cwd's log: persistence, patience, gratitude

[fishwife]

air humping (i.e. planks)

I think ur doin that rong.

[cwd]

air humping (i.e. planks)

I think ur doin that rong.

Likely.

[cwd]

Followup T levels: 330ng/dL, low-normal, up from 137. Free T is 7 (forget units), about halfway to this clinic's typical target of 15-20.
Estrogen normal, up from "undetectable".

Edema is probably related to the rise in estrogen (rather than from excess E) and will likely go away on its own. No estrogen blockers needed.
Am trying some diuretics in the meantime.
The excess libido has moderated, it's probably also related to the sudden change in hormone levels rather than the absolute value.

New weekly dose of T: 180mg (was 140).

Also, donated one pint whole blood to the Red Cross, who will sell it to hospitals at a fat profit, then pay their executives millions.
But as a non-vegetarian middle-aged man, I probably need to get rid of some red blood cells for my own good anyway.

[cwd]

2016-10-29 - heavy day
bw 192

Press: 45 x10
HB Squat: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x5, 185 x2, 225 x1, 245 x1, 215 x5,5,5,5 last set @9
Bench: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x2, 175 x1, 160 x5,5,5 @9+, 155 x5 @9
Dead: 135 x5, 185 x2, 225 x1, 275 x1, 305 x5 @9 beltless 3 doh, 2 hook

Bodybuilding stuff: rows 155 x8,8, upright rows 65 x12,10, curl 65 x9, 45 xsome

Chilly in the garage last night, wore a hoodie.
Need to start video-checking my deadlifts, I'm worried I might be rounding my back too much.

2017 so far: 113 sessions, 3 missed sessions

[Wilhelm]

2017 so far: 113 sessions, 3 missed sessions

Nice dedication, cwd!


If you want, i can send you all the vids and articles i've used to get a somewhat decent set up and form for deadlift.
Recording everything is key for me at this point.
makes my sessions longer as i usually watch everything as i go.
Now that i'm doing SSPT style singles, with short rests for DL, i just save watching till i'm done with the work weight stuff.
I've gone to recording from the front for a little while to see my knees and shoulders better to evaluate lockouts.
But from the side is best for back position/straightness, hip raise in relation to quad extension, etc...
I use kinovea, a viewer meant for things like this. makes slo mo and frame by frame really easy.
I use it because i only have a pc.
There is one called ironpath for (i think) mac and portable devices.

[cwd]

Thanks, Wilhelm!

I've done form-checks before, and used to video quite a bit, just got lazy lately. I'll dig out my cellphone clamp/tripod thingie and start checking my lifts again.

I used to tend to unconsciously cheat on depth when low-bar squatting, but I don't think I have that problem with high bar. If anything I tend to go too deep.

But my deadlifts are getting a bit close to my limits, and I want to see how much rounding I'm allowing.

[cwd]

bw 193

HB Squat: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x5, 195 x5,5 beltless
Press: 45 x10, 75 x5, 95 x2, 115 x1, 105 x5,5,5,5 @9+
Pullups: bw x7,6
Chinups: bw x8,8

Pulls/chins regressed vs. last week. Probably because I've been working on hanging leg raises & such silly ab work on "rest" days.

2017 so far: 114 sessions, 3 missed sessions

[vanslix]

Followup T levels: 330ng/dL, low-normal, up from 137. Free T is 7 (forget units), about halfway to this clinic's typical target of 15-20.
Estrogen normal, up from "undetectable".

Edema is probably related to the rise in estrogen (rather than from excess E) and will likely go away on its own. No estrogen blockers needed.
Am trying some diuretics in the meantime.
The excess libido has moderated, it's probably also related to the sudden change in hormone levels rather than the absolute value.

New weekly dose of T: 180mg (was 140).

Also, donated one pint whole blood to the Red Cross, who will sell it to hospitals at a fat profit, then pay their executives millions.
But as a non-vegetarian middle-aged man, I probably need to get rid of some red blood cells for my own good anyway.

Something is not adding up about this picture. How long have you been on TRT?

And giving blood is always a good idea no matter who profits. At the end of the day, it saves someone’s life. Every single time I order blood products for a patient. It had to come from somewhere.

[cwd]

Followup T levels: 330ng/dL, low-normal, up from 137. Free T is 7 (forget units), about halfway to this clinic's typical target of 15-20.
Estrogen normal, up from "undetectable".

Something is not adding up about this picture. How long have you been on TRT?

5 weeks.

[cwd]

bw 193

HB Squat: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x5, 185 x1, 225 x1, 245 x1, 200 x5,5,5 paused @8
Bench: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x2, 175 x1, 155 x5,5,5 @8
Deadlift: 135 x5, 185 x2, 225 x1, 275 x1, 315 x1 hook, beltless, 275 x5 doh beltless paused @7.5

Bodybuilder stuff: hang snatch & upright row 65 xMany, reverse curl 45 xSome, chins bw x9,5

Video checked myself for the first time in months. Squats are just barely below parallel, will try harder. Deadlift back extension looks OK.

