I am almost wondering if I should be lifting heavier weights. I am going to up my weights tonight & see how it goes. I may not be able to do all of the reps the instructors have everyone do, but I am going to get a weight to where I can do atleast 8 reps!

To be honest, the heavier you can manage, the better.



Had a great session UBWO this evening ... great to be back. My arms are feeling quite wobbly now!

Got a bit of a kick when I was flexing my muscles in front of the area ... you can really see the definition in my arms. The only thing that spoils it are my bingo wings. Anyone got any ideas how to get rid of the damn things?

What are bingo wings?

The loose skin that hangs underneath your arms when you hold them up ... aka bat wings.

Ahhhh, I have those really bad too!!! I am assuming that will be one of the last places I lose the fat from!!!

Sorry to say this made me laugh...and then want to cry! Ha. I so have them too. I think it's time for the age-old wisdom, which is that you can't spot-reduce, so just keep taking off the fat while you tone and eventually they'll get better, right? The only factor we really can't control is skin elacticity, though. But I guess we just have to do our best. I'm encouraged to see a lot less movement when doing flies at the gym...but I know damn well it's going to take a long time for that fat to go. I'm with Jenni, it'll probably be the last to go (along with my thighs, haha)!

I just posted my latest workout in my gym log. I'm going to miss working with my trainer, but he's promised to help me creating a workout pattern for the future that I can do on my own.

Demi...Galatia...where are you getting yours from? NROWL? Or other sources? All babes...are you just making up stuff or getting ideas from different resources? I'm curious because when I first started, I just used some machines at the gym to do weights on my full body and really had no idea what else to do. The information from my trainer has been so valuable I can't even describe my appreciation. Now I feel like I'm much better able to get in good, effective workouts in the future AND adapt to new routines (such as in NROWL, which I have yet to get and read...it is a great one to read, right?). Any advice is appreciated! Thanks.

What I follow for my weight training:
http://www.wannabebig.com/article.php?articleid=255

What I follow for cardio during this cut:
http://www.wannabebig.com/article.php?articleid=292

Have you tried "dry brushing" to help tighten skin? I don't know how much good it does, but I do it a good bit. Mostly I just do a quick brushing before getting in the shower. It feels good and if it helps get rid of loose skin....all the better. I'll see if I can find the link and bring it back here.
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...t=body+brushing

I think my favorite tricep exercise right now is bench dips. I do 5 sets of them on tricep day along with a couple of supersets of some other things.

Galatia, thank you for those links! To clarify, you are concentrating right now on your back and therefore that is the weight training you're doing? Sorry if I'm asking a silly question. I guess I don't understand your approach. Maybe I should head to your gym log to see if that helps. Anyhow, the cardio link was superb for me. What a GREAT overview on the pros and cons of each style. I'm glad to see a combination is actually recommended and I was happy to realize that I've intuitively really been doing the right thing cardio-wise.

Thanks again!

It is a back specialized routine, however... I don't use it as such. (On the back/chest day I do chest first, for example.) The real beauty of this routine, for me, is that you get the 5 x 5s, and the higher reps. lower sets combined.

Hi Ladies!

I'm sorry that I've not been posting to you....I am still working out with my trainer and its been going well. I pushed a little too hard on the leg press with too many reps and my lower back has been bothering me so I know that I need to do less reps.

But what has come to light for me is that I am becoming intimate with aspects of my body that I did not want to pay attention to. I look OK in clothes but I have many body issues and working out has forced me to face them...and its not a pretty site!! Its actually getting me depressed.

So rather than bitch and moan...I have not been posting here. As much as I know that exercise can help, I've got issues that I believe can only be corrected through surgery.....and I don't know if I can afford it.

So that my update....You guys are all doing so well!!

Lisa, I get my workout ideas from various sources, NROL being one of them. One of the best IMO has been The Body Sculpting Bible for Women. If you don't want to buy the book (though I do recommend it), check out Krista’s fabulous Women’s Weight Training site . Also have a look at Bodybuilding.com's Workout Programs. One other suggestion is to get a copy of Body for Life ... if you ignore the dietary advice, the workouts are good. I know that this is the program that has inspired many lifters to start.




I've heard that these are one of the best exercises to do for your triceps. Unfortunately for me though, my wrist is just not up to them at the moment.



Good to see you posting here again, and it's great that you're still working out with McHottie

Sorry to hear that you have body issues, and that they're making you depressed. Not sure what advice, if any, I can offer ... except to say keep on working out and you might be surprised how your body shapes up.


Also, sorry to hear that your back is playing up. Funnily enough, this came in an email newsletter from John Beradi this morning, and I thought it would be a good idea to post it here for all the Babes to see:

Demi, thank you so much for all the great tips. I have Krista's site bookmarked so I'll be going back to that frequently. I think between the advice my trainer leaves me with as well as our discussions and these great links, I'll have plenty to work with!

Judy, I'm glad to see you here even for a quick post and I have to say I understand about the "issues". I haven't said much about it, but I am often disgusted with some parts of my body...wondering now, while I'm toning up...how I ever let myself go like I did, ya know? And worse yet I want to become a Mom and with all the stories I hear, my body will be beaten up even worse if I have the chance for that "blessing" (and believe me, I really do consider it that, but you know what I mean, I hope). I've found even in the process of losing weight that sometimes my view of myself gets worse. It's as though I didn't notice things as much before and now as some stuff gets better, whammo, I realize just how much work I still have ahead.

Ok, ok...I didn't mean to make this a negative post. I'm just commiserating with you, Judy...as I'm sure we all do. Just post when you can and take care, ok?

Stay strong, babes!

Thanks galatia & Demi for the links!! I have been reading all of them. I think I am going to change the way I work out quite a bit. I really think I need to up my weights with less reps! I just have to convince my mom to get into this frame of mind. I have been printing her alot articles to read. I am going to try to develop a plan for us....she will probably follow this. She really doesn't seem to care too much what she is doing as long as she is exercising! There just seems to be so much to think about when trying to figure out a plan!! Weight, reps, sets, etc!

lisa & Judy - Don't worry you gals are not alone, I have a long way to go before I am near my goals (even my realistic goals)

I have been doing well with exercising I just really need to get the nutritional part down & I think I will see better results! (Ya know, get rid of the fat so u can see my muscles!)

Hope every one has a great day!!! IT'S ALMOST FRIDAY!!!!

Thanks girls!!

I really do not want to be a negative with my posts so I have looked hard and found some things that are better about my body and that I do like!!

The skin on my upper arms used to be dry and scaley with bumps...yuk!! Last night I was feeling my skin there and its so smooth and soft!!

I put on a pair of RL Polo Jeans from last year...size 10. They were tight on me last year but today, they fit perfect and not tight at all...and the thighs were even a bit loose!!

I weigh the same this year as last year!!!!
Hey thats big too!!

I'm going to keep working out with my trainer and see how it goes...but I may switch to working out with a female trainer.