Kathy's Training Log

[atypical1]

Ooooooooohhh, be careful on the back. I don't even lift with music anymore so that I can concentrate better. How's it feeling now?

Those are solid lifts indeed! My wife is the same way regarding her build. My son is going to have awesome legs thanks to her!

Yes, 90 seconds is really, really, really long when you're on your last few sets of jumping rope.

james

[rbtrout]

My wife is the best! She's sweet and nice.....now what she's doing with me, I don't know. Amazingly enough, in another 9 days, it will be our 22nd anniversary.

When I very first started out (at age of 13), I worked out with a guy from our church that was a bodybuilder. He was a good friend and I learned alot.
I was coached 7-8 years ago by a decent guy. His knowledge was pretty good and we remain friends to this day. I've gone through DC Training and PRRST via email. Then I started reading more on powerlifting and headed in that direction.

[Kathy]

My wife is the best! She's sweet and nice.....now what she's doing with me, I don't know. Amazingly enough, in another 9 days, it will be our 22nd anniversary.

Wow...Congrats!!! I've only got 13 yrs of wedded bliss under my belt. You're planning something nice for her, right ?

When I very first started out (at age of 13), I worked out with a guy from our church that was a bodybuilder. He was a good friend and I learned alot.
I was coached 7-8 years ago by a decent guy. His knowledge was pretty good and we remain friends to this day. I've gone through DC Training and PRRST via email. Then I started reading more on powerlifting and headed in that direction.

You do realize that every time you post something about training, I have to go to Google or Wikipedia to figure out what you are saying. You speak a whole different language...I have a lot to learn. But the lewd humour I get

[rbtrout]

I wanted to get her away for a 3-4 day weekend, but she's the primary care giver for her Dad, with help from her Mom. We couldn't get anything planned. We are going to a really nice restaurant, compliments of my family. They gave us a $100 gift certificate for a very expensive place. We're going there tomorrow evening. Our anniversary will be spent watching UFC 100 - her idea not mine (yeah, right).

[sgi4950]

I asked Mouse if we (the ladies) could start some other competitions amongst ourselves, somewhat similar to what the guys have going on. He said sure, come up with some ideas. I thought it might help to keep us motivated and moving on with some of our particular lifts in addition to the overall strongest competition. What are your thoughts? Would you be interested in jumping in the fray if we started something else? Any ideas of stuff we could do?

I'll send this same post to everyone already in the strongest competition but if you know of any other ladies that might be interested please ask them if they want to get in the mix too. The more the merrier!

I'm going to be away hiking for the next couple of weeks (yipee!) so if you're interested and you have some ideas please post them on my log over the next couple of weeks and then I'll put them together and send them on to Mouse for his thoughts when I get back.

For any of you guys who might come across this post, your ideas for us are welcome too.

Thanks!

[Kathy]

Fri, July 3, 2009

Box Squats
Lower back still not 100% so worked on light box squats.
45lbs 3x6
65lbs 1x5
95 1x5
115 2x5
125 5x5
115 1x5
95 1x5

BP
Hubby was in the gym with me today and this was the first time I've ever gotten a hand off for bench press. OMG does that make the lift SO much easier!!! Since I've never had a hand off I never realized how "loose" my shoulders and upper back become just getting the bar off the hooks (like Dave Tate says in his video).
45lbs 1x10
65 1x3
95 1x3
112 5x5,5,5,5,2 In between the 4th & 5th set, hubby felt the need to discuss my form and have me do 5 reps @ 45lbs for illustration purposes. He thought my set was done so it completely messed me up. Aarghhh!

BBR
45lbs 1x10
65lbs No way. Lower back in pain.

IR
BW 3x6 Had an aha! moment with these. Hubby noted that I was using shoulder and arms to lift myself, not much back. Loosened shoulders and focused on pinching shoulder blades together and it just made much more sense. Will have to give these another try with proper form.

Dips w/40lbs Assist 7,5,3
Superset w/ BW Back extension 3x12

Rev Crunch 3x12

Jump Rope 8 sets of 90 secs jump/30 sec rest. MUCH harder doing this right after a workout.

[pagangoddess]

Nice bench press Kathy. 112 lbs

my form and have me do 5 reps @ 45lbs for illustration purposes. He thought my set was done so it completely messed me up.

I've been guilty of doing the same thing to hubby.

[Kathy]

Nice bench press Kathy. 112 lbs

my form and have me do 5 reps @ 45lbs for illustration purposes. He thought my set was done so it completely messed me up.

I've been guilty of doing the same thing to hubby.

Thanks PG.

Don't do that to your hubby!!!

I wanted to smack mine...he was correcting my form DURING the lift. And, it's not like he knows what he is doing...I have read more books and watched more videos about form than I care to admit to. He is basing his understanding of form on his high school experience which was about, oh 24 year ago
Even though I told him to NOT touch the bar unless it was descending at the wrong time, he insisted on having his fingers there for psychological help. BAH - I don't want psychological help...I train by myself most days!!

