Boilerman Wants It All

I’m still alive and kicking around here.

Lifted twice over the past two weeks, I just didn’t have it in me to take on DC both mentally and physically. Ended up just doing whatever, but spent 30-45 mins getting some work in. Time restrictions with work and wifey needing a life, along with work around the house are sort of taking precedence over lifting lately. That’s ok, but I am trying to not make it a regular thing. It’s been difficult not having an outlet for my minimal spare energy. To be truly transparent, I’m starting to feel like a robot. Built to work, which doesn’t do anyone any good.

There are a few things I’ve been tossing around the ol think tank while at work about trying to make progress while being somewhat stagnant lifting-wise.

  • Sleep. It is garbage. I need to fix it. I can’t keep operating the way I am now. I’m getting 6 ish hours regularly, which isn’t horrible, but I think it’s compounding due to how deep a sleep deficit I’ve been in the past year as well as just not sleeping “well”. The only thing I can improve here is going to bed earlier. I’m in bed by 10 just about every night. Not sure how I can improve upon this just due to the timing of things.

  • Food. I need more of it. I make sure to have at least 2 full meals a day, with an eyeballed 1lb of meat of some sort at each meal. I bring cottage cheese with me on the van. This is also not enough. Weighed 197 this morning. Also need to get back on the protein shake wagon.

  • Alcohol. I need less of it (well, none at all). This may also solve the sleep issues I’ve been having. I don’t drink during the work week unless my wife and I get some us time with my mom watching the little man and we go out to dinner or a bar. However, weekends are a different story. I am not in my early 20’s anymore, and while I’m not going out until all hours of the morning, the social drinking I do has me feeling it the following day. I’ve noticed horrible sleep following days of modest alcohol intake. I can also use the money I save from NOT drinking to buy more meat.

  • Which leads me to financials, which I try not to talk about. My wife and I discussed this at length before my son was born, and we decided that having her stay home with him for the first 1-2 years of his life would be not only beneficial for us, but for him as well. I still truly believe that. It has been been very difficult financially, though. As the sole provider, I am paying for EVERYTHING. A modest house, home equity mortgage, two cars and insurance, vet bills, groceries, experiences for my son, while also paying off our vacation credit card and any other outstanding debts we’ve had. When work comes up, I more or less need to take it. I would not want to have my wife working to put our son into daycare, especially at one year old. So, when we buy groceries, I opt to purchase less than I had previously. There just isn’t as much food in the house as there once was. If I can cut spending from somewhere else (alcohol and caffeine, I’m looking at you) I should be able to roll that money into groceries and savings, which means but more calories and protein in my diet and little bit of extra back-up money.

  • Step count. I need to get it down. I’m just one of those people that cannot stop moving. I register more steps on the weekends than on the weekdays (over 24,000 yesterday). I need to learn how to relax. Other than guitar which I haven’t played in months, I have zero hobbies that have me stationary. Maybe I’ll take up knitting.

Long post, but I need to get this stuff out somewhere. I’m honestly so confused as to how to move forward from the point I’m at now, that I’m just doing nothing. I need to figure some shit out.

11 Likes

Been a single income family here now for nearly 7years, defo tougher on the pocket mate.

Cutting out the booze will improve sleep. Add in some meditation too? Something I always know I ‘should’ be doing but also never get around to. Soak up that dad time where you can. We’re all here in your corner!

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Maybe you might enjoy wood carving or wood whittling.

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You might like sketching or painting.

Could also get your son involved when he gets a bit older

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@raven78 I appreciate that my man. Meditation is certainly a good idea. There have been times where I’ll have an extra few minutes in the morning to lay in bed and think about the day upcoming and get my mind in order. I definitely like that.

That’s outstanding for you and your family and in a perfect world, what I’d like to provide to my family too. The way my wife’s work and schooling worked out, though, it will only be possible for another year. Maybe for baby #2

I don’t think I’ve ever tried more to be home on time and dismissed more weekend work than I have the past year, haha. I make absolutely certain that I’m home and able to spend at least a couple of hours with the family. I’m pretty sure within the past year I’ve missed maybe two bedtimes, both due to being on call. There was one day where I was gone before he woke up and came home after he was asleep and it was the worst.

I like that idea!

I like this one as well! My wife is an absolutely outstanding artist, so she’ll be the one giving the little fella pointers, but I always loved drawing.

