100% dude. I keep saying this only partially tongue-in-cheek, but much like the whole “The Eskimo have 50 words for snow” thing, I feel like there’s a LOT of different flavors of misery out there, and exposure to them helps you both understand them AND understand how to navigate them. Like different kinds of poisons, we can develop different immunities via coping strategies and tricks of mental resilience.
There’s the whole “Count down backwards from 5 to get through sets of 20” thing, my whole “As many reps as possible in one breath for every set” thing for 10x10s, you know first-hand all the lies and self-deception to get through endurance work, etc.
This is something I didn’t consider or maybe didn’t pay enough attention to and why I am even talking through this now.
For my usual training I had clear concepts and practiced mechanisms to ensure I got through the work out. I knew going in that I was going to get the reps, which parts would suck, which would be easier etc.
For these last 3 weeks I had no idea what I was doing. LOL Just starting to re-learn and understand this now and need to use what I learned for the next 8 sessions.
Thanks for allowing me to work through this everyone.
Went to bed 1 hour early last night and fell asleep quickly. Ate plenty last night and feeling like I have more energy this morning. Still sore everywhere but my mindset has changed to realise that this is not going away so I just have to ignore it and keep going. Better head space today.
Seated BNP
60 x 10 x 3 sets - (132 lbs) 10, 10, 10
Sore but Fk it. There was no way I wasn’t getting the reps tonight. I know 60kg isn’t huge but getting 3 sets of 10 behind neck with these felt good.
Bench
95 x 12 x 3 sets - (209 lbs) 12, 10, 10
Really wanted 12 reps on that first set, they extra rep took a fair bit out of me. Still happy to get two sets of 10 after that .
Bent over row
90 x 15 x 2 sets (198 lbs) - 15, 15
These really get me out of breath
Barbel curl
47.5 x 10 x 2 sets - 10, 10
Squat
Bar x 10
70 x 5
90 x 3
127.5 x 20 (281 lbs) - 20 Fkn reps baby
There was no way I wasn’t getting 20 tonight. Back was Fkn screaming for the last 5 and pumped and jacked after.
Dumbell pullover
30 x 20 - 20
RDL
127.5 x 15 (281 lbs) - 15
Arggghhh back hates me
Dumbell pull over
30 x 20 -
Abs - some
The all over body pump and lack of general mobility at the end of this session was crazy. I could hardly wash myself in the shower. Everywhere felt like it was swollen. Welcome to super squats.
Thanks Pwn, after reading your comment the other day about coping strategies it just dawned on me.
This is supposed to be hard and it’s supposed to suck. I knew going into this that even the first 10 would not be easy but in my head I had a plan.
Get to 10 take a slightly longer brake before my back got too pumped and then just take them one rep at a time to 15. I knew 100% that I had 15 no problem. Then it was so simple in my mind, just 1 more then breath then just 1 more then breath and that was it.
I already accepted that it would hurt so during those last 5 reps it just gave me what i expected. All I really had to do was endure.
