym in the space cat top. The one time I tried it I ended up slimey from the synthetic fabric. Gonna cannibalise the front of the top and attach it to something made of natural fabrics, I think.
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| # ? Jan 1, 2013 22:18 |
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Woohoo, definitely following this thread!! 
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| # ? Jan 1, 2013 23:03 |
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Yay you made a log! Will be cheering you on!
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| # ? Jan 1, 2013 23:17 |
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Ha! Came to check out space cats log, only to find lovely Panthra telling too-kind tales about me. Don't listen to her! About me, I mean. Listen to her compliment about your hips, as it is directly spot on! Very excited to see your progress from tiny-waist sistah to Amazonian Amazon of Amazonian-ness! 
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| # ? Jan 1, 2013 23:34 |
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Please to be never losing your lovely hips! You have a great figure. I look forward to whatever gains you make on your way to Amazonia.
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| # ? Jan 2, 2013 00:24 |
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Space cat club  Hips rock btw.
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| # ? Jan 2, 2013 00:45 |
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Haha, er well thanks for all the compliments, was not expecting that! I have to confess it was kind a of a big deal for me to put those pics of me in my bikini up, it's the first time I've ever taken photos in a bikini, and definitely the first time I've ever willingly taken pictures of my butt. And then put those pictures on the internet to show internet people!!!! It's my major hang-up and I spent most of my life being ashamed of that area of my body. I think between the weightlifting and visiting the Women's fashion thread on this site I have only really started enjoying my body shape in the last 6 months or so. Looking at those shots with a detached eye, I really don't look as bad as my mind had set me up to look. When I was younger (and bigger) someone once said I resembled a Teletubby, and that comment lodged in my brain.  Yep yep Rondette fucked around with this message at Jan 2, 2013 around 06:38 |
| # ? Jan 2, 2013 06:36 |
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Dude, you have a nice butt. 
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| # ? Jan 2, 2013 06:45 |
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Also came for spacecats, good luck! You're already at a great starting point, just stick with your program and you should be fine.
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| # ? Jan 2, 2013 08:02 |
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Whee! Levelled up today on Fitocracy, I'm now level 16. Hooray for arbitrary points and levelling systems! I was originally going to go to the gym yesterday but was thwarted by the pissing rain we've been living with the last few weeks. Both of the main roads to town were flooded, and the only road open was the one that runs through the tiny rural village that I live in. Cue articulated lorries getting stuck in narrow country lanes, and backed up traffic. So I did a little weirdo workout at home- quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 299 pts Jan 2, 2013 I hooped while watching a documentary about Screen Sirens which was really interesting, man Clara Bow was so foxy. Just look at her- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxo_99eaEEA I did get to the gym today and tracked my most MONSTER workout yet. Woot woot! I wonder if I can ever break 2k on a workout. quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,700 pts Today I went straight to the gym from work today, and ended up with a rather hideous sock/laces combo. Oh dear.  I also saw another awesome cat t-shirt that I almost bought. The camera is not hosed, it is actually a 3d effect print which made my eyeballs itch.  This has turned into a bit of a 'Dear Diary'--my apologies.
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 18:41 |
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I  Clara Bow! She was literally the first "it" girl, the person for whom that term was coined. She must have been utterly mind-blowing in person. Sadly, she had developed psychiatric issues and ended up getting pretty loopy in her old age and cutting herself off from the world. It breaks my heart to think of her just drifting further and further away...
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 18:50 |
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Following this log. I also want to be an Amazon, but being 5'5" makes this unlikely.
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| # ? Jan 3, 2013 19:53 |
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following for space cats and to cheer on fellow Amazon
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| # ? Jan 6, 2013 01:51 |
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My internet has broken and I live in the countryside so poo poo phone internet is all I have atm. Hopefully it'll be back Monday and I cam do proper posts.
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| # ? Jan 6, 2013 09:13 |
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Good luck! You look awesome already but looking forward to seeing you look even more awesome.
