MysticRealm
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Haha, good job on the basketball! Hope you don't feel it too bad tomorrow!
Looking to lose an extra human I apparently picked up along the way
- Thread starter MrVee
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Quercus
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Aww man you're slipping! At this rate you won't be done until noon on Wednesday. 
Nice bball!
Whenever I did squats I liked to squat down low and press the knees outward with my elbows. That helps to open up the hips and gets blood into the quads before the lift. Kind of gets some of the hurting done while not under load.
Nice bball!
Whenever I did squats I liked to squat down low and press the knees outward with my elbows. That helps to open up the hips and gets blood into the quads before the lift. Kind of gets some of the hurting done while not under load.
MrVee
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Q,
I always worry about my squat form (though my old trainer says it's actually quite good for someone with as little experience as me), and I also worry about failure despite having the pins in the power rack (nothing bad will happen except maybe a little noise). I do make sure I get low (hips below paralell) and I generally don't have problems with my knees swinging in. Where my problems start is when I struggle on a rep, my balance starts to go. As a result and my fear of failure on a rep, I sometimes quit a set after I have a rep where I feel like I just barely made it up.
In any event because of the soreness and the layoff, I struggled a bit with weights I could handle before on the squat and to a little extent on the bench. Did fine on the t-bar row, but I'm new to that one anyway. I'm hoping I'll be a little better conditioned on Friday, I really was very sore today. Sore enough to take a couple advil this morning.
All and all, it's what I deserve for taking the 12 days off.
Contemplating heading back into the online dating hell fairly soon, but I think I'll hold off just a little bit longer. First things first for now.
I always worry about my squat form (though my old trainer says it's actually quite good for someone with as little experience as me), and I also worry about failure despite having the pins in the power rack (nothing bad will happen except maybe a little noise). I do make sure I get low (hips below paralell) and I generally don't have problems with my knees swinging in. Where my problems start is when I struggle on a rep, my balance starts to go. As a result and my fear of failure on a rep, I sometimes quit a set after I have a rep where I feel like I just barely made it up.
In any event because of the soreness and the layoff, I struggled a bit with weights I could handle before on the squat and to a little extent on the bench. Did fine on the t-bar row, but I'm new to that one anyway. I'm hoping I'll be a little better conditioned on Friday, I really was very sore today. Sore enough to take a couple advil this morning.
All and all, it's what I deserve for taking the 12 days off.
Contemplating heading back into the online dating hell fairly soon, but I think I'll hold off just a little bit longer. First things first for now.
MysticRealm
New member
I've never used a squat rack or had a spotter but maybe if you had a spotter for a couple times it would ease that fear a bit.
Great job hitting the gym though! It's amazing how fast we can get weak huh? Luckily as long as it isn't a super long break it usually only takes a few times to get back on track.
You're braver than I with the online dating. I haven't had a date in years haha, and rarely dated at all in my life, and not really in too much of a hurry to have one! (though sometimes I feel like I'm 'missing out', the feeling quickly passes when I hear of relationship problems others are having haha)
Great job hitting the gym though! It's amazing how fast we can get weak huh? Luckily as long as it isn't a super long break it usually only takes a few times to get back on track.
You're braver than I with the online dating. I haven't had a date in years haha, and rarely dated at all in my life, and not really in too much of a hurry to have one! (though sometimes I feel like I'm 'missing out', the feeling quickly passes when I hear of relationship problems others are having haha)
Great job on the weight! I´m no expert on these things but feeling you just barely made it up sounds more sensible to me than pushing until actual failure (after having experienced actual failure in order to know whether or not that feeling is correct). But however that might be: you´re starting to kick ass again!
Quercus
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You will make strength gains working sets to the first difficult rep and stopping.
On dumping:
I practiced dumping the bar on the safties, but at the home gym making noise wasn't a big deal. If you intend to max on squats you should practice dumping the lift before. I never set out to do sets to failure, but with a linear progression it just happens. You can dump a lightly weighted bar with clips/collars/pins on and towels over the safety pins to dampen the racket. Once you know you have to dump you are getting the load off of you back just slow enough to not slam yourself into the ground. You are quickly guiding the weight to the pins not supporting the weight to the pins. The first time is nerve wracking, but once you do it you will see that it is simple and easy. That will make you more confident in pushing weight or rep numbers. I would stress that form breaks down when you are overloaded or fatigued so taking it easy and racking after (or before) the first shaky rep is a good policy.
On form:
I checked that the weight wasn't too far forward by wiggling my toes before the lift starts. Make sure you keep the arch in your back at the bottom (the whole time actually). I rounded at the bottom and that's how I herniated my disc. If you ever get told you are shrimping or tucking that's what they mean. Don't divebomb which is drop down too fast. The entire movement is controlled from shouldering the weight to rerack.
Good luck with the dating! I hope the weight keeps dropping like a rock!
