Big Show Tackles his Deficit

[Big_Show]

I may still not be running for the forseeable future, but it's still a cardio theme for me again this time round.

 

At the beginning of the year I signed up for a virtual challenge - 1000m miles in a year, which I thought would be easily achievable with the amount of running I was planning, and then I'd get a nice snazzy medal at the end of it.

 

Then my calf blew up again.  No more running.

 

To hit the target by the end of the year I should have been averaging 2.74 miles per day, or 19.19 miles per week.  So far this year I've averaged 2.00 miles/day instead, which puts me just over 12% behind.  So I want to tackle that deficit and get myself back on track - hence the goals:

 

1) Average at least 3 miles per day over each week - I'm recording the mileage of all intentional cardio, not just daily step totals (although I'll continue to log that anyway, because data).  That means all walks (via my Fitbit) and gym cardio machines (the bike & rowing machine especially, cross-trainers don't go very "far" for the time it takes) will count towards my total.

 

2) Stick to my calorie target for the week - I aim for my totals for the week to average out at within 500 calories of my daily target, calculated based on my current weight.  It works for me when I stick to it, so I just need to stick to it.  Including the weekends.

 

3) Gym workout three times per week - currently sticking with Wendler's 5/3/1 programme and making good progress with it, so not planning on changing any time soon!

 

LQ) Minimum of 3 Spanish lessons on Duolingo per day - I seem to have hit the point where I'm progressing reeeeeeeeally slowly because there's also a lesson that needs repeating to keep up to standard, so I only seem to get to do a new one maybe once or twice a week, so I'm going to commut to keeping myself up to date and hopefully making some tangible progress.

 

All this is aimed at making some tangible further wieght-loss progress over the course of the next month, as we then have a weekend away camping followed the next weekend by a family barbecue for my birthday (current Covid restrictions will allow this as we'll all still be outside in the garden).  Then after that, all remaining restrictions will theoretically be released, so we'll see what happens for the next challenge!

[Rurik Harrgath]

21 minutes ago, Big_Show said:

All this is aimed at making some tangible further wieght-loss progress over the course of the next month

 

Count me in since we're goals-buddies!  💪

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

DAMMIT BIG SHOW!

[Big_Show]

Tuesday weight: 111.1kg - those few days off over the weekend have left this creeping back up again.  Time to stop the rot!

Monday Mileage: 1.67 (1.33 under target for the 2 day week) - won't be a blinder every single day, but I'm going to work at it.

Monday calories: 1927 (536 under target for the 2 day week) - first alcohol-free day in a few after the long weekend, definitely need to dial things back in again.

Monday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - current lessons are all about work and the office.  Wonder if there's a homeworking module later on?

 

Monday was a solid start to the week.  This first week in particular is all about intention and building momentum, and I feel I'm getting my head properly back in the game for when my tracking week starts properly on Wednesday.

 

Also, the pollen count here is officially Very High right now so my head is exploding and somehow the inside of my eyeballs itch.  So that's fun.

 

Monday morning did start off with a trip to the gym for my Military Press workout though - the work sets were:

35kg x5

40kg x5

45kg x5+ (I did 3) - it's taken a few cycles, but I finally failed on a target set so it's time for me to deload 10% and start working back up again.  What a mind-boggling coincidence that this happened on the cycle after a PB, eh...?

 

Followed up with 5x10 DB press @ 2x14 kg (10, 10, 8, 8, 8, 7 - 51 total - this is progress) and then 3x8 assisted pull-ups @ 42kg (8, 6, 5, 5 - 24 total and also progress) and 3x8 assisted dips @ 35kg (8, 7, 6 - 21 but still progress).

 

I was beating myself up a bit for not hitting my target sets, then I decided to reframe it as having progressed far enough that I get to deload and work back up to another PB attempt in a few cycles time!  Seeing as the rest of the workout was all better than the week before, there's really no point in going out of my way to find a negative in there.

 

Right, better go cook dinner so we can get to the TV - we're currently on Season 2 of Superstore and I'm glad we stuck with it through Season 1 as I'm really enjoying it now.

