Dude, you're still kicking butt... Must be the Palin specs...

well i've put on 5lbs... mostly beer weight... but on the upside... another milestone at the gym. I did 180lbs 5 x 5 benchpress, which means I move up to one big wheel of cheeze and one medium wheel of cheeze finally! I think that's the only good thing that's happened this week... oh my body fat was electrically measured at 16.5% which is 1% point up from last time. Definitely time to lean up again.

somehow I don't think 2 hours of walking at hte big E counter acts deep fried oreos dipped in powder'd sugar :)

great now i've offended both my mongloid friends... actually I used to call gianetti that too... I must like pissing off people that are bigger and better fighters than me >:(

I've been spotty at the gym lately.. I'd like to get 3 trips in this week and maybe ease up on the sweets a bit.

LOL! I think I could fit in size 30s when I was in elementary school... I had no idea your frame was so um, errr... slender? OK, that sounds odd... Kenn, your waist may be larger than mine, but you could pick me up and throw me into space or something... I secretly fear you for the sleeping giant we all know you to be... Erik, do not wake the sleeping giant... shhhh.... Kenn go sleepies now, sleepies...

30/ 30? I can not remember a time when I ever would fit into those. Great job! I'm jealous, but at least I have my "rtrd" strength to fall back on.

pat myself on the back time: I bought two pairs of 30x30 jeans this weekend... I can't recall the last time I was a 30x30 (early college? 1995/1996?).

Is that what they call it now?

helped new roommate move in

Domestic Activity?

Yep, baby weight, it's amazing how lazy you can get when you don't sleep... Hey, if you at least try to lean up, your rock n roll lifestyle wont have THAT much of a negative swing for you... All things in moderation... Well not all things... Not big on the baby seal clubbing, etc...

Nice weight bounce... Finally eating right again? Dude, I gained a wee bit of weight...

Good work dude...

good day at the gym... finally did bench press 175lb 5x5 which is an all time best (bonus for weighing 166lb when doing it!). In mid june when I weighed 174lbs I *almost* did 5x5... and had stalled then regressed a little bit since then. so uh... yeah for me!

Hey man, how goes it? A little excursion to the gym maybe just what you need at the moment...

"after a year of doing this (6 months cardio diet then 6 months "strength training"/free weights) I officially look the "before" pictures on home gym infomercials... or as facundo would say "skinny fat""

We probably both do, but that's still progress for us... Dude, you look pretty good, you should be proud. Don't worry about the weight, just worry about increasing your strength, improving your health, feeling better, etc...

Hey dude, posted answers to your questions on my profile... blah... How about you, what are you doing for chest?

Home brewing should be an activity on traineo.. Perhaps it falls under domestic activities?

Gotta hit the gym today... Keep on me!

WOW that's awesome BF%!!! I still need to get a more accurate measuring device... Good job dude!

Been going a little lighter in intensity/weights last two weeks... partially because I was stalled and probably needed some rest, partially because I hadn't had a spotter in a while... and just a little bit of mental/attitude fatigue.

On the upside I did my body fat @ the gym with their handheld BF analyzer and was measured at 15.6% I was last measured at 19.5% on Feb 29th... so if the stupid hand held thing is to be believed, progress! There's visual progress too, but the last vestiges of belly weight seem firmly entrenched.

Wow, did you eat less over the last couple of days? Low calories may equate to low energy and weight loss...

had a weak day at the gym yesterday... hopefully just random or side effect of rowing so much white water rafting on saturday... I'm also losing weight, hopefully it's not muscle ( i think the drop from 170 - 166 must be mostly water )

*shrug*

LOL! I never track my hump workouts! I'm too modest...

Movie quotes are ALWAYS welcome!

Erik kudos on the slimming and the chest press! I finally got my ass back in the gym... Today... Dude, need you to bust my stones on this, need motivation...

