[quote]Derek542 wrote:
Honestly and people will back this up, you can not have more than one master.
You either are going to get stronger or drop fat. You cant do both.
You can have slow steady body composition change with time, but you can out eat any workout, PERIOD.
So what do you what? Only you can make this decision. [/quote]
This realization is sinking in. I rode a glorious wave of fat loss and strength gains in the beginning, but I don’t think I’ll ever get back to that high water mark. There’s no sense in chasing it at my stage.
I don’t want to wait 4 years to be at a healthy weight. I know what I need to do. Once the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in glorious fashion I will pursue fat loss with a renewed vigor. I’ll have to learn to live with the possibility of temporary strength loss, although I’ll do my best to keep getting stronger.
Until then I will accept the outcome of maintaining weight and chase strength for a bit longer, maybe shedding a pound or two by the Cup finals (assuming, of course, continued dominance from my team).
I stopped being a lazy bastard and learned to be consistent in the gym, I can do the same for diet. I never imagined this would be the hard part.
Thanks for checking in on me, Derek
No problem man. I will say the easiest thing for me has always been the lifting part. I love to lift and love to see the weight and PR’s go up.
The hardest is the fucking diet. NOT being able to eat a cheeseburger, beer, fries, appetizer, beer, shot, dessert and beer. That is what sucks.
But we are not getting any younger and it gets MUCH harder to drop weight the older you get.
Good luck and stay strong.
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
beers.
Suggestions?
[/quote]
Sorry, but the beer has got to go. Its is very tough to lose when you are drinking empty calories, especially if those calories are also alcohol.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
beers.
Suggestions?
[/quote]
Sorry, but the beer has got to go. Its is very tough to lose when you are drinking empty calories, especially if those calories are also alcohol. [/quote]
You know, facing these cold, hard truths about life is exactly what drives a person to drink.
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
beers.
Suggestions?
[/quote]
Sorry, but the beer has got to go. Its is very tough to lose when you are drinking empty calories, especially if those calories are also alcohol. [/quote]
You know, facing these cold, hard truths about life is exactly what drives a person to drink.
[/quote]
It is a Catch 22. 
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
beers.
Suggestions?
[/quote]
Sorry, but the beer has got to go. Its is very tough to lose when you are drinking empty calories, especially if those calories are also alcohol. [/quote]
You know, facing these cold, hard truths about life is exactly what drives a person to drink.
[/quote]
It is a Catch 22.
[/quote]
That is why, when I do drink its Scotch/Whiskey over ice.
Wednesday 5/7/14
Bodyweight: 283
Deadlift
135x5
225x5
315x5
405x5
455x2
I managed one rep at 405 with a double-overhand grip before switching to over/under. I’ll go for 2 next week.
Seated OH Press
115x5
145x5
175x5
175x5
175x4
Seated Calf Raise
135x10
135x10
Dumbbell Curl
25x10
Barbell Curl
75x10
75x10
DB Flat Bench Press
35x15
55x12
85x6
85x6
Buddy showed up again. He’s getting stronger every day and seems to really dig it.
I had an unplanned workout tonight. Shortly after the Bruins incredible overtime victory my friend, who owns the bar I was at, asked a drunken idiot to leave in a polite but firm manner.
The drunk guy, considerably bigger than my friend, got violent and swung on him. I reacted right away and restrained the drunken idiot. I did not do anything out of a Steve Segal movie, I just locked his arms up from behind, stopped him from hurting my friend and forced him to the doorway.
It felt awesome. I would like to record some observations about this event in my log.
-
I know nothing about fighting another person. I was just bigger and stronger than him.
-
He was much stronger than I had guessed. Restraining him was difficult.
-
Earlier in the night, this same drunken asshole punched me in the shoulder and then asked me to buy him a shot. I just walked away from that.
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I feel like I had a good workout. I am sore in a way that I do not get from the barbell.
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I AM ALIVE!!!
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Given my size and strength, I should be much more capable in a struggle with another man than I was tonight.
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I want to learn how to better harness my strength in a situation like that. Studying some kind of martial art would be fun, productive and challenging.
And finally, I need to remember that I am lucky that I did not get my ass kicked. I am too old for this shit!
[quote]Goldie4545 wrote:
A couple thoughts:
-
Great work, man. Glad to see you sticking to it.
-
Have you tried hook grip for your deads? In my humble opinion, you should avoid mixed grip as much as possible until you really need to pull a heavy weight. Once you get used to the hook grip, you’ll be amazed how much easier double overhand is.
-
Being strong with barbells does not carry over into fighting very well - not as much as everyone here might believe, anyway. BUT, being really big and jacked will defuse more fights than your fists ever could. Just a thought.[/quote]
Thanks Goldie.
I never heard of hook grip until you just mentioned it. I read about it and I will give it a try next week. I never liked the asymmetry of mixed grip, so this seems like it may be a good idea.
On strength, size and fighting:
I’m still a tubby dude, but I look somewhat strong. I suppose I have the look of a second-string offensive lineman or maybe a bouncer you might see at a trashy strip club.
I notice guys sizing me up now, which never happened when I was 320+. I see lots of folded arm poses now, chests puffed out all of a sudden, that sort of thing. I was deadlifting a few weeks ago, which usually gets me a few stares. One fella who was there grew imaginary lats after I did a heavy single at 495 and strutted around the gym with his arms flared out and chest puffed out for the rest of his workout.
This is all just somewhat amusing and definitely new to me. A whole new world of dick swinging that I never knew existed. I imagine it will only get more exaggerated as I lean out.
