a_welch503 WORKOUT JOURNAL

[Firehawk]

Yea, it's important to try to stay healthy. That sucks, hopefully you will be ok in 2 or 3 days so you can continue your progress.

[.V.]

Well, planning to start back on friday. I hope I'm able. I was able to do some light yard work yesterday and today as long as I kept the chest taped up. Mowing, raking, and a little work with the chainsaw. The saw was a bit much though, I could only stand it for about 30 min. My main problem is that since this has happened and I can't lift, I don't get hungry at all. I am having to force myself to eat once a day. It is odd how when you learn to feed your workouts - if you miss them, the need to feed goes away. The abs are looking great without any work. My pants are trying to fall down, I had to tighten my belt up a little more. I hope I don't lose too much muscle or strength, I don't have it to spare. To you guys who have suggested the conventional deadlifts, I really miss those - I cant wait to hit them again on friday.

[SurfinAmy]

Hi Andy,
Just stopped in to see how you're doing and I find this!!! Sheesh!!! I hope you're going to be o.k.!!!!
Is your brother-in-law o.k.?????????
-Amy

[.V.]

It is all going to be OK. I saw the doc a couple of days ago and was told to wait until saturday and see if I felt ready to lift again. It is pretty much OK if I don't overdo it. My brother in law is going to be fine - he is still pretty sore too - the head trauma worked out OK the internal swelling all went away. The collapsed lung was better the next day - it is odd how resiliant lungs are - they can take a bullet and be ok in a week or two. His collapsed from the pressure - kind of like when you blow up a paper bag and smack it with your hand. He will be fine too - he doesn't do anything anyway that could worsen the injury. I am planning to sneak out and lift today - it doesn't hurt TOO bad today - I will do the pull ups first - they will tell me if I am going to be able to workout or not. If I can't do it, I will keep trying until I can. I just hate looking at myself wasting away and losing all the strength that I have worked so hard for - over stupidity. I should have known better than to try to get "that little bit extra" with a dumbell in my left hand. But with the left being the weak side - I like to try to get it caught up.

Thanks for your concern - it will all be good in time. I may even eventually get the strength built up to where it was when this happened. The advantage to it is I don't feel like eating much and although I know I'm losing muscle - I am also losing fat - the abs are looking better every day. Abs like a body builder - everything else like Pee wee Herman - oh well, gotta start somewhere.

[.V.]

11-16-2004

Today I had the hardest workout I've ever had. I think it was a good one. I don't feel any pain in the muscles - that part was not too bad. My chest really hurts though. I didn't think I would make it through the conventional deadlifts. On the 2nd set, I dropped the weight on the way down on the 3rd rep from about 3 inches above the floor. I grabbed it and got the last rep anyway - then taped up my chest before doing the last set. It was better after that. A little short of breath with the rib cage hurting for a while after lifting, but I made it through the whole workout. The real test will be tomorrow - chest day. I will have to find someone to come spot for me on that one.

Here is what I did:

Legs/Back

Pull Ups.............35x3x4
Squats..............210x3x4
SLDL................210x3x4
Calf Raises.........260x3x4
Bent Over Row.......160x3x4

I believe that I could have gotten 165 on the bent over row, but didn't think my chest could take it. I might try 165 next week.

Since I was able to increase weight in everything after almost 2 weeks off - maybe I didn't actually lose much muscle.

[.V.]

11-17-2004
I was mistaken about yesterday being the most painful experience of my life. Today was. The chest workout was a real test which I failed. I was unable to do what I had planned on bench press and DB bench press. But I gave it all the effort I had and did what I could. I lost ground on the chest exercises but this gives me a goal for next time - to get back to where I was.

Chest/Shoulders

Military Press...............100x3x4
Upright Row..................120x3x4
Bench Press.............150x1x4, 2x3
DB Press.................55x1x5, 1x4
Shrugs-Front.................210x3x5
Shrugs-Back..................210x3x5

Where I went down on the chest exercises - I worked to failure - this was all I could do.

[.V.]

11-18-2004

BB Curls................115x3x4
Skull Crushers...........95x3x5
DB Curls.................50x3x4
Tate Press................0x0x0
Tricep Pressdown.........90x3x6
Leg Raises.................3x40
Crunches....................0x0

Today Stunk. Although I improved on my first three arm exercises +5lb on both kinds of curls and a 1 rep improvement on skull crushers - I was satisfied with these since it has been two weeks since I did anything.

