[quote]arachne12 wrote:
Kimba: I met our third long lost sister at the meet. Same size, 44 years old, similar bench. I was describing my squat set up to her, and I got to thinking that the depth when I sat on the step isn’t my actual depth, since I usually just brush my butt on the step. It’s more a safety than a box. I was really startled by that depth when you pointed it out, but if you look at the 105 squat you will see I’m not usually that deep.[/quote]
Well, I was completely unaware that we were triplets, separated at birth. Cool.
That is wonderful news that you plan to compete in March! I’m so excited for you. I guess this answers your question about how deep to squat – powerlifting legal!
12/8/09 I’ll report on yesterday next, but I’m really thinking some things over. Since my test, I haven’t done any aerobic work whatsoever, and I am not sure if I am doing well. I put back on the weight, so I’m at 113 now, and my lifts are stronger. I’ve been eating a lot of carbs. My joints seem to ache more and last night I tossed and turned and ached from the day’s workout. I’ve also not been taking my fish oil consistently and I think my skin looks unhealthy.
I’m not sure what the key problem is. This was a huge lifestyle change, and in some ways I am happier than before because I have free time to see friends and family rather than working out 13 times a week. OTOH, I just don’t feel… healthy. I have some things to think about.
12/7/09
DB decline bench
1x10 15s
1x2 35s < this is a PR. I was pretty sure I could do it, I just hadn’t tried.
1x10 25s
1x5 30s
renegade rows
1x5 8s
1x5 10s < I love these. They are so damn hard they make me pant.
2x5 10s with no pushup
DB incline bench
1x10 15s
1x2 30s < this is a PR. I was pretty sure I could do it, I just hadn’t tried.
1x10 20s
1x5 25s
DB row
1x10 15s
1x5 45s
1x1 50s <PR
1x10 25s
DB bench
1x10 25s
1x2 30s
1x10 20s
1x5 25s
ab rollout
1x5 on an incline
2x5 partials < by this I mean I don’t get full extension of my arms
DB mpress
1x5 15s
30s fail < still failing to press 30s, but I’ve got them on the incline press so I should get there soon.
1x4 right 1x1 left 25s <apparently I was losing it at this point
1x5 15s
bentover laterals
2x5 8s < just getting into these
All that hard upper body work is certainly showing up in your new avatar. Nice arms and shoulders!
You certainly changed up alot of variables all at once: food, cardio and supplements, all different. It won’t be possible to know what is causing this unhealthy feeling unless you try only one new thing at a time.
I am going to guess that the carbs and the lack of fish oil is affecting you the most. But only some experimentation is gonna tell you for sure.
For myself, I have been in a low-cardio phase for the last month. Bicycling season has ended and the cross-country ski season starts up in a week or so. Changes in my diet affect me immediately, whereas more or less cardio doesn’t really influence my feeling of well-being all that much. However, I’ve never just completely stopped doing aerobic activity.
Good luck with fixing this. Feeling healthy is way more important than anything else, as you know.
Hi Kimba, Thanks!
I love carbs but when I cut back I felt a whole lot better. For one thing, I stopped passing out cold at 2 in the afternoon. I’m going to take your advice and be rigorous about the fish oil and cut the carbs in half first (I just finished a bucket of mashed potatoes. Hmm.) and see how that goes.
12/8/09
1x5 jumping squats and some forms to warm up
Overhead squat
Holy shit who told me about these? I can’t believe the way they stretch my lower back. Totally different from backsquats.
3x5 25 lb plate
Backsquat
1x5 45
1x5 65
1x5 85
1x1 95
1x1 105
1x1 110 yay new PR. 20 lb to go to my December goal.
Sumo deadlift
My first time trying sumo and I’m not sure I like it. First of all, my feet slide outwards. Second I think they make me fart.
1x5 95 lb
1x5 135 lb
1x3 155 lb
1x2 150 lb
[quote]arachne12 wrote:
12/8/09
1x5 jumping squats and some forms to warm up
Overhead squat
Holy shit who told me about these? I can’t believe the way they stretch my lower back. Totally different from backsquats.
3x5 25 lb plate
Backsquat
1x5 45
1x5 65
1x5 85
1x1 95
1x1 105
1x1 110 yay new PR. 20 lb to go to my December goal.
Sumo deadlift
My first time trying sumo and I’m not sure I like it. First of all, my feet slide outwards. Second I think they make me fart.