Thanks Erik! Yeah I'm pretty excited about breaking the 200 mark! 15lbs more to go, but now the weight loss gets even harder! Slowly but Shirley.. Wait I don't even know a Shirley?

Well, yesterday I finally reached my goal for benching my body weight 5 sets of 5 reps. I was struggling to do that with 175lbs while I weight 173-ish, and I recently slimmed down to 169 and was able to still bang out 170lb -- succeed!

Slimming the gut is the last goal to go... it's coming along... watching my intake lately (I was overdoing it with protein shakes and junk snacks) has helped lean me out a bit, we'll see if I can keep building strength without adding fat.

Would love to switch up gyms, but made the bone head mistake of upping my contract at "Club 24" so I'm stuck there for a year... Really need to get back on track though, especially before the baby comes. If I have a solid routine re-established before "B-Day" I'll be more likely to weather the baby storm when it comes to fitness...

Sounds like you're doing pretty well! Keep it up! I need to get back on track when I get back from my training this week...

been bouncing between 172 and 174. been mixing in cardio after my workouts for almost 3 weeks.

Reached a goal of benching 200lbs once.

Almost reached my goal of benching my body weight of 175lbs 5 x 5

The gut and slight lovehandles are still there, but seeing improvements in back/shoulders/arms/chest, so I'll keep pluggin.

give a ring this w/e if you two are bored, i'll be up in Boston...

Gotta enjoy sometime! How was the weekend?

stupid smores!

Laura's been going with me often but I'm still motivated to hit the gym myself... I also have a few friends that go to the same gym... i used to lift in the past but it was always to get stronger.. now its to lose weight.. I've been doing lots of reps, low weight, and lots of cardio... Eating right of course helps too!!! Once I lose the weight I'll go for strength...

Way to go on the bench yesterday - great job!! Hopefully I can catch up to you over the next month :)

I gotta hit the gym hard this week. Last weekend I went to a wedding in Montana *Never thought I'd ever visit that state!* and had to keep up with everyone else inhaling all those calories! I didn't think think it would matter so much... I was wrong!

For the record, the burgers also included parsley and onion :) Plus, no fries on the side but roasted red potatos and green beans... I shan't be turning down food if it's going to be made for me. The ben jerry's may have been overkill, but I don't really feel bad about that either!

You in the gym today? And are you local or east-bound this weekend? We might be in m-town but don't know yet.

I hurt from my shoulders to my knees... tomorrow is really going to suck :)

they were pretty much the same...

I had another lost weekend... ouch. I was the opposite of diligent... I brought protein bars to eat instead of junk food, but consciously chose the junk food (oreos).. and even went out and bought more junk food (stewarts orange soda and doritos) AND I had half a powder sugar doughboy at the carnival (now I know why they're called doughboys, uhrt!)

It'll come off again... and it's plenty of fuel (yeah that's the ticket) for today's workout... but still gotta reign this in...

You should put your measurements beside the last round for reference...

I measured myself the other day... 5 months from when I last measured. Somewhat disspointingly I'm pretty much exactly the same measurements. I mean I shouldn't be too discouraged I just expected a little more of a bump. I'm definitely a lot more solid and less mushy, and way stronger. I look and feel better. Just was hoping for something less subjective...

5/5/2008neck=16chest=40.5Bellybutton=38hip (widest/butt)=39bicep=14forearm=12thight=22calf=15.75 170lbs

What's funny about the waist measurements is that my 32 inch jeans are loose. *shrug*

hmph... another weekend another bump up to 173... I gotta work in a little more cardio and be a little more dilligent next weekend on eating right.

ouch... 173lbs... I had a very gluttonous Sunday. There seems to be a pattern over overeating on the weekends... or eating junk. Last time I weighted 173 is november 21 2007. I'm clearly in better shape now than then... and i'm sure 2 days and a gym visit later i'll be back to 170 so i won't stress it, but just need to curb it before it becomes trouble.