Sorry for the rant, but I am still annoyed about the whole thing but didn't have the heart to correct him in a strong tone since we almost never train together. All done And what is it they say about those who DON'T want psychological help need it the most

Hope you had a great 4th!

[rbtrout]

The lift off really helps on the bench press. Part of the problems of working out alone. There's only a couple of guys I trust for a lift off/spot and they're frequently not around when I bench. Oh well. Good job on the bp.
Next time explain to your hubby what's going on. Discuss form before or after you're done......not in the middle of the sets. The two guys I have spot me on occassion, I inform them of what I want, then no problems.
Keep up the good work.

[pagangoddess]

Don't do that to your hubby!!!

It's been a while since I've done that. He put me in my place quite sometime ago. Now he actually asks me to watch his form.

Hope you had a great 4th!

I did. BTW your red eye is ready. Should clear up the hangover quite nicely.

[guru]

Hey Kathy,

Nice Bench numbers. You'd have got it 5x5, but no worries - you'll get it next time.

It's good that you can call 125 - 5x5 as light box squats.

[Barry06GT]

Fri, July 3, 2009

Hubby was in the gym with me today and this was the first time I've ever gotten a hand off for bench press. OMG does that make the lift SO much easier!!! Since I've never had a hand off I never realized how "loose" my shoulders and upper back become just getting the bar off the hooks (like Dave Tate says in his video).
45lbs 1x10
65 1x3
95 1x3
112 5x5,5,5,5,2 In between the 4th & 5th set, hubby felt the need to discuss my form and have me do 5 reps @ 45lbs for illustration purposes. He thought my set was done so it completely messed me up. Aarghhh!

This is so true! The hand off is key!

Mark Rippetoe in Starting Strength states that a hand off is very important! The first part of the bench press is a hard isometric move - unracking the weight - and you found this also.

Congratulations on the good workout, even with the help of your training partner (been there). But truthfully, I would not continue regular if I was working out alone. Hopefully you and your husband can workout more often, if only for safety reasons.

Hope you had a great 4th holiday!


.

[Kathy]

Congratulations on the good workout, even with the help of your training partner (been there). But truthfully, I would not continue regular if I was working out alone. Hopefully you and your husband can workout more often, if only for safety reasons.

Hope you had a great 4th holiday!
.

Thanks Barry.
You are right...I should probably ask someone to spot me w/bench press. There are no safety rails on the bench at my gym. Hubby and I won't be able to work out together too much due to our schedules and the babysitting schedule at the gym. That might be a good thing

I did have a nice 4th - hope you and your wife did too! New Providence had fireworks this year. They were cancelled last year due to the installation of a turf field at the high school and they were cancelled this year due to lack of funds. Investors Savings Bank decided to sponser them at the last minute!

[Barry06GT]

I did have a nice 4th - hope you and your wife did too! New Providence had fireworks this year. They were cancelled last year due to the installation of a turf field at the high school and they were cancelled this year due to lack of funds. Investors Savings Bank decided to sponser them at the last minute!

Ah, my childhood was spent every 4th, sitting on a blanket behind the high school with my parents, watching the fireworks. After we would cut through Our Lady of Peace and go over to Friendly's for ice cream.

.

[Kathy]

Mon, July 6,2009

Well, I tried. I was at the gym, warming up for squats. Short story short, ended up in the ER for my son who fell in "Babysitting" and cut his head. 2 staples. What fun

Was going to do jump rope in the afternoon. Short story short, end up at pediatricians office for other son who seems to have Bells Palsey (nothing serious, just weird). They tried 3 times to get a vein to draw some blood (to rule out Lyme disease as a cause) so needless to say, he was a screaming, pathetic mess.

Did have appointment w/the trainer although really wanted a margarita.

Sprinter lunges (lunge up 3 stairs, forward lean, push off w/bent glute only) up stairs w/10lb vest
Side bridges w/push up between sides, 10lb vest
Rear Delt Pull w/blue and red bands

Cable Rows on BOSU 38.5lbs
IR's w/10lbs heels on floor 6/6/5 Woohooo getting better at these now that I use my back instead of shoulders/arms. Their bar is a bit on the high side which helps, I'm sure.

Pikes on stability ball (attempted 1 legged pikes, no way-will work on though. Hate when I can't do something!)
Y/T/M back extensions on stability ball

Discussion re:squat form - her assessment is that my hammies are still tight and most importantly, my glutes are not activating. It makes sense to me...I think my hips compensate for my lack of glutes by "pulling" me out of the hole instead of my glutes pushing. It would explain why they are so achy.
She wanted me to give up the barbell for a few weeks to focus on glute activating movements but I balked. We compromised. I lower the weight in squats and deads and do 3x5 so I have enough time to do her assistance movements 3x a week.

Will give it a go tomorrow! Keep your fingers crossed that no one gets injured in babysitting