TheBugMan’s BodyBlog

I have reduced my workouts to M/W/F.  I have been doing my entire body each workout and only one set per body part.  I have been getting stronger and continue to burn fat.  I generally feel great after my workouts with a good pump that lasts for hours.  I also feel a little sore somewhere pretty much after every workout.  I consider that a good thing.  I am not sure if I have actually mastered the idea of workout to failure, but usually after 30 minutes I am laying on the floor and feeling like I am about to puke.  When I am able to get up, my body is shaking from fatigue.  For some reason though, I always question whether or not I may have been able to do just one more rep somewhere.  It would be good to have a workout partner.  Someone to push you just a little more than you think you are capable of.

One of the exercises I have been doing in my routine currently is shoulder shrugs.  I was originally doing it with a barbell, but never felt that it was hitting the traps the way I thought they should.  So I switched to dumbbells and it is really hitting them well. They have been sore every workout since.  On Wednesday they were sore and I was standing in front of the mirror before crashing for the night.  I decided to flex them a few times since I was really aware of them.  Big mistake.  I could feel it happening.  They started to tighten up on my left side and then wham!  I got a knot or kink in my neck.  It happens to me about twice a year, sometimes less.  I tried to stop it with a muscle relaxer, then the next night a couple of prescription pain killers I  had laying around from surgery last year.  Neither seemed to supply any relief.  I had been staying away from ibuprofen for almost 7-8 months, because I read somewhere that it has negative impact on muscle growth.  I took some last night, and it made a big difference.  I had worked out yesterday morning although I could barely turn my head.  Interestingly it didn’t bother me except on crunches.  Everything else was tolerable or didn’t bother me at all.   So here it is Saturday, I would say my neck is about 50% better.  Maybe tomorrow? 

I have read many times how important squats are, how important form is etc…  The one thing I have never read is what is reasonable to expect in relation to other exercises I do for the same muscles.  I have the damnedest time doing squats.  My neck doesn’t like them though I have alleviated that to some extent, and my lower back doesn’t seem to care for them either.  I can typically do over 400lbs on the leg press, but when trying to do squats I can only use about 185lbs.  Part of it could be just getting used to doing them, and some of it may be poor form since I don’t have anyone watching me or spotting me.  So is that a reasonable or should my squat weight be higher?  Also is it 100% necessary to do squats with a barbell?  Would the V-Squat work the legs as well without the risk of injuring myself?  Advice!!!

Put all your excuses aside and remember this:  YOU are capable.

-Zig Ziglar

Sometimes it seems perfectly reasonable to skip a workout.  We hurt, we have no time, we don’t feel like it, we are not motivated, we have a headache, the kids, my favorite show, work is keeping me late, I’m tired, I am too busy, my workout partner can’t train, my trainer called in sick, I feel depressed, I just don’t have time… and the list goes on forever.  Sometimes you have to be unreasonable.  That is, don’t let all the reasons determine what you are going to do.  Do what you said you would do.  Choose to workout, when all the reasons tell you you shouldn’t.  So what are you?  You word, or your reasons?