Chest-ticles- I think its important to say that most of what i was going to do or planning to do or thought about doing, was “taken” by some BigdaddyCool Bro, lifting up his shirt every few mins to check his abs after his raring set of something like military presses. SO, today was a bit of Improvising. Fortunately, i was up to it!
Incline Db presses (With these, i noticed a lot of dbs missing. So i decided to do 2 warmup sets as to ease into things, then jumped into the heavy stuff)- 15/50, 12/60, 8/80, 8/100, 8/120, 8/140
Dips- 12/BW, 8/+25, 8/+45, 8/+70
Floor Press (Havent done these in awhile, and since a lot of shit was taken, i simply jumped on these. I did these with a shoulder width grip, flaring elbows out, and kinda did them Guillotine style, coming down close to my neck. I would completely stop at the bottom and the top. The movement felt pretty good, but since i hadnt done these in awhile, i had to play guess N check with weights lol)- 8/135, 8/225, 8/275, 8/315
DB fly (Finally i got a flat bench. Though jumping into these this late in the workout, i didnt think id be able to get as heavy as normal, so i started light, though i did try to make up for it with my bumps)- 8/40, 8/55, 8/70, 8/80
Cable Flies (Now, to be specific, i do all my cable flies on a Free motion cable machine, though depending on the exercise i am doing, i change the height number. Today’s cable flies were done at a height #5, i remained mostly upright and and tried to keep the point of the movement almost chin level)- 12/40, 12/60, 8/70, 8/80.
Now by this point, every bench and every cable that i could do serratus on was taken. So, i basically called it there. I finished the day was 4 sets of legups for 12reps a pop, and got out of that place.
Now for the fun part…
Sometimes i watch some of those motivational videos before i head into the gym. It keeps me focused, assuring that i put myself under constant scrutiny in the gym: Looking in the mirror, posing muscle, flexing muscles. The problem with this constant scrutiny is sometimes the weight of my own self critiquing evolves into self loathing, becomes too heavy a burden. I find myself dropping to a knee:
desire, intensity, drive, will, fortitude…words that just seem to be floating above me. As i ponder these words, i look towards the future…and there i see a trek, another mountain. I look back, squinting, the ground is so far…the beginning, so long ago. Eyes retracing my steps, seeing every ground marked footprint, every faltering palm print, every collapsed moment…Ive grown, im bigger now, stronger…but not enough…i wont be able to reach the top in my current condition. I glance at my position, a good distance from the start of the mountain and yet a good distance from its apex, and i notice the metaphorical snow. This white devil, no longer a slim blanket gently caressing the ground, climbs up to my knees, pushing back on every step i take. A constant burden, only increasing in strength…this is the moment, my moment. Its where i decide how it will all end. If i decide upon something, if i want it bad enough, there is nothing on this earth that can stop me. Suffer the pain of discipline, or suffer the pain of regret. There are plenty of obstacles in my path, and i will not allow myself to become one of them. I will be stronger, mentally, physically… I accept this burden, i allow and embrace said pain, for what is strength but the product of struggle?
And with that i straighten my back, muscles tensing, eyes focusing towards the top… and begin to once again trudge through the snow…
Keep trudging, keep pushing, keep ascending. Happy lifting, folks