FormicaLinoleum

Tonight's workout: Squats: 105# x12 Calf Press: 210# x15 Incline Dumbell Press: 25# (ea.) x12 Rear Delt Row: 55# x12 One-Arm Dumbell Row: 35# x12 Wide-grip Pullup: -80# x12

I recently starting doing DB incline bench press. Last week I did 12 reps with a 25 lb dumbbell in each hand, which meant that this week I should have increased to 30 lb DBs. But when I tried with those, I couldn't do even one press, so I guess the increase of 5 lbs per hand is too much for me. What can I do between the 25s and the 30s to get myself ready for the 30s? Should I just keep doing more reps with the 25s until I can lift the 30s?

Yesterday's workout: Today's workout: Squat: 105# x10 Calf Press*: 170# x 15 Chest Dips: -60# x12 Upright Barbell Row: 50# x7 Barbell Bent-Over Row: 75# x12 Narrow-Grip Chinup: -60# x9 *I switched to using the leg press machine for my calves, rather than the specific calf press machine they have. I just could not get into the calf press thing, it was a weird position and motion. On the leg press I can get a stretch in the calf, which was not possible on the calf press machine. 170 was too easy though, so next time I'll go to 210.

I'm assuming you're responding to me? People do very often think that I am younger than I am. I have been vegan for only a couple of months, but I have been vegetarian for about 12 years or something, and for the last year or two I have been pretty close to vegan, eating little eggs & dairy. I don't smoke, don't do drugs, and drink only rarely. I have smoked in the past, though, but never more than a cigarette or two a day. I think that genetics plays a pretty big part. My parents have always looked young for their ages, as did my grandmothers.

This seems like a thread for General Discussion to me. More people would probably read it there.

Last night's workout: Squats: 100# x12 Calf Press: 205# x12 Barbell Bench: 70# x12 Barbell Shoulder Press: 50# x10 Cable Row: 95# x10 Lat Pulldown 90# x10 I've been sticking to the same weight for the calf presses because it doesn't quite feel right. I hate that stupid machine. After the confusion about the weight and all that, I finally got 12 reps of 70# so I get to go up next time. I am barely making progress on shoulder press and lat pulldown.

Here's me (passport photo) at age 11: http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/formicalinoleum/age11.jpg Age 14: http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/formicalinoleum/age14.jpg Age 32 (i.e., earlier this year): http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/formicalinoleum/NoseRing2.jpg I switched them over to photobucket, so they should work now.

I can wiggle 'em. I think I use mostly muscle 3.

I wish I could step up to the plate, but I don't think I'd be able to do it. I just got started with weights, and based on my body history, I can't imagine getting rid of enough fat to be able to compete. Plus, my primary focus next April-Sept is going to be road cycling races, and I think the diet/prep (the cutting phase) for a contest might not combine well with that high level of cycling. It would be pretty awesome if I could be in the kind of shape it would take to compete at some point in my life. I'd love to be there to support those of you who do compete next year!

Thanks!

Today's workout: Squats: 100# x9 Calf Press: 205# x12 Incline Dumbell Press: 25# (ea.) x12 Rear Delt Row: 50# x12 One-Arm Dumbell Row: 30# x12 Wide-grip Pullup: -80# x7 No progress on the pullup. Alex, if you happen to read this, can you tell me what most people do wrong when they do pullups?

The recipe says this about home-cooked pumpkin: if you use home-cooked pumpkin, drain it for several hours haning in a cloth bag, so it's thick like canned pumpkin.

I have made this pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas the past couple of years, and it's always very good. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Have ready one 9" unbaked pastry crust. Blend in blender: 2 cups solid packed canned pumpkin 1 cup non-dairy milk (pref. a rich soy milk) 3/4 cup raw sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 Tbsp molasses 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp EACH ground ginger, nutmeg, and salt 1/4 tsp ground allspice or cloves Pour the filling into the pastry and bake 60 minutes, covering the edges with foil if the begin to brown too quickly. Cool on a rack, then refrigerate overnight before serving. I always use rice milk because my mom is allergic to soy, and it's fine that way.

I have an absolutely delish vegan pumpkin pie recipe. Everyone who tries it loves it. I'll find it and put it in the recipes section.

True! But I can't eat with you through the internet!

That's exactly what I thought! What better conversion experience than being surrounded by healthy, happy vegans who love to eat yummy vegan food?! (Well, maybe I'm projecting a bit on that last part because I love to eat so much, but it seems like many of you all get pretty excited about tasty vegan food!) Btw, I would totally love to be surrounded by healthy, happy vegans who love to eat yummy vegan food (and love to work out) myself. I don't have any vegan friends, so that experience would be so cool!

She is at least vegetarian and I'm sure she would have absolutely no problem with eating vegan for the duration of the trip. By then, she could even be vegan--she does want to be. As of now, I talked her into eating vegan on the weekdays, as a start. Hopefully, she'll see how easy those weekdays are and she'll go completely vegan!

Buffalo 66 is a girle film? Isn't that the one directed by Vincent Gallo? I haven't seen it, but from what I know of it, I wouldn't think of it as a chick flick.

Hey... I haven't participated in this thread yet, but I am very interested in attending. It's just that I can't know for sure whether or not I will be able to at this point. It will all depend on finances and job situation. Also, would I be able to bring my gf with me even though she is neither vegan nor into fitness? We don't get to take many vacations, so there's no way I could in good conscience go away to some tropical place without her.

Congrats on the second place! But, I agree with this: Overall, I think you just looked better aesthetically, perhaps because you have more definition and a better midsection. You looked great!

Haha! Well, I figured out what the problem was with my bench press--my math! I wasn't getting weaker after all--I had been trying 80# when I meant to be doing 70#, and when I thought I was reducing it down to 60#, I was really reducing it to 70#. Today I used the right weight, and I think I can go back to my original routine of doing bb bench press 1x a week and having dips in my day two routine. Today's workout: Squat: 95# x12 Calf Press: 205# x 12 BB Bench Press: 70# x8 Upright Barbell Row: 45# x12 Barbell Bent-Over Row: 75# x10 Narrow-Grip Chinup: -60# x9 I get to go up to 100# on squat next time, finally hitting the triple digits.

Yesterday was a day one workout. For the second time in a row, I got weaker on barbell bench press. I had been doing 70#, then last week I was able to do only 3 reps with that weight. This week I could barely do a couple, so I reduced it down to 60# and I still could do only 7 reps with that. I don't know what the deal is, but right now I am going to try to do it 2x a week rather than just once. I had been doing it 2x, but then when I switched up my routine and started going to the gym 3x a week, I started doing bb bench press just once, and db inclines and dips the other days. Right now I am going to replace the dips with more bb bench and see if I start to get stronger again. I'll try to figure out how I can work dips back in to my routine. I've been going with a friend... I guess we have gone three times so far. I really like having a buddy and she says she absolutely loves working out, so I am psyched.

Hey, cool idea! I was going to send you a photo of me, but I don't have any decent ones that are less than a year old, so I am going to take some new ones first.

Best of luck to both of you!!!!

Economic Left/Right: -5.50 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.33