Fitness Catch-All

I just got out of the shower. I don't remember the last time I couldn't wash my hair properly because my muscles were too huge :cough:...:cool:

Got my squat up to 385 last night along with a new deadlift max of 305. Managed to power clean 145 which is still pretty weak. My bench max stands at 225 right now (also weak).

I'm making steady progress toward the 1200 goal by the end of the year.

My bench max stands at 225 right now (also weak).

Welp, there goes my inadequacy index through the roof again...

NSMike wrote:
My bench max stands at 225 right now (also weak).

Welp, there goes my inadequacy index through the roof again...

This. At my prime, my max was 215 and I am nowhere near my prime.

I also probably weigh more than either of you though. My body weight stands at 190 right now, so 125% of bodyweight for bench is 237.5. That's just about the lower limit of acceptable for a man (women have physiological difficulties with bench, but I still know many who rock that number) who has been seriously lifting for 6 months or more. The goal is to get closer to 150% of bodyweight or 285.

NSMike wrote:
My bench max stands at 225 right now (also weak).

Welp, there goes my inadequacy index through the roof again...

In all fairness, Paleo's fitness is pretty much off the chart. It's like comparing success rates for EVE vs WoW based on sub numbers; Paleo is like WoW, throwing the bell curve and ruining it for the rest of us

Paleocon wrote:

I also probably weigh more than either of you though. My body weight stands at 190 right now, so 125% of bodyweight for bench is 237.5. That's just about the lower limit of acceptable for a man (women have physiological difficulties with bench, but I still know many who rock that number) who has been seriously lifting for 6 months or more. The goal is to get closer to 150% of bodyweight or 285.

I'll just pretend I didn't read this.

NSMike wrote:
My bench max stands at 225 right now (also weak).

Welp, there goes my inadequacy index through the roof again...

Paleocon is a pretty skinny dude so if he can do it... "_

*I'm going to go to GWJ and post about how I completed my first day of the 100 push ups challenge and everyone is going to be so proud of me*

*Reads*

Paleocon wrote:

I also probably weigh more than either of you though. My body weight stands at 190 right now, so 125% of bodyweight for bench is 237.5. That's just about the lower limit of acceptable for a man (women have physiological difficulties with bench, but I still know many who rock that number) who has been seriously lifting for 6 months or more. The goal is to get closer to 150% of bodyweight or 285.

*Feels inadequate*...*gets sad*

Has anyone ever tried any kind of service or website that provides structured meal plans? I've been on a great workout routine for a while now, but of course half the battle is eating better. I feel like at least for a short while it would be better following a strict ruleset of what to buy, prepare and eat since I'm terrible at telling how much fat, calories, etc. is in things I currently make for my meals.

Okay, it wasn't my intention to be a jerk. I guess it's easy to get frustrated or have your perspective skewed by the folks you're around a lot. Every once in a while I need to remind myself that though my usual running group sees running ten miles as "just ten", most people see it as something abnormal. I guess the same applies to the lifting buddies I see in the free weight room five times/week.

On a different note, my usual gym is in summer shutdown for a week while they do a deep cleaning, service equipment, and install new stuff. So I went to another gym that has three squat racks. This one, however, is much better lit and the mirror in front of the squat rack is a lot closer. As a result, when I went to do 385, it was the first time I actually noticed how much the bar flexes under the weight. That freaked me out.

kuddles wrote:

Has anyone ever tried any kind of service or website that provides structured meal plans? I've been on a great workout routine for a while now, but of course half the battle is eating better. I feel like at least for a short while it would be better following a strict ruleset of what to buy, prepare and eat since I'm terrible at telling how much fat, calories, etc. is in things I currently make for my meals.

I've found Men's Health to be a great source for meal plans.

Jayhawker wrote:
kuddles wrote:

Has anyone ever tried any kind of service or website that provides structured meal plans? I've been on a great workout routine for a while now, but of course half the battle is eating better. I feel like at least for a short while it would be better following a strict ruleset of what to buy, prepare and eat since I'm terrible at telling how much fat, calories, etc. is in things I currently make for my meals.

I've found Men's Health to be a great source for meal plans.

