Chillicat's journal

[Chillicat]

Thanks ladies. I know you're right. More wine weight than water weight though :pfft: But I'm off the grape for the next 6 weeks so weight should fall off (well, might have a quiet one or two when my sis, bro in law and his daughter come up for AC/DC in 4 weeks, but a 4 week detox is still good!).

It's amazing how quickly the body smooths over - I was wearing a top today that is low cut at the back, which I love because normally my back looks great and you can see all my back bumps - but today I don't appear to have any :oops: Abs have also disappeared. So back to eating clean now and should be looking great again in no time!

But it's scary to think that the damage done in 8 days is likely to take a hell of a lot longer to undo!

[Peachy]

But it's scary to think that the damage done in 8 days is likely to take a hell of a lot longer to undo!

Sux bum aye :roll:

I don't think anyone else notices but ya just feel squidgier. I'm in exactly the same boat as you Chilli just started back eating proper today. Not only do I feel all puffed up but my skin has gone all red and blotchy and I have massive bags under my eyes!!!! Its amazing how quickly everything turns to shit... :?

[runveerun]

Yep last time I spent a couple of days eating crap I thought I had undone a couple of years of work as I puffed up and was feeling like crap! After less than 7 days of eating good again I was back to 'normal' (can I say normal!?)

It's amazing, I have remembered that feeling so I will think twice about doing it again!!

[startinfromscratch]

+1

in a week, we can all breathe again...... LOL

[Chillicat]

Well, I ate well yesterday, back to normal but not cutting level, and am already .6kg lighter - and frankly I feel better than I have in the last week or so.

It really is a great reminder of how crap eating affects the body and the way you feel. Must try to remember it, rather than putting myself through it again!

[Chillicat]

I feel like I'm on The Biggest Loser - another .6kg this morning, so 1.2kg of my 3.3kg gain already gone. Yay!

[rose]

Yay! It's not the end of the world \:D/

[Chillicat]

Yay! It's not the end of the world \:D/

It was touch and go there for a while

[Chillicat]

Sat - bit of cardio

Sun - another wee bit of cardio

Mon - chest and triceps and minimal cardio

Tue - so far I've done half my legs. Not just one side There is just too much to do on the lower half of the body to fit it all in during one lunch break, so I'm going to do the second half after work.

So far I've done

Squats

Lunges - slightly higher weight 35kg instead of 32.5kg 4x8, so PB

Seated calf raises

Seated leg press + calves

That doesn't seem like much, but along with a 10 min warm up (normally do only 3 mins, but getting extra cardio when I can!), stretch and shower and walking to and from took 90 mins.

This evening I'll do hammies and finish the other bits - so it'll be deads, possibly a hammie machine, sumo squats, and most definitely that leg scissor machine again. Inner thighs were sore for days after using that last week, so it's a keeper!

[Chillicat]

Back and biceps yesterday. Couple of minor PBs, but that was just in terms of slightly more reps at same weight. Just nice and steady progress.

Found EZ bar bicep curls really hard for some reason, not really sure why. I had done more reps on a couple of earlier exercises, including some close grip cable curls, so maybe I was already fatigued? Previously I'd done EZ bar + 10kg and managed 4x8 but this time I could barely get to 5 reps, so did 5x5 but struggled.

I'm most definitely going to have to split up my legs to 2 days, as there are so many things to do that one session isn't enough, it really needs 2, and 2 leg sessions in one day leads to extremely knackered legs for the next couple of days, as I'm finding out! So I think my new split will be quads/calves/glutes on one day and hamstrings/adductors/glutes on the other day.

I'm thinking something like this:

First leg day

Smith squats

Smith lunges

Seated calf raises

Leg press (I'm only doing seated at the moment, but want someone to show me how to use the other machine)

Maybe some leg extensions if there is time

Second leg day (after a few days off legs)

Stiff leg deads

Sumo squats

Leg scissor machine (adductors!)

Lying or seated leg curls

Maybe some swiss ball hamstring thingies if there's time.

