And so it begins...

My site is FINALLY all back in working order...some few people may have noticed that my Members Section was unsecured for 3 days.(no, don't try it now - it is fixed) What a nightmare getting that resolved. A friggin' NIGHTMARE!!! Anyhoo - more night mares are on their way, I am sure, as I am now in charge of keeping my site updated....first I have to LEARN HOW to do it!!! HAH!!!

I began my contest diet - 16 weeks out....wayyyyyyy early for me, I know. I told my prepper that I would do everything he said, and when we assess in the next couple of weeks we can adjust. I'm not sure he believed me when I told him that I can lose weight very quickly. I can, and I will, and I'm sure that we will be adjusting some things, but if I was ging to listen to myself I wouldn't have hired somebody to guide me! I do trust him.

Sunday morning scale - read 176.4 unclothed.

The pix are after Friday evening's workout.

What a porcine looking creature, yes?

Now that I'm finally in the "big" category...I'm not so sure I like what I see... I think my favorite size of me is in the 150's somewhere. That's look and comfort levels I refer to. But...I'm wearing this size to the Masters. Anyhooo - I am thrilled to be on a diet, so I can perhaps feel a bit more streamlined, rather than feeling like a linebacker.

Friday we did some rack pulling - 625 x 3 from knee level. Still keeping in the same range.I have it on video, but I had my computer reloaded the other day and my computer guy didn't put the program that I use to compile and edit video clips. So no videos until I either get him to come over and put it on my computer again (that's a big maybe) or buy it myself.

We hefted with dumbell rows - always my favorite. The Firm has 150's, and I do believe the owner may be springing for something heavier soon... : )... what else...I fergitttt??? Oh, dumbell pullovers, and dumbell shrugs, and machine preachers, and kettlebell concentration curls, and pulley rope curl thingies, and hack machine calves...and the best part of the workout???!!! My feet did not hurt and I didn't have to take my shoes off once due to the pain! I was wearing my arch supports.

Amazing. Happy, Happy Feet!

Happy Feet!!! :)

I'm not sure how to start this, except by saying that yesterday was a very important day, which will probably result in major life alterations! It probably won't sound very exciting, but believe me you - it is to me.

I get on here and whine alot about my ailments, one of which, if you read my blog from time to time, you may remember some whining about this. My longest term ailment is my foot pain. I can remember the first time it actually came to my attention, over 20 years ago. No, the lifting isn't the cause of my foot ailments, but surely it has to it aggravates it. The pain comes and goes, so it is one of those things that I have kept telling myself will surely go away if I just keep wearing flat shoes with good padding under the balls of my feet. I almost never wear a heeled shoe, unless it is a wedding, or a photo shoot, or some special event. A couple of months ago I was out showing property to clients and my feet hurt so bad, I took the boots that I had on off, apologized to my clients for having to wear stocking feet for the rest of the day, and when i came home I threw the boots out- nice leather ankle high boots, heel was only about 2 inches, they probably cost me about $60 - $70.

Anyhoo - lately the pain has come on, and not subsided. It has only been getting more prevalent. Almost debilitating at times. It got to the point the other day that I could no longer ignore taking action. It actually got so bad that I was in fear of not being able to walk around much less lift. It was either go to a foot doctor, or go get some arch supports,try them and hope for the best, which is what the foot doctor would wind up telling me to do anyway, I'm sure.

Hail to GOOD FEET!!! Good Feet specializes in custom arch supports and orthopedic products.

I spent about an hour and a half with Ed at the store, being fitted for the arch supports, and learning alot more than I knew about the mechanics of a foot. Words almost elude me. I have heard stories of people walking in the store and breaking down in joyous tears once they put the supports in their shoes because they felt renewed, out of pain, and could look forward to living life without the shear pain they had been living in - foot pain, back pain, hip pain etc... I slipped those bad boys in my shoes, walked around the store, and so help me I felt like I was walking in a miracle - I almost cried myself, but I didn't till I got home. It is amazing that just a hunk of plastic (albeit expensive plastic!) under your foot can make such a dramatic change immediately!

What my problem is is my highly exaggerated arch. (see photo attached herein) Ed's words were that I am" very well endowed" in the arch department. I have always
referred to my feet as being "high-heeled feet".
Anyhooo...just thinking - less foot pain and perhaps, just perhaps now...it could have an effect on my leg pain and surely an effect on my spine and hip alignment.
Can you tell I am happy and excited???

