That a boy Doc, turn the silverback into a chip.
Good story Doc. Keep the fire going.
Carlsbad
[quote]Dr.PowerClean wrote:
HOV wrote:
Dr. PC,
I read the first page of this thread and nothing else until this current page, so I apologize if this was covered before.
If you can’t squat without blocks under your heels, you may want to take a look at Dan John’s “goblet squat” video. It can be found on Google Video by searching for “Dan John squat”. That video, and a post by a member here entitled “3rd world squat” - subsequently follwed by a feature article this week - transformed my body from a stiff board to something that actually kind of works these days. My biggest problems were the same as yours - unable to squat deep, painful lower back.
Having practiced the 3rd world squat and goblet squats, I’ve ditched powerlifting altogether, along with the power versions of the Oly lifts, and have started working on full clean and press, and full snatch. Why? Because I can! And I was never able to before.
I’m working with girlie weights right now as I learn the motor patterns (occasionally a power clean sneaks in a full clean session… I just squat anyway!), but I feel WAY more healthy and injury-proof than before.
Something to think about for you.
Dave
HOV, I did watch the Dan John video you referenced, it both helped explain things to me but also made me realize how pathetically stiff and immobile I am. However, I love to hear from somebody who has been there and worked their way out of it. Dan John convinced me I squatted wrong even when I was young, and now that I am older and stiffer I was well on my way to destroying my knees due to poor posture and weight bearing on my toes.
I am not giving up, but I really have not only bad flexibility but ingrained bad motor patterns. I am looking at this in as positive a light as I can...if I can change this, I will open up the full possibilities of my potential as a top notch Master's OL lifter...if I can't, well, I'll just be a bodybuilder and look buff for my age. (all my friends on T-Nation can now flame me for that last sentence, lol). Doc
[/quote]
Well, I’ve been there. I’ve had 2 inguinal hernias, I was chronically stiff (I’m a member of this site since 2003-2004, if you check my previous posts you can probably find some posts about my problems with stiff muscles), and my physical therapist told me I could never do a deep squat.
I didn’t care, I just had to squat deep, I was fricken obsessed. It took me about 3 years (a lot of that was figuring out what to do) to be able to squat quite a bit below parallel. A friend of mine who was joking me about my depth, confirmed I was way below parallel. Trust me, it can be done, even with scar tissue in both your legs. Not much of an inspiration, cause I can’t squat for shit (I power clean 135 kg, I full squat 160 kg), but I’m just saying it can be done. My tips:
-try to sit a lot in the deep squat position thoughout the day, a la dan John try to push your torso between your legs
-do the threeway hip flexor stretch by Charles Poliquin, just search on this site
-squat with about 60-80 kg’s, and try to relax and sit in the bottom, let the weight push you deeper
-Don’t overdo it, when your joints feel less flexible or stressed, take a day off
Good luck!
Thanks Arnoud, fellow strong power cleaner and stiff man. Hey, you can now power clean 2kg more than me! Nobody’s wants to see me quit on my dreams. I’m doing all I can to just get my life in order…I just worked eight straight days in the psych ward, four of which were 24 hour days and the rest 12-16 hour days, and every minute was spent taking care of suicidal and psychotic patients. I finally got a day off today, and rested, and tomorrow I will lift. I am eating very clean, protein bars during the day (no time to eat), lots of orange juice and green tea, and then raw greens and veggies with some turkey meat or protein shake at dinner. I’m taking my supplements, HRT, and every day inbetween patients I get up and stretch, including the squat position.
So I'm doing what I can, given tough circumstances. I stay in touch with my family via webcam/IM each night, my wife whines and complains about how hard life is!!! She misses me, but I am thrilled she is having to step up and be a fully functional woman and at least appreciate how much I did when we were together.
In the best of circumstances, I could get out of my two houses and finish this three and a half month drudgery which is helping get me out of serious debt. And by the end of that time, I hope to have endured the time maintaining some athleticism and lean muscle mass, and then with financial freedom, I can once again pursue my lifting dreams. I have good news, the time off heavy lifting has really helped my left shoulder heal, and the knee is better too.
