Never-ending Quest to be Leaner, Stronger and Faster. - Page 8 - JP Fitness Forums

MissDee · 12-03-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GG300

The sausage I raced to the finish was the Hot Dog and I had passed the other sausages earlier in the race.

I'm catching up on your log. OK, the above quote is the funniest thing that I have read on JP Fitness Forums to date. Thanks for the laugh.

In my first race, I pushed it to pass one last guy. When I checked the pictures and standings later, I realized that he was a 61 year old race walker. But I beat him!

MissDee · 12-03-2006, 01:07 PM

OK, caught up. I love reading your race logs. I'm also considering putting the watch away for the winter. It's hard enough worrying about footing without worrying about speed. This is my first winter running, as well.

Anyway, nice progress

GG300 · 12-03-2006, 02:03 PM

Nice to hear from you MissDee. The Sausage race was pretty funny after we thought about it. It was not too fun when we ran though. The temperature had people passing out during the run and if I remember correctly there was a lady that almost vommited on the guy taking off her timing chip.Good luck with your winter workouts and your venture into NROL. It is a big favorite of a lot of the folks on this forum.

MissDee · 12-03-2006, 02:14 PM

I had a race the same day, so I can relate. Mine was hot, humid, and hilly. My family was watching people pass out near the finish while they waited (and waited, and waited) for me, and were pretty worried by the time I made it across

GG300 · 12-03-2006, 02:27 PM

Sunday December 3 6:30 AM Today I get to start my Second round with my EDT Training. This time around I will be using a program from the book to see if Staleys pairings differ from the ones I set up for my first attempt using his pairings for PR zones but not his program. Started with a short 5 minute WU on the eliptical.

PR Zones are 15 minutes each with 2 minutes rest between

1st PR Zone

Assisted Chins WG @ 65# 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5. Total of 55 Lifts
Military Press @ 75# 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5. Total of 55 Lift*

2nd PR Zone

Drag Curl @ 30# 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5. Total of 65 Lifts
Standing Lateral Raise@ 15# 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5. Total of 65 Lifts

3rd PR Zone

Tricep Pushdowns @120# 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5. Total of 65 Lifts**
Barbell Shrug @185# 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5. Total of 65 Lifts

*Started with a lighter weight than last session so I can lower weight to my collar bone.
** Added 5# to the stack after the first 15 reps as it seemed a little light.

It felt great to start doing some volume again. This program was tougher than I anticipated but not as difficult as the pairings I was using during the 1st run. I will work with these for a couple of weeks and see how it pans out becfore I make any changes. The drag curls are alot tougher than expected. They are a curl using a reverse grip and instead of locking your elbows at your side you let them drift back to keep the bar as close to your body as possible. They are supposed to focus more on the outside of your arm. They seemed to focus on something other than what I normally do because 30# hurt much more than I expected. The last 2 Zones went back and forth very quickly as I was able to set the lifts up with virtually no travel space between the lifts.

GG300 · 12-05-2006, 11:49 AM

Tuesday December 5 Trainer Day 9:15 AM I started with a 15 minute wu on the eliptical and then my session.

Straight Set with 1 minute rest between

BB Bench Press 24@135# 8@185# 3@215#* 1@245#* 3@195#
BB Seated Military Press 12@90# 12@90# 12@90#

Super Sets with 2 minutes rest between

Close Grip Bench Press 12@115# 10@115# 10@115#
Close Grip Push ups on Handles 3@BW 3@BW 3@BW**

Incline Cable curls with EZ Bar 12@50# 12@50# 12@50#
Standing DB Fly Curls 12@20# 12@20# 12@20#

Straight Set with 1 minute rest between

Pec Deck 12@156# 12@161# 12@166#

* Some assistance from trainer
** sets to failure

My Trainer was able to bump my session up a day so that I could lift on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday this week as I am heading up North to visit family and friends Thursday after I lift. That way I only have to run when I am there instead of trying to lift in the dungeon they have for a gym in Antigo. Between the push ups and the military presses he had my shoulders so sore I thought I was having a heart attack and then I rememberd that my ex wife told me I had no heart. Scrapped yesterdays run because I had too many other things going on and frankly I just did not want to. I will get back at it Wednesday.

ParanoidAndroid · 12-05-2006, 03:26 PM

nice benching. You ever consider doing less reps w. 135? I bet you could hit 245 unassisted if you had a easier warmup.

GG300 · 12-06-2006, 07:41 AM

Wednesday December 6 3:45 AM 35 Degrees 3 mile run The temperature was much better than the last few days and no snow. I started out running on the sidewalks but after 2 slips and several snow bank jumps decided that I would take my chances with the few cars that are on the road. Finished in a respectable (for me) time of 37:40 considering the surface conditions. I had alot running through my pea brain this morning. Mostly comical thoughts of "Is this whole fitness thing better or worse for me" compared to 9 years ago before I started this trek.

December 6, 1997 I weighed 285# (down 16# since my 1 week hospital stay) I was wearing size 44 pants that had the typical Wisconsin gut hanging over them. I had a full time job, owned a bar, took care of my Mother and My wife was cheating on me.