Woe

I can't believe I am still apologizing for my site being down, but it is what it is. ~ Hope to have it back up maybe next week (????). After it finally gets running again, it is getting a major overhaul, but that might take some time, since I will be the one doing the work on it. This whole project has been a mess, and as I have had many personal inquiries, I must reiterate -please bear with me! Thanks -

My legs, woe are my legs! If you haven't experienced anything like this, it is so hard to explain...just be sure to know that it is painful. They are still sore from Monday's leg session.
They were screaming during my deadlifting yesterday. I've been doing a little bit of plyometric jumping, not alot, just a bit, and definitely it has hindered my abilities. But I persevere... deadlifts went ok, not great, but ok. 365 x 6. But considering I have had to change my starting pull off of the ground, as I no longer have the room to begin by stomping up to the bar...that and my legs really didn't want to co-operate in the movement. It almost feels like they are tearing when the quads get working...

I am excited to begin my diet for the Masters in the very near future, if only for the fact that I will be losing weight, and the pain in my legs subsides when I am lighter.... I'm tired of this forever full belly, too. I want that nice, tight wasitline back! It's been a bit less protrusive (is that a word?) because I have been stabilizing my weight and not gaining lately. Hanging at 174 - 175. I have some pretty good leg definition and I even saw the big ol' vein in my bicep sticking out yesterday, so I feel I am at a pretty good starting point for the diet.
I feel bad, though, when the guy that I train with sometimes borrows my belt and is able to wear it on the same hole as me... and he isn't skinny by any means. ok, so I'll say all of the thickness is in my lower back.... yeah, that's it...

I am excited to be working with my new contest "prepper". I will announce who I am working with once things get rolling. Just believe that he is someone with experience and I have seen some of his work, and I have major faith that he will be able to bring me in spot on.

Sledgehammer

Last night was squat night. ~ didn't really feel like squatting, however I wasn't in the mood to do anything, so whether it be squatting or staying home and reading a novel - I think it was just a good ol' fashioned bored kind of mood. It was a nondescript kind of day that led up to training. GW was kind of in the same mood. We both rolled our eyes at the bar looming in the racks, before we said, "Let's get to it. "
I have explained before - squatting is difficult for me these days. The pain in my legs makes for a tortuous feeling. My form last night was probably spot on, better than most days, but the painful feeling of my outer quads about to pop and rip open curtailed any extra momentum that I had. I was also aware of a crookednes in my alignment ( time for an adjustment), but I'm so used to that -
315 x 8, and 365 x 2 (no wraps)...I HAD to stop before failure, which is quite different than wanting to stop before failure ( my usual cop out ). I had a very difficult time getting to sleep last night because it felt like someone had swung a sledgehammer and made a tremendously hard hit against both of my outer quads, especially the left one. I think the rest of my legs are sore today, too, but it is hard to get past the compartmentalization pain.
I actually used alot of inner thigh to power up last night. Usually I let the glutes take over, but because the size of my butt is so prevalent (!) I'm really trying to curtail that. I was very in control of things last night, technique wise, but the f***ing pain makes it a miserable experience.

What about the Iris Kyle dilemma at the Miss International... what message is it that the judges are sending to us? "No bumps!!! ? It takes away from the aesthetics?" Other things like ugly distracting tattos are ok, but no bumps... ??? Friggin' unsightly ripples in your breast augmentation is ok, but no bumps?
Or is it a message about using AAS... well, if that's the case, there are far more obvious signs of usage then bumps -Hello! Iris should have either won that show, or been placed where she deserved (as I wasn't there I don't know exactly where she should have placed, but she was in the first round of comparison callouts!)), or been given last place. Do we really understand 7th??? Can they logically explain 7th?
Always double standards...and the judges never speak up to account for anything, not this, not the scoring from contest to contest. Ever notice that "the scoresheet" is always a compiled scoresheet - has anyone ever seen a collection of individual scoresheets from the judges from any bodybuilding show - women OR men? Hmmmm????

Don't Give Up!

