I put up 300lbs on bench press tonight with no problem. I tried 320lbs minutes later and failed, but barely. I was close enough on 320lbs that I think if I had done that first I would've gotten it. Next time I'm putting on three plates on each side (315) and I'm confident I'll have it. I won't max out like that again for a while though. Great to see continued progress, it is encouraging. Great to be benching near my body weight once again. There was a time I benched 125lbs (ish) over my body weight. I've seen smaller guys go to almost 2.5x's their body weight (in person) which is mind blowing. I don't think I'll get there, even if I lose a LOT of weight.
I've done cardio 6 of the last 7 days. 3 days of 45 minutes, 2 days of 80+ minutes and tonight with 35 minutes.
Along with that, for personal growth I'm reading Tim Keller's "The Meaning of Marriage". Truly the BEST book on marriage I have read.
Bent wedding ring from lifting weights
Noticed a rough spot on the edge of my wedding ring today. Took it off, looked at it, and realized I'd bent it pretty severely. Much more and I think I'd have actually noticed it physically. So I'll have to get that fixed. I'm sure my wife will be excited to hear that. But at least it is from a good thing!
Grace Motivated Dieting
This is a segment of a great article by Mike Cosper over on The Gospel Coalition blog.
There are two possible motivations for the desire to transform our bodies, one that has the power to motivate and one that has the power to kill.
The latter motivation is more common. It's the reason young faces and bodies grace the magazine covers in grocery stores aisles. These images help drive the market for plastic surgery and much of that $62 billion dieting economy. This motivation cannot be limited to a single emotion or sin. But some combination of vanity, obsession with youth, and fear of death results in anxious discontent, a deep feeling of inadequacy and desperation for acceptance. We foolishly believe that if we could get skinnier, bulkier, younger, prettier, or stronger, we'll be satisfied.
This motivation literally leads to death. For some, the short-term fixes lead to crash diets, eating disorders, and a variety of other methods that do our bodies more harm than good. Ultimately, all of us face the ticking clock of time, slowing metabolisms, disease, grey hair, wrinkles, cellulite, and expired bodies. The desire to avoid death and old age that drives us to the gym can't ultimately stave off our inevitable end.
We become enslaved to the "law" of fitness, obsessively fighting a losing battle against our wills and the march of time. Our victories are short-lived, our defeats are crushing.
Bench Press Goal fo 275lbs completed
Had a rough evening last night with my very strong willed and defiant 2 year old, so I was really needing to get away to the gym. Thankfully things wen really well there!
My strength is continuing to improve. I was able to bench 275lbs last night, which was big for me mentally. Two plates plus a 25 on each side. Nice. And even better, it went easy. Real easy. As in I wish I had put 300lbs on the bar because I think I had it easy. So what I'm doing seems to be working. I did arms and shoulders as well last night, and I am sore this morning. A good sore, but sore. Added in 20ish minutes on the treadmill to round out my night.
On Sunday I did 60 minutes of cardio. I got into a TV show so I first bumped it from 30 to 40 minutes thinking that would get me to the end of the show. Apparently it was a 2 hour long show because I added 10 extra minutes two additional times! And along with that I moved up the resistance on the recumbent bike for most of that period as well. When I got off I could really feel it in my legs, but again it was that good feeling of being very spent as opposed to a painful overuse burn.
Now I just need to start dropping some more weight to go along with these successes at the gym.
My strength is continuing to improve. I was able to bench 275lbs last night, which was big for me mentally. Two plates plus a 25 on each side. Nice. And even better, it went easy. Real easy. As in I wish I had put 300lbs on the bar because I think I had it easy. So what I'm doing seems to be working. I did arms and shoulders as well last night, and I am sore this morning. A good sore, but sore. Added in 20ish minutes on the treadmill to round out my night.
On Sunday I did 60 minutes of cardio. I got into a TV show so I first bumped it from 30 to 40 minutes thinking that would get me to the end of the show. Apparently it was a 2 hour long show because I added 10 extra minutes two additional times! And along with that I moved up the resistance on the recumbent bike for most of that period as well. When I got off I could really feel it in my legs, but again it was that good feeling of being very spent as opposed to a painful overuse burn.
Now I just need to start dropping some more weight to go along with these successes at the gym.
I've been in the gym 50% of the days of 2012
But then again...it is only January 2nd. Had a good workout tonight. I hadn't been to the gym in 10 days I think (9 or 10) and while my heart rate was a bit higher than 10 days ago while riding the recumbent bike, I was able to do the full workout with no problems. Followed that up with bench/arms/shoulder work. Bench was rock solid, like I hadn't left. My arms were a bit weaker it seemed, but nothing that I'll worry about at this point.
Need to focus on my diet and keep at it at the gym. In the 10 days I took off, I ate like a pig and did little physically. It was a great refresher for me, especially having taken this past Sunday off so I didn't have to preach and got to actually go to church and listen to someone else for the first time in quite a while. The downside to all of that is I gained just over 2 lbs. I honestly expected it to be more. And considering that is a very small percentage of my overall weight, I'm not sweating it, but wish it hadn't have happened nonetheless.
If one meal could've done it, I know which one. I spent some time in my hometown with family, and while there I hit one of my favorite burger places. Double cheese with cheese curds and fries to boot. I'm not a fry eater, so I farmed most of them to the family, and I didn't finish the burger, but I did eat about 1/2 lb of delicious fried cheese. Some calories are just worth it.
May 2012 bring you closer to God and to your goals!
Need to focus on my diet and keep at it at the gym. In the 10 days I took off, I ate like a pig and did little physically. It was a great refresher for me, especially having taken this past Sunday off so I didn't have to preach and got to actually go to church and listen to someone else for the first time in quite a while. The downside to all of that is I gained just over 2 lbs. I honestly expected it to be more. And considering that is a very small percentage of my overall weight, I'm not sweating it, but wish it hadn't have happened nonetheless.
May 2012 bring you closer to God and to your goals!
Workouts for 2012 - Happy New Year!
Well I've survived the storm known as Christmas. My workouts have suffered the past week, but it has been great to take time off to visit family and to spend with my own family. Tomorrow it is time to hit it hard. I can really feel the need.
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