Stewart’s Blog

My motivation levels lately to workout are pretty high.  It’s life stuff right now that’s getting in the way.  I’m learning not to get bent (upset, cranked, etc.) about the curves life throws my way.  WHAT am I going to do about it anyway?  If I have responsiblities at work, then that’s what I’ve must do.  My work circumstances will be changing pretty drastically within the next few weeks.  The result will be more time and a better schedule to get on with my weight training goals.  

Two folks I’ve read just today helped me get all this in my head.  Tito (on my friends list), has some pretty huge commitments right now and is making adjustments to his training as a result.  DJ69 whose BLOG I picked up on from a post on the main page is struggling with his training and has for most of the summer.  

I can’t push back against life.  I can make good choices about my life.  

My workout weights continue to rise.  This is the front end of my work and so these quick gains will soon evaporate.  They are GREAT in the beginning though.  I’m moving almost as much on my squat now in two sets as I did my first w/o when I did three sets.  

The longer rest period helped during today’s workout.  My total weight moved was 500 lbs (227 kg) over my last three workouts.  

The work goes on…the learning increases

Whew.  My workouts are still whipping my butt (not in a good way).  I’ve reduced my sets from 3 to 2.  I still can’t get thru what I call my workout "B".  (I alternate two workouts about every other or every third day.)  It’s not the weight wearing me out (as it should be).  It’s the air.  I’m just out of oxygen before I’m done.  So…I’m going up on my rest times.  Right now I’m working on 75 second rest periods (I know…I’m obsessed with the numbers).  I’m going to move to 120 (2 min) rests between sets and exercises).  I’ll work back down to 75 seconds but I’ve got to get to the point where I’m getting thru my workouts.  

I like the numbers because they tell me things.  I try (when my ego doesn’t get in the way) to make my decisions on the data–not my guesses as to what is happening.  For instance, I always get thru my "A" workout but so far not my "B".  I looked up my total volume of weight moved in the BB Workout Tracker (great tool BTW).  My volume of weight moved is about 4700 (2100 kb) no matter how many sets or exercises or which routine I use.  That’s about all I’m good for–4700 lbs (2100 kg).  I finished my workout about 20 minutes ago and I’m sitting here light headed now.   Longer rests are required…then work the third set back in…then shorten the rests back down.  

This is pushing some of my goals out.  No problem.  I’m making good decisions about getting them accomplished.  I’ll just adjust them with good reasons.  

I’ve said this before in my BLOG.  I’ve forgotten so much in the last 7 or 8 years.  It’s like starting over…what am I saying!?  It IS starting over.

Agricultural Extension Agent:  Mr. Farmer, I’ve been by to help you several times.  Why are you not doing the things I’ve shown you?

Mr. Farmer: Son, I wasn’t doing half the things I knew I should be doing before you show’d up.

My workout crashed today but I feel good about it.  My diet has been rough the last two days.  I’ve been running hard at work.  I carry my eats w/me but I have not had time to stop and eat much.  So, I have arrived home the past two evenings with most of my food STILL in the box.  

My poor diet stuck a knife in my workout today.  I feel good about it because I know what happened.  I can fix this problem.  I don’t need to try harder.  I just need to make some changes in the way I fix my food (making it easier to eat on the run) or I need to get space in my day to eat.  No problem.  There are fixes for this.  

I feet great yet I didn’t finish my workout.  Usually this is reason to feel badly. I feel good because I understand (really KNOW) something a little better now that I only "knew" before.  Strange, huh?  Really not.  We are all that way.  Thinking we "know" something just because it’s a fact in my head.  In my arrogance, somehow I am think I’m above being human (read: I ought to know better).  The result is to be surprised when I find that I’m NOT above my humanity.  Worse and NO surprise–I am one of the more poorly functioning humans.  Oh, how I need help.

–Stewart