Proactive Pretzle Perseveres

[Pretzle]

Hey there warriors!

 

I'm Pretzle. I've done 8 (seriously? Yeah, almost can't believe it) challenges so far, 7 of which with the assassins. I love my crew. Things is, over the last few challenges I've slowly changed my approach to exercise and my definition of fun to ... ok, mostly squatting, but anything requiring weights and focussed on strength. I want to learn more, explore more and eh, yes squat my bodyweight within the next few weeks So, I'm joining you awesome beasts for this challenge. 

 

 + = Pretzle squatting her bodyweight!

Goals:

1) SQUAT!

I currently squat 60 kgs. I weigh about 64, so bodyweight is going to happen this challenge. (Unless… weird stuff happens). Hmmm 6 weeks, will have to find a new gym. is 70 a good goal (or higher/lower?) I aim for 3 x 5 at highest weight I can comfortably squat. 60 was still very doable, but I'm (wisely?) taking it slow.

 

2) For the mind

Therapy. Necessary, challenging, often painful and exhausting. I need to go, and do any homework I might (read: will) get. Don’t just nod at the tips she gives me, actually try them. Oh, and take care of myself after sessions by resting and taking it easy.

 

3) Research!

I know underpants are not useful. So…

- I will read one book on weight lifting.

- I will find a gym (within the first two weeks after the school gym closes… So after June 25th) to continue my progress over the summer.

- I will do at least one lesson with either a PT or at a powerlifting gym (now I’m scared. lol).

- I will learn about other lifts

 

 

Lifegoal: 

In my signature you can find a link to my summer spreadsheet of epicness. I get bored EASILY. I'm a teacher, which means the summer break is quite long. Please help me by adding one (or a few, or a lot) idea to my spreadsheet so I can use it when I have to stop myself from going crazy over the summer! Thanks so much! I'll keep you guys updated on what I've done from the list.

[NickZ79]

Welcome! Good goals, very attainable!

[Alanna]

Hello, and thanks for stopping by my challenge!  I'll be following yours too--we can conquer body weight squats together!

 

A session with a personal trainer is a great idea. I was much more confident after I had one and knew my form was correct (or, in the case of deadlifts, was corrected).  Just make sure they have the right background and knowledge for what you want to do. Have you thought about starting any lifting programs? 

 

Good luck with the therapy sessions, too. When I was working with a counselor a few years back, I would journal right after and between sessions to help absorb and reflect on what we talked about. Doing the additional work helped me get a lot more out of the sessions.

 

By the way, I love your summer spreadsheet.  I'll make sure to contribute . 

[Pretzle]

Welcome! Good goals, very attainable!

 

Thanks!  

 

Hello, and thanks for stopping by my challenge!  I'll be following yours too--we can conquer body weight squats together!

 

A session with a personal trainer is a great idea. I was much more confident after I had one and knew my form was correct (or, in the case of deadlifts, was corrected).  Just make sure they have the right background and knowledge for what you want to do. Have you thought about starting any lifting programs? 

 

Good luck with the therapy sessions, too. When I was working with a counselor a few years back, I would journal right after and between sessions to help absorb and reflect on what we talked about. Doing the additional work helped me get a lot more out of the sessions.

 

By the way, I love your summer spreadsheet.  I'll make sure to contribute . 

 

Thanks for the follow!

 

I should ask if one of the trainers at my school's gym (college, I teach, trainers teach the sports students) is specialised(-ish) in strength stuff. That would make it very easy to get good advice, but maybe I should go elsewhere for that... I know my form on squats is good (I got complemented at least 4 times by different people over the last 2 months. I used to suffer from a lot of lower backpain when I was younger and was taught - apparently properly! - how to squat ). I don't know anything about other lifts, besides eyeing some people doing some deadlifts. Trainers are always very helpful, but an actual appointment to go through some lifts would be a really good idea. If not at my usal gym, maybe at the place I'll find for summer Would be a nice way to get to know that place, too. (Still have to find one). 

