Treasure, Not Junk

Training Over 35 Lifter
561

[quote]Powerpuff wrote:

[quote]EyeDentist wrote:

[quote]Up wrote:
Things are going well. added another set to my FS yesterday 6x10 @75
not sure i should keep adding sets, more reps w/ same sets or more weight ??? Thoughts anyone ???[/quote]

The changes you make (if any) should be a function of your short- and long-term goals. I’m sure you’ve discussed them before, but would you mind briefly recounting them here?
[/quote]

X2.

Hi Up! I haven’t been following logs for awhile, but I had to come say hello. Your proportions are just beautiful. Glad to see you’re doing well over here. What are your plans/goals going forward?

And hello Eyedentist!
[/quote]

Ok, Ill be back to answer this, Ill have to think about it some.

562

Training Upper was at gym friday, I made sure to get in some bro curls and other direct arm work.

TODAY I felt like I needed a longer warm up, so I did that. Mainly spin bike, and some jump work, bands.

started with abductors , gives me a nice solid base for FS.

top set was 75 6x12 ~~~~ first 5 feels SO different than the last 5. VID is last set, I am holding it together.

went right into conv DL when my upper back is nice and warm. Not sure Ill do this again after the higher reps. It went well.
175 5,3,5,5,5 vid is last set. Im not going to get going about form, the only thing i know id like to eventually work on is pulling the bar in as it passes my knees. For some reason when I was doing this before, i started bending my arms, so I may not get hung up on it. AGAIN, Im not really making that a focus right now. I just didn’t feel like RDL or SLDL today.

then hit machines and cable kick backs ~~~ I was done! edit for vids

563

[quote]Powerpuff wrote:

[quote]EyeDentist wrote:

[quote]Up wrote:
Things are going well. added another set to my FS yesterday 6x10 @75
not sure i should keep adding sets, more reps w/ same sets or more weight ??? Thoughts anyone ???[/quote]

The changes you make (if any) should be a function of your short- and long-term goals. I’m sure you’ve discussed them before, but would you mind briefly recounting them here?
[/quote]

X2.

Hi Up! I haven’t been following logs for awhile, but I had to come say hello. Your proportions are just beautiful. Glad to see you’re doing well over here. What are your plans/goals going forward?

And hello Eyedentist!
[/quote]

I shy away from stating goals, mainly because i feel like if you have a goal, you should put 100% into achieving that goal. I don’t feel I have 100% to give, with family, job, life. I am not willing I should say, to give 100%. That being said, I have been working on building a curvier figure. I know I have changed a ton, and I am proud of all the work I have done thus far. I am finally pretty darn good at not comparing myself to anyone else, i just admire what they have and keep on pressing on. This last sentence probably saves me time and time again.

Legs are my focus, if I stray into more “strength” work, its because I may feel frustrated and it helps me feel like Im at least getting stronger. I am sure this is NOT a BB attitude. I will work on it.

I am now cutting away. Ill get pics up tues/wed. I started around the 1st cutting back, so the last pics is a good before. The last time i started doing this, i just wasn’t ready. I want to strip it off, then maintain it for summer, then start increasing calls again. I started at 123.5 @ 5"4 I took measurements too.

I probably could have gone with a few more pounds, but at my age, I wasn’t going to have that much fat to strip. I did well getting my intake pretty high, so starting out is pretty easy. Ive been a little lax keeping track, but I will get better. I am not doing a IIFYM because its just too much work. I will have a nice carb load/treat meal on saturdays, yummy …,and leg day I may use up some cals from other days. I just know I will do best keeping it simple, boring, but consistent.

As far as i know i am not competing, but am treating it like I have an end date in mind. I was going for 12-13 weeks so June 1st. See where I am at.

Not sure I am clear enough for you …

564

[quote]Up wrote:

I shy away from stating goals, mainly because i feel like if you have a goal, you should put 100% into achieving that goal. I don’t feel I have 100% to give, with family, job, life. I am not willing I should say, to give 100%.[/quote]

I understand completely. For this reason, it’s better for some people to think in terms of aspirations, not goals.

With regard to this particular aspiration, you can hang a big ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner across the wall of your gym. Your figure is, in a word, stunning. (Said with all due respect to both your marriage and mine.)

