Klayfish & Mrs. Klayfish - lean, mean Mommy and Daddy machines

[Klayfish]

Feel like I've been away forever. Took the week off from lifting last week...probably long overdue. Good timing anyway, as I had to spend Sunday through Wednesday in Chicago on a business trip. I hate leaving the kids, but the rest and relaxation of the hotel was nice.

And I was all excited to get one last good sleep last night...but the oldest woke up at 2:45am puking. Lovely. Never did get back to sleep. Oh well, still feel nice and rested from my week off. As much as I hate to admit it, I think my body just needs the rest every 6 weeks or so. Won't let myself go this long next time.

Great to get back into the gym today. Man, I'm not sure if it was the week off, or I just need to work on stamina, but I found myself sucking wind more than I remember. After a good warm up and some solid base sets, jumped right back into the 225 squats. Got 5 reps the first set of them. Did my last set, got to 5 and even though I was winded, wanted just one more. Started getting down...got close to parallel and felt one major "buckling" of the left knee. Not painfull per se, but real uncomfortable. Didn't have to bail, but for a split second I thought I would. Rest of the workout went great. Lunges were good and strong, but tiring. They really test stamina. Today I was going real slow with the reps to make sure I was nice and balanced. That probably lead to the suck wind factor, as I had the bar on my back a long time.

Well, you can probably see it's 7pm when I'm writing. For some reason, the website responded painfully slowly at work...literally 3-4 minutes per page, so I couldn't journal. I left my log numbers at work, but I think I remember...

Squats:
1x10 body weight ATG
1x10 bar weight ATG
1x10 135lbs WU
1x10 185lbs
1x9 205lbs
1x8 215lbs
1x5 225lbs
1x5 225lbs - it was actually 6, but that last one had a major buckle, so...


Lunges:
1x10 65lbs WU
1x10 135lbs
1x9 145lbs
1x8 150lbs


Stiff leg deads:
1x10 80lbs WU
1x10 120bs
1x9 130lbs
1x9 130lbs


Leg press: (using horizontal seated leg press...the one with upper and lower foot pedals)
1x10 160lbs WU
1x10 240lbs
1x10 300lbs
1x10 300lbs
1x7 320lbs

[-=FLEX=-]

Welcome back K-man.

-=FLEX=-

[BuckSpin]

Doooooooooood, yur only 15lbs from 1.5x BW for skwatz.......time to come up with a plan to reach this.

[Klayfish]

Doooooooooood, yur only 15lbs from 1.5x BW for skwatz.......time to come up with a plan to reach this.

You're right. I'm working on that, and I'll have it set by time my next leg day comes around on Monday.


Ugh, this sucks. For some reason the site doesn't work well at work. Takes foreeeeeeever to load. I can't just call my IT and say "Hey, can you fix this", so now I'm doing this at home, which means I have almost no time. In fact, gotta go put the twins to bed right now.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to write up my last several days in MS Word, then wait for the site to take it's 10 minutes to load at work. That way I can do other work while it's loading, then just cut and paste...so until then....

[BuckSpin]

You're right. I'm working on that, and I'll have it set by time my next leg day comes around on Monday.

BTW, you might be shocked, but your est 1RM is around 260-270.......just sayin'

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SQUAT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But when you do unrack heavier weights KNOW that you pown' that number. Your reps will go down, but focus on each squat as one lift. $#@! worrying about reps when you get nearer to your 1RM.

I have absolutely no doubt that you could at least single 240 right now. But stay within your program & keep at it.

I am seriously proud of you man!

BTW....240 is only 10lbs from 250

Keep at it. At this rate of progression 3 plates is just over the horizon. I could see that happening by the end of the year.

[BuckSpin]

FWIW you may want to seriously consider adding Good Mornings to your routine. I do them on my Deadlift day. GREAT lift to help the squat & deadlift.

If you do decide to, research them and START LIGHT....like broomstick light or empty bar light.

Let me know if these interest you & I can share some .02

[Klayfish]

FWIW you may want to seriously consider adding Good Mornings to your routine. I do them on my Deadlift day. GREAT lift to help the squat & deadlift.

