Essie

I agree for the lifting reasons, too. And juicing is not real life. And a lack of fats and other good nutrients from a variety of real foods. Great job with the IRON this week!

I forgot to ask about the push-ups, and I am way too tired now to try! Tomorrow. Did my lifting, here is my workout I just completed (I don't list warmup, warmup sets, or cool down stretching, but I do it): Squat 1x135 (failed on 2nd rep) 1x3x115 2x5x115 Bench press 3x5x65 1xfailx55 2xfailx45 Squat 1xfailx45 Bend over rows 1x8x26 1xfailx18 Spaghetti arms and legs tonight. Not much strength with a decrease in calories today and lower protein intake. So tired. Tomorrow my class is going on a field trip to an athletic complex so let's hope I won't be too sore or tired to play with my kids! Hubby is sitting next to me watching a Dr. Who spoof and he can't stop laughing. Yesterday I tried something new I've never had - cottage cheese! (Yes, I can't believe it either...) I've always heard people complain about eating it so I never had a desire to try it, but I figured I was trying to up my protein but not my calories so I might as well try it, so I mixed in a scoop of my chocolate protein powder with a 1/4 cup of grassfed cottage cheese and it was delicious! Who knew???

Hubby got home waaaayyy too late last night for me to lift, but he is out lifting right now and as soon as he is done, I'm going out there. And I'm gonna lift heavy things! I think I can do a couple real push-ups - not sure if I am doing them right, I'm gonna do them and ask hubby if my form is good. But if so, that is really great news! A few weeks ago, I couldn't at all! And I can feel new muscle in my arms and legs Its freakin awesome!

I missed the tuna - but that still isn't near enough protein for your body weight. Do you track your caloric intake at all? I don't know what the total of all that is, but I would assume it is not near enough. Plus lifting weights will make you more hungry. It isn't about the amount of food you eat, it is the quality and density of the food you eat. My 2 cents.

I agree, add more good fats like coconut oil, butter, heavy cream, avocado, and nuts. That will satiate you far more than adding more fruits or veggies. And in terms of your protein, you are only eating 200g of meat per day? That is only 7 oz and is not near enough if you are lifting weights - you need to get about 1g of your body weight, so I would at least double your protein. I am about the exact same size as you (a couple inches shorter but only a couple pounds lighter) and I eat 12 oz of meat per day plus one or two protein shakes, depending on if it is a lifting day or not. Protein and fat will keep you from starving and provide you with what you need for lifting.

I forgot to post yesterday and Sunday was crazy busy, but oh well. Did lifting on Sunday. Did alright, I don't think I pushed myself as hard as I could though. Deadlifts: 3x5x135 2xfailx75 Overhead Press: 3xfailx45 I still don't have the movement down great, that's why I am still on the bar. I can lift the bar pretty fine but I'm working on my form. My elbows flare out quite a bit and my chest doesn't stay forward so I want to get my form right before I start adding weights to it. Something else, I don't remember. Will check my log when I get home and fix it. Great on food - no cheating and no chocolate, lots of water!

triple post....

wow...triple post. dumb computer.

Thank you for your encouragement - it is nice to know I don't have to leave out genuine feelings and struggles here on NF. They really affect every aspect of my life! In terms of the dress, I tried it on again and I can zip it up (its tight....) so I'm hoping by the week's end it will be a tiny bit more comfortable. Weight this morning was still 131. I'll take measurements around chest and ribcage later this week to see if there is any improvement there. Can't wear a shawl though - I may just have some arm and back fat rolls on the wedding day. My hair is pretty long though, and I'm wearing it down so maybe that will help cover it . Thanks for your kind words, BC. I know the truth in what you are saying and often need that encouragement as a reminder.

So this was a FAIL for me. I didn't do it once. I'll do the next challenge, though!

Ummm not sure about the middle pics, but the first (fat) one, I was 199 (and it was the night before I started my diet last year), and the last one (today) I weighed 131 this morning. But I'm a few pounds up from my lowest a few weeks ago, I was 124. And thanks!

Will respond to posts later, but I just uploaded a progression picture and a current picture, so here it is: Progression: Today (literally, a few minutes ago....): And yes, that is a kitty rolling around in the background

If anyone is looking for some paleo dessert or breakfast recipes, there is an ebook that is specifically paleo desserts and breakfasts using almond flour and coconut flour that is amazing. It's called The Almond Flour Sweet Treats Cookbook: Favorite Paleo Desserts and is freakin' awesome! The website also has some really yummy recipes for Paleo eating. http://nourishedforfree.com/paleo-desserts-cookbook/

Heehee, I may need to steal that quote and stick it on my bathroom mirror too.... BTW, I am sorry I haven't responded to your email - I promise I will soon. I just haven't had the chance to just sit down and type out a real response~!!!!!

