The Beautiful Gain

Training
542

[quote]Heracles_rocks wrote:

[quote]Hot Tamale wrote:
Nice vid, Masch… impressive for someone recovering from a hamstring injury. Way to go, girl :slight_smile:

Oh, one other thing…I also have problems with my mobility when squatting, and I don’t know if this is a cardinal sin, but I do have to have something under my heels when I squat… I started this habit when I first started lifting. I had a workout partner who watched my squatting form, and he just put a piece of wood under my heels to fix that problem. I never thought to do anything different, and have done it that way ever since. Can PB, Masch, or anyone else share some info on mobility warm-ups with me please? Thanks!
[/quote]

I could be wrong, but i think pb andy was refering to some of these things found here:

Oh hey mascherano, nice job. Andy is right though. On the second video the first couple of reps were pretty good, then you can see what andy is saying about your lower back rounding a bit at the bottom. [/quote]

Hey, thanks for pointing out this thread, Heracles… good stuff, great videos :slight_smile:

543

Thanks everyone - I am indeed getting there. Trying to find a good balance between not overdoing it and not pussying out. I will say though, the legs are starting to feel a bit like themselves again. They’re stupid sore from the DLs though (in a good way!) and last night I did HIIT on the bike for 15 mins and nary a complaint from the hammie.

Yes to the ART and yes to the foam rolling - might even take the rolling pin out for spin in a bit, my quads are asking for it. The only thing is, no matter what object I use, foam roller, softball, medicine ball, I simply can’t get at my flexors! What gives?

Training last night was bench. Was supposed to get to 95, but that didn’t happen.

Bench - 5x75, 80, 85, 90, 90 < my first spot was great, the second cat who spotted me I swear did all the work. I even asked him to lighten up after the first rep, but he just kept at it. Annoying.

Chins - 6, 5, 4, 3, 3 < same amount in volume as last, so that’s good, would’ve like to get more, but hey.

DB Rows - 2x12x30, 2x15x30 < I’m watching form on these, noticed that at 35 i’m using momentum. Ego check.

Pushups - 4x15x25plate, last set broken down to (10, 5) < these were freakishly strong last night. Finally got 15 consecutive on almost all sets! Woo hoo!

Couple of things:
Last night when benching my hamstring seized up in a mini cramp, the good one - WTF? Does anyone know if this means anything? Bad form maybe?

Also, I just said my legs are sore - and I want to add, so is my upper body!

Was planning on running sprints and knocking the ball about in preparation for Sunday (tomorrow is my off day) - but its rainy and cold. I think I’m just gonna hit the gym. Foam roll myself like pizza dough, do some metabolic stuff and finally, yes finally, get back into my pilates class. Oh how I’ve missed my Jane Fonda workouts…

544

Haha, Jane Fonda…I made that reference yesterday…

Have FUN!!

545

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
Haha, Jane Fonda…I made that reference yesterday…

Have FUN!![/quote]

Totally. I saw that :wink:

I will!

546

I want your pushups. Sadly, I must be content with working on reps at BW. My read of this is nothing but good news for the hammie…it sounds like you are coming back strong from that injury!

547

Cramps - could be from hard tensing. Check your minerals and salts, too.

548

When I did decline bench back in the day, my hams would cramp a lot. Strengthening them via RDLs and SLDLs made that stop happening.

549

Those are some awesome pushups Masch!!

Great training all around, really. But find yourself a good spotter, and when you do, gym-stalk them so you’re always training at the same time. :stuck_out_tongue:

550

[quote]RBlue wrote:
Those are some awesome pushups Masch!!

Great training all around, really. But find yourself a good spotter, and when you do, gym-stalk them so you’re always training at the same time. :P[/quote]

Haha! “Gym-stalk”… you’re funny, girl. But that’s what I’ve decided to do because I’m looking for a partner/spotter also lol. I’m starting with the head personal trainer, who’s on fire in the hotness scale. Not to give me a session, but I see him working out alone, and maybe he needs a nice workout partner as well hehe. Sorry I went on a tangent there, but well, Masch knows I want to be able to look up someone’s shorts while I’m benching :wink:

Masch girl… love hearing your updates because one, I look forward to hearing that you’re progressing… even if it is slowly but surely; and second, because you’re so damn funny when you describe how you feel about your workout. It’s entertaining :slight_smile: If you play in the game tomorrow, good luck and have fun!!!

