MasterOfCows becomes MasterOfFitness

[CourtnieMarie]

On 6/8/2016 at 5:00 PM, MasterOfCows said:

I'm back!!

 

It was amazing.  Both Germany and Greece are amazing but for different reasons.  I can hopefully give a better update soon with some pictures... but June is the death month of work at work (because of course it is).

 

We averaged over 10 km/day of walking over all the time we were gone (this includes travel and beach days, which were way less, so there's that, but it also includes one 22 km day, 16 km of which was a hike through Samaria Gorge on Crete).
Also I lost 3 lbs somehow despite the vast quantities of beer, schnitzel and cheese (seriously Greece has amazing cheese involved food stuffs) ingested.  154.6 on Monday.

yayyyyy! sounds like an awesome trip and so much walking! that is seriously jaw-dropping about losing weight because no matter how much i walk on vaca, i totally put more calories in than i burn. oops. so GREAT JOB! you are totally going to beat me

[karinajean]

welcome back!

I was thinking about you last week, we are planning our big drive out to Wyoming and I was thinking about Stampede and I'm so bummed we can't make it there, if just because it would be something SO NEW AND DIFFERENT.

[MasterOfCows]

On June 10, 2016 at 6:30 AM, CourtnieMarie said:

yayyyyy! sounds like an awesome trip and so much walking! that is seriously jaw-dropping about losing weight because no matter how much i walk on vaca, i totally put more calories in than i burn. oops. so GREAT JOB! you are totally going to beat me

I think it was probably partially a trick, I haven't checked but I think it was at least partially a bit of an aberration on the day.  I would have expected a normalization about 1 lb loss.  But I"m pretty sure I've undone all of it any way since I've been back home... I need to get out of vacation eating mode because my activity level is way down again!

 

On June 13, 2016 at 6:22 AM, karinajean said:

welcome back!

I was thinking about you last week, we are planning our big drive out to Wyoming and I was thinking about Stampede and I'm so bummed we can't make it there, if just because it would be something SO NEW AND DIFFERENT.

Awwwww... that would have been so awesome. But I'm sure you'll have a great time road-tripping to Wyoming and hopefully 17 likes the campus!

 

SO GUYS. UGH.  I had a whole mess of photos picked out to share, but I can't upload them, because they are all high res and too big.  I might see if I can make a google photo album or something and link it here?  But I'll have to go through and explain the photos first... so give me some more time.

ALSO: I went back to the gym on Thursday for the first time in over 3 weeks and was sore for like 4 days.  And this week is a write off due to meetings out of town, so next week I'm going to be all hobbling around with mad DOMS again haha.

 

ALSO: wtf lats?  So last workout before holidays, I had lat pulldowns on the list.  6 singles at 132.  PR.  It was awesome, though I could have better ROM on them for sure.  This last workout?  132 wouldn't even budge.  120 wouldn't budge.  I ended up doing triples at 108.  Makes no gd sense.  Everything else was as expected.

[CourtnieMarie]

i'd still take any kind of aberration loss after a vaca!

 

i would totally appreciate a google photo album

 

yay back to the gym! boo doms and meetings out of town.

 

wait like before holidays like thanksgiving and xmas? you might just need to build back up since it's been awhile! but if you meant before your holiday to europe... wtf? i have no idea.

[MasterOfCows]

I meant holiday before Europe.  So it'd actually been a month - 3 weeks away and the week before we left I was busy getting stuff together for the trip.  But still.

 

I think that lat machine sometimes has issues - it isn't really maintained and I think the pulleys get gummed up some times with plastic bits from the cable, but it looked okay.

 

whatever.

 

 

[MasterOfCows]

Back after a week of meetings and travelling...  We went hiking on Saturday 24 km roundtrip, 480 m (1575 ft) elevation gain (note to self, start always talking about elevation in feet instead of meters - it just sounds so much more impressive).  

 

We were about at the halfway point when it started to rain, and it didn't stop raining.  And guess what?  My "waterproof" rain coat and pants?  Not exactly waterproof at all.  So I was completely soaked, and got sick practically instantly, so I'm laying off the gym until I feel better because I don't want to stress my body out more when I've got some pretty important meetings this week and next.

 

I'm now taking recommendations for rain gear that won't break the bank.

[karinajean]

pls feel better soon.

I don't have any rain gear reccs, because all of my rain gear is for riding motorcycles and not walking around, and it's just way too heavy to wear while self-ambulating.

 

I have been happy with my patagonia rain coat but no pants reccs.

