Our Physical Fitness

[Scribe]

You got this.

I'm in line at the store, passing my Will Save for now.

 

[AlexofBarbaria]

Looking lean!

Thanks! The first pics were after a 4 month cut. I really prefer being lean and by the end of my cut I wasn't even that hungry anymore, so I was thinking I'd just maintain going forward.

But I've decided to bulk over spring/summer to see if there's anything to this idea that an extended break primes you for new gains. Nothing crazy, shooting for 5-10lb heavier than I was before my cut.

Today I dusted off my old favorite mass gainer recipe: Scooby's Bulking Bars!

It's just equal parts oats, powdered milk, peanut butter and honey pressed into bars. I used half honey and subbed protein powder for the milk powder.

I find these absurdly delicious, especially with coffee, so these will be my breakfast for a while.

Last night the gym was mobbed so I did some less accustomed machines after a warmup on the elliptical. Machine chest press, machine rows, and my first go at hack squats. I usually do leg press for my main quad exercise and do sets at close to three times my body weight, but this was another beast entirely and I did a small fraction of that. I think I've got some DOMs coming on, though, so again felt like productive work.

I also have a hack squat at my gym where I use a weirdly low weight. I think this happens on machines where either because of the design or just because you're not used it, the hip extensors don't really activate and it's all quads.

I don't really like the one in my gym, but not because of the low weight. Lower weight the better IMO. I hate having to load up a bunch of plates for something like leg press. Especially since my wife is my training partner so I have to remove most of the weight for her as we alternate sets.

(I swear I don't need any grip work in my routine; I get enough just moving plates for her as we go through the workout.)

 

[Scribe]

So, I for sure am cutting the machine Chest Press from the rotation, and I'm hoping I havent done some extra damage, but I did a long workout, and I guess my dinner yesterday was not sufficient as I'm pretty sore today.

I did Legs today, went fine, but my shoulders/collarbones/neck area is crazy stiff today.

So I'm loading up protein tonight before I shower and get back to work.

 

[Mannahnin]

Went again last night, again pretty crowded. Did a little elliptical despite my quads still being sore, then machine chest press four sets, dumbbell seated inclined curls again with drop sets, but four sets instead of three, and three sets of cable row, cautiously working my back because part of my injury has seemed to involve the lower back. No issues so far, though I did feel a bit of pain in my hip again last night/this morning, which makes me look forward to PT tomorrow and hopefully learning more about the nature of the injury and how to correct it.

I also have a hack squat at my gym where I use a weirdly low weight. I think this happens on machines where either because of the design or just because you're not used it, the hip extensors don't really activate and it's all quads.

I don't really like the one in my gym, but not because of the low weight. Lower weight the better IMO. I hate having to load up a bunch of plates for something like leg press.

Yeah, that all makes sense. I agree about the weight. If I can get good growth and strength stimulus with lower weight that's awesome. Less risk to and wear and tear on my joints.

 

[Evaniel]

So, I for sure am cutting the machine Chest Press from the rotation, and I'm hoping I havent done some extra damage, but I did a long workout, and I guess my dinner yesterday was not sufficient as I'm pretty sore today.

I did Legs today, went fine, but my shoulders/collarbones/neck area is crazy stiff today.

So I'm loading up protein tonight before I shower and get back to work.

I'm with you on chest press machines. I struggle finding a good deep stretch that doesn't hurt my shoulders. I've liked the hammer strength plate-loaded ones that don't start at the bottom, but those are about it.

 

[Scribe]

I'm with you on chest press machines. I struggle finding a good deep stretch that doesn't hurt my shoulders. I've liked the hammer strength plate-loaded ones that don't start at the bottom, but those are about it.

Yeah it really sucks, because I know I've done this to myself by loading up more than I should have, but I have to essentially squirm my way out at the bottom of every set on a chest machine. I just dont have the range/flexability/whatever to go all the way down and back up. It clicks, pops, whatever and I'm just asking myself what I'm doing.

If I had a little more patience, I think I could have avoided this for the most part. I cannot even sleep on my right side now lol

 

[Mannahnin]

Yeah it really sucks, because I know I've done this to myself by loading up more than I should have, but I have to essentially squirm my way out at the bottom of every set on a chest machine. I just dont have the range/flexability/whatever to go all the way down and back up. It clicks, pops, whatever and I'm just asking myself what I'm doing.

If I had a little more patience, I think I could have avoided this for the most part. I cannot even sleep on my right side now lol

I had what sounds like a similar shoulder issue last year and had to baby it for months and figure out less injurious variations (cable flies with lower weight seemed to bother it a lot less). Though I finally figured out it was an ergonomic issue with my desk, and now it's a TON better. Treat yourself better and heal up!

 

[Scribe]

Though I finally figured out it was an ergonomic issue with my desk

Yep this is also part of it. Now that its in a state of inflammation, with the amount of time I've been working this year, I can absolutely feel it is 'off' when at my desk.

I just need to force myself to not do a few exercises I know to be a problem, and if (when? please? lol) I get some time away from work, I need to get some things fixed up in terms of office set up.

I also need to just go make a doctors appointment, and get into to a physio for a look. BIG SIGH. lol

 

[CleverNickName]

I'm thinking about putting together an RPG Fitness program for everyone. It'll be sort of like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, with at-home workouts built in. Any interest?

 

[Scribe]

Will, check.
Food, check.
Time, check.
Effort, check.

Bloody useless naughty word shoulder, CHECK.

Making a Dr appointment tomorrow.