[MsFitz]

Welcome!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Excuse any short replies, please.

[Super Destroyer]

Welcome to the warriors guild. Can't wait to see you crush the squat goal! Have you considered a program like strong lifts to get started on dead lifts and other compound lifts? Best of luck!

[Lilith]

You're going to be the queen of squats I just know it! <3

[Pretzle]

Welcome!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Excuse any short replies, please.

 

Thanks

 

Welcome to the warriors guild. Can't wait to see you crush the squat goal! Have you considered a program like strong lifts to get started on dead lifts and other compound lifts? Best of luck!

 

I'm so excited about reading bodyweight. Even though it's just a number, the idea of basically carrying myself, it's epic. I'm not sure yet about a program, I suppose it'd be a smart idea. For now I'll focus on just getting familiar with form for different lifts and I might very well pick a program during this challenge. 

 

You're going to be the queen of squats I just know it! <3

 

Aww, thanks That sounds cool. Might be inspiration for next challenge (yes, before this one even started!).

[Pretzle]

So, I aim to exercise at least 3 times a week. Usually at least 2 of those are in the gym. If I can't make it to the gym I either do bodyweight work at home or... lately I've been dancing. I used to be VERY self conscious and dancing was the last thing I ever thought I'd end up liking... But here I am. I think I might start to do these dance workouts more often, they're so much fun and don't take too much time.

Today (Gym's closed) I did this workout: 

 

If anyone has any suggestions for fun Youtube workouts (dance or similar.. or completely different) please leave some links

[Raev]

BW squatting is quite the warriorly goal.

 

Welcome to the Warriors on this one!

[PrincessHeather]

Welcome welcome.... I've since lost some strength, but I remember how exciting it was to get up to bodyweight squats! Good luck!

[Twilight]

Woohoo! You're gonna have an epic summer!

[Pretzle]

BW squatting is quite the warriorly goal.

 

Welcome to the Warriors on this one!

 

Thanks! I hope to reach that goal within the next two weeks ^^ Wonder if I'll make it to 70kgs before the end of the challenge, but BW is awesome anyway!

 

Welcome welcome.... I've since lost some strength, but I remember how exciting it was to get up to bodyweight squats! Good luck!

 

Can't wait to get there!

 

Woohoo! You're gonna have an epic summer!

 

I sure hope so! I'm already kind of dreading the holidays... I swear I get bored too easily... 

 

Workout of today: 

I warmed up with 8 minutes of rowing.

 

Squatting:

3 reps / Bar

5 reps / 40 kgs

5 reps 52.5 kgs

5 reps 57.5 kgs

3 x 5 @ 60 kgs

 

After that I did some barbell curls (I can't remember the exact names for everything, oh well). 

2 x 15 @ 7.5 (+ the curvy bar, not sure how much the bar itself is) 

1 x 10 @ 7.5 (couldn't make 15)

 

Weighted lunges (step forward with 1 leg, step backwards with same leg)

3 x 15 (total, switching legs after every rep) with 6 kgs/each hand

 

seated row

3 x 12 @ 17.5 kgs (/side)

 

Side raises

3 x 12 @ 4 kgs (/side)

 

10 minutes @ the epilliptical as a cooling down.

 

--------

 

I asked the trainer for some suggestions for the summer (he suggested two different gyms, but wasn't sure whether they'd offer summer contracts). I asked for some coaching on other lifts - guess I wasn't clear enough, he suggested kettlebell swings (which I wouldn't mind trying ). I also mentioned the local Crossfit box, which he thought was a good place and would suit my current style of training. I think I'll check it out at some point this summer. It's a biiiiit far, but then the cycling would be the warm up. 

 

---

 

Feel free to add any ideas to my spreadsheet *points at sig*. It should be set to 'anyone can edit', so anything is welcome. If I don't end up actually doing it, it might still inspire me to do other things! Crazy and difficult or easy and relaxed ideas/goals - anything is welcome!

