Alex_uk: 40 years in the making

Training Training Logs
2509

Thanks @Koestrizer, got me blushing! Since it’s not rhetorical, the short answer is something like, running on low sleep, heavy caffeine and a strong desire to do those things, (honestly all of those things are a joy to me, even if they’re hard in the moment).

(And yes the assumptions are correct - full time primary job alongside fire service and yup church does take time; I preach and on the leadership team).

I used to be less engaged/busy but I always felt I had more to give, faith wise and life wise but weirdly enough it’s an episode of House that lit a fire under me, I had had the belief for several years but was busy being comfortable, this line struck me and brought about changes (gradually, but the line has stuck with me and helps me keep focused):

“Dying people lie too. Wish they’d worked less, been nicer, opened orphanages for kittens. If you really want to do something, you do it. You don’t save it for a sound bite.”

We’re all going to die and this life is a gift, I don’t want to have wasted mine on selfish/lazy/comfortable living (definitely still a long way to go here!).

Also massive props to my supportive wife and family, couldn’t do it with them!

Not sure if that’s what you wanted for an answer, but if not, then: caffeine and not watching much TV!

10 Likes
2510

Week 2 day 1

Conditioning:

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That was so, so hard went for a 250m per min pace from the get go then had a mad dash for the extra 100m. Mentally completely not in this, didn’t want to do it at all, just shows how much the mind tries to hold you back. When I finished my hamstrings were ruined, great start for deadlift day :grin:

Gs1:
kB swings: 24kg X 3 X 5 sets
RDLs: 60, 80, 100, 120, 130kg X 5
Ab rolls: 5 X 5 sets
Burpee pullups: 3 X 5 sets

Gs2:
kB swings: 24kg X 3 X 3 sets
RDLs: 105kg X 11, 10, 10
Ab rolls: 5 X 3 sets
Burpee pullups: 3 X 3 sets

Emoms:
Squats 60kg + red bands X 3 - 10 mins
In between sets empty axle curls - total 130.

That spiced up the emom sets which are usually recovery sets, my bis didn’t get a rest, didn’t realise that holding the BB on your back involved your bis quite that much, i suppose it’s kind of and isometric hold, funny during the curls I was longing for squats, during squats I was longing for it to end haha. Think the curls went 30, 20, 20, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (only thought about doing this after the first set - I really wanted to get poundstones in but didn’t have time, so this torture was produced).

Nice to squeeze a session in, even when flat out. Not sure how next week shakes out for training, the kids are still off school and I’ll be back to work (had this week off - feel like I need another 5!).

Had 2nd Covid vaccine yesterday, last one was no problems, no sides only a very slight pain in the arm - this time my arm hurts more and felt weird yesterday and flu like this morning, fortunately after some paracetamol and ibuprofen things were ok

Weights dropped off (when I’m busy my diet gets even worse than normal and I just forget to eat subsequently get skinnier and fatter) back to 211.5 boo, will be more focused on this when the kids are back at school, be great to gain a little weight this time through on DH.

Also cool to note how much better mentally conditioned I am for hard work, I never managed to do accessories last DH run through this time I’m hitting them and keeping rest periods goodz meaning sessions are on time. The first run through definitely stuck with me in terms of how much harder I can work than what my body and mind tell me, I can get up and go again even out of breath I can push through exhaustion and get the accessory work done. Good stuff.

6 Likes
2511

I’m genuinely amazed at how much TV most people watch, while still “not having time for anything”.

Either way: you’re a seriously impressive dude, mile high squats notwithstanding.

4 Likes
2512

I waste quite a bit of time, especially on the weekends watching shit(currently the show psych). I could be doing something but just don’t feel like I have the mental energy to.

In terms of absolute time, yes, I have plenty, but I’m short on mentally productive time

2513

Sounds like a recovery deficit to me.

Stephen R Covey talks a lot about finding the balance between Productivity and Productivity Capacity: ie. making sure you balance your need to be productive with your need to keep being productive in the long term.

Dan John talks about “success spirals”, in which balancing the 4 areas of your life (work, rest, play and pray) leads to exponentially greater results in all areas.

Almost every major religion has built in “rest days”, built in “celebration days”, etc.

There’s a million different models, metaphors and templates for this but essentially the message is the same: you have a recovery deficit which leads to a lack of productivity.

2 Likes
2514

Maybe, but if I, a college student in a very easy programme and no real responsibilities or financial stress is in a recovery deficit, wouldn’t most ppl with real jobs, kids and potentially parents to take care of be in one too?
Considering that most ppl don’t have the discipline of ppl like you, @alex_uk and others here, they’d probably get out and watch copious amounts of tv, just like me

Not saying that laziness is justified, just presenting an explanation

1 Like
2515

You know what my answer here will be, so let’s swerve it.

