theredphoenix

Hi guys! I need your help. I'm completely stuck on bench on the 5x5 programme. And i mean STUCK. I'm 22, female at around 55kg (120 pounds), and I've been doing the 5x5 pretty solidly for a year now bar a few holidays and sicknesses. I'm definitely getting stronger! I can do way more weight of everything else, my bodyweight stuff if doing great. But bench disappointingly zig-zags. I get to 22.5KG, do 5x5. Go up to 25KG, barely get through 2 reps and i can't do anymore. I think "it's okay i'll do it next week". Next week happens, still no stronger. And again. Back down again. Rinse and repeat several times. I just can't break this barrier. I still love doing 5x5 and it's obviously working for everything else, it's so frustrating that this is the one area I just can't beat? I've heard about plateaus but this is getting ridiculous. Something's gotta change . Thanks in advance! Elyse

Aw thanks for the support guys :3. On the up side, the competition is almost finished now - deadline was extended to this saturday. I'm just rendering it out now. I'll post it up when it's finished. I really should do my measurements again, it's been a while :3. Stronglifts: Squat - 5x5 @32.5 KG Bench -2/4/3/3/3 @ 17.5KG Row -5 x 5 @ 20KG

Hi guys! Sorry i vanished. I kinda fell over =.=. Got really burnt out from constantly working and made myself ill... twice! I'm going to count this challenge as a failure for now, because i just needed to get back to looking after myself, and making sure i kept up with my stronglifts. I have been doing them, although i had to deload a bit from the time off. Currently I'm looking like this: Stronglifts: Squat - 30KG Bench - 15KG Row - 20KG Deadlift - 40KG OHP - 15KG

Oh haven't posted in a while! Have been keeping up with stronglifts, the last two were: Stronglifts: Squat - 4/4/4/5/2 @30 KG Bench -5 x 5 @ 15KG Row -5 x 5 @ 22.5KG Squat - 5 x 5 @30KG OH Press -5 x 5 @ 12.5KG Deadlift -1 x 5 @ 50KG WEEK ONE: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs (X) Fri (-) Grade: A WEEK TWO: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs () Fri (X) Grade: A WEEK THREE: Mon () Tues () Wed () Thurs () Fri () on and off but a bit of a fail - GRADE: F Need some advice - The last two times i've squatted, I got a sharp pain in my upper thigh on my left leg. I tried warming up for longer, doing some stretching and widening my stance the second time, but it was still there. I'm guessing i've pulled the muscle slightly? So i was going to do today's workout but just skip the squats. The rest is mostly arm work anyway. Also bit of a confession - lunches haven't really been happening this week. I'm basically just burnt out from working so hard. Had tuesday and today off work to try and recover, so hopefully I should be back on it for next week . I also accidentally found an old health recipe book which i'm meaning to try out - so that'll be fun !

WEEK ONE: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs (X) Fri (-) Grade: A WEEK TWO: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs () Fri (X) Grade: A Stronglifts: Squat - 3/2/2/2/3 @ 30 KG OHP -3/3/4/4/4 @ 12.5KG - ugh, finally made a bit of progress on this one! Feeling much stronger with it now though. Deadlift -1 x 5 @ 45KG - bodyweight is 53KG, getting close ! Went for lunch with a coworker instead of eating my lunch I had brought it on Thursday, but I'll probably finish it up for lunch on Saturday so i'll let myself off . This week's been a busy one, I'm starting to get burnt out from all the work i've been putting in for the last couple of weeks. But the competition is looking good! Despite not having as many people seemingly entering as I thought :S, at this rate I might actually win by default - which would be kinda sad . Deadlifted 45KG today - Not far off my bodyweight at 53KG, EXCITING! Let's finally get this Level Up done and dusted! I don't think I really need to do a "level 2 run-down" of how the challenge went, because I pretty much summed it up at the start of this thread . I'll be purchasing my shirt on Monday when i get paid- I'm looking forward to taking the before and after pictures in it! I think i'm allowed 5 points per challenge, so I get five for continuing my 4x a week workouts for 6 weeks with 100% success rate! LEVEL 2!!! STR - 3 +2, DEX - 1 +1, STA - 2 +2, CON - 0, WIS - 2, CHA - 2 Sorted! (Finally XD) p.s. oh just for accountability, this is what my competition entry looks like so far https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4znLEC_2NU thread here: http://www.gameartisans.org/forums/threads/63816-Comicon-15-Ani-Shadowcat-and-Dark-Phoenix/page3

