The Return of the jedi-This is not Sparta. This. Is. Madness.(now incl. Race to 100kg OHP)

hope you feel well enough to post in your journal soon.
happy xmas
I got your Van Gogh joke, do I get a prize?

SQ:230 BP:160:) DL:250 OHP:120

ORIGINAL: daKensta
I got your Van Gogh joke, do I get a prize?

I knew I could rely on you, you Edinburgh Academical.

Haven't felt too great over Xmas. The cold seem to have been a catalyst for me being struck down with another bout of whatever the hell it is that keeps causing me problems. The betting is now making gallbladder a short odds favourite.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Plans to be back in the gym tonight have been foiled by family celebrations.
Various snotty-nosed children have taken great delight in inflicting fresh cold virus onto Nunky Jedi

Starting 2008 feeling grim, weak and flabby
...which I guess is better than feeling Sneezy, Dopey and Bashful.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Don;t worry too much mate, you'll be back into it in no time.

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

ORIGINAL: RACK
Don;t worry too much mate, you'll be back into it in no time.

Thanks mate.
I really like Xmas but find it stretches way too long for me. What with disruptions to gym timetable/ family commitments etc. having two different colds on top was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back
...fortunately I am starting to feel almost human again and longer have 'the hump'.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Come on mister, if I can fit training around manicures (and two 3 hour sessions at the hairdressers over the hols too!) I'm sure you can shake off a bit of a sniffle.

"2008: the year of progress for all"

My journal: http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_1950539/tm.htm

When are you starting back at the gym mate?

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

ORIGINAL: ticteaser
.....a bit of a sniffle.

Women just do not understand the crippling effects of man-flu.
It is so sad.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

ORIGINAL: RACK
When are you starting back at the gym mate?

Should definitely be back in on Monday which will be 3 weeks away from training.
Am considering doing a very light full body workout tonight , just to break the ice. I might as well as it seems I am getting no sympathy for sitting here doing nothing

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Ooooh manflu really does make me laugh!

My journal: http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_1950539/tm.htm

ORIGINAL: ticteaser
Ooooh manflu really does make me laugh!

There is nothing comical about this horrific affliction, as these documentary pictures clearly show.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Well I can't argue now you've blinded me with science, can I?!

My journal: http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_1950539/tm.htm

Have decided I am going to give it a thrash at the gym tonight after all.
Will just do a very light* full body workout and straight home
...no talking to strangers and will dodge from side to side in random manner to avoid Norwalk virus.



*like I have a choice.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Didn't train on Friday as I thought it might be counter-productive and decided to let the cold clear up over the weekend
...which it hasn't

Still feeling really grim and don't know whether it is just a peculiarly long lasting cold or if it has developed into a chest/sinus infection. Trouble is I don't want to visit the docs if I can help it because;
1. they are cr@p
2. I might get the poopuke bug.

Mentally, I am in a pretty dark place to be starting the year. I posted some pics in the shape up thread that make it look as though I haven't trained for months. I am seething that I have to spend the next month recovering lost ground ...again!
And, to cap it all, I have a consultant appointment in just over a week that at best will result in more tests and at worst might mean more surgery. I am definitely battling against an inner voice which says;

"Don't fight it, just give up."



Thanks for listening, I feel much better now

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Thought I'd risk it for a mini push session to see how bad the damage is

Flat Bench:
60kg x 15 / 80kg x 10 /90kg x 5 (3 sets) / 80kg x 8

Incline Bench:
60kg x 8 (3 sets)

Pec Deck:
55kg x 8 (3 sets)

Some cable pushdowns for triceps and started to feel a bit grim so left it at that. It is a setback but not to the degree I have become used to over the last couple of years. I think the fear of those "Now start from scratch" episodes is what fuelled the depression. I don't think it's anything like as bad this time and I should be back up to strength by the end of the month.
*reserves judgment pending how I feel in the morning.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Well, I don't feel any worse for last night's efforts so that's a relief.
It is good having the extra motivation of the shape up contest to add focus. I am even thinking of posting up my diet

The gym did have the heating on but TBH I am getting a bit fed up with its cramped and crumbling 'charm' and will definitely be looking elsewhere to train this year. Strangely though, I am now afflicted by a weird "Must get into shape before I go to a new gym." syndrome. How strange Anyone else had this or is it just me ...again?

