Well my poor decisions have finally come back to get me. I continued my craptacular sleeping habits scoring no more than 5-6 hours a night over the weekend. This morning I felt so sick I killed the alarm, sent a note to work, and didn’t wake up until noon. That’s 13 hours of sleep. I have to find a way to do less and get myself enough sleep or I’m just going to fail at this.
And I forgot to wear sunscreen when the boys and I went for a bike ride and I have a ridiculous tank top tan.
Don/Dog - I’m going to make a very rare exception and use the straps for rows this week only because it’s max effort week. Then I’m just going to hope that the accessory work improves my grip over time.
JUST THE FACTS MA’AM
The program I’m following builds in intensity peaking in week 3, then week 4 is higher-rep-lower-weight. This is max effort week.
TUESDAY
Scarecrows - 3x12 x40 lb
A1 Chins - 8x5 x 35lb
A2 Seated db press - 3x4 x 60 lb and 3x4 x 55lb
B1 Renegade rows - 3x6 x 45 lb
B2 Fly press - 3x6 x 50 lb
Rollouts (from feet) - 2x5
Hamster wheel - 15 mins
Chins feel strong. That’s one area that is not sucking. Presses, not so much. I was supposed to move up to 60s, but couldn’t sustain it the entire set.
WEDNESDAY
Sumo - 8x4 x 295 lb
single leg RDL - 4x6 x 125 lb
A1 swissball leg curls
A2 reverse hypers
Hamster wheel - 15 mins
Holy crap, sumos just feel HEAVY! This is a rather pathetic weight for me. This puts my 1rm down around 30 pounds which I do not like. This is the joy of age. I haven’t had my T levels tested because I think I’d just get depressed, but I’m wondering if it’s time to check this out. Although up here in Canada it’s not like I can expect my doctor to prescribe anything unless I actually grow a vagina.
I’m feeling really annoyed by what I have arrogantly self-diagnosed as decreasing T with age. It’s harder to lose fat, muscle tone is decreased, I’m tired all the damned time, and sex drive is mediocre.
Aging is annoying. I’m finding the public prejudice against T replacement in men, for quality of life improvements, unfair. There’s so much judgment against wanting to sustain the peak.
Sorry for my lots.
Pity party is over. Let’s just party. Here’s a tune that makes me move to the groove.
Oh and my weight is 177.5 for a total weight loss to date of a SPECTACULAR 2-1/2 lbs. Whopp dee dip. I’m so happy I could yawn.
I’m having a pity party too, but if I were you I would just get yourself checked out, just my two cents. Feeling tired all the time is a real pain in the ass, I feel for ya.
Aw the pity pool. Everybody has taken a lap around that sucker. Just don’t drown in it! It is much better to throw your clothes off and do the Triple Lindsey from the high dive and skinny dip! You got this, your just pissy cause you are starting over, it’ll pass.
JUST THE FACT MA’AM
T pushups - 3x10
A1 Bent over bb rows - 8x4 x 205lb
A2 Incline db bench - 8x4 x 80 lb
B1 chins - 3x6 x 20lb
B2 Scott press - 3x6 x 50 lb
B3 Side planks - 3x30s
Hamster wheel 15 mins
Today I used straps for the rows . This caused me great sadness, but made for a MUCH better back workout. I tweaked my lower back yesterday deadlifting and getting into position for inclines was a drag. Fortunately it’s getting better by the hour.
Current goal is to dispense with the straps!
So my air conditioner crapped out yesterday afternoon. I live in the hottest and sunniest location in Canada, and it was 35oC yesterday (which is 95F). And where I live is technically desert so it doesn’t always cool down all that much at night. Thank GOD we were able to get a repairman out this morning.
I have great respect and admiration for tradesmen!
Oh, and I’m going to get my T tested and restock my ZMA. Thanks, chicken, biker, and minimal.
Those of you on TRT, how did your wives feel about it? My wife is convinced it causes cancer and there’s nothing I can say about it. The fact I’m a scientist with a chemistry degree doesn’t seem to carry much weight.
I share your wife’s opinion about TRT replacement, but I’m probably overly conservative.
My rheumatologist’s TRT patches’ advice ended abruptly when I asked about cancer risks. My memories of my first wife dying from cancer trump my friends’ TRT experiences.
Imagine trying to balance that with chemically enhanced amorous urges one can act on.
If your chemistry education won’t win over your wife, maybe try “we’re all gonna die eventually.” Or, “ALS is much worse than cancer.” Or–and I’m especially queasy about this one-- “prostate cancer takes forever to kill.”
Good luck with your decision. I hope it’s the right one.
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This week I scale back from max effort and go lower weight/higher rep… which in a lot of ways is tougher than going for 3RMs.
JUST THE FACTS MA’AM
MONDAY
Sumo - 4x8 x 225 lb
single leg RDL - 4x12 x 75 lb
A1 swissball leg curls
A2 reverse hypers
Hamster wheel - 15 mins
TUESDAY
Scarecrows - 3x12 x40 lb
A1 Chins - 4x8 x 25lb
A2 Seated db press - 2x10 x 45 lb and 2x8 x 50lb
B1 Renegade rows - 3x12 x 25 lb
B2 Fly press - 3x12 x 25 lb
B3 Rollouts (from feet) - 2x5
Hamster wheel - 15 mins
Twice so far this month I’ve gotten wicked sun burns. I am annoyed. I’ve made a commitment that once the sun burns and peeling die down I’ll do another round of progress photos.
I also fired up the full supplementation program today, including the full panel of vitamins, joint-happiness pills, and fat burners. Maybe that will help with the crushing tiredness. And I’ve decided it’s time to scale back the calories. I’ve cut 50-100 calories of protein and fats; next week I’ll likely cut a meal, and try to get closer to 2000-2200 cal/d.
So apparently my blood work is all normal. My total T was 32 nmol/L (around 930 ng/dL), so we can scratch that off the list of reasons why I’m so damned tired all the time.
In fact the doctor asked me if I was taking any “testosterone boosting supplements”. To which I laughed and replied “No, my wife would shoot me dead”.
Of course the depressing part of this is that this is as good as it gets.
. This caused me great sadness, but made for a MUCH better back workout. I tweaked my lower back yesterday deadlifting and getting into position for inclines was a drag. Fortunately it’s getting better by the hour.