Athena, Usually Having Felt Sorry for Herself

[DustinTheHuss]

4:30am! I'm a night owl so I couldn't even do 7am. Good for you!

Sounds like a tough work out!

[StinnerOzz]

They make a 430 in the morning now? Yikes!

What's a Spinlock press?

[Athena]

4:30am! I'm a night owl so I couldn't even do 7am. Good for you!

Sounds like a tough work out!

Well, I was awake at 3:15, and just laid around for a while going bonkers, so I decided to get up and make good use of my time. The dog was MOST DISPLEASED that I woke her up to go out at 4:00 a.m.!!

They make a 430 in the morning now? Yikes!

What's a Spinlock press?

Haha! Yeah, I'm a morning person, generally. This morning, not so much! Out for my workout around 6:45 a.m.


Double sets:
Squats: 20-10; 30-10, 10; 40-10, 10; 50-10; 40-10, 10
Standing long jumps: 12, 12, 12, 12, 12

** quite pleased that I got the set at 50# out without much effort, though I nearly fell backwards on rep #5. Yikes.

Double sets:
Floor deads w/powerbar (approx 55#): 40-10 x 4 sets
Side squat walks: 5, 6, 6, 6,

** Puked a bit on the third set of side squat walks. No joke. It was yucky. I was not giving myself a break during each double set -- the power bar went down and I went right into side squat walks. It was awwwwwful...but sooooo goooooood.

Will finish leg extensions/SLDLs later.

Cheers,
Athi

[Athena]

Workout 2/5: 30 minutes kickboxing. Didn't work up very much of a sweat because it was 30-some degrees in the barn, but I got 'er done.


This a.m. workout:

Pushups: 22 + 5 + 5, 15 + 5
...my ultimate goal is to do 50 pushups in a row. I'll get there...eventually.

Giant set:
SA rows: 30 - 10 x 4 sets
Bench dips (feet on storage bin): 8, 10, 10, 10 -->could barely get these out
Ext rot for RC: 3# - 10, 10, 12, 12

Giant set:
Face pulls: 45 - 12 x 3 sets
Front/side delts: 10# - 10, 9, 9 -->tough tough tough
Flat flyes: 16# - 10 x 3 sets
...by the second set of flyes I was begging to be put out of my misery

Pushups again: 12 -->nearly puked

TOTAL PUSHUPS: 64

Solid workout. Got it all done in under an hour. Pre-w/o was just Muscle Synergy and a few swigs of coffee, so quite pleased with the results (skipped the 14 pills I normally take).

Happy Sunday peeps,
Athi

[Athena]

Bunch of great, solid workouts lately.

Today's:

spinlock bench presses (as opposed to barbell...): 20-10; 26-10, 10; 30-8 (omg); 26-10, 10
giant set with:
kneeling lat pulls: 60-10; 70-8, 8+1, 8, 6+2; 60-12

incline spinlock presses: 22-10 x 4 sets
giant set with:
straight arm pressdowns: 35-10; 30-12 x 3 sets

supersets:
standing rear flyes: 12# - 10 x 4 sets
russian twists: 10# - 10 x 4 sets

Really pleased that I have been able to push my primary exercises out to five working sets. Upper body loves the volume.

[Athena]

just a quick check-in. on my third week of an 8-week 8x8 EMOM with an AMRAP exercise thrown in at the end. really pleased with it all, especially how my lower body is responding.

diet has been all over the place, unfortunately. trying to climb back up onto the wagon. been mixing my workouts up with kickboxing and some jogging.

okay, back to doing absolutely nothing of use.

[HomeGymChains]

So glad to hear you’re doing okay!!!

[Athena]

So glad to hear you’re doing okay!!!

oh, yeah -- i'm fine! hanging in there!

today's workout was more 8x8 EMOM

bench press: 30#-8 x 6 sets; 20#-8 x 2 sets <-- there was NO WAY i was going to be able to finish all eight sets at 30#
bench dips (don't have a dip station ): 8 x 8 sets <-- lots of whimpering going on here
push presses: 16#-8; 12# - 8 x 7 sets <-- the 12# was plenty for me. these were bordering on agony
pushups: i had nothing left. really. my log is in the other room, but it went something like this -- first # is full body, second # is modified from the knees
.....8+X, 8+X, 6+4 (lost my mind there), 5+3, 4+4, 3+5, 2+6, X+3 (failed on every level)

followed by AMRAP rear flyes: 10#spinlocks (not dumbbells) - 14

russian twists: 10#spinlocks - 16
leg raises off bench with heel presses - 16
side v-ups - 12 each side

lots of whimpering at this point...didn't puke today but came close as usual
had planned for a short jog around the property after all this but nope...no way, no how.



have a great evening, peeps!