That's how I split it the other day when I did half at lunchtime and half after work.

Now I'll just need to redo my gym plan to fit it all in. I also need to redo the plan a bit as my friend has given me a freebie one month trial at Les Mills. I've got no intention of switching gyms, but since there is a LM right next door to work I thought I might as well use it for a month. I actually probably won't do my weights there, just some pump, and there is one instructor there who I really like, Alistair - so I'll have to change about my programme to fit in his classes, meaning pump on a Tuesday instead of Friday like normal.

[runveerun]

Which other leg machine do you mean? You could try looking it up on youtube to see how you can use it. If you ever fancy a train at the other LM while you have your month free let me know!

[teamfatboy]

If you mean the other leg press machines at Bodyworks, happy to help :-)

There's the lying leg press next to the seated one - is that the one you mean?

[Chillicat]

Which other leg machine do you mean? You could try looking it up on youtube to see how you can use it. If you ever fancy a train at the other LM while you have your month free let me know!

If you mean the other leg press machines at Bodyworks, happy to help :-)

There's the lying leg press next to the seated one - is that the one you mean?

There's one behind the Smith machine I was using the other day, and the one next to the seated one might be the same or similar. I'm wary of trying it out on my own, even if I see it on You Tube - mainly because it kind of scares me. That probably sounds silly, as I'm not afraid to have a bash at most new equipment without someone to hold my hand, but it seems that you use quite a bit of weight on this particular machine. I guess it's pretty much a case of jumping on and pushing your legs out, but would appreciate help - will grab you next time I see you TFB!

Vee - will let you know if I venture to the other side of town!

[runveerun]

Vee - will let you know if I venture to the other side of town!

8)

[teamfatboy]

Bodyworks has two incline leg press machines back-to-back behind the Smith Machine - they're plate-loaded (as opposed to stack machines). The sled alone weighs quite a bit (not sure exactly how much, someone told me 45kg). You adjust the weight by adding plates - and there are safeties to stop accidents.

In the row of Hammer Strength & Life Fitness stack-machines immediately next to the treadmills they've got a seated leg press (you sit upright, facing the treadmills, push back on a fixed foot plate and the seat slides backwards) and a lying leg press (you lie on the sled on your back, with your head between two padded shoulder bars, press on a fixed foot plate and the sled slides away). The only drawback with this one is the rather 'medical' position you end up in...

Those two machines are next to each other - there's a Hack Squat and a V-Squat machine, these two, then the leg curl/leg extension machines.

Anyhow, if I'm there (which I might be this lunch-hour) feel free to startle me from my slumbers 8)

[Chillicat]

Bodyworks has two incline leg press machines back-to-back behind the Smith Machine - they're plate-loaded (as opposed to stack machines). The sled alone weighs quite a bit (not sure exactly how much, someone told me 45kg). You adjust the weight by adding plates - and there are safeties to stop accidents.

In the row of Hammer Strength & Life Fitness stack-machines immediately next to the treadmills they've got a seated leg press (you sit upright, facing the treadmills, push back on a fixed foot plate and the seat slides backwards) and a lying leg press (you lie on the sled on your back, with your head between two padded shoulder bars, press on a fixed foot plate and the sled slides away). The only drawback with this one is the rather 'medical' position you end up in...

Those two machines are next to each other - there's a Hack Squat and a V-Squat machine, these two, then the leg curl/leg extension machines.

Anyhow, if I'm there (which I might be this lunch-hour) feel free to startle me from my slumbers 8)

Now I'm getting really confused! But I was specifically thinking about the plate loaded ones. But when I see you I might get you to tell me about all of them, as I keep hearing about hack squats but am completly mystified about what they are. I use the seated one a lot, but not hack or v-squat (not sure what that is either!).

I'm not going this lunchtime unfortunately - got a hot lunch date

Might be there tomorrow, but thinking about a pump class - but if I see you I'll grab you if you're not in the middle of anything.

