Laura's Journal: A challenging road

[laura817]

Reintroduction and Background

It has been awhile since I have been to DF.com. Since my last journal and pictures here, I continued working out diligently. I managed to gain up to 120-lbs while remaining in the 16% BF range. I was super strong - at least in my eyes. However, I was completely burned out and decided to take a 2 years break from everything. I stopped working out in the gym with weights and ate pretty much anything I desired.

I still stayed active though at least 5 days a week - played a lot of sports such as soccer, tennis, cycling, racquetball, backpacking, hiking, snow skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, and just fairly recently dirt biking. Because of my poor diet and lack of strength training, I went down to 106 lbs and not in the best condition as I used to be.

Learned

I have learned so much in these past years. For starters, I have a mesomorph body type. I have an hour shaped body – my shoulders are the same width as my hips, I can gain muscle mass fairly easy. I have fairly muscular shoulders and quads even now. I have lost an immense strength since I quit everything, however, I still can muster 6-7 pull-ups in my feeble attempt.

Goals

To lose some body fat and get a little bit leaner. I guess I will start taking some more pictures as an indicator and measure myself periodically. This should be interesting and fun.

Stats

Age: 28 years old
Weight: 107-lbs
Height: 5’3”
Measurement: will have to get that later

Not sure the workout regimes yet. I will decide in a couple of days what I want to do.

[CF-OC_gal]

Wow you came back! You left shortly after I joined.
I'm sure the road back will not be hard. You are young and were quite advanced when you changed paths.

Welcome back!

[laura817]

New Workout Regime

I decided to keep it simple so I am doing 3-day-per-week, full-body workout plan. It will look something like this:

Day 1 - Heavy
Pull Ups
Full Squats
Conventional Deadlifts
Flat Bench Press
Standing Military Press

All done for 4x6 w/ 120s rest

Day 2 - Light
Lunges
Flat Dumbbell Press
Seated Cable Rows
Barbell Bent Knee Good Morning
Incline Hammer Curls
Lying Triceps Extensions

All done for 2x15 w/ 30s rest

Day 3 - Moderate
Incline Dumbbell Press
Barbell Rows
Dumbbell Split Squats
Reverse Lunges
Lat Pulldowns
Standing Dumbbell Press

All done for 3x10 w/ 60s rest

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Here is an updated status on my measurements as well as my pictures. *eek*

This is what happened when I ate everything I wanted for 2 years and stop working out.

Waist on belly: 26 1/2"
Chest: 33 1/2"
Unflex Left Bicep: 10 1/2"
Unflex Right Bicep: 10 1/2"
Left Quad: 18 1/4"
Right Quad: 18 1/2"

Hello Laura, I remember you, I was a relative newbie and I read alot of your posts. Your name came up recently here in someone else's thread.

Always great to have a new Online Journal partner. I'll be reading your posts and privately cheering for you.

Have a great day!

[Lady C]

It is always nice when someone that falls off the wagon decides to rejoin. Welcome Back Laura.

You might want to check out Gymgirl or Minimi journal for some of the crosssfit routines they do. They are a killer.

[gymgirl]

hey laura!

welcome back! i lurked for quite sometime before i joined up here at DF and I was quite motivated by your progress pictures. glad to see you back around here!

[SarahPT]

Hi Laura!
You and I are the same age and nearly the same size. I enjoy a lot of sports like you do. You look pretty darned good for eating whatever you want for 2 years!

Sarah

[laura817]

Pierni - Thanks for stopping by my journal. I was here years ago. I am glad to be back. A lot of supportive folks here.

Lady C - How's the workout coming along for you? Have you been doing the crossfit routines as well. It looks like it would be a great workout.

Gymgirl - Thanks for the support. I am glad you are posting in your journal at DF. I am sure you have inspired a lot of gals and guys who have read your journal.

Sarah - Great website by the way! How did you like doing the figure contests?

[laura817]

Oct 30th - Heavy
Unassisted Pull Ups - 4 x 6 reps
Full Squats - 115 lbs 4 x 6 reps **
Flat Bench Press - 65 lbs 4 x 6 reps
Standing Military Press - 45 lbs 4 x6 reps

All done w/120s rest

** I plan on moving up in weights next week. I did conventional deadlifts too, but my form wasn't looking too good. I will have to replace that exercise with something else next week.

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Note: This is my first day working out in the gym in a very long time. I noticed I have really lost considerate amount of strength. There was several times during the workout when I felt dizzy and even queasy. This is also the first day where I am actually watching and counting how much I am eating.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by laura817

Lady C - How's the workout coming along for you? Have you been doing the crossfit routines as well. It looks like it would be a great workout.

Sort of. I won't be breaking any records for doing the most (don't see the point in half movements and pushing the body until you [or almost] puke). But they are definitely tough and good for endurance and different kind of strength.

I still lift heavy but I still get sore and drained from a crossfit workout. Trying to work them in a couple times per week.

[midgetcop]

Hey Laura! I remember your pics! Welcome back to DF! By the sounds of it, it will take you time to reach your goals.

:

[laura817]

Oct 31 - Plyometrics
Soccer and Tennis Combo Training
Instead of the conventional cardio I decided to do some plyometrics to improve in my tennis and soccer skills.

Speed
10 min jog

45 sec sprint
1 min jog at 4% incline in hill
repeat 4 x

10 min jog


Exercises
Barrier Lateral Jumps - 30 sec max
Side Throw Medicine Ball with a 6-lb ball
Jump Squat
Wall Throws Medicine Ball with a 6-lb ball

Abs
Lying Medicine Ball Oblique
Sit-ups
Medicine Ball situp


All done in 2 sets with 30 sec rest

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Note: I was super sored this morning. All over my back esp. lower back. I haven't done pull-ups in a long time. Diet is much, much better than it has been in a long time.

MidgetCop - Hehe. I guess it will take some time to reach my goals. I am not strict with my diet and I just want to have some wiggle room for the things I love. I guess everything in moderation.

[minime]

Hi Laura

I too read your old journal, and found it very motivating. I'm glad that you came back! we need more female presence around here :

And you look pretty frickin good for having taken two years off! But i guess you were still doing tons of exercise, its not like you were sitting on the couch for two years surrounded by pies

[midgetcop]

Oops! Laura! I meant to say that it *won't* take you too much time to meet your goals.

[.V.]

I remember seeing your pics when I first joined and reading some of your posts. I didn't recognize the handle, but did recognize the pics. You've done amazingly well for being off the wagon for 2 years. You'll be where you want to be in no time.

Welcome back.