Hazard Rebirth: The second evolution

[Hazard]

 

Rawr

 

 

This battle log is my "challenge" thread now.  Don't worry if you weren't here to read along when this log began.  You don't have to read all the older posts if you don't want to.

 

Click here to skip 20 pages, to the beginning of my Main Quest of 2018

 

You're also welcome to jump straight to the last page of this log (the most recent posts), joining me on my journey wherever I happen to be.  Whatever way you come to me, I'll be happy to have the company when you arrive. .   Hang around.  Chat me up.  Offer me advice.  Ask me questions.  Etc.   I'll make a point of trying to return the love on your battle log or challenge threads, whichever you tend to use.

 

 

 

 

[WhiteGhost]

Following along for your epic challenge!

[Hazard]

8 minutes ago, WhiteGhost said:

Following along for your epic challenge!

 

Welcome aboard.  

 

[Hazard]

I've been wearing a pedometer again the last few weeks.  Seeing the step counter go up is like scoring points. I like making the score go up.  And that helps keep me motivated in outrunning (outwalking) my fork.

 

Plus I track the mileage, because I thought it would be fun to see when I reach various locations along a virtual Walk to Mordor.  I've been doing it for several weeks now, but since this is a new thread I'm starting over with this as Day 1, setting out from Bag End, so I can have fun giving updates for the entire journey on where I am in Middle Earth from beginning to end.

 

Miles Walked today: 13.65 (Hobbiton is no longer visible. Stock Road is up ahead about 1 more mile.)

 

 

Now, when it comes to outwalking my fork, walking alone works fine.  But combining it with calorie counting is like a Power Up of diet control.   A few days ago I felt mentally ready to start counting calories again.  I don't have a calorie intake goal right now.  I eat when I'm hungry.  Counting calories at the moment is mostly just to make me be mindful of how much I'm eating before I stick it in my mouth, so I don't unintentionally have a Gorge Day.  It also gives me a nice data point so I can do this:

 

Calories Eaten: 2,240

Pedometer Burn: 1,630

-----------------------------

Net Caloric Intake:  610

 

And for the record, so I can look back and compare later, my morning weight was 204.0 lbs.

 

 

[Hazard]

Looks like I got about 7 hours sleep last night.  Yay!

 

So on Tuesday, after not having back squatted with a barbell for.... 14 months (I think? It's been a long time anyway), I stuck a few 45s on my bar (32.5 lbs bar) and back squatted 212.5 lbs a couple of times.  Then I switched a set of 45s out for 35s and did a few sets of 4 at 192.5 lbs.

 

Not even remotely surprising I've had a touch of delayed muscle soreness in my legs from it.  I've been waiting for it to go away so I can actually bend my legs enough to deadlift.  I woke today with full range of leg movement, so looks like deadlifts are on tap today.

 

I may test where my Bench Press is at too.  I wasn't planning on it, but I feel like doing it.  I put 45s on the bar Monday and was able to Push Press 120 lbs.  I prefer the OH Press over the Bench Press, but I'll probably bench again too, so I may as well see what I can do on it.

 

Right this minute though I've got a baby to feed, and then I need to get some food in me too because my tummy is whinging.

 

 

[Jonesy]

Did you decide to go with 2 days of working out or are you trying something else out?

 

Also, how is the littlest rebel?

[raptron]

BARBELL LIFTS!~

 

Also hi!

[Hazard]

5 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

Did you decide to go with 2 days of working out or are you trying something else out?

 

I'm not sure yet.  A Mondays & Thursdays schedule would give me adequate recovery time, but the workouts might end up being longer than I want them to be.  It'd be better if I could split things up and train more days of the week.  I'm still trying to figure out a schedule that could let that happen.

 

But I'm not going to wait until I figure it out to get started. .  Better to go ahead and start doing stuff, and adjust along the way as needed.

 

39 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

Also, how is the littlest rebel?

 

She's doing well.   I noticed everyone on Nf has switched over to Instagram.  I downloaded the app, I just need to actually register and learn how to use it .  Once I do, I intend to share pics and videos again.

 

I also spotted someone using what I think may be GooglePhotos to share pics of things that I asume are screenshots of their exercise spreadsheet.  I've used googlesheets and googledocs, but didn't realize until recently that google accounts can store and share photos too.  So I plan to try that as well.  A spreadsheet screenie might make sharing my workout logs easier and prettier than typing them.

 

 

[Hazard]

18 minutes ago, raptron said:

BARBELL LIFTS!~

 

Also hi!

 

Yay! My gymnastics accountibilibuddy!  #DoIEvenStretch?