[Peachy]

and most definitely that leg scissor machine again. Inner thighs were sore for days after using that last week, so it's a keeper!

Lol I like these machines too! I get mixed up which is which but I prefer the one that starts closed and you have to push to um open your legs lol. Coz the other one that starts open and you have to push them to close is bit more embarassing when you resting in between with your legs wide open. If anyones looking I just take them outa the scissors

Keep up the good work Chilli good to see that weight number is going down quick!! What a relief aye 8)

[Chillicat]

Lol I like these machines too! I get mixed up which is which but I prefer the one that starts closed and you have to push to um open your legs lol. Coz the other one that starts open and you have to push them to close is bit more embarassing when you resting in between with your legs wide open. If anyones looking I just take them outa the scissors

Keep up the good work Chilli good to see that weight number is going down quick!! What a relief aye 8)

We've only got the open leg one - but luckily it doesn't face out to where everyone is (but I still take my legs out of the scissors between sets!).

So yesterday I did a very short shoulder workout which I found very difficult and couldn't get near the numbers of reps I have normally been doing, and had to drop my weights by a kilo for lat raises.

I was out at J'ville an discovered that there was a 'Power' (aka pump) class about to start, so decided to give it a go. I feel very disloyal to say it, but I really enjoyed it! The instructor threw in a couple of different things that I hadn't done before, which made it really interesting.

I like going to different gyms and seeing what weights other people use too, as seeing others using higher weights inspires me to keep pushing to work harder and aim higher. I noticed more people using bigger weights at J'ville than at Thorndon, and also that it was mostly the older women (and the 2 guys in the class) who were using the heavier weights. There was one girl with very heavy squat weights, but she was only squatting about 2 inches, so she doesn't count

So today will be cardio - yuk!

[Chillicat]

Friday: About 40 mins of cardio, not exactly hard out though.

Saturday: Forced rest day. I'd done 7 days of gymming in a row, and really wanted to go on Saturday too - but I know it's best to have a rest day, so I was a good girl and resisted temptation.

Sunday: Chest and tryceps (yes, spelt that right!)

For ages now I've been doing DB chest press and flyes and decided to have a change and be a brave girl and try using a barbell instead.

So started with a bunch of pressups (30-20-15 = PB)

Then chest press - first 12 just with the bar, then 10kg 4x8. The bar was pretty heavy on its own - an olympic bar? So I guess I'm meant to count that plus the 10kg weight I put on?

For tryceps/uniceps (I'll call them triceps when they ARE triceps!) I decided to leave out skullcrushers and bench press for a while, as I've been doing that a lot lately. So instead did cable pulldowns, overhead extensions and kickbacks.

Weight - after 10 days of healthy eating (as of Sunday) I've lost 2.5kg of the 3.3kg xmas/new year weight. Feeling 100% better, both physically and mentally - and I can also now see my abs and back bumps again, so very happy about that. Not bothered about the last .7kg now that I can see my muscly bits. But would like my arms to show some definition but genetics seems to be working against me with my arms.

Oh, and one last thing - I wanted to make a general comment about the huge health turnaround I've had with my clean eating. Prior to coming on to this forum and learning to add things like oats to my diet instead of sultana bran, cutting out (mostly) alcohol, and various other small bit significant changes, I haven't had my previous problems with hypoglycemia. I realised how significant that change was over the xmas break when I was eating sugar at every meal in some form or other rather than my normal protein, and inevitibly I had a blood sugar drop which if you've ever had one, you'll know isn't all that pleasant.

I used to have problems with this a lot, and over the years made some diet changes to help overcome it - I was never a huge sweet tooth anyway, more of a savoury tooth (I'm a cheese monster!), but like a lot of people, I didn't realise how much sugar I consumed until I made an effort to eliminate it. So after having the last 6 months without a blood sugar drop, the one at xmas reinforced my commitment to healthy eating - it's not just a faddish thing for me, it's also something I need to do for the sake of my health, as I'm one of those people who will have genuine health repercussions if I choose to eat crappily.