I don't know if everyone has given up on me, or not??!!! The transitioning of my website has turned out to be a much, much bigger project than it should ever be! I had to hire someone, someone who actually does the web stuff for a living, and he is even getting stymied....and he is good at all things related to websites and such !

www.KATEBAIRD.COM IS CURRENTLY IS IN A TRANSITION PHASE. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AND HANG IN THERE AS I MAKE SOME NECESSARY CHANGES TO MY WEBSITE -THANKS !!!

As my mom always said whilst I was growing up - Yeeeeeeeesssssssshhhhhh!!!



I don't know when it will be up and running properly again, but I keep hoping soon! I'm really trying!



I'm not sure I have a whole lot of tidbits of news to catch you up on anyway - same old, same old - I still wake up every day and question to myself whether I am sick or not, but so far I am still hanging healthy! The month of January really knocked me on my butt - and even though I have a very big butt, it really knocked me back on a lot of things!
Training has been going very well lately - I am incorporating a few "ideas" into my training, "tests" as you might call them..will take a while to see if they work or not. I'll elaborate on some of those in later posts.


My bench is still hanging at 285 for three paused reps. Rack pulled 605 x 5 the other night.
Sure, I have performed those numbers before, but that was back before I fell apart. So I am giggly fuzzy happy about everything. I'm not maxing anything lately, I have no need to at this time.

The only thing that has been bothering me is the leg pain / comparmentalization issue. Whenever I get back over 170 pounds it makes itself known. It is not as bad as it was when it first came to my attention, maybe because my body has made some physical adjustment to it, maybe because I stay on top o it by doing nerve manipulations every day, and getting a massage deep into the leg tissues every now and then. Can't really squat when I'm like this. I do some squatting, but it really isn't good squatting. I've made the decision to come on back down in weight after the Masters, so I can squat. It does affect my deadlifting, too, though to a lesser extent.

I haven't been on the powerlifting platform to squat for a year and a half now, and I do so want to, but I am going to be relegated to staying down in the 165 lb. class...and maybe even back down to 148 in the not too distant future - we shall see, we shall see....

www.KATEBAIRD.COM IS CURRENTLY IS IN A TRANSITION PHASE. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AND HANG IN THERE AS I MAKE SOME NECESSARY CHANGES TO MY WEBSITE -
THANKS !!!

Rotation

How about that Renato Nunes on Chicken on a Chain for 95.75 ?!!! Holy Cow (that's a pun!)!!!
Renato makes it looks as if the Bull is the one who has to conquer Renato, instead of the other way around.

I'm still feeling very,very good physically (what's up with that?!!) albeit a bit tired, but that's just because it is the last week of February - the longest week of the year, especially on a leap year! At least the sun is shining this morning. Those cold, grey,damp February days just bite me up.
Isn't there a rumor that when you see the Robin Red Breast, it is a sign of Spring? I saw two of them the other day, so I am hopeful.

Monday - legs. Good session tho' uneventful. Hammer Strength leg presses...I used to not like that machine, but I have definitely grown to like it alot. As much as one can like a leg press, anyway...
Benches last night. They went well, very well. I have been tryingto incorporate a wrist rotation for, gosh, a really, really long time. Last night I was able to finally bring that in, though a couple of times on the last few hard presses I did forget to rotate. 245 x 7(and some help on #8) and 285 x 3. (yes, all paused) GW said they looked really good, tight and solid, but most importantly they FELT like the bench I have been wanting for so long.

deadlifting

Deadlifting - I am trying all kinds of things to try to keep that friggin' bar from hitting those spots right above my knees. Not only am I building up scar tissue there, but I am tired of being a bloody mess every time I deadlift. Wide feet, close feet, sit back further, adjust this and that - no deal, short of holding the bar way out from my legs, and that obviously won't work... Boy, was I sore this morning. I had trouble arising from a laying position to standing. I guess I deadlifted hard last night. Good thing Midway Fitness has that terrific, spacious and relaxing whirpool to soak in!!! Aaaaaaaaaahhhh -
I haven't been sore in my hips and low back like this for awhile. I'm trying to work on this little "moment" in my deadlifting. Right there after I grasp the bar, I need to just go. If I have even one split second of slowing down, hesitation, questioning my grip or stance, it all becomes lost. That's where some people focus, but I need to just rip it. I've not been able to just let go and rip the past several times I've deadlifted. I can still get 405 on my off days, but I want 405 x multiple every time...is that too much for a girl to ask? Actually, I admit, my legs were still just a bit beat up from "delving" in on Monday, but it was as usual a great back workout. I have to keep trying to keep up w/ GW... he puts me to shame with all of that energy he has sometimes. (Keep feeding me those pancakes, GW and I'll be able to keep hangin' !)
And - I have to stop questioning the bar once it does come off of the ground. Like - it gets to about mid-shin and I mentally question to myself - "is it really moving?" Why do I do that? If it moves, just go with it. I'm not sure if I can explain that, but it is a problem I am consistently working on. Confidence, I suppose, is the key there.