[Big_Show]

Wednesday weight: 110.8kg - heading back in the right direction.

Tuesday Mileage: 6.52 (2.19 over target for the 2 day week) - 5miles on the gym bike in the morning followed by a short walk after work.

Tuesday calories: 2413 (586 under target for the 2 day week) - made a random veggie sauce to go with our pork chops and baby potatoes tonight.  First time in ages I've used pak choi for cooking, and I also snuck in more chilli powder to give the sauce a bit of a kick - the Welshman is gradually getting better at hot food, which is giving me more options when cooking for us  both these days.

Tuesday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - more work-related learnings.

 

This morning I got to the gym for deadlift day - my work sets were:

72.5kg x5

82.5kg x5

92.5kg x5 (I did 8 )

 

This was then followed by 5x10 @ 80kg (5kg up from last cycle), but my grip didn't quite like that yet so I did 10, 10, 8, 8, 8, 7 (51 total).  Then this time round I actually managed the full 3x8 bent-leg raises so next time round I'll be attempting the straight-leg version instead.

 

The gym is closed for the next couple of days - they just finished building a brand new gym, so they're busy moving all the equipment in there from the big sports hall it's been in for months.  It also doubled-up as being more spaced out so social distancing was easier, but as more people get vaccinated and things continual to open up they seem to be happy with reduced capacity in a smaller room now.  I only go at quiet times of the day anyway (busy gyms are horrible even when there's no pandemic) so it shouldn't really affect me anyway.

 

So this means I get a couple of days of just walking, although not tomorrow morning as tonight we're getting weather warnings about a nice big thunderstorm that should wipe out most of tomorrow!  Still, at least it'll get rid of the mugginess that's been in the air.  And hopefully lightning strikes will burn off all the pollen in the world too...

[shaar]

 

This is one of my favorite gifs to use in our work chat and your Duolingo made me think of it hahahahaha

 

HELLO

[Endor]

Oiga camarero! 

 

Tocadiscos

 

La luz

 

El pescador

 

Nob enter

 

There you have the remembered sum total of 2 years of teenage Spanish class! The last one is probably the most useful but buyer beware ...it might be misspelt!! Ah C'mon i was only 13!!

 

[Big_Show]

Thursday weight: 110.1kg - much better!  Last night's dinner was just fish & veg so that probably did the trick.

Wednesday Mileage: 1.56 (1.44 under target for the week) - just the walk after work.  No morning work today or tomorrow due to rain, gotta make that up at the weekend somehow...

Wednesday calories: 2254 (209 under target for the week) - a solid start on the calorie deficit for the week.

Wednesday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - a couple of revision lessons followed by one Work lesson.

 

Thursday has been a bit of a blah day, although due to the weather my hayfever has been relatively controlled so far which has made a very nice change indeed!  Hopefully tomorrow does the same, but I'm already dreading having to cut the grass at the weekend...

 

Got out for my walk after work though and started listening to an interesting podcast about the Halo effect, which in this context is basically how good diet & exercise patterns rub off on other people nearby if they want it to, kinda like simply leading by example and demonstrating good behaviour rather than nagging or cajoling people who don't want to be led.  Interesting stuff so far.

 

Tomorrow is more work, a walk, maybe the pub, then probably watching the England v. Scotland game.  Should be interesting...

[Big_Show]

Friday weight: 110.1kg - two days in a row now.

Thursday Mileage: 2.00 (2.44 under target for the week) - went for a longer walk but still falling behind.  I need the gym cardio machines back in my life!

Thursday calories: 2080 (592 under target for the week) - another solid day, that should sort out Friday night for me.

Thursday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - just revision lessons today.

 

Not much to add that the moment.  The weather continues to be damp, but on the plus side I currently don't have the urge to gouge my itchy eyes out with a spoon, so that makes a nice change.

 

Get to try out the new gym tomorrow morning so very much looking forward to that.  Then settling in for the Bristol Bears v. Harlequins game in the afternoon, should be a good match!

[Rurik Harrgath]

1 hour ago, Big_Show said:

Friday weight: 110.1kg - two days in a row now.