[CourtnieMarie]

aw mannn! nice job with the hike but sorry to hear about your rain gear and getting sick! you should post in the gear forum and see what you get for reccs, i'd be interested to see what people say. i have an llbean raincoat that has been pretty waterproof but i haven't been under a downpour for as long as you were! their stuff isn't cheap but it has a lifetime warranty so if you don't like it, or if you wear it out, or need a different size after any amount of time, they will take it back for a full price store credit.

[MasterOfCows]

I am no longer sick (mostly!!).  I should post in the gear forum, that's a good idea.  My winter coat shell (Columbia) is supposed to be waterproof, but is also untested.  I think it is similar to my sister's, which didn't turn out to be as waterproof as she would have liked either.  Work has been absolutely insane, as I expected, but it's led to a complete lack of gym.  I've literally been once in almost 2 months now.  I was hoping to go today, but we decided to try and go camping last minute for the long weekend (we get the Friday, not the Monday), so I have to pack up all our shit.  And buy toilet paper. And hope all the sites aren't full when we get there Thursday night (it's first come, first served, no reservations).

 

Next week looks promising.  Then things get a little crazy again the end of the week after that, but I should be doing a fair bit of walking.

 

I'm pretty sure I've lost most of the progress I had achieved before/during holidays with regards to weight/stomach pooch, but that isn't verifiable yet, mostly because I've been too scared to check haha.
 

[MasterOfCows]

Also this:

https://goo.gl/photos/iUs4i1nphvjCw3Ud6

 

That should take to you to a google photo album with Europe pictures!

 

Full disclosure, there are some of the Dachau Concentration Camp, so if you don't want to see those, skip past all the photos starting with the gate until you get to the one of TheBuddy(tm) posing with a taxidermied rodent of some kind.  Then it's all happy again.

[MasterOfCows]

We went camping on the long weekend.  It was awesome and fun (despite falling in the mud when we were hiking around Horseshoe Canyon), but I forgot a pillow and my neck and shoulders are seriously messed up.  Better than they were Friday, but I don't think using a bunch of heavy weights is going to make things better either.  So I'm a cardio bunny I guess for at least this week.  Blech.  I can do some bodyweight leg stuff though.

There was one spot in the canyon where we were hiking that I bailed on.  There was a small jump to a pretty steep (but short) incline/ scramble to the top of the next formation.  The footing wasn't great, I was wearing the pack with our lunches and water and stuff in it and if I misstepped or lost my balance it was a pretty long fall.  So I backtracked instead.  Which was probably the right decision - but my feelings were really hurt when my sister said something along the lines of, "I didn't realize you were so scared of heights and climbing stuff."  Which I'm not.  At all.  I am scared of re-injuring my left knee, as it still doesn't feel right sometimes and doesn't seem to be as reliable as the other knee yet.  I WANT to be all badass, but my knee isn't really letting me (or maybe it's just my brain).  Plus I have terrible balance at the best of times.  I'm just a little bummed about the comment, and how tentative I was with any footing that wasn't rock solid.

 

Weighed 160.4 this morning, which is the opposite trend by quite a bit - That's 6 lbs in a month!  It could have just been extra water after a weekend of booze and junk food though.  We'll have to see what things look like at the end of July - I'll also take measurements then, because I know weight alone doesn't mean that much. I might have to count calories (ugh) again.  I would hate to have lost all the progress I've made over the past few months.

[CourtnieMarie]

aw man. it's always sisters that can really dig into your weak spots and make you want to throttle them. amiright?! don't feel bad at all for making the smart decision. PLUS you were carrying all their food and water!!

 

i'm also around 6# heavier as of yesterday that was gained in about a month. i felt good this morning though and all my clothes feel okay sooo...? bodies. *sigh*

[MasterOfCows]

Neck and shoulder issues left over from camping have mostly sorted themselves out, so I'm back doing standard gym stuff, no more extra cardio!  I also decided to switch my program away from a modified 5/3/1 to a reverse pyramid type dealy that I basically made up.  Still 2X a week weights with an intensity week and volume week and I've thrown in a mild cardio day.  I needed to get my gym time down, and wasn't seeing a lot of progress doing 5/3/1 only two days a week.  I don't know if I'll keep the cardio day once bball starts back up, that may depend on my work schedule in any given week.

I was too aggressive with my weights on the first day (Monday), so I recalculated and we'll see how Thursday goes.  It wasn't probably the best idea to jump in with maxes after being away from it for almost 2 months.

[CourtnieMarie]

but maxes are so funnnnn  i like your plan. does your reverse pyramid dealy take the same amount of time as youre modified 531?

[MasterOfCows]

They are, but I HATE failing reps!  Plus the DOMS was strrrrroooong. 

