(Just Like) Starting Over

[Q.]

No, not as in John Lennon's love song. More along the lines of getting my body comp done today and finding out the bad news... 17%!!! I feel like I'm starting over.

I've had a few injuries lately that have kept me from working out like normal and I switched to swimming more for something to do but I know it won't burn fat very well. PLUS, I just sponsored a two day "retreat" with some (mostly) college age friends and we ate and drank beer into the wee hours. Had a great time but I knew I was going to suffer when the bad news came out today.

I was thinking of starting to train for the power lifting event of the Senior Olympics later in the summer because last year's winner numbers were not that great. Now, I think I'm going to try to balance lighter weight/higher rep weight training with running and swimming to work on the old "lookin' good nekkid" goal... not that it would MATTER!!! One of the students (he's actually a little older than the "traditional") and I are going to have a little contest over the summer. He's in pretty good shape but I was just wanting to see who could drop the most percentage-wise. I'm sure he'll beat me but it should be good motivation because he'll actually be working for me so I'll see him everyday.

I *PLAN* to keep you posted here... sometimes that falls off, too.

[Marykaa]

Hey! glad to read that you're back on track with definate goals and a plan! I SO know what you mean by "just like.. starting over".. for diet or for fitness I feel like that alot of the time.

I'll definately be watching this log.. to encourage you, but also for inspiration.

[Q.]

Just got my blood work back from my recent physical.

LDL = 138
HDL = 62
Ratio = 2.23

The HDL's always save me!

Triglycerides = 34... no problem
PSA = 0.9... no problem

[Lost Dog]

Hey, man. Look at the flip side: 83%! That's more than just passing!

Seriously, though. I feel for you. I feel the same way. Time to knuckle down. Only I don't have any injuries to load up on my side...

I'm with you in spirit! Maybe I need to find a youngster to motivate me and keep my butt kicked?

[hard_rox]

Haven't seen you around lately, Brad. Was beginning to wonder where you'd been. Nice to see you back at it. Good luck with the contest.

[Q.]

Thanks, guys & gals! I've been around but I was kind of wandering not knowing where I was heading with my fitness efforts. Part of it was the nagging little injuries, part was moving, part was lots to do at work and with my part time job (teaching) but a lot was just realizing that I needed to change things up but being undecided as to what to do about it. I was hanging out more in swimming sites. Oh, I also got a dog and he's hard-headed so I've been looking at dog training sites, too. Just lots going on. I don't think I'll ever be away from JP's for very long!

[Bill2380]

Any chance of basketball this summer?

[gobbla]

dude...you're a strong fit guy. 17% isn't that bad. Within two months you'll be under 15% easily. Lift heavy things.

[Q.]

Originally Posted by Bill2380

Any chance of basketball this summer?

I probably won't know until it happens. Like I said, I looked at the power lifting numbers of the winner last year and thought, "I could beat that!" He was all bench and no squat or deadlift. I still have time to train for this but I'd like to get better at the swimming, too, and compete so this is all up in the air right now. The dates this year are Sept 9-17. http://www.sgaustin.org/

[Q.]

I can't believe it!!! Every once in a while, I'll accidentally hit a couple of key strokes and close my browser and, of course, it's always at the end of long post but before I've sent it.... like just now.

Anyway, I was just saying that I tested the elbow with some 95 lb thrusters tonight and it felt ok although I sure feel like I've lost a lot. I'm still a bit anxious about aggravating it so I'm not pushing it even after about 8-10 weeks. Now that we've moved, I've got a great place to put up a chinning bar out of sight from the back of the house... so momma will be happy. I look forward to being able to do both of these at home. I built a lifting platform after we moved but I haven't been able to put it to much use.

