Coming Back From the Dead

Training Over 35 Lifter
181

Dave, have had issues all my life. Congenital defect (holes in septum), pronounced closed @ age 15. Arythmia episodes started 10 yrs ago. Doc raised issue about valve. Palpitations started 4 yrs ago. Brother needed open heart surgery to repair valve. Father died from heart attack. So you can tell I’m damn bothered by the fragility of the ticker.

KBgal, thanks, feeling worlds better and will force self to take more rest periods in future.

Fischer, thanks much, progress seems achingly slow. Actually, considering how good I feel now, thinking properly scheduled rest periods should do wonders for my gains. (Yeah, it seems obvious - but sometimes it has to be knocked in our face.)

Oh, and I always played warriors, not paladins, in my RPG’s . . . : )

182

Since Paladins are Noble, Lawful Good etc…

So I was just tying Paladin to Cavalier due to them being part of the same class in AD&D 1st ed.

In all seriousness Cav,

We both have issues with our Hearts that we have no control. What I am saying is your sweating over small stuff in the grand scheme of things, we are lucky to be 6 ft up not 6ft under!

Granted there are times where I get frustrated with my lack of progress or rearward progress but what good is it complaining about it? Learn to adapt and overcome, that my friend is how we should be enjoying life…

Rick

183

[quote]FISCHER613 wrote:
Granted there are times where I get frustrated with my lack of progress or rearward progress but what good is it complaining about it? Learn to adapt and overcome, that my friend is how we should be enjoying life…
[/quote]
I always learn from you, Rick. Great words.

184

Glad you are feeling better Cav.

x2 on Ricks words!

185

“Paladins are Noble, Lawful Good etc. . .” Hmm, thanks for the compliment. To be exact, Rick, I ran my character Cavalier in superhero games. He was raised in the army in a special project, recruited at age 5. A lifetime trained in martial arts, weaponry, weightlifting, acrobatics. He’s the peak of muscular, athletic perfection. Confident, proud, a good friend, and a keen sense of humor. An idealized version of how I’d like to see myself.

We’re fortunate that both of us can keep our heart problems under control. In my case, it’s a good barometer on when stress is reaching critical levels. In fact, it’s a good thing I have it, since it forced me to take a week off and led to some solid recovery gains.

Hi, Snap, thanks for dropping by. I know you’re frustrated with your benching, well, me too. Considering it took me 10 years to get my bench from 95 to 115, yeah, I feel your pain. However, I’ve learned since then and sped up the process some . . . the trainer wants to give me some tips . . . I’m too bullheaded to give up.

Hey Up, thanks for the concern! Drop by anytime!

186

Strong work Cav. Glad you’re feeling better. Always a good feeling when the shirts start to get tight.

187

[quote]ecogenx wrote:
Strong work Cav. Glad you’re feeling better. Always a good feeling when the shirts start to get tight. [/quote]

In the right places, of course!

188

Would have gone back to the gym yesterday, but closed Easter - I hate holidays. After a week off, started today. The plan: 3 weeks training, 1 week off.

Deadlift
135 x 10
155 x 10
205 x 9
225 x 8 . x 8

GOD, that last set was awful!! Straining, gasping, retching, took like 2 minutes to get all the reps out. Had some palpitations for a moment, but settled down.

Pulldowns
80 x 14
100 x 12
120 x 8 . x 8 . x 9

Good Mornings
45 x 10
65 x 8
95 x 8

blech, these were tough, not sure if I needed them after the deads, but my body just won’t grow if I don’t pound it.

189

Busy grading student projects, no time to visit your logs right now, sorry.

Glad I took off that time last week, felt really refreshed today. Miscellaneous stuff, mostly shoulder:

Overhead press
30 x 15
55 x 12
65 x 10
75 x 9
80 x 8 . x 8

better than I expected, felt good and controlled, the very last rep was slow going up, so weight was perfect.

Face pull
70 x 12
80 x 8 . x 9 . x 8 . x 8

Standing calf
155 x 15
195 x 12 . x 12 . x 10

DB side raise
15 x 8 . x 8 . x 8

yep, shoulders are fried. Want to work grip, been a while since I’ve done wrist curls. Wait, why not the shrug machine? Work grip and upper back at same time.

Hammer shrug
90 x 12
180 x 5
140 x 5
110 x 8 . x 11
130 x 9

took a bit to find what plates would work . . . why did 140 nearly bury me, but 130 was just right?

190

Cav, ooo doesn’t sound like you’ve had fun in the last couple of weeks. But looks like you are making a come back. Yeah holidays are nice but they always interfere with my training schedule. Take care of yourself.

191

Lots of volume with decent weight good for you.
Stay Strong.

192

Techno, not as bad as it could have been. This bout of palpitations lasted less than an hour. In the past, have had attacks lasting 2 or 3 hours, and causing enough pain to put me in tears. Once, lasted for over 5 hours. In 4 years, twice bad enough to put me in the hospital. Docs say they’re harmless, thank goodness, but they are painful.

Bruce, I spent a lot of years not enough volume, kicked up in past couple of years and got benefits. Thanks for the thought.

Well, the problem of finding time to do conditioning has been solved. The elevators busted at work, and my classes are on the 4th floor. Onward and upward . . .

Squat
95 x 10
105 x 10
135 x 9
145 x 8 . x 8

I’ll be goddamned, these were almost enjoyable. My butt was nearly kissing the floor and loving me for it. Maybe could have done a tad more weight, but so shocked by how strong my hips and legs felt.

