At least I’m there

Mar09
by Duf on March 9, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Posted In: Daily Workouts, Failure

sickgym2[1]Although I am back at the gym I am certainly not anywhere close to feeling normal as of yet.  Not only is my body not normal, my mind is lagging behind as well.  Although I had another legitimate 5-6 minutes of potential exercise time left today I decided to just grab my keys and head back to the office.  I just didn’t have any mojo.

 

 

Today’s Workout

5 minutes cardio/stretching

Seated dumbbell curl – 25lbs x 12

Seated overhead dumbbell tricep extension – 50lbs x 10

Seated dumbbell curl – 40lbs x 8

Seated overhead dumbbell tricep extension – 60lbs x 10

Seated dumbbell curl – 50lbs x 4

Seated overhead dumbbell tricep extension – 75lbs x 6

Cybex preacher curl – 70lbs x 10

Cybex seated tricep press – 110lbs x 10

Cybex preacher curl – 90lbs x 8

Cybex seated tricep press – 130lbs x 8

Cybex preacher curl – 90lbs x 8

Cybex seated tricep press – 150lbs x 6

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Less in the lower

Mar08
by Duf on March 8, 2016 at 6:19 pm
Posted In: Daily Workouts

It felt like my illness was really still dug in when I did lower body for the first time since becoming sick.  I felt significantly weaker in every exercise and instead of normal sweating I felt clammy.  Sure continuing to complain about illness does nothing to abate it, but it helps pass the time.

Today’s Workout

5 minutes cardio/stretching

Cybex squat press – 225lbs x 10, 315lbs x 10, 405lbs x 10, 495lbs x 8

Seated leg extension – 100lbs x 10, 115lbs x 8, 130lbs x 8

Seated leg curl – 100lbs x 10, 115lbs x 10, 130lbs x 8

Standing calf raise – 205lbs x 10, 235lbs x 10, 265lbs x 8

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In the valley of illness

Mar07
by Duf on March 7, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Posted In: Daily Workouts

indexsssThings have been quiet here because I have been battling with what I presume is a flu-like ailment since two Fridays ago.  The first full day of the ailment was brutal, among the most difficult I can recall during my adult life.  I was so tired and achy that even watching tv sounded like too difficult.  Instead I laid in bed for 90% of the day, feeling like a coma patient as my body rolled in between fits of sweating and freezing.

After that point I had some slight improvement for a couple days but then entered a plateau where I felt pretty much the same the rest of the week, shitty.  Even after I was 4 or 5 days into the illness I was feeling just incredibly run down and weak.  A hacking cough and inflamed sinuses joined the symptoms list after the first couple days.

Of course I did not go to the gym or do any formal exercise at all up until Sunday when Cindy and I did the 20 mile Dunkin Donuts bike ride.  Despite riding at a very conservative pace, by the time we completed the ride I felt like I had just climbed Mt Everest, I was so exhausted.

Today I worked chest after apologizing to my gym buddy for my absence.  As expected I felt significantly weaker with poor endurance.  The 4-5 pounds I have lost in the last week seemed to correlate with a similar strength loss.

Today’s Workout

5 minutes cardio/stretching

Dumbbell chest press – 50lbs x 10, 70lbs x 10, 80lbs x 10, 80lbs x 8, 80lbs x 8

Dumbbell pull over – 60lbs x 10, 60lbs x 10, 60lbs x 10, 60lbs x 10

Barbell bench press dead stops – 135lbs x 15, 135lbs x 10

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Bday + 1

Feb26
by Duf on February 26, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Posted In: Daily Workouts

I managed to barely hang on to push out a 68th push up today to start my workout, one more than my birth year of 1967.  It gets very painful to both push and hold the plank lockout position once you get past 55 reps or so.   During the last half dozen reps I shifted my weight more onto my right arm while holding plank as my left side was on the verge of giving out.  Doing max reps of any bodyweight exercise is a great way to get your body more accustomed to working in the uncomfortable zone, where real progress is actually made.

Today’s Workout

5 minutes cardio/stretching

68 push ups

Hanging knee raises x 20

P-bar straight leg raises x 8

Standing one arm weighted side raise – 45lbs x 10 (both arms)

P-bar straight leg raises x 8

Standing one arm weighted side raise – 65lbs x 10 (both arms)

P-bar straight leg raises x 8

Standing one arm weighted side raise – 85lbs x 10 (both arms)

Decline 50 lb straight arm ab raise x 8

Standing hammer straight arm trunk rotations x 20

Decline 50 lb straight arm ab raise x 8

Standing hammer straight arm trunk rotations x 20

Hanging straight leg raises x 8

 

 

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Mr Turn That Shit Down, 5 pounds makes a difference

Feb25
by Duf on February 25, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Posted In: Daily Workouts, Soapbox

DJ-at-the-Gym[1]So although Mr Unsolicited hands out unrequested exercise tips like they are candy, overall he is a nice guy.  He won major points with me today when one of the girls behind the counter felt it necessary to crank up the hip hop music to near concert levels in the gym area.  Not only does loud music annoy normal gym patrons, it also evidently annoys senior gym trainers that are trying to train clients.  The music was so loud that he had to practically scream at the man he was training.  In less than 5 minutes after the music was turned up, Mr U marched up to the front desk and turned the shit down to tolerable levels.

His walk back to his client went right past where I was working.  I stopped him and thanked him for turning down the music.  I told him on multiple occasions I have complained about the music in the gym area being way too loud.  We briefly exchanged our views on the subject, agreeing there is absolutely no reason the music needs to be so fcking loud. People are there to work out, not rave.

I tried to venture into some new territory again today, trying to get 75 pound dumbbells overhead for seated shoulder press.  I got them to the starting position but I was unable to get them moving from the low, dead stop starting position.  I angrily plopped them back on the rack and grabbed the 70 pounders which were still very tough but I managed to squeeze out a couple reps. On the plate loaded Cybex pull down I had a total of around 280 pounds on it that I managed to squeeze two full ROM reps out of.  Pulling heavy on that is tough because the handles are thick and covered with rubber that bends and spins a bit as more pressure is applied to it.

Today’s Workout

5 minutes cardio/stretching

Seated dumbbell shoulder press – 50lbs x 10

Wide low row with neutral grip – 100lbs x 10

Seated dumbbell shoulder press – 60lbs x 10

Wide low row with neutral grip – 120lbs x 8

Seated dumbbell shoulder press – 70lbs x 2

Wide low row with neutral grip – 140lbs x 5

One arm leaning lateral dumbbell raise – 20lbs x 12 (both arms)

Cybex plate loaded pull down – 150lbs x 12

One arm leaning lateral dumbbell raise – 25lbs x 10 (both arms)

Cybex plate loaded pull down – 235lbs x 10

One arm leaning lateral dumbbell raise – 30lbs x 8 (both arms)

Cybex plate loaded pull down – 280lbs x 2

Alternating skin the cat hold x 5

 

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