Oh it won't deter me, just some mild disappointment but that will pass. I am going to work on eating a lot better over the weekend and really focusing on getting my water intake back to normal, I think I did just about everything wrong this week and I am not even sure why lol.
There is no pain in my thumb, just some minor loss of sensation/feeling in one small spot where the cut was deepest. The only thing that I will have to watch is the pulling of the skin, reopening it. From looking at it closer and removing the little lip of dried/dead skin it actually seems to be healed fairly well. If I feel it being pulled or anything while working out I will be sure to have a couple bandages/gauze in my gym bag to wrap it with and protect it.
I was over at my uncle's last night to work on my car and watch the Red Wings v. Stars playoff game and we were talking about cuts etc and he showed me 3 scars he has (1 on the right hand and 2 on the left) on his hands right along the meaty part of the palm between the thumb and the wrist from box cutters. It would seem that a lack of focus while wielding sharp instruments runs in my family, haha.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
3 - Side Bridge (60s each side) 1x30s, 1x20s, 1x10s on each side.
Total workout time: approx. 25mins.
overall a great workout, felt good to be back in the gym. Really excited for this phase because deadlifts are back, I love deadlifts, easily my favourite exercise. Was a little light on the rows so I will have to increase them next week, I hit all my reps on the RDLs but I am going to keep the weight the same for one more workout because my grip felt a little weak and I want to work on my form/flexibility before increasing the weight. Push Press felt good so I will increase the weight on those as well. My only real problem was the kneeling Lat Pulldown, the station I was on felt incredibly light even though the weight stack said I was doing 100lbs., I am going to have to try a different station next time or really crank the weight up on that specific one.
Surprised that there wasn't much change for as bad as the week went. I expected the weight gain and I have a good feeling that it is mostly water weight from all the carbs.
and because it is playing on my iPod right now and I feel like singing.
Sometime in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise we know that there's
Always tomorrow
Lean on me when you're not strong and
I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride if I have things
You need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
that you won't let show
Just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long till 'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load
if you just call me
Just call me when you need a friend
Just call me when you need a friend...
Bill Withers can make so much feeling and soul come through in his music, it is unreal.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
2A - Swiss Ball Hip Extension and Leg Curl 3x10@Bodyweight
2B - Dumbbell Bench Press 3x10@80lbs. (40 ea. hand)
3 - Swiss Ball Jackknife 2x10@Bodyweight
Total workout time: approx. 20mins.
Notes -
Lunges felt great, I always seem to have an easier time with regular lunges rather then static lunges.
Need to re-read the book about the scaption+shrugs to be sure I am doing them correctly but overall they felt good.
SHELCs - going to add a 25lb. plate to make them harder next time.
Bench Press - left arm got a little shakey on the final reps so I am going to keep the weight the same for the next week.
Jackknifes - have to re-read on these also but they felt good, I just need to work on my stability so I don't fall to either side.
Overall great workout. Hoped on the scale for shits and giggles and it seems like I have not only lost the junk/water weight gained last week but also a couple pounds more from the week before that.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
OW! Woke up today feeling like I had been run over by a truck. Everything aches, if the muscle was worked in the slightest way during that workout it is complaining today. Gonna need a long, hot shower and some major foam rolling today I think.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
Still feeling sore today a little, not enough to hamper the workouts but enough to take notice. I am really looking forward to tomorrow and Monday off to rest up.
3 - Side Bridge (60s each side) 1x40s, 1x20s on each side.
Total workout time: approx. 20mins.
Notes-
Everything felt good and strong today, form felt excellent on all exercises. The Row, Deadlift, and Push Press are all going to stay at their respective weights next week because I move up to 4 sets, however if it feels too easy after the first couple sets I may increase the weight for the last couple, it will be a game time decision as it were. On the push press my left arm started to weaken towards the end but I managed to finish the sets. The side bridges as all the other core stuff, suck big time. Hopefully I can keep dropping some weight to make them a bit easier haha.