I still am entirely not fond of training my biceps.

Have younz ever seen the show Intervention? I cannot watch that show without using a half a box of kleenex to get through it. I just cannot imagine the mental anguish some people live with and go through to get to such low points in their lives. Every time I watch it, whatever episode is on stays with me for days - it is probably a good show for teenagers to be mandated to watch so they can see the unglamorous side of addictions. I would be pulling my son in to watch it with me, but he is not with me on Monday evenings. So far, he is a wonderful kid, but the ever- analyzing Mommy radar is always on the alert!!!

Delving

I have now officially "delved" back into training, though I have still stopped a couple of sets short of the usual volume. GW and I squatted the other night - it went well. Both of us needed to get reaquainted with having the bar across our backs. Both of us did three sets w/ 315 7 - 10 reps no wraps or anything. It is Thursday, and my legs are still a bit sore!

Last night we trained with "Broc the Rock". 20 years old - oh to be young and innocent again - snicker :) - I didn't feel like my full strength was there, but the usual poundage did go upward.

275 for three (yes, always paused) and then a 315 touch and go...did a negative 365. B told me once I should be doing negatives with 405 at this point... perhaps 385 ? , but I'm thinking 405 would just kind of go WHUMP once it left the rack???


I was elected the DE State APA Chairman the other day...

Here are a few photos from the meet - my favorite is UGA the bull dog puppy - Paul and Marisol's new baby, mascot of the Firm Fitness Center! He is absolutely the cutest doggie in existence!


The gang I gues I'll call "Team Firm" -Broc Townsend, Paul Timmons, Marisol Alarcon, and Guilherme Oliveira.
Little Marisol deadlifted a state record for a 245 pull at 116.8 lbs.

IronFest a Success!

Apologies for ignoring my blog posting for so long ~ I have been BIZZY!! Thankfully, my real estate business is going through some up times, rather than seeing the flat line that so many real estate agents are seeing on a regular basis.
I've been feeling healthy these past couple of weeks! My son did have a 104 + temperature yesterday, however, and I'm praying alot and washing my hands with 99% isopropyl alcohol frequently. No more being sick, puhleeeez!!! Hopefully I've already had what he has - it is hard to tell!
I haven't yet DELVED back into training...not YET! I've been doing half volume sessions, and stepping back from the crazy intensity schemes. Just getting back to normal is feeling good, though mentally it is tough to hold back!

Yesterday was the DE Open IronFest and Firm Fitness Challenge! It was a BLAST! I am so extremely blessed to have had such a great crew helping me out with this meet! It could not have run smoother or better! Thank you George Wilson, Mike Pennington, Dan Long, Billy Eastridge, Len Walker, Teri Mangini, Justine Dohring, (and Dave ? for the use of your pick up truck to hoist the bench in.) Joel Goldberg - Species man - brought all kinds of goodies from Species Nutrition (Speciesnutrition.com.) and Alan Thomas sent his usual box o' goodies from APT (Prowriststraps.com). I was able to raffle off $125 of tickets for gift bags full of both of their wares. Once again, I will donate the monies to Special Olympics of Delaware (always in honor of my hero - Jon Stoklosa and his dad Hank).
We only had 16 total competitors, but most of them did multiple events. I was very pleased to see some regular competitors from my past meets, and some new ones. I truly think the highlight of my day was seeing little Marisol Alarcon do the deadlift for reps! Women had to use bodyweight - she used 120 lbs, and did an amazing 50 reps! And that was AFTER she set a state record in her weight class in the regular deadlift! I am sure she is a-hurtin' today! Many of the lifters hit PRs, and there may be more records set, but I have yet to review the records lists. Mark Obey's 35 reps at 160 lbs. looked EFFORTLESS until the last one...geez...and Guilherme Oleivera was the sole Tire flipper who set a new PR and house record! I'm going to have to include those special events in more of the meets.
Paul Timmons was a real trooper letting us overtake his gym(Firm Fitness Center in Rehoboth Beach DE) for the day. Of course, he was set on setting a deadlift record himself, which he did in the 165 raw division of 485. YAY Paul!
Yeah....it was a good day!

