8PieceBand

I admit to helicoptering a little that first week, but it was all good. Her form was just unpracticed. So was mine, TBH. We've both got it down pretty good. I just started us both at the bar and have been working our was up. Right now, we're keeping in step on the weights, so we're swapping sets. It's working out well with the rest periods, as well. The overhead row is going to be the first to fall into different weights. Those muscles are not too developed in her shoulders right now. She's hanging in with encouragement, but I can see it coming. No big deal. On the upside, her deadlift form is fantastic. If I can just figure out how to stop scraping up my shins with the damn bar...

No, I think you're right. But she's NEVER lifted weights before. After a few weeks I'll be more than happy to let her kick my butt, but we'll practice form first. A lot! Thanks for the advice!

Heard and understood. I think you might be right. I've been taking a look at the StrongLifts program, and I must say, I'm intrigued. We may give that a shot. How do you handle moving exercises? For instance, do you do your squat set, then switch off with your wife for her squat set and rest? I'm not overly comfortable leaving her alone to do something like squats or deadlifts without helping her with for, at least for a while. Will that extended rest period be detrimental to either of us, you think?

Thanks! I might do that eventually, as I like push-ups. But I think I need to get her on some lower weight bench press to build strength using dumbbells. That's the theory, at least...

Hi guys and gals. It's been about forever since I posted, so just ignore all that other stuff. It's been about the worst start of a year that I've ever had. Lost a cat, got laid off, injured my shoulder (getting better now, though!), etc. etc. There's more, but it's boring and awful. Anyway, I've had a couple months of not working (still looking for a job, ugh!) and basically getting a bit down on the whole thing. Don't worry, I'm not drowning in a sea of depression and self-loathing, just losing my job so suddenly sort of removed a large part of my identity. I took what I did very seriously, you see. Anyway, enough backstory. I've not been a regular worker outer for a while due to all this craziness, but I want to change that again. I've finally convinced my lovely wife to stop complaining about being a tad overweight and start doing something about it. Her regular runs, not to make it seem bad because it's good that she does it, aren't doing much. I can't get her to speed up and lower her times. Basically, we both aren't huge fans of running anyway, so it's always a chore. But she's willing to go weight train with me. Yay! And that's where I'm running into a problem. She likes group exercises, boot camps, and such. I'm trying to develop a program that we can go do together at the gym that works for two people. I'm used to going myself, but I've been slacking and sitting on a high plateau for a bit. I'd like for us to be able to do the same exercises, one after the other. I realize this is going to mean long rest periods between exercises, which isn't ideal, but i think it's more important for us to go do this together than optimize ever part of it. So first of all, tell me if you think this is a really bad idea, us working out together. Can a male and female rebel team make it effective? I'm going to be running much more weight than her for a while at least, which means changing things up between mine and her sets. I'd likely go second so I have enough to change the weights between us. What say you, oh fellow nerds? I'm working up a workout routine for us, but the gist so far is: Warmup Deadlifts Benchpress Pull-ups (start with inverted Rows, probably) Squats Shoulder press Chin-ups (again, inverted row to start) Cooldown/stretch I'm not going to throw her into a full routine, mind you. Or myself. But the goal is to get to that, 3 days a week, in 3 months or less. I'm hoping 2. She wants to lose 30 lbs. I'd like to gain about 15, personally (muscle pounds FTW!) Her problem areas are the tummy and hips/thighs. I admit to getting a bit of a spare inner tube these past few months of stress. It's all doable. So I'm open to any suggestions anyone has to help me out getting this going. And if you think it's a bad idea, well, tell me why and give me an alternative. Stay loud and proud!

So, a little more information about myself and my situation. I used to a regular gym goer for the free weights. Then last year we had a layoff at the company, and I picked up about 100% extra work. Now I get up, work on paperwork, quotes, etc., go to all day customer visits, integrations, tests, etc., then I eat dinner because I've probably managed to skip lunch again, and work on more paperwork until I can't see straight. Then I sleep. Rinse, repeat. It sucks. Trying to change that situation a bit. But, despite all of that, I'm also the very definition of the modern major hard gainer. I'm currently 6'4", ~180 lbs. when I was working out every day in college, the heaviest I got was 185. I know I have a bit less muscle and a bit more fat now than I did then, though, so I'd like to change that. I'm still a skinny skyscraper, but maybe a more chiseled out of granite skyscraper lies beneath the termite cloth over the top. That's what I'm looking for. So, here's to: 1) running a 10K for the first time since college 2) making sure that closet full of medium, slim fit shirts fits a little less well around my chest 3) finally getting that kayak I've been wanting for years 4) learning to play that wicked axe in the corner 5) not letting work dominate my life so much Hats off to the bull! Ah, and before anyone asks, 8PieceBand refers to my car, Sheila. She has a V8, and makes such sweet music for me...

I already love it here...

Long story short: 1) Physicist 2) Travel a lot (as in 38 out of 52 weeks last year travel a lot) 3) Not getting any younger 4) Not getting any thinner/bigger 5) Likes lists 6) Getting married in October 7) Don't work out like I used to/should 8) Looking for rebel help to make sure I work out 9) Yes, Physicist. Uber-Geek. 10) I also fix cars. I can fix your car. I can fix darn near anything. It's what I do. 11) Except my fitness routine. 12) Help, I've gone into a running list! 13) And I can't get out! 14) EOL, man