I’ve never done audiobooks! I’ll have to give it a try!!
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Just remember, narrators aren’t created equal. They can make or break a story. You may have to try different ones.
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Today
Malibu Freezer Walk–we made it about 75% off our normal walk before Malibu dragged behind , giving me side eye to let me know she was NOT happy with the 14 degree temp. It was a damp, humid, cold which we never really have in Denver and that makes a big difference to someone wearing only a fur coat and no shoes–which is all she ever wears-- this being Malibu the dog.
came home and did this!
3 rounds of:
- sand bag loads 150# bag x 15 loads added 2 mats/2 inches platform height each round
- bw Bulgarians 30 rep per leg
- 30 bw prison squats
- 10 sec hold
- 30 rep/leg walking lunges
- 30 bw squats
- 10 second hold
3 rounds of:
- band pull thrus x 15
- ball hamstring curls x 15
- hip circle glute bridges x 10
- one legged but lifts x 10 rep/leg
- back extensions x 15
then a set of 10 push ups- I wore wrist wraps and it helped my wrists! I have fairly narrow wrists and monkey arms . I am thinking about getting a sling shot to help me do push ups again.
I get shoulder pain from them, I think due to my limb/torso/whatever angles…but push ups DO a lot for me, yet they are painful and of course very challenging.
some banded rows
Popped on some sunscreen and took my girl out in now BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BURN YOUR RETINA SNOW SUN COMBO 23 degree temp with the sun out- which made a world of difference. Now she was happy to stand and stare at the nature trail and of course sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff!
She has also taken to the squat rack hurdle tricks! Here she is LEAPING joyously for cheese bits! I knew she’d do it once she was no longer afraid!!! :D!!! Me and My girl are a lot alike… cautious, and weary, yet just need a bit of self confidence and practice.
THEN LOOKOUT! Because now we can get very very jubilant to perform once quite scary things!
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Today
Malibu Walk :)!
Then came home, went off by myself for a speed walk- 2.8 miles in 27 mins- about 5% of that distance I ran/jogged.
First thing I will do when they gym opens–STEPMILL!! I can do a ton of stuff at home, but I can’t do good/awful cardio. Running for distance or bursts of sprinting is not an option for me so just forget it exists.
I bet I’ll have to wear a mask which will make it even harder/horrible. I miss that challenge/achievement feeling after finishing!
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Nothing to report today except for this–how disgusting is this? And who would EVER pay that?? Anyone who is desperate for wt’s now in the no-gym time knows how stupid this is and is hopefully a bit smarter!
What PLANET are you from where you think this is acceptable?! These things cost $8 at a walmart!
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I have definitely seen some price gouging on marketplace.
I guess if you are desperate, you’ll go for it. I do hope after things settle it’ll mean a surplus of stuff-- yet who knows.
Today
pull ups x 10
log clean once strict press reps empty/75# x10, 80x10, 85x10, 90x7, 95x5, 100x2, 105
pull ups x 9
fs 45x10, 135x2, 175, 185x8x3 sets, 195x5x3 sets
clean grip lunge 85# x 15/leg, x7/leg then knees seid no
reverse altering lunges bar on back 65# x10/;eg, 85# x 10/leg x 2 sets
tried to do walking lunges in my apart- coudl do 3 steps then turn around and do 3 more then did 5 rep/leg reverse altering
That was it. No much motivation today, this rarely happens to the level it was today and I did not feel lazy- when this kinda feeling of lasseiz faire lifting mojo comes, I submit.
I have been enjoying the upper back work that the ezbar upright rows are doing for me, yet I think its those guys that are killing my inner elbows/lower bicep tendon insertion sites. I am to think if i can change my hand position…whatever. It effects my pull ups a lot and I do not like that. At any rate, I barely got this done today.
I DID get a bunch of sleep after a quasi-overnight shift 2am-11 sunday, and a great walk with my girl after. I am really amped up for some good cardio–a good sweat. I can’t WAIT until its an option.
I am very excited about taking a day off work - to do things like hair cuts and relaxing gym days. There’s no point not working if I can- and I am very grateful I can !- but I like everyone really really wish things would open up more.
My coworkers are great but they are annoying too. One tech assistant I do like a lot , she works hard, she’s very sincere, her only goal is to do what she is supposed to do and she takes it very seriously. Yet she is also very annoying as she gets worked up over things not being in the order that she was instructed they need to be, or any change you need to explain to her and why it happening…millions of questions I have no answer to, just …yeah… She wants to know about things she doesn’t really need too…She requires a lot of answers and I get tired of giving them!
