I wonder how you can do A&P labs online? Crazy! I took a couple online courses and they were nice because they were convenient, but I probably got nothing out of them other than completing the requirement.
Today’s training was a 6 mile run that ended up lasting 2 hours (and dunno how many miles?). It was a 60 degrees and sunny, run along the lakefront day-just about the best thing imaginable. Even if you hate running and think it will turn your hard earned muscles to dust, you can’t hate on that.
Break-ups can leave you feeling very raw. Even if you know it’s for the best, you’re not just losing that person, you’re also losing a whole future you’d imagined with them. It can be very unnerving and not a little daunting.
A few years ago my boyfriend of several years announced he wanted to split up. We’d been living together for a while (in my extremely small studio flat) and had weathered several storms, so it came out of the blue. I was pretty shaken up, but as I began to put my life back together (and deal with all the crap like putting the bills back in my name, replacing things he’d taken and whatnot) I realised I’d really missed having my own space. I rediscovered old interests, booked myself a holiday and generally enjoyed my independence (without shagging around, I might add). Then, when he decided he’d made a big mistake some eight months later, I decided we weren’t going to live together again because I enjoyed being on my own too much.
Anyway, what I’m saying is, it’s fucking scary at first, but then it’s awesome. You’ll get there, don’t worry. Exercise (and doing other good stuff for yourself) definitely helps. And if you have an awesome place to run, it helps even more.
Front squats look good. I think you might the right call not adding weight though, there was some definite forward shifting in the hole/coming out of the hole on that last rep. My amateur observation. Good training in general.
On the relationship front, x2 everything Cal said. I know for me when my ex left me I was crushed; I didn’t know life could feel so shitty. Lost and helpless, unwanted and foolish were all applicable words. laugh I was also like “Well damn, NOW who the hell is going to be left?” But I just put my head down, kept moving forward (proverbially speaking- obviously I had to turn now and then :D), and started lifting again. I’d been working out at home the whole time we’d been together because we lived in different towns.
Now I realize that A) There are perfectly awesome women all over the world who aren’t in relationships, B) It’s fun to rediscover yourself as yourself, not as part of a pair, C) Lots of people who are in relationships are unhappy but unwilling or unable to express that/get out and do their thing. For the record I’m not sure which I miss more: sex or having someone I care about who cares about me to do new things with, or to add sparkle to the everyday.
Oh, I also realized that if a chick strikes you as a little over the top crazy when you’re very drunk you should probably steer clear. That’s another story entirely though.
Edit: Agree with Alexus, bump the weight on those pulls. Also, try to get your gym crush doing his front squats next time. I’m curious what a pretty front squat from a non olympic lifter looks like. Maybe even use it as a conversation starter. grin
lolz. it is hard to not swoon a little over people with a purdy front squat. or i find so anyway…
yours are looking good. yup, weight on heels, as you know, and i don’t know that i’ve ever seen someone err by having their elbows too far up. your torso is looking nice and upright, though. good depth and lumbar curve. looks like you could handle more weight
i’ve found the oly lifting forum to be full of people who will happily point out finer details… i’m still working on a fair few of those for my squats… but basically, there is a time to pick and a time to put the weight up!
Nice front squats. I agree with Kristoph’s observation.
As for your feelings: I think it’s always good to write it down. Acknowledging that it hurts will help you become healthier and stronger as you recover from the break up. I totally agree about not knowing how non active people get through times like that. Keep lifting, running and writing!
[quote]cholulalula wrote:
Hex DLs
(I’m guessing the bar weighs 45#…does anyone know if that’s right?)
[/quote]
Most weigh 45, 50, or 55 lb. I’ve been known to carry bars into the locker room to weigh them.
MIM: Half your life?! And you’re so young! I can’t even fathom! Anyway-yes! That would be the perfect arrangement! We could spend lunch breaks flexing our muskles at each other!
Cal: Thank you for the advice, it really does help. I can’t even imagine being in your situation. You are one strong woman.
Kristoph: A) thanks for the note on the squats, I do see that shifting forward now that you mention it. B)I appreciate your thoughts on the relationships. It does really help, and sex or sparkle, that is the question. C) I am quite curious about this crazy drunk chick moment. And finally D) Thanks sticking to the test format of commenting
Alexus: Thanks! I’ll have to venture out of PW and check it out.
Sbmart: Writing really does help-They seem to run rampant inside the head so I think it helps to get them out.
ksnap: Good idea, and thanks. I will hunt down a scale tomorrow.
nlmain: I adore that you all think i’m cute. warms me heart, it does And thanks for the welcome!
Train this evening. The bros-they were a’rampant and the douchebaggery was a’plenty. Felt sluggish but managed.