I hope to be back to my regular training this week!

Climbing out of the Hole

What is winter on the Delamarva peninsula like? Today it is 72 degrees, not sunny, but warm. This Sunday it is supposed to be 32 degrees and snow. That's a typical winter on the Delmarva Penisnsula - up and down weather. No wonder we all get sick.
I started feeling better the very end of last week, but still had a few days of antibiotics, and let me tell you, antibiotics kick my butt! Now I am through the meds, but the wrath of being sick for a month and two rounds of antibiotics has caught up to me. I am dragging not only butt, but face.
I'm won't be bouncing back, it will be more like a slow climb out of the hole. It will remain to be seen what it does to my July plans and expectations for the Masters.
Then I had to finally get that tooth in my mouth drilled off yesterday, so we can crown it. I'm sure all of that novacaine in my face and the invasion itself doesn't help with the recovery.
I weigh under 170 today. I'm so worn out, boys and girls.
I went for a walk Sunday, because I woke up feeling great! But I still had the meds in my system - I got a couple of blocks down the street then realized that it was probably not in my best interests to be out there walking, but I still had to turn around and cover the distance home. Wow - that was a horrible experience. Needless to say, I still feel very weak, hence I'm not even thinking about hefting around big pounds - I'm just thinking that I need to get my big butt healthy, or I may as well consider falling completely apart.
I did go for a longer walk last evening, however, and it was a much better experience, albeit strange to consider walking such a big to-do physically.
DE Open IronFest next weekend - February 16th! Shaping up to be a decent event. I was more fearful that it would be too big of an event for the facilities, so I kept the marketing down. I think it will be just as Baby Bear likes - just right... we are being sponsored by APT Prowriststraps - thank you dear ALAN THOMAS! And also by Species Nutrition, thank you Joel Goldberg!
We've got an "eclectic" roster of competitors, and I'm looking forward to seeing them lift.

Delaware Animal Barbell Club

So maybe the reason I am still sitting here feeling like doggie doo is my fault - I push myself and push myself, Right over the proverbial edge, time and time again. I don't give myself a break (not in many respects). So here I am still feeling like razors are lining my throat.

I went to the DE Animal Barbell Club gathering at The Training Center on Saturday. I rode up with GW in his cool car ( a 2006 Corvette - blood red ...ooohh -Vroom Vroom). Now I guess I could have just hung back, and networked with my friends and some new faces, and ate the delicious meatballs that Chrissy Osborne made, and the other tasty morsels that were spread out...but, when you are in a roomful of dozens and dozens of people who are training HARD, all with INTENSITY, all with serious ENERGY... The atmosphere was one of rarity and purpose. Wow! I'm not sure I can describe it. It was FIERCE! And there was a DJ playing some hard driving music, and I often say that music can make or break your training session. (When I used to train at Gold's in Rehoboth almost always there was this LOUD disco music on, and not even good disco, it was like disco - light, but LOUD and irritating...)

Back to the Animal Pak event. All of the people there were having great workouts, it was a roomful of really nice people, alot of really BIG people, no make that HUGE people, and some really strong people...

SO how could I NOT train???? Especially since I knew GW needed a workout partenr ...OK, so that's an excuse... I did do a few less sets,

since I was illin', but I did do some heavy db rows - the 190's for a couple of sets of 6 reps, and the 170's for 10( Jack, one of the owners, said that since the gym is finally in the red that 200's are going to be coming soon! My mouth is frothing at that thought!) A couple of sets of shrugs and some biceps.

I'm sure staying home resting was the better of the options, but HECK! It was FIERCE !!! That kind of ANIMAL INTENSITY is hard to come by. I am thrilled to have experienced the day!

Here is Big Al Fortney and "McFly", who were largely responsible for organizing the event for ANimalPak. And Jack Osborne, owner of TTC and myself -

We did leave early, if that is any consolation... Hell, who am I trying to convince??? Myself? Yes, I'm in a physical hole again - now I'm just trying to heal and carry on...

