New TT workout today, finally. I was getting tired of the last 4 week block. I got to the gym at 7:30 for shoulders with Ashlee, then did my new TT workout right afterwards. My shoulders are still a bit blasted from Forza Tuesday night so I went lighter today than usual. The new TT workout was great, though I am still trying to get the right weights down for each exercise. I went too light on the BB rows and DB split squat initially.

While I was doing my DB split squat/low incline DB chest press superset, I had the joy of having one of the independent trainers working nearby tell me, “You are STRONG.”

Muahahahahaha…I know I am just okay by fitness blogger standards, but at my little neighborhood gym where most women aren’t sure if they can even lift a 20 lb dumbbell, I may as well be Supergirl.

While I was doing shoulders I overheard a trio of women two benches over in a small group session with another trainer.

One of them said, “I don’t know…I don’t think you can do 40 lbs.”

I looked over thinking, Hey! Rock on! Another chick does flat chest presses with 40 lb dumbbells like me! Must see what she looks like!

Alas, the trainer was handing the woman lying on the flat bench a 40 lb BARBELL.

Oh well.

So far today I’ve downed one PWO shake and 2 planned meals. Food has been clockwork perfect, water intake is good, and workouts are caught up. Between the laptop leverage, my impending wedding, inspiration from watching 300, and a general burning desire to have my body fat percentage back in the teens where I am happiest, this cut is going to kick butt! My weight has stabilized at 144 lbs and 20.6% bf, so I am using that as my starting point. 14 lbs and 5.6% bf% to go!

I plan to go back to basics these 6 weeks for the current Pink Dumbbells fat loss challenge. No substitutions, no overthinking, no going anywhere without planned meal(s), no missed workouts (unless I lose a limb, and then I will work my remaining body parts), and most of all, no excuses. I’m just going to do it and not dwell on deprivation, tiredness, or busy work hours, because no amount of supportive, feel-good coddling, convoluted rationalizations, and “Aww, it’s all right’s” if I mess up is going to get me to my goal.

If good wishes, backpatting, and online encouragement for what amounts to a repeated and systematic failure to stick to plan translated into real world fat loss, there would be a million uber-fit women online on all of the fitness and weight loss boards across the Internet. There is a point at which “emotional support” turns into something more like “enabling failure,” and if you find yourself in that ugly place where you constantly subconsciously self-sabotage your program because you thrive on the attention and virtual hugs that come with every admission of dietary wrongdoing or skipped exercise, it is time to snap out of it and find a different peer group that is full of successful Doers focused on their goals whose drive and knowledge will inspire you to stick to your guns, not your familiar and comfortable circle of peers who talk the talk but do not walk the walk, and, as a result, keep finding themselves back at square one month after month.

This is all about consistency in maintaining a reasonable caloric deficit and in performing your workouts with the correct volumes, variety, and intensity. And wanting the end results badly enough. And not giving a crap about what other people are eating (that you can’t) or doing/not doing (while you are sweating out buckets at the gym…again).

I am going rock my wedding gown like a female Spartan (Mmm….300!), and the rest of the excuse-making, sofa-sitting, pizza-eating, soda-chugging world can go take a hike. Or buzz away on their mobility scooters, promising that they will get started on a healthier life tomorrow or next week.

:prop:

I am stronger than that.

==========================
TODAY’S WORKOUT
==========================

Shoulder workout with trainer
——————————-
A1) DB Shoulder Press (3×12 @ 15 lbs)
A2) DB Low/High/Full Lateral Raise (3×6 each type @ 7.5 lbs)
B1) DB Bentover Rear Delt Raise (3×12 @ 7.5 lbs)
B2) DB Low/High/Full Lateral Raise (3×6 each type @ 7.5 lbs)

TT Week 9-12 Workout A
———————–
A1) DB Split Squat (3×8 @ 45 lbs)
A2) DB Low-Incline Press (3×8 @ 35 lbs)
B1) BB Row (3×8 @ 65, 75, 85/75 lbs)
B2) 1-leg Stability Ball Curl (3×8 per side)

==========================
TODAY’S EATS
==========================
0) PWO whey/dextrose/BCAA shake
1) 3 egg whites, 1 oz. raisins, 1/2 c. oats
2) 3/4 c. low fat cottage cheese, 3/4 c. grapes
———————–
3) General Tso’s chicken with veggies and 1/3 c. oats
4) 2 rice cakes, 1 T. pb, 2 T. salsa, 1/2 c. carrots
5) Spicy chicken breast tacos with 2 T. salsa and sauteed spinach and tomatoes
6) 1.5 scoops vanilla whey with 1 t. cocoa