Greenhorn Gal gets Gorgeous!!

Long cardio day that day was 60 minutes on the treadmill. I alternated with intervals of running and steep inclines. I'd run, rest, hillclimb, rest, run, rest, etc--you get the idea. I am happy to say that my pitiful maximum run time has increased to 5 minutes. My goal for this week is to double that.

Sunday was weight day:
A1)Incline Bench--90 x 12, 3 sets, 50 x 12 1 set
A2)Lateral Raise--10 x 12 3 sets, 5 x 12 1 set
B1)Reverse Fly--15 x 12 3 sets, 8 x 12 1 set
B2)Lat Pull-down--90 x 12 3 sets, 45 x 12 1 set
C1)Static Lunges--40 x 12 3 sets, 20 x 12 1 set
C2)Deadlifts--50 x 12 3 sets, 30 x 12 1 set
D)Standing Cable Crunch--70 x 12 3 sets, 40 x 12 1 set

Yesterday was an off day--legs felt a little sore from Saturday's cardio and back was a little sore from weights on Sunday.

Feeling pretty good today--weight is once again dropping. I have been below 200 for 4 days now, so I'm getting ready to think it's "official". Tonight will be4 weights and HIIT, unless I have to go out of town, which is a possibility.
 
Updates and Some Changes

Tuesday night:

A1)Incline Bench--100 x 12, 3 sets, 50 x 12 1 set
A2)Lateral Raise--10 x 12 3 sets, 5 x 12 1 set
B1)Reverse Fly--15 x 12 3 sets, 8 x 12 1 set
B2)Lat Pull-down--90 x 12 3 sets, 45 x 12 1 set
C1)Static Lunges--40 x 12 3 sets, 20 x 12 1 set
C2)Deadlifts--60 x 12 3 sets, 30 x 12 1 set
D)Standing Cable Crunch--70 x 12 4 sets

Then 10 minutes of HIIT--only 3 reps cuz I was tired! Upping the weights on the incline bench and deadlift STILL have me feeling sore (a good sore) this morning, 36 hours later.

Last night was long cardio--60 minutes on the treadmill, basically the same as I did on Sunday. Max run time still 5 minutes. Since running seems to be so difficult for me to maintain for a long time, I worked on endurance by really holding the incline times for as long as possible, and having a very high incline (8-10%). I do better with slow endurance than speedy endurance! I am still hoping to double that max run time within the next few days. I remember in March or April when I moved "up" to the elliptical, that I could barely do 5 minutes without my legs feeling like they were gonna fall off. Now I'll hop on the elliptical for 15 minutes for a "warmer-upper"! I just gotta keep at it, and the endurance will come!

I'm feeling really STRONG these days, and am thinking of making a change to my routine. I am going to do weight training 2x per week, with HIIT segments afterwards, and 3 long cardio days; instead of 3 weight training and 2 long cardio. I feel like I need to blast through the next layer of fat so I can start to see what my muscle looks like underneath. I get worried, being a "big German girl", that I may be bulking in places I don't want to bulk in. I see that my arms are getting larger and larger by the week, and I feel that fat loss gains more quickly will give me better perspective of the overall picture.

I have continued to be under 200, but have not gotten down to 197, which is the "official" 3rd goal. Hopefully by this weekend! My goal after that will be 189, which will represent me getting down to my pre-baby weight. (Yeah, my daughter is 11!):p
 
If your goal is fat loss, check your diet before making any other changes, as that is where you get your biggest bang for your buck.
 
As far as diet goes, I don't know that there's much more I could do...I do a good job staying within the calorie limits set for myself--1700 weight days, 1600 cardio days, and 1400 on off days. I also do a good job of staying within the macro "allowances" set for myself--40/40/20. I don't want to lower the calorie rates because I already experience some lightheadedness, especially when working out or post-workout. I think my body needs every calorie it's getting. I eat at least 90% clean, and track the diet on fitday. My "cheat" this week was an extra scoop of green beans the other night cuz they were so good an' I was so hungry!

I guess the desire for change comes from the idea that I'd like to slightly tip the scales in the direction of fat loss rather than muscle training and "gaining". I know I'm not adding massive bulk by any means but sometimes worry about what my muscles really look like "under there". I wanna get rid of some fat so I can see 'em better!
 
GG, do you have $50 to "spare"? Because I have something you might find very beneficial. I'm not selling it or anything, that's just what they charge. :)
 
Probably not, but I'd love to hear about it anyway. I can put it on my wish list or if one of these clients I'm stalking for payment comes thru soon, maybe then! (enter FF)
 
According to the Harris-Benedict equation, for my activity level, etc, my BMR is about 2500. Deficits vary as on weight days I eat 1700, cardio is 1600, and off days are 1400.

I am afraid to try any "eat more" solution...
 
Well if you're feeling lightheaded/weak when you're working out I think that'd mean you're on the borderline of not getting enough calories. Maybe upping your workout day calories by say, 100 or maybe 200 for a couple of weeks to see what happens.
 
Hi! Thanks for noticing I was missing!

Things have been coming along pretty well. I have been working out religiously, with more of a focus on cardio, due to the fact that I set a goal to participate in a 5K before the summer/fall season is over. Well, I'm happy to say that I will be participating in a race on Sunday morning, and can now successfully run a full 5K! I am really looking forward to the event--my daughter and parents will be going along with me for support!

I kinda put weight lifting off to the side. After the race Sunday, I'm planning to pick up strength training in hopes that the shock to my system will help me throw off a few more pounds. I am consistently under 200 at this point, with 190 in my sights.

Nutrition-wise, I have been mindful of the number of calories taken in, but have eaten a few more carbs in order to fuel the cardio-heavy workouts. I'm planning to go back to my previous regimen after the race, again thinking I'll "shock" a few pounds off!

Life has been challenging for me emotionally lately--the running has helped me pound away stress. I can't run as far as I am stressed, though!
 
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