Be strong, get strong battle log

[Mad Hatter]

1 hour ago, LouCarJo said:

 I managed to bash both ears (separately), almost fell off the hoop as I couldn’t work out how to go from one sideways on position to seating in the hoop (teacher helped me in the end and I got it - nothing like almost falling off to get you some attention!), and took the skin off the back of my right knee, to match the left side from Tuesday.  It was better then this makes it sound though!

 

Lyra is not for the faint-hearted.  

[LouCarJo]

SATURDAY, 11 NOVEMBER

1 hour pole - we did a doubles routine

 

45 minutes stretchy class - some hand balances then some stretches to lead into attempts at box splits.  I held the crow for ages - my one win!

[LouCarJo]

MONDAY, 13 NOVEMBER

I was meant to have a personal training session but he cancelled on me last minute.  It completely threw me off.  (I am getting an additional session for free to make up for this.). I then tried to do the squat workout he wrote that I’d missed when I started the deload week early, but I couldn’t.  I did two sets of 3 with 60kg then a single at 62.5kg.  I was meant to do a triple then doubles with 65 and 67.5kg.  It was always going to be tricky as my PB was (and remains) 62.5kg but I ended up feeling disappointed and defeated.

 

TUESDAY, 14 NOVEMBER

45 minutes stretchy class - focus on how to use good technique when stretching and engaging muscles etc.  As such the class was a bit slow, but these fundamentals are probably fundamental and good to remember!

 

1 hour hoop - another routine, involving some spinning and then going up in a side straddle to stag and Mexican.

[KB Girl]

Sounds like your trainer was a liiiittle but optimistic with those squat numbers! Don't be too bothered by it though, gravity feels different every day. Who knows, next week you might break that PB. 

[WhiteGhost]

5 hours ago, LouCarJo said:

45 minutes stretchy class - focus on how to use good technique when stretching and engaging muscles etc.  As such the class was a bit slow, but these fundamentals are probably fundamental and good to remember!

I could use a class or two of that  

[Mad Hatter]

On 11/12/2017 at 7:57 AM, LouCarJo said:

which was fun until I saw the video and now think I’m a mega sized monster!

From someone that has felt the same way many times, trust me when I say it's not true and you're being ridiculous.  I know it's really hard not to compare but it's not worth it. You are strong and have an awesome body. It might not look the same as other people's, but that's doesn't make it any less awesome or beautiful. 

 

And yay for crow!

 

12 hours ago, LouCarJo said:

1 hour hoop - another routine, involving some spinning and then going up in a side straddle to stag and Mexican.  I hadn’t done Mexican before so I got the teacher (my least favourite) to watch what I wasn’t getting and she fobbed me off with a “you’re not strong enough, you need strong glutes and quads for this one”.  My glutes and quads are not really my limiting factors so I didn’t buy this and I did manage to do the move in the end, getting the friendly American in the class, who knows her stuff, to watch if I was doing it right.  She said I was and then helpfully gave me the tip of turning my grip around to overhand as she said it would give me more scope to bend into the shape.  The class also had 7 of us in it but only 3 hoops put up - spot the problem.  I was the odd one out aka I didn’t sprint to a hoop and push others out of the way so had to be vocal and remind the teacher constantly that we needed to have three runs through each time, not just two.

 

Grrrrr on so many levels.... Is there a way of avoiding this teacher?

 

[LouCarJo]

19 hours ago, KB Girl said:

Sounds like your trainer was a liiiittle but optimistic with those squat numbers! Don't be too bothered by it though, gravity feels different every day. Who knows, next week you might break that PB. 

Yeah, I’m improving fast with squats at the moment but not THAT fast!  60-something kg squats are generally more solid, even on off days, so there is a subjective improvement, even if it’s not showing up on the numbers yet.  I also think the day immediately after deload week is generally not the time to jump up either. 

[LouCarJo]

14 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

I could use a class or two of that  

It was hard stretching, not relaxing stretching, along the lines you’ve spoken about before, I think?  In any case I definitely want to do some relaxing stretching on my own too, just as the stress and other relief it provides is, I think, a necessary part of what a good programme looks like for me.

