Just squats

Monday began as a total stressfest, so instead of my happily planned day off I dealt with various bullcrap and had to put off the gym until late in the afternoon. Usual warm-up, 6 minutes Arc Trainer, squats 1 x 10 x air, 1 x 8 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 1 x 3 x 115, 1 x 3 x 125, 1 x 3 x 135, 3 x 3 x 140, the last one in each of the last two sets were wobbly, knees caving in a bit, some good-morning, 1 x 2 x 135 (my log here says, "WHAT?" "do over", 1 x 3 x 135, 2 x 5 x 115, nice and easy. Did yoga to stretch including a surprisingly easy backbend, this was the first time I can recall being relaxed in a backebnd position. I could have stayed there all day!

There was not enough food in the house but I didn't feel like going to the store, had a chicken thigh abd salad, 2 glasses of milk for dinner which is probably why I'm up at 11:30, stomach growling. Making coffee, mix in 2 scoops of protein shake and half and half. Grow muscles, grow!

Decent deadlifts today

Work was pretty slow, and the day was strange in general. Both one of the cats and the dog got sick, so cleaning up pet vomit was the name of the game today. I'm glad neither one was on my lap at the time. My sister came over and moped around until I told her I was going to the gym. On top of it all, my gym outfit of black trainer capris and white knee socks for dead lifts loked very weird. The session, however, was decent. While I am concentrating on deads I am maintaining on the other main lifts. Today squats were 1 x 10 x air, 1 x 8 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 1 x 3 x 115, 3 x 3 x 125. I've started praticing paused bench presses, sheesh- hard, but necessary in case I ever want to do a meet. Bench press was 1 x 8 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 3 x 85, 3 x 3 x 90, then I got a guy standing nearby with his friends to give me the "Press" command after a second, and got 1 x 5 x 90. So, good, all paused presses.

On to deadliest. My plan was to ramp up to 3 x 3 x 175. Instead i got 1 x 3 x 135, 1 x 3 x 145, 1 x 3 x 155, 1 x 3 x 175, 4 x 2 x 175. I couldn't seem to hold it together for the triples, and the bar kept sliding way diagonal across the floor, so I don't know if the floor is crooked or the bar was bent. It was awkward, but I feel like it was a decent session.

Also, a friend of mine is very excited about belonging to the Mom Ambassador site, where she gets samples of products and invites my sisters and myself over with the kids to try them out. I thought it would be fun to join too, and signed up last night. Well, after taking a long survey and giving a lot of information, the site still hasn't gotten back to me. I didn't even get some kind of verification email. Nothing. Pretty disappointing.

Squats weren't bad yesterday

I have confidence to go for 130 lbs after 5 x 3 x 125, not pretty but okay, then 3 x 5 x 115. I have to remember to keep perfect from being the enemy of good. So, worked up to those, then Romanian deads, 1 x 8 x 85, was easy, 3 x 8 x 95, yikes those are killers. Today, my truck did not start, so no AM cardio or yoga for me, just stress. I'm waiting for the shop to open now to see if I can get it over there. My mechanic has banker's hours, but I like him because he is the Toyota Whisperer. Even after a simple oil change it seems like my truck has new life. Hopefully, it will be running by tonight so I can get a chest and shoulders workout in, if not I'll have to deal with push-ups and dust off the dumbbells in the closet. Not the end of the world. I took the unexpected time out this morning to complete one of those store surveys on the Walmart reciept and enter a $25,000 sweepstakes. Who knows, maybe this was actually the beginning of a lucky day?

On a less bright note, last night I planned to work from 9 to 12 after getting home from the gym. However, I was wiped out and barely made to to 8pm awake. I hope the energy I'm supposed to get from exercise kicks in soon as this is getting expensive as far as money not earned goes. Always a work in progress.

Squats and snatches

That didn't go too badly. My squats are back to 125 lbs, which is where they were before the squat camp reset. I do feel my knees want to slide forward in order to get depth, and plan to get a video soon to see what is going on there. As overhead squats seem to demand a power snatch, I've been working on those. Getting under the bar is a little scary but I'll get there. Trained on coffee, cream and protein powder and was a burping fool for a while, but I had to get it done as I have a funeral to go to today and couldn't take my time. I am worn-out right now, and hungry. Where is my wife to feed me and clean the kitchen?

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.

Stop slacking! (note to self)

Slept alot today to try to avoid the cold I'm starting to get becoming worse. Went to yoga at 4pm, good hard class. Then lifts, squats 1 x 12 x air, 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 2 x 3 x 105, 1 x 3 x 115, 1 x 3 x 125, 3 x 2 x 130, 1 x 3 x 125, 1 x 2 x 125, 2 x 5 x 115. Bench presses were taken, including one sort of taken by a guy using it to lean on while doing dumbbell rows, ignoring the open benches in the dumbbell area. Dumbbell bench, 1 x 8 x 20, 1 x 8 x 25. Bench press 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 85, 2 x 3 x 90, 1 x 1 x 90, 1 x 3 x 85, feeling very unmotivated here. Had to force myself to do the Romanian deads. 4x8x95 and out. It's an hour and a half later and my legs are feeling it. Yoga tomorrow, olympic lifts and overhead squats Thursday.