 

I love watching this crawl down through the week.

 

1 hour ago, Big_Show said:

Get to try out the new gym tomorrow morning so very much looking forward to that.  

 

Excited to hear how this goes!

[Big_Show]

On 6/18/2021 at 5:37 PM, Rurik Harrgath said:

 

I love watching this crawl down through the week.

 

 

 Me too mate, fingers crossed I can make some pleasing progress for you this week!

 

Saturday weight: 110.1kg - three days in a row now!

Friday Mileage: 0.72 (4.72 under target for the week) - rain stopped walkies?

Friday calories: 3433 (378 over target for the week) - we walked to the pub after work for a couple of pints, that was followed by rum when we got home and so the calories crept up.  Fun Friday though!

Friday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - just revision today.

 

 

 

Sunday weight: 109.4kg - back under 110!

Saturday Mileage: 5.48 (2.24 under target for the week) -

Saturday calories: 3488 (1403 over target for the week) -

Saturday Duolingo lessons: 4/3 - revison lessons on Shopping, School, and People, followed by one new Work lesson.  Would have done more, but I ran out of hearts.  Lesson learned - next time start with the new topic first!

 

Saturday morning started off with a trip to the gym.  It's all shiny &  new, and looks really good!  There's a functional fitness area with monkey bars, a weighted sled, and various other fun-looking toys that I'll definitely need to have a play with at some point.

 

For my workout, however, I was kind stuck bouncing around a) trying to locate where the equipment was now, and b) waiting to actually get on it!  Clearly people were trying to make up for not going there for the two days it was closed for. I got the main part of my workout done though, which was the Bench Press - worksets were:

50kg x5

57.5kg x5

65kg x5+ (I did 7)

 

That afternoon we setlled in to wath the Bristol v. Harlequins semi-final and by the end of it my nerves were shot to hell; Quins were 28-0 down in the first half, but somehow pulled it back to a draw at full-time and then won in injury time, so now we have a final to watch next Saturday!  Planning on getting some beers and junk food in to make the most of the evening, so I'm already planning my week's food & exercises in advance to compensate.  Much easier when you know in advance that it's coming!

 

This morning I was back to the gym again, and thankfully it was a lot quiter.  This time it was Squats - my work sets were:

60kg x5

67.5kg x5

77.5kg x5+ (I did 8 ) - still feeling nice & easy.

 

Followed this up with 5x10 leg press @ 110kg, then 5x10 calf raises @ 70kg.  15mins spinning out my legs on the bike at the end to round it all off.

 

Since then we took my Dad to the pub for an afternoon Father's Day pint or two, and now it's just a case of settling in for the rest of the day and enjoying the last of a chilled Sunday.  Got the week ahead planned out, and looking forward to making some solid progress!

[Big_Show]

Monday weight: 110.2kg - the usual Monday rebound.

Sunday Mileage: 4.61 (0.63 under target for the week) - almost back in the black now.

Sunday calories: 2373 (1313 over target for the week)

Sunday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - 1x Travel revivions lesson, 2x new Work lessons.

 

Monday started off well - headed to the gym nice and early to spend some time on the bike with a podcast, then settled in to tackle work.  Unfortunately after lunch I was still quite hungry, so I had my regular afternoon snack slightly earlier.  Then I just kinda... didn't stop snacking for a while.  Now I'm about 750 calories higher for the day than I meant to (or needed to) be, I feel all bloated, it's pissing down outside again so I can't go walk some of it off.  Or at least make it settled more.

 

Still, as Steve so often says - Never Two in a Row!  I'll get it right tomorrow, and I'll know to be more careful with the afternoon snacks next time.  I think it was only partially hunger and partially boredom, which has been a major factor in snack problems before, but so far with home-working it's not really been an issue.  Damn sure not gonna let it become a habit in this house!

[Big_Show]

Tuesday weight: 110.0kg - not disappointed with that; obviously I had convinced myself that I had eaten myself back up to 118kg in one afternoon...

Monday Mileage: 7.86 (4.23 over target for the week) - exercise bike did the trick!