This was my first serious struggle with another person in about 10 years (that one did not end well at all). I’m not a guy who goes looking for trouble. The guy was about 6’00" and a lean 180 or 190. I’m lucky he didn’t know how to fight any more than I did. It took everything I had to restrain him.
I’m pleased with the outcome though. Nobody got hurt, including the drunken asshole. I sure was keyed up though. What an adrenaline rush!
You will never find a larger collection of fragile egos than at you will at your local weight room - possibly the philosophy department at your local college. In any event, the key is to not get dragged into it. Don’t be like them. Be polite, but pretend like no one else is there. Focus on your shit and let everyone else worry about everyone else. It’s usually the weakest people that are preoccupied with others.
[quote]Goldie4545 wrote:
You will never find a larger collection of fragile egos than at you will at your local weight room…In any event, the key is to not get dragged into it. Don’t be like them. Be polite, but pretend like no one else is there. Focus on your shit and let everyone else worry about everyone else. It’s usually the weakest people that are preoccupied with others. [/quote]
100% agreed. I’ll strike up a friendly conversation with someone on the way in/out or complement someone for a nice set if I’ve spotted them, but that’s pretty much where my interaction with anyone else in the weight room stops. It’s far easier to go about your business and ignore others than get engaged in these weird staring and preening contests with guys who notice someone else moving a decent weight and then start trying to show off themselves.
[quote]Goldie4545 wrote:
3) Being strong with barbells does not carry over into fighting very well - not as much as everyone here might believe, anyway. BUT, being really big and jacked will defuse more fights than your fists ever could. Just a thought.[/quote]
This is also 100% true.
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
Buddy showed up again. He’s getting stronger every day and seems to really dig it.[/quote]
Very cool to see this.
Re: the grip, I like the recommendation for the hook grip. Another option would be the use of lifting straps. For a non-powerlifter that’s just trying to move some good weight on the deadlift, or for shrugs, they’re worth it, IMO.
[quote]ActivitiesGuy wrote:
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
Buddy showed up again. He’s getting stronger every day and seems to really dig it.[/quote]
Very cool to see this.
Re: the grip, I like the recommendation for the hook grip. Another option would be the use of lifting straps. For a non-powerlifter that’s just trying to move some good weight on the deadlift, or for shrugs, they’re worth it, IMO.[/quote]
I dont see the problem with straps as a “gym rat” trying to live longer and just enjoys lifting. You can still work on grip strength other ways.
The handful of regulars I see at my gym are all really cool. Lots of high-fiving, good jokes and mutual respect. At this point we all know each other fairly well and understand that our goals are all different. The drawback to that is sometimes we get to jawing and my workout runs over an hour. Small price to pay for a positive atmosphere where anyone will give you a spot without batting an eye.
The transients are the ones who provide the amusement. I never saw Mr. Flared Arms again after his impressive demonstration of bold posturing.
[quote]ActivitiesGuy wrote:
[quote]twojarslave wrote:
Buddy showed up again. He’s getting stronger every day and seems to really dig it.[/quote]
Very cool to see this.
Re: the grip, I like the recommendation for the hook grip. Another option would be the use of lifting straps. For a non-powerlifter that’s just trying to move some good weight on the deadlift, or for shrugs, they’re worth it, IMO.[/quote]
He signed up for a year this week.
I feel like a crack dealer.
I got a massage at lunch yesterday and I was way too relaxed to do my normal Friday workout, so I took the night off and rested. I took the newly-acquired home gym for a spin this morning. I was in a bit of a rush and also eager to apply the new things I am learning from Rippetoes Starting Strength book, so I deviated from my normal Friday routine and just winged it.
Saturday 5/10/14
Squat
135x15
205x10
255x7
255x7
I had to be careful racking the bar! The Weider 408 works, but you cant feel it the way you can the squat rack at the gym.
Incline Bench Press
115x12
165x8
165x8
Dumbbell curl
40x10
40x10
Glad you got to play with the new toys! I’m a little jealous…one day, I’ll have a house, and a basement/garage, and in that basement/garage I will not only have my kettlebell and dumbbells but a glorious barbell, so any time that I want, it’s there
Yep, the home gym is a really nice option. I see it getting a lot of action in the summer as life in Maine makes it difficult to fit in my normally-scheduled Friday workout.
Monday 5/12/14
Bodyweight: 283
Squat
135x5
225x5
275x5
275x5
275x5
I tried applying some different techniques from Rippetoe’s Starting Strength, so I kept it light. I used a low-bar technique, with my arms further apart, thumbs over the bar and my head tucked down. I think I prefer this way, although the bar felt awkward on my traps. It definitely felt better coming out of the hole and depth was not a problem at all. I don’t mind taking a break from pushing my limits on squat for another week or two to dial in form. I think it will serve me well long-term.
I need to get video up. I may just need to borrow the GF’s phone next week.
Bench Press
155x5
205x5
240x5
240x5
240x5
Crushed it. Work set PR and only one week spent at 240. 245 next week.
Medium grip pronated pullup
2 complete pullups, got the third halfway up
Lat pulldown
210x8
210x8
210x9
Weighted situp
35x15
35x15
Barbell Curl
85x6
85x5
85x5
Upright Row
85x10
85x10
My buddy is finding his wings. He signed up for a year, paid in advance. He’s running the same 5x5 program I started with (and am still doing with assistance work added). He’s getting stronger and loving it. He’s started a spreadsheet to track progression so he can spit out graphs and such. He’s really getting into it, really surprising himself with how quickly his strength is progressing.
I wonder how many people there are like him, who just don’t understand how simple it is to get stronger and only need to be shown the way?
Let’s go Bruins!