7611masari's log

[7611masari]

I think I overdid it a bit today.

I hadn't ridden a bike in five years before today, and I rode it back and forth to the BART (local subway line) station, which doesn't sound like much but it's about 2 miles each way.

So then I got home, and I left for the gym, which I joined because I can't use the high school weight room when no school's in session, like right now.

So this is the first time I've been to this gym, and I go in, and most of the rooms are newfangled machines and the like, stuff like Nautilus and treadmills and all. Since I have my 5x5s, I remember to pass all these rooms, and then I find the room with all the barbells and dip bars and stuff, and so I'm psyched because I'm just looking at the bars. And then I look up and see who's in there.

It helps if I explain that Alameda was a navy town, and a lot of the guys just settled down here when their service was up. And so, in the weightroom, I see huge guys with tattoos lifting a freaking lot of weight. So I'm pretty damn intimidated.

But then some nice crusty old guy with a battleship on his arm says, "Don't worry, women work out here too sometimes."

So I finally get around to my workout.

I think I used a 30lb barbell, but I'm not sure so I'm excluding it from the weight I lifted, which believe me was a lot less than anybody else was doing.

Squats: 20lbs, 5x5
Bench: Just the bar, 5x5
Deadlift: 10lbs, 5x5 (I couldn't remember whether I was supposed to do deadlifts or barbell rows today, and I remembered the technique for deadlifts better; I also forgot that it's supposed to be 1x5. Oops.)
Dips: 2 reps just me, which is waaay better than I expected.

And then I went swimming.

Oddly enough, I think the biking killed me the most. It's my inside thighs that are currently killing me.

Oh, and my goals: I hope to fit into my mom's old clothes from high school, which are pretty cool; I want to beat my chemistry teacher at arm wrestling; I want to lose some of my fat; and I want all my ex-boyfriends to be very sorry.

I really want it by the end of summer, but we shall see.

[Rugger]

I think I used a 30lb barbell, but I'm not sure so I'm excluding it from the weight I lifted, which believe me was a lot less than anybody else was doing.

Oddly enough, I think the biking killed me the most. It's my inside thighs that are currently killing me.

Always include the weight of the barbell, which is likely 45 lbs, unless your gym has girl barbells.

Your inner thighs are probably sore from squatting, which means you're doing it correctly, make sure to keep your knees out.

[oi_joe]

I think I used a 30lb barbell, but I'm not sure so I'm excluding it from the weight I lifted, which believe me was a lot less than anybody else was doing.

Squats: 20lbs, 5x5
Bench: Just the bar, 5x5
Deadlift: 10lbs, 5x5 (I couldn't remember whether I was supposed to do deadlifts or barbell rows today, and I remembered the technique for deadlifts better; I also forgot that it's supposed to be 1x5. Oops.)
Dips: 2 reps just me, which is waaay better than I expected.

Oh, and my goals: I hope to fit into my mom's old clothes from high school, which are pretty cool; I want to beat my chemistry teacher at arm wrestling; I want to lose some of my fat; and I want all my ex-boyfriends to be very sorry.

I really want it by the end of summer, but we shall see.

are you squatting more than your deadlifting? nice dips too.

am pretty sure you could probably beat your chemistry teacher already unless he's some kind of Indiana type.

[Eric]

I hadn't ridden a bike in five years before today, and I rode it back and forth to the BART (local subway line) station, which doesn't sound like much but it's about 2 miles each way.

In the future it might be best to do this kind of stuff after you lift...especially when you start going heavy with the squats. Rugger's probably right about the inner thigh soreness, especially if you're using a wide stance and going deep. Try doing the squat stretch to help out with some flexibility.

are you squatting more than your deadlifting? nice dips too.

am pretty sure you could probably beat your chemistry teacher already unless he's some kind of Indiana type.

Ooooh is that a crack at science people? Because I'm a science person. In fact, I love chemistry.

