Just A Quickie

STRADDLE SQUATS:
Bar x15
70lb x10
95lb x8
120lb x6
135lb x5
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PISTOL BENCH SQUATS:
B.W. x10 ea.
5lb x8ea.
10lb x6 ea.
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It was a quick, 30 minute session tonight, but it felt good. It was kind of another experimental night, trying those straddle squats for the first time. They felt ok, but I definitely need a better belt to hold the higher weight. I just have a fabric belt with a velcro closure so that 135lb hanging from it was making me a little nervous . I felt cramping with them at first and I wasn't sure if it would be a good option, but just like the other night, the cramping seemed to even itself out as I went. I'm convinced that my day job is crippling me. Sitting all day sucks. It just plain sucks.
Anyhow, another night is in the books and it feels good.

I Ain't No Energizer Bunny

BAR MEDLEY:
[Front squat / curl (suppinated grip) / RDL /row]
Bar 1-5 ladder
65lb 1-2 ladder
**back started cramping pretty bad for some reason.
65lb 3x
65lb 4x
65lb 5x
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CHEST FLYS:
15lb x20
25lb x10
30lb x5
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My energy level is below zero lately. I'm eating better, but as far as sleeping and rest, I'm only getting about half of what I need. I'm not sure why my back started cramping the way it did, but it dissipated as I kept moving. Once a week sessions aren't enough, but it is what it is.

New PR!

SUMO DEADLIFTS:
135lb x5
135lb x10
185lb x5
205lb x2
215lb x1
225lb FAIL
CONVENTIONAL DEADLIFTS:
225lb  (with belt) no lockout, mad it to thighs
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RENEGADE ROWS:
10lb x5 ea. (Not using anymore, too light)
15lb x10 ea
25lb x8 ea
30lb x4 ea
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BICEP CURLS (EZ BAR):
85lb x5
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FRANK'S WORK:
205lb x5
255lb x5
300lb x4
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Various and sundry curls
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My goal tonight was just to learn the sumo deadlift and I accomplished that. I am so very happy that, with the suggestion of a friend, I tried this lift. I did all of the lifts with NO BELT! There was barely any strain on my lower back and I can't tell you how good that feels. To FINALLY have something that I can hit my legs with, with heavy weight, that won't kill my back. I tried the conventional lift just to see what I could do. Everything I've seen and read said the two lifts should be close, and they are. What I like about the sumos, aside from being easier on my back, is that it hits the weak parts of my hips which in turn will hopefully help my squat and conventional lift. 
Frank was beat from work, but I give him credit for doing what he did. He has a very physical job during the day, so sometimes, the last thing he wants to do is lift. But he did it. And so did I. 
I actually had fun tonight, like I used to. I've missed that feeling. It's my intent to keep it going.

Captain Inconsistency

SHRUGS:
50lb DB x50 
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BENCH:
Bar x10
65lb x10 
75lb x10 
95lb x5
110lb x3
120lb x2
120lb x1
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SKULL CRUSHER/TRI. EXT./ PULLOVER OVER (full range)
45lb x10
65lb x6
75lb x2
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[Fat guy pullups x5 / 3 PT H.K.R. x5 / Swiss pike x10] 2x 
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FRANK'S WORK : 
SHRUGS:
50lb DB x30 
SEATED, BEHIND NECK PRESS:
Bar x20
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BENCH:
115 x15
165lb x10
[255lb x2] 2x 
255lb x4
255lb x3
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SKULL CRUSHERS:
85lb x15
85lb x20
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Fat guy pullups x10 / H.K.R. x5  / Swiss Pike x5
Fat guy pullups x10 / H.K.R. x8 / Swiss Pike x3
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Same sold story...inconsistent. really nothing more to say, so I won't bother. 

New PR

SQUATS:
Bar x10
95lb x3
125lb 3
155lb x3
175lb x3
175lb FAIL

[Hanging leg raise x7 / Swiss Pike x10] 2x
Hanging knee raise 10 / Swiss Pike x10

I was aiming for a true 5x5 on those squats but I'm happy to have gotten 3 reps. It's the most that I've ever done. To be honest, I wasn't feally all that enthused. Part of me was excited, but part of me was tired, antsy and rushing to get it done. That's never a good mix of emotions. I'm still frustrated that, as usual, it's not my legs that give out but my friggin back. My legs are screaming for more stress. As you can see from the video, they're horribly flabby and they could do with more muscle. But, anyhow....they were able to move 175lbs for 3 reps an my back held out long enough for that as well, so maybe even that's getting stronger - just slowly.
So, about the video - i see that I need to move my hips first coming out of the hole, they're lagging a little behind my chest. The weight shifted slightly coming up, but i expected that.  All in all, It's not too bad. I live to fight another day. I was missing my training buddy tonight because Frank had to get a tooth pulled. I missed him tonight :(

You Can Dance If You Want To

I came across a video the other day and it was about this exercise class called "Fat Kid Dance Party". I've embedded the video below for your viewing pleasure. From some of the comments on the video, it appeared as though it was some sort of empowering experience for overweight individuals to get their feet wet in the fitness world. I took the bait and watched it and immediately said "yup, I have to vent", and here we are. I'm going to try and go point by point along with the video to try and keep my thoughts organized, but you know I'm bound to ramble. 