Leg raises - I was able to maintain what I had done before - but it was tough and really killed my chest.

Tricep Pressdown - Was supposed to go up 10 lb today - could not get even 1 rep with 100 so had to repeat last time's weight and reps.

Crunches and tate press - could not even do one rep with these - both hurt the chest WAY too bad. I could not even get into position to do the tate press and almost dumped the dumbell right on my chest in the same spot - decided I better leave well enough alone. Tried crunches and made it half way up and felt terrible tearing pain in the chest wall - this reminded me of what the doc said about ending up in intensive care with a chest tube if that rib pokes into a lung. I have seen people dying of a pneumothorax before and put chest tubes in them myself to try to keep them alive - I don't want to be one of those people. So I wussed out on today's workout. When I am able to really do abs again - it is going to be just like day one all over again.

[gcs118]

Hey, figured I should finally stop by and actually post something...return the favor

Anyway, shoulders and biceps look to be pretty darn strong! I wouldn't be too disappointed with either of those days, there are some pretty nice numbers in there. So maybe you lost a few pounds or reps on some exercises, but you went up on others. I'm sure by next week they'll both be stronger. Keep up the good work, I'll be stopping in more often.

[Klinger]

I'm here to echo gcs - these are some damn fine numbers:

BB Curls................115x3x4
Skull Crushers...........95x3x5
DB Curls.................50x3x4

So, don't get down. Remember, it's not about the weight; it's about the feeling and peace of mind you get from lifting the weight, whatever it may be.

[.V.]

Thanks guys - but for me it is all about getting stronger. If I don't get stronger - I will end up weak and useless. Remember, just a year ago, I was looking at a life in a wheelchair - until I decided I can beat this sh*t. It just gets to me when I screw up and put myself behind schedule. But, thanks for your kind words of encouragement. Tomorrow is legs/back day again - I got good rest last night and if we are not too busy tonight, I feel another good night of rest coming on too so I feel good about tomorrow. Plus, since I am lifting again - the chest is feeling better (except while actually lifting).

[.V.]

11-20-2004

Legs / Back

Pull Ups................35x3x5
Squats.................210x3x5
SLDL...................210x3x5
Conventional DL........240x3x5
Calf Raises............260x3x5
Bent Over Row..........160x3x5

Satisfied with today's workout - met all my goals - to increase each set by one rep at the same weight. If I get one more rep on each set next time - I plan to increase weight by 5-10 lb. on each the following workout. A little low back stiffness - but it will loosen up - I wasn't careful enough during warmups for SLDL - and almost hurt my back with the light weight - corrected form and the heavy part of the workout was OK with no pain.

[gcs118]

Looks like a pretty solid day. Nice SLDL and the regular deads aren't too bad considering all the work you did before them!

[.V.]

Originally Posted by gcs118

Looks like a pretty solid day. Nice SLDL and the regular deads aren't too bad considering all the work you did before them!

gcs - I know it seems backwards doing the bigger and stronger lifts after the smaller weaker ones - but I feel like the weaker ones can use the extra work so I get them first while I am fresh. For example the pull ups and military press are my weakest exercises so I do them first on their days - if I save them until last - I wont be able to do them at all.

[.V.]

11-21-2004

Military Press...............100x2x5, 2x3
Upright Row.......................120x3x5
Bench Press.............150x1x5, 1x4, 1x3
DB Bench Press.....................55x3x5
Shrugs-Back.......................210x3x6
Shrugs-Front......................210x3x6

Slight improvement on Mil press and bench press. Felt successful on DB Press - no problem getting the weight into position. Will keep working toward the 3x6 goal on these. Had intended to get 3x5 on the military press today but failed on #4 so only counted 3 reps. At the end of the workout I thought I would rest and get another set of 5 but was only able to get 3 that time too. Maybe that extra 3 will make me a little stronger so I can get all my reps next time.

Shrugs felt strong 3x6 was easy - I will try to increase these by 10 lb next time instead of just 5.

[SurfinAmy]

Originally Posted by a_welch503

this reminded me of what the doc said about ending up in intensive care with a chest tube if that rib pokes into a lung. I have seen people dying of a pneumothorax before and put chest tubes in them myself to try to keep them alive - I don't want to be one of those people. So I wussed out on today's workout. When I am able to really do abs again - it is going to be just like day one all over again.

ya, well be careful on all your lifting until you're totally healed.
Ya, you want to get stronger, but there is no hurry, thats the beauty of weightlifting, patience you know.

-Amy