Squat camp!

I'm excited about this so it needs its own post. My squat has been lagging behind pretty much every other woman who has a log online and has been lifting as long as me. i don't think this is a straight-up strength issue, as my bench press and overhead press is more then those of girls who are squatting 160-200 lbs on a regular basis, with me stalled at 135. I read about the squat seminar on the Starting Strength forum, and when Santa gave the gift of cash, decided to sign up. So, in a month I am headed to Atl to get qualified instruction on this lift. I know this is going to help.

Making lemonade out of lemons, maybe

It would be great for someone who knows what form I am going for to watch me lift and make helpful suggestions. So far I have the people but they don't have a clue. so, I'm going to provide it. The next time someone approaches me with a tip, I will say no problem. First, check out Mark Rippetoe online, Google or go to Youtube for videos, and see the form I am trying to achieve. Then, learn how to do the movements until you (a man, most of the time it's a guy) can do them properly with more weight than me, which so far none of the helpers has been able to do. Then, bring on the suggestions!

Sleep was not cooperating last night, so it was easy to get up at 5:30 for 6am yoga, after that I did 2.5 miles on the treadmill. This surprised one of the trainers I know there, he was like "Cardio?" I was like, "yeah." Came home, ate oatmeal and napped. My shoulders need a break, so tomorrow will be a volume squat day. 5 x 5 x 115 back squats, 5 x 3 x 80 power cleans, 5 x 3 x going up gradually front squats, 5 x 3 x same thing overhead squats, 5 x 3 x 95 RDLS.

It occurredto me that I should explain how I got to the point where I am deciding my own programming. When i started lifting 2 years ago, I ran Starting Strength 3 times, with several deloads, by the book, eventually going from 3 x 5 sets to 3 x 3. After a point I stalled and my back had issues. You can see by the picture of me in my potential Halloween costume two of the reasons for back issues, I've been carrying these breasts around full-size since I was 15. Now, self-coached, I read everything possible especially about older women who lift and am programming myself. Practical Programming is on my list of things to buy, as soon as I can stop buying Halloween stuff, god I love this holiday!

First workout at the new gym

The plan is to join the new gym today and go over my current workout plan, a slightly re-arranged Starting Strength, with the owner Steve. Today's workout would normally be, jump squats, 1x10xbar, 3x12x55, overhead press 3x5x60lbs, hang cleans, 5x3x80 if possible, I had to drop down to 75 last week after failing them alot. Now, they have a lot of success with powerlifters at this gym, so the thing will be if I let go of the workout plan I have been doing and go with something else or not, not too sure about that.


Oops, change of plan. This is what happens when posting at four am. I forgot that today is Weds and it is abs class day. Now, yes one can work abs on one's own, but this class is not to be missed. In a regular Pilates-type abs class it is mostly silent women and very boring, but this one has a good 50-50 split. The guys in the class make these dramatic moans and groans whenever it gets difficult which cracks me up, and thus a must attend in spite of the fact that it is an annoyingly busy night to train. In other news, I did not sleep well last night at all, as the four am post should demonstrate, Ugh!

Update: The abs class did not disappoint, fun yet hard at the same time. Once in the weight room, I started w jump squats, 1x10xbar, 5x8x55. Next overhead press 3x5x60, I must go to Lowe's or somewhere for those washers to microload this, can't wait to get stronger. On that note, I forgot to see if they even had little plates at the new gym. Those guys who train there are awfully big so I don't know. Hopefully the 2.5 lb plates are standard in gyms. Then, power cleans 5x3x75- and this time they were real cleans. I figured out that four of those step risers equals the distance of a 45lb plate from the floor, and a guy was using the power rack, so i improvised. Pretty sure my form is still crappy when it comes to the squat at the end, I need to get Rip's dvd. What do you know, it's only $20! It is on the way, with shipping it still came to under $23.

Nipple disaster!!

After having a fun yet sweaty Spin class, and in spite of wearing two thick-ish sports bras, the mirrored walls of the weight room showed my beams on high. Damn I hate that. It's one thing to be the only woman using barbells to workout but that was just unnecessary. Then, the plates left a rusty mark across the white sports top, adding insult to injury. I did, however, train anyway.

So, performed squats first per the program- and am getting better at them! My feet weren't turned out as much as suggested and doing that helped me get into a lower position and helped my balance too. It may also be that I am getting better at them in general. Then, standing military presses and I won't lie, I used the little 35 lb bar. I am bold, but falling backwards or dropping the bar while having boob issues was to much to think about, and it was the first time attempting them. Got four sets of those in and should be able to use the regular barbell next time.

Finished it off with barbell rows; enjoyable for the hard-core look of them- I'm probably ready to go heavier on those next time too. So in spite of appearing a mess it was a good session. Tomorrow is off day for lifting, deciding on Spin or Interval Training class, hell maybe I'll do both. In totally unrelated but awesome news- got the package pamphlet from the little ski place I'm visiting this winter. Whoo-hoo! The season pass is teasing, but I'll be practical and go for the ten-day pass with four group lessons included. I cannot freakin wait!