Summer of Starting Strength

[Braindrop]

Lemme just say, as a mild claustrophobe, getting a knee MRI beats the hell out of an shoulder MRI. Not to mention that I didn't miss the whole dye-injection process this time.

Results Friday.

[Braindrop]

Tuesday Nutrition
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2073 cals (62f/161c/189p) Still having problems keeping the carbs low, but at least it's almost all from milk, bananas and an apple rather than a donut

[Braindrop]

Well, today sucked. Knee started hurting during the squat warmup sets, I pushed through the first work set with it hurting, but I literally could not get push from the leg when I tried the second set. It was like my knee wasn't there.

I've got the MRI read tomorrow morning, hopefully I'll get some clarity on how to proceed going forward.

On the up side, got a new car yesterday to replace my 20-year-old truck.

Wednesday Nutrition
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2049 cals (63f/170c/200p)

Thursday Starting Strength #5
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Squat: 45# 2x5; 65# 1x5; 100# 1x3; 135# 1x2; 170# 1x5; 0x5 (failure)
Bench Press: 45# 2x5; 70# 1x5; 100# 1x3; 135# 1x2; 145# 3x5
Deadlift: didn't attempt

[Braindrop]

Thursday Nutrition
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2593 cals (116/186/195)

[grizzlybuck]

Hey Brain, what do you do for warmups before squatting? I'm 44 and 6'4" 240ish with so-so knees. Mine were bothering me lately, mainly from not pushing them out far enough and squatting too shallow. I got some neoprene knee sleeves to keep them warm, I warm up on a stationary bike, I start with the seat back a bit, and move it forward as I loosen up, by the time I'm done with my 9-10 minutes, my knees are bending sharply and are quite loose. My knees felt much better yesterday with the neoprene and emphasis on knees out deeper squats. Good luck with getting good news on your MRI.

[Braindrop]

Thanks! I've been doing 45 minutes of yoga prior to lifting. I'm going to add 10 minutes of elliptical machine in as well I think.

MRI Results
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* No discrete meniscal tear
* Small full-thickness cartilage fissure of the mid-lateral tibial plateau cartilage with underlying marrow edema.
* Join effusion with chondromalacia patella
* Moderate patellofemoral arthritis

After looking at MRIs and playing with my leg some more, it comes down to medial hamstring insertional tendonitis (pes anserine bursitis).

So, no surgery (yay!). I'm on 800 mg of ibruprophen morning/night plus ice.

My ortho recommends:
* No running on it for a month (elliptical machine ok)
* Continue to lift, but if I'm going to squat deep, use lighter weights while it heals (I am so I will)

If it is still bothering me a month from now, we'll try a steroid injection into the tendon.

I'm just relieved it isn't a meniscus tear.

On a side note, 22 years ago today me and Mrs. Brain got married in a church that was filled with candles and a broken AC, in East Texas in the summer. A memorable experience!

[Braindrop]

I took my 800 mg of ibruprofen 45 minutes before the workout along with my oatmeal/protein breakfast, and added 10 minutes of elliptical warmup before doing anything, plus a couple of bodyweight-only warmup squat sets.

The knee felt great throughout. I'm sure it also helped psychologically that I know it isn't getting damaged by what I'm doing. I backed a little more than 10% off squat and will increase slowly.

Saturday: SS Workout #6
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Squat: bw 2x5; 45# 2x5; 60# 1x5; 90# 1x3; 120# 1x2; 150# 3x5
Press: 45# 2x5; 55# 1x5; 70# 1x3; 85# 1x2; 100# 3x5
Power Clean: 45# 2x5; 60# 1x5; 75# 1x3; 90# 1x2; 110# 3x5
Cooldown: 20 2-hand kb swings (35#)

[Braindrop]

Spent a couple of hours doing yardwork and cleaning up the shop/gym. It still has another half-day of work left on it. I can't breathe now Knee is feeling good though.


Saturday Nutrition
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2329 cals (94f/179c/188p).
For anyone wondering, a Sonic rootbeer float has 90g carbs in it... *now* I know.

Sunday Nutrition
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1989 cals (44f/84c/252p)

[Braindrop]

Knee felt good throughout, and isn't sore at the moment afterward. Breathed way too much dust yesterday, ugh.

Monday SS Workout #7
----------------------
Warmup:
20# kb 20 2H swings
10 mins elliptical

Squat: bw 2x5; 45# 2x5; 60# 1x5; 90# 1x3; 120# 1x2; 152.5# 3x5
Bench: 45# 2x5; 75# 1x5; 105# 1x3; 135# 1x2; 150# 3x5
Dead: 85# 2x5; 125# 1x3; 180# 1x2; 215# 1x5

Cooldown:
35# kb 20 2H swings

[Braindrop]

BTW, got my Rogue Do-Win lifting shoes today, I can't say enough good things about them compared to my running shoes -- I no longer "squish" when I squat or dead.