GW rowing a 190!

Me rowing - That's only a 170!

Perhaps it is best that I don't have that atmosphere to train around often, for surely I would be dead.

Hibernation

I have a very real desire to just take the rest of the winter off and hibernate under the covers, in bed, don't get up for anything, except maybe the potty and a hot toddy from time to time. -[rhyme time! :-) ] I felt good on Tuesday...FINALLY! Then I start to feel like Maybe I'm not completely recovered. Last night I had a bad sore throat. I went back to see the doctor today and he said for sure I killed off the thing that I have, however, I managed to catch the other nasty thing that is going around invading people's respiratory systems!

More antibiotics for me... this month has been just terrible physically. When I said I catch everything, I meant EVERYTHING!!!

I didn't have my normal strength last week, but I did want to deadlift, so I did 315 for reps, and so here is a picture, albeit not a very clear one, of why I hate deadlifting for reps. The red on my thighs is blood smeared from the bar. I always break open a spot above at least one of my knees. This day I broke both legs open, plus one of my shins was bleeding, too! Lovely?

Blow

When I'm congested I frequently have the urge to clamp my nose and mouth shut and just blow. It hurts my eardrums, usually ,but I keep hoping that it will unclog my upper respiratory tract.

That's what I feel like doing - It's raining heavily here today. A good day for wearing a flannel shirt and curling up in a blankie and big fuzzy slippers, and a steamy bowl of soup and a grilled swiss cheese...I'm going through this phase of craving swiss cheese constantly . I've actually pursued the flannel shirt, the blankie, the fuzzy slippers, and the soup part, need to go for the swiss cheese now. I'm trying to figure out what this swiss cheese craving means physically...it's got to mean something. I don't want cheddar, American, or any other kind of cheese, just swiss. I ran out of wine so I'm sipping on a Jack Daniels and TAB...drop of lemon juice. mmmm.....

Anyhooo - trained chest last night. Since I had been sick for so long, I probably should have backed off a little more than I did, well, actually I didn't back off at all. It went very decent. I haven't lost any strength, so that is good. I did my typical pause benching with 245x6 and 275x 3 and a half...used my new APT Strangulator wrist wraps. I liked them a heck of alot more than I imagined that I would. In fact, I loved them. APT tells me he is coming out with the Strangulator knee wraps in a couple of weeks - I'm looking forward to those! I have not done a touch and go bench for so long, I wondered if I could even get it in my head to do one. I always pause my rep on my chest, at least one second if not a full two seconds. But just for the heck of it I did do 315 touch and go for a couple. If I didn't exhaust myself on the first two pause sets, I'm sure more would have been there. In fact, it's about time I test a 335 again, I do believe. Next time? maybe - If one has never paused a bench rep before, then one has no concept of the difference that pause makes in handling the weight.

Gearing up for the big Delaware Chapter Animal Pak gathering next weekend at The Training Center, in New Castle DE. This is going to be a wild, kicking time! Big Al Fortney is at the helm of this event. Lots of ANIMALS from all over the palce getting together to train, network, and have FUN!!! Can't wait!

I'm baaaaaaaaack!!!

The day after my first session back at the gym after almost 2 weeks and I feel grrrreeatt!
My head was still congested last night, which prevents me from pushing way into the zone (I get dizzy) but it was so good to be back. There was a point that I felt like I was never going to get well. I was beginning to feel "mortal" again - didn't like that feeling at all. But today I have that nice tight, worked and sore but not overly sore feeling.
Anyhooo - GW joined me, which was a plus. We started with squats, because I HAD to get back under the bar. So we did 2 sets of 315. No knee wraps. I did 6 and then 7. I couldn't push any further because of the congestion in my head, but all in all I was pleased. Usually when I'm tired or feel off I tend to bring my stance in very narrow, hence the depth is not quite as it should be, but I was able to feel comfortable enough in a wider position last night, hence I do believe that my depth good. I can still feel the compartmentalization - grrrooan, but it is not as prevalent as it once was. I weighed in at 172, a bit more than I expected after laying around like a slug for almost 2 weeks.
I really hate doind leg curls with dumbells, but know that they are very effective, that's what we did last night -but I still hated doing them. They just pulllllll all the way down, escpecially at the lowest down position. I always feel like they are going to pull my hamstrings right out.
The antibiotics are as expected making me very tired, but they are making me well, so I'll deal with it.
Goal is to start packing on a few pounds again, try to make it to 180 before the DIET begins. I still have a good 3 months to go before I start peeling the pounds off. I'm all out of Little Debbie cakes - got to run to the grocery store!