[LouCarJo]

On 11/15/2017 at 9:38 AM, Mad Hatter said:

From someone that has felt the same way many times, trust me when I say it's not true and you're being ridiculous.  I know it's really hard not to compare but it's not worth it. You are strong and have an awesome body. It might not look the same as other people's, but that's doesn't make it any less awesome or beautiful. 

 

And yay for crow!

 

Grrrrr on so many levels.... Is there a way of avoiding this teacher?

 

Husband’s quote when he saw Saturday’s video: “they could at least have paired you with someone your size”.  I think he meant height but there was no point going down that rabbit hole.  I know rationally that I don’t want to buy into the whole women shouldn’t take up much space thing, but yeah, it pushes a lot of buttons.

[Mad Hatter]

28 minutes ago, LouCarJo said:

Husband’s quote when he saw Saturday’s video: “they could at least have paired you with someone your size”.  I think he meant height but there was no point going down that rabbit hole.  I know rationally that I don’t want to buy into the whole women shouldn’t take up much space thing, but yeah, it pushes a lot of buttons.

I'm sure he didn't mean it in a bad sense, but ouch! Having two women of different sizes paired up should not be a reason to start playing the comparison game. And it is always women that get that treatment. I absolutely hate that in partner acrobatics if one woman is larger than the other is so often perceived as "the fat unfeminine girl", irrespective of actual leanness, while if it it's two guys then it's simply only one short guy and one tall guy. I also hate how the flyer needs to be this dainty little thing, and how dainty little things are pushed into flying while tall people are pushed into basing. And what I hate the most is that it does bother me personally sometimes, even though I know it's stupid social conditioning... If I look at a video of myself I might not necessarily be completely happy with how I look, but I don't mind either - it is what it is (most days). But when I watch myself next to other girls and they're almost a head shorter and often come with a tiny body frame I can totally understand the feeling of being a mega sized monster, sadly I really do. But honestly I think the only thing to do is to face it and try to accept it for what it is. And that's effectively years of brainwashing and it's just not worth paying attention to. Of course it's easier said than done, but as long as you're having fun try not to let it get to your head. It's not worth it.

 

49 minutes ago, LouCarJo said:

Saying that, the other newish person in the class yesterday (the one who’s not as strong as me so struggles with the mounts but can then get into the tricks better than I can) looked as though she was about to cry at one point when the teacher rushed through an explanation, saying “oh you all know how to do x”.

That's awful.  Could you talk to the owner again? (You did talk to her, right, or am I making stuff up now? )  

[WhiteGhost]

10 hours ago, LouCarJo said:

It was hard stretching, not relaxing stretching, along the lines you’ve spoken about before, I think?  In any case I definitely want to do some relaxing stretching on my own too, just as the stress and other relief it provides is, I think, a necessary part of what a good programme looks like for me.

Yeah, I've only just learned that hard stretching is a thing thanks to Hatter Sensei.  I think I need more of it in my life

[KB Girl]

I remember when visiting the US a couple (holy shit I counted it's 8) years ago that I felt decidedly unfeminine simply walking down the street.. suddenly I was one of the tallest people around, while I'm used to being small to average at most.. Hopefully it will change small communities at a time, for example a lot of the girls in my gym want to look like our tallest most muscular girl  

And ehh, you could always all move to the Netherlands, you'll suddenly be completely average. I'd enjoy the company! I'll even find a hoop instructor or two! 

[LouCarJo]

16 hours ago, KB Girl said:

I remember when visiting the US a couple (holy shit I counted it's 8) years ago that I felt decidedly unfeminine simply walking down the street.. suddenly I was one of the tallest people around, while I'm used to being small to average at most.. Hopefully it will change small communities at a time, for example a lot of the girls in my gym want to look like our tallest most muscular girl  

And ehh, you could always all move to the Netherlands, you'll suddenly be completely average. I'd enjoy the company! I'll even find a hoop instructor or two! 

Yes, I was surprised when I went to the US 18 months ago that when we went to a clothes shop, my husband (who’s around 6’3” and not as skinny as he used to be ;-)) got a shirt but nothing was remotely near my size.  Same with trainers - he went somewhere specifically to get some in his size (UK13) and there was nothing that would fit my UK8/9.

