One of those days ....

giantfan43 · 11-30-2007, 11:49 AM

I just thought I would share this. Work is deadly slow these days so I have alot of time on my hands .......

I workout very early in the morning in my basement. I get up at 4:45, have a cup of cofee and head to my basement gym. Well, today was leg day and generally I'm pumped for it, but not today. I just didn't feel like getting up this morning. I dragged myself out of bed, turned the coffee on and fell asleep on the couch while waiting for it to brew. I woke up once it stopped brewing and after downing a cup of coffee, headed down. I stared out slow, but after the second set of super slow leg extensions, I was ready. After a few warm-up sets of squats, I loaded the bar with 245 and cranked out 2 solid sets of 20 reps. The second set was alot of rest / pause after rep 10 or 11, never racked but stood there for 4 or 5 good deep breaths. The rest of the workout, which consisted of more leg extensions, lunges, sissy squats, and Stiff legged dL's went good too.

Its funny how often this happens, but every once in awhile, when I think I'm gonna have a really crappy workout, I end up having a good one .. anyway, thnks for letting me share ....

djl_ottawa · 11-30-2007, 11:58 AM

I know the feeling. There are days I am so beat after work I just want to go home and lie down. But, I force myself to go to the gym. Starting out is slow, but once I get started I think "How the hell did I NOT want to come to the gym".

I think it's the high.

GreenWave1 · 11-30-2007, 12:22 PM

I've been there. I love how you turn off the brain and let the body do it's thing, and POW...great workout.

sytennison · 11-30-2007, 12:28 PM

Yeah, this happens to me a lot. Some days, half (three-quarters?) of the battle is just getting to the gym, but once I get there and get started, I'm fine and even end up surprising myself with a PR or two. Knowing this has helped me get to the gym even when my motivation is in the toilet.

Jimislash · 11-30-2007, 12:33 PM

Dang, 20 rep squats will ruin your day. Nice work.

If I can make it to my truck, I am good to go. Sometimes that is the longest walk.

Bob45 · 11-30-2007, 12:34 PM

Two sets of 20 with 245 is a great day Dom! I was wondering if something bad happened when I read one of those days. Glad it turned out good. I was into another crazy dream around 4:45am.

halfbaked · 11-30-2007, 12:42 PM

I agree with all of you. I force myself to go and once I get started i usually enjoy it. btw, i will be at the gym tonight and it will be dead as usual on Friday night. I used to think I was some kind of nerd and the rest of the folks had a life on Friday night. I realized that I was doing what I love and thats what mattered. My other hobby is Saltwater reef aquaruims, nerd grand central lol. Oh well

giantfan43 · 11-30-2007, 12:48 PM

Thanks folks .. I think bodyhard had a post yesterday about the mind and the body and how they work together. I think these cases you need one or the other to convince you to get ur lazy ass to the gym ! Today, it was my mind ... my body wanted to dream again !

As for the 20-rep squats, I'm a big believer in higher rep squats .. in the past, I've done 25 - 30 rep sets too .. now that's cardio ! More than occassionally (sp) though, my ego will get the best of me and I try for a low rep set just so I could move the heavier weights !

jcbrowns · 11-30-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halfbaked

I agree with all of you. I force myself to go and once I get started i usually enjoy it. btw, i will be at the gym tonight and it will be dead as usual on Friday night. I used to think I was some kind of nerd and the rest of the folks had a life on Friday night. I realized that I was doing what I love and thats what mattered. My other hobby is Saltwater reef aquaruims, nerd grand central lol. Oh well

Nothing wrong with tending an aquarium. I used to do it.
They can be a beautiful part of your home.
Everybody enjoys a nice aquarium.

I should do it again someday.

Bando · 11-30-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giantfan43

....every once in awhile, when I think I'm gonna have a really crappy workout, I end up having a good one ......

This is usually the case for me, Tuesday I woke up with a pain in my bicep and I didn't even do arms the day before, was a little scared to workout. After warming up I felt fine and went on to have a great workout and worked the pain out of my arm.

Seems like I've dragged myself to gym with dozens of excuses not to - to tired, to sore, to busy, headache etc. but once the blood flows and the muscles are pumped all is well in my world. The rest of the day is better also, thats like icing on the cake.

JOHN GARGANI · 11-30-2007, 11:38 PM

20 rep squats with that kind of weight is very significant: my hat goes off to you!!!

not easy to wake up early and do what you are talking about, don't be hard on yourself: you are doing it on coffee only, not really giving your blood sugar a chance to rise naturally from the first meal of the day.....

ServoScanMan · 12-01-2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giantfan43

... I loaded the bar with 245 and cranked out 2 solid sets of 20 reps. ....

Dam that's impressive! Dam that's impressive! oh, did I say that already.

Well,

DAM THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!

Whiskeyjack · 12-01-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djl_ottawa

I know the feeling. There are days I am so beat after work I just want to go home and lie down. But, I force myself to go to the gym. Starting out is slow, but once I get started I think "How the hell did I NOT want to come to the gym".

I think it's the high.

Yes, many times I just do not want to train but there's a little voice that says that if I do, I'll be glad. And I almost always am.

BergMuscle · 12-01-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Miller

I've been there. I love how you turn off the brain and let the body do it's thing, and POW...great workout.

This is exactly why I lift as soon as I get home from teaching almost every day. Not only does it get my focus off the intellectual and on the phyiscal (big time), but once I'm done, any work I brought home, and dreaded doing, seems super easy.

giantfan43 · 12-03-2007, 12:39 PM

Hey all - thanks for all the props. Makes one feel good about what we're doing.

I've been away from these boards for awhile but it has always been the best crowd on the web !

bodyhard · 12-03-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giantfan43

I just thought I would share this. Work is deadly slow these days so I have alot of time on my hands .......

I workout very early in the morning in my basement. I get up at 4:45, have a cup of cofee and head to my basement gym. Well, today was leg day and generally I'm pumped for it, but not today. I just didn't feel like getting up this morning. I dragged myself out of bed, turned the coffee on and fell asleep on the couch while waiting for it to brew. I woke up once it stopped brewing and after downing a cup of coffee, headed down. I stared out slow, but after the second set of super slow leg extensions, I was ready. After a few warm-up sets of squats, I loaded the bar with 245 and cranked out 2 solid sets of 20 reps. The second set was alot of rest / pause after rep 10 or 11, never racked but stood there for 4 or 5 good deep breaths. The rest of the workout, which consisted of more leg extensions, lunges, sissy squats, and Stiff legged dL's went good too.

Its funny how often this happens, but every once in awhile, when I think I'm gonna have a really crappy workout, I end up having a good one .. anyway, thnks for letting me share ....

Props for getting 2 sets of 20 with 245lbs!

Star_Rider · 12-03-2007, 02:23 PM

That's why I turned my apartment into a gym--don't have an excuse to not hit it when I'm supposed to!

(Plus: no waiting, I have everything ready to go from one exercise to another, I play the music I want, I'm not distracted by the babes, I'm not bothered by the idiots, etc., etc.)