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| # ? Jan 7, 2013 07:09 |
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I went out and bought a dongle today, I'm fed up of no internet goddamnit!Voodoo Doll posted:I It's strange isn't it, when you think how many famous women go a bit loopy. Lindsay Lohan, Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears, Brittany Murphy....are there as many men that go a bit mad, or is it we just don't hear about them as much? quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,049 pts Jan 7, 2013 I'm going to start going 3 times a week now, so I guess Wednesdays will be my BIG LIFTY day, as I'll be on my own.  My friend took a picture of me lifting 80kg and slapped an instagram effect on it. I convinced her to get a pair of Chucks, and she went and got an awesome pair of THUNDERCATS ones. A little bit jealous.
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| # ? Jan 8, 2013 14:17 |
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I was looking forward to a big old session today but it didn't really happen for a couple of reasons. quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 953 pts Today One of the gym trainers came over and started asking me about my goals and targets - which threw me through a loop because I didn't really know what to say! 'squat 60kg' I said, and he asked 'What else?' - 'Erm just to be all round fitter really' Is that not good enough? He also gave me some advice about form and stuff. This was quite useful (even if he did start advertising his services) but it threw me off and made me a little paranoid about getting my form right when he left me to it. I have chatted to him before when he was training with THE ONLY OTHER GIRL I've seen lifting, who did a 100kg deadlift. So it wasn't totally unsolicited, just made me lose my stride I guess. After this I developed a banging headache and called it quits. One thing he did advise was to lay off the heavy squats until I have got my form down, which I agree with but it is now making me wonder if my Toxx target might be a bit optimistic. I'm also quite tempted to have a couple of sessions with him to put together a plan and get some more form tips. It seems to be working for that client of his!
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 14:45 |
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The trainer is sorta correct in laying off the heavy squats - but I would add that squatting with something heavy on your back is very different from squatting light, and just because someone has good form on light squats does not mean they'll have it as the weight gets more challenging. If your goal is to squat heavy, then you have to practice your form with a moderately challenging weight. I wouldn't go pushing to failure but you definitely need to feel some downward force from that barbell, as that really can change the way you squat. I also think that if your form is moderately good (as in good enough not to injure yourself) then there is no reason not to add some heavier sets in there, as you will see more progress that way. After a certain point of competence, working on your technique is more to add to your efficiency in the lift, not stop you getting injured. As long as you're sure you have that level of competence then add some weight. I also don't think your toxx is overly optimistic - it seems very reasonable indeed. Go get it girl!
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| # ? Jan 9, 2013 17:41 |
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quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,249 pts Today Forgot to log my workout on Friday when I levelled up to 17 on Fitocracy :woot: Not much to report about this workout really, I feel it getting easier to do deadlifts now! The gym was really busy, I can only hope this is down to people doing the NEW YEARS RESOLUTION thing and it will calm down in a week or two.
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| # ? Jan 14, 2013 19:53 |
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Ah it was a good session todayquote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,741 pts Today I had plenty of time to mimsy about on my own, and got some good lifting done! I have actually put on a bit of weight, but I've stopped caring really as I can see that it is not fat.
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 13:01 |
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 "mimsy about"
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 16:27 |
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I love seeing the life transformations as well as the bod transformations! You've come so far and look so happy in the recent photos in the OP! Totes following you on Fito!
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| # ? Jan 16, 2013 17:23 |
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Hello, I've been slacking! from my last workout I didn't actually get to go to the gym for a week, due to snow and my back getting a bit achy.quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,420 pts Jan 23, 2013 I did manage a pretty good workout but I think I might have to take it easy on things involving my lower back for a bit, it just doesn't feel right  I feel a bit blobbly as well, I've been making lots of delicious foods that are NOT healthy but drat it's been cold and I want comfort food. I mean TOAD IN THE HOLE MOTHERFUCKER!  (Not one I cooked there but I can do 'em almost as good) I am not going to let this get me down though, I know what I have to do to get healthy, I've done it before! I have still got more muscle definition than I have ever had as well so that's good too.
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| # ? Jan 25, 2013 12:45 |
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How have I lived my life so long not knowing this existed...? (Probably because I'm not from that side of the pond.) Why is it called Toad in a Hole?