[KB Girl]

A warrior! That's why i couldn't find your thread!  

I love goals 1, 2 & 3! All very important.

 

So you will come take this private lesson with me, right? Right?

[Pretzle]

Oh yes please! I have 2 more weeks of work to go and LOTS of free time after that, so if you let me know when would be convenient for you I'll make sure to show up (As long as the trains go, that is ).

 

2(!) therapy sessions tomorrow. I feel drained even thinking about it (one meeting with the psychiatrist and 5 hours later with my psychologist/therapist). Important stuff though, yes. I'm going to discuss some of my ideas for the coming schoolyear... Which might or might not involve a new job. Terrifies me (all options, really)... But... it's important to really make work of it now, I think. 

[Twilight]

I hope your sessions went well today.

[Pretzle]

Sessions went well, it's challenging... but in a good way. 

 

Unfortunately I had to cancel a job interview I got invited for on Monday because we decided that it's not in my best interest right now to work more than 2-3 days a week, and definitely not in a very demanding job that's quite far away. 

 

I feel... awkward and disappointed with myself to acknowledge that. I feel like I should consider myself lucky I even get invited to an interview in the first place, and then I cancel?! But... Yes, it's a relief and I also know it's for the best. Still... very difficult to do.

[KB Girl]

Don't be disappointed in yourself- you are making choices and taking steps to take care of yourself (despite how hard and awkward those choices are!), that's something to be very proud of!

 

Yay! I'm looking forward to you coming  A Wednesday would work best for me, so we'll discuss details after you're done with work?

[Pretzle]

Thanks It still feels like failing/disappointing myself... while I KNOW that's it's just the sane option right now... But yeah, ouch and awkwardness all around. 

 

A Wednesday would be fine I'd say I'd try to convince my hubby to come along, but I think that's an impossible mission so I won't even try. Just tell him afterwards how awesome it was, hehe. Unfortunately I can't share any cool things myself, unless you'd like to do a silly youtube danceworkout  I'll be done in two weeks (phew!), so then we can decide on a good date etc

[Pretzle]

Almost time for the next workout. Going to aim for 62 kgs today. Last workout I managed to bruise myself because I didn't manage to get the bar in JUST the right spot, somehow. I'm wearing a different shirt today, so I wonder if that's what the issue is. (I LOVE my puma t-shirt (also discovered why a tank-top is not the best idea for squatting a while ago ), but I think the collar might be just in the wrong spot to enable me to put the bar in the best place. Today I'm wearing my ORANGE football-ish shirt (bit smoother, higher collar), which I think is the best one for squatting. We'll see. 

 

Also, I'm in love. I always considered All Stars to be 'ok, but not awesome' (also, because I wear skirts 99% of the time in daily life, they just don't suit my style). I think I'm going to order these (as workout shoes, currently still wearing my running shoes for everything in the gym...). 

 

http://www.zalando.nl/converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-sneakers-laag-multicolor-co411s005-t11.html 

Now to decide whether I'll order them now or when I reach bodyweight.  I think I'll keep them as a reward... 

 

[Pretzle]

Workout: 

 

8 minutes of rowing

3 x 15 chest press @ 10 kgs

3 x 15 lunges (step forward + backward) with 8 kgs/hand

2 x 15 + 1 x 13 (couldn't make last two reps) barbell curl @ 7.5 + bar

3 x 15 seated row @ 17.5

3 x 15 back extensions

 

Squats (after warming up at bar, 1 x 5 @ 40 kgs, 55, 60)

3 x 5 @ 62.5 kgs  

 

2 x 15 + 1 x 12 side raises with 4 kgs

 

8 minutes epiliptical as cooling down. 