Squat - 3/2/2/2/3 @ 30 KG OHP -3/3/4/4/4 @ 12.5KG - ugh, finally made a bit of progress on this one! Feeling much stronger with it now though. Deadlift -1 x 5 @ 45KG - bodyweight is 53KG, getting close !

Stronglifts: Squat - 5 x 5 @ 27.5 KG Bench -3/4/3/2/3 @ 15KG Row -5 x 5 @ 20KG

Just a quick update from last night +this morning: WEEK ONE: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs (X) Fri (-) Grade: A WEEK TWO: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs (X) Fri () Stronglifts: Squat - 5 x 5 @ 27.5 KG Bench -3/4/3/2/3 @ 15KG Row -5 x 5 @ 20KG This challenge has been a bit easy - I hadn't realise how quickly i'd get used to making meals etc and I thought I'd forget to bring them in. Haven't had much of a problem. Definitely ready for more of a challenge for the next one. Still need to sort Level 2 and NF tee out- hopefully have some time at the weekend, been super busy. Also i've noticed i'm getting much more flexible so woop! Can not only touch my toes now but can curl my fingers underneath them. Been practicing the splits too for fun.

@mr_willies - yeah, we'll get there together fellow stronglifter ! @peelout - I'm always really interested in anything to do with habits, I find the whole idea facinating - but i haven't heard of this one. I'll definitely check it out - Just going to watch this ted talk i found by googling his name ( ). Sounds really interesting ! "Willpower seems to be the single greatest predictor of future success" - wow that's a quote to live by. Oh this is another good video that breaks it down more... brb grabbing the audiobook

Squat - 4/4/5/5/5 @27.5KG OH Press -5 x 5 @ 10KG (Had to drop this one down from last time because of being ill last week, which is a shame ) Deadlift -1 x 5 @ 40KG

Thanks for the support - It's been a rough week. I had a stomach bug on monday/tuesday, worked out wednesday, and got the flu friday/saturday! Really annoying T_T. I've also learned some things about myself: 1. I hate not being able to work / being lazy (i.e. relaxing like a normal person) for any length of time. 2. Feeling like i'm not doing enough work brings on a lot of negative feelings towards myself (i'm not good enough, i should be doing things, i'm lazy, i'll never accomplish anything, why bother getting out of bed etc.) 3. This usually leads to me feeling guilty about not working, but also too scared to do any work because I spend 5 minutes on it, and feel horrible that it doesn't look great. I haven't yet found a great way to deal with these feelings, and "being ill" is still one of the greatest hills i have to climb in terms of my own thoughts about myself, and sticking to the habits i've been building. Luckily, i still managed to make 4 out of 5 days for the first week of challenges- Even though it tasted horrible and dry. I instead opted for a chicken wing in honey and thyme this week, which is going down much better . Here's a quick recap: WEEK ONE: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs (X) Fri (-) Grade: A WEEK TWO: Mon (X) Tues () Wed () Thurs () Fri () Stronglifts: (from last wednesday) Squat - 5 x 5 @25 KG Bench -5 x 5 @ 12.5KG Row -1 x 5 @ 17.5KG Stronglifts: (from today) Squat - 4/4/5/5/5 @27.5KG OH Press -5 x 5 @ 10KG (Had to drop this one down from last time because of being ill last week, which is a shame ) Deadlift -1 x 5 @ 40KG I still need to do stats and level 2 stuff, as well as get my NF tee -but i'm out of time tonight. Night!