 

And yes, I think I’m average for the Netherlands at 172cm.  I had a half Dutch best friend when I was little (who’s now around 6’4”) and was in a class at school with the year above my age (due to weird calendar reasons - wouldn’t have happened had I been born 3.5 hours later) so never thought I was tall.  I’m by no means huge but being to the right of the bell curve does cause some problems, both practical and psychological!

 

I need a tall and muscular real life role model too!

[LouCarJo]

On 16/11/2017 at 4:00 AM, WhiteGhost said:

Yeah, I've only just learned that hard stretching is a thing thanks to Hatter Sensei.  I think I need more of it in my life

She wise.

[LouCarJo]

On 15/11/2017 at 6:39 PM, Mad Hatter said:

I'm sure he didn't mean it in a bad sense, but ouch! Having two women of different sizes paired up should not be a reason to start playing the comparison game. And it is always women that get that treatment. I absolutely hate that in partner acrobatics if one woman is larger than the other is so often perceived as "the fat unfeminine girl", irrespective of actual leanness, while if it it's two guys then it's simply only one short guy and one tall guy. I also hate how the flyer needs to be this dainty little thing, and how dainty little things are pushed into flying while tall people are pushed into basing. And what I hate the most is that it does bother me personally sometimes, even though I know it's stupid social conditioning... If I look at a video of myself I might not necessarily be completely happy with how I look, but I don't mind either - it is what it is (most days). But when I watch myself next to other girls and they're almost a head shorter and often come with a tiny body frame I can totally understand the feeling of being a mega sized monster, sadly I really do. But honestly I think the only thing to do is to face it and try to accept it for what it is. And that's effectively years of brainwashing and it's just not worth paying attention to. Of course it's easier said than done, but as long as you're having fun try not to let it get to your head. It's not worth it.

 

That's awful.  Could you talk to the owner again? (You did talk to her, right, or am I making stuff up now? )  

Yes, I’ve experienced that balancing thing too, and generally pairing up gets awkward.  I did act as base for someone 10kg heavier than me and it was fine, but she couldn’t support me!  They just all need to get stronger!  Last night I paired with a performer for the “mock fight” warm up - she was so strong that for once I could actually use all my force, which was fun!

 

And the talking didn’t happen... more below.

[Mad Hatter]

3 minutes ago, LouCarJo said:

They just all need to get stronger!

Exactly!  

[LouCarJo]

THURSDAY, 16 NOVEMBER

1 hour hoop - We did side straddle to mount, which I’m getting better at controlling (requires you to pull loads though your arms so you don’t flail about).  Then into a Delilah and a candlestick, which requires pushing up through the hips/glutes so your hips don’t sag down.  So far so good.  Then pulling up with monkey arms into sitting.  This is where it was fine the first time but then I just lost all strength.  We were meant to go from sitting into some move where you unhook one leg then swing the hoop round with one arm so you’re just holding on with one arm and you’re doing like a hoop warrior pose.  Then from that back into the pole to do what I think is known as a side star.  I just looked a mess!

 

40 minutes aerial yoga 

 

Today my back feels tired, my hip hurts, and I just feel a bit beat up.  Weird as I haven’t done my regular weights stuff this week.  Anyway, I’ve got quite a bit of hard work work to get done (broken the back of it this morning) but otherwise I’m just taking it easy today - well, bar the 2 hours of dog walks!  I’m going to do a bit of relaxing yoga later on and just chill this evening.  My book on sleep is meant to come later today too, so there’s some good bedtime reading in store.

[LouCarJo]

Oh and it wasn’t the day to have a rational conversation!

[Mad Hatter]

Well I think you did a great job of simply keeping up in the first place! These things take time and you haven't been doing it for very long at all and you're still doing great.  

[Elastigirl]

A bit late, but yay for the crow!! And no you don't look like  a mega monster, you look strong (because you are strong). Sounds like you might be trying to fight off a cold or something, get your sleep book, have some good sleep, and feel better next week.

[LouCarJo]

On 17/11/2017 at 4:18 PM, Elastigirl said:

A bit late, but yay for the crow!! And no you don't look like  a mega monster, you look strong (because you are strong). Sounds like you might be trying to fight off a cold or something, get your sleep book, have some good sleep, and feel better next week.