See, the palpitations weren’t so bad after all. They forced me to rest and eat for a week and let my body toughen.

Leg press - plate loaded
2 plates/side x 12
3 plates x 9
3 plates + 25 x 8
3 plates + 25 x 8

very nice!

193

What is this foolishness that you having a set-back?

You got to keep taking the hits and keep moving forward, Cav!

Serious tip, I am glad you are on the upswing…you are in my prayers, dear warrior.

194

Kairiki, thanks for thinking of me.

Bench
45 x 12
95 x 10
15 x 9
120 x 8
125 x 8
115 x 8
95 x 9

I believe that 125 x 8 is a PR. Pushed really hard, got all the weights up, feeling pretty good.

DB Pullover
35 x 12 . x 12 . x 12

think I need to put more work on arms, they’re really thin, try a new machine

Hammer Dip
90 x 12
110 x 8 . x 8 . x 10

not bad, good and smooth

OK, got talking with one guy doing bench. As courtesy, I offered to spot, even though he was only using 85 lbs. Good thing I asked - it was his very first time with barbells and he didn’t know what he was doing!! I showed him some pointers on benching - grab hard, pull apart, arch back, inhale deep when lowering. He tried it and liked it.

We then went to the incline bench and he loaded a 25 on each end. I gently explained that it would be too much, and he settled on a 10. He got into it, lowering all the way to his chest, going straight to failure - damn good thing I was there! He insisted on doing decline bench and pumped away - once again, good thing I was there to spot him or he’d be in ER with a bar through his throat.

He said he wanted to build up, and agreed that squats and deadlifts would be the ticket. I showed him a squat in the power rack, and he repeated with an empty bar. Sonofagun, but he got low!!! He did a few reps, surprisingly good form, then racked and complained how heavy 45 felt. I told him how I had to use a broomstick when I started.

This guy is really lucky. I honestly thought he had some experience in lifting, but this was his first. He’s slender but muscular, what I would call wiry. He’s only done pushups and chins, stuff like that, but already at the level it took me years to get to. He’s a fast learner, he kept the bar quite steady during bench.

I’m envious. His body obviously responds very nicely to training, and he’s sure to go far. And he’s really friendly, too.

195

Just read a lot of your posts here. Glad you’re doing better and impressed at your ability to not let physical problems derail your goals. I’m gonna start following log if you don’t mind.

196

[quote]Kairiki wrote:
What is this foolishness that you having a set-back?

You got to keep taking the hits and keep moving forward, Cav!

Serious tip, I am glad you are on the upswing…you are in my prayers, dear warrior.[/quote]
XXXXXXXX2

197

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Kairiki, thanks for thinking of me.

Bench
45 x 12
95 x 10
15 x 9
120 x 8
125 x 8
115 x 8
95 x 9

I believe that 125 x 8 is a PR. Pushed really hard, got all the weights up, feeling pretty good.

DB Pullover
35 x 12 . x 12 . x 12

think I need to put more work on arms, they’re really thin, try a new machine

Hammer Dip
90 x 12
110 x 8 . x 8 . x 10

not bad, good and smooth

OK, got talking with one guy doing bench. As courtesy, I offered to spot, even though he was only using 85 lbs. Good thing I asked - it was his very first time with barbells and he didn’t know what he was doing!! I showed him some pointers on benching - grab hard, pull apart, arch back, inhale deep when lowering. He tried it and liked it.

We then went to the incline bench and he loaded a 25 on each end. I gently explained that it would be too much, and he settled on a 10. He got into it, lowering all the way to his chest, going straight to failure - damn good thing I was there! He insisted on doing decline bench and pumped away - once again, good thing I was there to spot him or he’d be in ER with a bar through his throat.

He said he wanted to build up, and agreed that squats and deadlifts would be the ticket. I showed him a squat in the power rack, and he repeated with an empty bar. Sonofagun, but he got low!!! He did a few reps, surprisingly good form, then racked and complained how heavy 45 felt. I told him how I had to use a broomstick when I started.

This guy is really lucky. I honestly thought he had some experience in lifting, but this was his first. He’s slender but muscular, what I would call wiry. He’s only done pushups and chins, stuff like that, but already at the level it took me years to get to. He’s a fast learner, he kept the bar quite steady during bench.

I’m envious. His body obviously responds very nicely to training, and he’s sure to go far. And he’s really friendly, too.[/quote]

Hey Cav, maybe you two can be workout partners. Nothing like youngblood to help light more fire under you and push you more!

198

Harry, thanks for the understanding. Please feel free to drop by anytime.

Bulldog, thanks for the encouragement!

Kairiki, possible, it’s always been hard for me to make friends in the gym. A workout partner would be great, not to push me harder - I already push harder than anyone I know - but because some companionship makes the lifting go easier.

Sumo deadlift
135 x 12
185 x 6
245 x 3 . surprising, thought I’d do more than that
235 x 5 . x 5 . x 5

OW. OW. OW. I haven’t felt this beat up since Sheiko. Oh, ouch.

Pulldown
90 x 12
120 x 9
140 x 8
160 x 5 . x 5

Really bothered by the deads, seemed like it was all bent over back and no leg pressing, sure my form was atrocious. Do something to try and work the bottom position:

Extreme sumo DL
95 x 10
145 x 8 . x 8

oh, back hurt just picking that off the pins. Gonna have to eat and get loads of sleep. Please tell me all this suffering will bring rewards.

199

All the suffering is worth it. The rewards are beyond your wildest imaginings. Keep up the good work.

200

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. - Kenji Miyazawa.

Any questions?