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Mate sorry to hear your inner voice, fight it all the way!

Think its just a bit of feeling self concious (sp) training around new people maybe mate?

http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/Do-i-or-Dont-i-DP-Keto-Diet-m4249071.aspx

My Journal

ORIGINAL: I Am A Myth
Mate sorry to hear your inner voice, fight it all the way!

Thanks mate but the inner voice has gotten a lot more positive now the cold is shifting a bit. In fact it had a word with me earlier;

"You ain't got no problems, jedi ...I'm on the m*therf*cker. Go back in there, chill them n!ggers out and wait for The Wolf, who should be comin' directly."

©Pulp Fiction

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

PMSL at the quote!!

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

^^'Course what I forgot to do was mention the training though

Tuesday.

Wide Grip Chins
8/8/7 (which was a lot better than I was expecting)

Lat Pulldowns
pin10 x 8 (3 sets)

Close Grip Row
pin10 x 8 (3 sets)

+some behind the neck pulldowns on a light weight.

Oly Bar Curls
20kg x 15
30kg x 10
40kg x 8 (3 sets)

Close Grip Curls
30kg x 8 (3 sets)

Cable Curls
6 x the stack and then drop 2plates for reps til failure then drop 2plates etc etc

plus some floundering about with the ab roller.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

ORIGINAL: jedi

plus some floundering about with the ab roller.

Oooh that tickled me that did!! I've got this image in my head of you flapping around on the floor like a fish!

My journal: http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_1950539/tm.htm

ORIGINAL: ticteaser

ORIGINAL: jedi

plus some floundering about with the ab roller.

Oooh that tickled me that did!! I've got this image in my head of you flapping around on the floor like a fish!

Correct
..and with similar abdominal definition

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

If you think about it a fish is just one big muscle with eyes and stuff on one end and a tail at the other really. I'd like to be as muscled as a fish.

My journal: http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_1950539/tm.htm

WARNING:

ORIGINAL: ticteaser "..one big muscle with eyes and stuff on one end and a tail at the other really."

This does not necessarily guarantee a good physique.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

I bet that fish is 'ard as nails though.

Ok, maybe I'll be some sort of shark, with enough power in my sleek muscley body to kill you with one swipe of my tail. Or something like that.

[tries to imagine a fish with visible abs]

[brain melts]

My journal: http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_1950539/tm.htm

Nice workout mate.

Hopet he cold gets better soon

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

ORIGINAL: RACK
Hope the cold gets better soon

The test will be tonight's attempt at cardio.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Cardio completed last night.
Wasn't breaking any records and I'll leave running until next week but was reasonably pleased with how it went considering the cold.

15min walk (instead of run)
20min cycle
15min rowing machine
15min walk

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

What training split will you be using when you're back to 100% mate?

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

ORIGINAL: RACK
What training split will you be using when you're back to 100% mate?

I should be back onto my 4 day split next week;

Monday: Chest & tri's
Tuesday: Back and bi's
Wednesday: Cardio
Thursday: Shoulders
Friday: Legs

Having said that, I am not 100% decided on thtat schedule yet. I am tempted a bit by doing shoulders and arms on the Thursday as this would tend to keep all the sessions shorter. I am also planning to do some form of cardio everyday and make a big effort on the Wednesday.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

It all depends on how long you like staying in the gym. I like to be in and out so the quicker the better for me.
As for cardio everyday, well I love it

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

ORIGINAL: RACK

It all depends on how long you like staying in the gym. I like to be in and out so the quicker the better for me.
As for cardio everyday, well I love it

I used to prefer taking my time but now like the idea of getting it done well inside an hour, 45min if possible. I think to keep this up I will definitely have to get used to flying solo though. I have one mate who does plenty of work but takes frikkin ages (I mean of the "I can feel my beard growing" type) and another who rips round .....the first half of the sesh and then ducks out early before the pain really starts. I suppose it will do me good anyway as I am still dead set on switching gyms at some point this year so will have to get used to being Billy-No-Mates.

