Wow, that is a really awesome post from @MarkKO. Much respect @MarkKO.
@liftangryordie500 I am not wise enough to give you advice. I will point out though, that there is a meaningful difference between being a capable writer, and being a person who is actually qualified to give fitness advice. No doubt you can be a better writer than many, many adults. BUT, in my humble opinion, to give fitness advice, you need to have spent years “under the bar”, AND have seen how different protocols, methods of training etc. affect different people differently. That can only come with time and experience, lots of it.
Yeah, this is the mindset I occupy. I don’t have any life experience yet, but everything I’ve been through tells me that if someone’s criticizing me it’s coming from a place of bad intentions.
Yeah, this is something I definitely need to remember. Not everybody is out to get me. I’ve been working on getting that concept drilled into my head.
Thank you guys for that.
This is also something I’ve been trying to work on instead of immediately jumping to my own defense.
Also, thanks for the offer to talk. I’ll definitely be taking you up on it.
Yeah, you’re right. And because I want to circumvent that and keep writing anyway (I enjoy doing it too), I generally speak from the position of detailing my own successes with certain techniques/implements. Although I have definitely inadvertently given out fitness advice and made myself at least partially responsible for other people’s training. Yikes.
This has been my approach with my blog. It’s a VERY rare circumstance that I actually share it, and I instead prefer to let it trend organically. Its about keeping my writing skills sharp while WHAT I write about takes a back seat. Eventually, you get a lot of material.
Great work on the deadlift btw. A little delay in response, but my work firewall has gotten crazy and I don’t like writing out longer posts over my phone.
Today marks 2 weeks since I’ve smoked. Glad I didn’t cave, I can taste my food, coffee, and apple juice. I’ve been pretty sick (stomach-wise) as of late, so I haven’t trained (I also don’t know how the patches will react to sweat) but I figure quitting smoking already gave me a better base to start with. I can already run without too much of an issue, so now might be a great time to start conditioning work back up. Also, I saved a few hundred dollars that I can now put towards repairing my laptop. Just another random log update because I’ve been totally absent in here.
Oh boy, I haven’t lifted weights in three weeks. I just about got through hell this past month, but it’s coming to an end, I think. I’m going to give eating another chance, hoping that peanut butter, chicken, fruits and potatoes can save me. Something I’ve learned is that vegetables kill my stomach. I already don’t eat anything processed, but I also don’t really eat. Some days are better than others, but…it’s still a struggle. Still. I’m trying to figure out what I can do, but at least I quit smoking cigarettes. That has to be a step in the right direction if nothing else, tomorrow will mark 3 weeks quit. I haven’t been vaping either, because I honestly think that’s pretty much the same thing. It got me into nicotine to begin with, so I don’t want to vape anything. I’ve been using the patch, I’ve weaned down to step 2. Can’t wait until I don’t need the patch either!
Anyway, I can breathe again, I can run again, I look fuller even though I’ve been going through hell in the bathroom, and my skin has color again. I don’t smell. My teeth are whiter. I can taste and smell my food again. Yay me. Starting to see the light at the end of this tunnel, I think. I hope that light sticks around.
3 weeks not smoking or vaping, I’m glad I hit this milestone. I’m going to very tentatively attempt to lift weights today if my stomach doesn’t crap out on me (pun intended) between now and then.
Also, I think the Lexapro withdrawals are finally going away. I am very happy I ditched them, even if I do end up needing more medications in the future. I hope I don’t, but if I do I have to do what I have to do.
That’s all, just wanted to do something. Honestly, I feel like all of this work condensed into 15 minutes on a finicky stomach and minimal food/water/caffeine and after almost a month lay-off is more impressive than the 415 x 14 I did a little while ago. Should make for an easy 20 now that I can breathe.
I squatted 275 x 15 and set all of my current PRs as a pack-a-day smoker, now that I’m improving my base I’m pretty sure I’ll get stronger. I’m already fuller and have color back in my skin even though I’m still experiencing stomach issues.
In reference to last post, lost a client because he’s now harassing me from 10 different phone numbers after I told him his rates were too low and that I don’t want to work for him anymore. Lesson learned, I’m getting a work phone and having minimal communication with the people I work with so I don’t have another 34 year old asshole from the back end of Detroit calling me a lazy retard. Also had to close my Reddit account and wipe all traces of my PayPal / other accounts. I’m just gonna lay low for now and come back in a few months in terms of getting myself out there again, but I do have one client I work with via email. I’ll keep doing his work because it’s worth it lol
Anyway, I lifted weights again today
Press
45 x 2 x 5
65, 85, 95 x 5
115 x 1
135 x 2
115 x 7 + 3
95 x 7 + 3
85 x 6 + 4
Poundstone Barbell Curls
Bar x 75, one set (no real rest-pause to speak of)
All done out of a rack with a relatively straight back compared to how I’m accustomed to pressing. Not terrible
Also, I’m starting to feel less crazy and depressed and anxious. Getting away from the cigarettes and Lexapro helped. It’s been about two months since I took it, I’m starting to feel better on my own. That’s what I wanted. Also…I’m on my last two weeks of the patch which is barely anything
I’d like to apologize to you guys because I can be a real jerk and idiot when I’m being irrational
I’m sorry I was being an asshole, I hope there are no hard feelings. Wish I could go back and stop myself from posting when I wasn’t in a great headspace, I wouldn’t have burned my bridges. There are probably more people I was acting stupid towards, I really don’t remember. But, if you’re reading this and you kind of hate me, I’m sorry. I don’t get a pass to act like a jerk because I’m not feeling great.
