So, my computer is on the fritz -- i just paid 40 bucks to get a charger and i dont even know if it is the right one, but I think there is a return policy if i Need it. fuuuuckkkk apples. I got it for free from my grandparents tho, so beggers cant be choosers. or as Cartman would say "the only justice in this life is the justice you take." of course that was in the name of making Kyle suck his balls , so take it for what its worth. But yeah, im sitting here in the library and sorta been stressing -- not having a computer is annoying especially since I am working on this zine thing, and i need to be sending people shit. Also --- as far as bitching about shit goes, my work schedule is all kindas fucked up this week. I am in it for the longer run than most, so I am not bitching to anyone, meerly bitching online here. Its OK NOONE WILL READ THIS, bwahaha.
But I have something more important to share.
Since my workout schedule has been all fucked up (I made it 6 months working out 2 times a week, but lately it has been maybe once every 10 days.....not quite enough. And certain shit I like to do regularly , like say, squats, I dont like to do squats when I am working a lot. ) And I went to Day for Night fest in Houston and saw Aphex Twin and Bjork which was awesome.
Anyways, I had a workout after that that was the "you havent worked out in a full week" work out where everything feels super heavy and you just feel like giving up all the time. That workout sucked, I did it and felt better, but it sucked. But then I had an awesome workout after --- maybe my best of the year , and it was a total adventure.
First I did 3x9 at 120 on the bench (I am up to 120 on the bench solidly, i haven't done 3x10 sets of it yet, tho i must be close.) Then I did rows at home. THEN my buddy Dann picked me up and took me to a rock climbing gym thats where the real fun started.
I might go again, the place is 20 bucks, but it was free for my first time. They have a sauna, so me and Dann got our schvitz on after. But rock climbing. It made me realize how much work I have to do on my forearms and it really made me want to work my forarms. I kinda (this is still basically my first year of working out with progressive overloading on my mind) have been focusing on my upper core and working out from there. So i got the upper core, then it moves out to lower core (squats) and biceps, and the forarms I havent really been working. I have the right weights at home that I can work them just with wrist curls up and down. I also do not want to be too ADD about my back, I havent really started working that, I wanted it to be a focus for the next 6-8 weeks. Oh yeah, also my weight is up to 183 lbs, so I am putting on a few lbs at a time, slowly. I would love to get up to 190, or 205, or 215, which was Michael Jordan's playing weight I think. But anyways after rock climbing I went to the gym in the place and did the curls and worked the forearms, which I noticed were the first part to give out. The cool part was the mental part though. I am scared of heights so I got huge adrenalyne rush getting up these boulders. It is just high enough, but it probably would take falling completely weird to hurt yourself. I am pretty sure most days go by no one gets hurt there. But oh my god, the adrenaline and overcoming the fear. Or just acclimating to it. It was crazy and it was super fun. I think working the forearms more is also going to help me lock out my bench press, maybe it is a missing ingredient to moving up weight on the bench. But mentally, practicing doing something you dont want to do or think you can't do and then the only way forward is forward. crazy.
That was on Tuesday. I suppose tmr (Friday) I will workout again, although I have work every day the next 4 days, including new years, yuck !!
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Adventure Update:
Went to a sweet music festival this weekend and walked about a billion steps. My bench is up to 120, Ive done that 2 sessions, one 3x8 reps sets and one where it averaged 9 reps over 3 sets. It feels good, and I feel a sense of accomplishment when I look at my bench with that weight on it. At the music fest there was this unreal-ly buff dude. He was juiced on something man let me tell you. It was pretty awesome like how he was a comic book character, but I was kinda also like, I cant believe people do this to themselves. He did have an extremely hot girl around his waste, but I think steroids are bad for you. He's just doing him, there were a lot of freaks out at the fest! It was cool to see them all in their full regalia.
The fest was sweet, I could do a full breakdown, but I went ot a rave and danced my ass off the first night and then my hips and calves were just screaming at me where I didnt want to move for days. I did manage to pusxh up some weight before Dann came to drive me down the first day, but not as much as I would have liked --- just 3 sets on the bench and 1 set of curls. My work schedule is also all fucked up this week because of x-mas, so basically, I should just work out tomorrow and get back on it. throw caution to the wind. merry xmas everybody.
oh yeah, and I wanted to post this to try out later. I want to make my lower back a focus point. they say once you fuck it up it is never the same, and I would like to be able to strengthen it specifically. When it is in good shape maybe I can revisit the deadlift as a progressive overload type thing and get the whole posterior chain going. I think I am also going to look for ways to hit my hamstrings, the main muscle you are supposed to use for deadlift.