Monday calories: 2515 (1365 over target for the week) - that afternoon binge did wreck my chances of hitting target for the week.

Monday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - 1x Greetings revivion lesson, 2x new Work lessons

 

This morning was up early and off to the gym again, and the Welshman even came with me!  I think my regular habit is starting to make him want to join in more regularly now, even if we do completely separate workouts while we're there.

 

It was my first Military Press workout since deloading after last week's failure - the worksets were:

32.5kg x3

37.5kg x3

42.5kg x3+ (I did 6) - felt good to squeeze out that extra last rep!

 

Then it was 5x10 DB press @ 14kg (I did 10 , 10, 10, 8, 8, 6 - 52 total) followed my 3x8 assisted pull-ups @ 42kg (8, 8, 5, 4) and 3x8 assisted dips @ 35kg which I finally hit - the resistance goes down to 25kg next week!

 

The gym's changing its booking schedule now though - with the new gym opening and half the machines out of use in order to maintain social distancing, they're going back to booking hour slots and clearing everybody out on the hour.  Which means my current routine of going along for 06:30 now won't work, but I don't want to risk 07:00 being heaving so I'm going to have to get up that extra bit earlier and try the 06:00 slot instead... this may hurt.  Lots of coffee will be involved.

 

Other than that, not much else to report - looking forward to the new tracking week starting tomorrow so I can hopefully get it right this time round!

[Hangrybear]

Happy to hear that Wendler 5-3-1 is still working for you, it's good to have an established routine you know will lead to results, since it gives you more mental capacity to focus on your other goals.

It's pretty smart to use all movement towards the 1000 miles. It shouldn't just be some arbitrary number to tick off at the end of the year, but rather a challenge suitable to improving your lifestyle, and for that purpose, all movement is good.

 

you seem to be struggling on some days to hit your calorie goal (as do we all). For that I can recommend filling the diet with more voluminous food (check out https://www.reddit.com/r/Volumeeating/ )and making sure the deficit isn't too severe.

The best diet is the one you can adhere to, and if you have to fight constant cravings it will ultimately lead to setbacks. What helped me personally fight cravings is lower the deficit, increase calories burnt from low-impact exercise such as walking or biking to be able to eat more and also to add a small amount of unhealthy foods to put the mind at rest. Eating some trash but adhering to the diet is preferable to eating clean but then bingeing on processed food anyways.

 

That being said, one or two days of eating above maintenance are actually good for stimulating the metabolism and will not lead to significant weight-gain, only to temporary water retention, so you're still fine!

[Big_Show]

5 hours ago, Hangrybear said:

Happy to hear that Wendler 5-3-1 is still working for you, it's good to have an established routine you know will lead to results, since it gives you more mental capacity to focus on your other goals.

It's pretty smart to use all movement towards the 1000 miles. It shouldn't just be some arbitrary number to tick off at the end of the year, but rather a challenge suitable to improving your lifestyle, and for that purpose, all movement is good.

 

you seem to be struggling on some days to hit your calorie goal (as do we all). For that I can recommend filling the diet with more voluminous food (check out https://www.reddit.com/r/Volumeeating/ )and making sure the deficit isn't too severe.

The best diet is the one you can adhere to, and if you have to fight constant cravings it will ultimately lead to setbacks. What helped me personally fight cravings is lower the deficit, increase calories burnt from low-impact exercise such as walking or biking to be able to eat more and also to add a small amount of unhealthy foods to put the mind at rest. Eating some trash but adhering to the diet is preferable to eating clean but then bingeing on processed food anyways.

 

That being said, one or two days of eating above maintenance are actually good for stimulating the metabolism and will not lead to significant weight-gain, only to temporary water retention, so you're still fine!

 

 

Thanks mate , I'll check out that reddit - I've definitely found the best approach for me is finding food that keeps me feeling full for as long as possible to reduce the urge to snack.

 

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

 

End of the 1st tracking week!

 

Wednesday weight: 110.0kg - would have preferred it to be lower, but it's still an improvement on last week.

Tuesday Mileage: 1.9 (3.13 over target for the week) - the little wander after work kept me nicely over target.