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| # ? Feb 5, 2013 05:27 |
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abgushte badamjan posted:How have I lived my life so long not knowing this existed...? (Probably because I'm not from that side of the pond.) Have a recipe! http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/221/...n-the-hole.aspx (pro-tip from me, add a dash of vinegar to help the batter rise) It is one of my favourite meals, I like to fry onions and add it to the batter, or stuffing balls in with the sausage. Ugh, so good.  Might have to have that for tea tonight actually. The name? Not sure, it's one of those 'lost in the mists of time' dealios! Wikipedia says.... quote:Toad in the hole is a traditional English dish[1] consisting of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with vegetables and onion gravy. The origin of the name "Toad-in-the-Hole" is often disputed. Many suggestions are that the dish's resemblance to a toad sticking its head out of a hole provides the dish with its somewhat unusual name. It is rumored to have been called "Frog-in-the-Hole" in the past, although little evidence exists to support this theory.[2] It can also be referred to, less popularly, as "Jimmy toad".[3] ANYWAY Back to exercise. I've been having to take it really easy recently, sadly my back is still being a bit uncomfortable, so I'm staying away from the MEGA-LIFTS and going back to more bodyweight exercises. My lovely boyfriend gave me a back massage last night which seemed to help. quote:High Pull: I tried to go for a deadlift but I really didn't want to risk it, as I bent over to put the plate on I got a very odd TTWANG!!! in my side. I've got a sad feeling I'm not going to make my squat target at this rate. I guess I should concentrate on back strengthening exercises?? It's really frustrating to see tangible results happening, only to have to pull back due to the limitations of my body. The same thing happened a few years ago when I took up running, I started to get really into it only to fall VERY badly and not do it for a few years. Still, I have to keep telling myself that it is not a race, there is no hurry to look super-buff (apart from that April deadline)
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| # ? Feb 5, 2013 11:53 |
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Hello! I'm still working out, I just keep forgetting to post on here (Bad Rondette!) quote:Push Press: I've started doing bench presses which I haven't before. My arms are pretty weak really, I hope I can improve my bencha s there is a massive discrepancy at the moment. This week has been a bit distracting for me, my Aunt died a week ago yesterday. I'll just cross-post this from the Fashion-thread: quote:E/N moment coming up
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| # ? Feb 15, 2013 11:43 |
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Oh wow .... I am so very sorry for the loss of your eccentric and entirely wonderful aunt. She sounds like such a character. I mean, "I'm sorry for your loss" is so much the usual thing to say, but she seems such the most unique person that I truly am genuinely sorry that she's gone from the world. Her quilting work is astonishingly beautiful, and I am so in love with that rain coat and hat! I would absolutely wear that! So very excited for you that you have it and appreciate it. 
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| # ? Feb 15, 2013 18:40 |
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You also have my sympathies at the huge loss of your auntie...but I also think it's super cool how she's immortalized in her quilt work and that kooky coat as well as the impression that she's left on you and that you have now shared with all of us. I also do love the coat...I don't think I could get away with it, but it reminds me of something I would see in an illustration from like...a unique contemporary retelling of a classic Grimm fairy tale or something. It has a lot of character!!
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 03:34 |
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^^^ It reminds me a lot of Snufkin from the Moomins. quote:Barbell Squat: Getting to 47.5kg which is still a ways off of my target. I am getting to go 3 times a week now as I wanted though, so I think I am doing ok. I've started concentrating on my bench presses too - according to that lifting standards chart I should be on around 37.5kg. I am not anywhere near this!! However I have now edged into 'Novice' for my Deadlifts, and 'Untrained' for my Squats. I started lifting in mid-October, so I'm not exactly making quick progress, but as I've said before, I'm not looking for quick results with this! Considering when I started I couldn't lift the 20kg barbell above my head I think I'm doing ok. 
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 18:00 |
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Well that was good. I actually managed a  132lb squat. Which was my target! Granted it was only one and my boyfriend was stood behind me in case I wiped out (which I did when I tried a second one.  ) Now to do a set of 5! I was very keen and went to the gym 2 days in a row- why? Because I felt like it! Never thought that would happen, TBH.I nearly hit a 2k Fitocracy workout on Sunday, I'm going to see if I can do that tomorrow. Wednesdays I normally go when it's quieter and I'm on my own so I can do my epic workout. 2k FTW! quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,799 pts Feb 24, 2013 quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,239 pts Feb 25, 2013 Progress pic time! Sadly not a great deal of difference in the arse area that I can see, I think the most noticable difference is in my arms and back. Doing bench presses has really helped here. I'm also in love with my traps. I can see why all the lads do arm exercises, they're a lot less EFFORT than full body barbell exercises and the results are quicker too. Not that I'm going to stop with all the squat stuff! 