I havent read this yet, but it says you can do it every day which is pretty sweet.
http://www.nismat.org/services/orthopedic-surgery/therapeutic-exercise-programs/low-back-exercise-program
The fest was sweet, I could do a full breakdown, but I went ot a rave and danced my ass off the first night and then my hips and calves were just screaming at me where I didnt want to move for days. I did manage to pusxh up some weight before Dann came to drive me down the first day, but not as much as I would have liked --- just 3 sets on the bench and 1 set of curls. My work schedule is also all fucked up this week because of x-mas, so basically, I should just work out tomorrow and get back on it. throw caution to the wind. merry xmas everybody.
oh yeah, and I wanted to post this to try out later. I want to make my lower back a focus point. they say once you fuck it up it is never the same, and I would like to be able to strengthen it specifically. When it is in good shape maybe I can revisit the deadlift as a progressive overload type thing and get the whole posterior chain going. I think I am also going to look for ways to hit my hamstrings, the main muscle you are supposed to use for deadlift.
I havent read this yet, but it says you can do it every day which is pretty sweet.
http://www.nismat.org/services/orthopedic-surgery/therapeutic-exercise-programs/low-back-exercise-program
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
More Avoiding working lower back adventure
So,
I was able to do 12x115 lbs on the bench. It was close at the end. I was still sore across my pecs, but not my main power muscles I guess. Locking out at the top was harder than usual, I am attributing that to the previous workout. In any case, no more benching for 5 days, so we will see, but it seems likely I can do the same workout twice next week and move up.
That was the only compound excercise I did today. I did biceps 2x10 with a 55 lb bar, and then finished with a set of 1x10 25 lb free weights. I like mixing it up, and also the way my weight set is, using the barbell helps me with weights like 22.5 and 27.5 lb etc on up, as opposed to my dumb bells that are on multiples of 5.
This is where it got interesting. I was thinking of a couple other exercises to do, and I didn't really feel like doing pushups, but I got the idea to hold 2.5 lbs in each hand and do circles with my arms extended like in P.E. Class. i did it 30 forward and 30 backwards, 2 sets. Could totally feel the burn in there a bit. Then I wanted to do a 4th exercise, I went with Lawnmower pulls, so it was really a day for wailing on the triceps. I did that 1 set with a 25 lb weight, then I made a weight that was 32 1/2 lbs and did 2 sets of that.
Overall, just mainly resting the back for a full week, going slightly up in weight on curls, and throwing some random shit in there that is not really compound exercise stuff, to give my body a break.
I also have been wearing these heavy steel toed boots to keep my feet planted, its good.
I was able to do 12x115 lbs on the bench. It was close at the end. I was still sore across my pecs, but not my main power muscles I guess. Locking out at the top was harder than usual, I am attributing that to the previous workout. In any case, no more benching for 5 days, so we will see, but it seems likely I can do the same workout twice next week and move up.
That was the only compound excercise I did today. I did biceps 2x10 with a 55 lb bar, and then finished with a set of 1x10 25 lb free weights. I like mixing it up, and also the way my weight set is, using the barbell helps me with weights like 22.5 and 27.5 lb etc on up, as opposed to my dumb bells that are on multiples of 5.
This is where it got interesting. I was thinking of a couple other exercises to do, and I didn't really feel like doing pushups, but I got the idea to hold 2.5 lbs in each hand and do circles with my arms extended like in P.E. Class. i did it 30 forward and 30 backwards, 2 sets. Could totally feel the burn in there a bit. Then I wanted to do a 4th exercise, I went with Lawnmower pulls, so it was really a day for wailing on the triceps. I did that 1 set with a 25 lb weight, then I made a weight that was 32 1/2 lbs and did 2 sets of that.
Overall, just mainly resting the back for a full week, going slightly up in weight on curls, and throwing some random shit in there that is not really compound exercise stuff, to give my body a break.