Seems to me, there’s what you’re aspiring to: Being lean and shapely during the scantily-clad summer months, which in turn necessitates gaining a little muscle (and weight) during the off-season.

Makes perfect sense.

565

Pulling the bar in on DL’s is a good thought because its all about keeping the bar close to the body, but it may change the bar path depending on your start position.

As a suggestion, focus on pushing the hips out, as in squeezing the glutes hard, as soon as the bar is nearing the knees. Just like doing a hip thrust from the floor. You could probably lower the weight and increase the reps there. Arms are just ropes with strong clamps to hold the weight, they do nothing but squeeze the bar and hang on.
Vid’s not showing for me.

566

[quote]Up wrote:

[quote]Powerpuff wrote:

[quote]EyeDentist wrote:

[quote]Up wrote:
Things are going well. added another set to my FS yesterday 6x10 @75
not sure i should keep adding sets, more reps w/ same sets or more weight ??? Thoughts anyone ???[/quote]

The changes you make (if any) should be a function of your short- and long-term goals. I’m sure you’ve discussed them before, but would you mind briefly recounting them here?
[/quote]

X2.

Hi Up! I haven’t been following logs for awhile, but I had to come say hello. Your proportions are just beautiful. Glad to see you’re doing well over here. What are your plans/goals going forward?

And hello Eyedentist!
[/quote]

I shy away from stating goals, mainly because i feel like if you have a goal, you should put 100% into achieving that goal. I don’t feel I have 100% to give, with family, job, life. I am not willing I should say, to give 100%. That being said, I have been working on building a curvier figure. I know I have changed a ton, and I am proud of all the work I have done thus far. I am finally pretty darn good at not comparing myself to anyone else, i just admire what they have and keep on pressing on. This last sentence probably saves me time and time again.

Legs are my focus, if I stray into more “strength” work, its because I may feel frustrated and it helps me feel like Im at least getting stronger. I am sure this is NOT a BB attitude. I will work on it.

I am now cutting away. Ill get pics up tues/wed. I started around the 1st cutting back, so the last pics is a good before. The last time i started doing this, i just wasn’t ready. I want to strip it off, then maintain it for summer, then start increasing calls again. I started at 123.5 @ 5"4 I took measurements too.

I probably could have gone with a few more pounds, but at my age, I wasn’t going to have that much fat to strip. I did well getting my intake pretty high, so starting out is pretty easy. Ive been a little lax keeping track, but I will get better. I am not doing a IIFYM because its just too much work. I will have a nice carb load/treat meal on saturdays, yummy …,and leg day I may use up some cals from other days. I just know I will do best keeping it simple, boring, but consistent.

As far as i know i am not competing, but am treating it like I have an end date in mind. I was going for 12-13 weeks so June 1st. See where I am at.

Not sure I am clear enough for you …

[/quote]
I think this is a very sensible approach. Being sick last month gave me some perspective on “goals” as well, I don’t feel balanced in all areas of my life. I’m treating them less as goals and more as habits that I want to develop and maintain.

567

[quote]Oldman Powers wrote:
Pulling the bar in on DL’s is a good thought because its all about keeping the bar close to the body, but it may change the bar path depending on your start position.

As a suggestion, focus on pushing the hips out, as in squeezing the glutes hard, as soon as the bar is nearing the knees. Just like doing a hip thrust from the floor. You could probably lower the weight and increase the reps there. Arms are just ropes with strong clamps to hold the weight, they do nothing but squeeze the bar and hang on.
Vid’s not showing for me.[/quote]

fixed.
Not sure what that bent arm thing was, but it has been gone, i probably shouldn’t have even brought it up.

568

[quote]EyeDentist wrote:

[quote]Up wrote:

I shy away from stating goals, mainly because i feel like if you have a goal, you should put 100% into achieving that goal. I don’t feel I have 100% to give, with family, job, life. I am not willing I should say, to give 100%.[/quote]

I understand completely. For this reason, it’s better for some people to think in terms of aspirations, not goals.

With regard to this particular aspiration, you can hang a big ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner across the wall of your gym. Your figure is, in a word, stunning. (Said with all due respect to both your marriage and mine.)

Seems to me, there’s what you’re aspiring to: Being lean and shapely during the scantily-clad summer months, which in turn necessitates gaining a little muscle (and weight) during the off-season.

