Progress in numbers and how my brain is regarding them

[clevermanka]

I haven't made the time to figure out when stuology and I are both available for a photo shoot that will adequately show off my spectacular musculature. So for now, you'll have to settle for mere numbers.

Neck: 12"
Bust: 36"
Waist: 29"
Hips: 40.5"
Right thigh: 23"
Left thigh: 22"
Right calf: 14"
Left calf: 13"
Right bicep: 12.75"
Left bicep: 13.25"

I'm still 5'7" for those of you playing along at home.

On Friday I had an immersion body fat test done at Robinson. My results:

Weight: 143.3 lb
Bodyfat: 19.23%
Fat mass: 27.56 lb
Lean mass: 115.74 lb

So, to my amazement, the previous caliper tests were...pretty accurate. The immersion test has a 1.5% margin of error, but that still puts me at around 20% body fat. Most charts I've found online show 14–20% as the average body fat range for athletes. This kind of blows my mind. Me? Near-athlete level? Weird. Too weird. I don't know what to think of that, so I'm ignoring it.

Before I got tested the first time, I had twenty percent as a really awesome body fat goal (I have no clue how I came up with that number) and I was flummoxed when the caliper test told me I was already there. I figured 4% margin of error, so meh. I was probably a lot higher. But now, no. Even with a 1.5% error upwards, that puts me at the low end of the "Fit" category (21–24% BF).

Since my mind is unable to grasp that concept, I decided to chuck tracking the body fat numbers for a couple months. I'm scheduled for another immersion test in December just to make sure my numbers aren't creeping up. Until then, I'm focusing simply on getting stronger. Boo-ya! The only numbers that matter now are the numbers of reps on my workout sheet.

Which, by the way, were pretty pathetic this morning. Halfway through my workout, I had the thought "Did Trainer Chris D send me someone else's workout?" Because Jesus Christ. I made the minimum reps (eight) for only the first of my three sets of reverse lunges, and I didn't make any of the minimum reps (eight) for a single set of the forward lunges. Did I mention I'm doing the lunges (and squats) with eight pound dumbbells now? Seems pretty puny, but wow. There's a big difference from doing them unweighted. I was getting wobbly near the end of each set of forward lunges and couldn't complete the movement without totally losing my form. I emailed Trainer Chris D about doing a static lunge for the forward lunges until I've got some more strength.

Also, sore glutes are sore. I used to think I had decent glutes. I was wrong. I need to get a tennis ball and do some of this.

Comments

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Thanks for asking! The shoulder's doing well, though it's sore pretty much most of the time. No biggie. The thing that's slowed down my workout schedule is something weird in my left forearm, where the muscle attaches to the elbow. Irritating and a bit disheartening.

But overall, very good!