navis

Bad days happen. It sounds cliché and is an unhelpful observation, but it's true. Good on you for making the best of a sucky workout and figuring out how to minimize suckiness in the future. That's really the only thing you can do. Yay to life going better. Yay to going to your office gym. Yays all around! Maybe next time ask the guy if you can work in? It's sometimes less practical than it's worth, but it should at least make him more conscious of other people waiting to use the rack. Unless he's a complete douchecanoe, which is neither to be excluded or assumed.

As long as you steer clear of "it's the menopause talking"...

I think the pain is often understated. Or rather, there's a wide spectrum and some women/doctors won't acknowledge that someone's cramps may be worse than what they're used to. I was always told it'd be uncomfortable but that's about it. Well, mine are painful. Take-me-to-the-nearest-hospital-and-give-me-an-IV painful. It got better after the first (long) 2-3 years, but I still sometimes will need a hot water bottle on my lower back, pillow under my knees and blanket on my stomach to make it tolerable. Also never knowing whether it's cramps or actually needing to go to the bathroom. Like I want to take my pants off that often when I'm cramping.

Okay -- time for a quick update! Training: Did bench + arms yesterday. First time using an EZ curl bar, I'm just a couple of tanning sessions away from being an official bro. Getting shredded: No weight lost this week, which according to RP means I need to move on to the next phase of my cut (Cut 1 for the RP-versed). Nothing drastic so far, same carbs and protein intake but fats are reduced. Adulting: I meal-prepped like a boss, got my new glasses adjusted and booked an appointment with the OB/GYN (guess that bro card was short lived), Get bloodwork done (done, pending results) Book dentist appointment (and figure out insurance) Book dermatologist appointment Book gynecologist appointment Pick up new glasses Unpack and put away suitcase, Christmas is over Clean and store A/C which has been on floor of Polly Pocket-sized apartment since November (anyone else use their powerlifting belt to lift heavy stuff at home?) Complete week 2 of Exploratory Data Analysis course Pitch ideas for R blog post Update résumé Don't spend money on anything gym-related (so far I've done well) Backup / copy files from laptop Bring laptop to get fixed

YAS LET'S BE FRIENDS!

What @Orion Antares said. Many lifters will use free weights for their main work sets and cable machines for accessory work. If you're wanting to try free weights but worried about form, there are trainers at your gym and plenty of resources online (including the form check section on this forum) that can help you. Are you following a program or did you make your own routine?

Chunks.

Followed you here from the form check section -- I now have a vested interest in your progress

Keep us posted!

That'll depend on what your weaknesses are. For me, glutes was just me not knowing to activate them from the start, whereas I had to add rows to strengthen my lats. Breathing was the hardest ; I still struggle to keep my core tight AND fill my belly with air. If glutes are problematic, you can look at glute brigges, hip thrusts, and/or getting a hip circle. I don't want to give you specific advice because I can't tell from the video, but however tight you are when you start is how tight you should be throughout -- glutes, lats, core... If you feel one or more of these loses tightness then that's what needs work.

Mhm. Lower back pain is a red flag to me, you don't want to ignore it. You likely need small tweaks to your setup to keep tighter throughout the movement. For me (I had similar issues ; lower back pain, chest collapsing), it was activating my lats and glutes more and taking a bigger breath. If the lower back pain is a recurring thing, I'd take some weight off the bar and work on weaknesses, maybe add in some accessory work.

What do you think isn't right? Does something feel odd or hurt aside from regular DOMS? I see the same as @wildross: good depth, bar path and it looks pretty clean.

Only reason I talk to people at the gym. I'm pretending I didn't see anything about data tracking or analysis, otherwise I'll be here all night...

This is way more fun than whatever work I was pretending to do.

I think my question is similar to Ada's -- This may be me not understanding the frame when entering such a relationship, but let's suppose the dominant is not quite as equipped as they thought to give certain instructions ; and by that I mean give advice or orders that are detrimental to the other's health (e.g. pushing too hard, underestimating rest / food needed...) not out of malice but simply ignorance or error. Wouldn't consent be compromised? The submissive person would have been mislead which should invalidate their consent. How is that handled? I think the question is what empowers you to trust you have the knowledge and resources to make these decisions on someone else's behalf?

What do your other days look like? How many days in your split? What's your reasoning for front squats over back squats? Will you still deadlift? The last question is more out of curiosity than to help

PR!!!! And other stuff!!

High tops suck.

Showered and went outside today, HUGE PROGRESS! Training: Pretty sure my trainer is trying to kill me with this volume malarkey. This morning was: Hit 3x170 on squats (which is ~90%) but then my legs were too dead for 3x15x120. Only hit 10 on the first set, completed the other two sooooooo slowly. Sumo was fun, hit 10 reps on the AMRAP because still dead from SQUATS. Also, calves: No update on the rest.

I don't know why I don't get notifications for this thread. Happy anniversary, Enchanted Rock sounds and looks amazing Part of my challenge is to not spend money on gym stuff because I've spent way too much at the end of last year... Now I dream of sprinkle shorts, and Doughnuts & Deadlifts dropped their new line yesterday.

Mini update: Training: A lot of arm work yesterday, triceps had not yet recovered from Saturday... Close grip bench with sore triceps is about as close to dropping the bar on my face as I've been so far. Getting shredded: I dreamed I had something like 4-5 fries for dinner and cried in shame and self-hatred over ruining my cut. I hope this doesn't become a thing... Adulting: No progress on the list ; however I did make an adult decision I was dreading yesterday. It hit me harder than I expected, so today is being spent in bed with Netflix and lots of tea. I am terrible at conveying how I feel, especially in writing, but it's pretty weepy. Maybe that can be something for another challenge.

It won't start developing its own ecosystem, but you'll want to air them out and wash them when you get home.

As if he'd put in his own money. That'd be another one for the taxpayers.

Flip flops, towel, bag for wet towel... If you have long hair you might want to bring a second towel. You can look into really absorbent ones like this one. My gym provides soap, shampoo and lotion but I always have mini ones I steal from hotels in my bag. If they have showers they should have hairdryers. I also bring a plastic brush or comb (something I don't mind being humid in my bag and have a set of everyday makeup/lotions in a thick plastic pouch. The key is to have everything nice and compartmentalized, because sweaty workout clothes + wet towel.

What hurts my soul is that I'd actually be more interested in this than any reality show ever produced. From a psychological standpoint, I'm sure it would be fascinating. Gruesome, but fascinating.