 

So I'm just starting the volume week which might take longer, but the intensity week was shorter for sure, plus I streamlined my accessories.  

I just basically use various %'s of weight, it's 1 week intensity, 1 week volume and then repeat with increased weights were appropriate.  For intensity it's 95%, 85% and 75%, and volume 60%, 55% and 50% - which should have tipped me off that my numbers were off to begin with, because I'm aiming for 4 reps at 95% of the weight I plug in - so when I plugged in the weights for 1RM, that was obviously over ambitious.

 

So intensity week looked like this for OHP day:

OHP - 4@60 lbs, 6@55 lbs, 8@50 lbs

Single leg RDL - 4@65 lbs, 6@60 lbs, 8@50 lbs

Lat pulldown - 4@120 lbs, 6@108 lbs, 8@ 96 lbs

+ accessories

The other day is bench, BSS and cable rows

But I had to reduce the weights due to failed reps because I didn't set it up properly to begin with.  It's a work in progress

 

Volume today will look like this:

OHP - 8@30 lbs, 10@30 lbs, 12@25 lbs

Single Leg RDL - 8@35 lbs, 10@30 lbs, 12@30 lbs

Lat pulldown - 8@60 lbs, 10@60 lbs, 12@ 60 lbs

+accessories

I'll reassess how the weights are (i.e. if they are right for me) after tonight!

 

 

 

 

[MasterOfCows]

So a weird thing has been happening.  I've had like 4 or 5 separate people come up and say how much weight I've lost (I haven't).  To be fair, a couple of those probably hadn't seen me for 2 years +, so they are right, but the others I saw just last month.  Maybe I'm secretly recomping?  Will be interesting to see what sort of measurements I come back with at the end of the month.

Tonight's workout:

BSS 8@50lbs, 10@45 lbs, 12@45 lbs

Bench 8@55 lbs, 10@50 lbs, 12@45 lbs

Cable rows 8@60 lbs, 10@60 lbs, 12@60 lbs

+accessories

[karinajean]

I LOVE A GOOD SECRET RECOMP.

[CourtnieMarie]

5 hours ago, MasterOfCows said:

So a weird thing has been happening.  I've had like 4 or 5 separate people come up and say how much weight I've lost (I haven't).  To be fair, a couple of those probably hadn't seen me for 2 years +, so they are right, but the others I saw just last month.  Maybe I'm secretly recomping?  Will be interesting to see what sort of measurements I come back with at the end of the month.

Tonight's workout:

BSS 8@50lbs, 10@45 lbs, 12@45 lbs

Bench 8@55 lbs, 10@50 lbs, 12@45 lbs

Cable rows 8@60 lbs, 10@60 lbs, 12@60 lbs

+accessories

yes! best feeling everrrr!!

 

and BSSs to boot.

[MasterOfCows]

On July 26, 2016 at 9:07 AM, MasterOfCows said:

Tonight's workout:

BSS 12@45 lbs

 

These were just killer, if anyone was wondering.  

 

Basketball tonight!  Big long weekend plans too - Dentist, mow the lawn, gym (?) and then going to see America and maybe do a little gambling on Saturday, Bluesfest on Sunday, gym for sure on Monday.  Also going to make some jerky.  Not sure if I can get two batches in (Saturday and Monday) or if I'll just do one on Monday.

[CourtnieMarie]

oooo i like the weekend plans! that is a lot on saturday for sure!

 

oh yeah and i find anything over like 7 or 8 reps on BSS just kills 'em dead.

[MasterOfCows]

Well it helps that America is playing AT the Casino   Sister and I have a bet whether or not they play a song from the Last Unicorn Soundtrack.  They'd better.... or someone's (it's me) is going on a RAMPAAAAAAAGGGGGGGEEEE.
 

[Nymeria]

Ack.  I keep losing track of your thread.  It's great to see that you've been killing it with the gym workouts!  How have your knees been handling the basketball?  Are you close to that point where you feel 100% rehabbed?

 

On July 26, 2016 at 11:07 AM, MasterOfCows said:

So a weird thing has been happening.  I've had like 4 or 5 separate people come up and say how much weight I've lost (I haven't).  To be fair, a couple of those probably hadn't seen me for 2 years +, so they are right, but the others I saw just last month.  Maybe I'm secretly recomping?  Will be interesting to see what sort of measurements I come back with at the end of the month.

 

I occasionally get that, too.  I bet there's some recomping going on.  But also, if you've lost weight over the last year, it takes awhile for people's mental images of you to catch up.  Also, they just might want to say something about how awesome you look!  

[karinajean]

On 7/27/2016 at 0:48 PM, MasterOfCows said:

These were just killer, if anyone was wondering.  

