lovestolift training log

[pagangoddess]

PG - I've not been very good these last couple of weeks. It's been tough to eat properly. I will try to get back on track this week, hopefully by Monday. I work very sporadic hours which makes it difficult to find time to eat and prepare food. I need to find a good way to get around the problem.

I understand. Mine has been pretty bad this last week also. I didn't realize how healthy we actually eat until we stayed with hubby's cousin and his family. Wow. The average american diet is atrocious. I'm glad to be back home.

[lovestolift]

Wow. The average american diet is atrocious.

I know how bad it is. I ate at a steakhouse in Texas a few years back. Under the steak section of the menu they had a list of sides you could add to your meal. It had the usual foodstuffs like a skewer of shrimp, a baked potato, french fries,....... a FULL RACK OF RIBS Who sits down to a 32 oz steak and needs a full rack of ribs to feel full?

[pagangoddess]

Wow. The average american diet is atrocious.

I know how bad it is. I ate at a steakhouse in Texas a few years back. Under the steak section of the menu they had a list of sides you could add to your meal. It had the usual foodstuffs like a skewer of shrimp, a baked potato, french fries,....... a FULL RACK OF RIBS Who sits down to a 32 oz steak and needs a full rack of ribs to feel full?

No shit.

The average day of eating went something like this. Cereal and milk for breakfast, sandwiches and chips for lunch, burgers/hot dogs/pizza for dinner and then dessert. And that basic menu didn't include the amount of eating out they do. Burger king, Sonic, Subway, Little Ceasars, etc.

I knew the average american diet was bad but but I didn't reaize it was that bad.

[BenH]

I remember getting stuck under the bench once lifting weights on our home bench as a teenager. I dipped one side so the weights slid off and then it launched the bar into the wall. Dad was not pleased.

Good luck with your deadlifts, take care of that back. Hopefully you can build up enough muscle around the spine that it will hold everything in place.

[rbtrout]

:shock: Who sits down to a 32 oz steak and needs a full rack of ribs to feel full?

......and the problem is.......?

I'm can be the guy that makes restaurants that have the "All you can eat" nights cringe. There was a Sizzler in Anaheim that had (had) an all you can eat crab night. LOOK OUT! I put away about 7 pounds before they cut me off and never offered that again. I've been known to put away a steak (8 oz) and 150 or so shrimp, as well. Sunday brunches, lets just say that any time I go, they lose money on me.

[lovestolift]

BenH- I thought about that, but I live in an eighth floor apartment. I already worry that I'll make too much noise with the deads, I don't need to start dropping plates too.

rb- You are the exception. You can have as many steak and rib combos as you'd like. Seriously though, I'm all for big eating, but most of the patrons of that fine restaurant haven't seen the inside of a gym in twenty years. There's a difference between the guy that works out and is trying to get beastly, and a lazy pig. And that difference is what brings us all to StrongLifts, now isn't it?

I guess I should mention that I have switched back to a Mon/Wed/Fri schedule again. I didn't have the time to workout on the other days. I like to workout after I've gotten a meal or two into me and I couldn't do that on the other days. I'll just do cardio on those days (after breakfast, I don't do fasted-cardio). I should also post my weight, so here it is:

Weight: 231 lbs
Body Fat: 27.5%
Lean: 167.475 lbs
Fat: 63.525 lbs

So I've actually gained a little (muscle and fat), but that is too be expected since my diet has been, well, shit. I have had a trying couple of weeks with the food. I'll try my best to right that wrong. But I have more muscle so I can't fully complain.

04/13/2009
Monday-Workout A
Squat- 175/5,5,5
Bench Press- 160/2,2,2
Barbell Row- 155/5,5,5
Pushups- bw/12,10,9

I loved the squats. I was exploding out of the hole and rattling the plates like an animal. The bench was as I expected. I can see a deload coming soon. No big deal, I've made good progress with that lift. I was in fine form on the BBR's. More plate-rattling goodness. Once again I made up some of the bench work with the pushups. Good workout, very satisfying.

[BenH]

Heh, I was kind of wondering about lifting in an apartment building. Hopefully you'll never have to bail out on a heavy squat. Barbell might end up in the dining room of the guy downstairs.

rbtrout, those numbers you are putting up are ridiculous. Hope I can get there some day. I also used to terrorize buffets back in a day. Of course, my calories mostly ended up around the waist, and I'm still paying for it today.

[MrWalk]

Looking good, LTL! I've been off the site for a bit. Glad to see squats coming back up for you and happy to see you stalling on the bench.