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| # ? Feb 26, 2013 10:32 |
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Your back is lookin' pretty nice, too, if I may say so 
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| # ? Mar 2, 2013 05:02 |
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Thank you! I know I haven't updated this for a while, I am not impressed with myself. I have been going to the gym at least twice a week, but I've been busy working on a project for college and keep forgetting to update this! (whoops) The one thing I seem to be getting the most of from doing weights is more confidence. I am fairly confident anyway but I just feel a little more...happy...in myself? It's hard to explain, I feel more comfortable in my body. I haven't lost any weight as such, but it's like I'm coming to terms with my shape. I think lifting has got something to do with it, I like that it makes me feel powerful and strong (even if I'm not at EPIC levels of weight lifting yet) and more aware of my body and how it moves, etc. I am almost at the point of getting hilariously evangelical about it, when I see girls slogging on the cross-trainers or whatever, I really want to ask them if they would be interested in trying lifting out. But that breaks many GYM LAWS so I don't. I was also pretty proud of myself on Monday, my gym bud flaked out on me and I was vacillating about going myself, I'd got one foot out of the door and thought 'Nah, I'll leave it until tomorrow morning and play computer games tonight'. I mentally slapped myself into going. Felt good man. The hardest part really can be getting out the door sometimes! My flakey friend also has a lovely SPACE ATTACK CAT t-shirt waiting for me 
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| # ? Mar 21, 2013 10:50 |
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Rondette posted:Thank you! This was a great post  I've found that the more I care about lifting heavy and stuff, the more snobbish I get about other people's workouts. I've tried to be more constructive/supportive in my actual comments, but on the inside I'm just shaking my head and judging. It's a heavy burden, but someone's gotta lift it.
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| # ? Mar 22, 2013 01:38 |
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Thank you! After my last positive post I have been a bit lax in getting to the gym myself! To be fair we have had crazy snowy weather here and I couldn't actually get my car out of the house from Thursday to Sunday (when our landlord had to tow it out of the snow for me!!) I guess that's one of the less wonderful things about living in the countryside...and driving a Smart car. These were some drifts that we passed on our way to college on Monday. Honest to god I felt like we were in Norway, not in bloddy Staffordshire. They were about 6ft high   Any way so me and bloke had a nice day together, we went to the gym together (my first time in a week and boy did it feel like it) quote:Rondette Tracked a Workout for 1,232 pts Today We then went to Birmingham and mooched around the shops and galleries, then undid all our hard work in a Mexican restaurant, eating lots of cheesy tacos, quesedillas and deep fried Jalepeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese. Good times.  I'm coming up to the end of part of my toxx now, to have squatted 132lb. I have managed this once, does that count as a pass? I'd really like to concentrate on my Bench at the moment. My max so far is 66lb and I'd really like to get that up to the EXRX NOVICE strength standard, which for me is 110lbs. What would be a good timeframe for this? Bearing in mind I go on average (normally!!) 2-3 times a week? And is it ok to change my toxx??
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| # ? Mar 27, 2013 20:55 |
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| # ? May 25, 2013 04:48 |
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Rondette posted:I'm coming up to the end of part of my toxx now, to have squatted 132lb. I have managed this once, does that count as a pass? I'd really like to concentrate on my Bench at the moment. My max so far is 66lb and I'd really like to get that up to the EXRX NOVICE strength standard, which for me is 110lbs. What would be a good timeframe for this? Bearing in mind I go on average (normally!!) 2-3 times a week? And is it ok to change my toxx?? Doing it once totally counts as a pass! Bench is the slowest lift to improve in my opinion, but if you work at it (say you bench twice a week) you can probably put on 5 lbs every 2 weeks...so to get to 110, give it 4 months? I would include less warm-up reps (instead of 45x10, do 45x5) and do lighter "back-off" sets after your heaviest ones, I find that helps build strength really well!
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| # ? Mar 27, 2013 21:50 |
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