OK, Let's Lift! And 1 and 2 and 1 and 2

Training Training Logs
201

Last night was good.

My initial plan was to attempt a back squat, cry because my elbows were sore, quit and move onto some pressing, do some rows, and the go for a swim. But my elbows didn’t feel that bad, so I went ahead and did a full squatting session. I wore my oly shoes once I got over 300, added a belt at 365. I decided to hit a single at 405, and killed it. Much better than when I hit it last year. I didn’t have to grind it, and my depth was definitely better. I had at least 20 more lbs in me. Very satisfied with the lift. After that, I did 5 sets of 10 at 225. I was dying by the last set, but I got it done.

Related to this: over the past few months, I’ve been cramping frequently in my tear drop quad, both legs. It can happen anytime, any day of the week, whether or not I’ve squatted recently. Sometimes it’s pretty severe/debilitating. Anyone have a suggestion?

202

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
Related to this: over the past few months, I’ve been cramping frequently in my tear drop quad, both legs. It can happen anytime, any day of the week, whether or not I’ve squatted recently. Sometimes it’s pretty severe/debilitating. Anyone have a suggestion?[/quote]
Stop being so jacked.

203

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
Related to this: over the past few months, I’ve been cramping frequently in my tear drop quad, both legs. It can happen anytime, any day of the week, whether or not I’ve squatted recently. Sometimes it’s pretty severe/debilitating. Anyone have a suggestion?[/quote]

USUALLY (but not always) this has to do with one or another mineral insufficiency. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, or potassium. Could also just be not enough water, which is kinda the same thing since the ions can’t get to where they need to be.

If I remember correctly, calcium is preferential, so you don’t want to take calcium with magnesium or any of the others. But if you’re still drinking milk and there’s salt in your food, I’d take some potassium and/or magnesium with water somewhere in your day.

I’d probably start with magnesium at night and see if that helps. If not, up the dose a bit. If not, add in some potassium too. And just go from there.

I’ve had foot and leg cramping issues off and on over the years, and my grandpa deals regularly with leg cramps… not pure textbook knowledge.

EDIT: or you could just eat fruit/vegetables high in those. Here’s a good chart of fruit and their associated micronutrient values: Fruit Chart | Nutrient chart | Vitamins and minerals in common fruits

204

My calves cramp a lot for some reason. I’ve been eating Kiwi pretty much daily and that has seemed to help.

205

[quote]csulli wrote:

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
Related to this: over the past few months, I’ve been cramping frequently in my tear drop quad, both legs. It can happen anytime, any day of the week, whether or not I’ve squatted recently. Sometimes it’s pretty severe/debilitating. Anyone have a suggestion?[/quote]
Stop being so jacked.[/quote]

^says the guy who’s like 8 times my size.

Lorez: A few of those seem viable. I’ve considered the water issue, I don’t necessarily drink a lot of it outside my shakes. I’m still drinking more milk than most people, so my guess is it’s not calcium. I don’t limit my salt intake. It’s likely a potassium or magnesium deficiency. I may just buy a bottle of each and start supplementing, because I’m not changing my fruits/vegetables I eat. I only really eat things that are seasonal and can be grown locally. I’m a member of an organic co-op, and I get like 15 lbs of local produce a week.

usmc: I used to get calf cramps. They would always be following workouts though. Like on my way out of the gym, or stepping up into my truck after a workout. I haven’t gotten those in a few years. This is different because I feel like my quads could literally cramp up at any time.

Kiwi is delicious, but I mostly avoid fruit. A lot of fruits give me canker sores. Which is the absolute worst thing in the history of the world.

206

[quote]flipcollar wrote:

[quote]csulli wrote:

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
Related to this: over the past few months, I’ve been cramping frequently in my tear drop quad, both legs. It can happen anytime, any day of the week, whether or not I’ve squatted recently. Sometimes it’s pretty severe/debilitating. Anyone have a suggestion?[/quote]
Stop being so jacked.[/quote]

^says the guy who’s like 8 times my size.