551

Masch, it’s been a while but I used to get those hamstring cramps benching too. I don’t arch anymore and so I’m not using the leg drive so it’s not an issue anymore. I do get it occasionally when I’m doing a lot of pullups too.

552

Hi maschy! Weighted push ups…nice going! Hope the other hammie cramp was just a fluke. Enjoy your Pilates, I wouldreally like tot
try it someday.

553

[quote]Hot Tamale wrote:

[quote]RBlue wrote:
Those are some awesome pushups Masch!!

Great training all around, really. But find yourself a good spotter, and when you do, gym-stalk them so you’re always training at the same time. :P[/quote]

Haha! “Gym-stalk”… you’re funny, girl. But that’s what I’ve decided to do because I’m looking for a partner/spotter also lol. I’m starting with the head personal trainer, who’s on fire in the hotness scale. Not to give me a session, but I see him working out alone, and maybe he needs a nice workout partner as well hehe. Sorry I went on a tangent there, but well, Masch knows I want to be able to look up someone’s shorts while I’m benching :wink:
[/quote]

Nice plan! A good view while benching is always a plus. :wink:

554

Alright y’alls, so from what I understand, hamstring cramps aren’t uncommon during benching but I should make sure I’m properly hydrated, etc., as well as strengthen those hammies. And like Deb mentioned, I do believe it was related to “leg drive”, but I may have been doing something wrong. I’m going to have to check my form.

Yes! to stalking a spotter - preferably a hot one with wide legged shorts. Unfortunately that day I was working out at a random gym (possibly THE gayest gym in NYC btw - EYE CANDY like you wouldn’t believe tho), but when I’m at my regular gym I do have a roster of spotters in my head.

Ok, quickly, because I know I talk too much - yesterday was a great day! Not only was I fit to play in the soccer game, but I managed to play all 90 mins! This is especially incredible because a) I didn’t know if I could do it b) my coach had told me weeks before that he wouldn’t let me c) The hamstring felt completely fine throughout all 90 mins!

I won’t lie though, i was fucking exhausted after yesterday’s game - my quads, feet and lungs were in various states of protest. But today I feel great. All over body soreness which is to be expected, and the hammie is definitely sore, but not too bad. Going to see the art guy tonight, could really use a massage.

All this to say that I’m definitely on the mend!

And for those who care, we won 4-3. I played right flank and 20mins as stopper (which is a meh position IMHO). Don’t think I played exceptional or anything, but I was there holding my own. Stamina is NOT what it was pre-injury, but I was able to sprint and recover fairly well. This was a state cup game, so we’re looking at 2 more games to win $800 and go to regionals. Also, totally forgot what a bunch of beasts these girls are. Got knocked in the nose and it still hurts today - animals I tell you!

555

That is GREAT news that you played footie for all 90 minutes. As a BEAST yourself, you fit right into that team.

A hot spotter with wide legged shorts…you slay me! (I had independently gotten to the hot spotter thought, but the shorts specification is something that hadn’t occurred…)

556

Cool - glad things are going well. For strengthening hammies, all you need is: Pullthroughs, GHR, SLDL or RDL. If you don’t have a GHR machine, towel/slideboard leg curls work great (and fucking hurt!).

557

yay for soccer!!! :slight_smile:

558

Glad your back in the game Masch!

559

You’re a machine, Masch! Very happy for you! One day you’ll have to post a vid clip of you playing soccer :slight_smile:
Keep up the good work and congrats on the win!

Take good care of those hammies… and your nose too ouch!

560

Sounds like you had a great game! Yay for being on the mend, and for a win!

561

congrats on the game and the stamina you did have, even if it wasnt what you wanted.

re: hamstring cramps- strengthening them is a good idea, but keep paying attention to tightness in your quads and hip flexors. reciprocal inhibition is a bitch sometimes.