Hard Work

Training Over 35 Lifter
441

[quote]cavalier wrote:

[quote]big nurse wrote:

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Nurse, don’t tell me you’re going to be a victim of their “austerity” program. We don’t have a NHS over here, but things aren’t fun. (I’m told healthcare is projected to increase jobs here, though.)

Dog, thanks for the delightful pic. Yes, pulling pants would certainly get attention, just not the type I’m looking for.

Dude, thanks. To be exact, we don’t have a DL yoke, so I load the bar to 135 on the power rack, lower to floor, then add on 35’s. I don’t like to wrestle the bar to load more 45’s. So 315 would be bar plus 2 45’s, plus 4 35’s, plus 4 10’s, if that makes sense.

The important thing is getting STRONGER . . . my lifelong dream.
[/quote]

Something like that–the hospital has to lose Ã??Ã?£17m off the staff budget alone this year.

Oh and did i mention that the Uk government is giving away some Ã??Ã?£13 bn in foreign aid–big chunk of it being given to another 'nuclear ’ state while our Nhs, armed forces and police are all being hit.[/quote]

Which means, of course, everyone at your hospital will start working overtime and sucking up to the bosses to prove HIS job is indispensable. Sigh.

Think your government’s weird? Ours is spending trillions on 2 or 3 wars (I lost count), but they’re trying to cut unemployment benefits, teachers, police, medical care, etc, because “we can’t afford them”. Great fun for someone out of work.
[/quote]

Our Government’s latest scheme to save money is to let criminals out after serving only half their sentences!! Brilliant idea!

If there’s one thing I don’t mind paying taxes for, it’s for keeping dangerous people behind bars.

As BN said we’re giving millions in overseas aid to build schools in India, which has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, while shutting village primary schools in this country because we can’t afford to keep them open. The UK gives more overseas aid (per capita) than any other country while our pensioners are having to choose between buying food or paying their heating bills. Where’s the logic?

442

Jeez, Goat, that’s just too gosh darn logical.

Brett, it’s just as weird over here. Google on “California jails” to see what Arnold did to the prison system in his state. Prisoners crammed together like cordwood. The federal Supreme Court ruled conditions were so godawful they were ordered to start releasing inmates. And on the subject of “pensioners” (we say elderly, retirees, etc), look up “Ryan plan” and you’ll see our legislators trying to push the same thing.

Yesterday was a light day, relatively, so kept weight light and loaded on reps. Some bench, some assisted chins, some pulldowns, some wrist curls, some reverse curls. Really got into it, got good and intense, good pump, burn baby burn!

Woke up with the heart palpitations from hell. Actually hurt. Took medication and tried to watch TV to take my mind off it. (Did you know all the talk shows have the same jokes?) Finally went away. Got a good night’s sleep, took it easy today. Was going to gym, but felt so exhausted just dropped and took a nap. Feel way better. Will go for a short walk and call it a day.

443

      • GREAT MOMENTS IN GEEK * * *

Caught this on the web. It’s December 1964, Burbank, California. They had just finished building the model. No one if the show would sell as a series, be popular, or what.

Thought I knew everything about the show, but never saw this pic before.

444

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Nurse, don’t tell me you’re going to be a victim of their “austerity” program. We don’t have a NHS over here, but things aren’t fun. (I’m told healthcare is projected to increase jobs here, though.)
[/quote]

Cav, don’t bet on it, unless you mean locally. I work for a healthcare system and can tell you that what is coming down the pipe is not going to help us hire anyone. It MIGHT increase patient volume, but with price controls and diminished payments from the government, where much, if not most, of our payments come from, we will have to do more with less.

I used to think that hospitals charged too much. Since working in one, however, I have come to realize that for many, the problem is bad debt. It is hard to keep your head above water when nearly 1/3rd of your charges have to be written off as bad debt. The new system would, in theory, reduce the number of people who don’t pay at all. Since the amount that will be “reimbursed” is controlled, though, it is a wash at best.

445

That’s interesting, Strick. Been checking with local employment board, which lists healthcare as one of the fields relatively good for job growth. Don’t know about the specifics, maybe it’s local, or maybe they meant something other than hospital work. Me, I’m aiming for IT.

Been taking it easy, hitting the gym, miscellaneous stuff. Lo weight, hi reps. Getting good burn. Today rows, GHR, grip work, rev arm curls.

      • PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS * * *

Tomorrow will do heavy squats AND will video them. Will show the progress I’ve made on the box squat.

446

Whew. Did box squats, really, really hard.

Squats
45 x 7
65 x 6
95 x 5
115 x 4
125 x 3
135 x 2
135 x 1
115 x 1

The 135 was the first time done on box squat, but seemed to take absolutely forever to get up. Really concentrating on arching back, not lean forward, tighten everything, look up, etc.

Leg Press . got down as far as possible, simply must work getting out of hole
145 x 8
190 x 7
235 x 6
265 x 7
295 x 6

This last one was like pulling car off child kind of effort, made it.

115 lbs:

125 lbs:

135 lbs:

447

Squats are definitely looking better. Keep working on your arch to lock everything in.

And, I have to ask…who is getting tortured in the background? Did I hear “Oh God!” in the middle of the set? I’d probably laugh my ass off if I heard that in the gym.

448

Thanks, Git. As for the sounds, I think you’re referring to me. I was putting in very, very hard effort, really straining to get it up. I am absolutely determined to get stronger, no matter how painful it is. Some people seem to have it easy, they grow just looking at a barbell. Not me, I have to fight for it.

449

Solid work. Determination will definitely get you stronger as it means you will stick to it.

james

450

OK, understood. For what it’s worth, I haven’t met many where strength or size comes easily. A few are more gifted but most struggle.