So is Bodybuilding.com

EverythingsTentative wrote:

*I'm going to go to GWJ and post about how I completed my first day of the 100 push ups challenge and everyone is going to be so proud of me*

*Reads*

Paleocon wrote:

I also probably weigh more than either of you though. My body weight stands at 190 right now, so 125% of bodyweight for bench is 237.5. That's just about the lower limit of acceptable for a man (women have physiological difficulties with bench, but I still know many who rock that number) who has been seriously lifting for 6 months or more. The goal is to get closer to 150% of bodyweight or 285.

*Feels inadequate*...*gets sad*

Sorry. After reading it again, I realized I sounded like a douche. It wasn't my intention.

S'all good Paleo. Although, speaking as a 6'0" 190 lbs guy in pretty good shape...are we really the big guys? I don't usually assume I outweigh anyone.

EverythingsTentative wrote:

*I'm going to go to GWJ and post about how I completed my first day of the 100 push ups challenge and everyone is going to be so proud of me*

Paleo-Schmaleo.

I'm mid-way through week 2 of the same, and already seeing improvements, both in terms of quantity of push-ups and musculature in the mirror.

Paleocon wrote:
EverythingsTentative wrote:

*I'm going to go to GWJ and post about how I completed my first day of the 100 push ups challenge and everyone is going to be so proud of me*

*Reads*

Paleocon wrote:

I also probably weigh more than either of you though. My body weight stands at 190 right now, so 125% of bodyweight for bench is 237.5. That's just about the lower limit of acceptable for a man (women have physiological difficulties with bench, but I still know many who rock that number) who has been seriously lifting for 6 months or more. The goal is to get closer to 150% of bodyweight or 285.

*Feels inadequate*...*gets sad*

Sorry. After reading it again, I realized I sounded like a douche. It wasn't my intention.

There's seriously no need to worry about it, IMO. It's just a matter of being on a different level of fitness than most of the folks around here, and I include myself in that. Personally, I read your exploits in a bit of awe, and look at it as something to stretch for. Keep on keeping on with your buff awesomeness, I say.

On a personal note, I'm 9 days out from my first half marathon. 6 hours is the cutoff time, I'm hoping to finish in 3 or 4 hours. Training this year has not gone well at all.

And for folks doing hundred pushups, look at the sister programs; I'll throw a solid endorsement behind squats and situps especially.

Paleocon wrote:
EverythingsTentative wrote:

*I'm going to go to GWJ and post about how I completed my first day of the 100 push ups challenge and everyone is going to be so proud of me*

*Reads*

Paleocon wrote:

I also probably weigh more than either of you though. My body weight stands at 190 right now, so 125% of bodyweight for bench is 237.5. That's just about the lower limit of acceptable for a man (women have physiological difficulties with bench, but I still know many who rock that number) who has been seriously lifting for 6 months or more. The goal is to get closer to 150% of bodyweight or 285.

*Feels inadequate*...*gets sad*

Sorry. After reading it again, I realized I sounded like a douche. It wasn't my intention.

Don't worry about it. I meant it as a joke anyway. I swear to never leave out an emoticon in the future. ;)

Jonman wrote:
EverythingsTentative wrote:

*I'm going to go to GWJ and post about how I completed my first day of the 100 push ups challenge and everyone is going to be so proud of me*

Paleo-Schmaleo.

I'm mid-way through week 2 of the same, and already seeing improvements, both in terms of quantity of push-ups and musculature in the mirror.

I finished week one yesterday and Yes! On my second day one I was struggling to get through the 4th set, now I'm already doing 5-10 more past the max on the final set.

My wife caught me flexing in the mirror after that final set. I got the roll eyes. Then she left. Then I continued.

I've been finding that Stew Smith's body-weight workouts are pretty intense. Just did a 15-minutes session of pull-ups (palms pronate), push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups (palms supinate), wide-stance push-ups, and crunches followed by kettlebell swings - each set to failure with little to no rest periods. I felt smoked like a salmon by the end. I am a HUGE fan of his push-up/pull-up/sit-up pyramid; when combined with KB swings or an interval run, it's a hell of a workout.

I need to focus on my push-ups a lot more; where I once could max out at 45, now I'm hitting 30-35 max per set.

