Cal's Big Log

Cal and Kimba, like you I’ve known my entire life that kids were not going to happen. So many people always told me I’ll change my mind but I’ve never ever even come close to wanting kids. My mom never did bother me about it though. I think if she felt like she had the choice wouldn’t have either. She’s always been pleased with my choice and happy I decided to be a selfish childless professional D.I.N.K. =D

I am actually good with kids perhaps because my childless lifestyle permits me to be a tad immature. They tend to glom on to me not let go!

I’m actually not surprised if all you ladies would be great mothers, despite the fact that some of you claim to not be maternal. Why? Because you all show great dedication to the things you care about - and because you all have a sense of humor. But like Cal said, I am so glad we live in a society where we can make this choice.

I’m fairly certain I’m going to be a mom, but not biologically. I want to foster or adopt, especially older kids and hopefully a set (ha!). I know that they may have emotional and psychological problems, but they’re just humans like us, and we all have problems. lol.

Did I already say how impressed I am by your DB rows? Yhat seems so far away for me!

Kimba - I am parallel to the floor below the bar with my knees bent at 90 degrees and feet on the floor. I’ve done them with legs straight but the angle changes. I prefer to do them the way I do them now but I’ll mix it up every so often.

nice work cal…can you tell us more about the ART on your hips,

I spend much time on mobility - it works but takes time.

we just jumped on the kid wagon at 38 waited til it felt good

glad to hear that mobility work takes time - I need to remind myself. I expect the flexors and hips to magically loosen up. meh.

I didn’t train Thursday again - no real excuse - I just couldn’t be bothered.
Had to force myself again today. The computer is such a tempting diversion.

I’ve not squatted for two weeks now and already my back is starting to ease. Haven’t tried to deadlift or rack pull either. I guess I need a break from these exercises until things settle down, and I’m not too sorry about that because right now I’m concentrating on fat loss rather than gaining strength.

I’m officially in deload week of 5/3/1 now, so I figured I’d go to the gym and take part in the Concept II rowing challenge I mentioned a while back.

There are three distances, 1000m, 2000m and 3200m. So far, no woman has posted a time at anything other than 1000m, so I figured I’d stick with that. I don’t usually use the rower but I’m quite good at it when I try.

The best time for the women over 1000m was 4:12 (from a 31 year old instructor there). Being a gnarly 42 year old I felt obliged to kick her arse so I grabbed an instructor to witness and clocked in 4:03.7. It was painful and I am still coughing my lungs up nearly an hour later, but it was worth it. I’ll be extremely annoyed if someone beats my time as I don’t want to go through that again.

I did my deload military presses ( 2 x 10 x empty bar, 3 x 5 x 22.5kg) and two sets of hang power clean and press with 30kg (5 reps) but was coughing so hard I couldn’t really do any more than that.
I’d had a late night and a relatively late start so I called it a day.

Pleasingly, my weight is now down to 10 stone 10 (150lbs) which is a loss of 12lbs since Christmas. Waist is down to 27.5 (was 29 after Christmas) and hips 38.5 (was 40). So this is a result.

Funny thing is, the weight loss seems pretty consistant even though I am eating some naughties at the weekend. Guess I found something that works for me: eating very low calories (whey protein and canned tuna) during the week and then a reasonable amount with some treats on the weekend. Perhaps I may even get to see my abs for the first time. That would be nice, wouldn’t it?

With shoulders and back like yours no wonder you smashed that rowing challenge - good for you. and kudos on the weight loss. I hear you on the hips - although I’m not convinced about eating tuna all day.

impressed with the rowing. I never could figure out the form.

You & me on the hip business. (and “arse.” Which sounds so quaint in the US – do rude guys actually say things like “Nice arse” over there?)

Cal, i gotta tell you, your wight loss is fucking awesome! i’m so happy you are getting results. i’ll patiently wait for mine.

and the rowing, way to kick that arse!

Alisa - there are nice English people who do not feel the need to pepper their dialogue with expletives. I, on the other hand, am from South London.

Great job on the rowing. I’ve thought of rowing in an attempt to drive up my bench. And congrats on the weight loss! Super!

I actually like rowing, but I’ve never done it to excess. Only for warmup. I should try it for cardio sometime when the weather keeps me indoors.

I find rowing for more than 1000m intolerable. I have actually rowed for much longer but damn it’s tedious. I’d rather get my (slower) cardio outside in the fresh air where I can enjoy the trees, squirrels and birds as I squish around in the mud on Tooting Common.

My lungs are still hammered, btw!

I was going to run yesterday (as I generally do on Sundays) but it was pissing down so I stayed indoors. Went to the gym this morning though. Deload week - did a fairly length mobilisation warm-up before hitting bench.

Bar x 20, 30kg x 10 (x2), then 40kg x 5, 42.5kg x 5, 45kg x 5.

I actually couldn’t remember what weights I was meant to be using so I just did that.

I thought I’d do some chins but only got 3 reps before I died, so I went and did a couple of sets of dumbell rows (24kg x 10, 26kg x 8) instead. Weights felt really heavy today.

Did two sets of straight arm pulldowns (25kg x 8) before calling it a day.

I don’t know if I’m tired because of the rowing, but I felt pretty sucky. Good job it’s a deload, eh?

Oh, but I felt the same way last week – deloads do take the pressure off. Next workout will be better.

um, hello? Cal…you leave for a trip and not tell us or something?

Naw. Actually I was just coming here to post and saw I’d been missed. How sweet!
In actual fact I haven’t trained all week. I trained Monday, was going to train Wednesday but woke up too late, and then on Thursday I woke up with a nice scratchy throat and sneezes. My boss has a horrible cough which he’s passed around the office. Given I have a 10K on Sunday I thought training would be a dumb thing to do, so I’ve been taking it easy.
Thought about training today but I don’t want to be running tomorrow with DOMs. I’ll do my race, then start back again on Tuesday, hopefully.

Happy race day tomorrow…hope you are feeling better!

Oh! The race is tomorrow?! Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

fingers and toes crossed

Cheers, I seem to have fought it off, so I should be OK. I guess if I don’t post tomorrow you’ll know I died.