I hardly feel like I belong in T-Nation right now, not being able to pursue lifting anywhere near like I was. But you guys keep posting on this thread, and that helps me stay mentally strong and not just do what EVERY other doctor who works here does...eat badly, drink, burn out and quit. I just learned the other doctor here just resigned, so things will get even tougher in two weeks. But this is just the way it is here, it is why I left this job over a year ago. It is also the reason I get paid a grand a day to work here...nowhere anywhere does a shrink get paid this much (except Dr. Phil). I hate mentioning salaries, but I thought you guys should know I'm not a masochist, I'm just doing what I gotta do to crawl out of this deep hole I'm in.
If my story gets old, and it might, because I doubt I'll have a whole lot different to report for the next three months, then just let the thread die, and I'll start over when I start serious lifting again. But if you keep posting helpful or encouraging comments, I just might have to keep responding!! I can tell you some examples of the stories, goodness gracious I've seen people like who think they are aliens, people who have an obsessive compulsive disorder which makes them try to masturbate all day long, Bipolars who run down the halls naked screaming that Jesus is coming, and muscular schizophrenics who break through thick plate glass doors and need THREE tasers to take them down. I quit tackling big strong crazies a few years ago after I GOT IN TROUBLE by the hospital's risk management board because they felt I should not put MY BODY at risk. Oh well, I just wait for the cops now.
Good training to all, and my thoughts are with my friends who still think of me sometimes. Doc
You mean we shouldn’t try to masterbate all day?
Seriously though. I’ve looked through a lot of threads on the over 35 lifter portion of this site and half the stuff here doesn’t involving lifting. We’re not that young anymore and most of us bring a lot of baggage with us. So what if you want to talk about non-lifting stuff? Most of us can in some way empathsize with you.
If not exactly the same stuff you’re going through at least similar life experiences. How many other people our age do we know in the non-cyber world that we can talk about lifting 500 pounds with and not get that deer in the headlights work? I enjoy reading your stuff and hearing from you. Keep posting whatever you want and we’ll keep responding. (more stories about naked nyphos will definitely be a plus and help with the all day masterbating)
I certainly appreciate your stories. Everyone has life issues and to hear how you deal with yours is helpful. What happens outside the gym has a big effect on what happens in the gym so in that way this is on topic. Besides, it’s your thread, write what you want.
Stu
OK, guys, maybe you’re convincing me to keep writing here. It’s a beautiful Sunday morning for me, slept twelve hours straight and feel great. Here, I’ll throw you an old story from the psych vault.
I was a 25 year old intern, and I was in the county hospital in Charleston. I had a Bipolar patient, a girl my age who happened to also be a very pretty sandy blonde and had the most magnificent very large boobs I think I had ever seen. But I hadn't really SEEN them yet, just imagined what they looked like. Usually, as a doc, the part of the brain which thinks about sex gets turned off 100% when we deal with patients, for good reason. But on this one day, well, that wall got pushed to the limit. I was doing rounds, and my nurse told me this Bipolar lady had been coughing all night and had a fever, and that I needed to check her out immediately.
I asked the nurse to escort me, as is protocol when examining a female. Well, after I asked her about her symptoms, I pulled out my stethoscope and started listening to her lungs from the back, lifting up her shirt. She had bad congestion, nearly pneumonia. I told her I needed to listen to her lungs and then her heart from the front. She turned around, and whipped her top off. OMG, her breasts were magnificent. I paused. She said
“Go ahead Doc, I don’t need a towel or nothing, I’m sure you’ve seen boobs before.”
I thought to myself, "yeah, hundreds, but none ever like yours." I started listening to her lungs at the top of the chest, then told her I was going to listen to her heart. I began to put the stethoscope where the heart is, but her F cup boob was totally covering the spot. She then said,
"Doc, you're gonna have to lift that boob to get to hear my heart." I looked back at my nurse, she smiled and just nodded as if to say..."Go ahead Doc, its your lucky day." I lifted up her boob and did a VERY THOROUGH cardiac examination.
