I knew those pants were loose

[wide_rider]

Had another session with my trainer today, starting with full measurements.  I was bummed that he couldn't find my chart from March, when we also did full stats.  I know that I weighed in at 213 then, and my BMI was 39.7, but I really don't remember much else.  He was able to look up my stats from last September though, since it had to be entered

Comments

[clavally]

That is fantastic! Great job! Looks like you need all new clothes, not just pants. :p

I love hearing about this stuff and I'm happy all your hard work is paying off.

[wide_rider]

Thanks!! :) However, I don't need new clothes yet, what I have is finally fitting well. Besides, I like my shirts kinda baggy - it's why I buy men's XL.

The workout itself is fun and I enjoy it, but seeing and feeling the progress is awesome. Watching the definition in my arms in the mirror as I work them, adding more weight to my exercises or time to the cardio work or going up another level, feeling my pants want to slide off my hips instead of being a little loose, that is what keeps me motivated.

[antennapedia]

Effing awesome! Your weight loss is much higher than mine, btw. I have been losing it soooooo slowly. I need to figure out how to speed that up. Though I do realize that it's partly because I'm loading a lot of muscle onto my body as I do this.

So just go for the 2-minute plank, I say. I didn't get there by doing long planks directly, oddly enough. I got there by doing tons of other core things.

Here's a vicious one:
30 seconds doing crunches
flip, and hold a plank for 30 seconds
repeat until dead

Kettlebells! If you haven't learned how to swing them yet, man, make your trainer learn about them. They're a huge thing now. Major core strength.

Boatloads of situps never hurt. Try the Crossfit Annie:
50/40/30/20/10 reps, done for time
double-unders (or sub in 2x the number of rope jumps)
situps

Nothing like 150 situps in a short time to kill the abs.

[wide_rider]

Yes, you are adding LOTS of muscle! Weight alone is a always a good indicator.

I have done two 1 minute planks back to back with a minute rest between, I just haven't tried longer than a minute yet.

Your crunch/plank deal sounds similar to Wayne's 'ab trifecta.' Start with a 30 sec (min) plank, flip over and raise feet 6 inches off ground for 15 sec, then bend knees and do penguins (15 each side) - 3 sets total. I've been ending with a 1 minute plank recently.

I used to do 100 crunches in one go, seated on the ball, but changed to 3 sets of 25 crunches lying on top of the ball with my feet on the wall. They hurt more. :)

Will definitely look into the kettlebells. They sound fun.

Thanks agian for the encouragement and inspiration. :)

[antennapedia]

I bet you could break 2 minutes in a plank right now. It was a mental thing for me: settling into the position and not over-tightening muscles that weren't directly engaged, remembering to breathe properly, and shifting my legs a little bit now and then.

I'll need to try your ab trifecta!

[Edit to say what I meant to say in the first place, doh.]

[wide_rider]

Just noticed I missed a word... I meant to say that weight is NOT always good indicator. But I'm sure you understood what I meant. (I hope) lol

Jeez, my legs are achey. I felt fine Friday doing the training, knew I'd feel it the next day but pushing to my limits anyway. Kinda forgot that putting on 20 or 30 pounds of weight when doing the squats and deadlift was not including the 45 pound bar. Ha. I can get up from a seated poition well enough, it's the getting down there part that kills.

[ladyforash]

Awesome job!

[wide_rider]

Thanks, Sweetie! :)

[monkeyscorpion]

Awesome job!

[wide_rider]

Thanks!!! :)