Lesley's training log

[Lesleylifts]

Hi everyone,
I've been reading a lot of the logs here over the last few weeks and I decided to start my own. My husband (briles) got me into this program and I love it. We have been at it for 5 weeks and we have both been progressing well.
I stalled on the OHP at 60lbs - after three times I deloaded to 55lbs today. Completed that no problem. I also failed a few days ago at 80lbs on bench. I have stalled a couple of times on the squats (at 110 and after completing that, at 115lbs today) but I am certain I can get it the next time.
I have a really hard time with chin-ups, but I can finally get 3 done. I have been trying to do some negatives lately.
I should mention I'm 33, recently completed p90x, and I have four small children. I'm trying to get my body back into shape after being pregnant for so long!
Here are today's stats:
Squat:
115lbs 5x5,5,2,2,1
I have a hard time once I fail to try my hardest to get a set done. A mental thing.
OHP
55lbs 5x5 - no problem here after having to deload from 60lbs.
Deadlift
1x145lbs
Chin ups
3x5, 3, 3 (negatives)
Prone Bridge
3x50sec.
Thanks for reading.

[maroon]

Hey Lesley! Great that you started a log. Makes it easy to keep track of things too!

Looking at your stats you seem to have made quite a lot of progress in the 5 weeks of SL. Grats on the 3 chinups

How did you find p90x by the way?

[Lesleylifts]

I loved p90x. I was looking to lose some weight and improve my overall fitness, so it's a fantastic program for that. It's quite a time commitment - 6 days a week, workouts ranging from 1hr-1.5hrs.
Prior to p90x I had been running, so I didn't start the program from a completely non-fit state!
Once I had finished that, I wanted to do something else. SL has been a great weightlifting program for me, and I am looking forward to challenging myself further.
Thanks for the reply.

[LizzyLifts]

Hi Lesley!

Great to see you here...congrats on starting your log...you're gonna have fun with it. And four little ones...whew...you go girl...good to be doing something for yourself...and hence also for them Your lifts look like they're coming along nicely. Have fun and welcome!

liz

[jmcquillan]

Hi Lesley!
You're lifts are looking really good. Nice number for bench. Impressed you're already up to 145lbs on your deadlift. Looks to me like you'll get your body weight squat very soon. I've done this program for 10 weeks now and am seeing nice results (especially in the legs and back). Keep up the good work!

How old are your kids? 4 of them! I just have 1 and have a hard time finding time to workout. I'm impressed.

Welcome!
Jolene

[Lesleylifts]

Hi Jolene -
I think I may have gone up too fast on my deadlift. I started a little heavy, and I'm finding 145 pretty heavy. I can do it, but I can really feel it on the way back down. I'm a little worried about my form on the way down. I think I may stay at 145 (or even deload a bit) until I feel like I'm doing it perfectly - I don't want to hurt my back.

My kids are 6, 4.5, 3 and 17 months - so we are busy! But we work out early in the morning before they wake up (we start around 6am, and they are usually up around 7:30). All of thevarious workouts I have been doing over the last year have really helped me with my energy, which obviously benefits the kids. They love to see Mom and Dad lifting the big weights.

[Lesleylifts]

Awesome workout today! I was worried because I failed on the 115 squat last time and also on the 80 lb bench. Sometimes I psych myself out and think that I can't do it. I was determined to have a strong attitude this morning.

Here are today's stats:
Squat:
115lbs 5x5 - I really struggled on the last couple of reps on the last two sets, but I managed to get it done.

Bench
80lbs 5x5 - again, I struggled on the last two sets. I really had to push on the last rep of the last set.

Inverted Rows
3x 6, 7, 6 - I really don't enjoy these.

Push ups
3x15, 10, 8 - my arms are really tired at this point.

Reverse Crunches
3x12 - no problems here

So, a great start to the day. Now if I could just get past the 60lb OHP next time

[Barry06GT]

Congratulations on the 115# squats, Lesley!

I share your pain on the overhead press. That is one tough lift. Both my wife and myself are doing the stall de-load now on this lift. Keep at it, one smart person on this list said "you just have to will that weight up" and I do believe they are right.

Glad you had a great start to your day!

.

[Lesleylifts]

It was a difficult workout this morning, although I did have some success. I found the 120lb squat very hard. I will definitely have to repeat that, maybe even go back to 115 as I'm not sure my form is great.
The good news is, I did all 5 sets of the 60lb OHP!! I had stalled at that 3 times, deloaded to 55, and then today I tried 60 again. It was a little hard at the end but I got it done.
The bad news is that somewhere in this workout I hurt my back - right under my right shoulder blade is very sore. Every time I use that muscle it HURTS. This is not good when I have to pick up a 16-month-old several times a day. So I'm not sure how it happened - I felt it during the OHP but I thought I could just work through it. If it still feels like this on Sunday I will have to take the day off. Boo!!!
Today's Stats:
Squat:
120lbs 5x5,4,1,1,1
Found this very hard.
OHP
60lbs 5x5 - woo-hoo!
Deadlift
1x145lbs - I didn't increase from last time because I'm not sure I'm doing this completely right.
Chin ups
3x3, 3, 3 (negatives)
Prone Bridge
3x50sec.
So, hopefully I can continue on Sunday.

[Lesleylifts]

Verrrry disappointing workout this morning. I hurt my upper back doing squats on Friday, so I decided to deload to 105 (from 120) today. I did the first set, focusing on form, but I didn't like the way my back was feeling, so I decided not to do squats today. I want my back to feel all better before I start up again. So that was a let down.
Bench press didn't go well either, but I also wasn't in the right mental state at that point.
Today's stats:
Squat
105lbs 1 x 5 - didn't go further than this because I want the pain in my back to go away first.
BP
85 5 x 5,1,3,3,2
Inverted Rows
3x7
Push ups
3x 15, 10, 6
Reverse Crunches
3x12

[Kathy]

Hi Lesley - welcome to SL!

Sorry to hear about your back...rest up. Your inverted rows and push ups have some nice numbers! I look forward to reading about your progress.

Kathy

[LizzyLifts]

Hi Leslie,
Sorry to hear about your back...do you think it is muscle tension, like activated trigger points...muscle knots? If so, try using a tennis ball and/or foam roller to work on the soft tissue. Hope this helps.
best,
liz

[Lesleylifts]

Thanks ladies, I'm not sure what the problem was with my back, although it is feeling much better tonight. I think it must have had something to do with my form on the 120lb squats a few days ago. I was so determined to get it up that I think I hurt myself in doing it (while losing any sense of proper form). It felt a little more than DOMS - I was having a hard time picking up my daughter that day because of the pang I would feel.
I think it was a good decision to take today off, and I'm hoping that I'll be all set for Tuesday.

[Lesleylifts]

A much better workout this morning. My back is finally feeling good again, so I was able to do my squats. I am down to 105 so I can really focus on my form, which was starting to go south with the higher weights. OHP was very difficult, as I knew it would be. I haven't increased on the DL in a while because I want to make sure I am doing it right.

Today's Stats:
Squat:
105lbs 5x5 - no problems.
OHP
65lbs 5x4,2,3,2,2
Deadlift
1x145lbs - I think I have good form on this now, so I will increase for next time.
Chin ups
3x4,4,2 (negatives) - can I just say I hate these?
Prone Bridge
3x60sec. - these are starting to get hard, as we keep increasing the length of time.

[Barry06GT]

Your overhead press is impressive. That is one hard lift.

Doing 60 seconds on the prone bridges? Wow, after 30 seconds, I am shaking. That has got to be the longest 60 seconds you ever spend!

You are really doing a great job!

.