I think everyone has that situation of just needing some space. I bet I have become more annoying myself in ways I do not perceive too.
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Today
deadlifts 45x5, 135x2, 185, 225, 250x8x5 sets QUIET QUIET QUIET SLOW SLOW SLOW
rdls 135x10, 185x10, 205x10
anderson/ottoman zerchers 135x5, 185x8x3 sets QUIET QUIET QUIET SLOW SLOW SLOW
You can even hear my knees cracking and popping…thank God for headphones. I think I’m doing well not making annoying noise for my neighbors at 2am.
bw Bulgarians 15 rep/leg then 15 again then 10 bw squats with 10 second hold x total of 90 Bulgarians/leg etc
That’s it. Not crazy, felt good! I think I might need to add more direct bicep work in attempt to help my tendons a bit. I have never done direct bicep work, yet I know chins for one make my elbows so angry, and the jokey curls I’ve done leave a memory of elbow pain too…
Maybe its my grip/ maybe I can use straps so I activate my biceps less on rows? I have alllll the time in the world to figure this out. yesterday was not slow at work, yet I was BORED BORED BORED and it took forever to pass the day. I think its more of a general theme I am carrying around with me like a sweater- bored- that I need to get rid of!
I DID however start to use the online library books! They are not as hard for me to read as I though with them on my laptop, I like how they look like a book just opened up! So At least I have new stuff to read. I read 2 books my parents lent me over the weekend…and started a third online which is a good one!
For the biceps stuff I am not excited to start. I guess light and low to start. Good thing I have those pink 3# wts which on facebook would be worth $30… YEAH right! I’d never do that and I’d also be extremely reluctant pandemic or not to part with any home gym equipment!
Here’s to herd immunity., healthy recovery for the sick people, and getting back to work for the ones without jobs. I have a few well meaning friends who are all up in arms about the local protest in Denver. In my uneducated option, its not People Wanting to Go Back to Work vs Nurse and Medical people…its everyone wanting to try and support life- financially, medically- they are very similar!
It sucks that some people see it as Us vs Them…its not. I don’t think so at least. I think its a hard choice but one we have to do. Loosing your livelihood is pretty dangerous too! People crumble after that, get depression and suicidal, turn to booze, develop drug habits, beat their wives or their kids-- it happens!!
Its NOT easy for a culture so focused on work as America is to be jobless. I experienced that very naively myself living in England and not being able to work ( I was ignorant and thought since I had the skills I’d be able to get a job! Yet I was not a citizen! And my job did not even exist in the UK as a vet tech!) and it was AWFUL.
I felt like I was not myself at all, not having that part of my life available to be a good worker, to hustle, to provide for myself. I was depressed, I was stir crazy, I was constantly trying to not be bitchy and cuss out my then boyfriend! That was a very long 6 months.
Its such a hard position yet I hope things start relaxing. I can’t imagine how awful I’d be to not have a job right now, I also know its horrible to have a family member terribly ill, AND I know how bad you feel as a nurse when you are overwhelmed with patients and can’t give them the best care you can ( we get overwhelmed in vet medicine too and it sucks!)…they are both really shitty places to be. I am very fortunate I am not currently in either of them, very fortunate!
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Another Low Motivation Day. I woke up at 1am, and had no desire to lift. I tried the normal things, set my routine like I was going to do a normally scheduled log press day- Malibu out to pee, coffee, “wake up” by looking around online x 30-40 mins,…but come time to get dressed…I did not go through with it. umm…no…
I decided instead to wait until the sun came up and open up a can of Diet Strongman and do some field work on its own.
Field Stuff
bw walking lunges 35 rep/leg/20bw squats/10 second hold/10 second rise u -walk to the field estimated 100 ish feet
t bar carry 167# x 1 trip around the field no drops
bw walking lunges 35 rep/leg/20bw squats/10 second hold/10 second rise up- walk to the field
t bar carry 167# x 1 trip around the field 1 regrip/drop
bw walking lunges 35 rep/leg/20bw squats/10 second hold/10 second rise up-walk back to the field
tbar carry 167# x 1 trip around the field 1 regrip/drop
bw walking lunges 35 rep/leg/20bw squats/10 second hold/10 second rise up- walk back to the feild
tbar carry 167# x 1 trip around the field- 3 regrips drop
bw walking lunges 35 rep/leg/20bw squats/10 second hold/10 second rise up- walk back to the field
last trip around the field 167# x 1 trip many re-grips/drop- 3 or 4?
total = 5 trips around the field, 150 rep/leg walking lunges, 80 bw squats, 40 seconds of holding, 40 seconds of slow rise up from the squats
45’s in each hand carry back to the car
empty tbar carry back to car
Sandbag extensions/load into the air and drop 100# x 30
100# x 20 or 25
tried for the first time sand bag over shoulder- this is it
They are stupid- not hard at this wt- and felt inherently sloppy due to the sandbag and my own skills. Not a safe movement for me to do. My shoulders are way too delicate ( not very well muscled or protected by muscle) to mess about with those. I like picks/loading/extensions so much better!
