Jess Fit comes back home

[JessFit]

Omg hahaha that sounds so awkward! Although I kind of want to try it and make eye contact with the guys I hate in my gym and creep them out!

Sun salutations are actually pretty good for cramps in my experience, and way less awkward

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[Jittersthe.Clown]

 

Welcome to week 6 in Jess' thread.  

[AlexCold]

Yeah for squatting all the things!!

 

I have to share this, since we're sharing crampiness... I looked up some yoga poses to do for easing cramping and came upon this really...I'm not even sure how to describe her...breathey? voiceover that encouraged me to share my flow with the earth.  Ok then!  After that it looked like this gal who was going through the poses was having sex with the yoga mat.  I'm all for trying new things, but this was not going to happen in the gym.  Neither was massaging my pubic bone ("rub your pubic bone in a rhythmic motion...back and forth to stimulate the flow, leading back into Mother Earth").  I was starting to wonder if this was an instruction video on self-pleasure after about 5 minutes....

 

tl;dr version: do not look up menstruation yoga on youtube.

 

My question is....was she good looking?

[Jittersthe.Clown]

My question is....was she good looking?

There's something very wrong with you Alex. I think that's why you fit in so well around here.  Well done, sir!

[trendywendypdx]

My question is....was she good looking?

 

I couldn't really see her because my fingers were always in my 3rd eye, but feel free to look for yourself.  Around 2:30 is where it gets...interesting...

[AlexCold]

That was the weirdest thing I've every watched. She's not bad looking. I guarantee I'd freak out if I saw a woman doing that in the gym. Holy uncomfortable batman.

[starpuck]

 

Awk. Ward.

[Vella]

That voice though.... that's super awkward, agreed.

 

I admit, some of the early ones are things I've done for period cramps, not as a yoga thing, but as a "stupid uterus, stoppit" thing.  Not so much the getting handsy - when I have cramps, usually one of the things I think is *not* "I'll punch myself in the stomach repeatedly; that will help!"

[JessFit]

so I'm trying to ignore how awkward that is and how uncomfortable it makes me feel...

Also, I need some help. I'm feeling super not motivated lately. About life in general but I'm specifically stressing over my lifts lately. It's been a year with minimal progress, and my squat currently seems to be going backward and getting harder. I don't understand, I don't know how to change this, and I am really mad at myself over it. I've hit prs, but sets across hasn't gone up much. I wish I knew how to fix this, and make progress and get better and stop being mad at myself but I don't.

This whole challenge I feel like I'm Meeting my goals but just scraping by. Doing the absolute minimum to fulfill them. I don't like it

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[Wufkar]

so I'm trying to ignore how awkward that is and how uncomfortable it makes me feel...

Also, I need some help. I'm feeling super not motivated lately. About life in general but I'm specifically stressing over my lifts lately. It's been a year with minimal progress, and my squat currently seems to be going backward and getting harder. I don't understand, I don't know how to change this, and I am really mad at myself over it. I've hit prs, but sets across hasn't gone up much. I wish I knew how to fix this, and make progress and get better and stop being mad at myself but I don't.

This whole challenge I feel like I'm Meeting my goals but just scraping by. Doing the absolute minimum to fulfill them. I don't like it

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First off, 7 days ago you deadlifted 200#.

 

You seem to be going to the gym pretty regularly, How's your diet? Have you had a form check lately?

 

 

We should be MFP buddies.

[JessFit]

I don't use mfp often but we could be friends. And I also only squatted 140 7 dats ago,I squatted 135 for the first time last July... I do lift regularly and I try not to obsess about what I eat, but I generally eat decently. The family that I live with eat junk 24/7, no veggies, lots of hamburger helper and frozen pizza. I try not to eat that stuff, I don't even like that stuff, but I'm cooking for 1 and bulk cooking doesn't always happen if I'm busy so the diet isn't as ideal as I would want it to be. Still, it's not atrocious

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[AlexCold]

How consistent are you with your workouts? Are you doing SS or SL?

 

It may be time to change up the programming. 

Also, what is the diet protocol? Are you high in calories, low, maintaining?

[JessFit]

I've Been trying to figure out best frequency of workouts for me but that hasn't helped so yeah, they're fairly regular, at least 2x per week

Also, doing SS mostly, I don't follow it as strictly as I could I guess. Which shouldn't be affecting my squat the way it is. Anyway I talked with my friend the ss trainer and we are looking at putting together programming for me. My birthday is in late November and he is planning to do my programming through then and see where I am at. Keep them crossed because I'm really extra cranky about all of this

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[AlexCold]

I will tell you that consistency is very important in making gains. I'm sure it's possible with 2x a week, but it better be the same days. I'd say 3x is the minimum to make consistent progress. At 4x a week and eating for it, I made them easily. I do know now that I only go 1 time a week, I can't rep 185lbs like I used to. Only two things changed, how many times I went to the gym and my weight. I know I didn't get weaker since I can still pull what I did then and I can still squat my max. It's just the lack of volume that has affected my squat and bench. 

 

Volume and consistency will bring the gains. 

