My comment was tongue in cheek, but it’s pretty cool seeing how the human body works, how food can have a drug like effect, particularly if your tactical with it, one day I might stop eating like an idiot and experience something of it, for now I’ll just plod along with blunted insulin responses and a caffeine dependence!
Yeah, I figured, but with my training log I try to keep signal to noise at a good level, so any chance I have to springboard a comment into something productive I take.
I’m still super guilty of that too. I’ve been successfully reducing my intake thankfully, but it’s not quite where I’m at. It would be amazing if I could get caffeine to the point of being a performance enhancer again, rather than a life stabilizer. Something that’s been helping is forcing myself to get through a gallon of water before I drink anything else (minus my morning energy drink). I realized I was just downing caffeinated beverages simply because I was thirsty and they were there. Forcing myself through the water eliminates a lot of opportunities for bad decisions.
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Wise on both counts - ensuring your journal stays on some sort of track and reducing caffeine dependence.
I once tried to give up cold turkey, severe headaches muscle aches and fatigue it was hellish, I read it would go away after 7-14 days I think I got to about 16 days and it was still horrific, at that point I gave up. I happen to love coffee a lot so there’s a difficulty, I could replace it with a decent decaf and drink more water. But definitely reduce slowly not immediately!
Yeah, my wife has pretty much dropped it entirely overnight. Allows herself some green tea and that’s about it. I’m sure part of that has seeped into me. We’re so funny too, because she’s worried about eating red meats and cheeses and stuff in front of me, and I try not to be downing caffeine in front of her, and neither one of us really cares about it. I’m blessed to have found a headstrong psycho athlete like me to get married to, haha.
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I did basically the same. I went from about 3-4 cups of coffee a day to one cup of green tea. Powered through the ensuing fuzziness for about 2 months before realising it wasn’t getting any better and giving up.
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EARLY AM WORKOUT
Poundstone curls
121xAxle
PM WORKOUT
(2) Incline DB Bench 105s
1x18
1x12
1x8
Swiss bar incline bench 205
1x10
1x8
1x7
Axle bench press 210+chains
1x10
1x8
1x7
Pull ups between sets of benching
1x9
8x8
1x10
Dips
1x46
1x43
1x36
Notes: 2:30 between sets of benching, 2:00 between sets of dips. Alternated between incline and flat bench after the DB benching. I keep seeing the DB bench climb, and that’s about all I care about, so huzzah for that. Focusing on different lifts has been good during the weight loss. My sternum aches on the first 3 reps of dips on the first set, but goes away after that: I imagine that’s a product of doing the weighted dips on my other day now.
Did the curls first thing in the morning because I had a little extra time and wanted to have a shorter workout in the PM. May keep that sorta thing up on the days I’m working morning shifts.
I was having dinner shortly after this workout, so I made a shake that was just 3/4 cup of egg whites, a scoop of PB fit and a scoop of greens. Surprisingly palatable. Once I run out of protein powder, that might become something I stick with. I dig the limited ingredients.
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Went to the Docs today and had some vitals taken while I was there. Things are looking the best they have in a long time. Blood pressure was 116/74 and a “resting” heart rate of 49, which was post morning energy drink. Stepped on the scale at 183.3, which was weird to see of course, and while fully clothed with wallet, phone and keys in pocket.
I get my lipids done first week of Sep. That will be the big thing to see how this 3 month focus on health has paid off.
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Good lord, RHR of 49? Damn, son. That’s awesome.
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That’s resting at a drs post energy drink, so first thing in the morning without too much moving around and caffeine I reckon you’re about 40!
Cardio bunny!
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@kdjohn Thanks man. I’ve had it down to 44 at one point. It is partially why the LDL can be frustrating, because all my other heart health measures are pretty solid, haha.
@alex_uk No joke, haha. It’s been nice to get back into shape again. I might actually not let it slip away this time.
I had elevated levels of LDL the last time I went to the doctor to get a routine blood test done… well over 6 years ago now I think. That was when I was eating a shit-ton of eggs, so the doctor suspected that was the reason.
I’m surprised that you have issues given the amount of work you do. Do you have any suspicions why?
Genetic predisposition is the biggest factor. LDL runs high on my mom’s side, along with HDL. My mom had an HDL of 130 something at her last screening. They actually sent her blood to Princeton to be studied, haha. My diet was pretty rich in saturated fats though. I had focused too much on carbs and protein and didn’t care what my fat source was. Flipped that around these past few months and have been focusing on getting primarily poly and mono unsaturated fats with limited saturated fat intake. We’ll see if that does anything.
What’s up with the trap bar OHP? What does it do that a conventional bar doesn’t?
Neutral hand placement, allows for longer ROM, and it’s just a different angle to work from. I never look at movements as better or worse: just different.
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It is the best exercise for what it is supposed to do, haha.
What’re you eating for your poly/mono unsaturated fats?
My supplemental fat sources for the day rotate between pistachios, walnuts or almond butter. I also take fish oil daily.
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PM WORKOUT
Buffalo Bar Squat
5xBar
5x140
3x230
1x320
REST PAUSE (12 Deep Breaths Between Sets)
7x370
4x370
2x370
1x370
7x320
4x320
2x320
1x320
7x280
4x280
2x280
5x280
10x230
2 MINUTE REST
Reverse hyper 360
4x13
2 MINUTE REST
CONDITIONING
hang power snatch-jump over bar-jump over bar-hang power clean-jump over bar-jump over bar: 8 rounds w/115lbs in 5:15
Notes: 2 minutes rests between reverse hypers. Still needing to take the eccentrics very slow and controlled on the squats, and can occasionally feel the abductor/hip socket wanting to boogie, but things are continuining to improve. I’m terminating sets before the point of absolute ridiculous struggle, which is leaving me lots of energy on this style of workout. May have to set up the SSB on an alternate rack and go THERE for my final burnout set to really achieve what I’m going for, but it’s been good to get the buffalo bar back on my back. Mobility continues to be awesome.
Had dried fruit for my pre-workout carbs, since I was coming back from work today. First time I’d had a full on serving of fruit in years. It’s delicious. Had 4 dried prunes, 2 dried figs, and a tablespoon of raisins. Pure sugar. Going out for some Mexican food tonight as my post workout meal. Doing things right.
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