I’m already tired of yardio. My yard is just over an acre. It’s fun for about a month.
2 Likes
My yard is, depending on the year, and which county assessor is ascertaining my property value, ranges from 1.10 to 1.3 acres. And yes, the fun ends by mid June. Even more this year with a mower down for most of May. I feel your pain.
2 Likes
I have to confess I erred. I posted on another gentleman’s log that runners wax lyrical about their obsession, while strength and bodybuilding athletes (in the many forms) do not. Then I realized what a horse’s ass statement that was. There are some wonderful works written on lifting and bodybuilding. Dave Draper wrote beautiful books on the subject. As have others. The West Coast Bodybuilding Scene by Dick Tyler was an excellent book, worth more than one read. Sun and Steel by Yukio Mishima, which I have not read, sounds excellent. I know there are more, I do not have a list in front of me. The take away? I should think before I type.
6 Likes
Me too.
3 Likes
I took yesterday off. I did yardio for a few hours. Today is the lawn.
Soloflex II
Pre-Workout: Doughnut Shop Blend
Total Time: 25 minutes
Total Reps: 134. Fewer than a week ago.
It is warmer now. My home gym is on the second floor. We went from 50s and 60s to 80s overnight. The quick temp change, especially upstairs is uncomfortable at first. But, unlike the South, it is a very dry warm up.
I will be back on Saturday!
12 Likes
May 31, 2025
Took yesterday off from the yard. Maybe later this evening.
Soloflex III
Pre-Workout: Doughnut Shop Blend
Total Time: 30 minutes
Total Reps: 161
A pal and I watched Untold: Liver King the other evening. He is unhinged. We noticed his oldest son smirking at him toward the end of the documentary. The taking the gift to Brother Bull scene. Much of it was uncomfortable to watch. In my opinion.
I hope it turns out well for the kids.
A bit worn out from the first “real” week of yard work. That quick switch from 50-60 degrees to 80-85 degrees always kicks my duff. I am not sleeping well so getting up early before it warms up has been a challenge.
Diet wise. I have been trying to eat more fruit. That has not been a home run. Last night for dinner I had the first steak I have had in a bit. A Picanha, plus an avocado/tomato salad. Unfortunately I annihilated a pint of pistachio 
later on.
See you Monday!
18 Likes
June 3, 2025
About a 7:00 AM start. Thirty minutes not counting the ab stimulator.
Soloflex I
Pre-Workout: Doughnut Shop Blend
Total Reps: 139
Not a bad session. See you Thursday!
12 Likes
He has discovered the secrets of the universe after becoming Primal
1 Like
June 5, 2025
Soloflex II
Pre Workout: 22 oz Doughnut Shop Blend
I started with the ab stimulator. I am finally feeling better. Anyway, a good 20 minutes on the ab stimulator.
I had a excellent pump. I do not think I have typed that in a bit. See you Saturday!
OK, how do I turn that picture right side up? I have done it before, but I have since forgotten how to do it.
I remembered!
Now I have a full size keyboard, yes, I did have a great pump this morning. My wife was gone for a week and a half. She made it home yesterday. Now my German Shepherds have another adult to follow around constantly.
See you Saturday!
13 Likes
Always good to get a pump. Now that the wife is home, do it again Saturday and walk around the house showing off. 
3 Likes
She would shoot Diet Coke out of her nose she would laugh so hard. It is good she got back when she did. I was washing worn clothes with clean clothes, had the watering screwed up, I was living on canned chicken, feeding her cats off schedule. I would truly be a mess without her.
3 Likes
Watching him, his family interaction, etc. I hope he does not go defcon 4 and do something violent. He appears to be so off.
1 Like
June 7 2025
Soloflex III
PRE-Workout: Doughnut Shop Blend
Start 7:30 AM. 40 mins total time
148 Total reps
This picture is farging sideways again. I will have to fix it at work.
Today the dip+Haney shrug+up right row were spot on. There was some shoulder stimulation happening. Yes. Even a pump.
I think deadlift every two weeks is fine for now. I pedaled the Cyclo Trainer for 20 mins, as typed above.
The incline curls (a Steve Reeves’ favorite) hit right in that biceps peak.
Dips felt strong. That set of nine was my best set for a bit.
