Battle On, Eli!

[elinox]

I've been decently successful in achieving my fitness goals up to this point. But I thought I should post my battle log since all the cool kids are doing it.

 

Character Backstory

Back in 2009, I started trying to lose weight and eventually shed 68 pounds at my lowest (I've since gained some back, hopefully some of which is muscle!). After starting to consciously become healthier by altering my diet with 1200 calories per day, I slowly added in exercise. Over the course of the next several years I added more exercise into my routine and now I'm at a point where I'm trying to become stronger by weightlifting. And I'm surprised by how much I enjoy that!

 

I'm a member at a local gym with my membership set to expire next month and no intentions of letting that membership lapse! I'm going to be joining a different gym which focuses more on weightlifting rather than general fitness like my current gym is. 

 

Currently, I go to the gym about 3-4 times per week. Half the days are spent with something cardio-related: walking, biking or swimming and half the days are devoted to lifting weights: bench press, curls, deadlift, squats, etc. 

 

Notes: reps X weights

 

Here's a breakdown of where I started 11/5/13:                                   And where I'm currently at as of 2/11/14:

Tuesdays                                                                                             Tuesdays

Bench Press: 10X50                                                                             Bench Press: 9X70                                

Tricep Overhead (cable): 9X30                                                            Tricep Overhead (cable): 9X50

Seated Lateral Raise: 8X10                                                                  Seated Lateral Raise: 6X12

Pull Over: 10X20                                                                                   Pull Over: 9X35

Dips: 10X70                                                                                          Dips: 9X25

Pull-ups (assisted): 8X65                                                                      Pull-ups (assisted): 7X45

Arnold Press: 8X10                                                                               Arnold Press: 6X15

Situps: 10                                                                                              Situps: 15 with ball twist

 

Fridays                                                                                                  Fridays

Seated Alternating Front Raise: 8X10                                                   Seated Alternating Front Raise: 7X10

Calf Raises: 13X45                                                                                Calf Raises: 7X100

Dumbbell Curl: 10X40 (EZ bar curl)                                                       Dumbbell Curl (barbell style): 6X25

Hammer Curl: 10X15                                                                             Hammer Curl: 7X20

Squat: 10 (just practicing sitting correctly)                                            Squat: 9X90 (machine)

Deadlift: 10X55                                                                                      Deadlift: 9X75

Dumbbell Rows: 10X20                                                                          Dumbbell Rows: 7X40

 

I'm going to continue to up my weights in the hopes of getting stronger. So, Battle On Eli!

 

 

 

[elinox]

Thought it was time I updated this. I've added in some more weight exercises including the squat bar and the overhead press. 

 

Notes: reps X weights

 

Bench Press: 9x90

Pullover: 9x40 (upping this tonight to 45)

Squat Bar: 9x65

Barbell Curl: 6x20 (changed my entire form)

Overhead Press: 6x52.5

Dumbbell Rows: 7x45 (upping this tonight to 50)

Squat Sled: 8x200

Hammer Curl: 7x20

Stiffleg Deadlift: 9x85

Calf Raises: 7x125

Arnold Press: 8x20

 

My bench press went up 20lbs, my pullovers went up 10lbs, rows went up 10lbs, Arnold presses went up 5lbs, calf raises went up 25lbs, deadlift went up 10lbs and the squat sled went up 110lbs.

 

All in all, I'd say my goal of adding more weights to get stronger is working! 

[elinox]

Update after my first challenge which is now completed.

 

Notes: reps X weights

 

Bench Press: 9X100 - Challenge #1 a success!

Pull Over: 7X50

Arnold Press: 9X20

Seated Lateral Raise: 7X12

Squat Bar: 9X100

Barbell Curl: 6X25

Overhead Press: 8X55

Dumbbell Rows: 7X45

Squat Sled: 9X280 - Challenge #1 a success!

Hammer Curl: 7X20

Deadlift: 7X100 - Challenge #1 a success!

Calf Raises: 6X125

Seated Alternating Front Raise: 6X12

[elinox]

For my second challenge here I successfully got to 75lbs for my stiffleg deadlift and 55lbs for my squat bar; both with good form (unlike before). 

 

Note: reps X weights

 

Bench Press: 7X80 - Now with correct form!

Pull Over: 9X50

Seated Lateral Raise: 9X12

Squat Bar: 9X75 - Challenge #2 a success!

Barbell Curl: 9X20 - Better form

Dumbbell Rows: 6X55

Squat Sled: 9X275 

Stiffleg Deadlift: 7X100 - Challenge #2 a success!

Calf Raises: 9X308 - Rawr!

