[quote]sen say wrote:
Who’s that singing in the video?
What do you farm?[/quote]
It’s called Game of pricks by Guided by voices, my favourite track right now.
We don’t farm anything at the moment, we’ve sold it all, but we did have 25 sheep, 8 pigs, 6 goats, 20+ geese, 30+ ducks and 200+ chickens.
We’ve just bought a 13.5 acre farm in Portugal which we’ll be moving to next month. So we’ll start up again. We may even get a cow or two.
Portugal that sounds alot warmer, what are you planning on farming. What is your cost for acreage in portugal. Your video looks solid.
[quote]Dude623 wrote:
Portugal that sounds alot warmer, what are you planning on farming. What is your cost for acreage in portugal. Your video looks solid.[/quote]
It is a lot warmer and drier, that’s why we chose it. We’re just sick to death of the rain here. We’re going to do the same thing as here. It won’t be a commercial venture, we’ll just do it to feed ourselves.
Land there is really cheap. We’ve just paid £40,000 ($63,000) for a 13.5 acre farm with 300 olive trees.
Last night’s session.
21/1/2013
Squat
5 x 10 x 220 lbs
supersetted with
GHRs
5 x 5 x bodyweight
Glute bridges
3 x 10 x 264 lbs
RDLs
4 x 10 x 132 lbs
Dips @ bodyweight
1 x 20
1 x 12
1 x 9
supersetted with
DB curls with Fatgripz
1 x 7 x 41.5 lbs
2 x 6 x 41.5 lbs
I finally feel like I’m starting to get somewhere with the squats now. 8 weeks ago I could only manage two sets of 5 before I collapsed in a pool of lactic acid, tonight the 5 sets of 10 was fairly comfortable. Still not impressive, I’ve done 300 for 5 x 10 before, but a step in the right direction.
Looks like I needed the volume to give me a “base” to work from. Coming straight back from a 9 month layoff to doubles and singles was probably not the smartest idea I’ve had. I was just so eager to try and get strong again.
Not lifting related, but by the end of the year I would like to be able to use a self service checkout without requiring assistance. I never realised how difficult it was to scan stuff. I have a new found respect for till monkeys.
I both love and hate squats. When they go right and I am feeling good, they are awesome. When they feel like they are pushing your spinal chord through your backside, not so much.
Brett, good luck with the move. I loved visiting Portugal. Spent time in Algarve and then caught the Portugese Gran Prix Race…loved it…although I found the food a bit salty. maybe I just hungover!
You’re going back to Portugal?
Can my husband and I come visit your olive farm? What kind of olives?
See, I just think you’re such a pretty squatter that I’m always so impressed.
My parents really liked Portugal. You’re a busy guy aren’t you? I think it’s cool that you can just pack up and go like that. Is moving from country to country a relatively easy proposition in the EU?
james
Dave - Thanks for checking in.
OG - Thanks. How’s it going with you? Why don’t you log over here anymore?
James - There’s free movement to work and live within the EU countries now which means I can move to Portugal without any problem. No visas needed. Most of the traffic is the other way though, into Britain for the free money. People coming here can use the benefit system and use our NHS, but it doesn’t work the other way round. It’s only going to get worse as well because as of 2014 several million Bulgarians and Romanians will now qualify for the UK benefits system. I don’t know how the system is going to cope.
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
You’re going back to Portugal?[/quote]
In about 6 weeks or so.
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
Can my husband and I come visit your olive farm? What kind of olives?[/quote]
The olives are all different shapes and sizes. I’ve learned that green and purple and black are just stages in an olive’s ripeness, the same as peppers. Any olive regardless of ripeness can be used for oil, but they need to be green, hard and unblemished for preserving. We have enough trees for 500 litres of olive oil apparently. Here are some we picked for brining in November. We didn’t make any oil last year, but hope to this year.
Of course you would be most welcome to visit.
^^^^^Shit that picture’s big!!
24/01/2013
Military press
5 x 5 x 143 lbs
supersetted with
Face pulls
5 x 15 x 66 lbs
Weighted push ups
4 x 12 x 44 lbs
1 x 11 x 44 lbs
supersetted with
Band pullaparts
4 x 20
1 x 25
Pushdown
4 x 12 x 88 lbs
supersetted with
Pendlay rows (with Fatgripz)
4 x 8 x 132 lbs
Annoyed to have missed the 12th rep on last set of push ups so I punished myself with an extra 5 pullaparts.
