Firehawk's Journal...Injury Rehab/Dieting

[Firehawk]

Im' going to bring my journal back for awhile here. I like getting alot of comments of the Fmac variety so...let it begin.

I'm still fighting hernia injuries, and now i'm battling a new injury, my mind. I have waged a war with anxiety that now is controlling the extent that i push myself. I have to battle this and get over it because i want to get back to pushing the limit on jogging and squatting, etc. It really sucks.

[Firehawk]

Last Tuesday's Entry:

Squats w/buffalo bar

bar (55lbs) x 8
105 x 8
145 x 8
215 x 3
245 x 12

Rack Pulls from below knee (bar fit completely under knee cap
225 x 5
315 x 5
365 x 5
405 x 5
Trying to bring deadlift strength back up now...hernia making me go very slow

45 degree hypers
1 mini x 8
2 minis x 8
3 minis x 8

Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns
90 x 6
115 x 6
140 x 6
180 x 6

DB Rows
90s x 8
100s x 8
110s x 8

Abs on GHR
green med band 2 x 30

[minime]

welcome back to journalling firehawk! i hope you overcome your mental 'injury' soon... we have all been there! Soon you will be hitting PRs and pounding the pavement again. Good luck

[Firehawk]

Last Wednesdays' Entry:

Bench

Flat Bench
bar x a bunch
95 x 6
135 x 6
185 x 8
195 x 8
205 x 8
Easy

Standing Military Press
95 x 6
115 x 6
135 x 6

Cable Pushdowns
90 3 x 8

Plate Raises
45 2 x 10

Face Pulls heavy stack
100 3 x 10

[Firehawk]

Last Sunday's Entry:

DE Bench

Flat Bench
bar warmup
95 x 6
135 2 x 20

Cable Pushdowns
70 3 x 15

Overhead Press
95 3 x 10

Pushups
1 x 30
1 x 20
1 minute rest

Plate Raise
45 2 x 10

Face Pulls (lighter stack)
90 3 x 15

[Firehawk]

Today's Entry:

Squats/Posterior Day

Squat with Buffalo Bar
bar x warmup
105 x 6
145 x 6
195 x 3
add belt
235 x 3
265 x 3
285 x 1 (knee was bothering me, woulda tried 3)

Atlas Stones, loaded on a barrel
135 stone warmup
180 easy
200 easy
225 easy
Next jump is 260, our 240lb broke, i am not ready for 260 yet.

DB Rows
90s x 8
100s x 8
Was fighting off panic attack here, and for duration of workout.

Close Grip Chinups
90 x 10
140 x 10
180 x 10

DB Curls
40s 3 x 8

Neverlet the panic come on but it wanted to, kept feeling it wanting to start. This is ridiculous.

[DrewL]

Firehawk-

What triggers your panic attacks? I battled panic attacks from the time I was 15 until roughly a year ago. Mine were brought on because of some heart issues, arrythmia's/palpitations. I had a bout of SVT when I was 15 after basketball practice(heart suddenly went from rest to 200bpm out of nowhere) went to ER, many cardio's everyone told me I was alright. I didnt believe it and I developed really bad palitations and anxiety, everynight I lied in bed thinking my heart was suddenly going to go crazy again and that that would be it, eventually sending me into another panic attack which would only worry me more. It took me awhile to get over that but it really is all mental. Its not easy to get that into your head but once you finally realize that and let go youve already got it beat.

Drew

[Firehawk]

Funny Drew, because we have had pretty much the same experiences.

I was doing lots of fast paced Body For Life training when i was 23 and very out of shape for it. One day i did cardio, took a shower, was sitting on the bed talking onthe phone, completely at rest, had a major panic attack and had SVT, same experience as you, heart took off from at rest to what really felt like 300bpm. I know how 180 feels and it felt like twice that.
I went to ER and they said it wasn't anything to worry about. I didn't really think that was a panic attack at the time but now looking back I do. That was on a Thursday. The monday after, i had doc appointment with my family doc. She said everything seemed fine, i could return to lifting. So I went home, weightlifted, ended up inthe hospital that night with Atrial Fibrillation, and so it began.

