Update

I am 45, going to be 46 in a couple of months, and my body is driving me crazy! Granted, I'm still getting used to tracking my food intake. Funny how such a minor change has me internally pouting and stamping my feet. I don't wanna! But, I know that the last time fat effectively peeled off of me was due to keeping track of what goes in my mouth. So there have been internal arguments without even getting to the part where I restrict calories yet! The main goal at the moment is to get enough protein grams and keep alcohol intake low enough that it doesn't look like a whole food-group on the pie chart of my foods.

Just in time for this, my female parts have decided to become completely unpredictable, climbing the walls with sexual desire one week, then a sudden deluge period for one- or two! fucking weeks, sometimes both happening at once. Cramps, bloating, headaches, you name it. This also tends to be when I catch sloppy colds too. See why I haven't been posting? Who wants to read a litany of complaints.

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Coping. I went online to make sure that expelling the Red Sea wasn't killing me, yes I am aware i could have gone to a doctor, waited all day in an uncomfortable office after filling out my life's story, then waited more while naked except for a paper gown on an even more uncomfortable examining table, but since I feel okay considering I decided to go online instead. Found out that it's called 'flooding' and it happens.

So I've been chowing down on fresh fruit and veggies, usually I make spinach juice in a blender and gulp it down for ease. I'm also making a point to eat more red meat for iron. When I feel too much like shit to do everything, yoga, cardio, lift weights, I choose lifting weights as my priority, yoga or just rest for rest days. This week has been a double-whammy week, cold and period. I've done squat day on Tuesday, bench-press and other upper-body lifts on Wednesday, and am going in to deadlift today. The hopeful goal is doubles at 185 lbs. Had rounded back pulls on this last time, so if it feels rounded on singles, singles it will be.

As far as the body recomp has gone, I don't have really high hopes for this week on the scale, however the upper-body day seems to be making a difference. My chest and shoulders look more defined, kind of more muscular yet slimmer at the same time. So that is good.

Back from the gym, pretty weak. One deadlift at 185, could barely get it up, 3 singles at 175, 3 x 3 x 155, 2 x 5 x 135 and out.

Modified Westside

A Fitocracy member linked to an interesting article about lifting and running, and the author, a super-built guy who also runs Ironmans, recomended using Westside programming. My lifts are so low that 55% for the dynamic effort days would be embarassing- sorry but I'm vain, so I already broke the rules. The first workout! I started with dynamic deadlift day, which is supposed to be 8 x 3 x 55% of your 1 rep max. Thinking my 1 rep max was 185 I did the math and came up with under 102 lbs. So I loaded it up with 135 and did the 8 x 3. I did not do any accessory work.

Tomorrow, Monday will be bench and squat day maxing up to singles. This is a normal heavy bench and squat day for me anyway, and will be the last heavy squat day for me before squat camp this weekend. On Saturday I took two yoga classes, the regular long one and the kids class right afterward. It was fun, definitely not relaxing but how relaxed do you need to be on a Saturday morning? I'm looking forward to taking it with my niece.

remind me why I have pets

My main cat has been acting sick for a couple of weeks, $200 later the vet says there is nothing wrong with him other then some dehydration. My little dog is infested with fleas in spite of being treated with Pet Armor, so I dosed him again and am waiting for Comfortis (another $100). I love the little buggers but damn!

My period started yesterday, nice and heavy along with vigorous nighttime cramps. No one alerted me to this as one of the things getting older would bring. I did not train last night. Today, the tentative schedule is yoga at 4, various warmups and deadlifts. I want to correctly and safely pull 185.

Tuesday's Bench press and squats

It's Resolutioner Season, so I waited until late to go to the gym. Even so, no squat rack available so i benched first. 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 8 x 65, 1 x 5 x 85, 1 x 5 x 90, 2 x 3 x 95 sorta pissed at this. Bench is so freaking hard to progress steadily on. But so are all of the lifts I guess. 1 x 2 x 95, 3 x 5 x 85. Squats 1 x 12 x air, 1 x 10 x 45, the gym still had a lot going on and I was wondering if I would be able to get my head in it. For example, right behind me a couple of gym-goers and an attendent had a long, lively discussion about Justin Bieber's music, which culminated in his song coming on Sirius, and them singing along to it. I dare anyone to get their fierce lifting face on while that is happening. Edited to add, except T-Bone, who apparently does this on a regular basis and is much stronger than me.