I’ve gone from 5 x 5 with 88 lbs to 5 x 5 with 143 lbs in 2 months. I’m quite happy with that.
Should have done squats first, but I had slightly tight adductors so I didn’t. If I’m totally honest that’s an excuse. I just felt a bit tired.
Just watched 127 hours. WOW what a film. I knew the story, but I expected the film to be sensationalised crap like Open Water or something, but it was great.
I had to download this which was played during the last 5 minutes and I’ve been playing it to death. Very uplifting.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
Dave - Thanks for checking in.
OG - Thanks. How’s it going with you? Why don’t you log over here anymore?
James - There’s free movement to work and live within the EU countries now which means I can move to Portugal without any problem. No visas needed. Most of the traffic is the other way though, into Britain for the free money. People coming here can use the benefit system and use our NHS, but it doesn’t work the other way round. It’s only going to get worse as well because as of 2014 several million Bulgarians and Romanians will now qualify for the UK benefits system. I don’t know how the system is going to cope. [/quote]
says he who is an Englishman who moved to Wales for the free leeks, Max Boyce lp’s and a wee shag of Shirley Bassey
Brett- Its all good for me… just a change of view, kind of like moving to Portugal!! I still check in on folks and make sure YOU are getting lazy (hahaha)…
[quote]bluebrasil wrote:
says he who is an Englishman who moved to Wales for the free leeks, Max Boyce lp’s and a wee shag of Shirley Bassey
[/quote]
Max Boyce? Shirley Bassey? You’re out of touch man. We’re in to more ‘modern’ stuff here now like Super Fluffy Animals and the Oasis.
OG - I do lurk over where you are. I just haven’t got to logging in yet. I will do.
Friday night’s session.
25/1/2013
Squats
5 x 10 x 231 lbs
supersetted with
GHR
5 x 5 x BW
One arm rows (fatgripz)
3 x 10 x 74 lbs
Pulldowns
3 x 10 x 99 lbs
Seated row
3 x 12 x 99 lbs
DB curls (fatgripz)
1 x 7 x 41.5 lbs
1 x 6 x 41.5 lbs
1 x 5 x 41.5 lbs
Ab rollouts (off knees)
1 x 10
1 x 8
Really must start to do abs more often. I can’t expect them to get stronger with a token set thrown in every couple of weeks.
Going for 5 x 10 x 242 lbs on squats tomorrow and 253 lbs on Thursday. I’ve got to go away for a week so can only get 2 workouts in this week.
Should be able to run tomorrow because all the snow has gone.
I’m aiming for 300 lbs for 5 sets of 10 by the end of Feb. Should be do-able.
Monday night 28/1/2013
Squats
5 x 10 x 242 lbs
supersetted with
GHRs
5 x 5 x BW
RDLs
4 x 10 x 154 lbs
Pushdowns
4 x 12 x 99 lbs
supersetted with
DB curls (with fatgripz)
4 x 7 x 41.5 lbs
RUN.
Decided not to run because it was blowing a gale and I was knackered, but after sitting down for 20 minutes my guilt got the better of me so I dragged myself off the sofa and went and did it.
It was going well too, I was 75% done, I was feeling comfortable, my breathing was good and I was pretty happy that I’d forced myself to do it when a car overtook me and I pulled over as far as I could, way more than necessary really (it’s an unlit road and I run towards the oncoming traffic) and I put my foot off the edge of the road and twisted my bloody ankle. I hopped for a few metres before I could put any weight on it and then managed to half run, half hop the rest of the way home. I iced it immediately and sat with my foot up for the rest of the evening. Not painful just a bloody inconvenience.
Last night 30/1/2013
Military press
5 x 5 x 148 lbs
supersetted with
Face pulls
5 x 15 x 66 lbs
Push ups (bodyweight)
1 x 25
4 x 20
supersetted with
Band pullaparts
5 x 25
One arm rows (fatgripz)
2 x 6 x 86 lbs
1 x 5 x 86 lbs
EZ curls
1 x 15 x 55 lbs
1 x 11
1 x 8
This was an equal PR for 5 x 5 on millies set in 2009. The first set was harder than expected (because I did pushdowns on Monday), but somehow I managed to grind out another 4 sets. Very pleased, especially as I’m probably 15 lbs lighter and of course 3 years older 
I knew running was bad for you, I just knew it.