Oh the red is my weight, which hasn't changed because I haven't reweighed myself. Is that what you meant?

OH NO YOU DIDN'T! GO ON MY SOOOOOOOON! WOOOO YOU'RE SUPER AWESOMEEEEEEE!

OH MY GOD YOU ARE DOING SO WELL AND ARE SUCH A BADASS! GO YOU! WOOOOOOO!

(Yes, I benched as much as I squat) How????

You've been doing so super well *wipes tear from eye*, i've been stalking you in the shadows. You're awesome, keep it up !!!

What my progress looks like so far... Bench is pitiful haha! (Red line above is body weight :3) Squat 5 x 5 @ 25KG Bench 5 x 5 @ 12.5KG (was supposed to be on 15, but tried and squeezed out one, so thought i'd be safe and revert) Barbell Row 5 x 5 @ 17.5KG WEEK ONE: Mon (X) Tues (X) Wed (X) Thurs () Fri () This competition week one is going much more solidly than I thought - Remembered to both cook the damned meals, AND bring them in! Success! Only thing is they're really EXTRAORDINARILY dry, so they're not much fun to eat =.=. I'm pretty boring anyway, so if something's good, I don't mind eating it over and over- So i just have to try something else out this weekend . Also powered through 2 hours of cleaning! Feel much better about the house and the housemates were happy (i also bought them cookies :3). Also thank you for the sweet get well messages guys :3 - Obama thinks you're awesome EDIT: ehem, sorry and me

What my progress looks like so far... Bench is pitiful haha! (Red line above is body weight :3) Squat 5 x 5 @ 25KG Bench 5 x 5 @ 12.5KG (was supposed to be on 15, but tried and squeezed out one, so thought i'd be safe and revert) Barbell Row 5 x 5 @ 17.5KG

Feeling on top of the world today! I'm on the train home, music blaring (in my headphones) and raring to get back on the horse! I was really worried about this week because not only did I get ill (the main reason my habits break), but my gym buddy isn't going to be gaming with me this week. What no accountability I hear you ask? No way, I can't let you guys down now- I have 2cm more in my biceps to maintain! I've been really thinking about the areas I want to to focus on for the upcoming challenges, and I've decided they are as follows: mind (feeling good about myself, travel, happiness), body (fitness and food), home (counted as both my physical home and tough family relationships, work (progressing my personal skill of animation and furthering my passion and career). That'll do for now. But one of the areas of my life's that's been frustrating me recently is my messy house I share with three other people. I want a huge declutter of all my stuff. My plan is to do some cleaning blitzing when i get home. I have been eating my lunches all week so far, and I still need to become official level 2 and buy my nf shirt. It's on my to do list!! I really need to find something else to eat for lunch, the rice is super dry and not tasty at all, and I still have two days of it left haha! Sorry for the huge post onwaaaaaards!!!

You doing amazingly well - and what a goal, 2 dress sizes? Phew! Looks like your right on track, keep it up

Baby steps! You're taking so much on at once what you're doing is taking a superhuman amount of will power anyway. Better to adjust then to get stressed and take steps backwards. Keep it up

Thanks for the support guys :3. feeling awful today, some kind of weird stomach bug. Don't think i'll be going into work tomorrow, so I might miss gym tonight. I'll do the write up about level 2 when i'm feeling a bit better. Also i need to find a way to make my lunches less dry. I want to be home now... ugggh....

Ahh maybe I was just playing it old school . And yeah, i have nothing against him trying to make a bit of money off of something that's helping a lot of people :3

There was an update for it recently, I grabbed it last night... They've added more "buy for features" etc, and changed the layout.

Exactly! Nice to see you and your girlfriend are doing it together - It's always nice to have similar goals . Bit jealous of you guys keeping going up in reps and not having missed one yet - I'm already at the point where i'm struggling to push the next one out haha! But it's all good ! Go team XD! Also they changed the app . It was better before... It's fine but 10 quid is a bit steep to pay if they're going to start restricting features