"Jake"

You look great and soon this world will have another little adventurer!

Getting close to baby time, How are things? Wishing you the best.

Grats on the baby! Glow is definitely the right word, you look great! How's the "new" place been doing? Keep going strong! Heavy physical exertion takes a toll on your immune system right after and a little bit into your recovery. Its a good idea to include citrus fruits in your recovery snacks and meals following the heavy exertion as they serve at least 3 very valuable functions in a workout diet. I'll often drink an "airborne" almost every day when I'm lifting heavy.

This is a bit of a Zombie Resurrection (look at the dates) BUT perhaps the OP got caught up with the covid madness and needs the bump to get back in it.... ...Then again, OP only has a history of one (1) post so this is probably a dead end.... pssst... OP, come prove me wrong.

Yesterday Early today's workout started out much like last weeks only later. Didn't feel like it, and felt less like it after one of my guys inability to get his $#!t together for closing time had me at work 45 minutes longer than planned. I hit the gym same weights, same reps but with more speed, less pause between reps and more smoothness THAT felt like accomplishment. This was my 3rd week squatting/DL 185 but I didn't hit my target reps my first week so I think I'm going to hit 185 one more time next week before moving up to 205. Pictured: After 3 sets of 185 I did a single rep of 225. This will be my final rep each time until I finally reach 225 for reps (6 weeks maybe?) Feels good.

16 miles on the mountain bike today. That wore me out! Still recovering from leg day lol.

I did! It wasn't anything special, I was tired but followed through because I needed to and my other excuses were weak. While I feel kinda "blah" about it more reps and less discomfort is still progress. That's something

Gym has been backburner all week, I'm posting to keep this more forefront in my mind... I need to hit 185 again this week. Mouth guard is in the gym bag. Its "new", had the dentist custom mold one right before the injury.

Friday that last post I managed to have an amazing chest day. Two weeks later (yesterday) I had a strong leg day and pushed the weight up again. The pain returned but I think a small amount is necessary... I am definitely reaching MUCH higher levels of muscle fatigue before the pain starts talking to me. I'm starting to reach point where I will need the mouth guard and lifting belt again which is a little exciting!

I fell off the horse... I didn't get hurt, I just fell out of routine. Busy part of my year is coming up... I know what new years resolution is going to be... but also I should get back on it before then...

You sure can if you think that's more fitting. Or I can start new.

Taking a rest week, I have to lock up every night this week.

Been 3 weeks already! Back and groin was pretty good after Monday's workout and the days following. I did the bare minimum 3 sets cause it was like 1am when I finished... Normally work is shorter and I go for 4 sets. Didn't drink enough water yesterday, cramps almost set in on the quads. Chest day today! Just gotta wrap up with work today...

Less to complain about today (I'm sure ya'll are sick of it) Very good leg day yesterday. Same weights, more reps, more sets and more power thru the motions. Stability was better and no odd phases of muscles firing out of order. No issues from the groin injury, my back is a little fussy today but not as bad as last week. I should be fine by tomorrow or even later today. I set up some new goals to pace myself by. I am not tracking my yoga and other stretches but they are still happening, now including back/core-stability exercises from years ago like kneeling balanced on an exercise ball. I am experiencing some tightness at the top of the thighs (mostly right) when I reach the bottom of my squats and dead lifts. I'm thinking about another visit to physical therapy to get some incite on this.

Can't always tell... unless they start throwing things at you. Growing up they would chatter loudly and rain acorn shells and orange peels on me from the redwood I frequently climbed. Good job sticking with it! Always forward.

Even scouts can catch a break sometimes. 29k~18mi Go crush it!

Proud moment: one of my troops, who used to buckle trying to keep up with me (despite me saying "throttle it back, take it slow"), Is now squatting 225 for reps. Now I get to catch up to him...

Putting the power back in power lifting! I moved up this Monday. I'm now in what I might consider normal weight ranges for dead lift and squat, and weight ranges that actually activate my muscles vs feeling like I'm going through the motions. I should be thrilled right? (small grin for progress) but its a double edged sword. 1) MY back which is dependent on motions my groin wouldn't let me do is felling the hurt from the neglect... 2) maybe because I've had a year off form what I would consider real lifting or maybe because one side has been compensating but I had a few bouts where my muscles seemed to fire in the wrong order which didn't help my back any either. BUT, like last week, all feels well enough by Weds So I feel better about the move-up today than I did on Monday. In the name of caution, will likely repeat this weight for a few weeks like I did the baby weights before this.

Every time I scroll past these two I do a double take, There are 4 rocks that line up Perfectly between the photos and a few others that are pretty close. The larger one 1/3 from the bottom really gets me, the markings around the edge are similar too.

I think that means they are coming right at you. yes, plyo is inherently impactfull and doing it with weights increases this. Gentle plyo would be body weight only on soft surfaces such as a dirt track, grass sports fields, loamy Forrest soil, beach sand, or a few inches of snow. The last 3 will be the most gentle on the joints but the most tiring on the muscles.

Plyometrics!

I believe that's called longing... I successfully moved leg day to Monday. This is rough, my least favorite day and my least favorite workout... BUT it is necessary; my bench press form puts stress on my hip flexors and groin which can trow me off for the rest of the week. Benching on Tues or Weds at the latest gives me more days to recover before next leg day. Anyway, Monday I got carried away on Hex-bar dead-lifts. Lower weight, High reps, lost count of sets, almost went to far. I have stay strong so I don't hurt my back, I can't stay strong cause I tore my groin last year...so my back was a little mad at me for acting possessed* but I was alright by yesterday and had a decent chest day. (oh and my legs were screaming about it lol)

Ok missed the gym for 2 weeks, I have no good excuses. BUT my buddies convinced me to ride 13-14 miles this weekend (met up and i work nights, I was reluctant) It was a good time, we went somewhere different and got something other than just desert to look at. 2500ft of gradual climbing with some fun descending mixed in. Zero complaints from my groin, no tightness, no pain(other things hurt, normal things)and I was happy about that! I keep forgetting that the bike is probably the way forward with my recovery. Regular riding between lifting needs to be more common for me. The heat discourages my friends and my work hours discourages me from joining them during cooler hours... Sorry bouncer, no desert panorama this time.

ABSOLUTELY! But the challenge, I believe, is that working it out, flexing it and growing it is not the same for everybody. For example: "You look great today" I mean it, but do you feel it? To some a complement will lift them up right away. To many, they will need to hear it more than once. And then there are those that shrug off positive words...Some are built this way, complements do nothing, but the rest may have a condition that can be improved with time and working other areas of self esteem along with accepting complements. Many more areas but that one, IMO, is huge Remember not to beat yourself up for beating yourself up. -YES. If it works for you, use it! -We are here, you have your support system at home, its not easy but it makes for a healthier you. I'm not judging the mom look. Being comfortable is good. You look fine. and in case you need to hear it again: You look great today.

While we miss hearing from you, I think this is a good thing to be one with your new home and new rhythm without interrupting it with tech. I love your woodsy photos and I'm a little envious at the moment. I hope all is still well and you are just staying in good rhythm without screens...