[Chillicat]

Yesterday was back and biceps. Still finding my EZ bar bicep curls hard, but I wonder if it's because I'm pushing myself on the narrow grip cable curls before I do them. Maybe I'll swap it round next week and see how I go.

Went to LM on Friday to sign up for my free month's trial. Someone was meant to get back to me yesterday about getting me properly signed up, but still no call. Annoying, as I was hoping to go to their 12pm pump class, so I'll have to chase them up and see if I can get signed up by then. Otherwise I'll do legs today.

[becbec]

Yesterday was back and biceps. Still finding my EZ bar bicep curls hard, but I wonder if it's because I'm pushing myself on the narrow grip cable curls before I do them. Maybe I'll swap it round next week and see how I go.

I used to find these real hard because i was gripping onto the bar too hard, try doing it with open hands :nod:

[Chillicat]

Yesterday was back and biceps. Still finding my EZ bar bicep curls hard, but I wonder if it's because I'm pushing myself on the narrow grip cable curls before I do them. Maybe I'll swap it round next week and see how I go.

I used to find these real hard because i was gripping onto the bar too hard, try doing it with open hands :nod:

Will do!

Just came back from pump class at LM on the Terrace and it was horrific! Loved the instructor - Alistair, who I remember from my last free trial there 3.5 years ago. But the crowd was just awful, everyone all squished in together. The changing rooms are tiny, and with the lunchtime crowd it's just awful.

On the plus side, I'm out and back within an hour - but to be honest I'd prefer to take an extra half an hour and have a more stress free workout. I've got my meeting with the LM guy on Thursday morning, so I'll do the guided tour and will probably do a few weights workouts there as well, just for the sake of saving some time and being able to skip out of work earlier. But the chances of me switching gyms (which were already down at pretty much zero) have gone down even further.

Nice for a trial though (and even nicer knowing I don't have to stay!).

[drizzt]

Then chest press - first 12 just with the bar, then 10kg 4x8. The bar was pretty heavy on its own - an olympic bar? So I guess I'm meant to count that plus the 10kg weight I put on?

Yep, the Oly bar is 20kg, so you were doing 30kg by the sounds of it. Well done!

Oh, and one last thing - I wanted to make a general comment about the huge health turnaround I've had with my clean eating.

:clap: That's great to hear, and I like how you say clean eating too - people ask me if I'm still doing my "diet" and I'm thinking... I never really was? Sounds like you've made some great changes.

But the chances of me switching gyms (which were already down at pretty much zero) have gone down even further.

Nice I must say that Bodyworks is one of the better gyms I've been in. Just ticks everything off the list, can't really think of much they could improve. Haven't been to a less mills before though, and TBH have never had the urge.

KUTGW

[Chillicat]

Nice I must say that Bodyworks is one of the better gyms I've been in. Just ticks everything off the list, can't really think of much they could improve. Haven't been to a less mills before though, and TBH have never had the urge.

I did a free month's trial from a magazine back about 5 or so years ago and tried the Taranaki St gym - at the time I was only doing pump classes and didn't like the LM style so didn't consider going there (and I was a student at the time, so uni gym way cheaper and more convenient).

Then when I left uni 3.5 years ago I was looking for a new gym since the Kelburn campus was no longer convenient and the uni gym in town is a shoebox. Both LM and BW were offering a free 1-2 weeks try before you buy, so I tried LM again, this time the Terrace, and hated it - packed constantly and really pokey and claustrophobic. BW was a clear winner, plus $4 per week cheaper.

I'm only doing another trial because a colleague goes there and no one else wanted her free 30 days - so what the hell - nice to check again every now and then just to reinforce my choice was the right one!

[Peachy]

I like your journal Chilli. You think alot like me :grin:

I'm only doing another trial because a colleague goes there and no one else wanted her free 30 days - so what the hell - nice to check again every now and then just to reinforce my choice was the right one!

just for the sake of saving some time and being able to skip out of work earlier

are a few examples