Kishi

Nicely done! Way to go on getting the novel completed. There's nothing quite like it, is there?

Ooh, that recipe sounds good. Has me hungry already.

But. But, but. Dread! Fasting is a clearing of the system overall! You don't need extra cleanses or anything like that. By not eating, you're returning your body to a cleaner place. You don't need extra detox. Honestly, the fact that you're getting shaky and weak really worries me. That's not supposed to happen on a fast.

It's great to hear from you again! And thank you, thank you so much. # Right, so, no lifting tonight. But it was my first night Shotokan-ing since the injury. And honestly? It did okay. It really did okay. There were a couple moments with a dull ache, but we sparred and it worked... worked just fine. On the other hand, I actually got my finger jammed at one point, and it's all swelling and stuff now. Makes typing hurt a little. But! We'll just call this a dramatic finish. Also, I read an article about planking and it got me thinking about the advice I heard. I'm wondering if the advice to 'stay tight' isn't a sculpting issue so much as it's turning you into a plank from the other side. His theory would make perfect sense in that case - maintaining that tension has nothing to do with the shape of the core. It has everything to do with pushing the muscles to be stronger, by introducing a somewhat isometric element to the exercise. Boy, but that would make things more challenging, wouldn't it?

Congrats! Excellent work - you rocked it. Now just make sure to get plenty of rest - you gonna need it.

I just want to say that you have the best laugh out of all the laughs. Out of any single one of them, you have the best. Also, you have been sick busy. You ain't slowed down hardly a whit, despite the injury... and the re-injury. But I just have to say, you have probably one of the greatest attitudes I've seen here. You're, like, way enthusiastic, and here's the thing: I really don't get the feeling off of you that you're forcing it. It's clearly not easy for you all the time, I know, but. I just know you're gonna bounce back. It's kind of your thing. It's what you do. Can't wait to see you do it. Also, taiji=awesome. Shotokan and Judo have a lot in common with it, what with using your core to do lots o' stuff. Much fun.

That or a block of stone. Though why I would sculpt a dog is beyond me. (Heyooo!)

Zounds! OMG! Looks like my thread's done been hijacked. Mama T is paying me back. I know about the importance of keeping the abs contracted. That's why you exhale on lifts - it forces everything to tighten up, gives you extra support, protects the structure of your body, things like that. And I do that on my lifts, I do. I feel I should give this a little more context. A flat knee raise works like this: you lie down on your back. Your legs are extended out from you, with the knees bent at a 90-degree angle. You inhale. You exhale and lift the legs up until your calves are parallel to the floor. Then back down again, that's one. You inhale when lowering, you exhale when lifting up. What happened was that the gentleman saw me when I was lowering my legs and inhaling. He said that the stomach has to remain flat throughout the entire movement, and it's the first time I'd ever heard that. Otherwise, he says, what happens is that you 'sculpt a pooch' rather than firm out. I'm just trying to figure out if there's any veracity to that idea.

Seconded. Like I said. In this program, the Overhead Press is the one that's going to slow down first. It's vexing that it would be the first to stall at such a low weight, but like everyone else is saying. It could have been... those issues, or it could have just been a bad day at the gym. The only way to know for sure is to go back in a few days and lift that weight again.

ARGH. all right, you guys. Time for me to own up. I made a mess of today. I started work, and I never really stopped working. I didn't take time to eat until late, and I didn't make it in to Judo as I planned. Still, I did manage to make the most of it and go lift despite myself. It turned out all right. I'm definitely liking this gym more and more. Stronglifts Squats: 5x5, 60 lbs Overhead Press: 5x5, 50 lbs Deadlift: 1x5, 100 lbs Flat Knee Raises: 3x35 Notes Well, it was a good night. This was the first time I'd tried to do additional ab work on top of a deadlift night, and I was surprised at how the difficulty seemed to ramp up a bit. When I was doing my core work, a gentleman mentioned that the muscles need to remain contracted at all times - that you can't let your back arch at all, or else you end up 'sculpting a pooch,' as he called it. That's the first I've ever heard of the idea; does anyone have any thoughts on that? I mean, I contract naturally when I breathe out to execute the movement, but when I inhale, everything expands out again. Dunno if it's a bodybuilder's myth or if the idea has some truth in it. Otherwise, it's been a good night. Long day leading up to it, though.

