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Showing posts with label lifting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lifting. Show all posts

Monday, August 6, 2012

Got the waxing done!

I just know devoted readers were on the edge of your seats regarding the state of my eyebrows. That, however, is the only constructive thing I did this weekend, the rest of it was spent watching the Olympics, a couple of movies at home, some bar-hopping, swimming and a cook-out and visiting the sweetest little Jack Russel puppies you can imagine. There would be pictures of the puppies but wine and photography don't mix.

The women weightlifters were great, I loved the show-down between Russia and China at the end. Is it abnormal to want everyone to do well? Holley Mangold was robbed on one of the press-out calls, as was another one of the girls. I don't know what that jury was thinking, maybe I'll find a blog that explains how lifts that look good are red-lighted. When Tatiana was crying at the end I just wanted to give her a hug. Silver is awesome too! She got it together in time for the medal ceremony though.

Tonight I'm lifting heavy (for me, a light walk in the park for Oly girls); squats 3 x 5 x 140,, bench press 3 x 5 x 95, deads 2 x 3 x 180. I hope my nemesis is there to provide the competitive edge.

Lightning stuck a tree in my yard and now the cable, Internet, and air conditioner all do not work. This sucks. The air was out at the gym too. Squats; 1 x 12 x air, 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 1 x 5 x 115, 1 x 5 x 125, 5 x 3 x 140. Why didn't I go for five reps? Cuz it would be HARD. Jeez I have to stop being such a wuss. Bench press 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 85, 4 x 3 x 95, 2 x 1 x 95. Deads 1 x 3 x 135, 1 x 3 x 155, 2 x 2 x 175, these were tough and the gym was closing.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Training blog

Went in yesterday, warm-up ten minutes on the elliptical 15 back extensions. Started with squats as usual, two sets, 10 reps with the bar only, 2 sets 8 reps 55 lbs. Went on to overhead press, warmup set with the 35 lb bar, three work sets with the 45 lb bar. I was struggling with these, really need to build these up. Hang cleans, quick bar only warm-up, added five pounds at a time to 60 lbs, three work sets at 60 lbs. Those are damn fun to do! Finished with two sets of stiff-legged deads, 95 lbs and 15 more back extensions. It went okay, my right wrist is still stiff but no pain.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Finally back into training

Yesterday was the first day I ventured into the gym since getting the Plague. Its a good thing I took it easy as I am feeling muscle soreness today, that said, its better to feel sore after actually doing something rather then being ill. I warmed up on the ellipitcal for ten minutes and did 15 back extensions. When I started lifting I warmed up on the rowing machine but the elliptical works better for an all-around warm up I find. Then, onto the squat rack. My issues with form and adding weight to the bar prompted the decision to completely reset on squats. I did three sets/ ten reps or bar-only squats and, am feeling it in my quads today. Then onto bench where I gradually added weight to the bar to three work sets of 65 lbs. So, lighter then usual. I did two sets of bar presses on the upright bench while waiting for the rack to reopen up, then one set, five reps of 95 lb deads, one set five reps of 115. Finished it off with another set of back extensions and called it a day. Today my muscles are letting me know they did something, which I love. Next training session, Friday.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Napping may ease DOMS

Yesterday was squat, clean, press and straight-leg deadlift day, and today I am refreshingly not sore. One reason I took two rest days between training this week was due to the delayed onset muscle soreness experienced after deadlifting Monday. Normally, I would have said the hell with it just go lift, but I came across an article (will link when I find it) that said DOMS is related to rhabdo which scared me into waiting until fully recovered. In brief, rhabdo is a horrible result of dehydration and over-exercising which can be fatal. I didn't expect anything so extreme (one never does) but as I was coming off a week lay-off from lifting and there is relatively little information out there about 43 y/o women beginning to lift and the effects of that, decided to proceed with caution.
Squatted 65 lbs, nice form, cleans were at 55 lbs, presses 50 lbs, straight-leg deads 85 lbs. So either the same or a bit lower after the week off and I was so done after the session. Later that day I indulged in a good nap as well as sleeping in this morning and now feel good. The straight-legged deads really pushed my hamstrings to the point of concern but today is fine. I think the sleep made a positive difference.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Back from hiking

Chattanooga was great. The leaves were beautiful and it was refreshingly cool in the evenings. The trails were oddly unmarked which led to a more adventurous hike then the terrain normally would have, I'm spoiled by Western NY trails that even give mileage markers. Tami, my staunchly conservative sister and I, the arty right-brained one, managed to see the sights and wander around the woods without strangling each other in spite of a few tense moments. We went on a cavern tour which was surprisingly gorgeous, the guide was funny and the waterfall inside the mountain was breathtaking. I'm a sucker for a good waterfall. Rock City was strenuous enough for me to find it a good time, and bizarro at the end. How to even describe this? Inside a big cave, plastered with coral, some wealthy and evidently also insane German woman had hundreds of gnomes shipped over from Germany in the 30s and placed them in odd tableaus here and there. Then, as if that isn't odd enough, you get to Fairy-tale land. Not Disney fairy tales, Grimm.

It is claimed that kids are delighted by this. We didn't have any with us (thank God) but it was creepy as hell in my opinion.
Finished the first workout after vacation, it was not a session I looked forward to but I feel so good now. Squats are still a work in progress, 75 lbs and shaky legs. Bench press was ok, 70 lbs and felt good, deadlifts were the best, 2 warmup sets then a full five rep set of 135. I added two sets of back extensions and lat pulldowns at 90 lbs. I'm pretty beat right now. The plan is to continue training until the January ski trip, when I'll be gone for two weeks. I may be able to train at my cousin's gym during that time too.