Coming Back From the Dead

Training Over 35 Lifter
561

Corr, I am rarely “psyched” after workouts. Saturday was unusual, I actually felt ordinary and had a good night’s sleep. Not aroused, just absence of agony. Very often I’m depressed after workouts. Before workouts, I usually dread going, my body knows punishment is coming. When I can’t sleep, I get stuck on feelings of frustration and despair hour after hour through the night.

Today I got an old back brace out of storage. Theory: see if some torso support will help. It’s not as solid as a belt, but much faster to put on and off (it’s velcro).

Warmup with sled pulls, 3 plates.

Rack pulls. Double overhand grip.
135 x 8 warmup
185 x 6
215 x 3
235 x 2 he says I’m looking good Try 275 with double overhand
275 x 1 very close, almost lockout, grip started slipping Impressive. Will chalk up and do mixed grip.
275 x 1 got it
285 x 0 GAGGGGG!!! I’m really starting to hate this. Two fucking years since I pulled 275, and it seems so hit or miss that I can pass it.

Other trainer says my style is weird, half conventional and half sumo and nothing good. I need to get chest up more and shoulders back, that will get 50 lbs more on the bar. Back to 135 on the bar, I give it a whirl.
135 x 8 think I’m getting the hang of it.

Brace seemed to help, not as firm as belt, but trainer helped tighten it, that helped. Problem - it’s old, the foam is shredding, and left dust all over my clothes. That plus the chalk, I look like I’ve crawling through caves.

Stone, about 120 lbs or so - a training stone. Pick up floor and - shoulder it? No, too hard, just get to chest. I try one, no good. Trainer suggests getting directly over and using knees to push elbows together. Seems to help. I try another, then another. Get about half a dozen. WHEWWWW - sure hits my lungs. Rest, then trainer says “Do what you can for 30 secs!” OK, I grab stone, heave up. Whew. Grab, heave - and all hell breaks loose. Wheezing, coughing, hacking, retching. I drop it and tear off the brace.

“Are you all right?” he asks.
“Do I look all right?” I said. “NO!!!”

We leave it at that. Thinking of getting a new brace.

562

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Very often I’m depressed after workouts. Before workouts, I usually dread going
[/quote]
Oh. This makes me sad for you. I am exactly the opposite on both counts. There must be some physical activity that makes you feel good?

563

I don’t know. I feel for you man, frustration sucks. I’ve been there, and when you are struggling but not getting anything back it drags everything down. Is there something you could do to take a break?

564

[quote]kpsnap wrote:

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Very often I’m depressed after workouts. Before workouts, I usually dread going
[/quote]
Oh. This makes me sad for you. I am exactly the opposite on both counts. There must be some physical activity that makes you feel good?
[/quote]

I’m happy for you Snap, that must make workouts easy. Well, setting a PR makes me feel good, but that’s rare. Generally, physical activity just wears me down, no runner’s high, just get out of breath. Used to bicycle many years ago, it was fun, mostly because I never cycled with anyone else and see how much I sucked. Back in school, every single activity I tried, I couldn’t keep up with the other boys and wound up hating it. Reason I’m hitting the iron is I expect to get results from it, unfortunately very slow. Almost a year training at a hardcore place and I’ve put about 15 lbs on bench and maybe 20 on dead - very slow. I’m sure lifting will feel great once I have some strength, hopefully.

Have taken some deload recently, Corr, don’t know if a break would work. I can always ask for one, of course, but don’t want to get lazy.

Looks like I picked up a sprain or two yesterday. Something in left elbow, probably brachialis. Iced it. Left erector doesn’t feel good, will stretch.

565

You are a trooper, man. Gaining slow is still gaining, and you are pushing ahead.

But if you think of something that can reinforce a weak spot (like cardio for me…), doing it for a couple weeks might help you gain faster. Biking and pushing yourself at that might just hit the spot. You have the coolest workouts, you might miss them if you do something else for a week or two. It isn’t giving up, it is finding the best way to adapt and move forward.

One of the biggest bodybuilders I used to work out with worked out about 6-8 months of the year. He’s push himself, then after 3-4 months, he’d get hurt, get tired, stop lifting completely. A month later he’s miss it and go back balls to the wall, and repeat. He gained faster that way because that is the way he was, all or nothing. You have to do what’s right for you, and the trainer might not be 100% right on what you need.

Or maybe you just need a new brace.

566

I’d bet money it wasn’t the month long vacations that made your friend big. Genetics much, much more probable. Of all the lifters I’ve met in all the gyms, only two were really honest. I asked “How did you get so big and strong?” Each said “I don’t know. It just happened.”

