Cal's Big Log II: The Revenge

Training
521

Lanels - that photo was taken last June when I was about 146lbs. I’m about 15lbs heavier now, so I don’t have that level of definition currently. I wish! Thing is, even when that photo was taken, I still have an arse like two bowls of porridge.

Kimba - I’m trying to cut down on spending so cheap canned tuna will be in there, but mostly it’s meat of some sort and green veggies, at least for a while. Main thing is that I’m cutting out nuts and dried fruit for March (basically for Lent, even though I’m not religious) because I just cannot eat them in moderation. That, and not Heston’s lovely meal, is where all these extra pounds have come from.

522

I definitely understand the allure of dried fruit and nuts. I can do almonds and prunes (I love them) in moderation so they stay around the house. Meat/fish and veg is a great choice, and a very sustainable diet.

523

Hey Cal, SO glad I dont have to go to a gym all the time and deal with ding dong idiots. Zero tolerance in my book, I would probably have been arrested if I had to frequent a real gym. :wink:
Um on the handstands, that is the way for CONSISTENT progress is to do them as often as you can. Even if it is for a few kickups just get some time in on them. DOing great & keep after it!

524

Did gymnastics today. Not many people there this time, which made it a bit less fun, actually. After all the warm up stuff she had us do circuits of drills. I was really wanting to practise my handstand more but we only did it a couple of times onto a crash mat and not against the wall. Didn’t help that my legs were fatigued from the squats yesterday so all the bunny hops and stuff we do to warm up were pretty tough. I guess the fact I didn’t eat carbs yesterday didn’t help me much either!

I’ve stuck to my diet for two days. It’s pretty boring, truth be told. I keep craving nuts and raisins and other things, grrr. There’s a constant battle between the “child” me that wants gratification right now, and the “adult” me that wants a slammin’ bod. I guess that’s the same for everyone, right? What usually happens with me is that I diet down to the point where my clothes fit better and I feel OK about myself, but then I run out of diet stamina, if you will, before I get even a whiff of abdominal definition. I’d like to have that once in my life, before I get menopausal and fat.

525

Good luck w/the diet. Sounds like so far, so good. I’ll be honest, I can’t exactly relate to the diet frustration. But I can definitely relate to body image, particularly clothes fitting, frustration. It has taken me most of my life to come to terms w/my legs. I still struggle w/it. I love my body and feel fantastic and sexy and strong, etc. … until I have to get dressed for work. Pants just do not fit me properly.

My point is, even if you have the slammin’ bod of your wildest dreams it is still possible to find yourself frustrated with it. Sometimes my training goals and the aesthetic reality of reaching them leave me flummoxed. Maybe I’m just a nut, but we all want to feel good about ourselves. Guess I just chalk it up to human nature. Sorry about the hijack. Keep up the good work, stick to what you know is best for you and you’ll be happy w/the results.

526

lol @ “fucknut” - i’ll have to remember that one.

:frowning: No more Oly? Yeah…it bangs you up pretty badly. At least your not self-inflicting injuries by hitting yourself with the bar like I do.

Good luck with the diet Cal! We know you can do it, you’ve done it before!

527

I’m not dropping it permanently - I’m just stopping until the elbow calms down and I figure out what’s up with my leg.

I did fuck all today. I got up this morning and realised I had no energy. Four days of exercise in a row plus two days of no carbs doesn’t make for a good workout, so I decided to take a rain check (literally, as it was also pissing with rain).

528

Do you take fishoil?? I can’t tell you how much it has helped keep me moving, I notice if I miss a dose. It definitely keeps me moving. I take 4-5 Flameout a day, along with vit D and electrolyte replacement - but of all those the Flameout is a mandatory thing. Just thinkin it might help with the elbow if you aren’t taking it already.

529

Yes, religiously! Heh. And Vit D. I also take a Glucosamien/Chondroitin supplement.

530

Just checkin’ :wink:

531

with the clean grip…

i’m wondering whether you are resting the bar on your delts (good) or in your hands (i’ve heard of this causing wrist pain - maybe the source of your elbow pain?).

You should be able to put the bar on your delts and hold your arms straight out in front of you - like a zombie. people can front squat like that and all with the bar just balancing there on their delts. then stretching the fingers / wrists so you can get at least some of your fingers around the bar… eventually people manage to get their whole hand around there in a hook grip - but that can take some time. I’ve never heard of elbow pain from this, though, so just ignore me if this isn’t it.

aw. i’m just sad that you have to lay off the Oly Lifting. still, with running and gymnastics there is heaps to be doing. i’ve been thinking my press got weaker lately, too… are you doing it when you aren’t as fresh or something?