 

---

 

Then ... I decided to weigh myself, to see if magically I had lost some weight and possible had already reached BW. I don't know how much of a difference it makes wearing clothes (I usually weigh just before shower @ my parents' place) and how different the scales are... But ehhh, 66.6 kgs. Good thing I set 70 kgs squat as a goal because bodyweight will take a bit longer than expected. Also makes me wonder: How much of it is muscle, how much is fat. Not that I look fat, but... yeah, gained 4 kgs since the end of January, which seems like a lot. I just have to make sure I don't keep gaining like this. (And wonder how the meds are playing into this...)

 

No dessert for a while, that's for sure.

[KB Girl]

Your squatting numbers are insane! 66.6 made me giggle some of the gained weight might be muscle?

And you want to be able to squat 70 for a set of 5?

[Alanna]

Workout: 

 

8 minutes of rowing

3 x 15 chest press @ 10 kgs

3 x 15 lunges (step forward + backward) with 8 kgs/hand

2 x 15 + 1 x 13 (couldn't make last two reps) barbell curl @ 7.5 + bar

3 x 15 seated row @ 17.5

3 x 15 back extensions

 

Squats (after warming up at bar, 1 x 5 @ 40 kgs, 55, 60)

3 x 5 @ 62.5 kgs  

 

2 x 15 + 1 x 12 side raises with 4 kgs

 

8 minutes epiliptical as cooling down. 

 

---

 

Then ... I decided to weigh myself, to see if magically I had lost some weight and possible had already reached BW. I don't know how much of a difference it makes wearing clothes (I usually weigh just before shower @ my parents' place) and how different the scales are... But ehhh, 66.6 kgs. Good thing I set 70 kgs squat as a goal because bodyweight will take a bit longer than expected. Also makes me wonder: How much of it is muscle, how much is fat. Not that I look fat, but... yeah, gained 4 kgs since the end of January, which seems like a lot. I just have to make sure I don't keep gaining like this. (And wonder how the meds are playing into this...)

 

No dessert for a while, that's for sure.

 

Different scale, daily fluctuations, clothes... all of those could shift the number on the scale.  I completely get not liking to see it go up, though.  And you could be gaining muscle mass, too--if you want a better indication of what may be fat vs. muscle gain, you could track measurements. 

[Pretzle]

Your squatting numbers are insane! 66.6 made me giggle some of the gained weight might be muscle?

And you want to be able to squat 70 for a set of 5?

 

Yup, that's the goal. If possible 3 x 5 @ 70. It's only week 1, isn't it? On one hand it doesn't seem very far off (only 7.5 more kgs, 7.5 weighs nothing!). My legs are still a-okay with it, but I'm having more trouble getting the bar off the rack and keeping it at a comfortable place (have some slight bruises (I bruise easily) where the bar rests :/). Only 3 (or 4) more times training at the schoolgym, too. I should really start looking at places to check out once the schoolgym closes.

 

Different scale, daily fluctuations, clothes... all of those could shift the number on the scale.  I completely get not liking to see it go up, though.  And you could be gaining muscle mass, too--if you want a better indication of what may be fat vs. muscle gain, you could track measurements. 

 

Yeah, maybe my parents' scale would've been more forgiving. I'm sure some of the weight MUST be muscle. A year ago I was weaksauce-Pretzle I know my legs and arms are quite a bit bigger (no numbers, never thought to measure before I started) than last year, and most of that is definitely muscle. I don't mind the weight I'm at perse (I've been 66 kgs when I was 15-16, after that always around 60-62 - I don't think I looked fat at that point in my life at all). It's just that I know my stomach is a lot flubbier than I'd like it to be, and that's DEFINITELY fat, there.

 

Oh well, I know that I will be more mindful of what I eat (I've been eating a lot of grains again lately, while I have been doing so well on an almost-grain free diet before. Fewer stomach pains, mostly). So that's what I'll focus on (not grain-free, but limiting the times I eat grains) and fewer unhealthy snacks

[Pretzle]

Oh, also want to show you guys my new sunglasses They make me happy.