Luna Sea's NROL4W training log

[Luna Sea]

Thanks, Peaches. I just don't want my old bones to crumble away to dust, or fall and break a hip, and never be able to get up again. I fear becoming feeble in my advanced age. This is what motivates me now.

I don't care what my body looks like, (to a point, I don't want to gain weight, either). I just want it to be able to work and move properly.

[Luna Sea]

My last workout of Stage 1 WhooHoo!

Deadlift: 19 reps with 95 lbs
my grip gave out before the rest of me
Wide Grip Lat Pulldown: 20 reps with 65 lbs
Shoulder Press: 15 reps with 10lb dumbbells
Lunges: 16 reps each leg with 10 lb dumbbells
Swiss ball crunches: 49 reps

I could have done more crunches, but my back started to take over for my tired abs, so I stopped. No sense in having a lot of reps if I'm doing the exercise wrong. To me, it's how many reps are done with correct form that count, otherwise the numbers reflect a half-assed understanding of the exercise in the first place. And I prefer a whole ass to half of one. After all, it's my best feature!

On to Stage 2!!

I will do a practice workout on Friday so I can get the feeling of doing the new exercises, and making sure my form is correct, before I count the session as a real workout.

[Juleske]

Grats on finishing stage 1! It can get a bit boring near the end
And showing some dedication on siding a practice session in, I always count that as session one

[Luna Sea]

Thanks, Juleske. I was ready to change things up today, and ease into Stage 2 by having a trial run of both A and B workouts. I need to get the "feel" of how my body moves through the exercise so I can get my form down before I count it as a "real" workout. I tried to complete at least the 2 sets of ten for each exercise, but I did them a light resistance and watched my form in the mirror, so I didn't really keep track of reps.

Front Squat Push Press: This is giving me trouble. I couldn't go ATG, because I started to lean too far forward, and the bar would roll off my front delts. I had no problems keeping my elbows high, and my wrists bent, and my fingers were only touching the bar until I approached parallel and started to lean forward. Then I had to catch the bar to hold it in place. I also whacked my chin on the first press. No blood or chipped teeth, just a scrape mark from the knurls on the bar. I got out of the squat rack, and practiced with a lighter, loaded barbell. This was better, and I can go ATG with good form. I guess I'm using different muscles for the front squat, because the movement felt a lot different than the back squat. So I'll start off with a loaded barbell and work my way up to the 45 pound long bar.

Step ups: 2 x 10 with 10 lb dumbbells
No problem here, just like Stage 1.

Dumbbell One point row: One I got my balance, this turned out to be a fun challenge. I used 5 lb dumbbells, and the outer parts of my glutes were burning afterwards. They were working hard to keep my back leg elevated parallel to the floor. I like this exercise.

Static lunge, rear foot elevated: I did 3 sets of 10 with light weight 5lb dumbbells, until I got my balance right and could distribute my weight properly as I descended so I wasn't sliding the step around by pushing with my back leg.

Push up: 1 x 10
Because I wanted to save some energy for the plank.

Plank: 1 x 60 sec, 1 x 30 sec.
One minute is a hella long time. Why does time stop when you're planking??

Cable Horizontal Wood chop: Did a lot of these, several different ways. I'm going to watch the video closely to see if I'm doing this right, because I discovered something here. If I twist my waist along with my arms, I'm able to swing more weight. If I keep my waist tight and try to keep it from twisting as much, I'm pulling more with my upper back (I feel it between my shoulder blades) and I need to lighten the load. It's almost like it targets different muscle groups, depending on how you do this exercise. I need to know which one is correct.

Have a good weekend.