Tomcat's Scratch It Up Journal

Tomcat1066 · 08-05-2007, 06:52 PM

OK, everyone had some kick ass titles, and this is the best I could come up with on short notice. Cut me some slack, OK?

Seriously, I had one of these last time I was around and found it helped to get specifics on my workouts. I think it's a great time to do it again. First, a little overview. I work out with my wife, and currently we're both trying to get rid of a little fat...OK, a lot of fat. She asked to join into my workout, and honestly I'm loving it. I try to show off a bit for her, so I push myself harder. However, not so much I hurt myself. It's great.

Here's my current split:

Monday: Chest and triceps
Tuesday: Back and Biceps
Wednesday: Cardio
Thursday: Legs and Abs
Friday: Shoulders and Traps
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Rest

We're enjoying the workout so far and we've been getting results, though there's always room for improvement. I've become fascinated with nutrition lately, so I've been working very hard to keep us straight in that regard. So far, so good there.

Tomorrow, I'll post my Monday workout for the whole world to see. I'm not worried about the weights I lift, since heavy is relative...and they're heavy to me

dbx · 08-05-2007, 07:08 PM

Welcome to journaling, Tomcat. I wish you the best with your 07' goals.

BergMuscle · 08-05-2007, 07:28 PM

Welcome to the journals. And, yes, you are right - "heavy" is relative. Post your weights, reps, and sets. You are improving you, not competing with anyone else's lifts.

Tomcat1066 · 08-06-2007, 05:29 PM

OK, a good workout. Not great, but decent. Here's how it went.

DB Bench Press
40 x 10
40 x 10
40 x 10

Incline Pec Deck
60 x 10*
50 x 10
50 x 10

Bench Press
65 x 10
65 x 10
75 x 10

Triceps Push Down
65 x 10
75 x 10
75 x 10

Dip Machine
135 x 10
150 x 10
150 x 10

Arm Extension
45 x 10
45 x 10
45 x 10

Any exercise with a * means that the weight was to high, and reps were cheated, so weight was dropped on the next set. I opted for a couple of machines for isolation movements, but I try to use a fair amount of compound exercises mixed in. I figure they each have their place, but I won't rely on machines. If I had to pick one to use, it'll be free weights.

All in all, a solid workout. The DB Press weight was upped for this workout, and I'm pretty pleased. At the final point of my Body For Life Challenge last year, I finally could work with 50's for one set, but I'm closing in on that one now. The 40s were just right for now.

All in all, I'm pleased. I've had better workouts, but I've had many more worse ones. They're not all going to be great, now are they

Tom

2bbig · 08-06-2007, 09:39 PM

Hi Tom, welcome to the wonderful life of on line journaling. I found it to be very informative and a motivational tool to push myself. Good luck.
Larry

Tomcat1066 · 08-07-2007, 03:04 AM

Thanks. I've done this here before, and found that it really helped. People could look at what I do, and let me know of potential problems or whatnot. It's great

Tom

user464444132bbg · 08-07-2007, 04:02 AM

Hi Tom! Welcome to journaling.

muttytwist · 08-07-2007, 05:31 AM

Hay Tom, a solid workout and as long the weights go up, it's heavy enough.

Tomcat1066 · 08-07-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muttytwist

Hay Tom, a solid workout and as long the weights go up, it's heavy enough.

Thanks, and I agree. Heavy is relative. To me, most of the weights were heavy (first couple of sets of bench weren't, but my wife really can't spot me so I meant to go a little light to start with), but to Ronnie Coleman, they're nothing. However, it doesn't matter what anyone else lifts...this is about ME!

Such is life

Tom

Islandtroll · 08-07-2007, 02:13 PM

I like the title Tom

Got me to click didn't it

Tomcat1066 · 08-07-2007, 02:14 PM

This is true

Tomcat1066 · 08-07-2007, 04:40 PM

Oh joy, back and biceps. OK, I'm joking...I like these parts

I tried a few new exercises and didn't do as well as I usually do on a few regulars, but it's cool. Some days you eat the bear, some days, the bear eats you. Today, I was marinaded and roasted with water chestnuts and served with a nice brandy. Oh well. Thursday, that bear's ass is mine.

Close Grip Pulldowns
90 x 10
90 x 10
90 x 10

Seated Row Machine
75 x 10
75 x 10
75 x 10

Barbell Bent-over Row
65 x 10
65 x 10
65 x 10

Overhead Cross Cable curls
30 x 10
40 x 10
40 x 9

Preacher Curls
55 x 6
55 x 10
55 x 8

Standing EZ Curls
45 x 10
45 x 10
45 x 10

All in all though, I feel pretty decent about the workout. Got a good pump, which means nothing so far as I can tell...except it feels cool as hell. My arms feel huge, even though I know they're still a bit on the pathetic side...at least by my standards

So far, so good. I've got cardio tomorrow, and I'm thinking of doing some water sprints. It's over 100 here in south GA, so I figure the pool might be just the thing

muttytwist · 08-08-2007, 06:55 PM

good workout. Quick questoin, how did you pick the order of your exercises? No disrespect, but I've had good luck doing the heavy lifts first(Don't always get it right).