On dumping:
I practiced dumping the bar on the safties, but at the home gym making noise wasn't a big deal. If you intend to max on squats you should practice dumping the lift before. I never set out to do sets to failure, but with a linear progression it just happens. You can dump a lightly weighted bar with clips/collars/pins on and towels over the safety pins to dampen the racket. Once you know you have to dump you are getting the load off of you back just slow enough to not slam yourself into the ground. You are quickly guiding the weight to the pins not supporting the weight to the pins. The first time is nerve wracking, but once you do it you will see that it is simple and easy. That will make you more confident in pushing weight or rep numbers. I would stress that form breaks down when you are overloaded or fatigued so taking it easy and racking after (or before) the first shaky rep is a good policy.
On form:
I checked that the weight wasn't too far forward by wiggling my toes before the lift starts. Make sure you keep the arch in your back at the bottom (the whole time actually). I rounded at the bottom and that's how I herniated my disc. If you ever get told you are shrimping or tucking that's what they mean. Don't divebomb which is drop down too fast. The entire movement is controlled from shouldering the weight to rerack.
Good luck with the dating! I hope the weight keeps dropping like a rock!
MysticRealm
New member
Have fun at b-ball!
MrVee
New member
1am and I can't sleep again. This insomnia crap is getting kinda old. It's not at all good for either the muscle building or weight-loss aspect of things either. Might try the hammer to the head approach that works so well in cartoons.
Anyway Cate, to start off March I was thinking of maybe doing a video instead of a picture. I did in fact sign up for online dating again, though I'm not taking it particularly seriously this time. I'm treating it as an occasional diversion and if anything comes of it, so be it.
Anyway, I actually took a crappy webcam photo today after my haircut, but decided against using it on the dating site: it's too damned sexy and I don't want to make things too easy on myself. So here it be:
View attachment 22636
Anyway Cate, to start off March I was thinking of maybe doing a video instead of a picture. I did in fact sign up for online dating again, though I'm not taking it particularly seriously this time. I'm treating it as an occasional diversion and if anything comes of it, so be it.
Anyway, I actually took a crappy webcam photo today after my haircut, but decided against using it on the dating site: it's too damned sexy and I don't want to make things too easy on myself. So here it be:
View attachment 22636
Quercus
New member
Nice shot skinny! You should update your avatar. I didn't expect you to look slimmer than the last shot I saw of you as there hasn't been that many pounds in between, but it is a drastic difference.
When I lifted heavy in the evenings I would have trouble sleeping. I'd be tired and lay down, but be restless and fully awake. I don't know if it's effect to the CNS or hormones or what, but the problem was real. It was usually when I got back to it after a lay off or really was pushing things. I think both of those apply to you right now. Maybe lift earlier or back off a bit and see if that helps your sleep. Even if you're prone to insomnia it might help ease things. Not getting sleep makes everything harder. Just try to rest even if you aren't sleeping and hopefully this goes away soon.
When I lifted heavy in the evenings I would have trouble sleeping. I'd be tired and lay down, but be restless and fully awake. I don't know if it's effect to the CNS or hormones or what, but the problem was real. It was usually when I got back to it after a lay off or really was pushing things. I think both of those apply to you right now. Maybe lift earlier or back off a bit and see if that helps your sleep. Even if you're prone to insomnia it might help ease things. Not getting sleep makes everything harder. Just try to rest even if you aren't sleeping and hopefully this goes away soon.
MrVee
New member
177.5 this morning.
Twisted my ankle during basketball yesterday, but wasn't too bad and kept playing. It's swollen and sore today, but I actually thought it would be worse. Should be fine.
Baseball Spring Training has started so going to try and catch a lot of games this year. Games don't start for another week or so, but all the teams and players are all here in town now.
Twisted my ankle during basketball yesterday, but wasn't too bad and kept playing. It's swollen and sore today, but I actually thought it would be worse. Should be fine.
Baseball Spring Training has started so going to try and catch a lot of games this year. Games don't start for another week or so, but all the teams and players are all here in town now.
MysticRealm
New member
You look great! And getting back on track so well! Sorry about your ankle. I hope it heals up quick.
MrVee
New member
178 this morning.
Ankle feels surprisingly good. Shouldn't be any sort of hindrance. Weight lifting today and hoping to start back up the progress ladder after coming back from the layoff last week.
Taking my nicer old clothes in a few months ago has bore fruit: I had around thirty five bucks of store credit at the consignment store yesterday so I bought a short sleeve shirt in anticipation of hot weather coming. Still have some money left over and not all my stuff has sold, so I might still get more money. Actually saw one of my old shirts in the rack. It was a XXXL and the one I bought was a M. Kinda puts things in perspective.
Ankle feels surprisingly good. Shouldn't be any sort of hindrance. Weight lifting today and hoping to start back up the progress ladder after coming back from the layoff last week.
Taking my nicer old clothes in a few months ago has bore fruit: I had around thirty five bucks of store credit at the consignment store yesterday so I bought a short sleeve shirt in anticipation of hot weather coming. Still have some money left over and not all my stuff has sold, so I might still get more money. Actually saw one of my old shirts in the rack. It was a XXXL and the one I bought was a M. Kinda puts things in perspective.
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