I have a new training partner. Things are going pretty well, and I'm definitely getting some cardio in via changing weights!
Squat - Sunday Nov. 29
warm up walk and stretching
Squats
warm up sets
5x320
5x340
6x365
felt like hell
hip adductor
3x10
hip abductor
3x10
hamstring curls
2x10
1x8
cool down walk and stretching
Bench Press - Wednesday Dec. 2
warm up walk, stretching
Bench Press
warm up sets
5x185
5x205
5x235 (forgot to go to near-failure... probably had 5 more in the tank)
chest-supported rows (selector machine)
2x10 @ 120 (neutral grip)
1x8 @ 140 (prone grip)
lat pull-downs
2x10 @ 100
1x8 @ 120
cool down and stretching
Dead Lift - Friday, December 4, 2009
warm up walk and stretching
Dead Lift
warm up sets
5x315
5x365
(didn't finish... back too tight)
leg/hip raises (abs)
3x5
cool down walk and stretching
I'm hoping to get some help with this back tightness issue. I've asked someone on the EliteFTS website for some help. Should be good to go next time.
Speaking of next time, I've been given a routine to use an a substitute for the 5/3/1 Military Press day. It's from a future-PT friend of mine.
It is set up like this...
Push Ups (near failure)
Floor Press w/ Dumbbells (near failure)
Floor Chest Flyes w/ Dumbbells (near failure
3 Sets Dips (near failure)
3 Sets Selector Machine Chest Press (near failure)
take a walk and repeat once
I plan to take this one up on Sunday, so it'll look like this:
Sunday - accessory chest day
Monday - 5/3/1 squat day
Wednesday - 5/3/1 bench press day
Friday - 5/3/1 dead lift day
I plan to use the "Boring But Big" accessory work for my 5/3/1 training.
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
Brofessor Arm Wrestling
12/5/09
12/1/09
2009 Kansas State Championships Videos
I couldn't get videos to upload, so I just thought I'd post links:
Squat - 475 Pass
Bench Press - 305 Pass
Dead Lift - 520 Pass
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
Squat - 475 Pass
Bench Press - 305 Pass
Dead Lift - 520 Pass
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
Goals for March 6th Meet
These will certainly be preliminary goals, but I want to get started early.
Squat - 490 lbs.
Bench Press - 320 lbs.
Dead Lift - 550 lbs.
Total - 1360
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
Squat - 490 lbs.
Bench Press - 320 lbs.
Dead Lift - 550 lbs.
Total - 1360
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
11/30/09
Another Letter To The Collegian Editor
This article is a response to this one.
Dear Editor,
After reading Beth Mendenhall's recent article on "overpopulation", I felt the need to do some research of my own. She feels that a growing population serves to exacerbate all of the systemic problems of our world. In fact, such a thing is only a bad dream and not the truth. She is right that scarcity is a problem. In fact, in terms of economics it is *the* problem. People are forced to economize in the face of scarcity. We have limited resources to fill unlimited ends. Mendenhall acts as if "overpopulation" is some new problem that will be the downfall of the human race and the planet. In fact, this is not a new "problem". Such a problem was dreamt up by Thomas Malthus in the late 1700s. He did some rough calculations and came to the conclusion that the world would run out of food by the end of the 1800s. To remedy this problem, he advocated the killing of elderly people and placing limits on how many children people could have. Indeed, Beth does not advocate a government control of birthrate. One might ask, though, how else could this occur? When I get married, I certainly don't want anyone telling me and my wife how many children we can have. I digress. Let's assume that Malthus was right with his calculations and that the world would have run out of food. What happened in the 1800s that allowed the veritable explosion in population growth during and after that period? It was the Industrial Revolution. The new technologies in all areas of life that developed out of this era allowed the limited resources of the earth to be spread over more and more people. It allowed for a healthier population, as well, because people could consume higher-quality food and could live in cleaner environments. Mendenhall decries capitalism as one of the evils destroying our earth. I submit that, as capitalism is the driving force behind new technology, it is actually one of the very few things that saves humanity. As entrepreneurs work to become profitable, their inventions make our entire world better.
Let's assume that all of this analysis is wrong and that a growing population will really cause all of the horrible things Mendenhall thinks it will. Is "overpopulation" really on the horizon? In fact, no. According to the United Nations Population Division, the worldwide birth rate will be less than replacement by 2050. This means that the worldwide population will begin to decline. It is already far below replacement in many European countries. The native populations of the entire European Union will eventually die off, as the average birth rate is about 1.5 children per woman (far below the replacement rate, which is 2.1). In the U.S., we already have the problem of too many elderly and not enough youth. This is one of the main causes of the imminent failure of Social Security. There will simply be too many people who cannot work for the people who can work to take care of. How will we deal with this problem after 2050 when the entire world begins to experience this?
