You may call me Fiend

[ArchAngel'73]

October 5, 2020

My body aches (joints and tendons), I've lost the mental edge to push past limits, and I'm 1 week away before a scheduled de-load. I discovered all this on my warm up set with disappointment and with reluctance called it a de-load week.

Chest

Hammer Strength Incline, PWO total
20x90x10 9k total -10k from last

Hammer Strength Decline machine, total weight
10x40x10 4k total -1k from last

20 Elliptical









October 6, 2020

side Delts

2 arm Hammer strength Shoulder Press, PWO total
20x90
10x90x10 9k total -3k from last

"chicken wings"
20x80
10x110x10 11k total -3.5k from last

20 Elliptical

[ArchAngel'73]

October 7, 2020

Arms

cable Press Downs
20x90
15x90
20x75x5 7,500 total

overhead cable Extensions
15x90
20x75x5 7,500 total

cable "Roll Downs"
20x75x5 7,500 total

Press Down widow maker while trying to honor the de-load
6x205(stack)



22,500 total for tri's -500 lbs. from last



Hammer Strength Preacher, PWO total
15x45x5 2,025 total -5,475 from last

DB Curl 'n Twist
6x15/20x15 x3 not counted


30 Elliptical


I had a mental vision of what I wanted from my time in the gym, and that was to feel every muscle fiber, get a pump and feel the burn while simultaneously feeling absolutely no joint pain. That meant light weight and slowing down the rep tempo so I was hitting a 6 second negative on the reps and a 3 second positive.
This was one of them sessions where the triumvirate of the human condition (body, mind, and soul) combined into one and it was amazingly fun and a physically and psychologically Zen-like experience.
I may have lifted a comparatively puny amount but I felt every damn rep and contraction, my arms felt like they were gonna burst and recalled Arnold's line from "Pumping Iron" about the pump being the equivalent of an orgasm. Well today folks, it was.
For me anyways.
The weights didn't seem to care how much I dug them and didn't offer their number for me to call after.


Even doing cardio I could feel every muscle group kick in and it too was way more pleasurable than it should have been (even added 10 minutes on).

My fat ass sweat all over that elliptical machine and as per COVID rules I wiped all of my sweaty liquid off of it, congratulating myself for good work put in.
But I could not contain my thinking and commented to myself that from that elliptical I was wiping off my "gym jizz".

I simply cannot wait to "come" to the gym tomorrow.

(special thanks to Arnold for making my self-amusement possible today)

[ArchAngel'73]

I initiated a weight loss competition at work with a bet with 5 of my co-workers. Who can lose the most percentage of weight until January 5, 2021. Using the % will keep it fair for everyone regardless of gender and current fat status. This was the way it started last time I lost weight and then competed on stage.....a weight loss comp and then a run to the stage. This time I'll walk to the stage after the weight loss comp but the die has been cast and there's no way outta this now and still have any iota of integrity.

I have a new gym manager. The old one turned out to be a raging alcoholic and physically attacked our cleaning guy. Oh yeah, the manager is female, she had been drunk at work ever since the gym re-opened...the cleaning guy is a recent immigrant from Africa and one of the hardest working mo fo's I've seen. She had no reason to attack him, but I liked both of them. Can't have a gym manager coming to work drunk and attacking people though.

Back to the new manager and why he matters. I've worked with him before and he will be sympathetic to my cause, that's #1. I want to document my transformation and do something business related, I want to take action pics in the gym, and I'm gonna need his cooperation to do it.
In turn, I can be like Jared for Subway, except without the ****philia. Spokesperson kinda thing.
I have a business meeting with him next Tuesday. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

The fat man inside of me rebels realizing its days of indulgence are soon at a close, but the person I want to be is fighting to escape the prison walls which I have built.
I have consistent self-doubt yet flares of motivation to pull the trigger on the last thing that is holding me back from being the best I have ever been, and that is my fat.
I know I'm in for a long hard slog uphill full of pain, sacrifice, and societal barriers that one would not even think exist but they do, and I know because I've been there once before. People generally do NOT treat you nice if you're in shape and it is easier to be fat in public than jacked in public. That's my experience.

I question myself. What part of you is going to win Brian? What part of you are you going to LET win?
I've been through this before, through much much worse
I already know the answer
and for that answer I turn to yet another fable wherein the answer lies;


"An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”



The part of me that will win is the one I feed
the one I CHOOSE to feed. (or in this case, not "feed")


Sheep
or
Shepherd?

