kinkoshinkai’s BodyBlog

Did you ever have one of those days?   I seem to have them quite frequently.  The kind of day where you start with a plan of action, a schedule, if you will, and then it all gets shuffled around?

I planned a workout today amidst all my other chores and work schedule and parenting.  Then with one phone call it all got shuffled.  I had to go to work early, postponing household chores and workout.  That left me with a choice.  On my break from work, to take the kids to the movie I’d promised, or to do chores and errands, or to hit the gym.  Being a nice dad, I chose the movie.  Then after teaching a karate class, I thought I had a half hour free to squeeze in at least an "active rest" workout.  But 10 minutes in, I got a call telling me that I was needed at rehearsal again, so I grabbed some exer-bands and headed out.  I squeezed in a brief 3 supersets on my shoulders using the bands while at rehearsal, hitting front, side, and rear delts in rapid succession on each set.  It felt okay, and seemed to fatigue the mujscle sufficiently.  We’ll see.  Then, when I got home at 9:30, my mom, the kids Grandma, had arrived for a visit.  I excused myself anyway for just a half hour on the Bowflex to hit my back, 3 sets high outer, 3 sets low outer, 3 sets high middle back, and 3 sets low middle back.  I went quite intense in order to limit the time to 1/2 hour.  Sheesh.  Some days, you just gotta get what you can or loose the day completely.

Anyone else ever just have one of those days?

In only 2 leg days at the gym, having access to actual iron and more weight than my Bowflex allowed, I feel like my legs already are making greater gains than previously possible.  The gym has no hack squat, standing calf station (which could be done on the hack squat machine if they had one) or seated calf raise machine.  But there are enough other options and variations available to make up for it.  (Oh, and no T-bar row station, but I’m talking legs here.)  I was told today thatthe gym owner is pretty amenable to suggestions, so I think I’ll bring that up with him.  There are stack selector Hammer machines, and a decent selection of Hammer-strength Free-weight machines, but I’m trying to focus on the barbells, free bar and Smith machine bar, since that’s what I couldn’t really get with my Bowflex.  Then of course, the leg press and leg extension.  Again, the leg extension machines (there are two, one with a solid kick bar, and one where each leg can move individual pads) are pin-stack, but good enough. 

So, today, 5 sets full squats with free bar superset with calf raise on the Smith and 30 body weight calf raises, 4 sets front squats on the Smith supersetted with leg press machine calf presses, 4 sets leg press supersetted with leg extensions and seated leg curls.  I stayed intense and took barely over an hour to complete all 30 sets counting the supersetted exercises. I expect to be a bit sore tomorrow and LOVE it.

I did it.  I signed up today for the gym up the road. 

I’ve no intention of completely abandoning my Bowflex.  On days when I’m pressed for time, or something makes it impossible to get to the gym, I’ll still have the trusty equipment that got me to the point where I now am.  But for only $19/month and no down-payment or membership, how could I pass it up???

Tomorrow is Back day, so I’ll have my first work-out there in the free-weight room.  I know people there.  I’ve been in to try out the place on a visit a year or so ago.  It’s in my neighborhood.  All those things make me feel like I shouldn’t feel too out of place.  Still, I’ll be working out alone, primarily, unless I meet someone or can recruit a spotter, so I’ll have to find what I can do safely, and still manage to push myself to grow.

Keep your eyes open, ’cause I expect to grow this summer.  I’m eating clean and taking my supplements, so we’ll see!