@Panopticum Good to have you swing by dude! And very much appreciate that. I’ve been heavier at this height, but this has been a good balance of size and leanness.
@EmilyQ and @wiseman83 There ya’ll are so boldly using the “r” word in this carnivorous safe space! Haha.
AM WORKOUT (0410 wake up via alarm)
75 KB swings w/24kg bell
2.3 mile walk w/80lb vest (2.9 MPH stride, .2 better than average)
100x180lb reverse hypers
50 band pull aparts
2 sets of neck harness work
3x10 standing ab wheel
Notes:
I continue to appreciate the ability to get in these walks between workouts. I’m really needing this pace of training these days. And though I woke up stiff from the race, I’m definitely not as broke down as I’ve been.
Focused on a quicker stride today and it worked out. Wanting to make the walk a bit more “intentional” and not just a stroll.
That reverse hyper set was transformative. There’s a legit conditioning effect when the reps get that high.
I’ve noticed I’ve let the 300 squats and 300 push ups a day fall off, and I’m ok with that. I’m also happy that I’m ok with that. Having lost the compulsion for daily numbers is a win in and of itself.
The walk gave me lots of time to think about things. I realize I’m not as lean as I was last year, but I’m bigger and stronger, and I feel like my caffeine consumption plays a role in that. I was all aboard the Jamie Lewis famine train of taking in a ton of caffeine when I was following Feast/Famine/Ferocity, but as I transitioned more toward carnivore, my caffeine sources just didn’t jive with that lifestyle. I’ve gone from over a gram of caffeine a day to 2 green teas with a LOT of water to dilute it. I imagine it’s given my adrenals a break and made me NOT so full of cortisol that I can actually grow and recover. Also see my deadlift coming back and how it correlates with that reverse hyper coming back into the programming too. In general, it’s been a very interesting year. I effectively cut myself down to my total baseline, from 201lbs to 165, and have been gradually building myself back, but doing so the “right way” for me. I had previously achieved these results using a lot of approaches that were a poor fit for me, and I suffered the consequences for it.
Saw a competition in July that has my interest. I’ll have to see if my schedule works out for it.
Tang Soo Do on the schedule tonight, assuming I get out of work on time.
Going for a 10-miler on a lark would definitely fork up my legs, regardless of how well-conditioned I was cardiovascularly. The eccentric stress on the quads always hits worse than high bar pause squats. I’ve done a ton of long running, and it never mixed well with strength training. I imagine that the post-run Culver’s mitigated the damage
It was SO fantastic, haha. And spot on: my quads were the most sore they’d been in a LONG time. Made me think I might be onto something with a DoggCrapp workout the day before: the ULTIMATE 2 part leg day, haha.
So, my understanding of masochism isn’t necessarily that one loves the pain, it’s that they derive pleasure from pain/discomfort/a painful experience/whatever. I’d guess that many masochists hate the pain but are addicted to the stimulus.
I’m not going to try to group you into that or any other bucket but I think, if masochism is extended to link one step further, I can see how one might categorize your actions as such.
You may hate the pain and not feel that pain gives you reward but the outcome of that painful experience is your current (physical) condition, which I assume does give you pleasure. Think that understanding of “masochism” is probably a bit of a stretch, though.
takes off hat
Haven’t been here in awhile, glad to see you’re still crushing it. I’m struggling to get momentum and DC seems interesting, I’ve read a bit about it in the past but remember effectively nothing. Do you have a favorite article or resource (or a few) that you’d recommend to get started with it?
I’m not going to waste my carbs on something as pedestrian as rice! Haha. Always been my downfall with that macro. If I eat them, its never anything good for me. It would be like a low fat person that splurges by eating Crisco out of the jar.
It’s what I mean by “loves pain”. They enjoy it, get pleasure from it, etc.
You may hate the pain and not feel that pain gives you reward but the outcome of that painful experience is your current (physical) condition, which I assume does give you pleasure. Think that understanding of “masochism” is probably a bit of a stretch, though.
Exactly. I consider this asceticism. Very much the opposite of masochism. A masochist indulges in pain. I take no indulgence with pain. If I COULD avoid pain, I absolutely would. I only experience it as a necessary consequence for achieving my goals. If I WAS pain seeking, it would defeat the point, because the transformation occurs as a result of engaging in activities that force growth BECAUSE they are unpleasant.
I honestly equate it to being called “genetically gifted”: it takes away from the accomplishment. I understand the sentiment behind it MEANS well, but I like to clarify that I am NOT some sort of freakshow painseeker. I am human: all too human.
Hell yeah dude! I’m excited for you. There’s lots more resources out there as well. Intense-Muscle is still a treasure trove of DC material, and Skip Hill, Dusty Hanshaw and Justin Harris are fantastic resources. And, of course, @davemccright is full of fantastic insight
Given that language is so very context-based, I would say that in most common usage “masochism” is just a term used for “doing something unpleasant by choice”. Not necessarily that the choice is to experience the unpleasantness. Or, slightly stronger connotations, to willfully suffer [for any reason].
He’s such a masochist, he studies for 2 hours every night after school instead of partying.
He’s such a masochist, he does 100 rep deadlifts instead of listening to self-help audiobooks.
Now that I’m actually thinking about it, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered masochism. The suffering was always either a means to something else, or a proxy for something else.
Axle Shrugs
20xAxle
10xLight Band
10xAverage
7+5+3xStrong+Mini
70 second trap stretch w/strong+mini band
Belt calf raise
10xBW
10x30
12x65
90 second calf stretch w/65lbs
SSB Good Morning
10xBar
8x98
10+5+3x148
90 second hamstring stretch w/40kg bell
SSB Front Squats
10xBar
8x115
4x135
4x185
8x245
20x195
90 second quad stretch
3x10 standing ab wheel
BREAKFAST
Short walk w/dog
Notes:
Gonna keep this short, but this was a solid workout, saw PRs everywhere, and check out that stance on the squats. Heels together. Got 2 extra reps on the heavy set and 3 on the widowmaker.
75 KB swings w/24kg Bells
2.3 mile walk w/80lb vest
50 band pull aparts
Lateral raise dropset
Notes:
Kept it simple and got it done. I’m seeing the benefits of the walking: looking leaner. We also got in a 3 mile walk as a family yesterday evening. I can see seasonal trends now of leaning up over the summer and growing during the winter simply due to activity levels.
Training motivation is a little low. I had some extra time after the lateral raises, and used it just to knock out some chores vs get in more work. I’m really feeling like I’m doing “enough” at this point. 3 days of lifting, 3-4 days of walking, 1-2 days of “sprinting” seems like a solid balance. Daily work is no longer a thing.
I imagine another part of the leanness equation is lower cals than usual. Work has been very busy, and I’ll come home, smash as much food as I can for dinner and then move on to the next event. Not putting away the amount I need, but at least it’s quality.
Didn’t want to pass this one by. I think this is great progress mentally that you’ve realized this is not needed and eliminating it doesn’t hamper progress.