More yardio today. See everyone Tuesday!
Edit:
I have been thinking about my lifts today. I do not usually ponder mind /muscle connection, finding spirituality on a long run (when I did those), swimming has a special place in my heart, but it is still swimming. But today I paid more attention to the lifts individually.
Skipping the ab stimulator:
Dips: In high school dips were the tool of sadistic PE teachers. But I learned to dig them. I was anemic when it came to pull ups, but I could dip. Arthur Jones called them the upper body squat, I think. It is a good power move, almost pure, you the dip bars, and whatever weight you can lug.
The Haney Shrug: shrugging with the bar behind you. Used after dips, I get my shoulders swole. I actually paid attention to that. There is nothing fancy about it, but a good variation.
Up Right Row: One of my first lifts when I got my first barbell set about 1977. I had s Sears bench, 140 lbs of weight, and tons of bad advice. I benched 140 lbs until I could not lift my arms, same with barbell curls (less weight, then finish with the up right row.
Calf Raise: I have historically skinny calves. But, aside from that, dumbbell calf raises strengthen the whole foot and help my balance. Balance is important. I am not saying they are the end all, be all, but they help.
Incline Curls: Truly, a Reeves’ favorite. A good few sets seem to settle that soreness where the biceps peak is. I do not have a biceps peak, but you know. Strong arms and grip indicate a longer life, according to the University of California scientists.
Those are my ruminations for the day. Sorry for the length, and unscientificness of it all. Maybe next I will ruminate on the sirloin cap. But not in the near future.
18 Likes
As the King of Ruminating and Unscientific lifting I say don’t worry about it. If you go way back you’ll see we use to talk a lot more on here. Right there with you on skinny calves. You’ve either got them or you don’t. Mine got more defined and stronger when I use to work them but the bulk never changed.
2 Likes
Mary Ann said she’s never seen such skinny ankles! Does that count?
3 Likes
My nephews in the Phillippines are always saying, " Uncle, why are you so big but you legs so skinny."
4 Likes
June 9, 2025
Thank you for the great notes.
I was reading up on CAROL Bikes last evening. So… I did not buy one. 
. But, I do have an Airdyne.
I am awake, I am doing the first REHIT workout using a 2:00+:20+2:00+:20+2:00(min) schematic. As I looked through the information it was not unlike the 3(3:00[min])+3(:30[sec]) pedalings I was doing about a year ago. Instead of 11:00 min sessions, this morning’s was 6:45 mins. Close to half the time.
This first twenty seconds was a shock. The second twenty seconds, though I pedaled harder, seemed less distressful.
I forgot to take my pulse until well into my cool down pedaling. The first take was 120 bpm +/-. The second take was right about 100 bpm. I might invest in a heart monitor.
There you have it. My next foray into the REHIT world. I believe I will do this again Thursday.
See you then!
Edit: I looked at Carol Bikes, pricing, $2600. I had to go change. For $14,000 I could pick up a Pirelli Ciclote and have a work of art in my home gym. 
For the father who has everything, the Ciclote:
8 Likes
This is something I’ve been trying to focus on - the satisfying feel of the weight and movement. It’s getting easier.
1 Like
June 10, 2025
Soloflex I
Pre Workout: Doughnut Shop Blend
Reps up. Good pump!
I initially use my phone to post these. But I hate typing with it.
I put in a pretty efficient workout in this morning. I paid more attention to the :30 second/1:00 minute guideline, thirty seconds between sets, one minute between exercises. The vacuum takes a bit more time. The inward contraction, and exhaling after cannot be rushed. If I do not do those regularly and rely on the ab stimulator, then go back to the vacuum, that gets my mid-section very DOMS like.
I put in about 6 hours of sleep. Not bad.
I spent some time last evening listening to Mike Israetel on longevity with Chris Williams (?). I do not know if he gets everything correct, though he generally kept returning to obesity is the significant influencer in early death. Not the only thing of course. When Mike Israetel sits down and has a discussion with someone he respects, I can listen to what he has to say. He does think he is the smartest guy in any room, well…
I have, on occasion performed his myo-rep approach. It makes me sore as heck. It wears me out. I use it sparingly.
I guess I will see you all on Thursday! Go get it!
15 Likes
. . .and a little cutesy, but informative.
1 Like