Strong work in here, Brett, keep it up!
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
I knew running was bad for you, I just knew it.
[/quote]
Ha ha. I’m beginning to think you’re right. I had numerous calf pulls when I was doing hill sprints too, but I’ve NEVER ONCE in what must be several hundred hours had an injury while rowing or biking.
I just have this thing right now, about being able to run. I think it’s because I’m no good at it that I want to crack it. I also think running is the must useful (see how I cleverly avoided using the word functional?) and natural of the three activities and the one that I can make the most cardiovascular improvement in mainly BECAUSE it is so new to me.
First session back after two weeks off. One week was spent visiting the relatives and the second week was spent getting over the cough, cold and subsequent chest infection picked up from visiting said relatives and attending a 4 year old’s birthday party. I think if we ever do get overrun by hostile extra terrestrials we should forget the nuclear warheads and just send them to a children’s party, that’ll kill the bastards off for sure. Within two days every adult who went was ill.
13/02/2013
RDLs
10 x 132 lbs
10 x 176 lbs
10 x 220 lbs
5 x 264 lbs
GHR
2 x 6 x bodyweight
Front squats
10 x 132 lbs
5 x 176 lbs
3 x 220 lbs
Back squat
5 x 220 lbs (had to quit, too out of breath. Not really well yet)
Pushdowns 88 lbs
1 x 19
1 x 15
1 x 12
S/S
EZ Curls 55 lbs
1 x 16
1 x 12
1 x 11
Really don’t know what the hell I was doing tonight. I’m obviously still not well, but I just wanted to do something.
I am totally disillusioned with lifting right now. I just don’t know what I’m training for anymore. I mean, I know WHY I’m training, because I love it, but I just don’t know what my goals are. I know I want to lift. I need to lift, but I don’t know what I’m trying to achieve and until I know that I can’t know how to train for it.
I’m so demoralised I even thought about doing Crossfit (at least they give you a WOD so you don’t have to think about it), but I’m not gay so I guess that’s out!
I’m seriously considering HIT as well, just because it’s radically different from what I have been doing. That’s how bad it’s got. Of course if I do start it, I’ll have to do it under a new account with an assumed identity.
I will decide by Friday.
A bad case of the undecideds. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Is your training going to be random going forward or do you think it’s because you’re so bleh about it?
You could always try your hand at competing. That always gives your training a sense of purpose.
james
I vote for a powerlifting meet. Give yourself plenty of time. You’ll be awesome. I do so much better when I’m training with a solid goal in mind.
I’ve not been posting much lately, but I’ve still been lifting regularly. I had a bit of a set back last Friday though. I tore my hamstring!
It came right out of the blue, no warning whatsoever. I’d done a set of 20 rep squats and was 3 reps through my RDLs (nothing heavy, 264 lbs) when there was this horrible tearing sound, it sounded just like material ripping and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. The pain shot half way up the back of my thigh and half way down the calf. I’m not sure exactly what I tore as I have bruising above AND below the knee from the inside of my thigh to the outside of my calf. See pic.
It’s knocked my confidence a bit. It’s the worst tear I’ve ever had. I tore an adductor during Smolov once, but I was pushing things a bit (well into PR territory) and it wasn’t really much of a surprise, but this was a complete shock. It was below zero in my gym and I hadn’t done much of a warm up (I never really do), but I had just done plenty of squats. It’s the fact that I didn’t see it coming that bothers me the most. I didn’t think I had tight hamstrings…oh well, I don’t know.
I haven’t missed a session though, I’ve just been doing upper body. I’m doing German Volume Training (10 sets of 10 with short rest periods) and I’m enjoying it so far.
Wednesday I had a 1/2 hour bike ride, cycling doesn’t seem to bother it because it doesn’t involve much of a stretch and today I had a ride for an hour.
I’m not sure how long to leave it before testing it (I’ve done some very gentle stretches, but I’m even worried how far to push those) the pain has more or less gone now, but I don’t want to set myself back. Any advice from someone who’s had a similar tear would be appreciated.
