@freshyfresh it is a pretty good feeling!
@simo74 an iPhone, it just completely lost any quality getting texted to my Android. They don’t play well together 
4 Likes
Wednesday
PT Session 17
Arnold press
10 x 17.5, 8 x 35, 2 x 10 x 30
Lat pull
3 x 12 x 85
Bench
5 x 95, 5 x 115, 25 x 65
Cable Close Grip Low row
15 x 70, 18 x 70, 15 x 85
Machine Lat raise, slow negatives
2 x 10 x 30
Kneeling bicep curls
2 x 20 x 20
Cable tri ext
20 x 20, 18 x 15
This was with the new guy. Nice guy, but he is definitely green. Made a cardinal mistake right away by asking What are we doing today?" Man, I am paying you to tell me what I am doing today. He had a very lose upper body plan waiting at least. I breezed through it so he had to keep thinking of other things to do.
At first, he grabbed the 17.5lb DBs for Arnold Presses. He watched me do the first set and said, “That was too light. You are so strong and buff, I am used to beginners.”
Then, after a set on lat pulls, “That was really clean, why do you even have a PT?”
Clearly, I am not his type of client. I think he will be good, but he has a lot to learn.
I was going to chat with the PT manager (in a non-Karen way), the lady I signed up with. About who I will be working with now. She unfortunately left before my workout was done. I’ll be calling her to see what I can arrange. Really hoping she will fill in until her friend gets there that she was going to have me work with originally. Updates to follow.
Weekend:
Northern CO, and swung by Moab on the way home. We have a roof rack on as part of a demo/test mule thing for some friends that own a roof rack and bumper company. We will be giving it back tomorrow. Fun to get to try out a demo product though.
12 Likes
This is the problem with PT’s in general. Lots are lazy and if they haven’t been around a while they also lack the knowledge and experience needed to pivot when a client it too good for their program of the day. In my opinion this PT should have spoken to your last trainer and understood what you were doing and where you were at. If that wasn’t possible then the old one should have briefed the gym owner to relay the information. This would have made me more than a little grumpy.
1 Like
Oh I was grumpy for sure. The new guy did have a short chat with my last PT, I was there for the briefing. New guy definitely didn’t pay attention because he asked me all the same questions he asked my old PT. I called the gym today and asked for the manager, but of course she was out of the office today. Hopefully she will call me back when she gets my message in the morning. I’d rather not use another session with new guy.
Starting to wish I wasn’t locked into a 4 month contract. Little late now, hindsight.
Hopefully now he has done a session with you and seen how jacked and strong you are, he will step up and adjust the session to really push you. Maybe you both get something out of this, he learns to work with someone a little more advanced and he put in the extra energy to the sessions to really test you. That’s my positivity for the morning, you are welcome. 
That would be a great scenario, I appreciate the good vibes!
1 Like
Friday
PT Session 18
Split squats
3 x 12 x 30
Hip thrusts (machine)
3 x 115 x 12
Leg ext
3 x 20 x 40 (5 sec neg)
Back ext
15, 12 x 25
Leg curl
2 x 20 x 40 (5 sec neg)
Calf raises
2 x 110 x 20 (5 sec neg)
Sled pulls
4 x 100ft x 135+Sled
Nice pump day. Many burnout rounds instead of anything heavy. Not used to this approach for legs, but it definitely felt better on the joints! Still had everything burning after the high-rep, slow sets.
Still haven’t made contact with the PT manager, apparently, she had a few days off.
Non-lifting update: I was signed off by my instructor to take the final exam for the certificate I am pursuing. It is scheduled for September 26th. This just got real…
10 Likes
Monday
Conditioning
All with 35lb KB
21 Clusters
50 Kbs
21 OH Squats
50 Kbs
21 OH Squats
50 Kbs
21 Clusters
Done in 14:01
Had some extra time this morning so I snuck this in. Lots of OH work, I see why it is so crucial. Those OH squats are difficult! Got the heart rate up and woke me up for the day.
11 Likes
Wednesday
PT Session 19
Seated DB OHP
1 x 20 x 12
3 x 35 x 10
Bench Press
3 x 6 x 115
Lat Pulldown
3 x 12 x 90
Close Grip Horizontal Cable Row
3 x 12 x 90
Kneeling Bicep Curls
8, 16 x 20
Cable Lat raises
3 x 12 x 10
Bench
4 x 10 x 95
The lat pump from pull downs then horizontal rows was intense. Felt like my skin was about to split open.
The second round of bench was with hubby, he still had some workout left so I joined him.
PT said I am probably top 2% of strong people in the gym for my weight. I told him he is paid to say that and he said, no, he is happy to say when people need to work on things. He also keeps running out of stuff for me to do and has to add stuff because I blow through all the exercises he has for the day. I am really bad at rest periods.
Some surf and turf food porn from dinner last night. Plating is not my strong suit. First time grilling a T-Bone. That is a tasty cut of meat. Ended up nibbling everything I could off the bone.
