Congrats on the 490-lbs rack pull! Sorry to hear about the knees.
Way to go on the pulls. Hope the knee gets better soon.
Thanks mcl, mathineer…
The knee isn’t that bad. I just think I strained something. Left leg has always given me trouble. I have sprained my left ankle 6 times (3 times on crutches), sprained my left knee twice and had tears (not completely torn) ligaments in it twice.
Interesting…every injury I have had has been on the left side…those mentioned above and I broke my left wrist, broke a rib and have the shoulder issue, all on the left side.
When I treadmill, you can tell that my left ankle isn’t quite right, as the foot thuds more as I walk. Also, if I step on something uneven, the right ankle will hold when the left just gives. The last time I twisted it I was just walking to lunch and stepped on a crack in the road.
Maybe my brain is malformed and the right hemisphere isn’t developed enough to properly control the left side…lol. That would actualy explain a lot…
Lookin’ good over here LS! Way to go on that rack pull. I hear you on the flaky knee. My knee sleeves are standard equipment on leg day after warm ups and light weights. Adds a little stability and soothes the brain for the mental aspect.
You’re an animal over here-- Keep it up!
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
Lookin’ good over here LS! Way to go on that rack pull. I hear you on the flaky knee. My knee sleeves are standard equipment on leg day after warm ups and light weights. Adds a little stability and soothes the brain for the mental aspect.
You’re an animal over here-- Keep it up![/quote]
Thanks SteelyD… I have been thinking about knee sleeves. The only thing really stopping me is that I am not lifting that much weight. Of course, since my knees/legs aren’t used to lifting more than my big @ss, maybe they would benefit me.
Do you use the Inzer?
Meant to do absoutely nothing today. My shoulders and back were really sore and tight this morning. In fact, I was having a time of it just getting out of bed.
As big trash day is coming up, though, I ended up moving lots of stuff to the curb…several fence panels, futon, TV, large air hockey table, cardboard, cardboard, cardboard, etc… Not a lot of fun in 103 degree weather.
About an hour after that (just enough time to eat and rehydrate) a friend called and needed some help. So I spent just over 2 hours hauling around bags of concrete, new fence panels, setting posts, digging, blah, blah, blah.
The day was a complete failure on the planned rest, but an awesome GPP day. I should sleep well.
Yeah, I bought the Inzer sleeves. I just leave them loose on lighter exercises or weights, then crank them down as the weights get heavier. For the longest time I used cheap neoprene/velcro ones. They kept my knees warm, with little support, but the velcro would pop out when I was in the hole.
Totally worth the cost IMVHO.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
Yeah, I bought the Inzer sleeves. I just leave them loose on lighter exercises or weights, then crank them down as the weights get heavier. For the longest time I used cheap neoprene/velcro ones. They kept my knees warm, with little support, but the velcro would pop out when I was in the hole.
Totally worth the cost IMVHO.[/quote]
Sounds like a plan. I will have to look into getting a pair. Thanks!
I forgot to mention early… whenever I squated down to lift the fence panels, my left knee would tweak sharply. I still have no idea what I did, but it is really getting annoying. Hopefully it will back off by Tuesday. As much as I hate squats, I like their effects on my DLs.
So…I piddle around most of the day, feeling out of sync. I was still lamenting my knee, which hurt every step on the way down the stairs, and whenever I thought about squatting down. Then, about 4:00…pffffft. The pain was gone. I just got through doing some bw squats and felt only the slightest bit of tenderness.
I did notice, though, even as I sit here, if I bend my right leg, then straighten it, it moves smooth as silk. If I bend then straighten my left, at about halfway to 90 degrees, when straightening, something is catching, directly underneath my knee cap. I have always been able to “pop” this knee by straightening it from a bend. But never paid it much attention until now. There are definitely a couple of “snags.”
Not sure what they are. I just hope that the tenderness is gone in the morning and I am able to squat again come Tuesday
Hope everyone has had a great 4th!.
Nice lifting LS! You’re a big guy, and a strong one too. What part of Oklahoma you from? I spent a stretch there a few years back in N. Oklahoma. In fact my oldest daughter was born in Ponca City, too damned hot this time of year.
[quote]daddyzombie wrote:
Nice lifting LS! You’re a big guy, and a strong one too. What part of Oklahoma you from? I spent a stretch there a few years back in N. Oklahoma. In fact my oldest daughter was born in Ponca City, too damned hot this time of year.[/quote]
DZ, thanks. I am just trying not to embarass myself around you folks.
I live in Moore. It is right at the south edge of OKC. And, yes, it is far too hot. Of course, moving here from GA, the only difference is shorter trees, flatter land and more wind. I am still biased towards GA, the SEC and all that junk. I have been forced to develop some allegiance to OK, however, as all 3 of my kids ar Okies.
I don’t recall if I have posted on your log. I have followed it, however. When you posted your 1st pics of the spring, I was amazed. All I had seen was the pic in your avatar. You have some massive upper arms! The training is very interesting…not your typical stuff. Unless, of course, you compete in strongman events. Awesome stuff!
Bench Day-
Well, the left knee is still tender, especially when standing. Continuing to test it with bw squats, though, there still is no pain. Also, the discomfort in my right shoulder has gone. So that it good, obviously.