Killing the Thing

I won't be talking about training today, for I haven't set foot in the gym for a week now - this evil "thing" has really grabbed onto me and given me a hell of a ride this past week and a half. I finally went to see the doctor this morning, and he prescribed me a lovely antibiotic. The "thing" starts as a general flu-like illness. Makes you sleepy and lethargic and want to stay curled up under your blankie with a good book and a glass of orange juice for a day or two. Then just when you think you might be shaking it off - BAM!!! It invades your digestive sytem. Nausea and a need to stay near the bathroom for a couple more days, then again just when you are shaking that feeling off - BAM AGAIN !!! - Most people are winding up with an ugly case of bronchitis. However, it decided to settle in my sinuses. My sinuses are so swollen it looks like I have cotton balls stuffed in my cheeks! My poor sinuses have put up with alot in this lifetime... anyhooo, looks like I'm going to live thorugh this thing, but I'm still not out of the woods, yet. It was a good excuse to stay curled up like a slug in front of the tv and watch PBR Saturday night, Sunday afternoon, and Sunday night... though, as I stated before, I would have rather been well and seen it in person in NYC. I have so many favorites, but I'm sticking with JB Mauney again this year, and I always like LJ Jenkins - he is always so calmand cool looking, and for some reason I find myself rooting heavily for Luke Snyder this year...

As most people realize, real estate is NOT a booming business right now, though Jody and I are relatively busy with inquiries and such...thankfully. We are working with just as many "potential buyers" as we usually are at this time of year. This is due to our website being the premiere real estate website in the mid-atlantic resort region. http://www.kate-jody.com/ How's that for a plug? It really is, however, and we are going to be upgrading it soon to an even better, more informative and "cutting edge" site, so Delaware resort real estate buyers, stay posted!!

Here I am rowing the 190 lb. dumbell (yes it really is - I can get 6 good reps or so myself weighing in at 170 lbs. ). I like looking at things like this when I feel weak as a kitten, when all I feel like lifting is a ball of yarn, just to remind me that soon I will be better and hoisting the heavy iron again... This was taken by Bill Jentz at the Training Center in New Castle, DE back in October for the long awaited Women's Physique World Kate Baird DVD, part 2...HAH!!! ANd, of course, I am wearing my APT wrist straps! It was so hot in the gym that day, I'm surprised I didn't wind up as a mere steaming pool of sweat on the floor when we were done.

Black market light bulbs

Monday I was able to train legs with GW !!! I miss training with GW, but he had to take a new job, working for the sheriff at all times of the night and day, so it is hard to catch up with him. I miss his energy. He probably doesn't like to harp on the fact that he just turned 60, but heck, a GW at 60 is akin to most guys at 30...you sprightly ol' geezer you, GW (I know you read this blog). I enjoyed that much -
New Year's - the "thing" finally came to get me...it's been creeping up for a week or so now. Swollen glands, congestion, fatigue -New Year's Eve it had me curled up under the blankie, and so on New Years' Day...then I felt a bit better, oh how convenient - just in time to go to the gym last night! And I could still bench press 275 x4 (all PAUSED) and 295 x 1 with the "thing". I had a decent workout, love those kettle bell side laterals,and whirlpooled afterward, but I think I pushed myself just a wee bit too far and so I got thrown far over the edge. Today I have just been feeling extra rotten. Oh, you kow I'm feeling sick when I turn down an invitation to see the PBR live (in New York this weekend). Oh, all those cowboys....sigh....Time to break out the dictionary and look up that four letter word again - R-E-S-T before I push myself into a bad state.
So my fingers are feeling the wrath of illness, I'm tired and typing is becoming a chore - I was going to go off on a tangent about the government wanting to ban incandescent lightbulbs and push cancer causing - ill making, mercury and EMF laden flourescents upon us. Some day you will find out that it is not the sun causing the skin cancers, it is the flourescent lights in your office, in your stores, in your schools, in your doctor's office - oh look, I went off on a tangent...
I hope I do not see the day when I have to go to the black market to by my light bulbs.