I also have been wearing these heavy steel toed boots to keep my feet planted, its good.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
High Rep Bench Press Adventure
OK --- so I did a workout where I tried doing squats and deadlifts in the same workout. I think i did 2 sets of squats, (maybe 3? prob not), with a 50 lb bar. Then I did one set of deadlifts using 20 lb free weights, maybe 8 of those. I wanted to go down in weight since it was my first time trying it.
For the next couple days my back wasn't right per se. Nothing went out or bad happened, but I was at work and there was this rumbling like almost like a stomach growling but it was coming from my lower back!! Holy fuck! I made all the waitresses stop what they were doing and said "quick, who knows yoga!" and my manager did and I was like "what can I do to release my lower back?!?!?" I was honestly scared. Then Cory picked me up back to back and stretched out my lower back. It was also honestly scary as fuck as well cause I thought he was gonna fuck something up, but actually it worked.
So anyways, for a followup, i decided no back stuff, and actually I went down lbs and did high rep work on my bench press. It was fun!!
My previous workout I had access to a buddy for a spotter, so I did 3 sets, I think 10x115 lbs, 10x120 lbs, and then I did 6 reps at 130 lbs, which was the most I've tried so far.
This time I decided to take it easy --- there was 50 lbs on the bar and I just did a pyramid off that, 10 reps, 25 reps, 30 reps, 35 reps, then 25 reps, then 15 reps. I also did those scarecrow things from the video in the last post in between sets and a set or 2 of pushups. today I feel sore across my chest in a really great way, and in a different pattern that before.
I also got the idea because I saw in a strength/power workout scheme you can still devote 10% of your time to endurance type high reps stuff, and since I never do that, i thought it would be a free-bee.
my plan is to go back to 3 sets of 12 at 115, which I was kinda plateauing at, and do that for maybe a week, maybe 3 more work outs and then go to 3 sets of 8 at 120, and have that be my new base working weight on the bench.
---
as for deadlifting and squats, I think i am gonna give it a rest for another week as long as I got away with not messing myself up. I am slightly addicted to deadlifting, but also i need a professional opinion because I had scoliosis surgery when I was 15 and my back is fused ! There is this guy at work who is ripped as fuck and he hurt his back, so if a dude who knows what he is doing and is ripped can hurt his back, i would assume this means I can as well. There might need to be an alternate approach for my body, but I would cry tears ;( ;( ;(
For the next couple days my back wasn't right per se. Nothing went out or bad happened, but I was at work and there was this rumbling like almost like a stomach growling but it was coming from my lower back!! Holy fuck! I made all the waitresses stop what they were doing and said "quick, who knows yoga!" and my manager did and I was like "what can I do to release my lower back?!?!?" I was honestly scared. Then Cory picked me up back to back and stretched out my lower back. It was also honestly scary as fuck as well cause I thought he was gonna fuck something up, but actually it worked.
So anyways, for a followup, i decided no back stuff, and actually I went down lbs and did high rep work on my bench press. It was fun!!
My previous workout I had access to a buddy for a spotter, so I did 3 sets, I think 10x115 lbs, 10x120 lbs, and then I did 6 reps at 130 lbs, which was the most I've tried so far.
This time I decided to take it easy --- there was 50 lbs on the bar and I just did a pyramid off that, 10 reps, 25 reps, 30 reps, 35 reps, then 25 reps, then 15 reps. I also did those scarecrow things from the video in the last post in between sets and a set or 2 of pushups. today I feel sore across my chest in a really great way, and in a different pattern that before.
I also got the idea because I saw in a strength/power workout scheme you can still devote 10% of your time to endurance type high reps stuff, and since I never do that, i thought it would be a free-bee.
my plan is to go back to 3 sets of 12 at 115, which I was kinda plateauing at, and do that for maybe a week, maybe 3 more work outs and then go to 3 sets of 8 at 120, and have that be my new base working weight on the bench.