Also, even though I'm sure I posted it elsewhere (somewhere... probably nutrition), I wanted to share cooking tip. It's called plank cooking and I was told that it's a Native American technique although I bet it probably universal even though I'd never heard of it or tried it before. I'm still grilling wild salmon for my weekday lunches (I can now buy cheaper at Wal-Mart!) so I've been using this technique for this. First, you got to soak the plank over night in water. Once you get the coals going, put the plank on the grill and wipe the top of the plank down with olive oil. Lay your fillet(s) on top of the plank and then I wipe the fish down with olive oil and season it before I cover it. I have put chopped garlic on top and it was great but I at least use Paul Phudhomme's Seafood Magic just because it tastes good and it's easy.

So, I take this with an apple, a baggie with a handful of mixed nuts, and a baggies of mixed raw veggies of diffierent colors usually celery, carrots and tomatoes and eat it throughout the day.

I've slacked off from oatmeal everyday to eating Fiber One. I do like to put berries and/or half a banana in with it and pour skim milk over the top.

Dinner is chicken or turkey with a veggie. I've been trying to break the diet soda habit with Lipton diet green tea. Even though I'd rather have just unsweetened, I choose convenience over having to make my own.

My wife wants to join the same gym I use so I may swim at lunch and w/o after work... two-a-days! Step one is up to her right now.

Gotta go!

[Q.]

Got back in the weight room today and it felt GREAT! I did a short warm-up and warm-down on the treadmill and did short sets just to try to start getting the feel back. All-in-all, about an hour. Still protecting the elbow a little so not much pushing but I did test it with some pushups. Pulling was fine so lots of chins and rows. Most everything else was legs.

I like this new ab exercise I've been doing. I lie on my back and hold my legs straight up in the air. I hold a medicine ball in my hands over my head and raise and lower it to touch my toes. It's a good isolation of the abs but doesn't put any stain on the back.

Swim day tomorrow.

[Q.]

3,000

[kuri]

That's 3,000 on the leg press right? Holy shit you beat Pat Robertson!

Let's see some Fran times!

[Q.]

Originally Posted by kuri

That's 3,000 on the leg press right? Holy shit you beat Pat Robertson!

Let's see some Fran times!

The elbow is feeling good now but the umph seems to have waned... but I'll be back soon!

[Q.]

Check it out:





The chinning bar is behind this "out building behind our house so the wife doesn't mind. The lifting platform is inside where my "study" is. That's Spot in the last pic... he's in training, too.

It's FRANTASTIC!

[Bill2380]

I love the chin-up bar. I use one of those combination dip/pull-up/push-up things in my basement. The grip is a little narrow for me and I have to place it so my head fits between the floor joists. I'm working on something to attatch to the garage wall. Let's hear some of those Texas pull-up numbers.

[Q.]

Originally Posted by Bill2380

Let's hear some of those Texas pull-up numbers.

Speaking of grip, the cross bar is 1" pipe. I even installed a 1" bar at work so, when I go a certain path, I can knock out a few quick ones. That size feels right to me although I thought about buying some pipe insullation to make it a bit thicker for variety.

As to numbers, I don't ever do very many at one time but I like the height of the bar. It's right at 8' to the top of the bar so I can fully extend on the way down to get complete ROM. It actually feels good but it also feels a little harded because I normally can't fully extend like that. My numbers have actually gone down but I think my form has gone way up because of this... at least it's where I want the form to be with full extention.

I'm pretty spent from some good racquetball earlier but I can still go knock out some chins during commercials of the Pistons/Heat game.

[Q.]

Monday
* Lunch time, swam 30 minutes. Worked on strokes per length. Down to about 13. Felt pretty strong.
* After work, went to the gym with my wife. 5 mins of HIIT at the beginning and end of weight lifting session. Worked on pulling motions and shoulders. Got some b-ball shooting in for fun.
* Walked dog for about 30 minutes.

Tuesday
* Lunch, swam 30 minutes. Took fins and did exclusively leg work. Swam one lap underwater, swam back on back. Felt great. Gotta get ready for the annual Cozumel trip!
* After work, 25 95lb thrusters, 25 chins; broke them into sets of 3-4 with no rest other than walking back and forth
* Walked dog about 40 minutes