I don't mind doing the cardio everyday as long as I can keep it in short chunks of about 15min otherwise I go nuts.
Not ideal for fat burning I know but better than nothing.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Last night's shoulders

Front raises superset with lateral raises
10kg x 10 (3 sets)

Seated rear row
50lb x 10 (3 sets)

Close grip upright row
30kg x 10 (3 sets)

Wide grip upright row
30kg x 10 (3 sets)

Rear row
20kg dumbells x 10 (3 sets)

Seated dumbbell press
50lb x 10/9/8
40lb x 10

Kept everything pretty light just to work my way back in, although actually struggled a bit on the wide grip rows and even the dumbbell pressing, which I thought I would get 4 x 10 easy

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Friday first legs since the break.

20 rep squats x 60kg as a warm up (too light really)

leg press
150kg x 20
190kg x 15
230kg x 10

hack squat machine
50kg x 10 (3 sets)

leg ext.
pin5 x 10 (3 sets)

ham curls
30kg x 10 (3 sets)

SLDL
50lb dumbbells x 20

seated calf raise
20kg x 10 (3 sets)

Once again, no heroics on the first day back. Could definitely have gone heavier on most things and legs felt as though they have lost less strength than anything else. Am tempted to do 20 x 60kg on squats everyday as a kind of warm up and general getting-used-to-squatting-again protocol.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Hows it going JEDI?

I do chest with shoulders in the same session and have an arms day instead... I like prefer it that way for some reason. I have gone from a 5 day split to a 4 day since Nov.

_______________
If it has a face - Eat It.

ORIGINAL: chrismac
Hows it going JEDI?

Hi Chris
it could be going better really. The wheels have not fallen off just yet but they are definitely wobbling. Am already trying to make up 3 weeks lost due to manflu but am also having to visit a consultant tomorrow about my ongoing health issues, which are looking more and more likely to be a gallbladder problem. Net result would be more surgery, so it is a bit of a struggle to stay motivated at the moment, knowing that there could well be another enforced and lengthy break to come.
I am just about managing to stay on top of it at the moment though.

I barely mention these problems to anyone else of course

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Tonight was shuvving.

Warm up
20 x 60kg squats
abs

Flat Bench
60kg x 15 80kg x 12 90kg x 9 90kg x 6 80kg x 6

Incline Barbell
60kg x 10 80kg 6 80kg x 6 90kg x 3

Flat Dumbbells
70lb x 8 (3 sets)

Pec Deck
55kg x 10 (3 sets)

Skull Crusher/ Close Grip Superset
30kg x 7 each (3 sets)

+ V pushdowns/ Close pushdowns/
+Rope pulldowns and extension superset

Some good bits and some bad bits tonight. Was good that the 90kg on the bench didn't feel particularly heavy but was bad that I had no muscular endurance to push the reps out with my triceps failing first.

Had to use jedi mind control on 2 newer members who started stripping the weights off my bench when I waddled off for just a nano second to fetch a pair of 15's (perils of the solo trainer). I felt bad afterward
...but not that much.

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

"That's not the bench you're looking for...."
[waves hand mysteriously]

SQ:230 BP:160:) DL:250 OHP:120

ORIGINAL: daKensta

"That's not the bench you're looking for...."
[waves hand mysteriously]

I used the advanced technique, which is just;

"Oi."

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Man - you are going through it.

Great session there though!

_______________
If it has a face - Eat It.