Training log lifting today. Well, sorta. Trainer has football bar on the lifting platform. Grab, clean, and press. Easy. He adds a couple of bumper plates, 10 lbs each. I knock out 5. That’s what, 60 lbs total?
70 x 3
70 x 3
75 x 3
80 x 3
90 x 1 almost didn’t make that, left arm conked out, elbow still sore from last time, he helped
90 x 1 made that one

Use hips to clean . . . push head forward when pressing . . . stay tight.

He says that’s the equivalent of a small log. He’s used 120 lbs in competition. Didn’t say if they added plates.

Incline DB press. I grab 30 lbs and lean back. Elbow hurts like hell, he stops me. Switch to flat bench DBs, 40 lbs. Strain, groan, sweat . . . goes . . . up . . . once. It comes down and keeps going doing to the floor. Man, I’m REALLY tired of being weak. (Yes, I know I just did OH presses.) He switches to 30 lbs and I knock out 8.

Pulldowns. Four or five sets.

Tate presses. 30 lbs x 10. He tells me to keep DB’s directly over chest instead of swinging to sides. I try it with - 35 lbs? Surprisingly, I make a dozen reps without help.

Tri pulldown on cable machine. Two sets. Actually using decent weight for reps.

Don’t know if I should feel stronger or weaker.

567

Once again, I disprove the theory that you need great self-confidence to lift well. I went in feeling crappy, and did great.

Sled drag for warmup. Two trips down and back. Hmm, barely breathing hard.

Hip belt squats. No, I have no idea how much the carriage weighs, it’s in addition to the plates. I’ll just list the plate weight. Squat to bench (did I mention every squat at this place is a box squat?).
70 x 10 hmm, lots of control
90 x 8 no problemo
120 x 6 no hacking, wheezing, or anything, good clean reps
120 x 5 had to strain a bit, but made it Trainer says “Do it again!” So . . .
120 x 4 strained, but form almost perfect and no retching

think that was the most I’ve done on that thing

Farmer’s walk with 70 lb kettlebells. Down block and back. Rest for a moment. Do it again. Hmm, tough, breathing hard, but held on. Catch my breath. Then discover trainer wants another trip. Gagg. Tense . . . grab . . . stand up . . . walk. Pant, pant. I made it.

Hip thrusts. He puts a 30 lb DB on lap, I start doing the kinky moves. 15 reps. Next, he gives me 45 lb, tells me keep going. Make it to 10 . . . 12 . . . 14 . . . “We’ll do 15” . . . I do 16 . . . “Keep going!” . . . 18 . . . 20.

Leg curls. He hates the curl machine, you have to lie down on it. He prefers seated curls, puts thighs in better position. I point to bands on DB rack used for rows and . . . seated curls. Sit on bench, he pulls band, fits around ankles. I do 10 reps. He thinks it’s too easy for me. He fusses and fits a smaller band around it so I pull two bands. Another 10 reps. Tough but good. Rest, then another 10 reps.

Leg extension. He sets pin, I tell him further down - I’m pretty good on it. About half weight stack. I knock out 10 or 12. He sets pin to 2/3s stack, tells me do all I can. I do 4 . . . 6 . . . 8 . . . 10, slam down, gulp air, “Two more!”, I do two more.

Finally, abs. I’ve done crunches with a 25 lb plate, want to try a little more. He hands me a 30 lb DB and I start crunching. I do 10 reps, but painful - in the elbow of all places. It holding the DB tight with arm completely flexed. We try a 35 lb kettlebell. Seems to work a bit better. Three sets total, 10 reps. Panting hard, but no retching.

Really surprised myself. He says I did really well, getting strong.

568

Good days are good. There’s a deep and philospical quote for you :wink:
Endorphins always help!

569

I will say I have been reading your logs for a long time now and I think you are a inspiration… it is easy to stay motivated when the prs come easy… however when things are moving slow and prs are not coming and working out is hard it would be so easy to quit… you however seem to find the STRENGTH to keep going to the gym and working for it… You sir are a strong man…

570

[quote]minimaltechno wrote:
Good days are good. There’s a deep and philospical quote for you :wink:
Endorphins always help![/quote]

Thanks, Techno. It’s the way I always envisioned lifting should be.

[quote]damutt wrote:
I will say I have been reading your logs for a long time now and I think you are a inspiration… it is easy to stay motivated when the prs come easy… however when things are moving slow and prs are not coming and working out is hard it would be so easy to quit… you however seem to find the STRENGTH to keep going to the gym and working for it… You sir are a strong man… [/quote]

That is very high praise . . . I am moved.

