working on volume sounds like a solid idea, and if the Spondy will allow try skipping the belt as well. Letting all the supportive muscles do some extra work can sometimes work wonders.
Great lifting anyways!
Okay, it is a little worse than “no big deal”. If I had never experienced it before, I would likely be much more concerned. But I felt the exact same thing when I was 16, which is how I found out about it.
I, obviously, need to be careful, as aggravating it to a point where the shift increases would be very bad. Usually, though, it is just inflammation. And this is the 1st time since I started back that it has been anywhere near this intense. I’ll go easier and get it checked after vacation.
Schmidt - I normally go beltless on the lighter stuff (up to 225). After that, I can really feel the strain. That strain hasn’t necessarily aggravated the Spondy. It has done something, though. It is the reason that I am not pulling, at present. I do think that increased core work would help, though. It definitely won’t fix the problem. As long as I can keep working at least the squats in some capacity, though, I will be okay with it.
Shoulders -
Aside from the back still tweaking (which is better, by the way), which made my core stability absolute crap (see videos), I was pleased with the workout. I did forego my usual 405# on my last set of shrugs, to keep the additional load off my back. Now 2 days to recover…
Static Stretching
Military Press
barx15
95x10
135x8
155x5
175x5
195x5
215x8 - PR +3 Reps
215x5
BB Shrugs
225x20
315x15
315x12 - Grip gave
315x20 - Straps
DB Laterals
35sx10x3
35sx6 - supersetted with last set of Rev. Flyes
Reverse Flyes
35sx10x3
Back aside, I am feeling alright. I am still a bit worn down, from the new program, but seem to be acclimating. Next week should be telling.
Nice PR Skip! stability didn’t look bad at all
Thats a nice PR there Strick, big lifting.
MP are really looking good. I bet you’ll hit 275 this year.
LS-- do you see a chiro?
I can commiserate with the back acting up now and again. My chiro is my lifeline.
Thanks Joe and soldog. Soldog, I was shaking like a leaf. It’s annoying having to waste evergy holding the bar, while trying to stabilize myself, that could be used for the actual press.
Steve, that would be awesome! 6 months to add 15-20#. Hopefully it works out that way.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
LS-- do you see a chiro?
I can commiserate with the back acting up now and again. My chiro is my lifeline.[/quote]
Steely, no chiro. I have often thought that one might do me some good. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn’t cover it. It will have to wait until all the other medical bills are paid. But it is definitely on my radar.
Lazy man’s cardio -
Did some tire pulling after work. Thought I was going to die. Boy do I need it!
75 yard “jog” with 100# load
75 yard “jog” with 75# load
75 yard “jog” with 120# load
350 yard walk with just the tire - 30# load
100 yard jog with just the tire
100 yard jog with just the tire
drink gatorade, lay on floor, breathe deeply, wait for burn to go away
Pulling this in the yard sucks. The varying terrain (tall grass, short grass, splotchy grass, no grass and yard obstacles I run the tire into) really changes the workload during the pull. In some respects that is good, but it is really fatiguing. I am afraid to get it on asphalt, though 
Not to mention, the adults in the neighborhood would think I was nuts. The kids (about 10 of them) would all be out there wanting to join in. Kind of like how my home gym is the talk of the neighborhood, in the 12 and under demographic.
Now for a couple of Shiner Bocks, or a big Jack and Coke, and movies with the family.
"Kind of like how my home gym is the talk of the neighborhood, in the 12 and under demographic. "
I got a good laugh outta that .
I need to get motivated about starting up some low budget conditioning stuff .( Im gettin stronger , but Im getting lazier too ). so you pull the tire around…how do you add weight to the tire ?
[quote]marlboroman wrote:
"Kind of like how my home gym is the talk of the neighborhood, in the 12 and under demographic. "
I got a good laugh outta that .
I need to get motivated about starting up some low budget conditioning stuff .( Im gettin stronger , but Im getting lazier too ). so you pull the tire around…how do you add weight to the tire ?[/quote]
Yeah, I figure in a couple of years I will have at least 3 of the boys in the neighborhood hanging around a lot…because of the gym, not my daughter. At least that better be why
Right now, I am using the kids for weights. Run 1 was with my middle child (he weighs 70#). Run 2 was with my youngest (he weighs 45#). Run 3 was with my oldest (she weighs 90#).
The plan is, when none of them are available, or don’t want to be pulled, to put dumbbells inside the tire. I don’t think it bounces around enough for them to come out.