Tuesday calories: 2140 (1042 over target for the week) - still realistically not that far over my target for the week, but needs a bit more focus going into week 2.

Tuesday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - 1x Travel 2 revision & 2x new Work lessons.

 

The challenge progress so far is looking like this:

 

 

If I can keep this up, I'll break through May's plateau nicely.  So renewed focus is definitely the aim of Week !

 

It started off today with a distressingly early gym session - they're not enforcing the 1hr session limit (see previous post for details) strictly in the mornings as the main problem is apparently at peak time after work, but just in case I booked myself in for the 06:00am session, set my alarm for 05:40, and dragged myself up so I was there to start my session for 06:10.  Today was Deadlift day - the work sets were:

77.5kg x3

87.5kg x3

97.5kg x3+ (I did 7) - felt good again!  Enjoying getting more plates onto the bar again.

 

Then the 5x10 @ 80kg went fine, and my grip held out for all of the sets this time.

 

Next was the 3x8 hanging straight-leg raises - I managed 4x5 for my first attempt at this, so there's room for improvement but it didn't knack quite as much as I expected.  I'm still too tall for a complete deadhang anyway though, so I'm probably starting from around a 10-20 degree angle.  Best I can do without finding a tree or lamppost outside though 😝

 

At the end of it I had 10mins left to waste (the Welshman had rocked up for a session as well, albeit about 20mins after I arrived, so I had to wait for him to finish) so I finally had a play on one of the Wattbikes to figure out how they work.  It felt a lot more like my old road bike from my triathlon days, and they seem to be less in use than the regular static bikes, so I'm going to head along there again tomorrow (but not until 07:00 this time!) for a session just on them.

 

Absolutely rock-solid seat on the damn thing though! Gonna have to dig out my old cycling/tri kit tonight and see if I still have shorts wtih a chamois to try and relieve my the pressure on my poor sit-bones; never thought I'd be wishing for the much more padded arse I used to have when I was a few stone heavier... 😅

[Big_Show]

Time to catch-up on the last couple of days:

 

Thursday weight: 109.6kg - back under 100!

Wednesday Mileage: 4.17 (1.17 over target for the week) - solid start.

Wednesday calories: 2311 (152 under target for the week) - also a solid start.

Wednesday Duolingo lessons: 0/3 - completely forgot!

 

 

Friday weight: 109.9kg - back under 100!

Thursday Mileage: 4.64 (2.81 over target for the week)

Thursday calories: 2227 (388 under target for the week)

Thursday Duolingo lessons: 4/3 - did extra to compensat for yesterday; the last exercise for Work (now complete), the first two Emotions lessons, and a Schedule revision lesson.

 

Thursday morning was a trip to the gym for another go on the  Wattbike.  Damn that seat is uncomfortably, even with padded shorts!  Possibly not a piece of kit try to using daily...

 

It feels good to be back under 100kg.  It's only a little bit of a different, but it already feels like I can see it in the mirror. 

 

Friday morning was back to the gym for my Bench Press day - the work sets were:

52.5kg x3

60kg x3

67.5kg x3+ (I did 5) - gonna need a spot for next week's next PB attempt!

 

Followed this with the 5x10 DB bench press @ 22kg (10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 7 - 51 total) which is improvement, then 3x8 assisted pull-ups with 42kg assistance (8, 7, 6, 4 - 25 total), followed by my first attempt at assisted dips with only 28kg of assistance.  I managed 6, 5, 4, then put the assistance up to 35kg for 2 sets of 7 & 5 to complete my reps.  Hopefully won't be too long before I'm doing them all at 28kg.

 

Had enough time to finish off with 3x8 sets of bro curls too, so it was a good start to a Friday morning!

 

Tomorrow I'm doing a bit of overtime in the morning, and tomorrow evening is the big rugby Premerhip final that we're having our treat evening for (beer!  In the house!  And frozen junk food!) so I might head to the gym in the afternoon in preparation (if it's not too busy) to do my Squat session.