It is yet to be determined.

[Payton1221]

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

I posted something similar in the inspirational quotes thread. So true.

[shaneinga]

Lots of good stuff in here Brian. I appreciate the offer for advice in and I may take you up on it in the future. I have a couple Dr appointments that I will address the issue with and start from there.

Good way to hit some TUT while on deload. Still get the muscles fired up while moving some lighter weights.

Dieting is so damn mental. Good luck with it! If you can feed the right wolf most of the time you should be fine.

[ArchAngel'73]

I posted something similar in the inspirational quotes thread. So true.

I saw it brother.
Some times we need reminding of just how powerful we are.
Thank-you for your post.

Lots of good stuff in here Brian. I appreciate the offer for advice in and I may take you up on it in the future. I have a couple Dr appointments that I will address the issue with and start from there.

Good way to hit some TUT while on deload. Still get the muscles fired up while moving some lighter weights.

Dieting is so damn mental. Good luck with it! If you can feed the right wolf most of the time you should be fine.

I'm finding I can't bust azz on a training routine as long as I used to without the joint pain acting up. The de-loads are becoming essential to progress, before I'd just keep grinding myself into dust.

Dieting is mental. Mistakes are punished swiftly and harshly, 1 bad meal can take a week to recover from. You can feel elated from losing 2 pounds and depressed as fawk for gaining 2. and you're absolutely right.

[ArchAngel'73]

Back Thickness

No GVT, no de-load weights
this one is for the love of lifting

lat station cable Hyper Extensions
20x150
10x210
10x255
10x280

6x210(stack)x3

Hammer Strength Row, PWO total
15x270
10x360

8x450x3

that's right, four fiddy

10 Elliptical

[ArchAngel'73]

October 9, 2020

Back Width

For the love of lifting session

kneeling narrow reverse grip Pull Downs
20x150
20x180
10x205(stack)

20x205(stack)x3

reppin' stacks, building backs

1 arm supinated Pull Down
15x45
12x60
10x75

6x90x3

"fake" Chins
4x-205x3

40 walking

[ArchAngel'73]

Legs

For the love of lifting session.

Extensions
15x120x3
15x150
12x180
10x210
8x255
6x310(stack)

seated Ham Curl
12x130x3
-haven't used this machine in a while, I kept getting trapped in it like a freakin' noob-all these levers and knobs...3 different adjustments to make for 1 bloody exercise.

"Power Squats", PWO
10x720(max weight that can be added)x3

there take that you stupid seated ham curl

power squat Calf Raise, PWO
15x720x3

20 Elliptical

[ArchAngel'73]

October 11, 2020

1st day off in 2 weeks.
I cleaned my apartment instead for manual labor.

[ArchAngel'73]

-fukkin' around is done, time for GVT

Chest

Hammer Strength Incline Press, PWO
20x90
10x210x10 +10 lbs. per rep, 21,000 lb. total +1,000 lbs. from last GVT session
6x270 +2reps/-20 lbs.
3x320 +2 reps/-20 lbs.
2x360 +0 reps/+20 lbs./+1 set

Hammer Strength Decline Press machine, total weight
10x140x10 +10 lbs. per rep, 14,000 lb. total +1,000 lbs. from last GVT session

6x180 matched it from last session


35,000 lbs. lifted this session not counting warm ups and the widow maker. 26, 500 was the last.
8,500 lbs. of GAINZ were had.

360 incline press, 4 plates per side
it makes sweet music


20 Elliptical


Thanksgiving Day in Canada.
After this weekend I suspect my city will be shut down for wave #2. I am peppering my angus for my gym to be closed and dreading going back to my home workouts because THEY SUCKED compared to the gym. Edmonton now has the 2nd highest rate of infections per capita in Canada.
I'm thankful to still be going to the gym, have a pandemic proof job, and potential to grow as a human being.
But this year still sucks azz.

[shaneinga]

Strong work in here. I do miss the Hammer Strength machines from my gym. I know the exact machine you are talking about with the seated ham curls.
It works well once you get it sorted out but it is a PITA to get into the first time around.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and hopefully you were able to say screw the diet for a day and stuff yourself. That is how we do it down here anyway.

