Caution

Got my first ride of the season in on Saturday and it was so refreshing. I really hate the winter up here, I need to move South.

 

been eating well, no beer still! 

You deserve a high five!

My wife is Catholic (I'm Methodist) and to get married in the Catholic church we had to do Pre Cana ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Cana ). It was a relationship building class that lasted 3 weekends for 4 hours each. Mostly going over the standard do you really know your partner / relationship building / post-marriage advice. 

I'm late to the party (as usual) but just stopping by to say "Doing great". I am all too familiar with the overuse of alcohol to numb problems. Something I've been working on myself and why I've taken a break from many things (including the forums). 

I did a few rounds of P90x and while It worked at getting me in better shape and following the meal plans helped me lose a lot weight, it is incredibly long. Basically 1-1.5 hours a day, 7 days a week. I don't have that kind of time and it no longer fits my goals but it was good for one thing: structure. It gave me something to do every day so I would keep at it and it told me exactly what to do, which for a novice is a good thing. I probably will never do it again but it kept me consistent for 6 months. 

I'm just spying around these parts for now, but good luck MP!

you sound super busy! i hope you have a somewhat relaxing holiday

Yeah, things aren't lightening up around here yet, I hope that I can relax after tomorrow a bit.

How are you doing on this by the way, Caution? I know for me the holidays and cold make it harder. Not only that but with food too. Hope you can get a hold on things soon, you do sound super busy.

Pretty good so far. I'm planning on drinking tonight and probably on Thanksgiving. Tonight because it is my birthday and I want to enjoy some wine and steak. Thanksgiving because, you know, family. 

Haven't worked out this week, had to work late last night and had a ton of stuff to do in the garage. Huge storm coming today and I needed to make room for the car and the snow blower. (i.e. putting away all the chairs, grills, etc...) 

Alcohol's good for giving you that emotional lift in the short run - makes it hard to resist, I know.  Sounds like it's going to be hard to give up or lighten up on in the long term unless you can find another way of emotionally lifting yourself.  Yoga?  Meditation? Cognitive work? I'm pulling for you!

 

The steak dish looks great, BTW.  I'm in awe of your continually listing a steady stream of healthy, tasty, interesting dishes - do you do cooking classes? 

I've tried Yoga and Meditation, just not for me. I think what I need to do is start focusing on my hobbies as a way to relieve stress. Thanks for the support!

So not a great week, I missed some workouts had to work super late most nights, wife wanted the house rearranged and we have company coming to stay with us for the weekend so I was getting the guest room finished, cleaned and prepped (Was doing some remodeling). Hoping to get back at it next week. I forgot to take the chicken breasts out of the freezer yesterday morning so we ended up going out for dinner instead of stir fry, guess I'll do that Monday instead. 

Nice volume workout. I'm never very hungry on workout days but I am the day after volume days. I lift at like 6-7 p.m. though so maybe I would be if I lifted early in the morning. 'Cept that would mean that I would have to wake up at 4 am to lift, so F' that. 

I'd do it but my wife would probably get mad for making too much noise while she was watching. 

That setup is awesome, great job!

<3 Panera. Nice job on those macros. 

Nice Spartan run! I bought some chalk from Amazon, like 10 bucks for 8 bricks and it is probably going to last me at least a few years.

Gunna have to side with the majority here, kick ass week 1!

I'm in the same boat as you in regards to sleep issues. Sure wish I could get it resolved. 

that looks awesome. nice job on the food planning for this week! I'm going to go remind myself what your meat slop is...

 

Edit: Oh, wait! you never said! you just said it was silverhydra's! Can you share the deets?

It is basically cabbage and ground beef and stuff. http://www.silverhydra.com/2011/10/meat-slop/ also I posted my version (sorta) in the Shit warriors eat

Busy busy still, short and sweet version of today:

Squats

5 x 155 lbs

5 x 155 lbs

5 x 155 lbs

5 x 155 lbs

5 x 155 lbs

Bench Press

5 x 145 lbs

5 x 145 lbs

5 x 145 lbs

5 x 145 lbs

5 x 145 lbs

OHP

5 x 75

5 x 75

5 x 75

5 x 75

5 x 75

Todo: Dinner, read, get garbage ready. 

Movie theater popcorn wouldn't be so bad if they didn't give you the equivalent of 2 full (microwavable) bags worth for a small. Enjoy the movie!

So, I forgot that I had some steak in the freezer already, so I took that out to defrost for tomorrow and decided to eat steak today too for lunch.

All of your food looks sooooo good! You're making me hungry and I just ate breakfast!

Ha, thanks!

Yesterday I didn't get home from work until 9 pm and my MIL came to visit so I put off lifting. The wife and MIL went to the casino so I'm going to get that workout in pretty soon.

Grocery Trip $92 ($22 was on dog food and other necessary items that aren't edible).

Food:

Tonight: MIL is taking us out to dinner

Sun: Steak Salad

Mon: Meat Slop (this stuff is kinda addicting)

Tue: Tortilla soup

Wed: Cottage Pie

Thurs: Lodge so I bought some frozen stuff for the wife

Friday: Chicken stir fry. 

Didn't take measurements but weigh in the AM was 182.6. (dat water weight loss)

Todo: lifting, holy crap it is 60 degrees out better mow the lawn one last time, and make lunch I guess.

Think geek is probably my favorite site of stuff that I've never purchased from. I keep saying ooh I should buy this or that, but then I never do.

I'm going to look through the Sriracha book tonight, I need some new ideas for my foods.  Solid workout and the food looks good!  Keep it up

if you make something yummy from it, please share!

Is that the meatatouille? looks awesome.

 

nice job with the workout yesterday! looks like upping the squat felt good.

It was, and the pictures didn't really do it justice. I'm still a bit away before the squats get tough again. 

Just checking in.  Sorry to hear you've been in a bad place, but it sounds like you're tackling the climb out in a good way - setting doable goals, working on the booze, making healthy food, and impressing the wife, too - the cooking is a twofer!!    Seriously, good luck, buddy.  I'm pulling for you.  Consider me tossing you a virtual rope any time I can.  

Hey Orc, glad you could stop by. Thanks for the rope. The booze thing isn't that tough, but I can be very stubborn. One thing I realize though is that when I stop drinking for longer periods I seem to get more stressed out, I need to find a way to relieve that tension that the booze helped. Working out is great but it doesn't emotionally help my stress. 

Totally off topic, what sort of bike are you straddlin there Caution old mate? 

It is my 2013 Harley 883 Superlow. It has a bunch of new stuff on it now but that was when I first picked it up.

TODO: Work, lift, make dinner then probably read.  

 

1 - 3/7 - 0/7 - 0/7 - 0/7 - 0/7 - 0/7 - 3/42

2 - 2/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 2/18

3 - (2/2/2 1/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/24 - 0/4 - 1/24) - (2/2+2/2 2/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 2/18) 

4 - 0/1 - 0/1

 

Good job on the lifting and eating stuff and things. I need to print a key for your posts so I know what I'm reading

 

Hmmm, I actually like the sounds of that, I'll have to look into it and see if I can rotate all of my lifts. That way instead of just going from volume to intensity, there's a middle point. Curious to see if the recovery day is rest or a light workout? Thanks Caution!

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/the_texas_method