Then did some misc sandbag stuff: 3 dead lifts up, 3 to lap, 3 full extensions x 2 cycles all in a row.
I do know it felt good and I could have pressed the gas down and done more sets and gone wild… but I stopped!
BECAUSE: I train Diet Strongman now-- all of the flavor, lighter on the joints, less hard on my CNS, just as effective to get that high from lifting, and ENOUGH! My days of beating myself up since I had an ax to grind with my existence are done. I can still carry a dypsnic lab who was my isolation patient up and down 2 flights of stairs so he can go outside to pee like I did all this week at work. It makes it way easier!
Then a wonderful Malibu Smellier walk. Its gorgeous out, around 55-60, sort sunny, sorta overcast. NICE!
I may do more training today or not, if I do it’ll be bw. I am happily enthusiastic -currently- today about lifting again tomorrow, and also in a mode of maybe I want to bust out more today. Just needed some outdoor field time!
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Today
fs 45x10, 135x2, 165, 171 x 8 x 8 sets
anderson ottoman zerchers 90x5, 135x3, 171 x 8 x 8 sets
clean grip lunges 85# x 16 rep/leg x 2 sets
reverse alternating lunges 65# x 16 rep/leg x 2 sets
Speed Walk 2.8 miles- did not even bother time this! I was BEAT from the above workout and yesterday’s stuff and knew I’d be a slow ass, I aimed for speed of course, yet my leggies and feets were just not able to do the normal clip!
Came home to my Beautiful Girl!
Went out for a Malibu Spring Fresh Birds on High Volume Smelly Walk-- It was gorgeous out…a bit crisp since I knew I had to keep my momentum up or I’d be down and I did not take my sweaty warmpants off, or my sweaty bra off after lifting and speed walking in them. The sky was overcast/mixed gray and white clouds, small amount of the golden sunrise coming up…a great way to start the day! :)!!!
I think that is ALL I will be doing today too in terms of exercise-- I am pooped!! I do feel good- slept great even slept later then I excepted- which is nice since I’ve been having issues waking up ultra early without wanting too since before the pandemic madness. I launch out of bed ready to go between 12am-3am, mostly at 1am consistently no alarm clock needed. It’ll be less annoying in the coming months since the sun will be coming up earlier and earlier and I can get out either with my girl for her walk or for outdoor carries!
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This might be helpful if you too have seen a bit too much of the bad, internet madness side of friends and acquaintances.
Especially now! My particular issue is the moral posturing of my coworkers who have been insane lately about this time…! This might be helpful!
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Today
Malibu walk- another gorgeous morning!
Then went out on my own for a speed walk- 2.8 miles in about 27 mins 50 seconds - I “ran” about 45% of it. I’d guess my “:run” speed is like 6.4 miles an hour which is not fast.
I am going to try and do pull ups today. My left elbow is iffy, and after looking around online apparently upright rows are notorious elbow destroyers. ;/ My grip on those has been very close, and that too is a big no-no and induces elbow pain. Apparently it has to do with grip and forearm muscles, so maybe I was on to something thinking I was using too much grip and not enough back. Oh well.
OH WELL being another theme of the weekend. I was very excited since the governor had announced that they were going start reducing restrictions and to allow places to open Monday.
Part of them being gyms! This was thrilling news! I had no idea how they were going to do that, or what, maybe only let people come in shifts…Then Wednesday I read that no, gyms are not open- they can only have personal training open in gyms ?.. but hair salons can open!
I was bummed about the gym of course, then thrilled about the hairsalons!! I was very amped up to get my hair cut this week!
…Then yesterday I come to find out my county is not allowing it and instead extending the stay at home order until 5/8. :{ So…if you live in one county you get your hair cut, if you don’t you don’t. And there is something wild like a $1k fine and a year in jail for breaking the stay at home order…so…ugh. I was very annoyed then decided OH WELL, I wait.