I told her she could put her top back on, and that I’d give her an antibiotic for her pneumonia. She did a boob shimmy for me before she put her top back on, and said:
“Doc, this pneumonia will take a while to clear up, wont it?”
“Yes, at least a week.”
"Well, then, you'll have to come check on me every day until I'm better."
I nodded, and smiled, and turned to walk out, glancing at my nurse. She was usually stern and serious, but she had a smile on her face too. She said in my ear, as I walked out.
"I think I've got a cough too, Doc." Doc
I knew I should have stayed in school
Haha. Now that’s a good story. So did you check up on her every day for the next week or what?
I could tell some stories about being a young engineer but then again they wouldn’t include young hotties and in truth wouldn’t be all that interesting none engineeers… Oh well, …
Carlsbad
By all means keep us updated.
Not only with your lifting, but anything else you feel like.
Not only are you a good shrink-you’re an entertaining writer as well.
[quote]Dr.PowerClean wrote:
“Doc, this pneumonia will take a while to clear up, wont it?”
“Yes, at least a week.”
"Well, then, you'll have to come check on me every day until I'm better."
I nodded, and smiled, and turned to walk out, glancing at my nurse. She was usually stern and serious, but she had a smile on her face too. She said in my ear, as I walked out.
"I think I've got a cough too, Doc." Doc[/quote]
I love it! Did your nurse ever remind you of this years later?
Guess who crazy dude. You are neglecting your main support group. I hope evreything is going well. Love the story. Devote some time to you, the hospital will still be there regardless of what they say. They always whine about the money or the ones I call on do. Have a great week and stay in touch.
[quote]mej wrote:
Dr.PowerClean wrote:
“Doc, this pneumonia will take a while to clear up, wont it?”
“Yes, at least a week.”
"Well, then, you'll have to come check on me every day until I'm better."
I nodded, and smiled, and turned to walk out, glancing at my nurse. She was usually stern and serious, but she had a smile on her face too. She said in my ear, as I walked out.
"I think I've got a cough too, Doc." Doc
I love it! Did your nurse ever remind you of this years later?
[/quote]
Well, after I left the county rotation I never saw that nurse again. But I will say, after that day, even though she wasnt the prettiest thing on the outside, we shared many a good laugh and enjoyed each other’s company. After that one day, she knew I had a thing for big boobs, and whenever a busty patient came in she would kid me that “I bet she’s got pneumonia too!” Doc
[quote]barryjenkins00 wrote:
Guess who crazy dude. You are neglecting your main support group. I hope evreything is going well. Love the story. Devote some time to you, the hospital will still be there regardless of what they say. They always whine about the money or the ones I call on do. Have a great week and stay in touch.[/quote]
Barry, if I’m neglecting the gang on HT’s thread, I’m sorry, but I kinda feel like only you and maybe QT to some extent can put up with my craziness. Plus I don’t feel like I have anything decent to post on HT’s thread now that I’m working out a couple times a week with machines. I respect HT’s thread as the thread for truly strong men who have their personal lives in order enough to persist in lifting the heavy iron. I managed to fuck up my right to post there, for now, as far as I’m concerned. Same with Koing’s thread, fucked up my right to post my OL lifting there. Hey, life got in the way, and I’m dealing with it the best I can. I ain’t drinking, I ain’t cheating, I’m eating right, and doing a damn good job treating the crazies, I’m making good money, and I managed three workouts in ten days so far. So I’m not down on myself, it’s just the heavy barbell stuff…damn, it’s just not in the picture right now. There isn’t even a barbell and platform type gym in town that I know of, even if I had the time.
I know that all of this is probably disappointing you Barry, you care the most. I’m OK, it’s just I can’t lead the life I was leading the past six months…I was in some ways being selfish making lifting heavy weights such a huge priority in my life. I don’t know about you guys, but between the lifting sessions, the drives to the gyms, the resting afterward, the longer sleeps, the stretching sessions, the post workout shakes and six meals a day…SHIT, I spent six plus hours a day in some way dedicated to training.