Makes perfect sense.
[/quote]

Yes to all of this! Maintaining balance, and keeping the important stuff like family from getting the short shrift. Going slow and gradual on your cut is a good thing. I’m doing the same thing this spring. Just adjusting a bit, hoping to loose a little bit of the butter on my thighs, but where you are trying to bring up legs, insert DELTS for me.

Hijack - Side conversation here.

Eyedentist - Hey! Not much news to report. I’ve progressed my shoulders and chest a bit over the past year. Other than lots of volume on my shoulders, I’ve been focused on pilates and ballet barre stuff, and just maintenance everywhere else. It was a busy fall and winter with kids. My 16-year-old had major back surgery for scoliosis so fall and winter was all about her recovery. Big relief to have it behind us, and she’s doing well. If I remember correctly, you mentioned you’d like to compete this spring or summer? Best of luck with your prep! Let us know if you are going to log about it.

569

[quote]Powerpuff wrote:
Hijack - Side conversation here.

Eyedentist - Hey! Not much news to report. I’ve progressed my shoulders and chest a bit over the past year. Other than lots of volume on my shoulders, I’ve been focused on pilates and ballet barre stuff, and just maintenance everywhere else. It was a busy fall and winter with kids. My 16-year-old had major back surgery for scoliosis so fall and winter was all about her recovery. Big relief to have it behind us, and she’s doing well. If I remember correctly, you mentioned you’d like to compete this spring or summer? Best of luck with your prep! Let us know if you are going to log about it.
[/quote]

Obviously, Puff, we need to see some pics of these new-and-improved delts you’re sporting. And best wishes to your daughter for continued good (back) health.

As for me competing this year, it’s still a possibility, although I don’t think I’ll be ready for the show in May I was aiming at. (Long story.) If I do take the plunge, I promise to either log about it, or at least throw up some comp pics here in the Old Folks home.

(Apologies for furthering the hijack, Up.)

570

Not at all…Puff…, yes, fingers crossed with her back health.

As far as your shoulders go, they must look pretty damn amazing, as the last time I saw your shoulders I was impressed.

Eye Dentist May doesn’t work , but there are many summer months :wink:

upper chest and shoulders were worked yesterday. My after thought was some db curls, I needed to follow that up with some cable curls and something else, I will learn to embrace this direct arm work all the bros love :confused:

571

[quote]Up wrote:
I needed to follow that up with some cable curls and something else, I will learn to embrace this direct arm work all the bros love :confused: [/quote]

Be sure to do your curls in the squat rack for that max ‘Bro’ effect.

572

[quote]Up wrote:
Training Upper was at gym friday, I made sure to get in some bro curls and other direct arm work.

TODAY I felt like I needed a longer warm up, so I did that. Mainly spin bike, and some jump work, bands.

started with abductors , gives me a nice solid base for FS.

top set was 75 6x12 ~~~~ first 5 feels SO different than the last 5. VID is last set, I am holding it together.

went right into conv DL when my upper back is nice and warm. Not sure Ill do this again after the higher reps. It went well.
175 5,3,5,5,5 vid is last set. Im not going to get going about form, the only thing i know id like to eventually work on is pulling the bar in as it passes my knees. For some reason when I was doing this before, i started bending my arms, so I may not get hung up on it. AGAIN, Im not really making that a focus right now. I just didn’t feel like RDL or SLDL today.

then hit machines and cable kick backs ~~~ I was done! edit for vids

Up my pulling form leaves a lot to be desired so I rarely comment but those looked strong and very good to me.

The last video of you doing deads that I saw a couple of months back you had a bit of a hitch that I hadn’t seen before. That is gone in this video. Don’t overthink it just keep pulling like this and your in really good shape particularly given that this was your fifth set and followed FS’s.

573

Dave, Yea, that hitch thing was a flash in the pan, thank God. No doubt I was happy with the DLs after the FS work. Im already a bit nervous thinking what reps Ill go with tomorrow. I may even take a sesh off of FS, and do single leg work, the BSS can be killer. Ill see how I feel. Maybe some box squat, just cause hate them.

574

575


bi pose

576

From what I can see, you look great. Nice work on the abs. The pics are very small though, so its a bit difficult to give a accurate description.

577

[quote]Up wrote:
Not at all…Puff…, yes, fingers crossed with her back health.