December 6, 2006 I weigh 195# my waist is a 35". I have my full time job, My Mom to take care of (Thankfully) and a Girlfriend who genuinely is in Lo--, Lo--, Lo__(you know that L word) with me.

I would wake every morning at 5:30 AM after getting 4 or 5 hours of crappy sleep, gobble down leftover pizza or whatever leftovers I had from the previous night, shower and head into work. Stop at the local Bagel shop for coffee and a nosh then proceed to work. Walk the 100 yards into the building and rest at my desk for the next few hours.

Wake every morning at 3 Am eat some cereal and cottage cheese, perform some stretches and either go for a run or head to the gym for a workout. Shower after exercise and head to the local bagel shop for coffee and a nosh (Can't change everything). Walk the 100 yards into work, check e mails, enter log and go for a walk to check the building. Between the leftover pizza and the morning runs this one is a draw

Leave work head to my bar to fix the problems of the day, have a few beers with patrons, head to another bar to have a few beers with friends, go find food for the night (and morning) pass out in comfy chair at home.

Leave work head to the grocery store or by Mom's house to help with whatever the day presented and have tea. Head home to make some healthy dinner relax and go to bed by 8:00 PM.

Repeat

Repeat

What triggered this comical (at least to me) retrospective is the fact that when I left work last night at 8 PM I really wanted to stop for a cocktail and relax. As I was walking out to my car trying to figure out where I wanted to stop I realized that I was not a regular at any bars anymore. Just a few short years ago I would have been welcomed at 5 or 6 bars with greetings similar to what Norm recieved on "Cheers". Now I would only know a handful of bartenders and most of them by face only. This coupled with running in the slush and snow this morning just had me looking at my life with "Holy Shit what has happened to the Gregg I used to know" thoughts. OK I would believe the whole eating healthy part but lifting 3 times a week and RUNNING, I was never good at spelling but I was sure that was a four letter word in my vocabulary.

The overwhelming answer was I am not sure what happened to him or how but I am sure glad it did, even the training runs in the slush.

julianne · 12-06-2006, 09:39 AM

I've really enjoyed reading your posts thus far. Did you get the DVD??-Jules

GG300 · 12-06-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julianne

I've really enjoyed reading your posts thus far. Did you get the DVD??-Jules

Not yet, hopefully I will get it today.

BamaDave · 12-06-2006, 11:06 AM

Gregg, I didn't realize you had lost that much weight! Great job. That is a huge lifestyle change and turnaround you have succeeded in implementing.

You can bench 24 reps at 135?!?!?!

twinsavsvikingsfan · 12-06-2006, 02:52 PM

Gregg, I had no idea it was that much weight, either! Wow. I really enjoyed your comparison. It's funny how the mind will wander while running, isn't it?

GG300 · 12-08-2006, 07:07 AM

I often look back and laugh at my previous life. Sometimes I think what a waste but other times I realize the wealth of stories and friends that I recieved from my expierences and think it may have all been worth it. Plus since I have been living a healthier lifestyle I trult understand it's importance.

As far as the bench press goes Dave when I was doing 2 body parts a day instead of full body workouts my best was 31 @ 135# but to be honest I stop my lifts about 2 inches above my chest due to a tear in my rotator cuff.

GG300 · 12-08-2006, 07:25 AM

Thursday December 7 10 AM Slight hangover Scheduled EDT session. Started with the standard 15 Minute eliptical WU then to the lifting. After setting up my first lift and doing warm ups I realized that there was a better chance of me landing a date Holly Berry than there was of me finishing a full EDT session today. I setteled for a standard lifting session setting weight goals for my next time.

Straight sets with whatever time I needed in between

Decline BB Bench Press 8@135# 6@165# 6@170# 6@170# 3@185@ 12@135#

Close Grip Lat pull Downs 12#117.5# 6@137.5# 6@137.5# 6@137.5# 8@125#

Overhead Cable Curls 12@35# 12@45# 12@50#

Skullcrushers 12@60# 12@60# 21@60#

DB Step Ups alternating sides 10@25# 10@25# 10@25#

I hate hangovers but it was my day off and somehow I determined I needed a night out with friends. At least I had a good time. Today I will be heading up to Eagle River to party with 2 great friends of mine for 2 days. In between the Martini's and steaks I hope to squeeze in a run on the course that I will be running in May for my first half marathon attempt. 7 degrees with hills snow and a hangover I just can't wait.

twinsavsvikingsfan · 12-12-2006, 05:28 PM

Hangover workouts. Ugh.

I thought you raced this past weekend. Why did i think that? I think I want a drink.

GG300 · 12-12-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinsavsvikingsfan

Hangover workouts. Ugh.

I thought you raced this past weekend. Why did i think that? I think I want a drink.

Nope just went to Eagle River and ran a few times on the Half Course that I will hopefull be doing next spring. The second 13.1 is much easier than the first as it only has a few hills and the elevation profile shows it as a gradual down slope. My next and last race for the year is the Run for the New Year 5K. Free bottle of bubbly and free beer after the run which is at the exact same time as the Packer Game that day. Should give me plenty of time to recover for the evenings and the next days festivities. Go Badgers.

GG300 · 12-13-2006, 07:20 AM

Wednesday December 13 5 AM scheduled session with