 

Speaking of which, I'm in two minds about whether to add something to that one as it feels a bit short at the moment.  So far it's Barbell Back Squats, then the Leg Press Machine, with Calf Raises to finish.  Thinking about putting some barbell lunges in after the leg press, but starting off just with bodyweight then building up veeeeery slowly.  Any thoughts?

 

Have a good weekend everyone!

[shaar]

On 6/22/2021 at 2:21 PM, Big_Show said:

I think my regular habit is starting to make him want to join in more regularly now, even if we do completely separate workouts while we're there.

 

YES this is absolutely how we work too - boyfriend and I are both very motivated individuals, but when one of us feels like slacking the other will generally kick them back into the gym.  Glad you're enjoying the new gym!!

[Sloth the Enduring]

Did your wedding happen while I was away or is it still upcoming?

[Big_Show]

On 6/27/2021 at 2:54 PM, shaar said:

 

YES this is absolutely how we work too - boyfriend and I are both very motivated individuals, but when one of us feels like slacking the other will generally kick them back into the gym.  Glad you're enjoying the new gym!!

 

It definitely makes it easier to stick to things, doesn't it - you really need a damn good excuse to slack off 😆

 

On 6/27/2021 at 11:23 PM, Sloth the Enduring said:

Did your wedding happen while I was away or is it still upcoming?

 

Not yet, thankfully we postponed it until July 2022 - there are still restrictions on wedding venues over here at the moment, so we would definitely have had a much smaller do than we wanted.

 

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

 

Full update coming tomorrow when I have a bit more time, but I just wanted to quickly share this graph:

 

 

As of today it's a full year since I first started to try to lose the weight I put on during lockdown 1, and also the rest of it as well.  I'm pleased to be just shy of 15kg down still, but from here on it's clearly going to take more concerted effort.  Not just lifestyle changes and letting it take of itself, but actively trying to diet.  But it's been a good year!

[Big_Show]

Ok, so the end of my Week 2 looked like this:

 

Wednesday weight: 110.3kg - as mentioned, my dieting has definitely stalled so I'm refocussing on that this week and making myself actively diet instead of just "letting" a calorie deficit happen.

Tuesday Mileage: 6.25 (2.44 over target for the week) - I've been making good progress with this - I've gone from 11.98% behind at the beginning of the challenge to 11.23 behind after one week, and after two weeks I am now 10.94% behind where I should be to hit 1000miles for the year.

Tuesday calories: 2012 (855 over target for the week) - close enough I guess?

Tuesday Duolingo lessons: 3/3 - still getting these in daily.

 

To sum up the week:

- Harlequins won the Premiership!  We had a great time watching the final on TV, settled in with actual beer in the house for the first time in aaaaaaages, cooked various junk food (breaded forms of cheese are always good), made spicy pork belly bites as well, and generally ate & drank too much.  This basically sums up how I've been, if not totally undoing, then at the very least severely undermining my weekday efforts at the weekend.  But these events don't happen every weekend!  Especially not now the season has just ended.

- I have kept up with the gym and the walking/cycling.  It's now the 5/3/1 week of my programme, and today I unknowingly equalled my heaviest deadlift post-lockdown 1 weight that I got up to in October (just before lockdown 2 scuppered all the progress), and this week I will also be shooting for Covid-era PBs on my Bench Press and Squats.  So things are definitely progressing on that front!

 

The disappointing graph for my challenge so far now looks like this:

 

 

...so it's on the Week 3 to try and change that trendline a bit!

 

It started off with the aforementioned 5/3/1 workout for deadlift day - the work sets were:

82.5kg x5

92.5kg x3

105kg x1+ (I did 5) - last time I managed 3, so that's a good sign!

 

This was followed by 5x10 deadlifts @ 80kg, then another attempt at 3x8 hanging straight-leg raises - I managed 7, 6, 5, 4, 4 (26 total) which is improvement again from last time as well.  Still hate them though.

 

My diet choices today have been careful, and tonight I'm making us a turkey bolognese which should also create some leftovers for a lunch as well.  Should go down well when we settle in to watch this week's Loki.