If you do decide to, research them and START LIGHT....like broomstick light or empty bar light.

Let me know if these interest you & I can share some .02

Yes, absolutely I am interested. Honestly, I was thinking about making them a part of my routine somewhere, just wasn't sure where. Guess my first question would be if I did them before or after deads? My deads usually take a lot out of me.



Well, so much for the best laid plans. Today was nuts at work. So let me try to recap the last few days quickly.

On chest day, I decided to do flat bench presses with the smith machine instead of the incline db bench. Not giving up on trying to clean those 70lb dbs into place... just wanted a change. I use the Smith since I lift alone. They went well, felt good...but feel kinda wimpy. Maxed out at 6 reps of 175. No worries, it'll come with time.

Shoulder/calf day was good. Nothing groundbreaking to report. Though I will say that I'm finding that the leg press calf raises are hurting my feet. The edge of the platform on the leg press is rounded, and pushing the ball of my feet on them with 265lbs isn't comfy.

Good back day today. Got to 265lbs on the deads. Can't really "measure" my rows today, because they're in the process of adding new equipment to the weight room and removing the old stuff. So today, the machine I use for rows (an old multi-station cable) was gone. So I had to use the cable crossover machine. For whatever reason, I can row the max weight on that thing...200lbs. I could only do 130lbs on the old machine.

Tuesday
Smith machine bench press:
1x10 85lbs WU
1x10 135lbs
1x10 155lbs
1x6 175lbs
1x5 1705bs

Pec deck:
1x10 70lbs WU
1x10 110lbs
1x10 110lbs
1x6 120lbs
1x5 120lbs

Seated chest press machine:
1x6 205lbs (low handles)
1x5 205lbs (low handles)
1x5 220lbs (high handles)
1x5 220lbs (high handles)

Cable crossovers:
1x12 70lbs each side
1x9 70lbs each side
1x7 70lbs
1x7 70lbs

Ab machine
1x10 120lbs
1x10 130lbs
1x10 130lbs

Incline sit ups - 3 sets w/35lb plate.


Jog on treadmill - 3.15 total miles in 33 minutes

Wednesday
Seated barbell press:
1x10 45lb WU
1x10 65lbs
1x10 75bs
1x10 75lbs
1x10 85lbs
Still trying to find the sweet spot here...where I can still lift it off the hooks, but not finish all reps

Dumbbell front raise:
1x10 25lbs WU
1x10 45lbs (each side)
1x10 45lbs
1x6 50lbs
1x5 50lbs

Lateral raise:
1x10 15lbs WU
1x8 25lbs (each side)
1x7 25lbs
1x7 25lbs
1x7 25lbs

Face Pull:
1x12 120lbs WU
1x12 180lbs
1x12 180lbs
1x12 180lbs
1x9 180lbs

Leg press calf raise:
1x6 265lbs
1x7 265lbs
1x6 265lbs
1x6 265lbs

Seated calf raise:
1x10 70lbs WU
1x6 145lbs
1x6 145lbs
1x7 145lbs
1x6 145lbs

Today
Deadlift:
1x10 135 WU
1x10 225lbs
1x8 245lbs
1x6 265lbs
1x6 265lbs

B/O db row:
1x10 35lbs WU
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x8 (left) 65lbs 1x6 (right)

Seated cable row w/close-grip: cable crossover machine
1x10 80lb WU
1x10 200lbs
1x10 200lbs
1x10 200lbs
1x10 200lbs

Lat pulldown :
1x5 140lbs
1x6 140lbs
1x6 140lbs
1x5 140lbs

25 minute swim

[BuckSpin]

Yes, absolutely I am interested. Honestly, I was thinking about making them a part of my routine somewhere, just wasn't sure where. Guess my first question would be if I did them before or after deads? My deads usually take a lot out of me.

AFTER.....definitely. They are an assistance lift to help your deadlift & squat.

In short, they are a SLDL upside down. Its the same ROM as a SLDL but with the bar like a squat. The bar stays right over your feet (like a squat or SLDL). You do NOT bend over at the waist. With a slight kneebend & the bar like you are squatting, shove your @$$ out into the next time zone, but keep the bar traveling in a straight up/down path. Of course keeping a tight arch is crucial.