[Young Athlete]

Gym was intimidating first time I was there every kid was like 8-10 years older then me (21-23). I had some one benching 250lbs ask me to spot. You'll get used to it though and be surprised most people there are decently nice.

[7611masari]

So I have found out that I am WAY more hardcore than I thought I was, because the barbell is 50 lbs. Except that I suck balls at chin-ups/pull-ups. I can't do any. I think next time I'll ask the least intimidating guy to help me.

Today's stats (bar now included):
Squats: 72.5 lb, 5x5
Overhead press: 50 lb, 5x5
Barbell rows: 70 lb, 5x5
Chins/pulls: I tried a couple times, sometimes with resistance bands, but it just wasn't happening. Maybe next time I'll start with the damn things and hope I'll have more juice.

@oi_joe:
My chem teacher isn't exactly an Indiana type, but he's still weirdly badass. He weighs 145 lbs, but it's all muscle. He plays ice hockey and rides a motorcycle and blows shit up. Just look up "Mr. Joo" on youtube, you'll get the idea. And he did beat me at arm wrestling, really easily. Maybe one day I will defeat him, and it will be good.

@Eric:
Chemistry is a wonderful thing. I was super proud of myself when I got 670 on the SAT II for it. It does lend itself to skinny nerd-types, however.

PS I think when the guy said, "women work out here too", he meant, "maybe you'll see one chick working out in here once a week". I have been the only girl in the place both times I've gone now.

[oi_joe]

he meant of meant in the mirror.

good lifts. how are you working on the chin ups ?

[Eric]

Chemistry is a wonderful thing. I was super proud of myself when I got 670 on the SAT II for it. It does lend itself to skinny nerd-types, however.

Nice, I pulled an A in physical organic chemistry last semester. Later in the summer I'm getting the testosterone molecule tattooed on me.

[MysCat]

Which gym do you go to masari? I live in Oakland so I'm practically your neighbor. I'm the only woman in the weight room of my gym when I go, too. There are usually big burly guys in there when I go and it was intimidating at first but now it's become no big deal. I just strap on my iPod and focus on my lifts. I still get a lot of stares (especially when I deadlift) but most of the guys are really nice and if I need a spot, they are more than happy to help out. I think it doesn't matter than I can't lift as much as they can, but that I'm in there doing it anyway, trying to get stronger and I'm working hard at it. Good luck!

[7611masari]

My goodness, you are practically my neighbor. I go to Mariner Square, it's by the Webster tube…?

[ukdudeinuk]

The biking very likely contributed to your inner thigh soreness, but squats made it skyrocket.

This is especially true if you pedal with clips or toe straps and pull up on the backstroke...etc

[7611masari]

Right, so I actually did the right exercises yesterday:

Warmed up 5 minutes on rowing machine (I like that thing).
Squats: 75 lb, 5x5
Barbell Row: 70 lb, 5x5
Bench: 60 lb, 5x5
Dips: 2

I don't bike with straps or clips. Too many damn stoplights between my place and BART.

Today, I feel SUPER hungry. And my thighs aren't really feeling it much, now it's my shoulders and upper back. But I feel more like a monster, which I like

[Young Athlete]

I like the rowing machine also, nice barbell rows I never did find my groove doing them

[7611masari]

Last night's workout:

Squats, 75lbs 5x5
Deadlifts, 80lbs, 5x5
Overhead press, 50lbs, 5x5
Chinups: 2 of those jumping into position and lowering yourself things. But I ditched those fast because I had very, very little control lowering myself. I think I'll have to find some resistance bands or something.

Also, I've noticed on both the overhead press and the bench, my arms don't go up evenly. Lefty keeps lagging behind, and I'm wondering if I should be worried about that. And I think I'm doing something funky on the OP with my head, like I don't tip up my face I like bob my head backwards. If I had a video mechanism I'd film it and show you guys, but I don't. Oh well.

[Young Athlete]

Nice my overhead press stalled at 50lbs originally