I also improved my life by not reading any more news articles by people who clearly have no idea what they are saying yet saying it with the authority of someone who clearly thinks they do, no more facebook posts from friends who are being insane- unfollowed all my coworkers basically.
The level of zero to ten attacking people who disagree is vicious! This time in the world is like an election times a million. I never watched the news anyways, but I did toon in with this whole situation which was a bad call.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who feel like a total fool, trying to do the right thing- thinking one thing then being told the next. A lot of misinformation, but who am I to know? Who are they?! UGH. I feel like a fool though really more then anything- like a sucker. I have cemented my understanding that WAYYYYYY too many people have a platform to talk about “news” and spread misinformation publicly, quickly, and with no remorse for the effects of it.
Anywho! I do have the Strongman Drama to watch which I am enjoying 
Thor’s Deadlift is coming! I bet he gets it.
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3 sets of:
Pull ups x 10
band pull aparts x 30
hamstring curls on ball x 12
3 sets of:
pull ups x 9
band pull aparts x 30
hamstring curls x 12
1 sets of pull ups x 8
band pull aparts x 30
hamstring curls x 12
totals- pull ups 65, band pull aparts 210, hamstring curls 84
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Well, that succinctly sums up about everything in the MSM. Well done.
You are not. Trying to get through this is like trying to wade through a field of sucking mud. Listen, your dedication to training is an inspiration to all here. Hang in there.
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Thank you, I really appreciate it! :)!
Today
log clean once strict press reps empty/75# x 5, 85# x 8 x 5 sets, 85 x7, 85 x6- was hoping for sets of 8 put not today!
fs 45x10, 135x3 , 170x9 x8 sets
clean grip lunges in lifter shoes 70# x15/leg, then barefoot 70# x 15/leg x 2 sets
ss inbetween the barefoot sets- bw squats x 10-10 second hold-10 slow rise up from bottom of the squat- bw squats x 5-10 second hold 10 sec slow rise up
then next set I did the same but added 10 bw squats t the bw squat part
db upright rows lil pink 3#'ers x 12 ss band pull aparts x25
plate upright rows 5#'s x 12 ss band pull aprts x 25
db upright rows 10#'ers ss band pull aparts x 25 x2 sets
plate upright rows 10#'s x 12 ss band pull aparts x 25
I think using plates will be my best option for upright rows, I can use my fingers to grip them and not my thumb so less bicep, and I can turn my wrists in line with my body so less elbow anger. Like a shrug but higher!
My “running” experiment resulted in a few hours later what I rpecieve to be sciatic nerve pain! UH, no thanks. Scrap the short distance “run” parts of my attempts for cardio . MAN…I’m just jonesing so bad for that cardio buzz!!!
Looking online at cardio machines which I won’t (cannot afford either!) buy but its nice to look… This is what I’d like!
I found a real versa climber that was about a decade old but in good shape on the marketplace for $900- which is less then half the price of the one above. Those things are hard to find anywhere - and this was a real one so that’s the price they are worth…now if it was $200 or about, I’d nab it!
They don’t even have them very often in gyms anymore, it was more of a fad of the 90’s–they were TOUGH. Yet ,oh well. I doubt things will return to how they were anytime soon maybe not even this year.
I’ve come to that conclusion and will instead be happily surprised if it changes. I doubt gyms will reopen in May, or even June. If they do I would bet they would have a time slot sort of arrangement where you sign up for a spot online to go in etc. It won’t be the same, it won’t be as convenient of course, and it won’t be for a long time.
I do know I’ll probably do most of my lifting at home and the stuff I can’t like cardio I will do at the gym, so I will be going way less. I’m not afraid of getting sick, I just bet it’ll be a hassle to get in - a hassle I’ll be excited for, still! In in the mean time looking (only!) at versaclimbers online is where I am at…jonesing for cardio!
Today
pull ups x10
dead lifts 45x10, used 35#'s here so all after are slightly deficits- 135x2, 185, 205, 230x8x8 sets
ottoman zerchers 115x5, 165x8, 185x7x3 sets
bw Bulgarians 30 rep/leg- 30 prison squats-10 sec hold-10 slow rise up x 3 sets
one set of 10 of the same
landmine v grip rows 25# x 20, 50# x 30 x 3 sets
Took Malibu out to smell, chase rabbits and stuff
Came back in thinking I’d do some more but not the case. I am very very very hormonal today and sometimes that means I feel great then 5 mins later I have zero energy, that’s what happened. I did do this after the short break
band pull aparts x 30 ss ball hamstring curls x 12 ss slingshot push ups x 10 x 2 sets
I like the slingshot! I will have to give it a try when I am not acutely zapped of energy, it feels great for push ups! I got the kind that is for push ups, a thinner width, It feels great and supportive, no pain so far and the push ups also still feel challenging = good!