The only draw back to doing these in the yard is that I can’t do them in a striaght line. To get these distances I have to go around the yard. In the turns, some speed/momentum is lost. Since I am doing it for cardio, and not speed, I don’t guess that really matters.
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
LS-- do you see a chiro?
I can commiserate with the back acting up now and again. My chiro is my lifeline.[/quote]
Steely, no chiro. I have often thought that one might do me some good. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn’t cover it. It will have to wait until all the other medical bills are paid. But it is definitely on my radar.[/quote]
I’ll add my voice to a good chiro. Good being the operative word. However, like many of us you have other pressing commitments, and you probably leave your stuff at the bottom of the list. That’s the way it is. I love my guy. He treats many of the Provinces lifters and is at many of our meets. It’s invaluable to be able to tell him ‘when I hit the hole, my xxx does xxx.’ and he knows exactly what I’m doing and what is likely to be affected.
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Shoulders -
Aside from the back still tweaking (which is better, by the way), which made my core stability absolute crap (see videos), I was pleased with the workout. I did forego my usual 405# on my last set of shrugs, to keep the additional load off my back. Now 2 days to recover…
Static Stretching
Military Press
barx15
95x10
135x8
155x5
175x5
195x5
215x8 - PR +3 Reps
215x5
BB Shrugs
225x20
315x15
315x12 - Grip gave
315x20 - Straps
DB Laterals
35sx10x3
35sx6 - supersetted with last set of Rev. Flyes
Reverse Flyes
35sx10x3
Back aside, I am feeling alright. I am still a bit worn down, from the new program, but seem to be acclimating. Next week should be telling.[/quote]
Nice.Looks damn strong.
I can’t help but think “This guy just pressed me holding a 30 lb DB…13 times.”
Wow. I noticed you paused at the 5th rep…that’s the point where I just break down and can’t do anymore. My shoulders just give out. Very impressive. Ditto DCA’s thoughts. Except it’s a 5-10# db in my case. 
For the chiro, I hear you on the insurance. Relative to “real” docs, though, they’re a tremendous bargain. You might want to price them out. Even just getting a chiro to do an x-ray on the back is probably cheaper than going to a hospital and getting an x-ray…after insurance. I saw one last year, and that was the case anyway.
[quote]sfp wrote:
For the chiro, I hear you on the insurance. Relative to “real” docs, though, they’re a tremendous bargain. You might want to price them out. Even just getting a chiro to do an x-ray on the back is probably cheaper than going to a hospital and getting an x-ray…after insurance. I saw one last year, and that was the case anyway.[/quote]
And worth every nickle. Mine charges 36.00 per visit. My ins picks up 30.00. Still a bargain, though.
Thanks bulldog, Tony and sfp. Millies let me feel like I actually have some strength, while I struggle to make my other lifts respectable. And, no, they are not weak. But they should be significantly higher.
Ouroboro, sfp, RL - I will check into tthe chiro option. I am a bit torn on it, though. I have read in several places that chiros are not the best option for spondy. Mainly because the techniques they use to realign things can actually make it worse. Pushing, or applying force, on the area that is already shifted forward, could cause the shift to increase. Even if there was a way to reach inside an pull it back into alignment, given the pars defect, it would just shift back once a load was applied, because there is nothing to hold it in place.
I think that strengthening the muscles is the most I can hope for. That being said, a visit to the chiro might address other issues, and make it worth the trip.
Yeah, when it comes to your back it pays to be cautious, and maybe a bit skeptical. The chiro I saw last year was very clear on his limitations, and cautioned against chiros who claimed to fix anything. As Ouroboro said, if you go that route, make sure you get a good one.
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
I have read in several places that chiros are not the best option for spondy. Mainly because the techniques they use to realign things can actually make it worse. Pushing, or applying force, on the area that is already shifted forward, could cause the shift to increase. Even if there was a way to reach inside an pull it back into alignment, given the pars defect, it would just shift back once a load was applied, because there is nothing to hold it in place.
[/quote]
FWIW, my back injury was officially recorded as “Lumbo-sacral spondylosis without myleopathy” (L5-S1) plus spondylosis in L-something and L-something.
The early recovery was ‘flexion-distraction’ on a special table where the legs drop at the hip and they ‘pump’ the legs (table has hydraulic assist). Plus some other techniques to help realign the disc/vertebrae. She didn’t adjust me on my side for almost 6 months.
Just my experience. I still go once a month, sometimes more if I get a tweak or spasm.