The TFP Health Club

I've done something to my knee. And I'm not happy about it. I can walk over three miles with no pain, but ask me to cross my leg or lift it up put on a pants leg, and flames shoot up and down my leg. From what I can research, I've tweaked my MCL. It's not ruptured or torn or I wouldn't be able to walk. Only tx is rest, a brace, and ice. Fuck that. It feels tons better after I walk. I'm not stopping. But I'm going to be more careful. No running for awhile. Which pisses me off as I was almost halfway through C25K and I'm probably going to have to start over.

 

Gonna try cardio for a week then start back with light weights. Meant to do it earlier, but my ego couldn't stand the light weights. Shut up Ego

 

So this week I hit 95kg.

A year ago I was 135kg.

With my height (6' 3") I was "highly obese", and I'm now "overweight".

If I can drop 5kg, I'll be just inside "healthy".

I'm pretty sure the scales read light by maybe as much as 3kg, but they're the same ones I've used for the whole time, so the loss is right, even if the score is wrong.

 

So I was texting my girlfriend while I was working out yesterday that I was really going to focus on lighter weights, higher volume and repetitions. Really burn out for a bunch of workouts. Today squats feel so good that I do 365x5 for a set. Oh well. At least everything else was lighter and higher reps with shorter rest periods. Still trying to train for more of a pump.

 

Since my girlfriend is out of town, and her kids and my kids are gone, I had time to do a double split workout. Instead of one long hard workout of chest and back, I did chest in the morning and back in the afternoon. Each workout was a little over half an hour, but that was still 12 sets of chest and about 14 sets of back, plus 4 sets of bicep curls. Good strength and focus for both workouts, though I'm tired now. Legs as a single workout tomorrow, then Tuesday is my other day off so that will be shoulders in the morning, arms in the afternoon. Looking forward to the intense focus and numb feeling in my brain that keeps the demons at bay.

 

Trying to take it easy for a short period. My shoulder and my knees are hating me. I must remember that I cannot do dips or leg extensions, or I will face the terrible consequences.

Shoulder rehab started and have been off of leg extensions for a couple of weeks. Cardio is still on board, and light weight work.

 

It's been slow, but I just weiged myself at 94kg. This is the lowest number for my weight that I can remember in over 30 years.

At that time, I used to do more regular structured exercise, so I was slimmer, but I'm still pretty impressed with myself!

 

Hubs eased me into training last night.
400m run
25 jumping jacks
10 air squats
3 x 10 kettle bell swings @10lbs
30s navasana
3 x 10 lunges
3 x 10 bicep curls @10 lbs
3 x 10 oblique somethings setting the kettle bell on the floor on each side with legs in navasana @8lbs
3 x 10 tricep thingies with the 10lb dumbells

Not a bad start. I did get stuck in my sports bra and hubs had to help me out of it, ha ha ha.

 

I am transitioning. Not that way, dammit. I am mentally transitioning from thinking of myself as a guy who lifts weights to thinking of myself as a bodybuilder. So I'm now more focused on accruing muscle as opposed to getting stronger. I think a lot more about working out and am starting to put more emphasis on my diet as well. Workouts are getting longer and with more focus on volume. I have even started adding cardio. I have started taking preworkout supplements to try to push myself harder. The stimulant typically comes from a couple hundred mgs of caffeine. But they often contain citrulline and beta alanine. Beta alanine is supposed to improve muscular endurance and reduce fatigue. So I have been taking that. I feel like it might be helping slightly, but it's hard to tell. I could just be getting stronger anyways. My weight has been staying consistent, but I can see my muscles changing under the veneer of lard. Veins have actually been pushed to the surface in a few spots. I did a bodybuilding show 19 years ago and I am thinking of doing one next year. It is giving me motivation by keeping it in the back of my mind. Now I don't really think I will be competitive because I am not willing to take steroids. But it is still amusing, at least right now. And it's nice knowing that I am pretty damn strong.

 

I'm going to join a different gym so I can work out. I've got weights at home, but the dog distracts me too much to do any hard work. PF is good for cardio machines, but not much else. I'm physically bored...

 

It has become more difficult to find shirts that fit. That was a fitted Tommy hilfiger, 18 neck and 34/35 sleeves. It fit in the waist, almost in the chest, but no way in the shoulders or arms. An 18.5 might have worked, including being able to button the collar, but they didn't carry a fitted 18.5. Oh well, need to drop 15-20 lbs so I can fit in normal clothes. A traditional cut shirt blouses around my midsection, I can't tuck that much material into my back.

 

Hubs has found a couple of brands that have a more "athletic fit" e.g. Bigger in the biceps and across the upper chest/back, tapered in the waist area. Otherwise he looks like he's wearing a dress.

 

I used to be able to wear fitted shirts, when I was around 230. I have gained muscle so my waist is similar, but I am definitely thicker in the arms and shoulders and neck. I will slim down a little. Chicken and rice tonight.

 

Squatted at the new gym on Sunday. Ouch today. I went up to 365 for 5 reps, but bar kept slipping down my shoulders, so just did a back off set of 315 for 10. Probably need to work on my back and shoulders to have a better rack position.