Searching for a Flash light - JP Fitness Forums

Flashy · 01-20-2008, 08:54 AM

OK ... cheesy title taken care of ... people really do call me Flash, by the way, but that handle was taken ... doggone consarnit!

I'm new to the board but jumping in with both feet. First confession: it has been Wednesday since my last visit to the gym, but I did play hockey Thursday night and that takes a wicked toll on the legs. Plus, I have this beast that requires long walks in the park.

This is us at the Okotoks Erratic, backdropped by the majestic Rockies. His name is Shep.

I've been weight training for almost 10 years and tried to do as much reading about it as I can.

Last spring, I was almost to goal weight and doing really well on my strength gains. Alack and alas, I broke my hand (Bennett's joint fracture), requiring surgery and an extensive amount of time off.

I got back into the gym in late September and it was hard to rediscover the joy and focus I had prior to injury.

I'm starting to get there and the gains are starting to show again. I'm back up to a 190-lb, three-rep squat and the jeans are starting to fit a little looser.

I like to keep things fairly simple in the gym but my trainer likes to throw new stuff at me ... I'm his guinea pig and he works hard to keep me challenged.

I do this because I'm still living the dream. I'm in my mid-30s but I still play a lot of sports, even if they are at the recreational (but competitive!) level now. I still want to be the best skater, the best hitter I can be.

My motivation comes from the little steps along the way ... seeing my cheekbones again, having my cropped pants almost drop off my hips this morning.

Those are the vain ones.

I got a real sense of satisfaction last spring, though, when my bone density was tested during a fiber study at the local university. My T-score -- for which a healthy baseline is considered above minus-one, the normal scale for a healthy 18-year-old woman -- was plus-1.5.

My highest scores were on my leg and pelvic bones.

This was particularly satisfying as there is a risk of osteoporosis on my mother's side of the family. Despite living to the ripe old age of 95, my grandma started breaking bones around 82 or 83.

I don't want that concern in my life. So I lift and I play and I lift and I play ...

Oh yeah, I'm also one of those Type A personalities that people tend to just fall in love with ...

So, I figure if it wasn't for the gym, I'd be in jail for aggravated assault or something equally as stress-reducing.

Cynic · 01-20-2008, 09:58 AM

All good on the goals and what you've gained so far.

That dog looks huge, but friendly.

Victoria · 01-20-2008, 10:02 AM

Great intro, Flash! I love the pic, Shep looks extremely huggable! It will be fun to watch your progress!

When you say, "be the best hitter I can be," do you mean hitting in hockey?

Flashy · 01-20-2008, 10:27 AM

Naw ... I play in a 'no contact' league (but what the ref doesn't see sometimes won't hurt anyone).

Hitting is for softball.

Victoria · 01-20-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashy

Naw ... I play in a 'no contact' league (but what the ref doesn't see sometimes won't hurt anyone).

Hitting is for softball.

Or, maybe it will!

Flashy · 01-20-2008, 10:39 AM

For size reference, here are Shep and I at the Inkpots, after a hike through Johnston's Canyon. That's the Sawback Range in the background.

L'ilJ · 01-20-2008, 01:32 PM

Hey Flash...welcome to the forum! Is Shep a Great Pyreneese? Beautiful scenery out your way. Are you living out near Calgary?

Flashy · 01-20-2008, 04:54 PM

Shep is a maremma sheepdog, cousin to the Pyr. Nice eye, Jill. And yes, we're smack dab in Calgary ... love it here.

Flashy · 01-20-2008, 04:56 PM

Hit the gym this morning. Started with 10 minutes on the elliptical and then did a three-set circuit of:

Push press (12 reps, 55 lbs)
Assisted pullups (10 reps)
Inverted row (5 reps)
Weighted fitball crunches (20 reps)
One-minute hang

Flashy · 01-20-2008, 11:55 PM

Whoo hoo! A penalty-free game!

(Those don't happen very often.)

Alcoholiday · 01-21-2008, 12:07 AM

nice dog. We have 4 great Pyrenees dogs.

here's one of mine looking very fat:

Flashy · 01-21-2008, 12:37 AM

Oh my! He's a chunky monkey, isn't he?!?!? Lots of blond on him, too. I like the blond, although the Pyrs and maremmas that show are supposed to be pristine white. Sheppers has a couple of patches, especially on one of his ears, and I think it gives him character.

Shep got up to 130 lb. last spring but a friend who is a vet assistant took him in for tests and discovered he was thyrridic. Now that he's on his meds regularly -- and, sigh, for the rest of his life -- he's back down to a healthy 97 and full of life.

There was a maremma in Italy that lived to 22! I would love to keep my boo for that long.

LisaS · 01-21-2008, 01:05 PM

i was going to guess maremma (really, I was) - he's a beauty.

Flashy · 01-22-2008, 11:57 AM

Argh, I hate it when life gets in the way. I'm almost halfway through moving into a new apartment and it seriously takes away from my gym time. I might get there tomorrow night. Might.

Alcoholiday · 01-22-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashy

Oh my! He's a chunky monkey, isn't he?!?!? Lots of blond on him, too. I like the blond, although the Pyrs and maremmas that show are supposed to be pristine white. Sheppers has a couple of patches, especially on one of his ears, and I think it gives him character.

Shep got up to 130 lb. last spring but a friend who is a vet assistant took him in for tests and discovered he was thyrridic. Now that he's on his meds regularly -- and, sigh, for the rest of his life -- he's back down to a healthy 97 and full of life.

There was a maremma in Italy that lived to 22! I would love to keep my boo for that long.

yea, all of the dogs that we have have some sort of markings on them. Of the 6 that we've ever had, only 1 was almost all white, but still had a mark on her lower back.

I love my dogs.

Flashy · 01-27-2008, 02:22 PM

Weehoo ... finally got moved into the new place and got everything set up. Yesterday, played hockey and cracked my head (helmeted but still ...) head off the ice and had to take it easy.
Was feeling better today so headed for the gym ... and what a great day it was there. Something to do while we buckle under for a visit from severe winter conditions here.

Four cycles in the mode of Cosgrove's Afterburn to start

and then a three-set circuit of:

Single-arm dumbbell cleans (10 reps, 25 lb)
Seated flyes (10 reps, 55 lb)
Smith machine bent-over rows (10 reps, 75 lb)
Rope woodchoppers (15 reps, 30 lb)
Turkish Get-ups (2 reps, 15 lb)

Hurts so good.

Cynic · 01-27-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

nice dog. We have 4 great Pyrenees dogs.

here's one of mine looking very fat:

Ok pal, if your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise. You've heard that one, right? So get that dog out and about and start tossin' the stick, Mofo.

mel · 01-27-2008, 03:28 PM

Hi Flashy and welcome to the forum! I love your goals, especially the health one. I figure all this exercise is like money in the bank.

Your avi is so cool. I love hockey but really can't skate, lol.

mel

Cynic · 01-27-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashy

Smith machine bent-over rows (10 reps, 75 lb)

Why on the smith machine? You mentioned your hand recovering from surgery, but does a smith make that much difference?