Back...Into the Deep End

In the last 2 weeks.
Trained 2-3 times each week. Pretty good overall. Lost about 10 lbs., mainly from the stress of my state of affairs; hard to keep my appetite these days. So I guess I’ve done an ‘anxiety cut’ for the past 2 weeks. Great.

Lifting 4 days straight this week, Tues-Fri. Might have to dust off some supps I’ve been hoarding for awhile.
I’m only happy when I’m asleep; trying to push on.

But the Blackhawks won another Stanely Cup…so there is that.

Onward and Upward.

So where am I…

–Elbow (mostly right) good and bad…just depends on the day.
–Only lifted 2 days last week; feeling run down/depressed a bit.
–Eating/sleeping better these past few days.
–Tues and today: not bad in the gym. Short, but decent lifting.

–Saw my ex-stepson (dog) in the neighborhood today. Jasper, and my Ex, did not see me. Haven’t had contact since our breakup/my move out about…a month ago. A couple of emails between us, but no seeing the dog. I decided that it would be selfish of me to what…see him once or twice a week? A month? Never mind the ‘trigger’ for her; not so much me. I think I would give that advise to someone else in my situation. Clean break, including the dog. Better for him and me.
But I’m second guessing myself, if only for a little while. Still went to the gym; didn’t get me down. That’s something.

Next two day off; gonna lift for sure.

What is a level 100? You bought out the store. Not seeing your dog, that’s just horrible. All mine keep my mind straight when it starts to go south.

[quote]hel320 wrote:
What is a level 100? You bought out the store. Not seeing your dog, that’s just horrible. All mine keep my mind straight when it starts to go south.
[/quote]

Level 100? I really don’t know.
Not seeing the dog? Crappy.

Glad your back Harry.

Lifted 3 times this past week. Not gonna bother posting; didn’t even track it in the gym really. Just ‘punching the clock’ as some have said. Alright for now, just pushing on.

Jesus. You sound down. Don’t just punch the clock. Pick a goal and work like hell. Sign up for a PLing meet. Anything. Fight the darkness!

I’m gonna squat at my gym Monday morning. Also helping a guy who’s prepping for a meet. Wanna tag along?

As I was coming here today, I thought just that; I do sound like shit, and it’s all I’m posting! Good grief, usually not my style.
Thanks Karen, for the wake up and reminder. And there you go with the PL’ing meet again! Mondays I work doubles, but I’d love to lift sometime soon; perhaps in a couple weeks (thurs or fri).

On a positive note: After years of high blood pressure, it has been measured lately at 130/70…AKA= pretty dam good considering.
This is after quitting drinking 1 1/2 years ago (great), but then the stress of my break up/move out (the right choice but painful). At a checkup, I asked if we could ‘check again’; I just didn’t trust it! It was literally that exact number, 3 different times, within 2 week span.
So that’s good.

Someone I admire once said they are “prone to despair”. Me too. Just another battle to be fought, day in and day out.

Onward and Upward.
Godspeed.
ERIC D.

Tues–7/7/15

Lying leg curls: 12 @ 80,80,95,95/ 8@95,95,110,125 (slow negs)
Leg press: 15@ 480,480,570,570,570/ 10@660,660,660 (slow lower/explode)
Incline DB press: 20@30,30/ 15@40,40,45/ 4x10@50’s (pause/pump)
Seated BNP: 2x20@90/ 2x15@135
Seated top1/2 OHP: 6@135,135,155/ 4x6@175 (dead stop/explode)
Facepulls: 4x15@50
Lots of sitting around today.

Thursday–7/9
Seated Ham: 8@ 90,105,120,135/ 4x8@150
Ad/Ab machine: 4x15@105
Leg Press (quad/calf pump): 4x50@370
Hammer Incline: 2x20@135/ 8@155,175,185/ 4x8@205 (pause/explode)
Low DB incline: 2x20@40/ 2x15@50/ 8@55,60, 4x8@65 (slow lower/ pump)
High incline DB: 3x8@40/ 3x8@50/ 2x8@60
More sitting. Didn’t notice until now, typing stuff out.

Friday–7/10

Lying leg curls: 8@80,80,80/ 3x8@95 (slow)
Seated Calf: 4x15@ 135 (stretch/ explode)
Leg press: 3x8@390/ 3x8@480/3x8@570
Standing Laterals: 10@15,15,20,20,20 supersets of facepulls–5x15@50 (pretty tough)
Smith rows: 8@135,155,185,205/ 4x8@225
Pullovers: 10@30,35,40,45,45,45

Pretty good. Better focus/ mental health. Lost track of time, all three days.

Eating more, sleeping a lot. Nothing much else to tell.

Down to 185 lbs. in the mornings, down from 195.

So get stronger, drop to 170 ish, and compete in a masters division later in the year???

Dang it Karen!

[quote]denver z-man wrote:
So get stronger, drop to 170 ish, and compete in a masters division later in the year???

Dang it Karen! [/quote]
It’s fun. Really. Competing gives a lot to focus with training. It’s been a huge rush for me.

There are several (3?) meets in the November/December time frame in our area. Weight classes are slightly different based on the federation. So you pick one and go for it. If you so choose. . .

