Coming Back From the Dead

Training Over 35 Lifter
121

Spock, that’s interesting, 'cuz when I straighten legs, it really works hamstrings. Seated GM’s sound really scary, not sure why.

Brian, are you the same guy who posts 500 lb DL in your log? I would imagine the only trouble you’d have with 205 sumo is moving slow enough to keep from ripping the bar out of the plates. But thanks.

Joe, thanks. Considering that regular deads I’ve got up to high 200’s and 310, I expect good progress tapping what’s already there.

Techno, that’s so true, nothing like a rush of endorphins. Unfortunately, once it wears off, it’s crash and burn time. Gotta get another fix fast.

122

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Spock, that’s interesting, 'cuz when I straighten legs, it really works hamstrings. Seated GM’s sound really scary, not sure why.
[/quote]

YEAH, that’s pretty much what ended up happening, ha-ha. PROOF that I really have no idea what I’m doing.

But I am okay with being a noob for the rest of my life, I think…

123

Miscellaneous day, work on support stuff:

Face Pull
60 x 14
90 x 10 . x 10 . x 10 . x 10 . x 10

feeling strong with these

Standing Calf
155 x 15
215 x 10 . x 10 . x 10 . x 10
felt good, just had to kick up weight
235 x 8 . yes!

DB side raise
10 x 12
20 x 5 . x 3 . x 3 . x 3 . x 3 . x 3 . x 3

getting to be a problem, people keep walking off with the DBs I want

Seated Row
90 x 15
110 x 12
130 x 9 . x 9
150 x 4 . x 4

maybe I was getting worn out by this point, but these started getting hard - thought increasing weight and decreasing reps might feel better, don’t know

124

Squat day. A bit stressed, decided to keep to minimum:

Squat
95 x 8
135 x 7
165 x 5 . x 5 . x 5
175 x 5 . x 5

still not sure why I’m not at last year’s level of doing 185 and even 200 for 5, all I can do is keep pounding at it

Extreme Sumo DL
95 x 10
145 x 10
165 x 8 . x 8 . x 8

really working on flexing hips and knees

125

[quote]cavalier wrote:
still not sure why I’m not at last year’s level of doing 185 and even 200 for 5, all I can do is keep pounding at it

[/quote]

Sometimes there is a reason and other times well…then after awhile it clicks back into place.

126

Sumo deads are a lot more different from conventional ones than I first thought they would and it can take the supporting muscles a bit of time to catch up.

127

[quote]JoeGood wrote:
Sumo deads are a lot more different from conventional ones than I first thought they would and it can take the supporting muscles a bit of time to catch up.[/quote]

Fair enough. Techno, this is the most likely reason. To be honest, I’m happy to be making this kind of progress in the first place.

128

Well, lost the unemployment benefits today. Will apply for another cycle, don’t know if I can.

The school keeps demanding more from me - more forms to fill out, more emails to answer, on top of making lesson plans and grading. And they don’t pay for overtime.

Bench day.

Bench
45 x 12
95 x 8
115 x 8
120 x 6
125 x 5
135 x 5 . x 5 . these were grinders
125 x 5 . x 5 . these were also tough
95 x 10 . x 10 . x 10 .x 10

REALLY pushing at the presses so hard, grunting, straining, giving it all

DB Pullover
30 x 8 . x 8 . x 8

supersetted with:

Bench dip
x 10 . x 10 . x 10

I was grunting and yelling a lot on these, one of the trainers asked me if I was OK. As if he’d never seen hard work before. Maybe he hadn’t.

Nobody works harder than me. Nobody could.

Hammer Tri
20 x 15
30 x 8 . x 8 . x 8 . x 8

129

Been feeling a little overstressed. Time for deload? Will take workout down and see how that goes . . .

Sumo deadlift
135 x 10
175 x 4
215 x 5
225 x 5 . x 5

very happy with this, my sumos are catching up with regular DL

Hamstring stretch - straight leg DL
30 x 10 . x 10 . x 10

could hardly walk after this - no, seriously

Fat man chins in Smith machine
x 14 . x 9 . x 11

held the last reps for couple seconds - felt good

130

Good work ya old bastard!

131

Ooof, money woes, no! Hope it works out for you.

132

Sen, thanks.

Techno, will see how it works out.

Weighed myself at the gym and STILL same as last couple of months. Very unhappy, so took it out on the weights. What do you know, got a little progress:

DB side raises
10 x 15
15 x 11
20 x 5 . x 5 . x 5 ** PR **
15 x 8
10 x 10

Standing calf
155 x 14
235 x 9 . x 9
215 x 10

Seated row
90 x 15
120 x 3
150 x 5 . x 5 . x 6
120 x 8

these were surprisingly - well, not easy, but doable.

133

Nothing like killing the weights to make one feel better…excellent job, Cav, as always. And yes, trainers are not use to see hard workers like us supposedly “old folkies.” LOL

134

[quote]Kairiki wrote:
Nothing like killing the weights to make one feel better…excellent job, Cav, as always. And yes, trainers are not use to see hard workers like us supposedly “old folkies.” LOL[/quote]

Please don’t remind me of Randy dropping little comments like “but you’re over 50” . . .

135

[quote]cavalier wrote:

[quote]Kairiki wrote:
Nothing like killing the weights to make one feel better…excellent job, Cav, as always. And yes, trainers are not use to see hard workers like us supposedly “old folkies.” LOL[/quote]

Please don’t remind me of Randy dropping little comments like “but you’re over 50” . . .[/quote]

You have my permission to slap him…

136

[quote]Kairiki wrote:

[quote]cavalier wrote:

[quote]Kairiki wrote:
Nothing like killing the weights to make one feel better…excellent job, Cav, as always. And yes, trainers are not use to see hard workers like us supposedly “old folkies.” LOL[/quote]

Please don’t remind me of Randy dropping little comments like “but you’re over 50” . . .[/quote]

You have my permission to slap him…
[/quote]

Sorely tempted, Kairiki, would have considered it if he wasn’t twice my size.

Strange workout today. Warmup on elliptical easier than usual. Warmup on squat much easier than usual. Thought it would be a day of records. But squat working sets were oddly tough.

Squat
95 x 10
135 x 4 . really easy, hips popping down to depth
155 x 3
175 x 5 . not sure I was hitting depth
165 x 5 . x 5 . ok, was hitting depth

Getting paranoid about depth, will try some front squats to get some ATG

Front squat
45 x 8
65 x 6
95 x 4

suddenly left elbow doesn’t like it - what the hell? work it some, seems OK, but better cut short and not take risks

KB swing
20 x 20

supposed to work hips, but didn’t seem to do anything

Looking around - I actually considered the glute machine, but really light weights and doesn’t stretch hips much - try the leg press and get really low

Life Fitness Leg Press
150 x 8

much harder than last time I tried this machine (aren’t you glad you keep notes?) conclusion: my legs & hips are fried, end workout

137

On front squats are you using Olympic style or California style ( arms crossed)

138

I wouldn’t worry about what the scale says. Keep working hard and you will gain muscle and get leaner- the scale will take care of itself.

139

[quote]
On front squats are you using Olympic style or California style ( arms crossed)[/quote]

Olympic style. Never felt comfortable with “cross your heart bra” because 1. can’t keep it stable and 2. it looks really sissy.

140

[quote]cavalier wrote:

Another advantage of working out at home that I hadn’t thought of. I can look like a sissy doing front squats without anyone watching me.