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W1D1

Wide grip bench (4 sec - 1 sec pause - x)
95x7
125x7
145x7
145x7
145x10

CGBP (2-1-x)
125x9

Lat pulldown
60x15
90x15
110x15

Chest supported DB retraction and row
25x15
35x15

Tri pushdown
20x20
30x20
30x20
25x20

Spider curl
20x20
25x16
20x18

Finally made it back to lift today and I got this done in a bit less than an hour. I’m putting DC on the back burner, but I will absolutely be revisiting it.

I opted to start a program that I ran a couple of years ago from a coach at my buddies gym. RPE based so I can adjust slightly with how I’m feeling.

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W1D2

Stiff leg deadlift (4-1-x)
135x10
185x12
225x10
275x8

Seated good morning
115x10
165x10
215x12

Uni band leg curl
3x20 ea

Leg extension
25x20
50x30
60x20
60x26

Heel elevated close stance goblet squat (6-1-x)
20x20
30x20

Cable crunch
45x32

Tempo stuff is crushing me. Those SLDLs are super intense and the goblet squats are just off the charts. Took a walk with the family after this and my legs were cramping up.

This happened yesterday… Check out the “zone minutes” time. That’s any time heart rate is over 105. My RHR according to Fitbit is 47-50 ish.

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W1D3

Axle curl
x20
+20x10
+40x12
+50x10
2x20 at +20

Cable face pull
20x20
2x20 at 30

Larsen close grip spoto press (5-2-x)
115x5
5x1 at 165

Meadows row
+25 x 15
2x15 at 35

Wide grip pullups
x10
x6

Seated incline bench lateral raise
3x20 at 13

OH cable tri ext
30x15
30x20

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W1D4

High bar ATG back squat (3-1-x)
135x8
185x8
3x8 at 225

B stance DB RDL
2x12 at 30lb

Uni band leg extension
2x20

BB calf raise
225x22
225x20

Cable crunch
50x38

Spent the morning in a cooling tower, which ironically is the total opposite of cool and then the afternoon on a black rubber roof. Didn’t think I had more sweat in me, but lifting in my stagnant room brought it out.

Not super happy with the numbers so far as I’m feeling weak as piss, but I’m sticking with the prescribed RPE and trusting the process. Hoping to get back up to 3x3 at 350 on those squats at the end of the program. I’m happy to have been able to string together a true week of lifting as well.

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W2D1

Wide grip bench (4-1-x)
95x6
125x6
2x6 at 165
2x6 at 155
1x6 at 145

CGBP
125x12

Wide grip lat pulldown
60x15
90x15
130x13

Chest supported DB retraction and row
30x15
35x15

Tri pushdown
25x20
30x20
35x20
30x20

Spider curl
2x20 at 25
1x18 at 25

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W2D2

Stiff legged deadlift (4-1-x)
135x10
205x12
255x10
295x8

Seated BB good morning
115x10
185x13
225x12

Uni band leg curl
3x20 each

Leg extension
50x20
3x30 at 60

Heel elevated close stance goblet squat (6-1-x)
30x30
30x22

Cable ab crunch
60x36

Did this yesterday in the early afternoon. Diet has been good this weekend. On call starts tomorrow, and then a week vacation starting at the end of the following week.

I’m finding that being consistent with lifting (not taking more than a day or two between) makes me feel significantly more confident in my ability. I am, however, horribly sore right now. Not sure if it is the lifting or just life.

@tlgains got another couple of 2.3mbh steam boilers going in this summer! Going to be a big job.

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Awesome! Please share pics O Great Boilerman!

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W2D3

Axle curl
x20
+20x10
+40x12
+55x10
2x20 at +25

Cable face pull
2x30 at 30
30x24

Larsen close grip spoto (5-2-x)
135x1
175x1
4x1 at 190

Meadows row
35x15
45x15
50x15

NG chin x 11
WGPU x 5

Incline DB lateral raise
3x20 at 18, last set +5 partials

OH cable tri
35x 0
40x16

I felt really good today. Food intake has been pretty good and so has my intake of water. It’s finally cooled down a bit and the humidity has dropped.

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W2D4

High bar back squat (3-1-x)
135x8
185x8
4x8 at 225

Band leg curl
2x20 each

Band leg extension
2x20 each

B stance DB RDL
2x12 at 35 each

BB calf raise
225x32
225x21

Cable ab crunch
60x42

Did this yesterday after work

9 Likes

W3D1

Wide grip bench (4-1-x)
95x5
125x5
155x5
5x5 at 175
155x7

CGBP
135x12

Wide grip cable lat pulldown
70x15
100x15
130x15

Chest supported DB retraction and row
35x15
40x15

Tri rope pushdown
30x20
40x20
40x20
40x17

DB spider curl
25x20
25x20
25x24

Overshot RPE prescription slightly on the wide grip bench but I’m not horribly concerned about it. Looking forward to week 5 where the tempo stuff takes a back seat for a few weeks, which probably means I should be doing more tempo stuff.

