Lifting support thread!

[Work2live]

Thought I’d start this thread as a few people thought it’d be a good idea.

It might be a nice place to support each other and talk about lifting in general, ask for tips and advice on workouts, how to get enough protein etc.

All levels very much welcome, from complete newbies to those who’ve been weightlifting for years! 💪🏼

I eat a lot of tuna steaks and chicken breasts for lunch (Iceland tuna steaks are great), eggs for breakfast and Fage Greek yoghurt with fruit for supper. I generally prefer to eat during the day and not much in the evening. I add a lot of vegetables to my breakfast eggs (masses of frozen spinach and 2 tomatoes usually) and broccoli, tomatoes and peppers at lunch.

if I’m being good, that is …

These are great ideas thanks xx

Lidl protein puddings in chocolate or vanilla are delicious too!

Omg they really are! We can never find them in stock! We finally found some the other week and bought 10 😂

I can never get them either 😂

If you ever get a Tesco meal deal you can get a protein shake for pennies. One is rubbish, one is ok. From memory the ufit one is the better one. If you want a good protein option for the other bits, the chicken and almond salad as main, and boiled eggs as side are the max. Not that I've stood and worked this out after a particularly tough session or anything 😆

Bench pressed 22.5kg today🥳🥳🥳 I know this is still a tiny weight for most but it’s the most I’ve ever managed to bench press (I did 10 reps) so I’m pleased!😄

Yayyy @GoTheFcukToSleep well done!

Yay! @GoTheFcukToSleep Well done!

What I really enjoy is that you compete against yourself in weight training- result!

@LunchPoems, totally agree. And it changes all the time - I focus on different things at different times, so progress is lumpy anyway.

Well done @GoTheFcukToSleep! Totally agree re just getting better than you were before. Speaking of which, I did 7 push ups from the floor today!! That's a proper set! Last time I could only do 5 so that's a big improvement for me.

@GoTheFcukToSleep 20 reps at that weight is amazing well done!

@LunchPoems totally agree - everyone is completely different as this thread shows! No point taking too much notice of what other people do, it’s bettering yourself that counts, every time.

That’s brilliant @RayKray well done! Push ups are fucking tough.

I actually had jelly legs after my lower body session today. My coach has added in paused movements now so I was doing Bulgarian split squats with a pause at the bottom, and RDLs with a pause at the bottom. Made the movements so much harder but really forced me to focus on my form. Finished with AMRAP hack squats 🤢

Thanks guys😁😁😁 I’m definitely focussed on my own progress rather than comparing myself to anyone else and it’s been great getting stronger!

@RayKray well done on those push ups!!! I still can’t do 1😂

First proper PT session today. Barbell squats are off the agenda for now - the stretch bar didn't sit comfortably on the neck/back due to lack of flexibility and I suspect padding would make it worse. So the plan is to work on strength and flexibility of my back and shoulders with things like lat pulldowns, while doing goblet squats, squat presses and weighted walking lunges to keep the legs moving. I also want to learn to deadlift properly.

Oh and a trivial rant - I am used to tracking effort etc on strava and Garmin but find it frustrating how little credit their effort scoring gives to weight training and swimming - I know my heartrate isn't up much but I am working seriously hard in these sessions!

I managed 4 sets of 2 deadlifts at 90 kilos last night - and not resetting between the pairs of lifts, so just tap & lift between each lift in each set. Lots of rest in between sets, and boy, was the final 90 kilos hard!

Brilliant news on deadlifts, push ups and the rest! We are all advancing 💪.

I swam today which I found surprisingly tiring. Them handstand class this evening which was great - such a nice group, everyone helping each other, and I am starting to get less scared, though cannot imagine ever doing one without a spotter, or indeed kicking up fully.

Wonderful progress everyone!

You need Train @UnaOfStormhold . It tells you the total weight lifted in a session which adds up to tonnes and is super impressive! No underplaying lifting there.

I used to have an app on my phone to remind me to jump up and do 7 mins exercise from before I started lifting. It would sometimes remind me an hour into a heavy session, rather undermining what I was doing 😆

I'm going out on a limb and saying that I now believe that Magnesium Glycinate supplementation works.

PBs on everything tonight, came out with quivery legs (but 2 mins standing and tensing and relaxing/jiggling made that stop), then powered home to scarf chicken thighs and salad, thinking all the way that my legs, butt, lower back and obliques/abdominals felt so strong that I could easily do one of my Terminator style sprints if necessary.

DP enjoyed checking for squish when we got home - despite the slab of lard on my front, he reckons that there isn't any anywhere else. Which is nice.

So I've treated myself to another pair of leggings. I should really think about buying some civvies at some point, as nothing fits the same now, if at all.

Interesting, @NeverDropYourMooncup......

What are everyone's favourite leggings? 😀I'm a Sweaty Betty sale/new on ebay convert cos pockets (running and strength training both mysteriously make my nose run, and having side pockets for phone and tissue has changed my life), also M and S Good Move. Cos pockets.

That's funny about the tissue, @MsMartini my nose always runs when I exercise 😃

I have a pair of sweaty Betty sale leggings but don’t like them, they’re too big, I think, so don’t hold in enough! I like Nike best, comfy and always stay up, though had to chuck a pair recently for failing the squat test.

Oh, and I have a few pairs of Craft ones I got on Cotswold outdoor, and they’re great too, and can pass for “normal” clothes.

Well done on all the lifts! Inspiring me for my last session of the week this morning

I get mine from next. Little pocket inside (that i never use). Nice and high, nice patterns. I'm going to have fancier ones on my Xmas/birthday list though

I get mine from next. Little pocket inside (that i never use). Nice and high, nice patterns. I'm going to have fancier ones on my Xmas/birthday list though

Lululemon for me! I love the Wunder Train leggings in particular. I’m normally a UK 10-12 and I buy the size 6 in those - I think that’s the equivalent to a UK 10. I only tend to buy them in the sale though as they’re £££.

Speaking of money, I actually can’t believe the price of protein powder now. We’ve always used Bulk and their prices have gone ridiculous. I’m starting to think I’ll need to get inventive with my protein intake because even with a discount code, a 2.5kg bag of whey protein is now almost £60!

Amazon for me - Queenie Ke, Joyspells, that sort of thing. You'd be surprised how many of them have a high percentage of lycra.

I've noticed that when I'm in the gym at peak time, it's more of the colour matching Lululemon and Gymshark, but around 4.30pm, there are far greater numbers of women wearing the same cheapie brands I am.

I really don't like M&S stuff - it's always looked knackered in about six months. And I'm not a fan of mauve and pink on everything, which seems to be their default colourscheme.

@NeverDropYourMooncup, yeah M and S have some truly vile pinks and mauves. However, I've bought their leggings and running jackets in blacks and greys, and cycling-style long navy and black shorts, which have all worn very well. And have side leg and back zip pockets.