Seated Alternating Front Raise: 6X12

Assisted Pull-Ups: 6X25

Body Weight Rows: 9X4th peg

Inner Thigh Machine: 9X45

Outer Thigh Machine: 9X45

[elinox]

Bench Press (70lbs, 9 reps on 8/13/14)

Set #1 = 50lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 55lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 65lbs, 9 reps (I thought I was only doing 60lbs, but when I checked it was actually 65lbs)

Goal: 50lbs

New Goal: 75lbs {Challenge #6}

 

Bar Squat (115lbs, 9 reps on 8/13/14)

Set #1 = 75lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 75lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 75lbs, 9 reps

Goal: 85lbs {Challenge #6}

 

Pull Over (55lbs, 9 reps on 7/15/14)

Set #1 = 20lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 25lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 30lbs, 9 reps

 

Rows (55lbs, 6 reps on 5/16/14)

Set #1 = 20lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 25lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 30lbs, 9 reps

 

Lateral Raise (15lbs, 6 reps on 7/8/14)

Set #1 = 10lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 10lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 10lbs, 9 reps

[elinox]

Bench Press 

Set #1 = 85lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 85lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 90lbs, 6 reps 

Goal: 90lbs for my 8th challenge

 

Bar Squat - 2/24/15b (I'm supposed to be taking a break from this so my neck can heal.)

Set #1 = 100lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 100lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 100lbs, 9 reps

 

Barbell Curl

Set #1 = 25lbs, 6 reps

Set #2 = 25lbs, 6 reps

Set #3 = 25lbs, 6 reps

 

Situps - on an incline, usually the highest setting

Set #1 = 15

Set #2 = 16-twist

Set #3 = 20

 

Lateral Raise 

Set #1 = 12lbs, 9 reps

Set #2 = 12lbs, 9 reps

Set #3 = 12lbs, 9 reps

 

[elinox]

At the end of my 11th challenge, here are my stats:

 

1. Bench Press - machine for safety reasons

6 reps, 100lbs

 

2. Squat Sled - machine, doctor’s orders

9 reps. 300lbs

 

3. Deadlift

8 reps, 105lbs

 

4. Barbell Curl

6 reps, 30lbs

 

5. Rows

9 reps, 40lbs

 

6. Assisted Pull-ups

6 reps, 25lbs assist

[elinox]

I just noticed it's been awhile since I updated my battle log. Here are my personal records so far. 

 

1. Bench Press (machine) - 8/23/16

1 rep at 100lbs

 

2. Squat (sled machine) - 9/8/15

9 reps at 305lbs

 

3. Barbell Curls - 10/20/16

2 sets of 4 reps each at 30lbs

 

4. Overhead Press - 12/15/16

3 sets of 7 reps each at 45lbs

 

5. Deadlift - 8/11/16

9 reps at 85lbs

[elinox]

I see that I need to trim down my signature, so I'm putting older challenges here.

 

1. Little & Mighty 

2. Shipshape for Summer

3. Breathe In, Breathe Out

4. Poetry in Motion

5. Follow the Yellow Brick Road

6. Becoming a Battle Crow

7. 20lbs of Crazy in a 5lb Bag 

8. Do You Believe In Magic? 

9. La Serenita

10. Becoming A 10th Level Pa'u

11. Mastering Murphy's Methods

12. Elinox Goes Back to the Future

13. Elinox Attempts the Impossible with NaNoWriMo 2015

14. The Elinox Returns

15. Wicked Welsh Workout

16. Savvy Scottish Skills 

17. Valkyrie Valor as a rider of The Wild Hunt

18. Elinox's xpanded Expedition

19. Werewolf Workout with W.A.G.-Werewolf Accountabillibuddy Group

21. Elinox Runs with the Doctor

22. Inner Na'vi

23. Werewolf Workout: Part 2

24. Elinox's Rebel Awakens

25. Grey-Eyed Elinox

26. Elinox Gets More Crazy

27. Elinox's Got The Blues

28. Elinox Becomes A Spartan - failed!

29. Elinox's HalloWriMo Habits

30. Elinox Dies Hard

31. Elinox Goes Back to the Kingdoms

32. Elinox Never Gives Up

33. Elinox Travels to Yellowstone

34. Elinox's Holiday Huzzah

35. Elinox: There is Druid & Druid Not

36. Little & Mighty Redux

37. Quarantine Quest 

38. Werewolf Workout: Part 3

[elinox]

It's been years since I ran a mile to see how long it would take me, so I figured I'd give it a shot today. The last time was likely back in high school and was probably over 15 minutes to complete. 

 

I just ran a mile in 9:15 minutes!

[elinox]

It's been a long time since I updated this:

 

All free weights, no machines.

 

1. Barbell Curls: 6 reps, 2 sets at 25lbs - 11/15/18

 

2. Bench Press: 1 rep at 90lbs - 12/18/18

 

3. Squat: 6 reps at 85lbs - 12/12/18

 

4. Tricep Pullover: 6 reps, 2 sets at 30lbs - 12/18/18

 

5. Deadlift: 6 reps, 3 sets at 100lbs - 12/18/18

 

6. Pullups: 4 reps, 2 sets 45 degree angle - 12/4/18