 

 

[Hazard]

I think I've got Instagram working.  Somebody tell me if this video shows up and plays right:

 

 

 

[Jonesy]

Shows up for me. 

Look at you rocking the instagram!

[Hazard]

13 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

Shows up for me. 

Look at you rocking the instagram!

 

Awesome!  .  Thanks for the confirmation.

 

 

[WhiteGhost]

Works fine for me too

[Hazard]

I got 7 miles in today.  On today's journey toward to Mordor, I walked through some trees, climbed a steep hill, and am now on a road that goes up and down some low rolling hills.  

 

Calories Eaten: 2,460

Pedometer Burn: 787

-------------------------

Net Caloric Intake: 1,673

 

 

I did some stretching.  Then, as seen in the video posted earlier, I tested where my DL is at after a looooong layoff from weight training and hit 287.5 lbs.  Which is actually pretty decent a place to start.  My grip, as it historically has been, was my weak point.

 

I also tested where my bench press is at and hit 172.5 lbs.  S'alright.

 

[Hazard]

11 minutes ago, WhiteGhost said:

Works fine for me too

 

Thanks for letting me know.

 

[Hazard]

Mrs. H and I have come to an agreement that one hour will be set aside on her non-work days in which she'll try to handle all baby needs and let me have fitness "me-time." This is very cool, as it would give me all 7 days a week to work with for a training schedule.

 

And, I'm going to use all of them. .  I've been doing a good bit of thought, considering my apporach to training, re-reading many different programs and methodologies.   I've decided I want to give an every day is squat day approach a try.

 

My plan is to squat every day.  Rather than the NF popular norm of sets-across with weight added to the top sets evey workout ( a la SS programs, SL, etc), I'll be doing my squats via pyramiding (somewhat a la John Broz); by doing doubles beginning with the empty bar, adding weight each set, then switching to singles when it starts feeling heavy, and continuing singles on up to a flexible training max.  Then I'll reverse back down the pyramid with singles, to doubles, to triples.

 

I'll probably focus on Front Squats, but on any given day I can choose from --- Front Squats, Back Squats (high, hybrid, or low), or Overhead Squats.

 

If I happen to have no barbell access that day, I still have to squat anyway.  Because Every Day Is Squat Day, duh.  That's where my Assassin experience comes in.  I can sub in a bunch of sets of bodyweight variations.

 

 

Just squats, Hazard?  Nah. After I've done the day's squats, I'll train other exercises, as time allows.  My exercise list isn't immutable.  But I tend to favor these:

• Pullups/Chinups
• Dips
• Push Press
• Deadlift
• Bench Press

 

So there we go.  I'll give it a try, track what I do, see how it goes.  If it works, great.  If not, I'll do something else.

 

As always, comments and questions are welcome.

 

 

[Jonesy]

My knees ache just thinking of everyday as squat day. 

 

I'll be interested in seeing how this works for you! 

[Hazard]

2 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

My knees ache just thinking of everyday as squat day.

 

That's interesting.  Do you get knee pain from squats a lot?

 

 

[Jonesy]

6 minutes ago, Hazard said:

That's interesting.  Do you get knee pain from squats a lot?

 

Lately just the left knee. Sumo/Plie squats are gentler.

[Hazard]

Today's workout.  Seeing if this works:

 

(jpeg broken.  I edited to remove it.  Keep reading, the workout is in another castle post.)

 

[Hazard]

Wow that's huge.  Can't seem to grab the picture corner on my iPad to shrink it's size.  But it's way too big.  I need to figure out a way to make the size pleasant to view.

 

 

[Jonesy]

I see a broken jpeg. 

[Hazard]

Just now, Jonesy said:

I see a broken jpeg. 

 

Oh.  Well crap.  Lol.  I definitely need to find another way then.

 

 

[WhiteGhost]

Are post squats still going to be on the docket or are you only working 2 leg squats for now?

 

Also, what is the objective you are trying to reach with so many squats? 

[Hazard]

14 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

Are post squats still going to be on the docket or are you only working 2 leg squats for now?

 

I'm guessing that's a typo and you're asking about pistol squats?

 

I'm squatting every day, so if there's a day I happen to have no barbell access -- pistol squats will be one of bodyweight variation options I can sub in.  In the meantime, I've been doing stretches to improve my ankle dorsiflexion in the hopes that someday I may be able to perform a free-standing pistol squat instead of having to rely on gripping something for balance.

 

14 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

Also, what is the objective you are trying to reach with so many squats? 

 

I think I may experience faster growth in strength and work capacity squatting 7 days a week than I would get from squatting 2 days a week.