A Cheerful Misanthrope

Training
141

Wednesday July 23 SC Barn

Bench:
45x1x10
65x1x5
80x1x5
85x1x4
90x1x3
95x1x2
100x1x1
80x1x5
70x1x10

DB Bench
30x3x8

Squat:
45x1x10
95x1x5
125x1x5
135x1x3
145x1x1
95x1x5
95x1x5 (This last set was done with a stop at the bottom and come up when indicated.)

The squats were done in a pair of men’s construction boots for the raised heel. As sassy as I’m sure I looked, they helped.

Apparently I have good form but I’m used to squatting in front of a mirror so I have to learn proper depth by feel.

The most difficult part of this training session was how unpunishing it felt. I felt like I hadn’t done enough. I’m going to have to take some deep breaths and really readjust my mind set. The coach gave me a very good analogy when I mentioned the light weights. First he told me that all the other guys started the same way.

Then he said that increasing your max is like breaking down a door. You don’t start right next to the door. You move back and take a run at it. Starting light again is like the run at the door. When you break down that one, you go lighter again and make another run for it. The man has many years experience and this is why I’m there. I have to shut my brain up and listen.

Because we are training in a barn, I was treated to watching young men in their underpants squeezing into deadlift suits. Good times.

142

Thursday July 24 Gym
Good mornings:
45x1x10
95x1x8
110x3x8

Power Cleans:
95x3x5

T bar row
45x3x8

PUll ups:
1x6
2x5
2x4

24

143

Congratulations,you are so great,if only you insist on training,you will be success.

144

Sunday July 27 SC Barn

Bench:
45x1x10
65x1x5
82.5x1x5
87.5x1x4
92.5x1x3
97.5x1x2
102.5x1x1
82.5x1x5
75x1x10
Last two sets on final rep pause at the bottom a wait for press command.

DB bench
30x3x8

Squat
45x1x10
95x1x5
130x1x5
140x1x3
150x1x1

DL
160x3x5
185x1x1

Monday July 26 Home
OH Press
65x1x7
65x1x6
70x2x3
75x1x2

Clean/Push Press timed 5 minutes
95x1x3
95x4x2
95x1x1

12

BB curls
50x1x8
50x2x7
50x1x6

Front raises
10x1x13
10x2x15

I find this hard on my right side because I’m having a flare up of tennis elbow (ironically exacerbated by embroidery)

Dips

feet elevated with 10lbs on lap
3x10

Skulls
30x1x12
35x1x10
35x1x8

Wednesday July 30 SC Barn
Bench:
45x1x10
65x1x5
82.5x1x5
87.5x1x4
92.5x1x3
97.5x1x2
102.5x1x1
82.5x1x5
75x1x10
Last two sets on final rep pause at the bottom a wait for press command.

DB bench
30x3x8

Squat
45x1x10
95x1x5
130x1x5
140x1x3
150x1x1
95x1x5 on the final set pause at the bottom.

Thursday July 31 Gym
TBar rows
45x2x10
45x1x8

Rack pulls from knee height
225x2x8
225x1x5

Power cleans
95x3x5

Good mornings
95x1x8
110x3x8

High pulls
45x1x10
65x1x8
75x1x7

Pullups
1x9
1x6
2x4

23

I am really enjoying training at the PL Club. It is exactly what I have been hungry for. I want a coach with experience to tell me what to do and how to do it. All I need to do is shut up, listen, and do as I’m told.

Every lift is critiqued and each time I do it I can feel myself improving as I focus on adjusting my form. I also like watching the guys lift and get critiqued as well. I find I’m learning quite a bit just from watching.

I have felt incredibly intense and entralled with lifting since I started but now I feel I’m finally on the next step and getting the guidance that I have been searching for.

Does that sound all dewey eyed and gay? Yeah, I suppose it does but I’m finally seeing my path here.

It’s also nice training with people aged 15 to 67. It’s an interesting mix. The gentleman who is 67 is competing in the Worlds Masters in September in Palm Springs. He’s another one I can learn from. Plus he said he envied my arch on bench.

145

Talk about motivating!!
Is the PL club somewhat close to where you live, or do you have to drive a distance?
Another silly question…If you find a PL group to train with, are you automatically putting yourself out there to compete?

Thanks. :slight_smile:

146

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
Talk about motivating!!
Is the PL club somewhat close to where you live, or do you have to drive a distance?
Another silly question…If you find a PL group to train with, are you automatically putting yourself out there to compete?