I took your advice and took the weekend off.  Not sure how relaxing it ended up being (a bit of a fight about heating), but I guess I recovered a bit physically!

[LouCarJo]

MONDAY, 20 NOVEMBER

PT session

5x5 static vertical jumps

 

5,5,5,4 max velocity back squats with bands on bar (20,20,20,25kg)

 

6,6,5,4 deadlifts with 62.5,65,68.5,72.5kg

 

4 sets (alternating so 2 each) of 5 rack pulls with 80kg and 5 isometric deadlift holds (ie putting bar inside squat rack on floor and pulling up to pins and holding for 5 seconds)

Supersetted with 5 negative chin ups

 

2 sets of: 6 green banded wide grip pull ups, 12 Swiss ball hamstring sliders and 12 pulley machine bicep curls 

 

I finally felt the bit of my back between the shoulder blades work on the negative chins.  I know you’re always told to squeeze your shoulder blades but today was the first time that I felt something working that then transferred into a more controlled negative - I usually collapse out of the bottom quarter, but with this “fix” it got strong. Very happy with that.  Trainer slightly despairing as to how it could have taken me this long to get what he no doubt thinks he’s been telling me for months!

 

It felt like an easier session today (the first in a new cycle) but everything’s up since the start of the last cycle so I guess the fact it felt easy is another, subjective measure of progress.

 

I also took the dog out.  I came across a woman who told me that she “always” sees me, and watches me from her kitchen window...  I think what I was thinking must have shown on my face as she then told me where she lives (as if that makes it alright!).  I told her the dog demands it (which he does) - 2 hours of walks a day (husband does 3 of them a week, dog walker another 2) can be a bit of a pain but I suppose I do get forced out.  And he enjoyed himself today with two dogs belonging to another woman, who was walking with the first and helping her not to slip over on the very muddy ground.

 

Not as much aerial this week, as I’ve got a family thing Thursday night and it’s cancelled Saturday (and Friday as well, which I was considering as a make-up session).  At least it should mean I’m well rested for my squat session this week.

 

In sleep news I bought an orthopaedic pillow this weekend.  And used my fantastic negotiating skills to get the guy to sell me it and at an additional discount - I’ve been watching The Apprentice too much, obviously.  It does seem quite good, though I’ve got to force myself to sleep on my back, so I don’t round my shoulder forward on my side.  The sleep book also arrived and it’s soooo good - one of those rare excellent non fiction books.  I’m whizzing through it but will then have to go back and read it again to make sure I have the detail.   

[The Most Loathed]

7 hours ago, LouCarJo said:

The sleep book also arrived and it’s soooo good - one of those rare excellent non fiction books.  I’m whizzing through it but will then have to go back and read it again to make sure I have the detail.   

I'm curious to hear more. I guess I figured that after "turn off lights and devices" and "try to wake up without an alarm" that there wasn't much more to discuss.

[LouCarJo]

15 hours ago, The Most Loathed said:

I'm curious to hear more. I guess I figured that after "turn off lights and devices" and "try to wake up without an alarm" that there wasn't much more to discuss.

There is a checklist in one of the schedules that has this kind of stuff but most of the book (and I’m about two thirds of the way through now) is more along the lines of, hey, let me tell you some more really cool facts about sleep.  So how the ratio of REM/nonREM sleep changes at different stages of our lives, usually just before a big developmental change (birth, adolescence).  What your body will try to make up on first after a period of sleep deprivation (and how you can never catch up completely).  The impact of sleep deprivation (huge, but we are no good at judging the extent of its impact).  How sleep improves physical and mental performance (and is crucial for learning on both accounts).  The link between lack of sleep and Alzheimer’s.  How the biphasal sleep thing that’s often found online (sleep a few hours then have a couple of hours awake at night to socialise before sleeping another few) is actually a myth, though there is substance to the biphasal sleep structure insofar as it is a long sleep at night and then a siesta. It reminds me a bit of the Sapiens book I read over the summer in that that book too is a familiar topic (the history of humankind) but presented in a novel and very engaging way. 

[Mad Hatter]

Sounds interesting!