As far as your shoulders go, they must look pretty damn amazing, as the last time I saw your shoulders I was impressed.

Eye Dentist May doesn’t work , but there are many summer months :wink:
[/quote]

Thanks, Up.

And Thanks Eyedentist. We’ll look forward to seeing your progress over the spring and summer, even if you don’t do a competition.

Up, you look fantastic! I like your sideswept bangs. And already quite lean. Sounds like you’d like to do a gradual recomp to see if you can get a little more definition in your legs for summer? I relate. :slight_smile: But overall you have a great bikini/ smaller figure shape. It’s where I want to be. Keeping a little more softness so you still look feminine. You look very balanced. I don’t see anything that’s lagging in development. Really nice work!

Just an aside - There’s this woman at my gym. Probably in her 50’s. Super lean. You know those people who just look really close to the bone and drawn, like they’ve been doing tons of distance running and probably doing calorie restriction for about 20 years? Anyway, the other day I saw her coming in from a swim. Extremely low bodyfat, but lots of cellulite on the back of her thighs that was completely unexpected. Wow. She works so hard. Discouraging. I think it’s largely just a genetic thing. You and I are lucky that we’re not prone to it. Or at least our rounder muscle bellies are smoothing it out for us. :slight_smile: Lift on sister!

578

[quote]Ronan wrote:
From what I can see, you look great. Nice work on the abs. The pics are very small though, so its a bit difficult to give a accurate description.[/quote]

Yea, the size i used to do seems bigger, but the pics were so washed out not sure its worth posting them anyway. Thanks for commenting :slight_smile:

579

[quote]Powerpuff wrote:

[quote]Up wrote:
Not at all…Puff…, yes, fingers crossed with her back health.

As far as your shoulders go, they must look pretty damn amazing, as the last time I saw your shoulders I was impressed.

Eye Dentist May doesn’t work , but there are many summer months :wink:
[/quote]

Thanks, Up.

And Thanks Eyedentist. We’ll look forward to seeing your progress over the spring and summer, even if you don’t do a competition.

Up, you look fantastic! I like your sideswept bangs. And already quite lean. Sounds like you’d like to do a gradual recomp to see if you can get a little more definition in your legs for summer? I relate. :slight_smile: But overall you have a great bikini/ smaller figure shape. It’s where I want to be. Keeping a little more softness so you still look feminine. You look very balanced. I don’t see anything that’s lagging in development. Really nice work!

Just an aside - There’s this woman at my gym. Probably in her 50’s. Super lean. You know those people who just look really close to the bone and drawn, like they’ve been doing tons of distance running and probably doing calorie restriction for about 20 years? Anyway, the other day I saw her coming in from a swim. Extremely low bodyfat, but lots of cellulite on the back of her thighs that was completely unexpected. Wow. She works so hard. Discouraging. I think it’s largely just a genetic thing. You and I are lucky that we’re not prone to it. Or at least our rounder muscle bellies are smoothing it out for us. :slight_smile: Lift on sister!

[/quote]

Hey Puff, NO …, sad to say, I am not blessed with smooth legs. I have it at this weight :frowning:
That is why Im wanting to drop a few pounds, would like to be cellulite free in the legs.
My ass doesn’t hold it, well…, I should say my ass doesn’t show it, the skin must be better. I am able to have a higher scale number before it shows now, so that is a plus. Im dropping slowly, seems to be good. Last pics were 121.2 today I was 119.8, It will probably be 1.5 months for a couple more pounds. Ill decide at that point how I feel. Id like to strip it off, then enjoy summer, then late aug start adding things back in. Time will tell.

Ill post pics as its easier to see. I like this lighting as it mimics the beach bright, no hiding it. Wish it wasn’t quite so bright in second pic, Il post more in a month.

580

^ Those subtle shadows are not a deal. I think everybody has a bit of that. I know what you mean though, if you don’t see them when you’re a bit leaner. I’m talking about somebody with toothpick legs who still has big divots back there.

I don’t know if they’ll allow this link, but I just read a really nice blog post about body image and cellulite. It’s long so you have to scroll down, but there are lots of pictures of athletic women, the flattering ones and then the not so flattering ones taken on the same day. Yeah, it will keep it real. Not to get too focused on every little “imperfection”. Search Molly Galbraith Cellulite, Stretch Marks, and Love Your Body Challenge.