---
as for deadlifting and squats, I think i am gonna give it a rest for another week as long as I got away with not messing myself up. I am slightly addicted to deadlifting, but also i need a professional opinion because I had scoliosis surgery when I was 15 and my back is fused ! There is this guy at work who is ripped as fuck and he hurt his back, so if a dude who knows what he is doing and is ripped can hurt his back, i would assume this means I can as well. There might need to be an alternate approach for my body, but I would cry tears ;( ;( ;(
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Weightlifting Adventure
Hi !! My name is Ethan and I am partaking in a weight lifting adventure. There are many great advantages to weight lifting, but also it is fun to learn about. There are a lot of buff dudes who make videos for youtube with a lot of views, and Ill bet they make some $$$ off it, actually, cause those dudes are like getting millions of views. A lot of them have good advice, and stuff I hear that I will try and put into my workout. I ususally work out twice a week, sometimes on Monday and Wednesday and sometimes on Monday and Thursday. Besides that I will shoot hoops around sometimes, or if I'm at a nice point in life maybe do some yoga. Honestly, I don't know, but I look a lot better than when I started! I think I got a bench press about 2 years ago, and a squat rack about a year ago, and its probably around the time the squat rack showed up that I actually started working out with any regularity. I dont know, whatever, its a part of my life now. I would definitely say I am a novice, anyways here's my current stats.
age: 31, Height , 6'5", weight, around 178
working weight:
BENCH 115
CURL 25
ROW 2 45s and change, maybe 125?
SQUAT 50
DEADLIFT 50
I just started deadlifting -- like really Ive done it twice so far. So far also only I have been using barbells. I am going to go see a trainer and get some proper form tips for it, but I thought it was a light enough weight that I wouldn't be able to hurt myself, although I am still testing it out, especially in regards to wanting to have a strong lower back, and not injure myself in that area.
I also wait tables 4 days a week, so that is good aerobic exercise in general.
So that's a bit of the tale of the tape for where I am out, I'm sure I will get some more of these thoughts out of my brain coming up on how interesting a journey its been. I kinda want to just keep diarizing about it as if anyone will read this but myself, bwahaha.
Anyways if you are that other person ("the other") feel free to leave comments. Mainly I want to just have an archive of links to videos I found helpful for some reason or another.
this guy is kinda nuts, but I am going to incorporate what he does starting at 5:40. One issue I am dealing with right now is creating a warm-up routine that will allow me to lift better. I am starting from basically doing nothing, but I also found this good one for deadlifts. Learning this shit now while my working weights are light I think will pay off later on, if I get bigger, but also if my weight stays the same I think it is just a good idea, and I am definitely keeping an eye on it.
So these exercises I am going to try before my first bench press, because one thing Ive noticed is that my first set is harder to pump out than my 2nd, so I think that means I am at a weight where I would benefit from warming up more before the first set.
chicken flexes for rear delts and rotator cuff -- 2 bench press warmups
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzzum8xCU_w
age: 31, Height , 6'5", weight, around 178
working weight:
BENCH 115
CURL 25
ROW 2 45s and change, maybe 125?
SQUAT 50
DEADLIFT 50
I just started deadlifting -- like really Ive done it twice so far. So far also only I have been using barbells. I am going to go see a trainer and get some proper form tips for it, but I thought it was a light enough weight that I wouldn't be able to hurt myself, although I am still testing it out, especially in regards to wanting to have a strong lower back, and not injure myself in that area.
I also wait tables 4 days a week, so that is good aerobic exercise in general.
So that's a bit of the tale of the tape for where I am out, I'm sure I will get some more of these thoughts out of my brain coming up on how interesting a journey its been. I kinda want to just keep diarizing about it as if anyone will read this but myself, bwahaha.
Anyways if you are that other person ("the other") feel free to leave comments. Mainly I want to just have an archive of links to videos I found helpful for some reason or another.
this guy is kinda nuts, but I am going to incorporate what he does starting at 5:40. One issue I am dealing with right now is creating a warm-up routine that will allow me to lift better. I am starting from basically doing nothing, but I also found this good one for deadlifts. Learning this shit now while my working weights are light I think will pay off later on, if I get bigger, but also if my weight stays the same I think it is just a good idea, and I am definitely keeping an eye on it.
So these exercises I am going to try before my first bench press, because one thing Ive noticed is that my first set is harder to pump out than my 2nd, so I think that means I am at a weight where I would benefit from warming up more before the first set.
chicken flexes for rear delts and rotator cuff -- 2 bench press warmups
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzzum8xCU_w
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