Well DOMS has been strong yesterday and today in my legs and back, but I don't lift again till tomorrow so it will be gone by then. This afternoon hubby and I are going to a jazz festival so I'll be walking around like crazy (smelling all kinds of deep fried crap) so hopefully that will help my DOMS feel better! We have one of those weird scales that sends an electric pulse through your feet to check your body fat percentage (which I know those are crazy inaccurate), so I decided to jump on the scale and check that this morning, just to have somewhat of a starting point to see how many points I lose during the challenge, even though I know it probably isn't accurate. It was 33.8%! I was so grossed out. Based on the "visual" test, I thought for sure I was only 28-30%. So based on my weight of 130 lbs, that means that 43.94 lbs of my weight is fat! Super discouraging. I've also decided to only get on the scale once a week (which I've broken this week and weighed myself again today) so I can only see the gradual big change, not the daily incremental changes that piss me off. I know I'm gaining muscle (over a long period of time) and that the scale is a big fat liar, and I need to go by measurements and clothing fits, but it is hard to break that habit and thought process that the scale is the end-all, be-all. For food and water this week, I've done well. No chocolate cheating, but I've added a scoop of protein powder in the mornings (mixed with my coffee) to help me eat enough protein, so I actually get chocolate every day with that which is great and very helpful! So i'm getting about 100-115g of protein daily. I've been drinking right at the 80 oz every day and haven't really gone over that (except on my lifting day, I drank 100 oz that day). I tried to put on the bridesmaid dress this week and I don't think it will zip up, which is super discouraging because the wedding is one week from tomorrow! How does freakin' 5 lbs make a dress not zip up!!!!! I don't know what I will do. I don't know how to take dresses out (I can hem them!) so I'm a little freaked out. Money wise, I went to Walmart and got a pair of spandex shorts and capris for working out in (easy to convince hubby I need them when he gets to see my bum in them when I squat and deadlift!), and I only went to grocery store once this week, but got a ton of bacon and chicken because they were on clearance. I need to move $50 to our savings for last week. In terms of dealing with the grief of losing my dear friend, I still just don't believe it. God is good, and He showed us that when He had one of the girls in our Bible study give birth 5 weeks early to a healthy baby boy on the night of our first Bible study since our friend died - He brought new life, and gave us a reason to be joyful when we were all a little scared of what our first night back would look like without our friend. But it made me sad too, because our friend won't get to meet the new baby. Grief is a tricky thing, and there are times when I'm all ok and praise God that she is in Heaven where she no longer has to deal with the troubles and trappings of this world, and there are times where I just don't understand why she had to die so tragically and unexpectedly. And it hurts so badly because there is such a conflict of emotions. I know the Word says, "13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profitâ€â€” 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.†and I believe it, but her death just amplifies the truth of it and was kind of like a punch in the gut when her life did vanish in an instant. But I trust the Lord and believe His goodness in this. Thanks for reading and letting me share a little vulnerability and work out some emotions. Sorry I'm downcast.

Same here! I love lifting the bar but don't get the same rush with dumbbells. And I have seen serious gains in my squat and deadlift, but my poor bench just doesn't hardly move, and I just learned OHP so it is still low and brand new. But I like that based on the strength standards, my squat is "advanced"! Which means I'll probably have a rockin' booty and thighs! But I get ya - it is easy to feel frustrated over upper body strength.

I'd be in to meet some more nerds! I live in north DFW!

wow!!! Thank you for posting - so cool to see the progression of cravings thought! And CONGRATS for beating the sugar monster!!!!!!

In terms of getting rid of your starches (like the rice and beans), I think your plan sounds like a good way to not waste what you have already purchased. Although, unless you have like a 25 lb bag of each, rice and beans are so cheap that you can get rid of several bags of each and not be wasting more than a few bucks (unless they are the fancy "steamable" bags or whatever). Maybe give them to a roommate or donate to your local food pantry, so you aren't throwing food away. For the sugary drinks substitute, I LOVE using flavored liquid stevia in carbonated soda or making herbal teas and pouring them over ice and stevia. Or make kombucha! Delish and incredibly healthy! +1 for fermented drinks Great job so far

First of all, I love your Disney theme and the songs you chose are perfect! Second - great job re-adjusting your goals as life goes and you recognize where it is needed. Your goals are great and I look forward to seeing how you kick butt in this challenge! -Essie

Thanks! According to the charts, I'm "untrained" for my bench and press, "intermediate" on deadlift, and "advanced" on squat! Surely that can't be right???

Hey can someone explain what strength standards mean?

Ok so I want to do this but I'm pretty new at power lifting. I tested my 1RM last week on the big 3 and I'm pretty low. My deadlift 1RM was 165, my squat was 155, and I think my bench was 75? I'm a 130 lb 4'10" female and have only been lifting a few months. I've never done a competition before.

Well, this week has kinda been a bit of a bust so far - no bodyweight workout Monday or Wednesday, but tonight was my lifting night and I was excited to get out there! Tonight's training: Squat: 3x6x115 reps of 75xfail reps of 45xfail Bench: 3x5x65 2 sets of reps of 45xfail Worked on power shrug form and power clean form with empty bar - I still don't have my power clean. It is so frustrating. Hubby says I am afraid of the bar and that's why I can't get it up, and I'm pretty sure he is right. He tried to get me to learn the snatch so I could get used to throwing the bar, but by then my arms were so tired I could barely lift the bar! Spaghetti arms and legs tonight! Dumbbell rows: 2x8x26 My upper body strength feels so very lacking. It is frustrating! But I am doing the best I can, so I suppose that is all I can do. I did tell hubby tonight that I look forward to my lifting nights SO MUCH MORE than my bodyweight nights, and will find excuses to get out of bodyweight nights, so I asked if we can increase my lifting to three nights a week and bodyweight just one night. He said yes so that is good. Doing fine on other goals too but it is late and I need SLEEP so g'night!

That would be true about STAAR for most people, but I actually ended up working with our one kid who has Down's (and is VERY loud and destructive) so it was actually more stressful than for most people!!! And thank you!!!!