Ideally you should/could end up with your back parallel to the floor, but if this is too far (can't hold your arch, bar rolls forward, back rounds, etc) just go as far as you can & then snap/drive your hips forward & drive the bar back up HARD. Do NOT bend at the waist/use your lower back to start the bar up. Focus on your hips & NOT using your lower back. Think of something *wink* that would make your hips snap forward h-a-r-d

Go on to Youtube & check out some examples. EliteFTS is a good source.

I cannot convey enough to start light to the point of insulting your manhood. You can $#@! your lower back fast doing these sloppy. There is plenty of time to add weight.

Speaking of time, there are 32 weeks left in the year. You are at 225 for squat reps and an estimated single of 260-270. If you added a whopping 2.5lbs a week (2 1.25lb plates) you will be just shy of 3 plates by New Years.

Start to think about 315 by 12/31, but slow n' steady.

[Klayfish]

Thanks for the detail on the GMs! And no worries for me on leaving the manhood at the door. I will be just as proud doing a GM with a broomstick, but doing it right, as anyone doing it wrong. Last thing I need to do is screw up the back.

And I'm on board for going for the New Years goal. Guess I need to start looking further ahead, as I was looking more short term...1.5x BW squat. Right now, that would be 266lbs. I was aiming to hit that in September, so I guess that falls in line with the New Years goal.

This really sucks not being able to post at work. Got to try to find a better way to do this.

Had to do makeshift workout today. Damn gym is getting new equipment in the weight room, but it's half done. There is no squat rack in the gym right now. Ridiculous. I used the Smith machine for squats. For lunges, one of the new benches they got has Olympic bar hooks about 4' up, so I put the bar on that and got under it to put the bar on my back. Workout was good. The Smith machine is right in front of a mirror, so I could actually watch my squats. That was terrific. See how I feel tomorrow. The left knee didn't feel right walking into the gym this morning and it's feeling uncomfortable now. It's not "pain", but it's unstable discomfort. Hopefully, it's just one of those things.

Using the Smith, I cranked out 9 reps at 225, then my last set was 8 reps at 225lbs. The weight still feels just as heavy, but of course the Smith makes it easier to balance.

Friday:
Barbell curl:
1x10 60lb WU
1x10 90lbs
1x9 90lbs
1x7 90lbs
1x4 100lbs

Bench press close grip:
1x10 95lbs WU
1x10 145lb
1x8 155lb
1x7 155lb
1x6 155lb

Rope Hammer curl:
1x10 60lb WU
1x10 100lbs
1x8 110lbs
1x8 110lbs
1x8 110lbs

Incline seated dumbell curl:
1x10 25lbs WU
1x8 40lbs (each side)
1x7 40lbs
1x4 40lbs
1x6 40lbs

Pulldowns:
1x10 120lbs WU
1x10 150lb
1x7 160lb
1x7 160lb
1x7 160lb (using cable crossover machine)


Monday:
Smith machine Squats:
1x10 body weight ATG
1x10 bar weight ATG
1x10 135lbs WU
1x10 185lbs
1x10 205lbs
1x9 215lbs
1x9 225lbs
1x8 225lbs


Lunges:
1x10 65lbs WU
1x10 135lbs
1x10 145lbs
1x8 145lbs


Stiff leg deads:
1x10 80lbs WU
1x10 140bs
1x9 150lbs
1x10 150lbs


Leg press: old machine...I hate it...no new machine in free weight room yet
1x10 160lbs WU
1x10 235lbs
1x10 250lbs
1x10 265lbs
1x10 265lbs

[-=FLEX=-]

Good job K-Man.

Solid appendage workouts.

-=FLEX=-

[Klayfish]

Sigh....with no access to the forum at work, this is a real b!tch to get to my journal. Hopefully, the issue will resolve itself magically soon.

I've had a good several days of workouts. Here are the cliff notes

Tuesday - I decided to go back to my old friend - the 70lb dbs to do incline bench presses. Got them cleaned all 4 times with little trouble. I also picked up a few reps from the last time I did them. On the flip side, I had stalled out on my seated chest presses. Wonder if that was from using up my chest on the inclines???