571

Regular trainer can’t make it, so substitute the other guy.

Bench with chains. Each chain is 20 lbs, start with one on each end:
85 x 10 (that’s 85 at top)
125 x 5 easy
125 + 5 lb plates x 5
125 + 10 lb plates x 5
165 x 5 funny, I’m just powering this thing up
165 + 5 lb plates x 5
165 + 10 lb plates x 5 hmm, it just keeps going up, a bit tough, trainer says go for triple

And now the moment we’ve all been waiting for . . .
205 x 3 OK, that’s just at top, but I’m very happy Add another chain!
245 x 0 what the hell were we thinking?

Trainer tells me take 50 lb DB and do one hand C&P, 8 reps each hand. Anyone notice I just did killer bench? I take the weight (damn, it’s heavy), swing to shoulder, and UNNGGGGHHHHHHHH only goes halfway. Try other hand. GAGGGGGGG, even worse. I’m dropping weight on floor. Try again - no go. Try again - OUCH - bam on floor. And what does trainer have to say about this?

That brings us to today’s episode of The Case of the Disappearing Trainer. He’s nowhere in sight. He’s outside . . . he’s chatting with a girl on the treadmill . . . he’s chatting with a girl doing leg lifts or something . . . finally he gets with me. “All done?” “I don’t know . . . I went at it a dozen times, but couldn’t get any reps. Is that what you wanted?” “Take the weight to 30!” And he’s off so fast I can smell burning rubber.

One hand C&P
30 x 8
30 x 8

When he finally appears, tells me to do pulldowns, then he’s off.
8 x 8
9 x 8
10 x 8 tough
11 x 6

He’s wandering around . . . finally walks up to me, but doesn’t look at me . . . chats with a girl on the treadmill . . . spots a girl on the monolift . . . he walks off . . . oh well, the rest is doing me good.

Finally he shows up and tells me do tri cable extensions. I do several sets, getting a little stronger but tris wear out fast.

Then he tells me pushups. Ten minutes later, when he finally honors me with his presence, I tell him couldn’t do any. “Use knees!” I do 10 reps - ouch. Rest. Try again. 8 . . . 9 . . . 10 . . . I really want this . . . 11 . . . 12 . . . breath, don’t give up . . . 13 . . . 14 and collapse.

We connect again, and he says abs. But I did them last time? “Do more!” So I grab a 35 lb kettlebell, clutch to chest, lean back and OW lower back doesn’t like it! Stop after a couple reps. Try again - OWOWOWOW. I’m guessing the flaying DB presses wore things out.

An hour and half - didn’t expect that. He stops to say bye and he’s gone.

572

In the 90’s today, bright sun. Trainer has me put only 2 plates on sled and make a couple trips. No prob.

Deadlifts. 135 lbs plus 2 chains on middle for 40 lbs extra (at top). Will do 5 x 5 sumo. Sounds simple.
135 x 5 damn, that was hard. He keeps at me “Hips down! Chest up! Push hips through!”
155 x 5 still form not good enough for him, I tell him I’m trying “Yeah, I know you’re trying . . .”
175 x 5 start hacking, coughing and retching at end - body really doesn’t like this
185 x 5 COUGH HACK COUGH SCREAM SCREAM SCREAM
205 x 2 that’s it, only 2 reps, my body is screaming - wait, I’M screaming

What’s up with this? Nobody thinks anything is wrong. OF COURSE something’s wrong - why does everyone just pat me on the head and say “Good set”???

I ask trainer what the hell is going on and HE HAS NO EFFING IDEA. These people has college degrees, they have experience - why can’t I get straight answers?

Keg carry. 50 lb. Easy as pie. Trot down the gym. Rest. Take it back. Grab the 70 lb. Carry it down the gym, rest, carry it back. Why couldn’t the deads be this easy?

Hyper. I tell him I’ve used a 45 plate. He gives me a 25. Ten reps, OK. Rest. He gives me a 45. Two reps . . . 4 . . . 6 . . . 8 COUGH HACK GAGGGGG.

He asks if I have asthma or allergies. Well, I was diagnosed as a child, but not as an adult - and who has an allergy to hypers?

Reverse hypers. Start out easy, then GAGG HACK. Rest, add a plate, do some more. COUGH COUGH RETCH This is getting old.

Leg curls. Couple weeks ago I did 10 reps 8 plates.
8 x 2 FAILURE OH COME ON GIVE ME A BREAK
6 x whatever

He figures it’s time for deload. Whatever.

573

Cav-

I second what damutt said…99.9% of people here would have left lifting long ago if they were faced with your climb…And I count myself amongst those who would have left. SO hats off to you !