532

I already have a bit of golfer’s elbow from back squats (due to the angle it sits at) but it’s more a low grade grumbly tendon thing rather than a sharp “shit what was that?” sort of pain. My wrists are pretty flexible and strong from the gymnastics, but you’re right that the bar doesn’t sit on my delts. I have very poor mobility in the shoulder girdle and thoracic spine (lots of sitting at a computer, plus longterm chronic rotator cuff problems) and I actually can’t get the bar to sit on my delts without rounding my back. If I retract my shoulder blades, my neck is in the way of the bar. Short of cutting my own head off, I’m not quite sure what to do about that!

Anyway, I still felt crappy (low carby) this morning but not as bad as yesterday so I hit the gym. Did a few glute activation exercises to warm up then hit the squats.

Back Squat

Bar x 10
30kg x 10
3 x 40kg x 8

(Then added a box - 6 risers and a 15kg plate)

Box Squats

3 x 45kg x 5
3 x 50kg x 3

I think it’s getting better - mobility seems to have improved a wee bit. I’ll keep working it.

Overhead Squats

5 x Bar x 5
1 x 25kg x 3

First couple of sets were murder on my wrists so I brought my grip in a tad for the rest. It’s a lot more challenging with the narrower grip but my wrists thanked me for it. I felt confident enough to add a little weight which was even more of a challenge. I’ll keep working these.

I did two sets of 10 Janda sit-ups with my knees hooked over the safety bar on the power rack. These were much easier than my attempts at home (although still quite tough on the old abs).

Waiters Walks

2 x 20kg (approx 20 steps per side)

Trying these for the first time. They’re pretty tough, eh? I found it much harder on my left side, which I suppose isn’t too surprising given I’m right handed. It’s quite hard to do in my gym because it’s small and there’s a lot of equipment in the way, but I managed. I think I like these - they’ll be good for shoulder stability.

RDLs

3 x 60kg x 5

I was pooped by this point so I found these tough. I was concentrating on keeping the bar close to my body and using my glutes. Three sets was enough.

Then I went to the other room and did some handstand practise. I’m nailing the wall handstands more consistently now, although I don’t have the muscle control to take my feet away and remain upright for more than a couple of seconds. I also had to be careful as I was getting a bit of the old orthostatic hypotension going on, probably down to the low carbs.

Diet is still solid - I feel quite thirsty and am pissing like a racehorse so I guess I’m losing some water weight, at least.

533

even when I’m not dieting, its always a constant battle.

I’m getting back on the wagon for a couple months so I’m right there with you. Thankfully I can go back and forth fairly easily. But I need to start practicing getting to a place where its not so all or nothing.

534

Cal: Good work on the diet. I’ve heard the first few days of low carbing it are pretty grim, but hopefully soon you’ll get your energy levels back.

Re the handstand: I would move away from the wall ASAP or try from the beginning never to let your feet touch the wall. You want to kick up and block it out right at the top. It’s much harder to over kick the handstand (and hit the wall) and then successfully bring it back to a vertical stop that you can hold.

535

Still staying true on the diet, great work hun.
Low carb does require you to be within a 10 foot radius of a toilet at all times. It’s just sucky all around, I don’t look forward to it.

536

Awesome work in every aspect. You are way ahead of me on the overhead squats. I’m still looking to do the bar.

537

Great work sticking to the diet and getting in a good workout!

And way to push through those minor aches.

I just looked up the jandas (saw them in veggie’s log) - are they the situps where you keep the lat bar under your legs?..

I think Nadia is totally right! Its kinda like the Oly lifting. Once you start getting consistent, its time to step it up, even if its not perfect. Go on girl!

ps. you know a vid of your first attempt would be awesome! just say’ :stuck_out_tongue:

538

can you hold your arms out in front of you like a zombie without rounding your back?

  • sorry if i’m being dumb. i’ve never had shoulder / thoracic problems so i’m having trouble visualizing how you are restricted.
539

Pretty sure I said it on Alisa’s log, but 20 kg on those waiter’s walks is impressive. Gonna have to step up my game. Thanks for the inspiration.

540

[quote]veggiestrong wrote:
Pretty sure I said it on Alisa’s log, but 20 kg on those waiter’s walks is impressive. Gonna have to step up my game. Thanks for the inspiration.

[/quote]

Ditto! Those are some heavy carries. I’m always afraid I’ll trip on someone in the way and kill somebody. :slight_smile: Have you noticed that some people have no spatial awareness?