I hope they don't shut your gym back down! I am beginning to think most of these Covid numbers are BS. The PCR test the big labs are using is cycled up enough to find a spec on gnats ass while also finding the cold it had in 2nd grade. We are all walking around with traces of something in us. Whether it is enough to prove we are going to get sick with it is another story.

You have a good attitude about it and as you said to have a lot to be thankful for. I concur though, this year does in fact suck azz.

[ArchAngel'73]

Strong work in here. I do miss the Hammer Strength machines from my gym. I know the exact machine you are talking about with the seated ham curls.
It works well once you get it sorted out but it is a PITA to get into the first time around.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and hopefully you were able to say screw the diet for a day and stuff yourself. That is how we do it down here anyway.

I hope they don't shut your gym back down! I am beginning to think most of these Covid numbers are BS. The PCR test the big labs are using is cycled up enough to find a spec on gnats ass while also finding the cold it had in 2nd grade. We are all walking around with traces of something in us. Whether it is enough to prove we are going to get sick with it is another story.

You have a good attitude about it and as you said to have a lot to be thankful for. I concur though, this year does in fact suck azz.

That seated leg curl always was a PITA but I was leaner and used to just slide into that thing before.

I don't need no freakin' holiday as an excuse to over eat. That's a life style unto its own!

When it comes to COVID I'm an neither paranoid nor an anti masker. I work for my province's health authority and have to do all sorts of sh*t at work I don't agree with but not doing it causes more hassle than what its worth so I stfu and do it. We lasted through the week with a rise in infections and no shut down so I guess its a week by week thing.
I can do another quarantine easy peezy for 2-4 weeks.I still got my weights at home and a recumbent bike but its not something I want to happen. The weights are treating me way too well right now to entertain the idea of stopping.

Thank-you.
I figure if my ancestors can escape from Stalin and come to Canada with no money I can go through a pan/scam demic.

[ArchAngel'73]

side Delts

2 arm HS Shoulder Press, PWO total
20x50
10x100

10x210x10 21k, same

6x270 +2 reps/-20 lbs.
2x360 +0 reps/+20 lbs.

"Chicken Wings"
10x150x10 +5 lbs. per rep/15k total/ +5,000 lbs. from last

11x205(stack) +1 rep

8 minutes Elliptical (short on time)


OMG, I could feel my delt caps before bed.

[ArchAngel'73]

October 14, 2020

Tri's were sore, I powered through this b*tch.

Arms

HS Preacher, PWO total
20x45
10x75x10 7,500 total/same as last
6x120 same

Overhead Cable Extensions
20x120
10x155x10 15,500 total/same as last
12x205 same as last

Extra;

cable Press Downs
6x205(stack)

Curl 'n Twist (DB curl on an incline bench, super setted with hands by side DB wrist rotations)
10x20/20x20x3


40 Walking

[ArchAngel'73]

Within 3 days I have lifted well over 93,000 pounds adding up the weights from chest, side delt, and arm days.

God Himself told me to take some time off.
I said "But God, i'm fat"
He said "Ok do cardio then"
So I did.

40 Elliptical

[ArchAngel'73]

October 16, 2020

Back Width

kneeling wide reverse grip cable Pull Downs
20x150
10x205(stack)x10 20,500 total/same as last
20x205(stack) same

fake Pull Ups (new)
3x-205x5

fake Chins (new)
4x-205x3

I still got some muscle to eek out of the kneeling PD's despite REPPING THE STACK.
I can tell because the more sets I do the better the motion feels.

40 Walking

[ArchAngel'73]

it all went to sh*t...

Back Thickness

HS Row
20x180x3

lat station weighted Hypers
20x150x3

Good Mornings
6x45(bar)

20 Elliptical


I misplaced my paper log book...that unsettled me.
Arrived at the gym with good intentions to do back and save legs for tomorrow.
My mind was willing but not my body, and then my motivation plummeted to sh*t.
Got a pump said "f this" and did cardio.

It's all good.
1 botched session amongst 10's of thousands of successful ones. No bothers will be given.

[shaneinga]

Covid, like everything in our country has politicized to the point of exhaustion and with that it has caused a lot of us to be extremely cynical about the whole issue. Hopefully you won't need to resort to going back to pandemic workouts but as you said it's not like it's the end of the world.

Good work put in last week. That GVT sets are insane man. How long do your workouts run while doing 10 x 10 sets?