I cant offer any solutions , I don’t know you and I sure as hell am not qualified to dispense any remedy for what is causing you issues. The only thing I can offer is that strength clearly ebbs and flows, so workout to workout changes, positive or negative no longer impact me. And I have noticed as I age that progress is slow and continues to slow for me…and more appropriately, that when strength ebbs the ebb cycle is longer than ever before. And more frequent.

This probably didn’t help you, but I couldn’t sit idly by without offering up what my experiences have taught me: as little as that is…

All the Best,

Paul

574

You can be allergic to hypers.

I am allergic to the following: lunges, any exercise related to abs, and all cardio.

I know you are perpetually frustrated. But I enjoy reading your log! You are a good writer.

575

Goat, Snap, thanks. (Paul’s such a dull name . . . I like Old Goat.)

I can’t believe it took me this long to figure it out . . . but there it is, staring me in the face. Look at what these crazy people have been doing to me. Training to failure, not here or there, but on EVERY GD SET I’M DOING. Squats, deads, overhead, EVERYTHING, they’ve pushed me to the breaking point. Every. Single. Set. I can do some reps? Put on more weight. I can do that? Put on more. Form getting clumsy? Straining, sweating, retching? Put on more. Keep going until the bar pins me to the floor. Every. Single. Workout.

No wonder after nearly a year of training with these folks I’ve only put about 10 or 20 lbs on my bench, 20 maybe on deads, who knows on squat. It explains why my bench session last week went so well . . . hadn’t benched in weeks and was rested. Same for hip belt squats, hadn’t done them for over a month.

Trainer wants to take it easy for a while. I’ll say. I’m telling him NO training to failure PERIOD for the next 3 months.

Hard to believe guys who are nationally or world ranked with degrees in exercise science can be so clueless, but there you are.

576

Didn’t really have the money for it, but family reunion came up. We stayed at Brown State Park in Indiana. Did some hiking, managed to keep up with my brother who does a lot of walking and cardio. Saw the sights. Amazing hills. Dining hall had gouging prices, lousy service, mediocre food. Even the water tasted funny. Good thing I brought some protein supplement. Others brought wine, beer (I hate beer), snacks, fudge. Sugar rush.

577

I feel very strongly protective that you should at least feel good from one workout a month, or at least every 2 months if you think that’s going soft :wink:
You deserve it from all the hard work you put it. It seems you do make progress with them, but then as you say, they need to back off and let you recover properly. Besides you know your body by now.

578

Hey Cav! Glad to see you’re still going strong and keeping it real.

I hope the training to failure was indeed the cause of your issues. Looking forward to catching back up and following along…

579

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
You can be allergic to hypers.

I am allergic to the following: lunges, any exercise related to abs, and all cardio.

I know you are perpetually frustrated. But I enjoy reading your log! You are a good writer.[/quote]

Snap, I didn’t catch that the first time. So do you start hacking when you do anything that hits the midsection?

580

Techno, I agree. Workouts shouldn’t be torture. And I damn well do expect results. Good grief, look at all the people getting twice the rewards for half the work. I know I’m not being unreasonable.

Hi Late, drop by anytime. Thanks for the kind words.

OK. Told trainer today I am not going to failure on any exercise for the next month or two. "Well, if you were training for powerlifting, you’d have to do that . . . " “I WAS doing powerlifting until switched to strongman!!!” “Oh, uh . . .” I don’t care whose feelings I hurt, my progress comes first. He tossed out some cliches “Well, we’re all different” (so why not train me differently?) “At your age” “It didn’t work when I was in my 20’s!”

Anyway.

Nice day. Sunny, not too hot. Load 3 plates on sled, drag down block and back. Three times. No problem. Rest a moment. Then drag sled backwards. Three trips. Woooooweeeee, that sure gets a burn in the thighs.

Hip belt squats. Right after all that sled work?? He promises me light weights. Go for 30 seconds. Hey, no problem. Rest, then do 45 secs. Pretty good. Got nice pump downstairs.

Back outside for a kinda sorta medley thing. 70 lb keg. Two 50 lb kettlebells. He takes kettlebells down block. Here’s the drill: carry the keg down block. Switch to kettlebells, Farmer’s Walk. Come back, drop bells, rush back, carry keg back. Weight is no problem, it’s keeping breathing. Do it again, he urges me a little faster. I pick up the pace a bit. Wooo, that’s cardio.

Inside for some abs. Crunches with 35 lb kettlebell. Piece of cake.

Feeling good. Got an appetite driving home, couldn’t wait for dinner. Promising.