On the upside I did 160 5 x 5 on bench press on Friday... (that's the other reason to keep the weight down, so my goal of doing 5 x 5 of my body weight on bench isn't a moving target, lol!)

I've gone from almost being able to do one pull up to being able to do 2 - 4 depending on how tired i'm from other exercises (i do them last in my routine) still kinda sad but an improvement nonetheless

No worries, we're all busy these days... I'm getting stronger, but my weight is up and down. Strength seems to keep going up though, so that's good. Trying to get back into cardio though, I let it slide for over a month...

May need to rethink my goals again.

Good job Erik...

maybe, not sure, andi is over

Had a good day at the gym yesterday. Finally did 5x5 on 155lbs on bench, and 5x5 on 12.5 on the cable rows... was stuck on both for quite a while.

prolly won't get there until 630, but i'll try for earlier... just doing legs, then maybe a run.

you going to the gym today? I won't be there until later, have a 5:30 in middletown.... I had a weekend like Bry's, but without the cake, cookies, ice cream, or candy...

Just had a 4 day weekend with the family, which included cake, cookies, icecream, candy, and beer... Gained a couple lbs... meh, life goes on...

been on a little bit of a junk food/eating binge lately... which at first seemed ok "hey my body is telling me i need more food" the problem is obviously that I've been gravitating towards eating lie: cake, cookies, icecream, candy bars, etc... gonna put the breaks on that behavior and try to eat reasonably clean this week.

been trying to make the gym 3 days a week but only getting there 2 days a week. Otherwise seem to be getting a smidge stronger/progressing... *shrug*

my upper body feels good today, legs are killing me though, looking forward to failing on squats again!! I'm not too sore to attempt those... I'll throw in lunges and won't be able to walk right until next thursday... fun stuff!

Thanks for the encouragement, doing great on the smoking, it's definitely related to mood and I think going to the gym is supporting that significantly, so I will be trying to make some time for that daily... what's up for your weekend?

don't forget the smack from Dave, try intervals to burn more calories :)

I have Mr. Gym Bag, so I'll be gymming for sure. I need to get some running in for the US team too :)

What's on the plate for workout today? I can hardly walk so I don't think you could convince me to do squats...

No problem on the move, as I mentioned I've still got some catching up to do on the friend equity :)

And good for me, I didn't actually tweak my back on the Rom. DL yesterday - yay! I have today off, and I think facu has tomorrow as a planned day off, u back on Thursday? Although I wouldn't mind hitting chest/back again Wed.

I lifted yesterday AND helped bry move stuff!! :P

but, point taken.

How is the training going? You look like your picking things back up nicely.

I think I'm headed to Maine tonight :(

Life has been kicking both of our butts I guess, and the gym results have suffered. But as you said, shouldn't take too long to get back on track, just need to make it happen...

made it back to the gym... little disappointed, but need to make the beach-head to get back in the swing somewhere... Still lift the same amount (sorta) but only for like 1 set before I have to take some weight off. I guess going sporadically for 1 month (like once a week, skipping weeks due to travel or sickness) really shows an effect.

My goal is to go 3 times this week somehow... might have to do a lunch or a morning workout to make that happen.

*shrug*

I ended up keeping off the weight from the flu incident (for now) because I didn't feel like eating all week... Although i'm pretty sure it was muscle I (mostly) loss... need to get back in the gym habit. today I felt I looked "skinny-fat"

Hey E, I'm back on traineo. Down 7 pounds in total thus far!

Stomach bug abs... Chicks dig those...

I gotta get me one of them new fangled fat analyzers!

I hope you are feeling better!

wow... I had the stomach bug last night... it was brutal. I lost 5lbs of uh... fluid. *Shudder*

I look physically different in the mirror. But it's obviously not sustainable or healthy, but it is interesting... I guess...

they had a body fat analyzer at work as part of a health fair/expo... it measures body fat based up on shining a special light onto/into your tricep and measuring something based upon your build/height/weight etc...

anyhow it definitely seems more accurate than the electronic scales... it pegged me as 19.59 % BF (top end for normal for my age group) with 33lbs of fat, and 136lbs of lean mass... and 59.9% body water (46.3 liters).