 

The week ahead doesn't have any major diet traps ahead like last week - we're meeting some friends for dinner on Friday, but I've already checked out the restaurant's menu and know what to pick so I can feel like I've had a treat without blowing up my calorie count for the week.  Then on Saturday we're going for a long walk and I'm cooking balsamic chicken for dinner, which is surprisingly low calorie while still also feeling like a cheat meal.

 

So that's the plan, just need to stick to it all now!

[Big_Show]

Thursday weight: 110.3kg - still the same, but not gone up, so there's that.

Wednesday Mileage: 4.98 (1.98 over target for the week) - a solid start to the week.

Wednesday calories: 2098 (365 under target for the week) - I got hungry in the afternoon, but I think that's partly because I got used to eating then again.  Hopefully that'll pass over the next few days.

Wednesday Duolingo lessons: 4/3 - three revision lessons, followed by one new Emotions lesson.

 

Not much to report really - headed to the gym to use the Wattbike this morning. got a fair few miles of cardio in on that.  Work has passed quickly enough, and now I'm having a lazy sofa evening and finally getting round to watching more of Castlevania - I only watched the first season, so quite surprised to find there's now four available on Netflix!

 

Tomorrow morning I'm heading to the gym for the 5/3/1 workout of my Bench Press (or Squats if the bench is taken), then tomorrow night we're heading into townn for dinner with some friends.  Still feels weird to be able to say that again...

[Big_Show]

Friday weight: 110.0kg - finally starting to move, just before the weekend though...

Thursday Mileage: 6.87 (5.85 over target for the week) - healthy balance.

Thursday calories: 2228 (600 under target for the week) - that's a nice buffer going into the weekend, I'm going to try to be much more careful not to blow it all this week!

Thursday Duolingo lessons: 1/3 - oops, forgot to do any more!

 

Today has started off with a trip to the gym for my Bench Press day - the worksets were:

57.5kg x5

65kg x3

72.5kg x1+ (I did 3) - that's a PB!  Third rep was a bit shaky (clipped the hooks on the way up too) but I managed it - didn't want to try for a fourth as no spotter.  I'll take that though!  Years of being too nervous to do bench means I get all the noob gains now I guess!

 

Looking forward to going out for dinner tonight, then tomorrow looks like a bit of a washout weather-wise so we probably can't do the walk we had planned.  Gym's still open though...

[Brovatar Korra]

34 minutes ago, Big_Show said:

 

Today has started off with a trip to the gym for my Bench Press day - the worksets were:

57.5kg x5

65kg x3

72.5kg x1+ (I did 3) - that's a PB!  Third rep was a bit shaky (clipped the hooks on the way up too) but I managed it - didn't want to try for a fourth as no spotter.  I'll take that though!  Years of being too nervous to do bench means I get all the noob gains now I guess!

 

Hi there! Awesome job on BP!

[Endor]

How's it going in Pommie land?!  Probably out enjoying the new freedom! 

 

We're getting our dose of lockdown here....

[Big_Show]

On 7/13/2021 at 11:59 PM, Endor said:

How's it going in Pommie land?!  Probably out enjoying the new freedom! 

 

We're getting our dose of lockdown here....

 

Well it's supposedly "Freedom Day" here today but what I'm mainly seeing is cases rising massively so I have no desire to go out into all that too much... luckily most of the things I actually want to do are relatively safe so fingers crossed we're going to ride out this next wave with bbqs and beer gardens.  Definitely not going clubbing any time soon, that's for sure...

 

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Ok, so I kinda fell off the boards with this challenge - long story short, after my Military Press session I pinged something in neck/upper back so that all seized up for a few days and inspired me to take a few days off the gym.

 

At that point I also realised that this month involved our summer holiday away camping followed by my birthday, so trying to diet through it very much felt like trying to diet in December with everything happening then.  So I decided it was time for a bit of a diet break and most importantly a break from MFP!

 

It's been a fun couple of weeks, family BBQ, camping, beers, ciders, ice cream, and still some gym trips as well, but now I'm ready to get properly back on to it.  And while my weight has started drifting back up again as a result, I'm now way more inspired to actively diet my way down - target is 105kg, and I'll be back next week with a new thread when the next challenge board goes up!