Ten Years Gone

I am very psyched that Led Zeppelin is touring again. I was lucky enough to see them in Washington DC back in 1977, before John Bonham died, for their Song Remains the Same Tour - one of my favorite Zeppelin songs is Ten Years Gone. They actually played that, which surprised me. Robert Plant sat on a stool to sing it. Yes, I was a Led Zeppelin junkie...What do I like to listen to now? Screamo - yeah! I love Killswitch Engage, All that Remains, As I lay Dying, but I also love Tool, and LIVE, absolutely love LIVE.
There - I talked about something besides training...enough of that.
Back to training.

B tricked me into incline pressing the 125's for 3 good and almost 4 reps...just couldn't get that last bit o' lockout on the last one. I like it when I'm tricked into doing things such as that. I was in such a state that I thought I didn't think I had much in me. I was going to be fine with 90's for the night. (Of course, B tricked me with giving me 100's for the first set instead of the 90's)
Some people believe in themselves and push forth with that belief. I perform better when somebody else believes in me - I can't let them down. That's what really fuels me.

Last night deadlifts - I was so upset - 405 for 2, I didn't have a good grip in my right hand, and it fell out. I was thinking there may have been 4...I did a second set of 2, but damned if those 2 reps shouldn't have been included in my first set. Hmmmph!!!

Holiday Power

I hope everyone had a Powerful holiday in whichever way they could use the power the best.

Did I get my squats in?..well....not exactly but not exactly no, either... I woke up with a killer sinus headache, up under my eyes and in my nose. I know I have allergies to something here, because I spent the night at my parents for Christmas Eve, and I woke up feeling dry and fine. I came back home and within two hours I was stuffed up and felt the pressure under my eyes. I wish I had an idea as to what it is, but until then I thank God for Claritin, Benadryl, and nose spray. Which brings me back to squatting on Monday morning...I had to choose nausea inducing pain in my face, or sluggishness due to taking a few Benadryl, which are the make you drowsy kind, the kind I need to take the edge off of those kind of headaches. I took the Benadryl. I have trained under the guise of Benadryl before, sometimes it kicks my butt, sometimes not. It definitely did kick my butt on Monday morning... BUT, as I was proceeding to commence my last squat session of the year, and determined not to completely blow it, I squatted. I mustered up a 425 x 1, which is not my best, and in not my best head groove or physical groove, but I did it. So I got half of my Christmas wish - and the rest of my workout went well - Smith lunges, slow extensions and curls, and my legs looked huge afterward :) :) Big ol' pillar like slabs of meat hanging from my hips...which reminds me I have to get my nerve manipulations in for the morning. I do them everyday, have to.
I did post the 655 rack pull video clip in my free site video gallery...it makes me giggle every time I watch it. That was my third set and in a down week...so yeah, I'm going to try for a goal of 3 reps within the next few weeks of training. or maybe go for 675 x 1????

Pull, Baby, Pull !

This was supposed to be my "backing off" week - I have one of those "scheduled" every sixth week...but I still felt relatively fiery, so I didn't back off as much as I should have, though I did refrain from extra tension and forced and dropped reps. I am not sure if I was feeling good last night or it is that I have finally learned to put my hips into the movement when pulling, but I got that 655 rack pull last night! On my second set I got 605 for 5 so, hey, no reason why not to get the bigger one...
~ tell you what - my sinuses were a little stuffy going into the gym last night, but that 655 cleared them right up. :) really! I pull from the rack at the knee. I had B film it, but he sent it to me in the wrong format. I'll post it somewhere when available.

The nerve manipulation is really helping my legs. I did go for a walk the other evening, however, and when I returned - oh, my legs were besides themselves. I had to take ibuprofen to ease the throbbing. How odd that something as passive as a walk would irritate my legs so...??? Hmmm...
My pelvis has been staying in place, which, if you recall past elaborations, was always slipping out of whack when I went for a walk, or driving alot, or participating in daily life activities. I imagine that now I am upright and intact my muscles aren't used to working at these angles and as a result are being unusually taxed....

My Christmas shopping is ALMOST finished. One more gift to buy. :) :) I love giving presents to people.
I want only a 425 x 2 or 450 x1 squat next week, both of which I have performed before in the not too distant past...just not with this leg problem. I am easy to please, I am.