Let's take another look at the United States. Population growth has leveled off in the U.S. partly through a natural phenomenon. As a country becomes more developed, there is an increased need for an educated populace. This means that, more and more, people put off raising a family in favor of continued education. Birth rates slowly decline as a result. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this has been happening in the U.S. for quite some time; in the last 30 years, the number of U.S. women who reached the end of their childbearing years without bearing a child went from 10% to 20%. There is no need for Malthusian population control, either at the whim of the government or a self-hating ideology.
Dear Editor,
After reading Beth Mendenhall's recent article on "overpopulation", I felt the need to do some research of my own. She feels that a growing population serves to exacerbate all of the systemic problems of our world. In fact, such a thing is only a bad dream and not the truth. She is right that scarcity is a problem. In fact, in terms of economics it is *the* problem. People are forced to economize in the face of scarcity. We have limited resources to fill unlimited ends. Mendenhall acts as if "overpopulation" is some new problem that will be the downfall of the human race and the planet. In fact, this is not a new "problem". Such a problem was dreamt up by Thomas Malthus in the late 1700s. He did some rough calculations and came to the conclusion that the world would run out of food by the end of the 1800s. To remedy this problem, he advocated the killing of elderly people and placing limits on how many children people could have. Indeed, Beth does not advocate a government control of birthrate. One might ask, though, how else could this occur? When I get married, I certainly don't want anyone telling me and my wife how many children we can have. I digress. Let's assume that Malthus was right with his calculations and that the world would have run out of food. What happened in the 1800s that allowed the veritable explosion in population growth during and after that period? It was the Industrial Revolution. The new technologies in all areas of life that developed out of this era allowed the limited resources of the earth to be spread over more and more people. It allowed for a healthier population, as well, because people could consume higher-quality food and could live in cleaner environments. Mendenhall decries capitalism as one of the evils destroying our earth. I submit that, as capitalism is the driving force behind new technology, it is actually one of the very few things that saves humanity. As entrepreneurs work to become profitable, their inventions make our entire world better.
Let's assume that all of this analysis is wrong and that a growing population will really cause all of the horrible things Mendenhall thinks it will. Is "overpopulation" really on the horizon? In fact, no. According to the United Nations Population Division, the worldwide birth rate will be less than replacement by 2050. This means that the worldwide population will begin to decline. It is already far below replacement in many European countries. The native populations of the entire European Union will eventually die off, as the average birth rate is about 1.5 children per woman (far below the replacement rate, which is 2.1). In the U.S., we already have the problem of too many elderly and not enough youth. This is one of the main causes of the imminent failure of Social Security. There will simply be too many people who cannot work for the people who can work to take care of. How will we deal with this problem after 2050 when the entire world begins to experience this?
Let's take another look at the United States. Population growth has leveled off in the U.S. partly through a natural phenomenon. As a country becomes more developed, there is an increased need for an educated populace. This means that, more and more, people put off raising a family in favor of continued education. Birth rates slowly decline as a result. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this has been happening in the U.S. for quite some time; in the last 30 years, the number of U.S. women who reached the end of their childbearing years without bearing a child went from 10% to 20%. There is no need for Malthusian population control, either at the whim of the government or a self-hating ideology.
11/21/09
2009 Kansas State Championships Results
I hit my goal for the meet!
Squat: 440 - pass; 460 - pass; 475 - pass (12 lbs PR)
Bench Press: 285 - pass; 305 lbs - pass (2 lbs PR); 315 lbs - no pass
Dead Lift: 480 - pass; 500 - pass; 520 (35 lbs PR)
Total - 1300 lbs (49 lbs PR)
Meet video to follow later.
Also, my next meet may be the Raw Nationals in Denver, CO in June, 2010...
Mens sana in corpore sano
Squat: 440 - pass; 460 - pass; 475 - pass (12 lbs PR)
Bench Press: 285 - pass; 305 lbs - pass (2 lbs PR); 315 lbs - no pass
Dead Lift: 480 - pass; 500 - pass; 520 (35 lbs PR)
Total - 1300 lbs (49 lbs PR)
Meet video to follow later.
Also, my next meet may be the Raw Nationals in Denver, CO in June, 2010...