I wish I could make greater gains in the weight lifted but I have to keep reminding myself that I am not on a strength or hypertrophy program so I can't expect massive gains in the weight lifted.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
Quick and dirty update today, Gym is closed for Victoria Day so I am going to be doing my workouts Tues. Thurs. Sat. this week.
But even if the gym is closed I can still do my weigh-in
(I finally bought a scale so I can get an accurate weight measurement from here on out, and not have to worry about weight of clothes/food while weighing at the gym)
Weight went up which was a little disappointing because I still have so much of it too lose, but it isn't all bad because I lost 1.75" total so I am still moving in the right direction. I have everything tracked and charted in a spreadsheet with a 3pt. Moving Average and everything is till trending downward which is all the confirmation I need that I am on the right track.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
2A - Swiss Ball Hip Extension and Leg Curl 3x10@25lbs. plate
2B - Dumbbell Bench Press 3x10@80lbs. (40 ea. hand)
3 - Swiss Ball Jackknife 1x6
Total workout time: approx. 25mins.
This workout was bad. It was just a real mess. I don't think I have been challenging myself enough on the lunges so I am going to jump up to 25 next time out. On top of that the scaptions were terrible but if I go down to 15lbs each hand they are too easy so I am just going to have to keep at it till they get easier. My gym had waxed the floors earlier so all the equipment was away so I had to wait until someone was available to fish out the mats and swiss ball so I could do the second half of the workout so their was a long pause in the resting and I eventually just went ahead and did the bench press in straight sets. The SHELCs felt good I am going to try the one leg version rather then try to balance a larger weight plate on my hips, but the jackknifes were no good. I just don't have the balance or something to get them done right so rather then risk injury I am going to change them to reverse crunches. I believe that should focus on the same muscle area and be a little easier to perform properly (and still be challenging enough for me at the current time)
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
3 - Side Bridge (60s each side) 1x30s, 1x30s on each side.
Total workout time: approx. 25mins.
Great workout today. Went much later then usual so I wasn't sure how my energy levels would be but everything felt good. I went in too the workout with the mentality that I was going to increase all my weights. I have decided that I have been too reserved with my weight increases so despite the notes from the previous A workout I upped most of the weight. For the RDLs I had to put the bar down and reset my grip during the last 2 sets, I didn't take a major rest, just enough to relax my forearms and get a better grip.
In the push press my left arm was still getting shakey during the lockout on the final reps of the last 2 sets so I am going to keep that weight where it is at until my left arm catches up to my right. Side bridges can just go to hell, that is all I think about those goddamn things.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
2A - Single Leg Swiss Ball Hip Extension and Leg Curl 1x10/10, 2x7/7, 1x6/6 @ Bodyweight
2B - Dumbbell Bench Press 3x10, 1x7 @90lbs. (45 ea. hand)
3 - Reverse Crunch 2x10 Bodyweight (knees bent)
Total workout time: approx. 30 mins.
A good workout today. I am really glad that I decided to push myself and up the weight on these last two workouts. Lunges felt good today, I think I am at a good weight to use, I am going to keep it the same next time because I had to pause a couple times in the last set to reset. Scaption+Shrug is still bothering me, I just don't like the feel of that exercise. The regular SHELCs were too easy so I tried single-leg version with bodyweight today and goddamn was it evil. Definitely gonna be a while before I could hit all reps on single leg. The only problem was it adds a substantial amount of time to the workout. Bench press will stay at 45s as well because was feeling a little shakey in the final reps. Reverse crunches were good, going to shoot for 15 reps next time out.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
A good workout today and turns out is the last 'A' workout of this phase. Everything felt really good except I am noticing that my grip seems to be a weak point and it is really starting to show. I am going to start adding plate pinches or holds into the ends of my workouts to improve my grip strength. On the push press my left arm was a lot stronger and only slightly faltered on reps 9 and 10 of the final set. 30s is ungodly short of a rest and by the end I was completely cooked and I wasn't able to do the side-bridges at all.