[Batwoman]

Add another 10 lbs to your deadlift and I will draw you as Lady Wombat.

 

If that doesn't help, competition is always good motivation.

[JessFit]

Super excited to be lady wombat!

Alex, I'm not sure I can do 4x a week. I for sure need more recovery time than that. Also, I've noticed that when I eat paleo and lose weight I can't lift nearly as much

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[Batwoman]

Still possible to eat paleo/primal and make gains. Incorporate rice and potatoes into your meals.

 

As boring as it is tracking you caloric intake really helps.

[Wufkar]

Still possible to eat paleo/primal and make gains. Incorporate rice and potatoes into your meals.

As boring as it is tracking you caloric intake really helps.

^this. Specifically sweet potatoes all the time. You can also add in more nuts.

[JessFit]

I eat a lot of sweet potatoes and nuts, less rice but it's still there. I just happen to lose weight really easily. My dr wants me above 20% body fat at all times and I have discovered that by eating clean, primal, paleo, whatever I cannot keep a high enough bf%. So I walk a line between trying to get in the right amount of protein and healthy carbs and taking in some junky and carb heavy stuff that will stick to my bones. Thanks guys, I'm excited to try this new program and I'm going to try to more closely control my protein intake along with it. Next challenge I need to do better because I feel like this is a failure!

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[AlexCold]

What I meant about 4x a week, was you need volume and consistency to make gains. Going randomly 2x a week is not a recipe for success. I'd say 3x a week minimum, consistently on the same days. Your body will adjust.

I'm curious to see what he'll make for you, I'd be very surprised he'd only prescribe 2x a week. 

 

 

I eat a lot of sweet potatoes and nuts, less rice but it's still there. I just happen to lose weight really easily. My dr wants me above 20% body fat at all times and I have discovered that by eating clean, primal, paleo, whatever I cannot keep a high enough bf%. So I walk a line between trying to get in the right amount of protein and healthy carbs and taking in some junky and carb heavy stuff that will stick to my bones. Thanks guys, I'm excited to try this new program and I'm going to try to more closely control my protein intake along with it. Next challenge I need to do better because I feel like this is a failure!

 

I basically did this for the first 6 months of this year. I ate 60-70% paleo daily and the rest was non-paleo for the day. You want the carbs for shuttling that protein into your muscles for repair/building.

 

So basically, you've been medically told to eat more. So then eat more. And then lift more, consistently, and you will make gains. 

 

Oatmeal is a great way to get some good carbs. Rice and beans are good too. Personally, I have no issues with grains/legumes or anything with gluten. So if you don't either, than don't be afraid to include them.  

[JessFit]

Some gluten upsets my tummy I've noticed. I do try to be careful. Also, I'm not going randomly so much as I discovered that some times fewer workouts and longer rests are massively helpful for me. Not sure why that is. He was actually the one who recommended only lifting 2x a week and I did really well with my squat. It's deteriorating now that I'm back to 3x a week actually. But I believe he is going to give me 3x a week. I think when someone else does my programming I work harder to hit it lol, probably my workouts won't actually change that much he just knows that I will be more stubborn if it comes from someone else.

Also: my ex made rice and/or beans with EVERYTHING and so I kind of hate rice and beans. My stomach was always upset when he and I were together and I think it was 1/2 diet, 1/2 stress. Sometimes I will eat rice but I avoid beans like crazy, and I want nothing to do with rice and beans combined anymore *shudder* haha just a random story

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[Batwoman]

[AlexCold]

Hmm, interesting. If 2x a week was working before than what might have changed? I was just offering my experiences and I don't mean to push or berate you with it. That is not my intention. As for recovery, doing 4x a week and eating accordingly (25-2900 calories) I was never sore and made gains. Now at 13-1700 calories, one lifting session equals leg DOMS for day. So more food equals less recovery time needed.

 

 

 

I don't know how you find all these gifs. Sorcery!!

 

Sweet potatoes are good but I found them lacking in the quick carbs you need for a heavy workout. 

[trendywendypdx]

You could also add in some rice noodles or sweet potato noodles for variety.

 

How often do you do a proper deload week?  Maybe doing the 3x week will require you to have that week planned out so you can recognize the gains.  How is your energy level overall throughout the day?

[JessFit]

Sweet potato noodles? What is this magic that you speak of?

Ok so basically I'm considering this challenge as sort of a failure but the truth is, it got me back here and refocused and I stuck with it so that's a win!

It looks like on Sunday I start the revamped starting strength program. My friend is doing all my programming and has said no running or yoga between Sunday and my birthday in late November so all my energy and mentality can be focused on this. I will have to teach yoga but that's my only exception. I also have to do exactly what I'm told (I'm terrible at that, I'm stubborn and hate being told what to do) and track my protein and video a lot of this. So my next challenge is looking at sticking to this. It may also be like one of those old sitcom episodes where they flashback to lots of other episodes because I will probably be revisiting previous goals that I've fallen off the horse on.

Excited and nervous and looking for protein happy recipes (and maybe sweet potato noodles)

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