Wednesday - Tried doing my front db raises using both arms at the same time. Traditionally, I had been doing one arm at a time. One left rep, one right, one left, etc... I knew that doing both at the same time would be much more challenging, so I dropped the weights all the way from 45lbs down to 30lbs. Got a full set in, so went up to 35lbs. I actually like this better, as I felt I had better form control for some reason. I think I'll stick to them.

Today - Hit another PR on deads. 270lbs. Versa gripps really help hold the bar. It's so cool....I'm actually lifting enough weight that the bar bends just a little when I lift it. I'm impressed with myself. I was running a bit behind schedule this morning, so I just simply didn't get time to start the GMs, but it is in my plans for next week. Plan on watching some videos of it and practicing form with a broomstick at home.

Weighed in at 167lbs this morning!!!! Wondering if that's due to the heat and humidity of the past few days. Holding extra water.

Anyway, here are the numbers

Tuesday

Incline dumbbell bench:
1x10 45lbs WU (each side)
1x8 70lbs
1x6 70lbs
1x5 70lbs
1x4 70lbs

Pec deck:
1x10 70lbs WU
1x10 110lbs
1x6 120lbs
1x5 120lbs
1x4 120lbs

Seated chest press machine:
1x4 205lbs (low handles)
1x5 205lbs (low handles)
1x4 220lbs (high handles)
1x5 220lbs (high handles)

Cable crossovers:
1x12 70lbs each side
1x8 70lbs each side
1x6 70lbs
1x7 70lbs

Ab machine
Incline sit ups

Treadmill - 3.15 total miles in 33 minutes


Wednesday
Seated barbell press:
1x10 45lb WU
1x10 85lbs
1x10 95bs
1x5 105lbs
1x5 105lbs
Found my sweet spot

Dumbbell front raise: both arms at same time
1x10 25lbs WU
1x10 30lbs (each side)
1x8 35lbs
1x8 35lbs
1x7 35lbs

Lateral raise:
1x10 15lbs WU
1x7 25lbs (each side)
1x7 25lbs
1x7 25lbs
1x7 25lbs

Face Pull:
1x12 120lbs WU
1x12 180lbs
1x7 200lbs
1x7 200lbs
1x8 200lbs

Leg press calf raise:
1x7 265lbs
1x8 265lbs
1x6 265lbs
1x6 265lbs

Seated calf raise:
1x10 70lbs WU
1x8 145lbs
1x6 145lbs
1x6 145lbs
1x6 145lbs

Today
Deadlift:
1x10 135 WU
1x10 225lbs
1x9 245lbs
1x8 265lbs
1x4 270lbs PR

B/O db row:
1x10 35lbs WU
1x10 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x6 (right)

Seated cable row w/close-grip: cable crossover machine
1x10 80lb WU
1x10 200lbs
1x10 200lbs
1x10 200lbs
1x12 200lbs

Lat pulldown :
1x6 140lbs
1x6 140lbs
1x6 140lbs
1x6 140lbs

[-=FLEX=-]

Good job on the 70's incline and the PR on deads.

I do alternating DB raises too, but I'm only using the 20's!!!!!!!!!

Keep up the good work, K-Man.

-=FLEX=-

[Klayfish]

It took me almost 20 minutes just to get this page to load here at work...just minimize my screen and do other work while waiting. This sucks.

I'm just going to post my numbers over the past few days.

Wed shoulder workout was good. Making progress on the bb presses and front raises. Even added a few more reps to the lateral raises!! The gym has a new seated calf press machine. Have to say I like the old one better. The old one had your feet directly under your knees...i.e. your knee bent at 90 degrees. The new one has your feet out about 12-15". I felt it strained my knee more than I liked...so I backed down on weight.

Added 5lbs to my last dead set today, for a whopping 275. Got 4 strong reps in. Followed them up with the bent over db rows. Sweating like a pig after those two exercises were done. When I row, inspired by Buckspins' earlier posts, I just go for it. Sweat pouring off me, grunting like hell, but just dig! We also have a new rowing machine, so I had to adjust my weight and style to that, which I actually like much better than the old one.