[ArchAngel'73]

Covid, like everything in our country has politicized to the point of exhaustion and with that it has caused a lot of us to be extremely cynical about the whole issue. Hopefully you won't need to resort to going back to pandemic workouts but as you said it's not like it's the end of the world.

Good work put in last week. That GVT sets are insane man. How long do your workouts run while doing 10 x 10 sets?

You are oh so right.
I notice the stress getting to me over time, even with the gym open. People are just fed up and I don't blame them.

Thank-you.
about tree-fiddy hours. (sorry, I had to, old bb.com meme)
My weight training time is around 30-45 minutes. I don't f around in between sets, 30 sec.-60 sec. in between sets.
I'm also not struggling with the weights that much yet so I can afford to take shorter breaks.
Usually can crank out a GVT exercise (there are usually 2)with warm up, the 10x10, and a widow maker/strength set in 15 minutes.

Often times I've found myself to do a whole GVT exercise while the gym wankers have done 3 sets. Translated to volume speak...I can crank out 20,000 lbs. in one exercise in less than 15 minutes.

[ArchAngel'73]

Off



Slept in and pussed out.
No regrets.

[ArchAngel'73]

October 19, 2020

40 Elliptical

40 Walking

I have a "bad" pain in my right calf. I thought I'd exercise and stretch it to death and if it did not heal for the next day, I would go see a Dr..
It did not heal.

[ArchAngel'73]

Off


More calf pain.
Dr. trip.
Suspected blood clot, given blood thinners and sent for a test next day.
No physical activity recommended by the Dr..

I need to take this incident seriously even though the odds are very much in my favor.

In hindsight this may be a factor in my lack of physical and psychological motivation the past few days.

[shaneinga]

That is impressive you are moving through those sets that quickly!

Sorry to hear about the possible blood clot. I thought I had one back a year or two ago and it turned out it was just a muscle tear in my calf. Went in and had an ultrasound and was relieved it was only a tear.

Drink a bunch of water in the mean time. Good luck with your test.

[shaneinga]

Hope you are doing ok man! Swing through to send good vibes.

Take it easy.

[ArchAngel'73]

That is impressive you are moving through those sets that quickly!

Sorry to hear about the possible blood clot. I thought I had one back a year or two ago and it turned out it was just a muscle tear in my calf. Went in and had an ultrasound and was relieved it was only a tear.

Drink a bunch of water in the mean time. Good luck with your test.

I consider it quite the grind and want to accomplish it asap. It is literally, set after set after set... and that sh*t can get old real fast.
I still adhere to my Fitness Factory lessons...the most efficient work out possible in the least amount of time.

My ultrasound took a few days to get back and it just confirmed there was no clot and the rest has been speculation. I would be more relieved if there was a definitive answer to this. The blood thinners were stopped and I was put on anti-inflammatory medication. It is slowly healing.

Thank-you!

[ArchAngel'73]

Oct. 19-22, 2020

Off due to medical concerns


Oct. 23, 2020

Upper Body (adapted)

HS Incline
20x50
30x50x3

HS shoulder Press
30x50x3

overhead Extensions
20x90x3

HS Preachers
20x45x3

kneeling reverse wide grip Pull Downs
20x150x3




Oct. 24, 2020

Upper Body (adapted)

Decline HS machine
20x80x3

chicken wings
20x95x3

DB Curl
20x15x3

Press Downs
20x90x3

HS Row
20x180x3

narrow grip Pull Down
15x120x3


Oct. 25, 2020

Off

[ArchAngel'73]

Oct. 26, 2020

-trying to maintain a semblance of "training"

Chest

HS Incline
20x90
15x180
10x210x10 21k same as last
6x270
1x320

HS Decline
10x140x10 14k same as last

[ArchAngel'73]

Oct. 27, 2020

Off

Chest and Tri's too sore to hit delts properly

Oct. 28, 2020

side Delts

HS Shoulder Press
25x50
20x90
10x140x10 +5 lbs., 14k total, screwed up logging last session
6x270
2x360x2

"chicken wings"
10x155x10 +5 lbs., 15,500 total, +500 lbs. from last


and we have strength progress once again!

[ArchAngel'73]

Oct. 29, 2020

Arms

HS Preacher
20x45
10x80x10 +5 lbs., 8k total, +500 lbs. from last
6x125 +5 lbs.

overhead Extensions
20x120
10x160x10 +5 lbs., 16 k total, +500 lbs. from last


-more progress!