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Great to read your log buddy. Just caught up on 4 or 5 months worth.
So happy for the career advances, the free steaks for extra callouts, the family stuff, the side work. And of course the strength stuff lol.

We’ve been a single income family since day 1, and I (and she) wouldn’t have it any other way. With 4 kids that burden is HUGE and as you’re new to the kid game and the single income game I can see it being even heavier for you.

I quit alcohol a few years ago, combination of $$ and reflection on my health. Another big change was switching all our grocery buying to Costco, where we can buy bulk cheap, and make all meals at home.

You won’t like this one lol but… basically the only beef I eat is ground beef. Its under $5/lb and actual steak is $$$.

Bulk buy energy drinks are cheaper than individuals too haha.

I believe strongly in the side work you’re doing. I do the same, and in many cases its less about the immediate $ and more about the possibility of a long-term plan for running my own show.

Ramble over. Have a great Sunday, you’re killing it!

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Thanks @jdm135 for stopping in and dropping that golden nugget of a post. I appreciate you taking the time to give your experienced thoughts on it all.

I just don’t know how i, or my wife, could feel comfortable leaving him at day care at 1 year old. I’m sure we would be able to settle into feeling comfortable, but with him learning so much every single day it would be so difficult emotionally to miss all of these milestones. Plus, it would essentially equate to my wife working to put him in daycare. It’d certainly be different if we had family (Grandma or grandpa) to take care of him, but that’s just not an option. I find it wild that you’re able to have 4 kids at home, and not only that, but move to Hawaii as well. Hats off to you, dude haha.

As far as the financials, I think I’ve found a way to make it work and it mirrors pretty much identically what you’ve outlined- energy drinks from Amazon (and drinking less of them), severely cut back on booze (had a 6 pack 2 weekends ago, the past week I’ve been on call, so no booze, and took the on call for the week upcoming before we leave for vacation). My meals have also have been stripped down and simplified. Chicken breast and ground beef makes up 85% of what I eat now, and the remainder is filled in with food my wife likes that we just buy extra of. It’s been working ok for us for now, but I’d like to get more OT and side work to create a bit more of a cushion.

I am also in the process of selling one of my cars to get us back down to one car payment as I’ll be re-inheriting another car. I loved the truck I sold and I love my car, but I just can’t swing it. It’s kind of a full circle type thing, because it’s a car I used a long time ago (1997 Cadillac DeVille… Such a badass car haha) that a family member no longer needs.

A lot of guys at work shy away from side work, and real work if I’m being honest. No one wants to take responsibility for anything anymore, sales people/estimators included, so I’ve just stepping in and absorbing their role with the sole focus of gaining experience in things I haven’t had a part of yet… My main goal of the next 3-4 years is to prepare for opening up a small shop of my own that focuses almost entirely on commercial, industrial and process steam and pipefitting and general HVAC service. I’m teaching myself refrigeration as well as another source of work as it’s also somewhat niche.

The past year I’ve done piping layouts and assisted in building two 1/2 million dollar jobs, fixing one that has already been built in the mid 200’s and designed many more in the 100,000 dollar range. Not to mention the literal dozens of accounts I’ve brought over from my previous employer. Every time I complete a job I wonder why I do it for some company and not myself.

I’ve been in contact with an amazing (my age, smart and ambitious) foreman where we opened up the idea of a partnership. Not sure how that will pan out, but it’s a possibility. He’s been around since he was 18, like I have, so I feel like we’d be a good team due to the differences in our work to this point.

Again dude, thank you for the post. You’ve planted some seeds in my noggin and given me a lot to think about.

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Hell yeah man go for it!

And when once you’ve grown it a bit, ya could do venture into new construction as well.

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Yeah that’s the goal in the end. Trying to do my research and planning (whether solo or partnership) and trying to wrap my head around the business side of things. Might need to go back to school, haha.

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Lifted last night. I was rushed for time so I worked up to a fairly easy squat single at 365 and then just hammered out a few sets of DB incline bench.

I’m weighing consistently around the mid 194’s at night. Even with increased food I’m not keeping up. I started drinking whole milk protein shakes as opposed to just water, and increased the amount the past week from one shake to 2-3 a day.

Going on vacation starting tomorrow and will be back next week. I will likely just restart the program I’ve been running from week 1 to get the entire thing in from start to finish with no breaks.

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