Keeping myself honest

[vanslix]

Hopefully you can find some solace because of this. :-/

Thanks everyone.

I absolutely do. As a doc, making sure someone dies a good death is perhaps one of the most meaningful things I've ever experienced. Her last cogent words to me were, "here's Isaac. He makes the pain go away." And that was followed by a huge smile.

Wk 2D
SGDL - 175 x 3,3,3,3
Let ext - 130/125/120 x 8s
Leg curls - 105/100/95 x 8s

Played around with static hangs as suggested by Hector. My grip is weak AF. The biggest limitation was the stretch in my lumbar and lower thoracic spine, though.

[vanslix]

Wk 3A
Press - 150 x 2,2,2,2,4
Pulldowns - 130/120/110 x 8
Dips - BW+25lbs x 5,5,5

[Christopher John]

The biggest limitation was the stretch in my lumbar and lower thoracic spine, though.

Neuropathy from your one-in-a-billion spine or just super tight hip flexors?

[vanslix]

It doesn't induce a neuropathy but it's the pain from my unicorn spine.

[Tygerqb12]

Hey Van,

Just checking in after a while out. Glad to see you are still it, but I'm sorry for your recent loss.

[vanslix]

I am nothing if not relentless. No matter how many times I have to reset this weight. In the end, it's not about the weight. It's about it being therapy. Plain and simple. Taking whatever emotion, pouring it into the iron, and seeing what happens in that crucible. Alchemy at its best.

Wk 3B
SGDL - 185 x 5 sets x 2 reps
Leg ext - 135/130/125 x 8s
Leg curls - 110/105/100 x 8s

Back held up well to these. Which is good because I was hesitant. And this was after a 30+ hour shift with about 4 hours of various sleep. I went home, ate, and went to bed at 4 pm.

I had two goals this month. To lift twice a week. And to do one somewhat intense cardio once a week. I hit the first one the second part of the month. Missed the second one. But all things considered, I am pleased with the twice a week lifting these past couple of weeks.

Chris, still haven't noticed any massive quads. I think I'd need to add a 4th or 5th set to get the volume.

[hector_garza]

In the end, it's not about the weight. It's about it being therapy. Plain and simple. Taking whatever emotion, pouring it into the iron, and seeing what happens in that crucible. Alchemy at its best.

Well put!
Does your gym have a leg press? I don't measure, but I think a few months of leg press has done as much for my quads (which isn't a whole lot, but is something) as years of squatting.

[Christopher John]

Chris, still haven't noticed any massive quads. I think I'd need to add a 4th or 5th set to get the volume.

Worth it.

[vanslix]

Well put!
Does your gym have a leg press? I don't measure, but I think a few months of leg press has done as much for my quads (which isn't a whole lot, but is something) as years of squatting.

There is a leg press. I think I tried it once at Andy's suggestion. My back was irritated and it kind of irritated it. So being irritated, I gave up on it immediately.

Worth it.

I'll come back to that. I want to regain a bit of strength for now. So since June is a relatively easier month, I'm going to increase the frequency of the lifts and push myself a little bit harder.

Cycle 1
Wk 3 Conditioning
Airdyne HIIT x 4 rounds, 15:75

Cycle 1
Wk 3C
Bench - 225 x 2,2,2,2,5
Cable rows - 130/120/110, paired with dips
Dips - BW x 10,10,10

Cycle 2
Wk 1A
Press - 127.5 x 6,7,9. Had a little extra in the tank so pushed it.
SGLD - 145 x 6,6,6
Some DB higher volume work as now my R elbow is hurting. No clue why.
Back work

ERM
Press - 157.5 -> 160
Bench - 230 -> 235
SGDL - 185 -> 195

[jkolt]

Random question. What's your diet look like? I saw on a very old post that you praised the Mediterranean diet (or at least the academic evidence supporting it).