Weighed in at 166.6 today.

Only negative thing to report is that my left knee just doesn't feel "right". Don't know how to describe it. It's not sharp hurting pain, but it's more uncomfortable and feels unsteady. I always know it's "there". Been that way for a few weeks and isn't getting any better. Suspect it's back to the ortho I may need to go.

Wednesday
Seated barbell press:
1x10 45lb WU
1x10 95lbs
1x8 105bs
1x10 105lbs
1x5 110lbs


Dumbbell front raise: both arms at same time
1x10 25lbs WU
1x7 35lbs (each side)
1x7 35lbs
1x7 35lbs
1x6 35lbs

Lateral raise:
1x10 15lbs WU
1x10 25lbs (each side)
1x9 25lbs
1x7 25lbs
1x7 25lbs

Face Pull:
1x12 120lbs WU
1x10 200lbs
1x8 200lbs
1x10 200lbs
1x8 200lbs

Seated calf raise:
1x10 50lbs WU
1x9 100lbs
1x9 100lbs
1x8 100lbs
1x8 100lbs

Experimented with standing calf raises...more to come next week.


Today
Deadlift:
1x10 135 WU
1x10 235lbs
1x9 255lbs
1x7 265lbs
1x4 275lbs PR

B/O db row:
1x10 35lbs WU
1x10 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x10 (left) 65lbs 1x7 (right)
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x6 (right)
1x9 (left) 65lbs 1x6 (right)

Seated cable row w/close-grip: new machine
1x10 70lb WU
1x9 120lbs
1x8 120lbs
1x7 120lbs
1x8 120lbs

Lat pulldown :
1x6 140lbs
1x6 140lbs
1x6 140lbs
1x6 140lbs

Did not have time again to try GMs. I cut it so close on Thursdays in my schedule. Can't be late for work. Need to figure out how to work these in.

[Klayfish]

Well, for what it's worth, I'm still alive and here. Still struggling to find time here at home to do my journal. Hope everyone is doing great.

My workouts have been pretty good. Leg workout yesterday was strong. I no longer have a squat rack in my gym....idiots there don't know how to run a gym, so I have to use the Smith machine. Hit a new personal best at 235lbs.

Today, I just didn't have the same energy. Not sure why. I feel fine. Just didn't hit numbers I had hoped to. I did flat fly dbs instead of pec deck, not sure if that had anything to do with it.

Journal is short today...other things to get to. I am not going away, I have not given up. Still workout as hard as ever...just don't have the time to talk about it much anymore.


Monday:
Smith machine Squats:
1x10 body weight ATG
1x10 bar weight ATG
1x10 135lbs WU
1x10 185lbs
1x8 205lbs
1x7 225lbs
1x7 225lbs
1x4 235lbs


Lunges:
1x10 65lbs WU
1x10 135lbs
1x9 145lbs
1x8 145lbs


Stiff leg deads:
1x10 80lbs WU
1x10 160bs
1x9 160lbs
1x10 160lbs


Leg press: old machine
1x10 160lbs WU
1x10 235lbs
1x10 250lbs
1x10 265lbs
1x10 280lbs


Tuesday

Bench press:
1x10 95lbs WU
1x10 135lbs
1x9 155lbs
1x10 155lbs
1x7 165lbs

Flat flye db:
1x10 25lbs WU
1x6 40lbs each side
1x7 40lbs
1x8 40lbs
1x7 40lbs

Seated chest press machine:
1x6 205lbs (low handles)
1x5 205lbs (low handles)
1x5 220lbs (high handles)
1x5 220lbs (high handles)

Cable crossovers:
1x11 70lbs each side
1x8 70lbs each side
1x7 70lbs
1x6 70lbs

Ab machine
Incline sit ups

Treadmill - 3.15 total miles in 33 minutes

[-=FLEX=-]

Well, for what it's worth, I'm still alive and here. Still struggling to find time here at home to do my journal. Hope everyone is doing great.

Good to see you posting in your journal, K-Man.

Congrats on the PB @ 235.

-=FLEX=-

[Klayfish]

Just to prove I'm still alive, thought I'd post in my journal. With the website responding terribly slowly here at work…it took 20 minutes just to get to this page…I just can't get to the forum like I used to.

