Ahhhhh. A dozen years ago, I had a yoga instructor who would set us up in restorative poses if we came to regular classes during our periods. So niiiiiiiiiiice.
GF, I’m impressed by the deadlifts, especially after time off.
I’ve recently decided that I should learn about bodybuilding. Strength training is important for women as we age, but I might as well look good too. I’m sick of the saggy butt, and building lats like I had in my days as a swimmer + pecs to make the most of what I have there should be a big help. I’ve only ever lifted for strength, so don’t really know where I’m going with this.
I’ve been resting on my laurels (aka butt) for nearly half a year. At first I was exercising minimally and maintaining, but then it got hot, I got lazy, and my body composition changed. So the first thing I have to do is take that inch off my waist again, and then one more to get to my goal.
I’ve been surprised that I don’t enjoy lifting as much as I did in my 20s. I hope that if I can be disciplined enough to really see improvements in body comp, strength, and build, that I’ll get hooked on it again. I lift slowly, often six counts on the extrinsic, while thinking about the muscle being torn down so it can be built. For me, it was a nearly meditative kind of thing. These days I often feel too distracted to lock into it that way, but hope I can get back to that. When I was consistent back in the day and last winter, I generally did amrap on every set, and absolutely on the last set. I usually went up every week or two.
The sleep data on my Fitbit confirmed that I have alarmingly poor sleep. I rarely use it these days—I keep my phone on me for step counting. The Fitbit I have can measure swimming—but it doesn’t realize that kicking (ie, only kicking, no arm pulls) is a thing, so it doesn’t include that in the count. :/
I drink alcohol, but never had getting drunk as a goal, or part of my usual socializing. These days I’m such a lightweight that I can get a hangover from two drinks, so I keep it to one. Opening a bottle of wine at home, where I’m the only adult, is a real commitment—I don’t like having to pour out the part that goes bad if I don’t keep up with it for five nights!