Malibu is a superstar!!! My squat rack is also her show jumping place. Since about 3 weeks ago we’ve been working on jumps, and she’s GOOD! She loves it! She learned going through a hoop on Sunday :)!!!
I am so LUCKY she is with me! My God, how lonely and depressed I’d be with out her especially these days!!! Such a gift!!
2 years ago this time I was so depressed and down- my self confidence, self esteem, self worth, you name it was really struck a blow by a stupid scenario and it was hard to recover. I was so angry at myself for letting it happen as well-- that was the hardest part, knowing I let it happen.
I really had no idea when that black cloud of sadness, depression, and blackness would lift or even go back to how it was which was not super excellent but still not as down as the first half of 2018.
I didn’t realize I was depressed either prior to 2018 as well! ! I thought it was an improvement, and it was, it has been every year its better the longer I live really. But honestly, I really was no so hot depression wise, -self worth wise for sure- for …decades! I had just not known it since I was living it and I was not out of it.
The big thing being my self worth which I left to other people’s hands and when they did not recognize it it was awful . Since I had a negative self worth and felt a debt to the world just being alive to start with. I had no allies since I was not an ally to a myself.
I’ve worked and I have changed so much in the last 2 years I am a whole other person. The blackness and sadness of 2018 though?-- it lifted the day I got her. :)!!!
I think she’s happy too !
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You and Malibu make a great team!
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Today
pull ups x 10
log clean once strict press reps empty/75# x 5, 85 x 3, 90 x 6 x 6 sets
pull ups x 10
log clean once strict press reps 95 x 4 x 2 sets
pull ups x 9
log clean and strict press each rep empty/75#x 20 ss 9 pull ups
80# x 11 ss 8 pull ups, 85# x 5 no ss
fs 45x10, 135x2, 170 x2, 190 x 5 x 5 sets
Each rep of the fronties I thought of Zydrunas saying “Yhahello!” Then one of his youtube vid intro clips for every rep
I cuont down my reps so it was “5!”
"4!"
“3!”
“2!”
“1!”
3 rounds of:
- viking press 15 rep/ grip 3 grips slow reps
- db upright rows with 5 second pause up top 10’s x 10 x 2 sets, last set 25# plates
- band pull aparts x 30
Off to the field!
bw walking lunges 40 rep/leg 20 bw squats -10 second hold then 10 second rise up
t bar carry 167# x 1.15 around the field- one go/no drops
bw walking lunges 40 rep/leg 30 bw squats -10 second hold then 10 second rise up
t bar carry 167# x 1 time around the field - no drop/ no drops
bw walking lunges 50 rep/leg 40 bw squats -10 second hold then 10 second rise up
t bar carry 167# x 1 around the field 1 drop/regrip
bw walking lunges 50 rep/leg 30 bw squats -10 second hold then 10 second rise up
t bar carry 167# x 1 around the field 3 drop/regrips
tried some Frankenstein lunges x a bit- using my ez bar which is very light- 15# - did around 10 rep/leg
did oh lunges too , maybe 10 reps/ leg
did a very light oh carry x around 200 feet with the ezbar doing some behind the neck presses with it at times
MALIBU WALK!
Ok! Good workout today! Good grip day! Timing was a big part of it. I managed to have a great night sleep and not wake up super early so the lifting and field stuff all was one smooth motion without having to stop to wait for the sun to come up. VERY COOL! Just me and the pre-sunrise and a BUNCH of birds! Like this guy watching me do oh lunges.
Frankensteins. I think I lunge way to for some times. For sure this is an issue for reverse lunges, it snot the best for what I want to work, but I just reach those toeszies out!
Here’s some turkeys from my workweek. A coworker runs a pug rescue and she’s had this litter since they were 2 days old. Someone on Craig’s list needed to get rid of Mama and her puppies and my cowokrer picked them up. Mama is totally over them (and is still pretty young at 10 months) so they go to work sometimes with my coworker, so I’ve been able to peep in on them midshift here and there since they were itty bitty puggzles.
Shortly after this video they had figured out how to move their pen/carrier. It was zipped up on top and working together, they were rolling out the door in it like hamster wheel! OH THEY ARE PRECIOUS!
They just wanted to say “Yhehello!”
:D!
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