Hope everyone reading this is doing well.

I'm hitting the weights hard, but starting to think I've stalled in some areas. For example, my seated chest press…I've been stuck at the same weight/reps for a long time. I know I need to make changes, but first I'm back to the battle of my health. I sound like a damn hypochondriac lately, but it is what it is. I just don't feel like myself. I went years feeling great, but the last 6 months have been a struggle. The heat seems to just be compounding it. I find that when I push the weights really hard, I get a bit dizzy and queasy. I've ready plenty of threads where I hear of people throwing up during leg day, even when they feel great. Luckily, that hasn't happened to me, but yesterday was tough. I also just don't feel like eating much, I'm force feeding myself. Weight is holding steady, which is a good thing. Anyway, enough crying in my beer. I'm going to figure out what the hell is going on, fix it, and keep pushing. It's just frustrating.

I've been mixing some things up in my chest day. I alternate weeks with the flat flye and peck deck, as well as bench press for incline db press. Did incline db press and flat flye today. Even though I'm not feeling great, I know I'm getting stronger. Today, I was able to clean the 70lb dbs into place easily for all 4 sets, which is something I couldn't do a few months ago. Got some good numbers on flat flyes too. Then went upstairs in the fitness room and stalled out…again…on the seated chest press. I don't get it. Finished up with cable crossovers, and had great numbers there.

Have a great week!! Tomorrow morning I'm on a plane heading for Maitland, Florida (15 miles east of Disney World) for work. Luckily, it looks like my hotel has a pretty nice fitness room compared to most hotels, so I think I can get some good workouts in.

Incline db press:
1x10 40lbs WU
1x7 70lbs
1x6 70lbs
1x6 70lbs
1x5 70lbs

Flat flye db:
1x10 25lbs WU
1x8 40lbs each side
1x9 40lbs
1x10 40lbs
1x9 40lbs

Seated chest press machine:
1x6 205lbs (low handles)
1x5 205lbs (low handles)
1x5 220lbs (high handles)
1x5 220lbs (high handles)

Cable crossovers:
1x12 70lbs each side
1x10 70lbs each side
1x9 70lbs
1x7 70lbs

Ab machine
Incline sit ups

Treadmill - 3.15 total miles in 33 minutes

[Klayfish]

Wanted to drop in an update anyone reading this journal on my status. Like I mentioned before, the website had stopped responding properly here at work…it would literally take about 30 minutes to navigate to my journal page. So I wasn't able to get to it here. Once I get home, I get so wrapped up in the kids, etc…I just don't get to the computer. Magically, the website started responding here at work today. Woohoo!!!

Anyway, as MrsK posted in her journal, I've really been struggling with my health. I hate to come here and whine and cry about it. Not my thing, it sounds like I'm making excuses. I am still doing as much as I possibly can in hitting the weights. However, I just don't feel good and it's making it really challenging to make any progress. Hard part is figuring out what's going on. My appetite is very poor. I've done a good job to keep myself from losing weight, I'm still at 168lbs. But I have to force feed myself and it isn't fun. I use to love eating my eggs, my PWO shake, greek yogurt, natty pb on whole wheat, etc…but now I'm finding that I have to force myself to eat that stuff. I can't say I have a "craving" for junk food, as my appetite is poor anyway. I'm still eating my "clean" diet, I'm trying to keep with the program, but it's tough. Sometimes the thought of eating, especially those clean foods I normally eat, makes me nauseous.

That's the other big obstacle for me right now as far as working out. Nausea and dizzyness. I don't want to overdramatize it and say I'm about to puke and passout all the time. That's not at all the case. But it's kind of there in the background. It gets significantly worse when I'm either….a) hot or b) get my heart and respiration rate jacked quickly. Hence when I'm doing a set, depending on what I'm doing, I really don't feel too good at the end. So I need to take a bit more to settle down before I push for the next set.

I'm a typical guy, don't like going to the doctor. But after a while, I realized I needed to do something. So I went recently and had a ton of blood drawn. The lab results all came back normal, which is great. But it doesn't get me closer to figuring out what's going on. Waiting as I write this for a call back from my primary to see what the next steps are.