Squats are coming back.

This is all about me, as it should be, but I must brag about a friend for a moment. Older even than me, and she had lost over 100 lbs which you may or may not know leaves one as weak as a kitten. She found Stronglifts (which I hate because he stole everything but whatever) and on Friday morning squatted 135 x4. Oh yeah- lets hear it for the old ladies!! So proud of her, and she does full deep squats too.

Okay, Friday morning I slept through the regular yoga guru's class and took a later one, expecting it to be easy. Wrong! Holy crap it was like she had ESP and was zeroing in on my tight hips and hamstrings from the Romanian deadlifts in the last training session. At first I couldn't even get comfortable in Child's Pose, after 40 mins or so of intense stuff I was loosened up and human again. Taking her class next week too. Sometimes, change is good.

Lifts at night. I warmed up with 1 x 12 hyperextensions, real slow. Squats, 1 x 10 x air, 1 x 10 x 45, 2 x 5 x 95- needed extra warm-ups today. 1 x 3 x 105, 2 x 3 x 115, 1 x 3 x 125, 2 x 2 x 130, 1 x 5 x 115. Clean and press 1 x 5 x 50, I put the little plates on instead of using the empty bar as I've dropped the bar on my foot a couple of times and that sucks. 1 x 3 x 60, 1 x 3 x 65, 1 x 2 x 70, failed the third, went to power cleans. 1 x 3 x 75, 1 x 2 x 80, that second one was ugly, 1 x 1 x 80, 1 x 1 x 75. Not every day is a good power clean day. Overhead squats, 2 x 5 x 45, 1 x 5 x 55, 1 x 3 x 65, 2 x 3 x 70, 2 x 4 x 70, 1 x 3 x 70 and done.

This morning I took the long yoga class and the instructor decided to help me by making everything harder, including coming over during Warrior pose and loudly saying, "Spread your legs!" which was pretty hilarious and unexpected in yoga.

I did it again.

Tweaked my back, this time on the right lower side. I can, however, look all the way to the left now, so at least only one part of me breaks at a time<- silver lining! Yesterday was a long boring day, so I wrapped up work early and went to 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 115, 1 x 3 x 125, 3 x 3 x 130 fine, felt good so added another set, 1 x 2 x 130 and this is where I crunched the back. Lost tightness at a crucial moment I guess. That was pretty early in the session so I moved on to bench presses even though getting down on the bench was uncomfortable. 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 85, 2 x 4 x 90, 4 x 3 x 90. Not too bad, esp considering the gimpiness of me at this time. My notes on the log say, "So pissed I could cry."

Then, my niece turned up all red from running and said she needed to do something to perk up her butt and boobs. Of course I showed her how to squat, she used the 35 lb bar. I decided to see how deadlifts went, 2 x 5 x 135, 1 x 3 x 135, back acted up again and ended that session for me. Also, after benching I went to the front desk and got two of those instant ice packs and stuck them in the waistband of my yoga pants. That helped a little. Hardcore is me, yes.

Finally lifted again

I hate going so long without doing so. Also, a discovery has been made: sex really does make me weak! It has to be amazing, but then the next day's lifts just suck. That's one myth that I now believe. Now that the excuse of the day has been registered, the lifts. Squats, 1 x 12 x air, 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 5 x 5 x 115. Sadly tough. Power cleans 1 x 5 x 45, 1 x 3 x 65, 1 x 3 x 75, 2 x 3 x 80- hoorible fail on the last one. 2 x 3 x 75, 1 x 2 x 75, got pissed and did 1 x 2 x 75 clean and press.

Front squats 1 x 5 x 45, 1 x 3 x 55, 1 x 3 x 60, 1 x 3 x 65, 1 x 3 x 70. Overhead squats 2 x 5 x 45, 1 x 3 x 55, 1 fail to even get the bar overhead at 65, then regrouped and did 5 x 3 x 65. Romanian deadlifts 5 x 5 x 95. Home for food and sleep, 6am yoga tomorrow.