From a gym etiquette standpoint, that much noise would be a distraction if I was lifting there. But I appreciate the effort you are putting in.

I posted a video of Ed Coan in my log. He’s a freak but success leaves clues. It’s got me thinking about my own squat training.

451

Really excellent progress on the box squats to be at 135 lbs already. You’ve got your depth spot on now. I’m assuming the slight twist coming out of the hole is caused by your scoliosis?

Nit picking slightly, but you could try lowering the bar slightly, it seems to be right on your neck! It would help keep your centre of gravity further back too, lessening the tendency to ‘GM’ it.

You could be doing yourself a disservice with all the noise you’re making, because when you ‘blaspheme’ like that you lose your lung full of air that keeps that abdominal pressure that helps stabilise your spine. Maybe limit the shouting to the lockout of each rep and otherwise hold your breath.

I’ve never heard anyone shout on the negative before!

Great work Cavalier. I’m enjoying seeing your progress. You are definitely getting stronger.

452

James, thanks.

Git, I don’t like making noise, when I get frustrated, I don’t back off, just push through harder than ever. my gym is somewhat blase about it, also not many people there at the time. I have been bawled out by another member long ago for yelling during bench, managed to bench since then without bothering anyone.

Brett, thanks. The twist is probably scoliosis related. I try to put in a slight twist just before lowering, if it’s happening coming up, it’s unintentional and means strength is slipping. Maybe should concentrate on tighten glutes.

Already lowering bar as much as can, currently resting on shoulders. Will see what I can do, will experiment. Would be thrilled if I could remove all temptation to ‘GM’. Just doesn’t feel like the strength is there in the hole - damn, the effort.

Honestly don’t know why I yelled going down, don’t remember doing that. I’ve done partials at 200 before, 135 really didn’t feel too intimidating.

Right, the abdominal pressure, I forgot. Used to do that when using heavy weight in the past. Anything to make the lift feel easier.

Thanks to everyone for the thumbs up, helps a lot!

453

Nice work Cav…Are you a ventriloquist? because it didnt seem like the yelling was coming out of your mouth…I could of sworn I heard and “OH GOD” it seemed like it was coming from somewhere else

454

I don’t think it’s you yelling either. It doesn’t synch up with your effort at times. Not that it matters.

Such improvement on depth!

I’d like to see you sit back more so that your knees aren’t shooting forward as far.

As far as moving the bar down on your back, Brett is 100% right in terms of your center of gravity and eliminating some GM action. I’m working on that right now myself. But I have a coach to help. The first time he made me lower the bar I had a huge weight (for me) on my back. I kept saying “I’m going to drop the weight. I’m going to fall.” He just calmly said: “No, you’re not.” And I didn’t.

I always love coming to your log. You work so hard and are progressing so well.

455

Good work Cav, got a feeling your numbers will be moving up pretty steadily these next few months.

456

See- all you needed was a little e-support.

nice work cav.

good depth
like others said good improvements.

air and tightness are related.
holding air means holding tightness

457

Nice work, Cav. Definitely looking better.

458

Matty, thanks. Honestly no idea . . . only a couple of other guys in the vicinity and neither of them are vocal. Sounds like a job for Mulder and Scully.

Snapper, thanks very much. Really pounded on depth, relieved that it’s paying off.

Joe, thanks. Not sure about the next few months, almost certain to move when I get the next job (not much right around here). Wish I could just get it over with.

KM, a little e-support works wonders. Will remember the air.

Strick, I appreciate it. I know you’re a form Nazi.

Interesting. Yesterday just hopped into the apartment health center for a little cardio. Half an hour of elliptical later, still wasn’t out of breath. Today went to the gym for some light lifting. Surprisingly easy. Also been feeling a bit more pumped than usual. Conclusion: the squats may be have been killers, but really did something good for me. Oh, shit. That just gives me an incentive to do more.

I experimented with squatting a broomstick. Really have to work shoulders & arms to allow bar to get lower. No problem getting the stick down the back, in fact, the squatting felt really turbocharged. Just have to see if I have the flexibility in shoulders to make it work. Anything you folks do for that?

459

You certainly are determined!! Keep it up!

460

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Matty, thanks. Honestly no idea . . . only a couple of other guys in the vicinity and neither of them are vocal. Sounds like a job for Mulder and Scully.

Snapper, thanks very much. Really pounded on depth, relieved that it’s paying off.

Joe, thanks. Not sure about the next few months, almost certain to move when I get the next job (not much right around here). Wish I could just get it over with.

KM, a little e-support works wonders. Will remember the air.

Strick, I appreciate it. I know you’re a form Nazi.

Interesting. Yesterday just hopped into the apartment health center for a little cardio. Half an hour of elliptical later, still wasn’t out of breath. Today went to the gym for some light lifting. Surprisingly easy. Also been feeling a bit more pumped than usual. Conclusion: the squats may be have been killers, but really did something good for me. Oh, shit. That just gives me an incentive to do more.

I experimented with squatting a broomstick. Really have to work shoulders & arms to allow bar to get lower. No problem getting the stick down the back, in fact, the squatting felt really turbocharged. Just have to see if I have the flexibility in shoulders to make it work. Anything you folks do for that?[/quote]

I ahve been encouraged to do plenty of work with the bare bar or very low weight to work on the form, also i have been working at the bottom ‘in the hole’ where waht i do is squat down, pause and then try and get a bit further down–seem to e very tight at the moment but it’s stll all new.

Other thing though is that i also create more squat variety and what i have been really getting into is the goblet squat, initially with kb but now with dbs at increasing weight.

Observation is that lighter weight and vareity is paying dividends in form and overall work output.