[quote]kpsnap wrote:

[quote]denver z-man wrote:
So get stronger, drop to 170 ish, and compete in a masters division later in the year???

Dang it Karen! [/quote]
It’s fun. Really. Competing gives a lot to focus with training. It’s been a huge rush for me.

There are several (3?) meets in the November/December time frame in our area. Weight classes are slightly different based on the federation. So you pick one and go for it. If you so choose. . .[/quote]

I knew I shouldn’t joke about that…

Tuesday-- 7/14

–Lying Curls: 4 ramp sets of 8/ 4x6@125. Slow ecc/ squeeze at top.
–Front 1 1/2 Squats: 2x6@135/2x6@155/ 3x3@185/3x3@135. Humbling and unpleasant. Went low, slow, and fired back up (sorta).
–S.G. Rack Pull: 6 @ 185,185,225,245/ 5x3@275. Working the Hip Extension/ backside.
–Leg Press: 10@ 6plates, 8pl, 10pl, 12pl, 14plates (750 lbs.)
Big Finish= Drop set–5reps @ 14pl,12 pl, then 10 reps @ 10,8,6 plates. Alrighty then.
Pretty well worked over after that. Felt good, ate a bunch in the evening, and slept well (go figure).

Wens 7/15-- 188 lbs. morning.

Short, extra, whatever day of training.

–Deads: 8x5@ 225: various grip/stance.
–Bench: 3x8@135/ 5x8@155. Paused, no lock out.
–Ad/Ab machine: 2x10@105/ 2x15@90. Smooth.
–Front Squats: 8x5@135. Smooth, deep, pumping some blood.
–Standing Calf: 2x10@135, 185, 245

Pumping some blood around, after yesterday legs ect…and warming up for the next two days. Some good lifting on the way.

Dark skies have cleared.
Feeling pretty good.

Seems like a corner has been turned. Glad to see it.

[quote]Carl Darby wrote:
Seems like a corner has been turned. Glad to see it.[/quote]

Thanks Carl, and welcome back to it!

Thursday:

Low DB press–20@40’s/ 4 ramp sets @ 8/ 4x8@ 70’s (pause at bottom)
Decline Smith–4 ramps @ 6reps/ 4x6@205 (smooth down/ explosive up).
Drop set finish: 6reps @205,185,165,135, 20@ 95
Seated BNP-- 2x20@95/ 3x8@135
Seated OHP-- 4x8@135
Drop set finish: 8reps @ 155,135,115,20 reps @ 95

Did one Shoulder Pump set after Declines (I think). From CT’s article. 40 reps total.

Felt good; took 2 hours, which seems long.

Friday: 7/17/15

Hammer Pulldowns: 2x30reps @ 85/ 2x8@ 130/ 4x8@15. Stretch at top/ squeeze at bottom.
Pullovers: 4 ramps @ 10reps/ 4x10@40. Smooth pump/ stretch at bottom.
Smith Front 11/2 squats: 2x6@135/ 5x4@ 185. Slow lower/ explode back up. Short rest, really tough 185 sets.
V-Bar bent Rows: 6 ramps of 8reps…up to 4x8@ 205. Power up/ squeeze at the top. Pretty good.

Also, right at 2 hours to finish; all 4 days this week. Sets per day @ 30,34,26,32. Didn’t notice until I was reviewing last night.
More volume of fewer moves; still adds up.

Ate and slept pretty well; and a good amount too.

Weight at 185 at wake up; 188-190 leaving the gym. Yes, lots of Plazma weight.

[quote]denver z-man wrote:
Yes, lots of Plazma weight. [/quote]
I wanna try that stuff. Maybe I can buy a dose from you Friday? See if it makes me pull astronomical amounts.

Short sessions for Tues/Wens.

Tuesday 7/21

–Seated Ham Curl: 4 ramp sets of 8/ 4x8@ 150 (hard squeeze)
–Front 11/2 squats: 2x6@135/ 3@155/ 5x3@185 (slow lowering/ explode back up).
–Standing Calf: 4x10@185 (squeeze at the top).
–Leg Press: 2x10@480/ 4x10@570+10 top 1/2 pumps each set (slow lowering/ explode up).

That is all. Hard to breath much during Front 1 1/2; makes me see stars!

Wednesday: Half planned, then just went off a bit.

Light bench: 5x5
Light Squats: 5x5 comp depth
Face pulls/ pull aparts…

Squats: Ramped up with 7 sets of 3…Hit 3 singles at 285. No belt/spotter, in power rack. Very confident on the depth. Last month did 315 with belt (high).
Then did the same dam thing with bench.

Bench: Power rack/to pins, no slamming, not banging around, brought the bar down to touch, and back up. Pin height was just off my chest.
Ramped up with 6 sets of 3…singles at 235,245, hit 2 singles at 255. First was decent/ second grinding hard.
Did some seated rows afterwards.

So we have:
Squat @ 285 lbs.
Bench @ 240 lbs. (In theory, if paused and without pins)
Surprised by the bench; disappointed with the squat but, there it is.

Planning on Deadlifts with a T-Naitoner on Friday. Can I do something over 300 lbs? Jeez.