Mens sana in corpore sano
11/19/09
36 Hours Out
About a day and a half left. I've been getting plenty of rest this week and taking it easy. Haven't been to the gym, but I have been doing some of my PT and using the foam roller I purchased from EliteFTS. It's a nice tool for self-massage and I think it's helped keep me loose.
Had an exam today in Microeconomic Theory; I think it went pretty well. Nothing left but some homework and finals... working for success and hoping for the best.
Schedule for tomorrow:
Get around at about 8:00 AM
Go to the Rec to check weight @ 9:00 AM
Tutor a student in finance/econ at 12:30 PM
Class from 1:30 to 2:20 PM
Run to the store to pick up some groceries and a few last things for the meet
Get everything together and pack my bag
Cut off all food/water intake by 10:00 PM
SLEEP!
Update on the meet will follow Saturday evening.
Until then:
"Mens sana in corpore sano"
Had an exam today in Microeconomic Theory; I think it went pretty well. Nothing left but some homework and finals... working for success and hoping for the best.
Schedule for tomorrow:
Get around at about 8:00 AM
Go to the Rec to check weight @ 9:00 AM
Tutor a student in finance/econ at 12:30 PM
Class from 1:30 to 2:20 PM
Run to the store to pick up some groceries and a few last things for the meet
Get everything together and pack my bag
Cut off all food/water intake by 10:00 PM
SLEEP!
Update on the meet will follow Saturday evening.
Until then:
"Mens sana in corpore sano"
11/3/09
Update: Congenital Defect and Last Weeks of Training
Here I am, 2.5 weeks out from the meet. I've been loaded down with school work, so I'm hoping that my next 2 tests go well.
I saw a physical therapist a couple of weeks ago. The sports med doctor put me on 1000 mgs. of Aleve for 2 weeks. That runs out on Wednesday. The PT is going okay. She has me doing about 5 different exercises to strengthen my transversus abdominis muscle. The idea is that this will help stabilize my torso and relieve some of the pressure from the muscles in my back.
I have a common congenital defect called spina bifida occulta. It's really no big deal, but it may make my back pain worse as I age. That's why the PT (and a strong abdomen) is so crucial for me. It may be causing some nerve irritation because of my lifting.
This week I will be working up to my openers as well as doing a decent workout as final prep for the meet. Next week I'll be deloading and the following week I'll be doing some very light work, stretching, and watching my weight. Tonight I was right at 242 lbs. I'm not too worried, as it was pretty late at night (I'm always a few pounds lighter at the beginning of the day).
Mens sana in corpore sano.
I saw a physical therapist a couple of weeks ago. The sports med doctor put me on 1000 mgs. of Aleve for 2 weeks. That runs out on Wednesday. The PT is going okay. She has me doing about 5 different exercises to strengthen my transversus abdominis muscle. The idea is that this will help stabilize my torso and relieve some of the pressure from the muscles in my back.
I have a common congenital defect called spina bifida occulta. It's really no big deal, but it may make my back pain worse as I age. That's why the PT (and a strong abdomen) is so crucial for me. It may be causing some nerve irritation because of my lifting.
This week I will be working up to my openers as well as doing a decent workout as final prep for the meet. Next week I'll be deloading and the following week I'll be doing some very light work, stretching, and watching my weight. Tonight I was right at 242 lbs. I'm not too worried, as it was pretty late at night (I'm always a few pounds lighter at the beginning of the day).
Mens sana in corpore sano.
10/11/09
Psoas
I found some stretches on the web for my back. From talking to some people, I've confirmed that the problem is most likely my psoas muscle. The stretches are helping, I just need to stay on top of it.
Workouts are going well. I've hit a snag on the bench press, but I'm getting some assistance with it this Wednesday from one of the trainers at the gym.
I'm letting the squat stay where it is in order to save my back a bit. I'll still be working it on Mondays, but I'll be staying around 85% in the workouts. I plan to open with 200 kg. at the meet and end up at 210 kg. (which is my squat from the last meet).
Deadlift is progressing nicely and I'm feeling good about hitting my goal of 240 kg.
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano.
Workouts are going well. I've hit a snag on the bench press, but I'm getting some assistance with it this Wednesday from one of the trainers at the gym.
I'm letting the squat stay where it is in order to save my back a bit. I'll still be working it on Mondays, but I'll be staying around 85% in the workouts. I plan to open with 200 kg. at the meet and end up at 210 kg. (which is my squat from the last meet).
Deadlift is progressing nicely and I'm feeling good about hitting my goal of 240 kg.
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano.
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