Sun and weights seem to mix much better on Venice Beach than anywhere else.
Dave, I have to agree with you. I’ve been devastated the last few days so no lifting though I wanted to yesterday and today my body has been screaming “NO!” at me alongside the rational portion of my brain. It’s felt kind of like a whole body hernia. So, I will rest today and tomorrow I will lift again for the first time since Tuesday. I feel like a piece of me is missing but if I don’t take time to recuperate I think my lifting career will be in great jeopardy.
Finally felt able to lift today. I still had some tension and ache in both hips and my lower back but after lifting not much pain is remaining. Hopefully, I will be able to do enough therapy tonight and tomorrow morning not to be crippled by the after effects of tonight’s lifting and I can move on. Went fairly light after a 4 day lay-off but the bench for me was a little heavy.
Squats:(raw)
135 x 10
225 x 5
315 x 3
405 x 3
Fat Gripz(Extremes) Bench Press:
135 x 10
185 x 5
225 x 3
275 x 3
Sumo Deadlifts:
225 x 5
315 x 3
405 x 3
Standing Crunches:
70 lbs x 20
Squats felt good but the ache settled in my hips and lower back and made benching all the more fun. Sumo dead work went well and the hip pain was less noticeable but slightly remained present. All in all a good afternoon.
The ups and downs are what makes it all a challenge. If it were easy, why do it.
Crippler, I couldn’t agree more.
Lifting tonight went well. I still have some pain in my back and hips but it’s diminished somewhat.
Squats:(raw-no belt-no sleeves-no wraps)
135 x 10
225 x 5
315 x 3
425 x 3
Fat Gripz(Extremes) CG Bench:
135 x 10
185 x 5
225 x 3
276 x 3
245 x 3
225 x 3
Sumo Deadlifts:
225 x 5
315 x 3
425 x 3
Standing Crunches:
70 lbs x 20
I believe my bench is making progress and though I am taking it a little lighter on the squats and deads that is okay while my body heals in the hips and lower back area. Maybe going a little easier on the squats is helping me make progress on my bench.
Glad your back feels better. With the poundages you’re lifting, pay attention to it. Walking and hot bath soaks have worked for me since about 30th birthday.
biker thanks for reminding me about the baths. I’m going to have to force my lazy ass to start using the epson salt baths a couple of times a week to really get my body relaxed. Funny thing for me is I break out in a sweat after an epson salt bath but my aches are lot better.
Since I don’t have half the strength you’re using, I really appreciate your post about my inclines.
Glad your aches are better. If your back pain lingers, try using a chain store pharmacy’ wet heat heating pad instead of hot water soaking. They’re waterproof with wettable sponge to put between skin and heating pad, usually on medium heat. It’s really important to put a thick pillow under stomach to help keep back straight while using pad on back. Lying on floor and watching tv for about 30 minutes works great for me. Do not fall asleep. Knowing this at 30 might have spared me back surgery from excessive heavy (405-445) squatting.
Biker, thanks for the tip on the wet heating pad. I may look into getting that soon.
The lifting went well this evening although I still have quite a bit of discomfort in my hips and lower back.
Squats(raw-no nuttin’)
135 x 10
225 x 5
315 x 3
435 x 3
Fat Gripz Bench Press:(raw)
135 x 10
185 x 5
225 x 3
250 x 3
281 x 2 3/4(missed 3rd rep due to losing my path and hitting bar on upright and J-hook)
Sumo Deadlifts:(raw)
225 x 5
315 x 3
435 x 3
Standing Crunches:
70 lbs x 20
Watched a great video by Ed Coan on doing sumo deadlifts on PowerliftingWatch and then tried out some of his suggestions. I really liked the results and felt like my sumo dead immediately improved so I suggest watching the video. Weights moved fairly easily today.
Love reading your log…always great stuff…even when you claim you aren’t feelin’ it…I’m just glad you don’t have a machete when you aren’t feelin’ it …oh wait !
That looks like a really solid session GV.
Thanks OG that made me laugh. Thanks Dave. Tonight the lifting was fast and I did an abbreviated routine due to it being a long day and family etc.
Squats:(raw-no nutin’)
135 x 10
225 x 5
315 x 3
405 x 5
Fat Gripz CG Bench Press:(raw)
135 x 10
185 x 5
225 x 3
250 x 3
277 x 2(wanted 3 but this was all I had tonight)
Standing Crunches:
70 lbs x 20
Hip and back pain sticking around like an old stogey smoking unlce you wish would go away but can’t get rid of…some-bitch.
I forgot about the machete. Nothing sucks more than nagging injuries that refuse to move on.
Squats, bench and deads in the same night. That is brutal.
Even so, pushing some good weight!
Thanks LittleStrick and yes Crippler I agree lingering injuries are a pain, literally. Today, I got up from a sitting position and turned my hips suddenly and a pop rocked through my left hip. If felt like a tight tendon or muscle moved back into place. I don’t know if it will last but some of the pain in my hips abruptly vanished after the pop. I’ve had this happen several times in the past where it takes weeks for a tendon that has been out of place to move back into its correct path and then the body heals up. The body is wonderful magical machine.
I must read like a broken record sometimes but I’m taking another rest day because work today had me cramping up despite taking plenty of electrolytes in and eating well. Hips are still healing and painful and today my back and neck are having some muscle spasm action so all in all a good day to take it easy to come back tomorrow to fight another day. Guess I’ll have to consider this week a back-off week.
Keep listening to your body and forget that broken record stuff.
Wise decision GV. Your foundation is rock solid at this stage, injury is the only thing that is going to cause a major setback for you. Skipping some sessions when you aren’t 100% isn’t going to have any impact on your numbers.
Biker and Dave thank you for the support and you are both giving great advice. Was feeling a bit shamed today for not having lifted consistently for a couple of weeks and off for the last two days even though the rest was necessary and helpful. So, I decided to kick some small ass tonight and there will be a ton of therapy later but overall my hip pain hasn’t increased it’s just there but a little less than yesterday.
Squats:(raw)
135 x 10
225 x 5
315 x 3
405 x 1
495 x 1(used belt)
545 x 1(used belt)
Bench Press:
135 x 10
185 x 5
225 x 3
275 x 1
320 x 0(This pissed me off-I think I unracked it badly and maybe didn’t get in the right mind)
316 lbs x 1(PR! but it was ugly)
Standing Crunches:
70 lbs x 20
Maybe I just went a couple pounds too heavy tonight on the 320 lbs bench and I’ll get it in a couple weeks if not more. Squats were all comfortable and even the 545 lbs was deep and fairly easy. Didn’t do deads tonight because I’m giving my hips a break for a few days. I noticed by not doing deads on Sunday my hips felt better the last couple of days so my best guess is I’ve strained my psoas or have some kind of light hernia action going on and I may not do deads until next week to heal up.