Fiftyfit's Road Back

[fiftyfit]

I've been away a long time, for reasons I covered in the elderly section. Made some decent progress the last couple months, so decided to try a meet again. Will compete in Rochester, NY on Nov. 22...only doing the bench press, and perhaps power curl. My training is somewhat varied right now, with emphasis on bench press, so I'm starting a new log here. Following are my last two workouts, so you all can see where I am right now. Only training two days a week on a A/B schedule.

Friday, Oct 10
Bwt - 197 1/2
Nautilus leg press: 150 x 5, 215 x 7
Calf raise on Nautilus: 90 x 18, 90 x 10
Bench press (light day): 85 x 5, 132 x 7 x 3 sets
Pull-up: bwt + 18 lbs x 5, 5, 4
Dips: bwt + 50 lbs x 8, bwt x 14
Reverse E-Z curl: 85 x 9
Wrist roller: 70 x 2 sets forward, 2 sets backward, consecutively
Reverse hyperextension: 110 x 12, 110 x 10

Monday, Oct 13
Bwt - 198
Leg curl: 95 x 8, 85 x 8
supersetted with
Nautilus leg extension: 145 x 10, 135 x 8
Donkey C/R: 130 x 20, 120 x 12
Leverage (end of bar) row: 100 x 5, 155 x 6
Bench press (heavy day): 95 x 5, 135 x 3, 176 x 6 x 3 sets
E-Z curl: 75 x 5, 95 x 2, 117 1/2 x 3
Decline rolling DBs: 38 x 11, 25 x 10
Grip block: 57 1/2 x 6 seconds, 57 1/2 x 5 seconds (short piece of landscape timber used for grip block, with weight attached)
Iron Woody gripper: 161 lbs x 8 reps + static hold

[stuffedsuperdud]

I just looked at your old log and your story in the elderly section and.....wow, those are some tough breaks, sir. Real sorry about your girlfriend. Hope everything gets a bit easier in the months to come as your logistics and injuries improve.

[fiftyfit]

First off, thanks to all for their support and encouragement, it's much appreciated during these tough times. I'm in northern Georgia as I write this, along with my girl and my mom. We've spent the last few days visiting an aunt and uncle at their camp here. My girl's condition is not good, and I'm certain this will be our last real trip together. When we get home, I'll have to get busy finding a facility where she'll be safe, and properly cared for. It breaks my heart to see her slipping away so quickly, but we had a great ten years together, and I truly believe it was fate that brought us together. We plan on visiting one of my sister's, in North Carolina, for a day or two on our way home, then the hard part starts.

[fiftyfit]

I got one w/o in while on our trip, but the available equipment was kinda shoddy, so I didn't really push it.
Mon, Oct 20 at a campground exercise room
Leg curl: 75 x 8 (on a poorly-made bench)
Bench press: 110 x 5, 142 x 3, 165 x 2, 198 x 2 (bench was shaky)
Close-grip pulldown: 200 x 15 (I think the wt stack must have been off...it was TOO EASY)
CGBP: 132 x 10, 146 x 8
BB curl with Olympic bar: 75 x 5, 110 x 1, 121 x 2*
Seated O/H tricep ext: 80 x 10
Squat: 121 x 5, 157 x 5, 198 x 5 (my first squats in almost two years)

Yesterday's w/o at home
Fri, Oct 24
Bwt - 199
BP (light day): 90 x 5, 120 x 3, 147 x 5 x 3 sets
Pull-up: Bwt + 20 lbs x 5, 4, 4
Dips: Bwt + 55 lbs x 6*, bwt x 18*
Leg curl: 100 x 5*, 90 x 7
Nautilus leg ext: 150 x 8*, 140 x 9
Reverse E-Z curl: 87 1/2 x 8*
Wrist roller: 75 x 2 sets forward, 2 sets backward, consecutively*
Reverse hyper: 50 x 10, 115 x 12*, 115 x 10

[Mark E. Hurling]

You are an example of the real strength of character we all should strive to emulate.

[fiftyfit]

You are an example of the real strength of character we all should strive to emulate.

My strength of character is a direct result of the values instilled by my mom and the compassion she still shows, at 76 (yeah, she was young when she had me)!