Lorez: A few of those seem viable. I’ve considered the water issue, I don’t necessarily drink a lot of it outside my shakes. I’m still drinking more milk than most people, so my guess is it’s not calcium. I don’t limit my salt intake. It’s likely a potassium or magnesium deficiency. I may just buy a bottle of each and start supplementing, because I’m not changing my fruits/vegetables I eat. I only really eat things that are seasonal and can be grown locally. I’m a member of an organic co-op, and I get like 15 lbs of local produce a week.

usmc: I used to get calf cramps. They would always be following workouts though. Like on my way out of the gym, or stepping up into my truck after a workout. I haven’t gotten those in a few years. This is different because I feel like my quads could literally cramp up at any time.

Kiwi is delicious, but I mostly avoid fruit. A lot of fruits give me canker sores. Which is the absolute worst thing in the history of the world.[/quote]

Have you looked into some massage therapy? I know that really helped with the cramps I was getting in my trap and neck. Also, maybe some low impact warming up like riding a bike might help to stretch them out. That has worked for me in the past, although quad cramps have only occurred once or twice for me.

207

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]flipcollar wrote:

[quote]csulli wrote:

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
Related to this: over the past few months, I’ve been cramping frequently in my tear drop quad, both legs. It can happen anytime, any day of the week, whether or not I’ve squatted recently. Sometimes it’s pretty severe/debilitating. Anyone have a suggestion?[/quote]
Stop being so jacked.[/quote]

^says the guy who’s like 8 times my size.

Lorez: A few of those seem viable. I’ve considered the water issue, I don’t necessarily drink a lot of it outside my shakes. I’m still drinking more milk than most people, so my guess is it’s not calcium. I don’t limit my salt intake. It’s likely a potassium or magnesium deficiency. I may just buy a bottle of each and start supplementing, because I’m not changing my fruits/vegetables I eat. I only really eat things that are seasonal and can be grown locally. I’m a member of an organic co-op, and I get like 15 lbs of local produce a week.

usmc: I used to get calf cramps. They would always be following workouts though. Like on my way out of the gym, or stepping up into my truck after a workout. I haven’t gotten those in a few years. This is different because I feel like my quads could literally cramp up at any time.

Kiwi is delicious, but I mostly avoid fruit. A lot of fruits give me canker sores. Which is the absolute worst thing in the history of the world.[/quote]

Have you looked into some massage therapy? I know that really helped with the cramps I was getting in my trap and neck. Also, maybe some low impact warming up like riding a bike might help to stretch them out. That has worked for me in the past, although quad cramps have only occurred once or twice for me. [/quote]

Massages don’t do much for me. I have tried them. I actually got one last week.

The bike thing is interesting. That’s another thing that actually induces cramping. 5 minutes on a bike will almost certainly cramp up my quads. Which sucks, because I like biking. I found this out a couple months ago.

I feel like my problem is fairly rare, I haven’t been able to find any threads from people with a similar problem. I was just sort of hoping somebody else reading this had similar issues.

208

Lacrosse ball go to town. 2+ min a tear drop. Flex and stretch and roll on it

209

last night was supposed to be a day off/recovery day. Went for a swim at my gym. As I was getting ready to leave, I saw a guy I know getting ready to start his workout. He said he was going for a deadlift PR of 405, and I decided I couldn’t miss the milestone.

He ended up hitting quite possibly the ugliest deadlift PR I’ve ever seen, without exaggeration. He actually fell off balance in the middle of the lift, stepped forward with one foot, stepped back, hitched, and ended up more or less locking it out. Unbelievably rounded lower back from the start. But he was happy, so good for him.

I hit what felt like a pretty easy 405x10. Had 5-10 reps in the tank, so I may actually go for 20 reps at 405 in the next couple weeks. beltless. This was performed in a swimsuit and Toms. Not bad for a rest day.

210

Spent sunday afternoon mostly working on clean form. I got a few cleans on video from the side and at an angle. Saw a lot of things to work on, but also a few things that I really liked. I don’t like my set-up at all, and that leads to a few weird looking things at the beginning. My catch looks pretty good though.

Also did dumbbell rows, 120’s for 15, 12, 12.

211

ugh. I can’t figure out why this happens, but I posted a long-ass post about my workout yesterday, and it didn’t show up.

Cliff notes: hit a 2-second paused bench press with 315. A new paused rep PR. Ass stayed on the bench. Now my 315 bench press claim is legit. I got stapled by 335, although I’m not sure it was a strength issue, as I will expain.