[Athena]

Still more 8x8 EMOM this morning. Awake at 12:15 a.m. Tossed and turned until 2:00 a.m. Made some noise in the kitchen and the dog woke up, shook herself awake at 2:30 a.m. and asked, "What time is it?!" I told her to go back to sleep, but she was up again at 3:00 a.m., racing for the door. Outside to poop (her, not me), back in to bed (her, not me). I was finally out in the barn at 4:30 a.m. for my workout.

I've been without one of my supplements for a while...wasn't sure I really, truly needed them. It's the Anti-Fatigue Caps from Hammer Nutrition. They help strip ammonia from working muscles and they're awesome when I'm cycling, and just as awesome when I'm lifting weights. Got a new order in yesterday and took three before my workout. Wowza. Felt a-ma-zing.

squats: 30 for 8 x 8
*2 min rest, badly needed*
power lunges: BW for 8 x 8 <-- normally i can hardly survive these after squats
RDLs: power bar+20# for 8 x 8
goblet cyclist squats: 26#SL for 8 x 8

** no rest between those last three exercises, but rested for two full min's after cyclist squats, then...

8 min 15 sec easy jog around property with a few short stops to avoid puking

finished with 50 point/flex 90 degree scissor crosses (a very girly move that fries my abs and legs)

happy tuesday, peeps!

[GrouchyUSMC]

Solid workout, especially for being forced to wake up early.

Those anti fatigue caps have definitely stoked my interest. I might have to pitch them to the wife as they seem like a good investment considering we both do long endurance sessions regularly.

[Athena]

Solid workout, especially for being forced to wake up early.

Those anti fatigue caps have definitely stoked my interest. I might have to pitch them to the wife as they seem like a good investment considering we both do long endurance sessions regularly.

replied in your journal.

[Marius_Ursus]

I wonder if those anti-fatigue caps would work for someone with Fibromyalgia. What an interesting concept.

Did I read that right, 64 squats? :-O

[Athena]

I wonder if those anti-fatigue caps would work for someone with Fibromyalgia. What an interesting concept.

Did I read that right, 64 squats? :-O

Yup. 64 squats. 8 reps for 8 sets, every minute on the minute (EMOM). Trying it for 8 weeks, then switching up to a functional training program for 8 weeks. Keeping it interesting, and flexible since my schedule is up in the air right now.

Thursday was ranch work and tractor maintenance. Lots of climbing up and down on the big ol' John Deere 4044M, and crawling underneath, too. Followed by some mowing of very tall grass (kept the drive off so I pushed the mower the whole time), followed by digging up some wild, invasive bushes that were originally cultivated for along the dry creek bed. I have disliked those stupid bushes since we moved in nearly 8 years ago. The original ranch owners didn't like them either and gave me our entire section of yard to do with as I pleased -- I'm just now getting around to it. Dug those up and transplanted tiger lilies along the creek bed. The lilies were around one of the apple trees outside our door and they just didn't belong there. They'll be happier (all 2,000 of them -- okay, okay, there's only like 200 of them) along the creek bed.

Yesterday was a total rest day. I don't know that I've ever been a bigger vegetable than I was yesterday. It was awesome.

Today was back day, 8x8 EMOM with an AMRAP at the end.

Lat pulls on the Marcy multi-gym: setting #4 (weight??) - 8 x 4 sets; #5 - 8, 8, 7, 8
Face pulls on above: #2 - 8 x 4 sets; #3 - 5, 5; #2 - 8, 7, 8
Low rope rows on above: #3 - 8 x 5 sets; #4 - 8, 7, 8
BO UH grip power bar rows: 20# 8 x 8 <-- these were brutal

Going to have to move the face pulls over to our old plate-loaded hanging pulley set up. Can't get a weight between whatever setting #2 and setting #3 qualifies as on the Marcy. I've got much better weight options with our old gear.

AMRAP: SA pressdowns: 30# - 15 reps

followed by 7 minute jog around property.

First four weeks of an 8-week 8x8 EMOM down. I like the program and definitely see progress...but I think eight weeks will be enough for me. It will feel good to switch it up again in another month.

[HomeGymChains]

Nicely done!
Great job!

[HoosierHardGain]

Hey, Athi! Good work...nice to see you still hitting it hard.

[DustinTheHuss]

You're killing it!

[Athena]

Nicely done!
Great job!

Hey, Athi! Good work...nice to see you still hitting it hard.

You're killing it!

thanks, everyone!