Tomcat1066 · 08-09-2007, 03:15 AM

A lot of times, I have to pick the order by what's available in the gym at the time

While there are plenty of benches and such usually, some days all the kiddies have them locked up to do their 4,396 sets of bench (and nothing else). I tend to like doing the heavier lifts first as well, but lately it hasn't worked out that way. However, my thinking is that, by doing the heavy lifts later, you've pre-exhausted the muscle somewhat so if you drop the weight a bit and lift then, you lift in that exercise will surprise you later on.

I haven't had a chance to test that one yet though

BTW to any and all...Yesterday was cardio day. Hit the treadmill for 30 minutes. I started nice and easy, then pushed up the elevation as far as I could handle it, just bringing it back down for the last five minutes. A pretty good cardio day (and I hate cardio)

Tom

muttytwist · 08-09-2007, 03:21 AM

Thanks for the info, I'm lucky with my weird hours, get the gym to myself alot. I hate the cardio, only do it twice a week.

Tomcat1066 · 08-09-2007, 04:09 AM

Same here, though in a few weeks I'll probably change up my routine and add another day of cardio. I'm trying to drop fat, so that should help with that

Tom

Tomcat1066 · 08-09-2007, 05:45 PM

OK, today was legs, and unfortunately, I was a bit rushed, but still felt pretty damn good about my workout all in all. Here it is in all it's glory:

Hack Squats

90+sled x 10
90+sled x 10
90+sled x 10

Leg Curl

165 x 10
165 x 10
165 x 10 * Personal Best

Leg Extension

90 x 10
90 x 10
90 x 10

Calf Raises

180 x 10
180 x 10
180 x 10

All in all, it was a short, but good workout. It was a first time doing Hack Squats, and I think I should have gone down farther on them. I'll have to take a look and see to be sure. Still, they killed my quads, and my hammies were feeling them a bit too.

I had hoped to do squats, but both squat racks appeared to be taken (but so did 2/3 of the equipment in the gym...and only two guys milling about in the free weight area at the time), so that didn't happen. What pisses me off is that only one of the racks was being used. Why can't people put back their freaking plates????

Tom

muttytwist · 08-10-2007, 07:37 AM

Good leg day Tom. You have to hate it when the equiptment you need is being used.

Tomcat1066 · 08-10-2007, 12:35 PM

What really sucks is that I don't think it was being used, but someone didn't put their stuff back. That really gets me, you know?

Islandtroll · 08-10-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomcat1066

What really sucks is that I don't think it was being used, but someone didn't put their stuff back. That really gets me, you know?

It like that everywhere you go, I guess they are waiting for their mother to come pick up after them

Still a soild workout, I bet you feel the hacks in the morning

Tomcat1066 · 08-10-2007, 02:50 PM

Oh yeah, I'm feeling them now...unfortunately, I'm also feeling a low grade fever, so today is rest day, and tomorrow is shoulders and abs, with Sunday now being cardio.

Part of the reason I did the split this way was to give me at least one day of rest should something not go right and a workout get bumped a day. Hopefully, I'll be good to go tomorrow.

Tom

2bbig · 08-10-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomcat1066

Oh yeah, I'm feeling them now...unfortunately, I'm also feeling a low grade fever, so today is rest day, and tomorrow is shoulders and abs, with Sunday now being cardio.

Part of the reason I did the split this way was to give me at least one day of rest should something not go right and a workout get bumped a day. Hopefully, I'll be good to go tomorrow.

Tom

Great too see your listening to your body in regards to your fever. You may find you will need a secound day off to help you grow for the simple fact that we grow at rest. Some solid workouts.
Larry

Tomcat1066 · 08-11-2007, 07:34 AM

Thanks. Luckily I feel better today and will be headed to the gym to hit shoulders in about an hour or so. Got to cook a little lunch first though

My abs and shoulders are going to LOVE today

Tomcat1066 · 08-12-2007, 04:21 AM

Unfortunately, the workout didn't get made due to a sick 6 year old. That threw everything out of whack. However, my wife and I agreed to buy a weight set for the house in case something like this ever happened again. We might not be able to do a lot of the cool stuff they have at the gym, but we'd be able to make our workout, and that's the important thing.

I feel horrible too, like I let myself down yesterday. However, I have to accept it as something that happened, remember this feeling, and do everything I can to not let it happen again!

muttytwist · 08-12-2007, 06:11 AM

Tom, a sick day here and there doesn't kill your progress, just slows it up a little. REmember it's a marathon not a sprint.

Tomcat1066 · 08-13-2007, 05:32 PM

Alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllrighty then! Today was chest and triceps, and boy did they get their money's worth!

Bench Press
65 x 10
75 x 10
75 x 10

Hammer Strength Iso Wide Chest (That's what I could find on it)
90+ x 10
90+ x 10
90+ x 10

Incline Chest Press Machine
50 x 10
50 x 10
50 x 10

Triceps Rope Pushdown
65 x 10
65 x 10
65 x 10

Dip Machine
135 x 10
135 x 10
135 x 10

Seated Triceps Press
25 x 10
35 x 10
35 x 10

All in all, I kicked my own ass today! I've been in a funk the last few days, and today's workout really pushed through that barrier in my mellon. It was great! The only exercise I probably could have done more weight on was the triceps press, but I wasn't sure if my muscle could have done it...at least not until I was done!

Great freakin' workout! You have no idea how much I needed one like this one.

Also, I started back to doing some cardio before lifting, since I'm trying to lose blubber, so hopefully that kick started stuff for the better. Once again, great workout!