Also, yesterday was a weigh-in for me. Unfortunately it was another poor week. Only change up or down was chest down 0.5" everything else stayed the same from the week before. This weeks focus is going to be on tightening up the diet quite a bit as I find myself getting more and more lax as the weeks roll on. Hopefully by staying super strict this week I can get things jump-started again before the next phase of the workout starts.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
*note* I don't really care to get into the specifics of my absence so I am going to just continue on as normal*
After a slight break at the end of Phase II of the TNT plan I am ready to move on to the third and final phase. I have to say that I really enjoyed this workout and I am considering moving to the advanced program after.
TNT Workout Phase 3
Workout A
1 - Front Squat (4x6)
2A - Single Arm Dumbbell Row (4x6)
2B - Incline Dumbbell Bench Press (4x6)
3 - Chinup (or Negative chinup) (4x6)
Workout B
1 - Ipsilateral Back Lunge and Shoulder Press (3x12)
2A - Single Arm Dumbbell Row 4x6 @40lbs
2B - Incline Dumbbell Bench Press 4x6 @100lbs (50 ea. hand)
3 - Underhand-grip lat pulldown 4x6 @ 100lbs
Total workout time: approx. 25mins.
A great workout, and a big surprise to me. I went into the workout with the plan to keep all the weights as I would have had I not taken the break so that I could get a good benchmark on any loss of strength. What I found however was that not only was I able to hit all my reps but I can easily increase all my weights next workout. Everything felt good and solid in this workout and it is probably going to be my favourite of the pair. Had a little trouble getting the DBs into position for the press but I have found a good system to help with that. Also I changed the Chinups to the underhand-grip lat pull because I don't feel I am ready for chins just yet.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
OMG.... this workout killed me. Right from the get go I knew bad things were coming, those Ipsilateral Back Lunges destroyed me. That is what I get for underestimating them I suppose. Next time out I will keep my legs at 45 degrees for the leg lowering drill, and I really overestimated my abilities for the Incline trap raise. I started off picking up the 20's, knew that it wasn't going to work so tried 15's and eventually had to drop to 10's. The lowest Hex Dumbbell my gym has is 45lbs. and I am not quite ready to use that in the Pushup+Row so I am just dropping it down to straight pushups and as you can see I have quite a bit of work ahead of myself just to complete those. I plan to do as many as I can traditional, and then switch to knees down to finish my sets. I didn't even attempt the third set of the final superset, I was completely fried. I went home, made something to eat and then fell asleep almost instantly for about 1.5 hours. I am definitely going into workout B with a new respect next time.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
Didn't workout Friday because my car was at the garage so I made up for it today.
Workout #3 (2-A) 1 - Front Squat 4x6 @ 125lbs
2A - Single Arm Dumbbell Row 4x6/6 @45lbs
2B - Incline Dumbbell Bench Press 4x6 @100lbs (50 ea. hand)
3 - Underhand-grip lat pulldown 4x6 @ 110lbs
Total workout time: approx. 26mins.
Another great workout. This is my first time doing lower reps with higher weight and I love it. Squats have been feeling very solid and I will be able to increase the weight to 135 next time out. The rows and Bench Press also felt solid so they will be getting 5lbs added to them as well. The lat pulldown was a little shaky at the end of the final set so I am staying at that weight for one more workout. I am starting to wonder if I should stay with the underhand grip pulldowns or maybe change to the assisted pullup machine and do assisted chinups. My pulldown is only at 110lbs and that is a long way from my actual bodyweight so I am still hesitant to even do any real kind of chinup/pullup.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
I still hate them ipsilateral back lunges. This workout was much better then the first B workout. I actually managed to get through the whole thing and I will be able to up the weights on most exercises next time out.
I have more spare time now because our hours were cut back at work, I wish I could just go to the gym and put in several more hours to speed up this fat loss but alas I know that that isn't the way it works and that I must simply be patient.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb
Good for you, Sign. You're getting some great workouts in and you've also learned the secret of patient consistency. As Phaedrus says, there's no magic pill...
I swear I am going stir crazy from all this free time. I am nearly bouncing off the walls. I wish I had my bike hadn't been stolen so I could go out and ride when I get antsy like this.
__________________ Beginning is Easy - Continuing is Hard
猿も木から落ちる Even monkeys fall from trees
- Japanese Proverb