I’m having a ton of arm pain that flares up under heavy loads, doesn’t matter what the exercise is. It’s a result of the injury from front squatting a couple weeks ago when the bar slipped off my shoulders. Arm sort of goes numb and/or tingly and painful. This showed itself primarily on the negatives in my bench pressing. the push wasn’t bad, just the descent. This was why I went for 335 in the first place, I was able to press with good speed, it just hurt bringing it down. When I tried 335, I basically felt like my right arm completely failed me bringing the bar down. It felt useless.

It also flared up on pull ups, specifically the first rep. I grabbed the bar, and upon initiating the movement, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do a rep. Shooting, strong pain. After that point it was fine. Definitely seems to be a nerve issue, still hoping it will resolve itself. The visible bruise on the skin is gone now.

212

That sucks man, get that shit squared away, you’ve been making some awesome progress. Don’t let your arm issue get in the way.

213

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
ugh. I can’t figure out why this happens, but I posted a long-ass post about my workout yesterday, and it didn’t show up.
[/quote]

Has happened to me a couple times, too. I think it has to do with the use of certain symbols in the post. I know it sounds weird, but any time I use an ampersan, the post cuts off right there…although if I post it, then go back and edit later, I can put in the ampersan with no problem.

214

[quote]ActivitiesGuy wrote:

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
ugh. I can’t figure out why this happens, but I posted a long-ass post about my workout yesterday, and it didn’t show up.
[/quote]

Has happened to me a couple times, too. I think it has to do with the use of certain symbols in the post. I know it sounds weird, but any time I use an ampersan, the post cuts off right there…although if I post it, then go back and edit later, I can put in the ampersan with no problem.[/quote]

Well, I know that if I go Hub > Training Logs and add a post… it sometimes works, it sometimes doesn’t.

But if I go Forums > Logs > Training Logs and find my log, I can write stuff and it doesn’t disappear.

215

Shuttle runs at a tennis court yesterday. That’s all.

216

shuttle runs again today. 4 sets instead of 3. #sofit

Happy 4th y’all!

217

Sprinting class on Sunday.

This was awesome. The coaches are ridiculous athletes. Both have competed at very high levels (one very nearly qualified for the 2008 Olympics in the 400 hurdles).

It’s basically what it sounds like. It’s 3 classes a week, 1 hour each class, dedicated to improving sprinting ability. One of the 3 sessions is in the gym (weight training), and I think the other 2 are on the track. 85$/month, or 25$ drop-in classes. This is the first time I’ve ever actually considered paying for training. With my baby due in just over a month, I won’t be signing up right now, but I could see myself going for this by the end of the year.

Also, I’m going to lift weights tonight. I still do that.

218

Lifted weights last night.

started with OHP, did some strict pressing and push pressing. Worked up to a 205 push press single. The dropped the weight for some reps, practiced my strict and push press with like 155 for awhile, then 135. Probably accumulated about 50-60 reps total.

Squats: didn’t go above 315 last night. Did a few sets of 3-5, then a few ‘speed’ singles. All high bar, pretty narrow stance. I’m hoping this translates decently well to Oly lifting. I’m allowing my knees to travel farther forward, and working on my ankle flexibility. I didn’t realize how taxed I was from the sprinting on Sunday, so that’s why I ended up keeping the weight lower than I initially intended. Finished with a set of 30 with 135. That was pretty tough. I paused for about a second at the top at reps 10, 16, 20, 23, and 26. No stopping between reps otherwise. I’d like to be able to perform this set without any pauses eventually.

219

Deadlifted last night. PR’s keep coming.

Rep PR: 505x2. Did 505 for 1 more rep, then dropped to 315 for sets of 8-10.

Pullups mixed in with this stuff.

I did a set of lunges, with the intention to do 3-5 sets, and my legs (outer quads) cramped like crazy. I had to work on them for about 15 minutes before I could stand up. This concluded my workout. I may have been a bit ambitious with my leg training over the last few days, having done the sprint class, squats and heavy deadlifts in 3 consecutive days. I’ll be resting tonight, along with some foam rolling.

220

[quote]flipcollar wrote:
I did a set of lunges, with the intention to do 3-5 sets, and my legs (outer quads) cramped like crazy. I had to work on them for about 15 minutes before I could stand up. This concluded my workout.[/quote]

That sucks. No luck with the potassium or magnesium I guess?