I almost missed a rep @ 155lbs today. Had the wife come spot me for the last sets. Waiting to get stuck under the bar soon myself.

[dlewis7444]

BenH- I thought about that, but I live in an eighth floor apartment. I already worry that I'll make too much noise with the deads, I don't need to start dropping plates too.

Well, you never PLAN to drop them but... If you don't have safety bars, never, never, never put the stops on the bar when doing the bench press. That way, if you absolutely have to, you can drop the plates.

Better pissed off neighbors than dead weight lifter.

I bought a bench set off craigslist for $200 (I think it was) that has safety bars. I can touch my chest and the barbell is just a bit above the safeties. But if I get stuck, I slide the bar towards my neck and it rests on the safeties. Then I can slide out from under easy enough. Had to do it twice so far!

[MrWalk]

Uh-oh. Looks like you're pulling a MrWalk. Hope all is well.

[lovestolift]

Uh-oh. Looks like you're pulling a MrWalk. Hope all is well.

More like pulling an LTL, in other words falling into an existential black-hole. I spent the month fighting my own self-destructive nature. I've won for now. I'm sure it's a short lived victory. It always is, but it's tough to change the fibers of our being. I'm trying though.

Anyways....... I'm back. I finally got back under the bar for a proper workout. I have been doing a few sporadic half-assed workouts over the last month, but nothing to write about.

Nevertheless, I am back and I have a new goal: The Miami Marathon, January 31, 2010. Why? I don't know. But I am doing it. I guess I need a tangible goal to focus on. I plan on dropping some fat, hopefully maintaining as much muscle as possible and becoming an adept runner at the same time. I have no illusions of actually placing in the Marathon, just finishing. I will be running four times a week, lifting three times as well as tossing in a couple of shadow-boxing sessions after lifting. I don't run on days I lift so I will be working out every day. I'll see how it goes and make adjustments to the schedule as needed.

I am currently eating 3300 k/cal, Precision Nutrition style. I weigh in at 228 or so. I'd like to drop to 185-195 by the Marathon.

Here's today's workout:

05/26/2009
Tuesday-Workout A
Squat- 120/5,5,5
Bench Press- 120/5,5,5
Barbell Row- 120/5,5,5
Pushups- bw/10,5,6
Unanchored Situps-bw/8,8
Shadow-Box- 10 minutes

I deloaded all the lifts to 120 to ease back into it. Well that's it for today.

[pagangoddess]

Uh-oh. Looks like you're pulling a MrWalk. Hope all is well.

More like pulling an LTL, in other words falling into an existential black-hole. I spent the month fighting my own self-destructive nature. I've won for now. I'm sure it's a short lived victory. It always is, but it's tough to change the fibers of our being. I'm trying though.

I hope all is going well and victory won't be as short lived as you think. We all have our demons and I'm sure you're strong enough to fight yours also. And if not you'll have all the support you need right here.

Nevertheless, I am back and I have a new goal: The Miami Marathon,

Did you move as planned?

Good luck with the Marathon. You are a brave soul. I hate running long distances.

[MrWalk]

Hey, it lives! Don't sweat the meander; life is a journey not a destination. <wince>

Glad you're back at it. Smart to set a goal. Powerful juju in a tangible goal.

[lovestolift]

@pagangoddess- No, I didn't move yet. That looks to be at least two years away, if it happens at all. I need the planets to align for that to happen, and at this point it doesn't look like I have the power to do that. Maybe if I pray hard enough........

@MrWalk- I'm glad you winced while dispensing that little platitude, true though it may be. I agree that having a goal is the way to go for me.

05/28/2009
Thursday-Workout B
Squat- warmup only
Press- 70/5,5,5
Deadlift- 170/5
Negative Chinup- bw/5,5,5
Unanchored Russian Twist-bw/8,8 (each side)
Shadow-Box- 10 minutes

My left adductor was killing me during the squat warmup, so I decided not to do the work weight. I felt like an injury was imminent if I tried to lift more than 100 lbs. Running is killing my legs, it's going to be tough training for this marathon. I guess I just need to get used to the training volume. Everything else was okay.

[pagangoddess]

@pagangoddess- No, I didn't move yet. That looks to be at least two years away, if it happens at all. I need the planets to align for that to happen, and at this point it doesn't look like I have the power to do that. Maybe if I pray hard enough........

Let me know how that works out for you.


I have a hard time long distance running also. Sprints don't seem to bother me but everytime I have tried running I end up with hip pain.