I had a decent w/o today, though I had to split it up. Had to take my girl, Maureen, for another MRI. I started checking out assisted living facilities, and will be visiting a couple later this week.

Here's today's w/o;
Bwt - 199
Squat: 85 x 5, 135 x 3, 175 x 2, 205 x 5 x 2 sets (cramped just a little after these)
Leverage row: 100 x 5, 160 x 5*
BP: 115 x 5, 145 x 3, 165 x 2, 195 x 4*, 3, 3
E-Z curl: 80 x 5, 100 x 3, 122 1/2 x 2 (just missed 3rd)
Decline rolling DBs: 40 x 10, 30 x 12
Grip block: 55 lbs x 4 seconds x 2 sets
Captain's of Crush gripper: #1 x 4 reps (grip strength has regressed a little, following trip)

[fiftyfit]

My Halloween w/o ;
Wt - 199 1/2
BP (light day): 90 x 5, 120 x 2, 156 x 4 x 3 sets
Chinup: Bwt + 20 lbs x 7, bwt x 8
Dips: Bwt + 55 lbs x 6*, bwt x 16*
Nautilus leg press: 135 x 5, 175 x 3, 200 x 8
Nautilus C/R: 90 x 15, 90 x 10
Reverse E-Z curl: 90 x 6*
Wrist roller: 75 lbs x 1 set (broke the rope attaching my weight stack)
Reverse hyper: 60 x 8, 120 x 12*, 120 x 10
Note: Decided to drop the squats, I can see they're just going to aggravate my injuries...my ribs and back worsened after trying them the last two weeks.

[fiftyfit]

Only nineteen days left till my meet, and I'm starting to feel more run-down, most likely due to my full-time caregiving duties and the associated stress. I did get a little lift from some old friends today, though. Visited my best friend from high school, and his brother this morning, and they're going to try to go to my meet on the 22nd. If they make it, it will give me a little more incentive. They were both big benchers in their youth (probably 350+), and I'll definitely try harder with them watching. They said they may even start training again for the next local meet, in February. Perhaps we could field our own team then LOL!
Anyway, here's today's w/o;
Bwt - 199
Leg curl: 90 x 8, 80 x 8 supersetted with
Leg ext: 140 x 10, 130 x 9
Donkey C/R: 130 x 15, 120 x 12
BP: 115 x 5, 145 x 3, 170 x 2, 203 x 2* (just missed 3rd), 200 x 2, 200 x 2
Leverage row: 120 x 5 (back tweaked...did no more)
Decline rolling DBs: 45 x 6*, 30 x 14
E-Z curl: 80 x 5, 100 x 8
Pinch grip: 55 x 7 seconds, 55 x 6 seconds
Captains of Crush gripper: #1 x 7 reps

[fiftyfit]

My back is still hurting a little, but I pushed through another productive w/o today;
Bwt - 198
BP (light day): 95 x 5, 125 x 2, 162 x 3 x 2 sets
Chinup: bwt + 25 lbs x 6*, bwt x 8
Dips: bwt + 60 lbs x 6*, bwt x 17
Nautilus L/P: 150 x 5, 205 x 7
C/R: 120 x 13
Reverse E-Z curl: 90 x 7*
Wrist roller: 80 lbs x 4 continuous sets, forward and back
Reverse hyper: 60 x 8, 125 x 12*, 125 x 10

[fiftyfit]

My back is still giving me trouble...saw my chiropractor this morning. I also believe I'm just dragging from the stress of caring for my girl, and trying to coordinate everything on a daily basis without forgetting something. I was forced to take a brief w/o today, mainly aiming for a decent "double" in the BP for my last "heavy" w/o before the meet on the 22nd.
Bwt - 199
BP: 115 x 5, 145 x 3, 175 x 1, 210 x 2*
DB row (substitute due to back trouble): 45 x 10
Decline "rolling" DBs: 45 x 8, 34 x 12
E-Z curl: 80 x 5, 105 x 7*
Leg curl: 90 x 6
Leg ext: 100 x 10 (due to back)
Note: one "light" BP w/o left on Friday, then no more benching till my meet