2A DB Rows (out): 40x15, 40x15
2B Pushups: 0x30, 0x30
Crunches: 35x20, 35x20
This workout actually seemed a little easier even though I upped the lunges an extra 5# just because it made loading/unloading the bar easier. I was still totally out of air and laying on the ground huffing and puffing between sets after the first set of lunges, but it was OK.
I’ve got three more workouts in this phase and one more squat/lunge day. I’m tempted to really push the weights next time. The most I’ve ever squatted for 15 was about 265 but there’s no way I can do that for 2 sets, I’m not even sure I could do that for 1 set right now.
But I don’t think I’d be able to do another thing after that and I definitely couldn’t do that supersetting… I mean if THIS is gassing me, I’d die or something. So… we’ll see on Thursday what I decide to do. I might up the squat weight to 185 or 205, if I’m feeling my oats.
I can definitely do more on the rows, pushups, and crunches. Lunges, otoh, are staying right the hell where they are.
I did the damned intervals and upped the intensity slightly.
Anyways, we also made an offer on the house we went to see on Thursday, 5.5 acres and about a 4300 sq ft house. We’ll have to put a barn on it but it’s pretty nice.
I haven’t been lifting for awhile. We went on vacation and I got sick. My weight dropped from about 198 down to about 180-182. I’ve been trying to eat and regain a little weight.
Since this was my return to the gym after a long, painful layoff, I decided to take it real easy. The New Rules of Lifting program wasn’t really doing it for me but I liked some of the ideas. So I’m going to incorporate what I liked from it with my “normal” approach and we’ll see how that goes.
Anyway, I went super light on everything. My squats felt cranky and stiff but seemed to be loosening up with each set. The first bench press workset felt heavy, the second felt lighter.
I’m hoping it was light enough that I don’t get too sore. I’ll repeat this workout 3x/week and increase weights each workout. The NROL component is in the exercise mix: Squat, a lunge, a push, a pull, and a core. No deadlift, though.
[quote]skidmark wrote:
So - how’s the new house/barn?[/quote]
We haven’t been able to sell our place.
And after one of our horses got a lacerated eye, my wife is wondering if it isn’t better that we DON’T get the new place because she’s afraid that something could happen to one of the horses and she wouldn’t recognize that something was wrong.
[quote]The Pencil Neck wrote:
skidmark wrote:
So - how’s the new house/barn?
We haven’t been able to sell our place.
And after one of our horses got a lacerated eye, my wife is wondering if it isn’t better that we DON’T get the new place because she’s afraid that something could happen to one of the horses and she wouldn’t recognize that something was wrong.
[/quote]
Sorry to hear that. But I am glad to see you back posting!
So, I changed my mind a little bit. I’m going to use an A/B type of workout. The Squats and Benches will always be there, but the other exercises will alternate. I’m slightly sore from the first workout and decided to slowly increase the weights.
The squats felt fine. Form feels like it’s coming back and the weights feel light.
This time I did Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns before realizing that I should change the plane that I work my lats. So, I’m going to drop the Wide Grip Pulldowns and go to Wide Grip Rows instead, just to get another angle.
For some horrible reason, these benches feel heavy as hell; they should be flying up like the squats. I can feel the little tug in my shoulder that always scares me that something is thinking about tearing.
The Lunges were whatever. I’ll need to start adding weight to the bar quickly.
Other than that, feeling pretty good. Still working on my appetite.
OK, my weight is going the wrong direction and I can’t believe how weak I am.
I had to concentrate on the squats and the benches to get them up. Everything else was easy enough.
Not much else to say except that it sucks being weak.
You seem to be bouncing back nicely. Real sorry about your illness, it always sucks finding out you’re actually a mortal. Great to have back and thats what counts!
The squats felt a little better today. It was a little bit of a struggle on the last rep but nothing serious, just a teensy-eensy gut check.
But the Benches? WTF? On the second set, I utterly failed on the 4th rep. So, I’m going to stay with the weight at 160 and back down to 3 reps next workout, then try 4 reps the workout after that, and if I can get 2 sets of 5, then I’ll start the weight going up again. Otherwise, I’ll bounce down to 3 reps, and work the weight up from there.
Everything else was fine.
Well…
Except that I’m a Houston Texan fan and after yesterday’s meltdown against the Colts, I need to be talked off the ledge.