Two things from today’s workout. I, somehow, during the bench set at 275#, tweaked my back. It feels like it is right at the very bottom tip of my left Trapezius or in the area of the lat just to the left of that. This has happened before and will last anywhere from 2-5 days. It isn’t debilitating, but significant enough that I couldn’t do any standing exercises and filling my lungs with air (for bench and close grip) was rather uncomfortable…as was holding my arch.
Also, I just haven’t felt quite right when benching of late. I checked my bench a little closer today and sure enough, it is warped. It really is no surprise. The bench is rated to only 610#. As I weigh about 260# and have done lockouts with 400#, that puts it about 50# over the rating. When looking at the bench from the seat, the upper part is lower on the left side (right side of the body when benching). It isn’t enough to make you slide off, but enough that I can feel the gap under my right scap/trap and definitely enough to cause me to involuntarily compensate.
Time for a new bench. The wife is gonna kill me!
YTWLx1
Dislocatesx10x2
Bench
barx25
95x20
135x15
185x5
225x5
275x3
300x3 PR +1 rep
300x2
300x2
not the 3x3 I wanted, but closer
Close Grip Bench - shoulder held up nicely
225x5
235x4
245x3
225x5
Reverse Flyes
40x10x3
Tate Presses
60sx8x3
Thursday is definitely going to have to be speed bench, as I am feeling a bit worn down. Hopefully that back thingy will be gone and I can get more military in the mix.
Tuesday is iffy, now. If the back is okay, and the knee holds, it should be a normal workout. Otherwise, lots of light back work.
Catching up on your log, after some days away. Way to work thru adversity. I’m going to have to follow your lead.
[quote]j_willy3 wrote:
Catching up on your log, after some days away. Way to work thru adversity. I’m going to have to follow your lead.[/quote]
Thanks… A lot of the things I go through are just little nags. The back thing pops up from time to time, in one of two spots. I don’t know what it is but it never lasts long. The knee thingy was really strange. One day I will get it checked out to see what the snag is.
I am really blessed in the injury department. Besides the Spondy, which seems to be holding, and the shoulder, which is just a nuisance, I do okay.
I am really amped about your last heavy bench session. I can’t wait to see you top 300# and keep on never look back!
Oh yeah… For those of you who use Creatine. I cycled off of it 8 days ago. I figure I will give it until this Friday, or maybe the next, before I start back up. That will be 2-3 weeks off of it.
I don’t know that cycling it is really necessary. In my mind, though, cycling off and letting my body settle in without it, makes it feel like I am consolidating my gains. I hope that when I go back on it I might get a slight bump, as I can usually tell, in performance, when it gets back in my system after a layoff.
We will see…
I’ve never felt anything from Creatine. 
So far all I have ever gotten from creatine is muscle cramps. Not saying it doesn’t do as advertised, just never been able to live with it’s effects on me.
Combining beta-alanine and creatine is supposed to be an effective training session-lengthening strategy though. Increases training endurance and aids recovery. The supp I took had creatine and beta-al and worked pretty good. Got cramps of course, but I could train longer on it.
I definitely look fuller when I’m taking creatine. I think I’m one of those people who retains water with it. I’m not strict about cycling, but it seems I take a week off here and there from it, usually coinciding with work travel.
I’ve never done any experimentation to see if I actually have strength changes with/out it. It’s cheap and lasts a long time, so I just go with it.
mcl, DCA, SteelyD - I can’t swear that it isn’t a placbo effect. If it is, though, I will take it. I do feel “sturdier”, the first week or so…before the feeling becomes the norm. I feel like my endurance bumps slighty, as far as being able to do more heavy sets before fatigue starts taking it’s toll.
And, in the past, specifically when I 1st go on it after a long absence, I feel stronger, especially near maximal weights. It is not uncommon for the weights I can push to have a slight jump during the 1st couple of weeks. Of course, I have cycled off of it before and felt like I experienced a slight drop in strength.
And I agree with you, SD. I definitely feel “fuller”, like I have soaked up water. Again, before the feeling becomes the norm. Mind you, I am not talking about going on it, waking up after a few days and feeling like all my maxes have jumped 20#. Simlpy that a 315# bench feels lighter and more manageable when transitioned from complete depletion to a loaded state.
That being said, it could all be placebo effect or just coincidence. I any case, as SD said, it is cheap and I perceive a benefit. So, I stick with it.
Cramps have never been much of an issue with me, with or without it. Neither has the bloating. Of course, I drink about 1-2 gallons of water a day and am always taking the creatine in shakes, not with just water or juice.
Couple of things…
First, given the capacity issue with my bench, do any of you have a suggestion for a sturdy bench that won’t break the bank? I don’t so much care whether or not it is a multi-position bench. I don’t even care whether it comes with its own rack. (might be cheaper and better if it didn’t, since I can use it in the power rack) My main concerns are that the height is at or near regulation, the width is sufficient for proper support and that the darned thing will hold the weight!
Second, my back was so tweaked the night before last that I was in severe pain every time I went to turn over. Got up this morning and, barring a movement that really stretches or stresses the area, the pain is gone. These little back thingies are annoying but, thankfully, short-lived. Hopefully I won’t aggravate it this afternoon.