Thanks. :slight_smile:
[/quote]

I have to drive about 1/2 hour to get there. Other people come from farther away.

I’m not sure if you are automatically putting yourself out there to compete. I’ve wanted to compete pretty badly for a while and this was the way I wanted to get there so I’m pretty stoked to finally have my feet on that path.

147

That’s AWESOME!!!

148

Hey-I just noticed your thread name change…I like it, very suiting!

149

Geez, ouro, if I knew you wanted someone to tell you what to do, I’d have been happy to oblige ( i.e. “clean my house, pack for my move!!” teehee)…OH!, you mean someone who KNOWS what they’re talking about. Oops!

And as for this new log title, does this mean you are planning to take over a country? The world?! …nah, I’m just funnin’ ya; it’s an evocative and POWERFUL title :).

(That new avatar of mine is such a smart-ass, but I can’t stop channeling him!)

150

[quote]micropower wrote:
Geez, ouro, if I knew you wanted someone to tell you what to do, I’d have been happy to oblige ( i.e. “clean my house, pack for my move!!” teehee)…OH!, you mean someone who KNOWS what they’re talking about. Oops!

And as for this new log title, does this mean you are planning to take over a country? The world?! …nah, I’m just funnin’ ya; it’s an evocative and POWERFUL title :).

(That new avatar of mine is such a smart-ass, but I can’t stop channeling him!)[/quote]

I do want someone to tell me what to do. This thinking for myself crap is getting so old. How bossy is your blacksmith?

The path to power is riddled with many obstacles to I thought I would start small and stage a coup on Hamilton. Kind of like a training bra but designed for military aggression.

Okay the new title is kind of artsy craftsy but I think it more appropriately underscores the fact that I feel like I’m moving in the direction I want.

151

How are you doing this? Is someone there telling you how low you’re going? My new gym only has half mirrors and not being able to see myself is really messing with my ability to tell how low I am. There was an article that talked about putting a band across the safety bars, are you doing that?

152

[quote]pch2 wrote:

Apparently I have good form but I’m used to squatting in front of a mirror so I have to learn proper depth by feel.

How are you doing this? Is someone there telling you how low you’re going? My new gym only has half mirrors and not being able to see myself is really messing with my ability to tell how low I am. There was an article that talked about putting a band across the safety bars, are you doing that?[/quote]

I’ve started training at a PL club so when I do any lifts the coach is watching and barking our corrections. If I don’t go low enough he let’s me know pretty quickly although that’s only happened once.

I used to put a box down so if I touched the box I knew I was low enough. Even when there is a full mirror, I find it hard to tell looking at myself from the front. That is something I struggled with not knowing for sure. Even if I asked someone, they would say I was low enough but I never believed them based on the number of 1/4 squats I’d seen going on.

Try the band. That may work well. At least it will give you a feel for the proper depth.

153

[quote]pch2 wrote:

Apparently I have good form but I’m used to squatting in front of a mirror so I have to learn proper depth by feel.

How are you doing this? Is someone there telling you how low you’re going? My new gym only has half mirrors and not being able to see myself is really messing with my ability to tell how low I am. There was an article that talked about putting a band across the safety bars, are you doing that?[/quote]

Video tape yourself. It helps alot.

154

Re: blacksmith bossy…hmmm, I think I would categorize him as quietly assertive (and he does great pedicures!). And your gradual aim at world power sounds very doable; today H’ton…tomorrow, Outer Mongolia, the day after ETC. (I like the training bra analogy, maybe because I’m still wearing one?!) Avatar Bertie the you-know-what! and moi think the ‘path to power’ rocks :).

155

Sunday Aug. 3 SC Barn

Bench
85x1x5
90x1x4
95x1x3
100x1x2
105x1x1
85x1x5
77.5x1x10

DB Bench
30x3x8

Squat
45x1x10
95x1x5
135x1x5
145x1x3
155x1x1
95x1x5 (stop at bottom of each rep)

DL
170x3x5
195x1x1

The more I train at this club, the more I enjoy it. This Sunday it was fun watching the guys squeezing into the DL suits and belts. It put me in mind of ‘Gone with the Wind’ when Scarlett was saying “Lace me tighter mammy” as they pulled out each other’s wrinkles and yanked the belts. I can hardly wait to start training with it.