~~ * ~~

monday, march 28: found myself just NOT wanting to workout. this hasn't happened in a long time. it's not just that i didn't want to work out, i was actually dreading it. after thinking through it, i realized that i was just sick and tired of the 8x8 EMOM. it's not to say i won't revisit it again, but i had hit my limit this past weekend. so i switched back to one of my faves and had to keep it lighter since i was still a bit sore from saturday's 8x8 EMOM.

monday:
double sets -
db bench presses: 20-10 x 5 sets
lat pulls: marcy#4-10 reps; #5-10 x 4 sets

double sets -
incline db bench: 20-8x4 sets
face pulls: 40-10x4 sets

felt good. tough workout, too.

tuesday:
ranch work. lots of moving 2x12 redwood planks, tons of walking, dragged a huge branch all the way down the creek to the burn pile along with a bunch of sticks and a heavy-a$$ piece of rusted out metal from something. we keep finding remnants of a structure out in the pasture...it is just slowing getting pushed up as the ground heaves. no horses or bulls to control the heaving anymore.

today's workout (wednesday): short but puke-inducing
harrow pull: approx 9:40 <-- yes, i turn the harrow over, but the last row still hooks so it's awful to pull across any grassy areas. weight = approx 150#. hook the d-clamp through a transfer belt (think: hospital gear) around my hips and struggle through the workout.
followed by 1 minute rest
followed by 4 minute run around the property with a 100-yard finishing sprint <-- really pleased with my performance here

[Mark1T]

So, this is Queen Atheenie Goddess's Kingdom, eh?

[Athena]

So, this is Queen Atheenie Goddess's Kingdom, eh?

LOL! Yup. This here is my kingdom. Normally, my loyal subjects bring gifts when they enter my presence. You know, stuff like sugar-free chocolate, workout supplements, shotgun ammo.

~~ * ~~

workout 4/1:

34 min bike ride -- downhill, then straight back uphill -- to buy eggs from our neighbor

burpees: 25 (had to stop...nearly puked)
harrow drag: 7 min (yup, nearly puked)
jog around property: 3 min
burpees: 10
jog: 3:20, longer route


today's workout:

two circuits:
...harrow drag: 6:15, 7
...jog: 2:20!!, 3:00 <-- that first route i went out incredibly fast, couldn't believe my time
...boat ropes: 30 sec, 1:00

sprint: 50 sec
ropes: 45 sec

facepulls: 40#-10, 10, 10
double set with
lat pulls: #4-12, 10!!, 10!!

I cannot express how much everything burned by the time I was done with this workout. I gave it absolutely everything I had. My glutes and hips were on fire through the last harrow drag and it was a struggle for me to get the last two double sets out -- my lats were not just fried, they were burnt to a crisp.

Feelin' quite proud about the workout.

Happy Sunday, peeps!
~Athi

[Athena]

well, apparently i am not recovered from sunday's workout. my delts and legs still hurt...and yet i believed i could work out.

today's attempt wasn't bad:

pushups (M=modified):
12+8
8
8!+5M
5!+6M!
12M!
total=64

nearly puked multiple times. the exclamation points mean i was screaming bloody murder to finish the rep.

my performance on pushups has slid because i haven't been doing them. i am back to being committed to them now.

tried lunges: 20#SL held by both hands at my chest - managed 8 reps, bagged the rest of the workout


edited because i'm bad at math during a workout

[Marius_Ursus]

You seem to have this thing about nearly puking.

Push ups are weird for me. No matter how strong I get, if I don't do them regularly, I just cant do many of them.

Good work on those push ups...and the harrow drags...?

[Athena]

You seem to have this thing about nearly puking.

yah, i usually push myself too hard. i've always wanted to be tougher than i am.

Push ups are weird for me. No matter how strong I get, if I don't do them regularly, I just cant do many of them.

i think that's true for all of us. certainly is for me. i need to get back to doing them regularly.

Good work on those push ups...and the harrow drags...?

thanks! the harrow drags basically consist of me flipping the harrow over and hooking a transfer belt through the d-clamp and around my hips. then i stagger forward and around and up and down over mostly gravel and dirt and some grass (yowza) and gasp for air for a few minutes. it's awesome.

yesterday's workout was a jog/hike/run -- the same route i used to do regularly. sort of flat for a while, then a steep uphill for about a mile, followed by a short distance of straight -- STRAIGHT -- uphill, followed by downhill for a looooong time, then flat for another quarter mile. haven't done this route in six months. shocked myself by hitting my time easily -- 48 minutes. kept hearing your words in my head, marius, and told myself not to push so hard i'd want to puke.

no workout yet today. may do squats and other fun lower body stuff.

happy thursday, peeps!