I am…confused and totally defeated.  I started working out on the exact same date as this girl. I go to the gym three times a week and do more weight training exercises than the four below. I do not look even CLOSE to the after picture. Am I not working out hard enough? How does one drop 26 pounds in three months and gain so much muscle? I don’t get it. before-and-after-pictures: From 165 to 139 pounds. January 9th to April 15th. 10-15 minutes on either Treadmill or Elliptical, then Main 4 exercises: Squats, Lunges, Lat pull downs, Seated cable rows. —- Follow for before and afters every day!
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I am…confused and totally defeated. 

I started working out on the exact same date as this girl. I go to the gym three times a week and do more weight training exercises than the four below. I do not look even CLOSE to the after picture. Am I not working out hard enough? How does one drop 26 pounds in three months and gain so much muscle? I don’t get it.

before-and-after-pictures:

From 165 to 139 pounds.

January 9th to April 15th.

10-15 minutes on either Treadmill or Elliptical, then

Main 4 exercises: Squats, Lunges, Lat pull downs, Seated cable rows.

—-

Follow for before and afters every day!

(via fitjoyforlife)

Source: before-and-after-pictures

zumba!~

I think i found my cardio. Considering that last night was my first zumba session, and I only spent about 5~10% of the time standing still because I wasn’t able to figure out what the hell I was doing, I think I did pretty well. 

Slowly, I will move up to the front of the class. For now, I am ok with standing in the back. 

Question though for people with long hair, how do you get that shit tightly secured? I had to re-do my hair at least three times.

Resolution #10 /// January 26, 2012

I was unable to go to the gym/pool last night due to absolute fatigue and some sore muscles. I have a terrible downstairs neighbor and after being kept awake until 4:30am, my boyfriend and I were fed up with his antics. After talking with the landlord, we learned that he will be moving out in three to four weeks. Not sure if he’s being evicted or if he’s leaving on his own. So, last night, no gym and I fell asleep at 9pm. I feel so refreshed this morning. Hello world! 

…and hello pain in my left leg? The pain is concentrated in my hip to upper thigh area. The pain is only a tenderness when I am stationary/sitting. When I start walking, I feel pain/discomfort/soreness/pressure. My google-fu showed that my sore muscles are part of a skeletal muscle group called the hip flexors. Here’s a picture!

(img src: wikipedia.org)

Yah, I didn’t know I had muscles there either. Lol. 

I found some stretching exercises from Livestrong.com and will be doing them when I get home tonight: http://www.livestrong.com/article/174240-hip-flexor-stretches/

Have you ever encountered strain on these muscles? How long did the pain last? Were you able to continue cardio and muscle training?

Q:Being in the water allows the spine to de-compress, allowing discs to expand. Swimming, and especially pulling (with a pull-buoy), places dynamic traction on the lower back with pulling-apart and twisting forces. When you get out of the water and re-load the spine under gravity, unusual pressures on the lower back and surrounding nerves can occur. To avoid pain and injury, your lower back should be supported by a strong and correctly balanced musculature.

isthispaleo

Thank you for this! 

To be honest, I think there ‘s something wrong with my breaststroke form as well. I received my swimming lessons at age 7. The only style I am able to do effortlessly is breaststroke. I can’t freestyle very well, because I only learned how to breath on my left side and after four strokes. The lessons were cut short because of the Tiananmen Square “Incident” (I was sent home after taking a bus to the training center). So, I didn’t have a chance to perfect my freestyle or to learn butterfly. 

I talked to a girl during college who was an active swimmer. She gave me some tips on maintaining the correct form of breaststroke - thrust your head into water at an approximate 45 degree angle and keep your buttocks high. I try to keep her words in mind, but sometimes it’s very tiring and I slack off. 

One of these days when I’m more accustomed to swimming regularly, I will consider private lessons. 

I do have an additional question. What do you mean by “musculature”?