BombshellBanshee

Woot! Rivendell in my rearview, and 450 miles to Lothlorien or bust!

I'm also for real wearing his GAP windbreaker utility jacket today because I felt the macho mojo today. LOL

I'm just going to have to quote everything with Dean in it. He's not a "crush", he's my spirit animal. 😂 Absolutely hell yea! I will take muscle gain all day long! As long as my pants are fitting better, I'm a happy girl lmao

WEIGH IN WEDNESDAY Last weigh-in: 189 lbs Today's weigh-in: 192 lbs Not even mad because muscles poppin' yo'. 😂

OMG be still my heart. LOL

OMG same here LOL I was one of the brainwashed that thought I would look like a female body builder if I touched a KB! LMAO Now, I'm like walking through the house and through stores picking up random things wondering "Can I lift this? Can I do reps with this lamp and candlestick?" LMAO But fr, KB's have totally changed my focus and mentality on weight loss and lean muscle building. OH absolutely. I use it still, like when I'm on my recumbent bike, I work with it a lot when I'm not feeling dumbbells, and I love to use it for like you said, presses, snatches, windmills, cleans too. Though, now, I might be approaching something more like a 12lb if that's a thing, that would be great too. I did decide to get the 18lb for now instead of the 22lb for my heavier one. I think that would be perfect to knock out 12 reps of swings and such in a set a few times and still have some room to grow. Thank you so much! It's been years of trial and error to figure it out, but I know it's only the beginning lol in a few months I'll be having to refigure it all up again to progress LOL. Now if I could stop looking at the scale while losing fat and building muscle that would be great haha. Also - LOVE meeting fellow KB gals!!!

Just under 80 miles to Rivendell! And good going everyone! Love seeing all those boxes filling up!!

UPDATE: Upgraded to an 8, and 10kg Kettlebell! Bye bye baby bell!

UPDATE: So, my 10lb kettlebell isn't cutting it anymore lol. I got it when I had just started working out, and it's great for using during a quick weighted flow, but way too light for me to do any real KB work. I tried out an 8kg and I turned out 10 swings easily. Much more easily than I'd expected. Tried a 10kg and it was perfect. Just enough struggle on the last few reps to know I have plenty of room to grow with it before getting a 12kg later on. It was a Rogue Competition Kettlebell, and loved the flats on the sides for your wrist. The handle was a much better width than what I tried with others. Some of the others I tried were a couple MM wider, and strange enough it made a huge difference in my tiny t-rex hands. This handle was a perfect width, and plenty of room for both hands as well without squishing fingers together. The powder coat seems like it will hold up well, but only time will tell. I love the size of it as well. My small 10lb one is more of the studio aerobics variety lol. Swinging this comp KB was boss af. Really made me have to work my hams and glutes more to swing in good form because of needing more space between my legs to swing it. I feel like just having a larger KB helps me keep my form much more consistent, and much more aware of my movements. After a month with a 10lb-er, it's like slinging a soda can now lol. It was way too light for me to have even bothered with probably, but it is still great for some less intense workouts, or something more aerobic. It was also the only one the store had at the time and I just wanted something to get started with because I'm impatient af. Can't wait to start with my new one! Really looking forward to it!

Go big, right? LOL To be fair, I was totally going to put it off for another few months until I got a bit more settled into so many lifestyle changes. But, every time I workout, it's both taking up my smoking time, and taking up what little oxygen I have left LOL So I kind of "accidentally" cut back lol. As crazy as it sounds, I quit more out of convenience, time, and lung capacity lol. Though, I guess as long as I quit, that's what counts! So I will totally accept any kudos I can get LOL. Thank you for your encouragement!