Alright, enough whining and bitching. I feel like a f*$%ing crybaby writing this. I will get this solved and I will continue on, and I though I may need to push back my lifting goals, I will get there. I just wanted to give everyone an update and be honest about what's going on.

I hit the weights the best I could today. Forgot to bring my numbers with me, so I don't have specifcs to report. It was shoulder day. My numbers are down somewhat from the past, but I still go all out. I'm doing each rep a little slower, trying to keep myself from jacking my heart and breathing too quickly, which allows me to do a little more each time.

MrsK and I are leaving for Disney World on Saturday, so if we don't post for almost 2 weeks, that's why. By the way, I encourage those reading this to check out MrsK's journal and photos. I can't say enough how proud I am of her. I'm still blown away by how she looks, and she's my role model for lifting. Her recent bod pod test just validate all the hard work she's done…not to mention the mirror tells it all anyway.

So for now, hope everyone is well and I have not gone away. I will stay with this.

[BuckSpin]

Get better dude. You have unfinished business in the cage when you are ready for it....

[Klayfish]

Thanks, I'm trying. Yeah, believe me, I haven't forgotten about my goals. My have to change that wording from "I have unfinished business in the cage..." to "I have unfinished business on the Smith machine...". The dopes at the YMCA made big changes to the free weight room. One of the things they did was take out the cage and didn't replace it. Clueless. No offense to anyone, but the managing director is a woman who doesn't work out and knows little to nothing about weights. So I'm trying to explain to them why it's needed. In the meantime, I'm using the Smith machine to do my squats.

In the meantime, I spoke to my doctor by phone today. They can't find anything medically to explain my symptoms. When I return from vacation, I'm going to do a stress test just to be 100% sure my heart, etc..are functioning properly, but he's pretty sure everything there is fine. His comment to me was "Could it be stress and being run down?" My first instinct is to say "hell no...". But I've known my doctor for 10+ years, and I really trust him. My life is busy, and it has it's own stresses like everyone else, but I've never considered myself one who gets "stressed out". But before I summarily dismiss the idea, it probably would be smart for me to try to step outside of my own world (so to speak) and take a look at it. Maybe it is and I just don't realize it. I suppose I can work on trying to relax and not stress myself and body too much. Worst that will happen is nothing. My doctor did not say I should stop working out, he's all for it. But his comment was to take it easy for a little bit to try to recover, then to listen to what my body is telling me.

Anyhow, let's talk weights. Today was my last day before we leave for vacation. I wanted to give myself a nice send off. So I wanted to hit the arms as hard as I could. Still paced myself, really focusing on breathing to help alleviate nausea and dizziness. Feel like I got a strong workout in. The numbers aren't what they once were, but I'm still happy with what I got and when I return I hope to be fully rested and destressed (though that will be a long term project, not a short term fix).

Barbell curl:
1x10 50lb WU
1x10 90lbs
1x8 90lbs
1x7 90lbs
1x4 100lbs

Tricep extensions:
1x10 12lbs WU
1x10 20lbs each side
1x8 25lb
1x9 25lb
1x7 25lb

Rope Hammer curl:
1x10 60lb WU
1x10 110lbs
1x8 120lbs
1x7 120lbs
1x6 120lbs

Incline seated dumbell curl:
1x10 25lbs WU
1x8 40lbs (each side)
1x7 40lbs
1x6 40lbs
1x6 40lbs

Pulldowns:
1x10 90lbs WU
1x9 160lb
1x7 170lb
1x6 170lb
1x5 170lb (using cable crossover machine)


Have a great 10 days and wish me luck in Disney with all my kids...and the wife!!!!

[BuckSpin]

Sucks about the cage. Thought you had one in the basement?

As far as "stress" that $#@! is EXTREMELY catabolic. Do some Googling on it. Your doc may be onto something. Perhaps review the past X months and look for changes/catalyst?

Tell Pooh I said "hai"....

[-=FLEX=-]

Have a good vacation, K-Man.