13 Likes
Thursday
PT Session 20
Single KB Split Squats (each side for all reps)
BW x 12
2 x 12 x 50
2 x 10 x 70
Squat Press (machine)
3 x 10 x 450
Hip Thrust (machine)
3 x 12 x 120
Leg Curl
3 x 12 x 60
Calf Raises
3 x 15 x 130
Sled pull, backwards walk
3 x 100ft x 180 + Sled
Took all of the last sets to within 1-2 reps of failure. The pump is real. Legs are tired today. I still hate calf raises. New PT doesn’t do a lot of warm ups, it’s awesome.
8 Likes
Seems like it’s getting better. Pleased for you and for your leg pump.
1 Like
Wednesday
PT Session 21
Lat pull downs
3 x 12 x 95
Bench
3 x 5 x 120
CG low cable row
3 x 12 x 95
KB Upside down OH Press
3 x 8 x 15
Cable Bicep Curls
3 x 10 x 20
Lat Raise
3 x 10 x 7
Pretty good day, left feeling like I could do way more. Holding the KB ball side up for OH press is more of a grip and stabilization exercise than anything. Didn’t care for it.
Finally talked with the PT’s manager. She has me with a different PT next week. He has been training people for ~10 years, should be a good learning experience.
Non-lifting: I have a busy weekend planned. Going to an airshow, then Vegas. Tuesday is my final test for the certification I am working on. I have been a ball of anxiety since it’s been scheduled. I don’t feel ready, but I also want to get it over with.
10 Likes
I wish you skill.
2 Likes
Much appreciated. I will take all the good vibes I can get.
2 Likes
Thursday
PT Session 22
Split Squat w/ single DB
10 x 40
3 x 10 x 75
Squat Press
3 x 10 x 470
RDL
10 x 95
12 x 135
GHR
3 x 12 x 10
Leg curl
3 x 12 x 70
PT had me skip calf work for leg curls. Yay! I’ll pick hammy work over calves any day.
Actually started cramping on the last set of leg curls. Been a long time since I have had a muscle cramp. I guess I’ll say that means I was getting good muscle contraction.
Probably won’t be posting until after my test, next gym session is Wednesday. This weekend will be full of fun and cramming!
10 Likes
Wednesday
PT Session 23
Single DB split squat
10 x 30
3 x 8 x 80
Wide Grip Cable rows
3 x 12 x 90
Bench
4 x 95
3 x 4 x 125
Kneeling Curls
15, 10 , 7 x 25
Lat raises
8, 7, 6 x 10
PT said this was going to be full body, but it felt like upper to me. While still having to do split squats. F those.
Session scheduled with a different PT tonight. I have been told he has a very different style of training. Will be interesting!
Non-lifting update:
I failed my test. It is for a Certified Flight Instructor, so I can teach people how to fly airplanes. It is one of the most difficult Checkrides (what the final test is called) to pass the first time. I really wanted to be one that passed the first time.
Quick description on a Checkride - there is a ground and a flight portion. The instructor Checkride is about 4-5 hour ground, 2 hour flight. With an instructor cert, it is the top level of knowledge. Not only do I need to know my stuff, I am now having to teach it. The ground uses lesson plans to teach the examiner. These lesson plans will be used to teach students.
I broke a cardinal rule of taking a test. I chose to do something I had not practiced. The first part of the test was going well and easier than expected. I got cocky. Thought I had it in the bag.
It seemed appropriate at the time. Well, I missed a couple simple, but essential steps.
I still get credit for everything we did go through on the ground. So my re-test will be that lesson and the flight.
Really trying not to beat myself up. It doesn’t solve anything. Easier said than done.
I am headed out on an Alaskan Cruise tomorrow. I’ll be gone for about a week then come back and do the re-test.
9 Likes
Oh my goodness, enjoy this! I did one a few years back and had the most amazing experience with a Dungeness Crab fishing vessel, panning for gold, and seeing Alaskan sled dog puppies. Eat ALL the animals you can.
Regarding the Flight Instructor Cert, perhaps it’s time to stop identifying as a unicorn and go FULL Alicorn here. You’re too grounded.
And that’s all this is: you’re too awesome as it is, the world isn’t ready for an alicorn yet. This cruise is giving us all a week to prepare. You’re going to crush it.
3 Likes
Challenge accepted. So excited for buffets of seafood. I will absolutely enjoy it.
You are absolutely right. I have my wings. Now I need one more cert to teach others how to acquire their wings.
I appreciate this so much. I think I got something in my eye reading it, vision was blurry for some reason.
3 Likes
I see you are a man of culture 
My daughter forced me to learn things I never thought I’d learn.
3 Likes
Thursday
PT Session 23
Walking Lunges x 200 ft
Circuit 3x:
Sled Push - 135 + sled x 100ft
Lunge Stance OH KB press 10 x 20
Single Leg Bent-over Single Arm Row 10 x 30
Circuit 3x:
Sled Pull - 135 + sled x 100ft
Bosu Ball DB Press 10 x 30dbs
Bosu Ball Bulg Split Squat 10 x (2)30Dbs
DB Snatch 8 x 30
Definitely a different training style. This was like an hour of conditioning. It has more of an athletic feel to it. Weights were light, HR was up, and I even got nauseous a couple of times. I honestly prefer heavy and lazy lifting at this point, so this was probably good for me.
Off to Alaska folks, I’ll eat all the seafood and check out the ship’s gym for ya’ll.
11 Likes