UPDATE Nutrition I've been doing great on hitting my macros, and nutrients goals for the last few days. At first, I was a little out of balance, hitting macros/nutrients, but being far too low on calorie goal. I was ending up with still 1200 cal left to be consumed, minus the deficit for fat loss. Now I'm hanging around at about an 800 caloric deficit daily, burning over 700 cal daily. Finally getting into a rhythm. It took me a couple of weeks to see what I need to eliminate or add to find my groove. I had too many trans fats happening at dinner, and too much sodium at lunch, and too much sugar from fruit and berries. I needed to add more vegetables to at least two meals a day, and make sure I was getting enough protein and fiber. I was surprised to find that before, I wasn't eating nearly enough. I feel like I eat constantly now, but much cleaner, and much more mindful of what sources I am getting my calories from. Also, it has really helped me making sure that all the carbs I have, are coming from complex carbohydrates, and not just empty calories. When I have carbs, I also make sure I pay attention to "when" I am having carbs, and that I have activity planned accordingly to use those carbs as fuel, and not store them away as fat. So definitely, no more late night carb snacking. Such simple things they are, but they have made all the difference. Fitness I already feel my 5lb dumbbells and 10kg kettlebell getting easier. It won't be long before I will be ready to level up my lifting poundage. The bag I carry to work daily used to feel like dragging rocks. Now it feels like nothing at all to carry. Little things like that have been a surprise to me as well. When I started strength training I was focused on the big picture - the visible ones. But being stronger, even though obvious, was not something I really thought about. Now I realize just how much easier life can be, and I've only just begun. I work at a cemetery, and that often involves helping our maintenance lower vault lids, which are typically made of concrete or 12 gauge steel, or lifting bronze and granite memorials and grave markers, up to 60" in length, 4" thick, and 20" in width. Honestly, so often, I've even felt sorry for them getting stuck with me for help lol. Yesterday, I lifted a bronze marker (no granite), alone. Totally by myself. And I even carried it gracefully! LOL At first I thought I had picked up the wrong box because I would usually have to scoot it across the floor, but surprised myself when I picked it up like it was nothing. I have to admit, I flexed in the mirror that night LOL. Overall I feel so new to this journey, and yet, feel like the results keep coming. Even the small victories feel huge to me. Less grocery trips are very nice lol. My overall health is already improving quickly. I feel like I have already been rewarded with benefits, ones I hadn't even thought about. These little things keep me going, and keep me motivated to not give up. Honestly, I don't even like seeing the words "give up" right now, because that is no longer an option. I've come further than I ever have, and will not turn back. This has given me so much joy. It gives me so much each day to look forward to. When I look in the mirror, I already see significant differences, and never thought some things would happen so fast. All that hard work paying off, feels fkn incredible.

Thank you! The smoking is definitely the next thing to be eliminated from my life, right into the trash bin with refined sugar and empty calories! The thing that has really helped, is when you are out of breath from a workout, the last thing it makes you want is a cigarette. Way more down for a cool shower instead of a smoke after! I think it's making me much more aware of respiratory functionality and health. I totally agree. Something is always better than nothing! Showing up is half the battle. Once I get my ass to the mat, I'm halfway there!

Thank you so much! I will definitely put those to good use! Thank you for sharing, and for your tips and encouragement! 😍

UPDATE So, this week has me feeling a bit sluggish. This past weekend was hell, and then this week at work has been busy AF and am feeling overwhelmed. BUT - that being said, workouts have become my sanctuary. I have also been trying to quit smoking, and my workouts have taken up majority of my free time I would normally have spent chain-smoking. It feels good to have a healthy addiction, and a healthy coping mechanism in fitness. My workout yesterday and today was slowed down by Aunt Flo coming for a visit (sorry fellas, TMI, just part of logging why miles were less, and workouts not as intense). So I've felt fatigued, haven't slept well, cramping, back pain, and just feel like a bag of sag. Usually this would have been where I have a totally legit excuse to skip workouts for a few days, but powered through them with what little energy I have. Trying not to guilt trip myself for not working out as hard, and know when I need to take it a little easier and slower. It's just being mindful of that being temporary and not getting into a habit of "taking it easy". Getting more iron, and protein in my diet during this time as well, and watching my sodium. No sugar cravings FTW. I didn't weigh in on Wednesday, because I weighed on Sunday. I will skip this week and weigh in next Wednesday on the 15th. Bloat City is my temporary address for 3 more days, and I don't need the water weight bringing down my motivation lol. I'm still hanging in there though folks!