More changes

I got to the gym late due to life interfering, started with 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, 3 x 5 x 125, lower back started complaining during the last two reps of the third set, I wanted to do 3 x 5 x 115, but my lower back felt like it was collasping so did 1 x 3 x 115. Bench press 1 x 10 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 85, 1 x 1 x 95, 1 x 1 x 100, 2 x 2 x 95, 1 x 3 x 95, 3 x 5 x 85. I had just over a half hour left of the gym being open, and decided to use the treadmill and move deadlifts to tomorrow rather then rush through them. So, I walked on the treadmill, 4.0-4.2 miles per hour, playing with the incline from 0 to 2 for 2 miles, and wrapped it up just as the gym closed. Clearly my lower back is limiting my progress in squats, so moving deads to a different session and making it a 'back day' hopefully will help. Tomorrow, yoga, deads, back accessory work, walking.

Tight left shoulder

I'm not sure what I did but my left shoulder and neck don't want to turn and twist like normal, which makes driving challenging amoung other things. I took yoga yesterday morning and today but so far its the same. I hope it feels better tonight so I can lift, today would be an Oly-style training day with a lot of overhead work. If I have to put it off it kind of screws up the weekend lifting schedule, but when it hurts to shrug thats probably a sign. Dammit.

Forgot to log this, well it is logged on Fitocracy so I could toggle between the sites or just wing it. My shoulder and upper back mobility were okay so I decided to go for an abbreviated lifting session. Warmed up w 12 air squats, 1 x 10 x 45 back squats, then 3 rounds of 3 x 8 x 45 front squats, 3 x 10 push-ups, 3 x 8 x 45 overhead presses. Power cleans 2 x 5 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, clean and press 1 x 1 x 75, 5 x 1 x 70, 1 x 5 x 65. Back to power cleans 5 x 3 x 75. Overhead squats 5 x 5 x 45. Walked on the treadmill for 2 miles, working slowly up to this repetitive cardio again to avoid shinsplints this time.

Tomorrow squats 3 x 5 x 125, just going to grind them out, haven't decided whether to rep bench press at 95 going for 3 x 5 x 95, or lift heavier at lower reps. I'll play that by ear depending on how it goes. Then deadlifts 2 x 3 x 165 as I had to single out at 175 last time and could tell my form wasn't good. Just need to be aggro and strong. Walk another two miles.

Time to wrap my mind around it.

Today was mental day. Started off with 1 x 12 x air squats, Burgener warm-up with the 35# bar, 1 x 5 x 35 overhead squats. Have I mentioned how tough overhead squats are? Olympic weightlifters are badass for thesalone. 1 x 12 x push-ups. Burgener warm-up with the 45# bar. The quick overhead press jerked my back a bit, so stopped doing those. 1 x 6 x 45 overhead squats.

Back squats, 1 x 8 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x 95, 1 x 3 x 115, 1 x 3 x 125, 5 x 2 x 135 getting used to the big plates. I know I can do this, it is a matter of convincing my mind that I got it. 1 x 3 x 135 yay!

Bench press, 1 x 8 x 45, 1 x 5 x 65, 1 x 5 x85, 5 x 2 x 95, 1 x 3 x 95. Only one set of three here as I didn't have a spotter, that last third one was a grind. Still pleased.

Power cleans, 1 x 5 x 45, 2 x 3 x 65, 2 x 3 x 75, hit the wall hard here, I just did not want to do another thing. This session was fasted, may have something to do with it, I don't know. Stopped cleaning, 1 x 10 x 45 overhead press, 1 x 8 x 45 bicep curl, 1 x 15 x back extensions, need to start doing these again. Went to the locker room and had 3 mini hershey bars.

Thoughts on today, training fasted works well at first, no tummy issues to distract me at first, but not so great for a long session. I haven't figured out an efficient way to work in power cleans along with heavy sessions yet. The 45 plates weren't as intimidating today, taking it day by day should be all right. I plan to squat with the 45's every session to get totally used to them until its just no big deal. The positive mental aspect of the squats and bench presses today made this a very worthwhile session.

Heavy Day

I'll start with Friday night, Body Combat class. That was it. Today, I took a quick Spin class and then lifted. Squats were, 1x10x air, 1x8x bar, 1x5x 65, 1x3x 85, 1x3x 105, 1x3x 115, 1x2x 125, 1x1x 130, 1x2x 130, 3x1x 135!!! 1x3x 115, 3x5x 95. Huge PR day, I was aiming for 135 by Halloween and thanks to the trainer there pushing me after I told him about the 130 made the goal a week early. That was so awesome I did a girly happy dance right there.

Bench press 1x8x bar, 1x5x 65, 2x2x 85, 1x3x 85, 3x5x 75. Deadlifts, 1x3x 135, 1x1x 145, 1x1x 155, 3x1x 160, form breakdown, 1x3x 135, back catting up even at the lower weight. Effing deadlifts. But so what, I squatted 135 lbs today!!

Changing my mind

I was going to do jump squats today (I usually alternate heavy and jump squats to relieve the grind of heavy squats every time) But today I am curious if the advice given me on staying strong during squats as well as not wimping out at the end will see me to a successful range of work sets. The new plan is squats at 3x5x105 lbs, overhead press 60 lbs 3x5, and power cleans 5x3x80. Recording them is probably a good idea too, I imagine the gym will be pretty empty today considering it is Father's Day. My dad's spirit would approve of a training session today in his honor.

