1/2
Deep Water W4D1
Deadlift 170x10x10, 3 min rest
SSB squat 95x3x10
SSB lunge 60x3x10
3x60s plank + 20 situps, no rest
Not as triumphant of a workout as last lower body day, but it still felt like clockwork at least. I’ve been reading in between sets, and I have a strong feeling that that will not work after this week 
1/3
Deep Water Beginner W4D2
Pullups 10,8,7,7
BB row 75x4x10
Clean pull 115x3x10
3x60s plank + 3 standing ab wheel, no rest
1.5 rounds tabata assault bike 57 cal
Do tell.
My pleasure; I apologize for the long-delayed reply! Even though I have a nearly 11,000-foot peak 45 minutes from my house, I don’t hike nearly as much as I’d like, either.
Between your current training and post-operative recovery, I reckon you’ll gladly forego exercising… at first 
after a couple-few weeks, yeah, I bet you’ll be ready to do something. I wouldn’t worry too much about prolonged weakness, since everyone’s body reacts differently to surgery. Follow the surgeon’s guidelines, and I’d be willing to bet you’ll be strong again relatively quickly.
Good plan. You can become The Girl with the Gunz for a month or two.
Re: having an emotional response to the world situation and your surgery - that’s totally normal; it’s why we have emotions. In fact, teachers have found 70 percent o our total energy is emotional; only 30 percent of our energy is metabolic.
I think age is a factor, too. I was very cerebral and logical as a kid. I noticed a transition towards a higher degree of emotional reasoning in my later 20s. In fact, when I turned 25, I started feeling “older.” I believe I started sensing my own mortality, and I also noticed slight changes to my metabolism, energy, and other youth makers.
what do you mean “become”
she can curl 65lbs for reps… 
Work towards bodyweight EZ/ barbell curl? 
I would not be surprised if she ends up hitting that
Probably not the fullest ROM, but they’re better than before, so I feel they are enough to be considered more or less full reps.
Thanks, I always appreciate more reassurance, haha. I am already looking forward to at least a week of not touching a barbell. It’s been a while since I’ve had a break.
I genuinely don’t know if I seem this way here, but I’m a terribly emotional person. I can believe that figure.
Ah, so my life will flip upside down this week.
The case for me since I turned 23 or so. I don’t think I like getting older. Maybe you don’t mind. Yet I’ve always felt like a 60 year-old trapped in a 12 year-old’s body.
I definitely can’t curl 65 for reps.
1/4
Deep Water Beginner W4D3
Press from the floor 47.5x10x10, 3 min rest
BB curl 50x5x10
7x15 band pull aparts
Lateral raises
3x60s plank + 20 situps, no rest
Finished that before 7 because I couldn’t sleep very long last night, not unlike the past several days.
Then ran 1.5 miles to my first dental cleaning in too many years and another 1.5 miles back home afterwards.
I’m in a bad way right now, honestly the lowest I’ve felt in a while. If this is an omen for 2022, I don’t like it.
Sorry to read this part… Lots of 2022 left yet, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
BTW, press from the floor—that’s awesome.
When things hit a low, the only way is up. You’re a freaking bad ass.
Do you find yourself feeling this way most/every January? I always end up mentally fucked from about the 2nd week of December through mid-January just because of reflectiveness and beating myself up about anything I did imperfectly in the prior year.
Regardless of the reason, you’ve proven more than enough that you’ll find a way and get through. Focus on what you can - train and eat - and do what you can to balance and enjoy yourself every chance you get.
Thanks, but it’s baby weight, so I don’t think it makes much difference.
Thanks, Anna. Things can always get worse though, haha.
Yeah. My self-loathing peaks around my birthday. Expecting it doesn’t make it any better. It’s even worse now because work is the worst it has ever been, not to mention this pandemic ruining everything.
Thanks for the words. I must say it was comforting to lift in my cold basement at 6 AM, not thinking about anything else.
Oof.
Mine’s usually Christmas, but the birthday that happens a month later doesn’t help.
Agreed. You can distance yourself from news, but that doesn’t stop it from popping up all the time anyway.
Depression and anxiety run a train on me every time I take even a week away from training. Something about having to use that much energy and focus both blunts my emotions enough that I can handle them and makes me feel alive. Stick to that as much as ya can. I know the surgery coming up may make for an obstacle but I’d bet you recover quickly.
Not a lot of specific advice but I empathize with you. Hope you can figure your way out and surgery isn’t too much of a hindrance. If you ever need an ear, feel free to reach out. In the interim, have a very sleepy puppy picture
Sorry to hear about your struggle. Not sure what I can offer you since I don’t know anything specific that’s wrong. The best advice I can give based on my own experience is:
If you’re walking through hell, keep walking. But make sure to raise your head and look left and right for an exit. It’s easy to lose sight of what might be around you if you only look at what’s in front of your feet.
From what you shared no one’s gonna question your ability to push through when shit is tough. Maybe the rest has some real world application as well in some way.
Festive season is over, January will be too. Hang in there.
I don’t believe in Omen. Join me and you won’t have to fear that.
Hopefully the last couple of weeks haven’t been too bad for you. You’re hitting tons of PRs at least.
Yep. I rarely read the news, but it’s bad enough where I am that I find out anyway. I felt like life was returning to semi-normal last year, but now the pandemic will probably (again) take away the few things I could look forward to – live music and travel.
Thanks, it’s something I more want than need at this exact moment, so at least I will feel good about having the surgery done. Assuming it still moves forward given the current dumpster fire.
Not sure if you listen to the EliteFTS podcast, but based on what you wrote, I think you’d like episode #70.
Thank you, your photo makes me smile for real! Give her many pets from me.
Birthday triggers bad things, and I feel like I should quit grad school. The pandemic is the cherry on top.
That’s the advice I gave myself many years ago during cross country races hahaha.
Out of curiosity, do you believe in anything?
I know major venues may suffer, but smaller bands/concerts/venues may have a better chance of staying open. Unless you’re staying away strictly to protect yourself, these could be an option. Balls deep into music (maybe not your chosen genre, though) and willing to help ya find non-arena shows.
Oh, believe me, I seek intimate shows and rarely attend arena-scale shows. I’ve seen more than a few cancellations in the last few weeks though. Maybe it’s a genre thing, dunno. I don’t blame people for cancelling; I hate when fans disrespect rules and risk the livelihoods of musicians (i.e. their physical and financial health). It still sucks though.