Let's start with the idea of "love your body", shall we? Like so many modern day self-love statements, on the surface this seems pretty innocuous and very much a good thing; a motivating statement. But is it? I happen to love tha fact that I have a body and that it functions and allows me to be alive, however, I don't love my body being less than what it could be. If your body is morbidly obese and therefore quite unhealthy, is it the right thing to love it? If you had a cancerous lesion on your arm, would you love it? Why should you love your body if it's contributing to your ill health? Let me be clear here - the majority of the people in this video appear to be not just a few pounds overweight, but morbidly obese. The list of health problems that accompany that level of "fat" ranges from coronary heart disease to osteoarthritis and everything over, above, and in between. So you want me to believe I should love the body that causes all of that? Nonsense!

     This dance party takes place at "Every Body Gym" which touts itself as a supposedly "unique fitness environment that makes health and wellness accessible to everyone". Last time I checked, damn near any gym has that same premise in mind. So, I hate to break it to you, but you're hardly unique in that regard. Now, an overweight individual may feel uncomfortable and intimidated in a gym setting, but that's completely a personal issue (with a few rare exceptions) that needs to be addressed by having the courage to keep going and working out. The leader of the party said she felt many times like the odd man out in the traditional gym setting. I get that, and I would venture to guess that's a normal feeling to have. I felt like an ass the first few times I went and worked out with people; it was terrifying. But you have to realize that the majority of the people either don't care if you're there, or are going to applaud you for showing up and putting in the effort. Quite a few will even lend a hand or an encouraging word when they can. It takes backbone to admit that you have failed in the health category and that you need to make a concerted effort to change. I think your backbone is the first thing to get stronger. You have to be willing and able to push yourself beyond your current level of comfort to make change. Surrounding yourself with enablers and people who refuse to kick you in the ass when you need it most isn't going to help a damn bit. The more I train, the more I think that old saying "no pain, no gain" was referring more to mental pain than physical. 

     Just when I thought I couldn't be any more filled with nauseating love, they hit me with the "cheering for self-care" horseshit. Every time someone stops to take a break or get water, they cheer. Seriously? Cheering for someone taking a drink? I'm pretty sure I've seen preschool teachers doing this to 4 year olds. And wait just a dog gone minute here, they claim to encourage self-care, but turn a blind eye to obesity. It's the logic of the Social Justice Warrior and I can't handle it. 

     My problem with this isn't in having a group of supportive people helping you reach your goals. Support is hugely important and motivating! I also think it's great that  they're moving at all, because truly, they're a couple steps ahead of the guy on the couch. My problem is the fact that this is being pushed under the SJW ideology that we're all perfect the way we are. They're spewing their PC bullshit to the unknowing masses and I wish it would stop. There's absolutely no distinction being made between self image and body image and that right there is the BIGGEST ISSUE I see lately. People need to learn that they can love themselves for being an awesome human with a kind heart, and intelligent mind and an uplifting soul, and at the same time understand that their body needs improvement. It's totally possible for a person to understand that they have intrinsic value as a human being and at the very same time understand that their body is unhealthy and that their eating/exercise habits are at best, lackluster. There isn't one person on this planet that shouldn't be striving every damn day to better themselves because we all need to be better in some way, shape or form. Sometimes in a lot of ways, shapes and forms! Telling people that it's perfectly fine to be obese is harmful to them and their families in the long run. Instead of cheering for self-care and advertising self-love how about we start pushing for self-discipline and advocating for self-motivation? those qualities will get you a hell of a lot further than loving your fat.

     This isn't just a simple, clear-cut issue of fat vs. skinny. It's about health and strength and functional ability. It shouldn't be about creating a safe space of false empowerment where everyone gets a pat on the back and a gold star just for being them. it should be about creating a space of challenge and structure that will aid people in setting habits that will affect every other aspect of their life. It's so very easy to sit back and accept yourself as you are, isn't it?  It gives you freedom from responsibility - you can eat whatever you want, move when you want, or not at all - it's all good, man. You love yourself.....riiiiight. It's not all good. It's lazy and nihilistic. I will never accept those two qualities in my life and I don't want you to, either. 

     I'm glad the "fat kids" are dancing. But I want them dancing, running, jumping, lifting, swimming and eating right. I want them holding themselves accountable for where they're at and I want them strong enough to change! I want them not weak enough to stay as they are, but courageous enough to break down every damn barrier in their way and become better than they ever imagined they could be. Screw your acceptance of weakness. Let's accept strength instead!