Coffee is brewing. As skinny boys are encouraged to take advantage of the growth hormones found in a gallon of milk a day, so unskinny ladies of a certain age should be allowed the energizing effects of caffeine. Half an hour after that is consumed will be gym time. I am not sure if I will be able to get to the gym tomorrow as I am on niece watch duty until an unspecified time, but if making the 7pm Spin class is possible I will go.

Setting in my mind that my Dad was there helping the lifts helped along with Kyle's voice in my ear saying I could do it - I made every rep of every set. Awesome training session today.

Technical day

After a sweaty round of Zumba; sometimes I think I'm really getting it, then other times like tonight it is as if I'm taking the class for the first time. Hmmph. Maybe I need to stop stressing the steps so much and enjoy the music more. In the gym, three sets ten reps each of bar jump squats. That is a heart-rate raiser! 3x5x70 struggling bench presses, 3x5x55 overhead press. Then, 3x5x70 hang cleans, 1x4x70 in the middle there. After that I was as done as they come. At home I didn't feel like cooking, but there was a chicken breast left over from yesterday, so I took most of the meat off of that and put it in the bottom of a bowl, a couple of tablespoons of leftover refried beans on that. I poured in a can of tomato soup and a half can of water, and put a slice of cheddar chipotle cheese on top and heated the whole thing up. Can you say yummy? It was so freaking good and not too terrible as far as healthiness goes either.

Planning Friday's workout

It will be different from most Fridays as I have a friend coming over to catch up on things at the time I usually go, so I'll need to go to the gym earlier in the day. The interval treadmill running class is beckoning but I'm unsure of putting 100 lb squats right after that, so I may just warm up on the elliptical. The elliptical is boring but between that, back extensions (which I forgot to do on Weds with the excitement of being asked to demonstrate a correct squat and all) and bar squats should do the job. So, I'm going for four by four at 100 lbs, then deadlifts at 135 for five reps. Not five sets of one or anything else like that. I need to see that I can do this before raising weight again. That is it for Friday, I have a lot of social stuff planned for the weekend so may not get back in the gym until Monday night.

A better deadlift

First this, for one thing my dyslexia has been going through the roof, it is seriously easier for me to type the inverse of words so if you are reading the first draft of this I apologize. Also, woke up with a closed shut throat this morning. I am not even surprised, after the emotional and financial stress of the past two weeks it was inevitable that my body reacted somehow, first with bloat and now this. It wasn't so bad to keep me in bed all day and I went to the gym

Good warmup on the elliptical, 12 bodyweight back extensions, 3x8xsled hack squats. Starting Strength refuses to acknowledge the existence of this exercise as a good thing, but it feels like a good and decent barbell squat stand-in and really targets my glutes. I'm keeping it unless I read some compelling evidence that hack squats are physically bad. Dumbell bech press, 1x8x15, 1x5x20, 1x5x25, 2x5x30, 1x4x30, oh yeah.Bench worked up to 3x5x65. Back extensions 1x12x5lb plate. Deadlifts, 1x3x95, 1x3x115, 1x3x135! Got the big wheels back on it. Last set of back extensions 1x12x10 and I was done. Came home, had 2 Reeses peanut butter cups, refridgerated, the best way to have them, and a tuna sandwich. Then I tried to sleep through this cold but woke up with the damn thing still there.

Better then last night

Waking up with anxiety, my early alarm was going off. Since I had to get up anyway to turn it off, I decided to treat the anxiety as an energy surge and go to the 6am Spin class. Getting out of bed was relatively easy- back improvement! So the sorta workout last night turned out okay after all, and while showering after spinning I noticed some pec soreness, indicating the workout was not a total waste of time. Squatting should be fine tomorrow, staying at 80 for this session planning to go to 85 next week. Standing press 60 lbs. I wish my sister would get back to me about belaying class; maybe I can guilt the man into going with me due to the rough week but its kind of hard to imagine him scooting up a wall. We'll see.

Finally increased squat weight!

Decided to lift at my brother-in-law's house and finally broke through to 85lb squats after lots of build-up sets. They assured me that I was indeed using a 45 lb bar when the 20 lb increase had me surprised. Now I'm wondering if the fact that there is no mirror in front of their rack made a positive difference, maybe old man Rip does know what he is talking about! Next challenge is to do it again and more in my overly mirrored gym. Overhead presses 55 lbs but only three rep sets to fail, and Romanian deadlifts 95 lbs 4 sets, the last set was ouchy. Getting that done this morning means I'll have a good long break today and can take Pilates (what? my abs need the help ya'll) and then Spin later today. So, yeah good work-out day :-)