So, I feel like i'm getting there... see some subtle changes in the mirror and am reasonably happy with progress...

Knee shoulder are still a little banged up, but getting better... I'll be back to lifting either this weekend or Monday, and hopefully get a little cardio in this weekend as well. Also might want to go riding saturday - interested in a trip to the mountain before SD?

Miss lifting but enjoying the recovery!!

No worries Erik, I balooned up after last week's stress, travel and odd diet changes, but I'm more or less bounced back already... I guess the normal routine helps you get back to normal quickly as long as you have been consistent before hand...

Or something...

GJ, let loose for a week and only a 1lb gain! Looking forward to seeing ya in the gym again today :)

I briefly gained like 3 lbs... but as of saturday it was like 1lbs... I feel like i'm back to normal... but forgot to weigh in this morning.

I'll be starting back up with the gym today. I'm kinda curious as to what the effect the break will have had. When I did some dumbell work one day on vacation I felt weaker, so who knows...

E.

I wonder how much weight Erik will gain in Florida?

This site needs another measurement tool. Maybe you could enter in your weight lifting workout, how much you lifted and it can give you a weekly percentage of strength increase or something... Now that you lost your weight, the site doesn't offer you much else...

Did you do squats on Monday?? Gym today? It's leg day, so excited to do squats - they're the best! :)

I'll second Bry's sentiments about squats. They suck. They suck even more since they are so effective if you can do them with good form. I don't have good form. Maybe I suck? NO... they suck.

I hate squats, everything about them, I just hate them...

here i was thinking it was jsut my big ol' balls getting in the way again... :D tnx for the research dave! i'll be conscious of this when i start the squats again on monday.

E - I've been doing a bunch of research on squats lately and I think that the gimpy knees isn't a result of going deep so much as your overall form. You *should* be going just below parallel. I think you are not keeping your knees out far enough. Your feet should be pointed approx. 30 degrees out, and your knees should follow that path. I've noticed that they tend to drift inward a bit, putting more stress on your knees and not using your hip flexors, groin, or hamstring as much. Try the following stretch b4 squats - squat down low, and put your elbows on the inside of your knees and your hands together between them like you're praying. Push out with your elbows so that your knees are forced apart more, and try to mimic this when doing squats.

That's cool... What ever works for you, just keep it up!

I was... the workouts were enough to get my heart rate up and I was being a bit lazy :) I've made good measurable progress... in the amounts I can lift. My weight is mostly constant/steady and my pant size is still constant and I think i'm getting stronger and subtly more toned or at least less flabby :)

I'm gonna branch off from the stronglifts for a little bit (but still do 5x5) ... taking a week break from squats as my knees got gimpy from a combination of skiing and doing the squats too deep. *shrug*

So new plan is lose the squats for a week, but put in some cardio for the legs... and maybe work in some misc targeted muscle exercises for variety. IDK

Erik, I see you're focusing on weights and skipping cardio... How's your lifting going? Making progress with 5X5?

Okay, my friend. I went to the gym again tonight. That is 2 for 2! Count me out tomorrow though...I'm going to the theatre. Take care.

let me know how that 225 rep goes...

Thanks Erik - I'm trying - I love the gym now. I wish I could go more often.

Looking forward to some lifting tomorrow... I have to do 1 rep at 225 (riiight) :(

I'll assume you're at the gym right now... when you get out shoot me an IM or an email so I know what you guys are up to tonight...

I know - I'm trying to get out of the habit of ordering it when I go out to dinner too.

Hey, I went today! Also going the next 3 days...

Hey E - great tip you gave me for the eliptical machine. It really works the core. Thanks.

I'm in, Sean...