December is almost over - Chat thread
 

I know we haven't had a chat thread in a long, long time. Anyone want to join in? I am going on vacation so I'm going to be sporadic but ha I figured it was a good thing to start.

I've been working out with a trainer once a week at a traditionalish gym. They have a squat rack that I own on my leg days (I go in the morning on those days).

Yesterday, we did cleans and cleans+presses for nearly an hour. It was fun but our workouts different week by week but I told him I wanted to do cleans so cleans we did.

I was noticing that there was no chat thread, lol. Happy there is one now though.

I'm almost done with Phase 2 of the New Rules of Lifting for Abs. I bought myself a weighted vest (an early Christmas gift) and want to incorporate that into the next and final phase of the program so I can continue to challenge myself.

This phase has a lot of pull-ups in it and I'm really liking the mixed grip ones. The next phase has turkish get-ups written into it and I'm excited because I love working with my kettlebell.

Oh I might have to look into that book :)

When I go visit my parents (my upcoming vacation), I mostly do walking and kettlebells. A few years ago, I bought a couple kettlebells to keep at my parents house since we visit a couple times per year.

It also looks like the New Rules franchise is coming out with another book, it looks good as well.

I'm in love with the New Rules series, lol. I've completed the women's program and am looking into the "Lifting for Life" book down the road. They just fit my lifestyle - full-body workouts, compound exercises done 3 times a week.

I have 2 sons so I don't have loads of time to devote to lifting weights. I need to have something I can do a few times a week and be done with it.

I will say that I'm liking the abs program a little more than the women's program. This one has a mix of core, strength and cardio in each workout. Also, they have an interesting warm-up routine which I love too.

I bought the abs book on kindle, which I say is great for reading but not sure about for following the program. It is a great book. I'm not sure how'd I'd incorporate it into my current stuff but I'll definitely start adding the warm up stuff.

I thought the same way when I first purchased the book. It sat in my top dresser drawer for almost a year before I revisited the possibility of doing the program. I guess it depends where you are in your life, time-wise and whatnot. Nevertheless, the dynamic warm-up is intriguing and keeps the workout fresh. The seal jacks are my favorite move.

I'm still following a pretty helter-skelter routine based on total whim. I try to make sure my chest, triceps, back and legs/glutes get worked on a couple days per week, which amounts to 3-4 days a week where some weight is lifted. Yesterday I did 5 x 5 at 180 on the leg press - it was the first time I'd leg pressed since March, and I'm not sure how that measures up, or what is expected/average/considered "good" for my body weight?

I'm afraid of injuring myself squatting or lunging heavy (I am pretty sure my form sucks) and wish I had a guide or someone to show me proper form on the "big 4" with barbells.