BB Complex
Barx3
MP
barx10
65x6
75x4x3*
65x8
*next time I do 85, I will do more than 1
DL
Barx10
95x6x2
145x4x4: holy hell, these felt heavy. i can’t imagine how some of you put up the numbers you do. I wished I had brought my camera because my back was starting to ache so i’m sure form broke down somewhere in there.
95x6
Pendlays (SS with 4 pull-ups here and there just because)
barx10
95x4x4
85x5x2
65x8
oops, i missed kristoph’s observation (sorry about that dude). yep. fair point.
i’ve been a bit guilty of paralysis by analysis with my own squatting and needed to get my head around the idea of worrying less about form and just putting the weight up already - but you aren’t me i’m still working a bit on keeping my weight back properly on my heels for every rep… i’m not going to let it stop me putting the weight up (because i’ve been working on my squat form for over one year with pathetic weights and if i waited for them to be perfect i’d never put the weight up) but it might well be something that you can sort out with a little more practice. unlike me because of injuries i have etc… do what seems right for ya.
boyfriend stuff sounds hard… lifting as personal development. i like it. a lot
I’ll concur with Alexus (albeit belatedly) and say that yes, elbows a little higher would help you keep the bar on your shoulders and make it easier to keep your torso upright.
I think Cal’s got it: MP’s before deads probably adds to the heavy feel. I know I’m not man enough to do much before pulling, aside from maybe a few cleans. Also, you ‘did’ say you felt sluggish going in.
Regarding the test format: I mirror sometimes, what can I say?
Sex that sparkles and a quietly sexy sparkle throughout the day is the answer to that question. Finding that, now that’s the tricky part.
This concludes my journalistically styled post. Good day. ( )
Puffy: So strange about not being able to see the videos. I wonder if it depends on how they were uploaded; through youtube or just straight from the computer? I love that avi of yours, rawr.
alexus: yes, sitting back is a hard skill to get because obviously when you’re doing it, you feel like you’re doing it right. That’s why I totally see the benefit of lifting with someone to get that immediate feedback, otherwise I feel like I keep training myself the wrong way.
Cal: I wouldn’t have made that connection but looking back, I remember telling myself to tighten up my middle because I felt my ribs starting to flare with the presses. So-what days is it safe to press? What is safe to do with the DLs? That has raised lots of questions in my little brain.
Kristoph: Ok, elbows up, sit back. Don’t press and pull on the same day. Check, check, check. And good day to you, sir.
6/14
Back felt pretty tight so I squeezed in a 3 mile run before class to loosen it up
9 holes of golf after class—the sore back is why i sucked, yes?
6/15
After Monday’s training, I’m struggling with determining if I want to create/follow a specific program-to optimize lifting days and to not end up with sore muscles that aren’t meant to be sore (i.e. avoiding injury). I don’t feel like it is realistic for me to follow a body part split; both time wise and goal wise. If I end up wanting to compete, I think that would be indicated-but right now I just want to get stronger, improve cardiovascularly, and maintain weight/size… I guess my big question is, do I train DLs 1x/week? Squats 1x/wk? More? Is it feasible to think I can do total body each day I train? What else can I do on days that I pull? So many questions.
I guess that explains why today was kind of a hodge podge:
My two cents…
As a beginner, It’s best to follow a program. No need to reinvent the wheel. There’s lots of good stuff for free and/or cheap. My favorites are Maximum Strength by Eric Cressey and of course Mike Robertson’s protocol he has just put up on T-Nation (I admit that I’ve worked with Mike closely so I’m biased). I would stay away from 5-3-1 until you have been training for about 1 year! It’s more intense than it looks.
Answering a few of your general questions:
Main lifts (deadlift, squat, etc) one day a week. If you want to get strong, you need to lift heavy, which requires lots of rest between lifts!
After deadlifts, do some sort of step-up variation and pull-throughs are great to add as well.
Upper/Lower body splits are great for strength
Squat day plus lower body accessory stuff
pull-up day plus upper body accessory stuff
Deadlift plus lower body day accessory stuff
Bench day plus upper body accessory stuff
Let me know if you have any other questions on strength stuff. It’s what I love and know well. Plus I work out with several men and women who are ridiculously strong and compete. I’ve been able to learn a ton from them.
That makes a lot of sense—I am leaning toward the Mike Robertson protocol. And I don’t know that I’d call it biased–personal recommendations tend to be the best, and if you’ve worked with him and still like him, he must be good! Thanks for all of your insight. I’m learning how much I actually have to learn here.
Midterms/group projects are taking over my life. I’ve been training but nothing exciting to report. Counting down until Thursday when I can get back to my life.
)