In Nov of 2005 I had an Ablation procedure to fix Atrial Fib and have not had an episode since. The most i had gotten since was skipped beats at times but I pretty much learned to deal with that now. Since then i've gotten my self in much better shape, losing an additional 50lbs from the time of surgery, heart rate and cardio are 10X's better condition.

So, fast forward to about 5 weeks ago. I was doing a high rep squat workout, doing 3 sets of 12 at my working weight (typically used to doing 3 reps or less), after my 3 sets, high rep leg press, high rep SLDLs, high reps on a couple other exercises, i was very beat. I started to feel panicky for some reason while walking out of the gym. Got in my car, and the panic attack just took me over. I drove over to my mom's because i was scared to death. Heart rate was high, i was dizzy, my hands and feet went numb. It was pretty bad. My mom was scared, she asked if she wanted to take me to the hospital. I said to just wait a couple minutes. It passed after about 10 minutes, but that was all I needed to get this into my head. So I was fine for about 3 weeks but was taking it easier on squatting, then last Friday i got up at 4am to jog. I did my typical jog workout, came home, showered, ate, and then went into a panic attack. I was able to keep it from getting bad but it was enough to scare me. My heart started racing as i was leaned over the kitchen counter trying to relax. It came down, but the panic feeling wouldn't leave. I sat down and pet my dogs for about 5 minutes and then felt good enough to go to work. Well as soon as I got in the car it came back, and was off and on all the way to work and didn't go away for about an hour after i got to work.

So now, everytime i worko ut, that thought is in my mind and so it keeps me from really pushing myself. I am slowly working on getting it out of my head but it will take time. Yesterday's squat day I woulda just stopped lifting as soon as it came on, but i just tried to not think about it when it wanted to start and it didn't start. So i kept lifting, and the cycle continued until the session was done.

I just have to keep it in my head that it is not going to kill me and i was just fine months ago so there is no reason to be worried about it. I am going to see the doc to get some meds just in case, but I don't really plan to use them. I think just having them with me might be comforting. It's the same as when i had the ablation procedure, and quit taking the heart meds. I still carried them with me for peace of mind for a good 6 months.

Also, i don't carry a cell phone, so being up at 4am to do cardio when nobody is around is scary in and of itself because if something happens, nobody is there. I was alone at the gym yesterday, too.

[F_Mac]

Dave,

I will be following this journal religiously. My only suggestion thus far is this:



Love ya pumpkin.

[Firehawk]

Powerlifter relationships are like no other...boy I'll tell ya.

Nice to see you journaling again. I enjoyed reading your journals when you maintained one. I was a DF newbie in those days and I remember privately cheering for you in your pursuit of your fitness goals at that time.

[Firehawk]

Heavy Bench

Flat BB Press (pinkies on rings)
bar warmup
95 x 6
145 x 6
195 x 8
205 x 8
215 x 8
easy for most part, struggled a little with last 2 reps of 215 set. Would like to hit 225 x 8 in 2 weeks, never done that yet.

Floor Press close grip
165 x 6
195 2 x 6

Med Band Pushdowns concentrated
3 x 20
Supersetted with DB Lateral Raises
30s 2 x 10

Face Pulls w/ black monstor mini around post
3 x 10

[copperman]

Keep up the good work Firehawk

[Firehawk]

Jogged a mile for the first time in a month since battling anxiety problems. I did a slow one at 9:30. Heart rate right after was 162. I didn't feel tired at all. No anxiety problems yet this morning. YEsteday i went for a long jog as well and i played alot of psychological games with myself about how i defeated my heart worries before and this fails in comparison so this is nothing. I think over time i will beat it without drugs.

Anyways,

Was 241.8 this morning before jogging. Last Sunday i didn't have a perfect day after the cheat day (saturday) so I think that hurt me a little bit, but i still lost over 1lb so i'm happy. I'm aiming to see 239.8 or less on the scale next Saturday morning. Who would have thought? Wow. 239. If i see that next week I will gain incredible motivation from it and gratification.

OMG i just realized now...I broke the 100lb mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have now lost (342.5-241.8) 100.7lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Firehawk]

DE Bench

135 9 sets of 3 paused reps

Military Press
105 3 x 10

DB Press slight incline
60s 3 x 15

Band Pushdowns green med
3 x 20

Face pulls with monster mini around post
2 x 15