Sync and Spouse Training Log(s)

[synchronicity]

Great work today. I'm having the exact same problems with my press. Apparently they filmed a platform video at the Starting Strength Coaches Conference detailing the third edition press. I am really looking forward to this as I'm sure I'm not transferring the hip snap into upward drive of the bar correctly. I think seeing it will be a big help.

If you have any cues that help here, let me know what you come up with.

I'm eagerly awaiting the video as well. As for cues, can't help you much, but one that was suggested was "just imagine you're [boinking] the wall in front of you". That was no help to me, since now every day is Oxi day. :-)

[Gene61]

I'm also starting to seriously think about how to add conditioning into the mix on non-lifting days. I really want to drop a bunch of my fat and get my overall health in order (lower my BP, avoid potential diabetes, all that stuff. As well as, er, other things guys start worrying about when they reach a certain age....)

Just a suggestion, but I would hold off on that until you finish with your Novice linear progression. Any conditioning you do will interfere with your recovery between work outs and slow your progress. There will be plenty of time to cut your weight and add conditioning routines when you become an intermediate lifter. Personally, I have given up my beloved surfing and mountain biking for the duration, as I know my experience with them will be vastly improved once I get stronger. Something to think about...

[synchronicity]

Just a suggestion, but I would hold off on that until you finish with your Novice linear progression. Any conditioning you do will interfere with your recovery between work outs and slow your progress. There will be plenty of time to cut your weight and add conditioning routines when you become an intermediate lifter. Personally, I have given up my beloved surfing and mountain biking for the duration, as I know my experience with them will be vastly improved once I get stronger. Something to think about...

I hear you, but at the same time I'm both a little younger (so should have a little more gas for recovery) and a lot fatter (hence more worried about various issues) than you are.

We'll see. "Conditioning" may be as simple as "get off my fat ass and walk around a little bit with my kid on off days". I'm not talking serious prowler work or 5K runs for time. I'd start small and gradually work stuff in. Haven't really researched it yet (need to use some google-fu on these forums to start).

[Gene61]

Ha! Walking with your kids isn't going to interfere with recovery! When I was surfing and biking earlier this year, when I first started SS the first time, I could only train 2x per week. But hey, I'm not doing those now and I'm struggling to maintain 3x a week. Do your research and see what works for you young guys!

[synchronicity]

Great work today. I'm having the exact same problems with my press. Apparently they filmed a platform video at the Starting Strength Coaches Conference detailing the third edition press. I am really looking forward to this as I'm sure I'm not transferring the hip snap into upward drive of the bar correctly. I think seeing it will be a big help.

If you have any cues that help here, let me know what you come up with.

You probably already noticed, but yes, the video just went up yesterday. I haven't watched it yet but will this weekend.

Wasn't able to workout yesterday. Parent-Teacher conferences (bottom line, I've got a smart well-behaved extroverted kid. Yay!) and some other stuff. Frustrating but Real Life other than lifting is generally positive.

[Tygerqb12]

You probably already noticed, but yes, the video just went up yesterday. I haven't watched it yet but will this weekend.

Wasn't able to workout yesterday. Parent-Teacher conferences (bottom line, I've got a smart well-behaved extroverted kid. Yay!) and some other stuff. Frustrating but Real Life other than lifting is generally positive.

What is this, a magic wishing log? I ask for the video here and it shows up the next day. You must have some pull around here or something. : )

On a side note, congrats on the parenting PR. I hope to have such good reasons to have trouble training in the future.

[synchronicity]

What is this, a magic wishing log? I ask for the video here and it shows up the next day. You must have some pull around here or something. : )

Hey, my user name is "synchronicity".

I'm watching the video now, and he DESCRIBES IT LIKE A BOW! Which is exactly the way I envisioned it back when! (should be reflected in one of my earlier posts) Now I need to get my timing back on it. Cool, maybe my press form isn't as piss-poor bad as it's felt the last few sessions. (He's right, the timing is a b*tch on it). Time to hit a new PR on Tuesday coaching day.

On a side note, congrats on the parenting PR. I hope to have such good reasons to have trouble training in the future.

Thanks. Wish I could take the credit, but I've been blessed with an amazing kid. I'd rather be lucky than good.

[synchronicity]

Woke up with a headache that felt like it was turning into a migraine. Dragged my ass to the gym anyway, since I didn't work out Thursday.

Ya know what cures a migraine?

A little bit of caffeine....and a lot of lifting.

Warm up - 5 minutes on stationary bike, about 10 empty bar presses (paying extra attention to the hip snap AS SHOWN IN THE NEW VIDEO),
Squat (last time succeeded at 175): 45x5x2, 85x5, 120x3

At this point I was thinking of wimping out. The bar felt heavy, my head was throbbing, I kinda felt like I might puke. But then the mental switch kicked in, and I started focusing not on what I DIDN'T like about stuff right now, but about how GOOD it would be once I have the weight room set up in a new house.

And with that image in my head....
Squats (cont'd): 145x2, 165x2, 180x5x3

My form on the first at 165 sucked, so I did it again. Other than that...I'm really getting the feel for being a bit forward on my toes vs. being "back". Again, shoulder flexibility continues to suck, but I'm not letting the bar go to far down my back, keeping my hands over the bar for now so as not to intercept the weight with my arms. And it went up, it went down.

It's all coming along.

Bench (succeeded at 165 last time): 45x5x2, 80x5, 110x3, 130x2, 150x2, 165x5x3

Again taking Oldster's advice on "owning" the weight. Wasn't easy but wasn't terribly difficult, last rep on each took some pushing but not a real "grind". Next time will definitely try 170.

Deads (last time kinda succeeded at 230, PR is 240 with poor form): 135x4, 170x3, 200x2, 230x5

I'm trying not to think negative thoughts about my deadlifts. I know my form sucks, but it'll come together. Harping on it internally (as in "damn, I hate this, my form sucks") WHILE lifting doesn't accomplish anything except make me not want to do deadlifts, which won't make the form any better (as Oldster says, volume brings better form. I'm pretty sure a lack of volume will do the opposite).

So it all went fairly well. Tuesday is a coaching day, likely my last one before the meet. I've been mentally considering how to handle things once my local gym closes. We'll see.

And I may have said it before, but this week has served as a reminder of how incredibly fortunate I've been in multiple ways in my life. I know it sounds hokey and all, but really, it's all been very very good. Even the bad bits have kinda turned out good. And that's a big part of why I'm doing this...so I can fully enjoy this good fortune for as long as possible.

[synchronicity]

Forgot to mention - I was so out of it on my way to the gym, I was wearing my regular running sneakers rather than my Chucks.

On a tangent - any suggestions on weightlifting shoes before I google-fu the forums for old threads on the subject

[Gene61]

Great workout ! Definitely get the weightlifting shoes. Mine are VS. Work great