Resuming squats, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 1 x 5 x 105, put 115 on the bar, and made a conscious effort to squat as if SS coaches were watching and critiquing everything, 1 x 5 x 115, 3 x 3 x 125, 2 x 5 x 115. Tough, but okay. I focused on getting a good deep breath for each squat and driving it up, as well as trying not to let my knees slide forward. What do you know, it helped. The thing about good form is, it's hard to do but it makes the exercise easier if that makes sense.

Tonight will be focused on deadlifts. Warm-up 3 x 12 x hyperextensions alternated w 3 x 12 x push-ups. Power snatch with the bar, turn that into overhead squats, then deads.

Holy crap I am dead tired. Had to rush the workout to get to my nephew's birthday party, then when I got home needed to walk and take care of the pets. Tonight I alternated push-ups and hyper extensions, 3 x 12 of each. Power clean 2 x 5 x 45 to warm up shoulders more, power snatch 2 x 5 x 45. Overhead squat 2 x 5 x 45, 2 x 5 x 55, 1 x 4 x 65 and I felt ready to deadlift. Deads were 1 x 3 x 135, 1 x 3 x 145, 1 x 3 x 155, 1 x 1 x 165, 2 x 1 x 175, back felt rounded, another rep at 165, 2 x 3 x 155 and out.

First training since the vein shots

On the after-care sheet they give you, highlighted and bold at the bottom it says, "Your legs will look worse before they look better." Today was a worse day, I noticed while showering. I began with squats, 1 x 12 x air, 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 1 x 3 x 105, 1 x 3 x 115, 1 x 3 x 125, 1 x 3 x 135- YAY, 2 x 1 x 135, wussed out. Pissed, I took 10 pounds off, 3 x 3 x 125, 3 x 5 x 115. Moved on the bench press 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 3 x 85, 1 x 3 x 95, 2 x 2 x 100, couldn't find a spotter and the second rep of each of those sets was slow going up. 2 x 1 x 100, took 5 pounds off 1 x 2 x 95, 2 x 3 x 95- found a spotter and even went for a fourth on both of these sets cause i knew he would help with the failed reps. 3x 12 hyperextensions and then into the showers to inspect as closely as i could the back of my legs.

Cloud lifted

I have to wonder if its partly due to the weather cooling down and drying out a bit. Its going to warm up again (talking air-conditioner time yet again) but at least there is a little break. Had my leg veins pricked today, so lifted heavy in anticipation of having to take a few days off of the gym.

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 105, 1 x 3 x 115, 1 x 3 x 125, 2 x 2 x 135, back started talking to me on the second set so backed off the weight, 3 x 3 x 125. These were wonky until the third set when I finally got everything tight and aggro. 3 x 5 x 115. Bench press 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 85, had to look around for 10lb plates as two curl bros came over and stole mine, 1 x 3 x 95, 1 x 3 x 100- Whoot! Had a spotter and lift-off, these practically flew off. 1 x 1 x 100. Boo! Tried by myself and my head got in the way. Pouted for a while and went down to 95 again, 2 x 3 x 95. This may have been three sets, lost count. (Yes I lost count on the way to three!) 2 x 5 x 85.

Romanian deadlift 2 x 8 x 95, 2 x 8 x 100 ugh. Deadlift basically just to practice form 1 x 3 x 135, 1 x 5 x 135, also some sets of hyperextensions here and there.

Tomorrow I may take yoga, one of my nieces has to have surgery on her ear so if I can get in touch w her mom to find out when I'll go there instead. Friday evening supposed to meet friends out, may depend on if she is better from the flu earlier this week, then Saturday go to a memorial concert and art show for my friend who died a couple of weeks ago.