 

Basketball tonight!  Big long weekend plans too - Dentist, mow the lawn, gym (?) and then going to see America and maybe do a little gambling on Saturday, Bluesfest on Sunday, gym for sure on Monday.  Also going to make some jerky.  Not sure if I can get two batches in (Saturday and Monday) or if I'll just do one on Monday.

 

I was like: GOING TO SEE AMERICA *I* AM IN AMERICA!!!

 

and then I read this:

On 7/29/2016 at 0:02 PM, MasterOfCows said:

Well it helps that America is playing AT the Casino   Sister and I have a bet whether or not they play a song from the Last Unicorn Soundtrack.  They'd better.... or someone's (it's me) is going on a RAMPAAAAAAAGGGGGGGEEEE.
 

 

and was sad, despite wtf even karinajean, way to jump to conclusions that MasterOfCows would be magically showing up on your doorstep?

[MasterOfCows]

On July 31, 2016 at 10:56 AM, Nymeria said:

Ack.  I keep losing track of your thread.  It's great to see that you've been killing it with the gym workouts!  How have your knees been handling the basketball?  Are you close to that point where you feel 100% rehabbed?

 

 

I occasionally get that, too.  I bet there's some recomping going on.  But also, if you've lost weight over the last year, it takes awhile for people's mental images of you to catch up.  Also, they just might want to say something about how awesome you look!  

First knee feels amazing.  Wouldn't even know anything happened if it wasn't for the scars.  Second knee (lefty) still gets pretty sore after a game or various other things (it was really sore yesterday due to dancing on Sunday).  The soreness is primarily muscular (popliteus), but sometimes it's patellar tracking pain or the place where they drilled one of the holes just aches.  And my scars on that knee are still weirdly sensitive.  I'm a year and 3 months with that one.  I'm hoping by the 2 year mark it feels as good as the first one!

 

21 hours ago, karinajean said:

 

I was like: GOING TO SEE AMERICA *I* AM IN AMERICA!!!

 

and then I read this:

 

and was sad, despite wtf even karinajean, way to jump to conclusions that MasterOfCows would be magically showing up on your doorstep?

Aww I wish I was magically showing up on your doorstep.  Trust me, if I'm in your neck of the woods, I'll let you know

Now for random things.  Didn't go to the gym on Monday (but did go Sat), because we found out about this awesome sale instead and went a bought.... A NEW TENT (say that to yourself in the Price is Right voice).  We got this one: http://www.mountainhardwear.ca/en/shifter-4-1585671.html?cgid=equipment-tents-camping&dwvar_1585671_variationColor=456#start=7

It was regular almost $400, and we got it for less than half of that.  We were going to get the 3 person, but TheBuddy(tm) laid down in it and both his head and his feet were hitting the sides no matter which way we positioned him, so we upgraded to the 4 person.  Then we spent the afternoon drinking beer, playing cards and reading in our new tent in the backyard.  It's not ideal for backpacking, but it weighs probably half of our old tent with the broken zippers, so we can make it work for shorter backpacks.  I think it's 7 or 8 lbs which isn't terrible.  

That meant we needed new sleeping stuff too, the queensize airbed has been officially retired.  So we got therm-a-rest sleeping pads, which I hope are worth it because the two pads cost almost as much as the on-sale tent (and the pads were on sale!!).

 

The concerts (America and Bluesfest) were both very fun.

 

July 31/16 measurements (lbs and inches) (I don't have any from the end of May or the end of June, so differences are from May 7)

Weight 159.6 (+2)

Left calf: 13.5 (-.625)

Right calf: 13.5 (-.5)

Left thigh: 20.5 (-.75)

Right thigh: 21 (-1)

Hips: 39.25 (+.25)

Flexed waist: 34 (+1)

Relaxed waist: 36 (+1.5)

Natural waist: 30.5 (+.5)

Underbust: 33 (+1)

Overbust: 36 (same)

Left bicep flexed: 12 (-.25)

Left bicep relaxed: 11 (-.5)

Right bicep flexed: 12 (same)

Right bicep relaxed: 11 (-.25)

 

These are all over the damn place.  I realize I'm probably full of measuring error, but still I can't figure out what's going on between my belly and my legs.

At any rate.  I'm not going to start counting calories again, but I am going to try and focus more on making smarter choices, limiting treats (and beer), and portion control.  Summer is a time of indulgence for me, which I should be more mindful of.  

 

[MasterOfCows]

CAMPING TOMORROW!!!

 

I'm very excited.  I need the break.  Been going all out for what seems like forever, but has really only been like 3 weeks.