I would add though that I wouldn’t compare myself to @alex_uk in that I view almost all my activity as essential. I spend almost all my time working, sleeping or looking after my kids/house, none of which I view as optional (yes, I know, we’re all free agents with free will etc. etc., but I’m still going to make sure i can keep a roof over heads and do my fair share looking after my kids). Alex does all of those things and far more, and thats a whole different kettle of fish.

4 Likes
2516

Are we? :wink:

On the topic in hand though, couple of important points; I’m exhausted right now, and lacking free time so my training has dropped off significantly, something has to give. I’m also entirely sedentary outside of the gym. I’d probably watch a bit more TV if I had the time, there’s nothing wrong with “unproductive” time and as @dagill2 intimates if you neglect on of the key areas (rest and recovery in all of its diverse forms) the other areas will suffer.

This, for @anna_5588 and myself currently.

Also remember in comparing ourselves to others we lose the fact we’re individuals with differing needs and abilities.

4 Likes
2517

I really like the @SkyzykS line: “don’t compare your insides to other peoples outsides”. Seems to fit pretty well: its really easy to compare what you’re actually doing or have to what other appear to be doing or have.

5 Likes
2518

I’m with @anna_5588 on this. I have very lazy days and the occasional productive day. I had to work til 3am Friday and Saturday night (even though those are my days off). I worked on my house Sunday and Monday while off work. It’s now Wednesday and I don’t feel like I’ve had a day off work in over a week.

I’m not in a recovery deficit. I’m just naturally sluggish. If I’m off work then I enjoy sitting on my rear drinking coffee all morning. My dad is a go, go, go with from sunrise to sunset kind of guy and I’m the opposite.

Part of this is a personality thing.

2 Likes
2519

DH week 2 day 2

Conditioning:

1:30 at a slightly faster than 250m/min pace… Pager went off and had to go - stupid thing, it was already evening and I’d skipped dinner to try and train after wanting to get to it all day, my little motivation when I got back dipped further!

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Phoned this in a bit.

Gs1:
1 arm standing cable row: 40kg X 5 e/s X 7 sets
Slingshot bench: 60, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130kg
Ab rolls: 5 X 7 sets
Burpees 6 count: 4 X 7 sets

G2:
1 arm standing cable row: 40kg X 5 e/s X 3 sets
Slingshot bench: 105kg X 10, 8, 8
Ab rolls: 5 X 3 sets
Burpees 6 count: 4 X 3 sets

Emoms
Ohp: 40kg X 3 X 10 sets (no bands because I forgot and going back in the house to get them would probably lead to me being needed somewhere and having to abandon ship - plus there’s stairs to get down to my house and screw that sort of additional work).

Accessories: Tri pump death: 100 reps Tri pd - 30kg, rope attachment.

Good session after the false start - that slingshot bench is a PR I think, but not sure I can really call it that, probably had 135kg in me for 3 not sure about 140kg, we’ll find out come the end of the program!

Eatings still awful, I can’t really bring myself to care that much right now, just trying to keep protein high, everything else is forgotten.

3 Likes
2520

I just like that you’re only doing 3 and 4 reps on your last exercise of the circuits.

1 Like
2521

Haha, well 4 & 5 reps but yea I’m keeping it lower because at this point my conditioning isn’t great and I’m sticking to 90 secs rest to get it done with 60 mins total, when conditioning improved a bit numbers will go up, Burpees ruin me even in small numbers. It all adds up as well that’s 40 Burpees and 50 ab rolls.

2 Likes
2522

Well, you’re doing things like burpees which arr awful. I wouldn’t want to do more than a few.

1 Like
2523

Props to you for doing so much after 10 min of hard conditioning. If I pushed that hard, I’d slack off the rest of the session :laughing:

or if I did intense giant sets first, I’d skip the conditioning

1 Like
2524

Daily work!

Kids are back at school which means I’ve got 15 mins of time before work when the house is empty, daily work is back on:

5 rounds:
Pull/chin ups (wgpu, wgpu, chin, Ng, angled Ng) X 5
Dips X 10
Ghr X 5
HLR X 5

Good to be back at it.

Seriously committing to improving food choices, got indigestion eating a white chocolate chunky KitKat last night, tried soothing the pain with ice-cream, probably time to stop being an idiot/small child with my eating habits. Will have the occasional treat but will log all of them to keep me accountable.

Breakfast: 8 eggs, 1 banana, 1 apple.

8 Likes
2525

You are my spirit animal

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2526

Thats what you get for choosing your “chocolate” so poorly.

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2527

Pfft you don’t know what your talking about white chocolate is awesome!

1 Like
2528

Haha, I’ve even got rubbish guns too!