-=FLEX=-

[Klayfish]

So here I am, back from vacation. It was a fantastic trip. The kids really enjoyed it, and as a parent, it was so cool to watch their excitement. MrsK and I had fun too. We got a few nights out on our own, which was nice. While we were down there, I didn't lift at all (though pushing a heavy stroller loaded with two children and bags through 90+ degree heat is a workout....), and it was nice to relax. I also didn't worry about what I ate. Not that we ate all junk, but we enjoyed ourselves. And guess what...I lost almost 4 pounds. Go figure. Probably had to do with sleeping in. We slept until 7am each day, instead of 4am at home. So I woke up 3 hours behind in my normal eating pattern.

I can't tell you how many times strangers came up to MrsK while we were in Disney to comment about how she looked and ask her questions. Very cool.

Anyhow, maybe my doctor was right about the stress. When I was on vacation, I felt perfectly fine. No issues at all. Not sure what other explanation there would be. If it is a stress thing, I have to figure out how to identify it and fix it. I've never been one to say "I feel stressed", but I'll have to start paying attention to it now I guess. I'm going to go back to my primary for a follow up, but perhaps we've found the problem.

It was great to get back into my gym...though I can't honestly say I was thrilled when my alarm went off at 4am. It was another very warm and sticky morning. Left me sweating like mad. Damn YMCA without air conditioning. My numbers were way off what they've been in the past. But that's OK. I've been away for a few weeks and struggling with how I was feeling. My workout was solid and I can say for sure I'll have hard core DOMS tomorrow. Hit the legs hard.

Focus is going to shift to preparing for the half marathon MrsK and I will be running in mid-September. Will be altering the diet and workout substantially to prepare.

Smith machine Squats:
1x10 body weight ATG
1x10 bar weight ATG
1x10 135lbs WU
1x8 185lbs
1x7 185lbs
1x9 185lbs
1x6 195lbs
1x5 195lbs


Lunges:
1x10 65lbs WU
1x7 135lbs
1x6 135lbs
1x5 135lbs


Stiff leg deads:
1x10 80lbs WU
1x10 150bs
1x10 150lbs
1x10 150lbs


Leg press: old machine
1x10 160lbs WU
1x10 220lbs
1x10 220lbs
1x10 235lbs
1x8 250lbs

[-=FLEX=-]

Welcome back K-man.

Glad you're feeling better and less stressed.



-=FLEX=-

[Klayfish]

Wow, I was actually able to log into the site from work today. Miracle of miracles!!! Thought I'd come in and blow the dust off this thing.

Yes, I'm still alive, and yes I'm still lifting. Just to give an update where I am....

I'm feeling pretty good these days. Most of the symptoms I described before have not returned. Still no idea what caused it, but whatever.

My lifting numbers aren't what they once were, but that's OK. After not feeling well for a long time, I'm glad to be able to work out again without getting nauseus or dizzy. In the past month or so, there's a guy who's been coming to the gym more frequently when I'm there. I had seen him in the past, but not too often. He's been helping me here and there with my form. He's not a professional trainer, but after seeing his workouts, his build, listening to him, etc....I'm confident he knows his stuff. I have definitely noticed an improvement for the better. I can't lift the amount of weight that I did before, but I feel the workout much better on the targeted muscles...read "I feel more good DOMS". This is probably something I should have done a long, long time ago. Have someone actually with me to help with form. I read the forum (or at least did when I could access it) and watch as much video as I can, but there's nothing like having someone there with you.

Beyond that, all is well. We probably won't get to run our half marathon in September as we had planned. MrsK hurt her back a few weeks ago and is still recovering. She wouldn't be ready for that kind of run. I really feel bad for her, as I know she really wanted to do this. But we'll target it as a goal for next spring. My left knee isn't feeling so great, but I think it'll be OK to train for it next spring.

Hope everyone is doing well. If I can still post here on Monday, I'll get back to posting actual workout numbers.

P.S. I've also been busy trying to get back into my other hobby...haven't gotten to run it on track yet, but here's my new "toy".

[-=FLEX=-]

Yes, I'm still alive, and yes I'm still lifting.

Good job, K-man.

Stop being such a stranger. Bad enough you're strange.

-=FLEX=-