1x5 95 lb
1x5 135 lb
1x3 155 lb
1x2 150 lb
Bridge
1x5 135
1x5 155
1x5 175
1x5 185
Seated calf raise
1x10 50
2x10 75
Done. Have a great day!
[/quote]
Nice PR! put shoes on for the sumos and that will help your feet sliding or maybe take off the socks…
Dawg: thanks! I’ve lifted barefoot up til now, an artifact of taekwondo. I better buy the chucks.
Bear: Thanks for noticing! I thought I was going to have to commit a felony to get your attention.
Hahahahahahahah I am cracking up about the farting! Loud enough for others to hear? Or do you care if they DID hear? haha I haven’t farted in the gym (yet) but I took my Dad to yoga class with me and he farted SO LOUD during class! I wanted to DIE! And sometimes when I have my headphones on I YELL obscenities but don’t realize it until I am done and realize everyone is looking at me! OOPS!
Never farted during squats but I did once doing high rep deadlifts with a fixed 45kg bar. In front of people and loud enough they couldn’t help but hear.
Shit happens. (Well…not quite shit in this case).
I quit chewing gum a couple of years back. That seemed to solve the problem. (Damn sorbitol - they warn you it’s a laxative, but they sure as hell don’t warn you that it will give you the evil gas of Hades. That stuff is lethal).
Molly, Cal: No one was in the gym. I usually lift alone in a crappy little hole in the wall at work. I have heard people fart during taekwondo, usually in the horse stance. It makes the little kids in the class fall on the floor laughing.
Good think I didn’t get it on video.
I’m off to snowboard for the weekend after making no progress today on chinups. I’ve also gained five pounds in two weeks, so maybe I can count 1x8 at bw as 1x8 +5 lb.
I’m off to snowboard for the weekend after making no progress today on chinups. I’ve also gained five pounds in two weeks, so maybe I can count 1x8 at bw as 1x8 +5 lb.
Have a great weekend all![/quote]
Sure, I’d count that as +5! I hope you get nice powdery snow for your weekend. Plus some nekkid hot-tubbing.
Just finished a spinach salad with smoked salmon slivered almonds parmesan olive oil and balsamic. That’s good food, unlike the half a pound of goldfish I’ve been stuffing into my gaping maw every night lately. I’ve gained 10 pounds in a month, taken my fish oil rigorously, and I feel pretty damn good today.
Tal’s hating on my arm avi made me dig up this pic from April. I was very proud of my arm then. There’s a big difference today in my shoulders, and it’s from the dumbbell presses. I just find it really interesting how I can change my body. I tend to be obsessive.
I was just talking with my son about being a big fish in a small pond and challenging yourself. I could be a big fish lifting weights if I only compare myself to my friends and family. They are mightly impressed I can deadlift more than my weight.
But the only way I will get to a 220 deadlift is never to stop, although it’s hard sometimes not to despair when I see how low my numbers are.
Hope everyone meets their goals today. Today is db presses and rows.
Cheers!
Yay for spinach salad! Boo for goldfish (delicious, but not real food). Salad and veggies and good protein are definitely the way to eat. Have you gained muscle or fat?
It is hard sometimes to keep up motivation in the face of what are low numbers for this group, but are outrageous feats to our family and friends. I’ve taken to being happy to see any improvement in a training session, whether it be a heavier weight, more reps, or simply slightly better form. Some days there is no improvement in anything, and that is when it gets difficult.
From my limited experience running MPs and deadlifts on a 5/3/1 loading system the last few months, I think you will really like it. Going for 1 rep maxes all the time doesn’t appear be to the best way to get stronger, but its hard to stop oneself from doing it. Perhaps I will join you in committing to some form of this program in January.
Kimba, I don’t know. The calipers say ~14%. If I got down to 12% when I was scrawny (i’m just guessing), and I put on 10lbs of fat it would bring me to about 19%, and the calipers still say 14. But I seriously can’t believe it’s muscle, so what does that leave?? I know I have a little more fat hanging from my booty, for sure.
On a side rant, why do the charts say I will go up to 15.5% with the same caliper measurements when I turn 46 next month?? I mean come on…
I am with you on doing more reps at a percent of max to progress. I don’t think I am getting enough volume and it’s time to get more rigorous with my training. As they say, anything will make a rank beginner stronger, but after a year, I am not quite a beginner any more.
Please join me in 5/3/1! We can help each other to choose accessory exercises.