Two new Highschool aged guys started. One on Wednesday, the other on Sunday. They came together so they must be friends. When B. asked when the last time the newest one had squatted, he said two days ago. His friend laughed and said he’d never squatted before. At least not properly. I guess he was remembering learning on the Wednesday how to do it properly.

Tuesday Aug. 5 Home
OH Press
65x1x7
651x16
70x2x3
75x1x2

Push Press timed 5 minutes:
95x1x3
95x2x2
95x3x1

10

For some reason, this seems to be getting harder.

DB curls hammer grip
22.5x1x8
22.x5x14
20x1x8
20x4x4

Front raises
25x3x8

Dips (Feet up with 10lb plate)
1x14
2x10

Skulls
30x3x14

Weighted chins
15x3x3

Unweighted chins
1x8

B. said he thought it was a good idea for me to try to compete at 56 kg (122lbs). If I can, I should have no problem qualifying for provincials. I was at 125lbs and bought a new scale. Now I’m at 127. It is 5 1/2 weeks away so I think I can do it. I’m not eating less just different stuff. I cut out milk from my protein drinks. Cut out midmorning nuts and replaced it with fruit. I’ve lost 3 lbs so far I think. I never really paid attention to it before. When I tell people I’m trying to lose weight they say, but you look so slim already. Try explaining that I don’t care how I look. I just need to hit that number.

I also tried on a singlet for the first time at the barn and had it on backwards. The guys laughed at me. I don’t care, I’ve seen them in their underpants and laughed.

156

I love reading about your adventures!!
They all seem really welcoming…

157

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
I love reading about your adventures!!
They all seem really welcoming…[/quote]

Thanks. It’s nice to know what I think is my sense of humour isn’t going unnoticed. Wait…is that what you mean?

Everyone at the new PL club have been really nice and welcoming. I tend to be on the paranoid side of life and anticipate rejection at each new endeavor. Therefore, when I’m not, and people are normal and friendly, it’s a nice surprise.

I’m not even sure why I always approached things with this feeling. I’d get a shrink if I thought he wouldn’t laugh at me and reject me.

It’s probably growing up military and moving around a lot and having to fit in again every few years.

hmmmm. I’m feeling very introspective tonight. I’d better cut it out.

158

I’m a bit of a pessimist myself…
I didn’t grow up military, but moved around all the time…(my mom was married and divorced 4 times by the time I was 15, ya)
And now I’m married to the military, lol…

we would probably get along just fine :stuck_out_tongue:

159

Wednesday August 7 SC Barn

Bench
45x1x10
65x1x5
85x1x5
90x1x4
95x1x3
100x1x2
105x1x1
85x1x5
77.5x1x10

DB Bench Press
30x3x8

Squat
45x1x10
95x1x5
135x1x5
145x1x3
155x1x1
95x1x5 (stop at the bottom of each rep)

Sunday August 10 SC Barn

Bench
45x1x10
65x1x5
87.5x1x5
92.5x1x4
97.5x1x3
102.5x1x2
107.5x1x1
87.5x1x5
80x1x10

Squat
45x1x10
95x1x5
140x1x5
150x1x3
160x1x1
95x1x1 (stop at bottom)

DL
135x1x5
180x2x5
205x1x1

Last Thursday evening I weighed myself at our coaches house and I weighed 130lbs. I guess my scale is 5lbs light. That was disappointing as hell.

I’m going to keep trying but I don’t think I can realistically drop 7 lbs in 5 weeks without it affecting me. He also said that if I were to drop weight, it would need to be closer to the competition, like a few days out.

If I compete at 60kg, I would need to squat 185, bench 110 and DL 235. To qualify for provincials I will need a total of 237.5 kg (525lbs) If I hit all my current maxes it will take me to 530. It’s achievable.

He said he will set the weights for me for each lift and already has a good idea what they should be. On Thursday we talked about maybe trying knee wraps for the meet. That should assist my squat somewhat.

Today’s workout was good as usual. It was only me and two of the guys but the mood was good and they were doing really well. I’m still loving every minute that I’m there.

160


Last week I sent in my registration for the OPA and I found a pair of shoes for squats at the bottom of my closet. They are Walmart specials and I don’t remember buying them.

I took them to training today and apparently they are perfect for squat. I took them for a spin and it felt really good.

Sadly, they are about the dorkiest shoes going but they do the job quite nicely.