Bah, what do they know? The burpee's a classic. Don't let them tell you otherwise.

I'm sorry. I couldn't keep reading past "the grippy" muscles part. It got too technical. I kid, I kid, but that does make sense. And since I study Judo, I'm always a fan of ways to make the grip stronger. Having looked it up on Youtube and read a couple explanations, I can definitely see how this would help those muscles to develop faster. I'll give it a shot with deadlifts tonight, see how it feels. Cool!

!!! Safety razors for the win.

Well, that's kind of the thing: SL is a program that's all about getting stronger faster. I think he just assumes that a mixed grip will allow you to lift heavier loads faster, and he's come out repeatedly in defense of the mixed grip in his newsletters. I bet I could ask him about it and see what happens. I know I risk hijacking Matilda's thread, but let me ask: how does a hook grip work? And is it equally effective for developing grip strength?

Gah! That sounds so weird! Never been to a gym where I've been able to observe that kind of thing. But this one in the mountains was really cool. It was like a cross-section of the fitness culture: you have a couple using machines, a couple people on free weights, a couple on tread mills... I think there were even a couple people doing a Crossfit-style circuit, at least, I think that's what they were doing. If you do the towel-scrunching thing, keep the size of the towel in mind. You'd be surprised how much it bunches up.

Well, I won't disagree with you on it. I honestly don't know that much about weightlifting or how to train a better grip, and you've demonstrated your knowledge. I never had to deal with a torn bicep tendon, so I never figured it for an issue with that grip.

If you don't mind me asking, for your deadlift, what kind of grip are you using? Are you using a grip where both hands face the same way, or are you using a mixed grip? I know that Stronglifts recommends a mixed grip for better stability, and I know it helped me for a while. Also, if you can, see about using chalk on your hands to give you better grip.

Dang it, that's another good pair I've heard about. Well, gosh, as long as we're talking about good books: check this out as well as its sequel.

Woo-hoo! You beat me to the finish! Very nice work!

May I just say that your burpee totals are incredible? That is all. Also, you now have the 'problem' of picking a law school to get into. This is a good problem to have.

Eek. You shouldn't be feeling nauseous after working out. Either you're eating too soon beforehand, or you're doing too much. Or maybe it was a bad day. Try doing that again and see if the problem persists - if it does, then you know you have to change something.

It feels good. I tend to get into this complex about how things have to be done in the 'right order' and everything. There's some use in the idea, but I think it's held me back more than it's helped, so. Glad to leave it behind. Well, I know for me, I just expected the people to be meaner and snootier types who would spend all their time on treadmills and look at me funny for touching the barbells. But that wasn't my experience here at all - it was mostly just a bunch of nice people who happened to have more money than I did. I dunno. I guess, since I used to have jobs where I'd rub elbows with such people, they just don't impress me anymore, and their gyms don't either. But yeah, I'm with you. Give me a gym where I can smell sweat and iron and it blasts metal and old school rock. And you know? The foot's actually feeling good enough to go sparring with. I'll give it a try tonight and let y'all know how it goes.

Way to save money, sir! That sounds like pretty substantial savings.

Aw, dude, that sucks. I used to write about jailbreaking mobile devices, so. I can empathize with you here.

Man, I hear you on the food+parents part. I love 'em to death, I really do, but going home is really bad for my health. They always comment on how much weight I've lost, which is really nice. It's because I'm eating way different than they do, and they never seem to understand that. They always tell me they'll keep me in beer and that we'll be getting good home cooking. This past week, that meant mac and cheese with bread topping and corn with some kind of a creamy base. I won't even pretend it was paleo, or healthy. But. But it's mac and cheese with bread topping. And it's home cooking. I don't know how to say no to that stuff! It's good for the soul in a way that I can't articulate very well. So. Let us suffer the ministrations of our families together.