But I still want it all, so I’ll hang tough through this phase, and hopefully have my life in order in four months or so and get back to training even better and stronger than before. When I do, I’ll feel like maybe HT and Jimmy might want to hear about what I’m lifting, not mediocre stacks of executive weight machines like I’m doing now. Doc
I’m not a doctor but I don’t think your crazy, keep posting man.
There’s a lot more to life than numbers my friend. You don’t have to back through the door. You’ve competed at a level that most envy and few can relate. Machines are better then nothing, I’m sure you can find a place that will let you make some noice.
Even once a week at a real gym will help the head(maybe both), body and the mind. A couple power cleans, DLs will go a long way. Stacking the pulldown machine, 50# db curls won’t bring you to your milk, lol. I hope you’re talking to the family often. Stay in touch.
[quote]barryjenkins00 wrote:
There’s a lot more to life than numbers my friend. You don’t have to back through the door. You’ve competed at a level that most envy and few can relate. Machines are better then nothing, I’m sure you can find a place that will let you make some noice.
Even once a week at a real gym will help the head(maybe both), body and the mind. A couple power cleans, DLs will go a long way. Stacking the pulldown machine, 50# db curls won’t bring you to your milk, lol. I hope you’re talking to the family often. Stay in touch.[/quote]
This post I like, Barry. It actually made perfect sense, from start to finish. That doesn't happen too often with either one of us, you know. lol! Doc
[quote]Dr.PowerClean wrote:
But I still want it all, so I'll hang tough through this phase, and hopefully have my life in order in four months or so and get back to training even better and stronger than before. When I do, I'll feel like maybe HT and Jimmy might want to hear about what I'm lifting, not mediocre stacks of executive weight machines like I'm doing now. Doc
[/quote]
DR. PC -
This is a perfect time to start that low-intensity, high volume stuff you need to get the joints back in shape. Those kinds of training sessions blow off steam just as well as a heavy session, though they don’t satisfy the ego as much. And the ‘executive weight stacks’ are just right for it.
Glad to hear you have an avenue for improving your situation.
Happy lifting.
[quote]skidmark wrote:
Dr.PowerClean wrote:
But I still want it all, so I'll hang tough through this phase, and hopefully have my life in order in four months or so and get back to training even better and stronger than before. When I do, I'll feel like maybe HT and Jimmy might want to hear about what I'm lifting, not mediocre stacks of executive weight machines like I'm doing now. Doc
DR. PC -
This is a perfect time to start that low-intensity, high volume stuff you need to get the joints back in shape. Those kinds of training sessions blow off steam just as well as a heavy session, though they don’t satisfy the ego as much. And the ‘executive weight stacks’ are just right for it.
Glad to hear you have an avenue for improving your situation.
Happy lifting.[/quote]
Damn, that just makes so much sense I just might have to do it!! Let's see if I can force myself to do sets of 20. Or more, like crossfit!?! I'll definitely have to make sure nobody is watching, especially that Silverback wannabe.
But don't get on me if I take Barry's advice and have a relapse by driving a hundred miles to find a real gym and power clean or deadlift my ass off. I'm getting LOTS of good suggestions here lately. Doc
You can’t tell me you old fart you’ve looked into old iron joints in your area. There isn’t a place in FLA that is a 100 miles from a real gym. Tell that shit to the youngsters. PM me and I’ll find you one from wherever you are. No fucking way you’re getting off that easy. I’ll tell HT’s guys to flood you with PMs. AS the old TED N would say, " Yank me crank me don’t wake me up and thank me."
Since you’e\ve been to the islands there’s a new thing called the YELLOW PAGES. find a patient to show you how to find a real gym. Give that silverback my number you’ve got it. If I can’t handle him I can hit him with a 165DB. Train and then train again. Go look at your photos, I do. Then I could throw over 90. Girly shit today. RIGHT, do some walking lunges across a gym and back for 2. Oops a basketball gym. Love you man, off your ass and on your feet.