2017 so far: 115 sessions, 3 missed sessions

[Wilhelm]

How long have you been hook gripping?
Do you tape your thumbs? I do. Can't even conceive of tapeless yet.

I started hook appx 2 months ago. never did alternating grip.
I'm doing a singles program, so i'm getting a decent amount of practice in.
Only tore a tiny bit of skin at the base of a thumb once.

[cwd]

Hook grip has always been fairly trouble-free for me, though painful. I have long fingers and hands, which helps.

I use it whenever I'm unsure of my double overhand, which these days is for weights over 300 lbs or so. Alternating feels iffy to me, I fear for my back if the bar windmills.

Never taped my thumbs, have a bit of callus, but I'm currently not doing much volume on pulls. I could probably use more volume, but I'd have to cut something else and I'm enjoying doing a lot of bodybuilder/mirror-muscles stuff...

[KarlM]

I've tweaked my back twice with alternating grip induced wind milling. I hook grip my last warm-up single and all my worksets.

[fishwife]

I've never had issues from alternating grip. However, I started off alternating when I first started to deadlift heavy enough to not be able to DOH, so I'm used to it, and have always taken pains to alternate which hand is prone/supine, so I don't worry about imbalances. It's very comfortable for me.

I have small hands, so I can't always hook the bars in the average gym.

[cwd]

I can even hook the cheapo 32mm bars in a globo gym. Spider-hands!

[vanslix]

Something is not adding up about this picture. How long have you been on TRT?

5 weeks.
[/quote]

That makes more sense. A lot of docs start at 200 mg per week for the first month or two to get you normalized. Then back off the dose.

[RdC]

You are on a roll...it appears that every time you touch the bar...your weights go up. This translates to me that you have dialed in your technique! I'm envious of your consistency and BW. Great work!

[cwd]

Something is not adding up about this picture. How long have you been on TRT?

5 weeks.

That makes more sense. A lot of docs start at 200 mg per week for the first month or two to get you normalized. Then back off the dose.

Ah, thanks. I was on 140 at first, 180 now. I guess they'll do another retest after a few more weeks, to see where I've stabilized and see if the dosage should be changed again. I'll be patient with things in the meantime.

You are on a roll...it appears that every time you touch the bar...your weights go up. This translates to me that you have dialed in your technique! I'm envious of your consistency and BW. Great work!

Thanks! No deep secrets here -- when I re-started lifting about this time last year (after a long layoff), I looked over my old logs and decided I had two major flaws: impatience, and inconsistency.

When I set my goals for 2017, I set only goals about those two issues. I've been trying for a year to increase weights very slowly, and to *never* miss a session. This is working extremely well for me.

[cwd]

2017.11.5
bw 192

HB Squat: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x5, 185 x2, 225 x3 @7.5, 245 x3 @8+, 250 x3 @9 PR, 245 x3 @9
Bench: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x2, 165 x3 @8, 175 x3 @9, 177.5 x3 @9+ PR, 165 x3 @8+
Deadlift: 135 x5, 185 x2, 225 x1, 275 x1, 325 x3 @8+ hook PR, SGDL 225 x5 doh

Bodybuilder stuff: upright rows 65 x11,11, curl 65 x10, 45 xMany

Video checks on squats and deadlift, depth is good, low back is good. Upper back is rounded as hell, but that's just kyphotic old me.
Hooking 325 was very painful on my thumbs.

The hang-snatches I did last Thursday with 65 lbs made my low back and shoulders hurt for days. Probably my form sucks on these. Not a good exercise to do sloppily for bodybuilding.

2017 so far: 116 sessions, 3 missed sessions

[Wilhelm]

2017.11.5
bw 192

HB Squat: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x5, 185 x2, 225 x3 @7.5, 245 x3 @8+, 250 x3 @9 PR, 245 x3 @9
Bench: 45 x5, 95 x5, 135 x2, 165 x3 @8, 175 x3 @9, 177.5 x3 @9+ PR, 165 x3 @8+
Deadlift: 135 x5, 185 x2, 225 x1, 275 x1, 325 x3 @8+ hook PR, SGDL 225 x5 doh

Bodybuilder stuff: upright rows 65 x11,11, curl 65 x10, 45 xMany

Video checks on squats and deadlift, depth is good, low back is good. Upper back is rounded as hell, but that's just kyphotic old me.
Hooking 325 was very painful on my thumbs.

The hang-snatches I did last Thursday with 65 lbs made my low back and shoulders hurt for days. Probably my form sucks on these. Not a good exercise to do sloppily for bodybuilding.

2017 so far: 116 sessions, 3 missed sessions

Woo hoo! three PRs! : )

Your consistency is awesome. +++
I'll try and remember it if i have a day when i'm thinking of punking out.

I started saturday hooking all my warmups up to and including 225 w/o tape.
Just want to slowly get the thumbs ready for sans tape on all reps.

Was tempted to do more, but i taped up instead.
The set up practice i'm getting from a singles program is very useful.