Nicholaas wrote:

I've been finding that Stew Smith's body-weight workouts are pretty intense. Just did a 15-minutes session of pull-ups (palms pronate), push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups (palms supinate), wide-stance push-ups, and crunches followed by kettlebell swings - each set to failure with little to no rest periods. I felt smoked like a salmon by the end. I am a HUGE fan of his push-up/pull-up/sit-up pyramid; when combined with KB swings or an interval run, it's a hell of a workout.

I need to focus on my push-ups a lot more; where I once could max out at 45, now I'm hitting 30-35 max per set.

Got a link?

I am taking a two week break from the gym due to injury.

I was helping someone out with barbell squats when he started pitching backward pretty badly. I thought, he was going to hurt himself, so I reached out to correct him at precisely the point that he dropped the bar. It caught my finger under the bar and cut it in half when the bar landed on the rack deck. It splattered gibs all over my face and shirt.

I drove myself to the hospital and they were able to reattach it, but I was told that I should stay out of the gym (MRSA hazard with an open wound) for two weeks while it heals. In the meantime, I've just been doing pushups and situps at home.

AAAAAHHHH AAAAAHHHH *Deep breath* AAAAAHHHH

:X Crikey.

Paleocon wrote:

I am taking a two week break from the gym due to injury.

I was helping someone out with barbell squats when he started pitching backward pretty badly. I thought, he was going to hurt himself, so I reached out to correct him at precisely the point that he dropped the bar. It caught my finger under the bar and cut it in half when the bar landed on the rack deck. It splattered gibs all over my face and shirt.

I drove myself to the hospital and they were able to reattach it, but I was told that I should stay out of the gym (MRSA hazard with an open wound) for two weeks while it heals. In the meantime, I've just been doing pushups and situps at home.

IMAGE(http://karlmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OCsHL.gif)

Paleocon wrote:

I am taking a two week break from the gym due to injury.

I was helping someone out with barbell squats when he started pitching backward pretty badly. I thought, he was going to hurt himself, so I reached out to correct him at precisely the point that he dropped the bar. It caught my finger under the bar and cut it in half when the bar landed on the rack deck. It splattered gibs all over my face and shirt.

I drove myself to the hospital and they were able to reattach it, but I was told that I should stay out of the gym (MRSA hazard with an open wound) for two weeks while it heals. In the meantime, I've just been doing pushups and situps at home.

[hardcore]Reattached finger, and he just scales back to pushups.[\hardcore]

Heretk wrote:
Paleocon wrote:

I am taking a two week break from the gym due to injury.

I was helping someone out with barbell squats when he started pitching backward pretty badly. I thought, he was going to hurt himself, so I reached out to correct him at precisely the point that he dropped the bar. It caught my finger under the bar and cut it in half when the bar landed on the rack deck. It splattered gibs all over my face and shirt.

I drove myself to the hospital and they were able to reattach it, but I was told that I should stay out of the gym (MRSA hazard with an open wound) for two weeks while it heals. In the meantime, I've just been doing pushups and situps at home.

[hardcore]Reattached finger, and he just scales back to pushups.[hardcore]

What can I say? I was raised by Tiger Mom and High Expectations Asian Dad.

The dude that dropped the bar was in hysterics and I didn't want to call my wife until after I was at the hospital because I didn't need the judgement until I was safely on vicodin, so I drove myself to the hospital myself. The pisser was that I didn't get to washing the inside of the car until the next day, so I'll probably need to steam clean the seats.

kuddles wrote:

Has anyone ever tried any kind of service or website that provides structured meal plans?

To take the above one step further into lazy town, the food I eat has always been my biggest problem. Apparently I have tons of willpower except when it comes to food. I seem to have reached a body fat plateau based purely on my normal weight/cardio routine and reducing calories. Now I feel like I need to start eating better, not just less. When it comes to food preparation I'm also lazy and, believe it or not, my body really doesn't digest leafy greens well. Apparently it's hereditary. Are there any pre-packaged meals that are actually healthy? It just seems like all of the "healthy" microwave meals and such are packed with sodium and preservatives. If I could just sit a pack of food down in front of me, heat it and eat it then I'd be set. I've tried preparing meals a week in advance, mapping out diets, etc but I always fall off the wagon after a month or two. If there's something out there that just doesn't take real thought I'm fairly certain I could stick with it.

Kehama wrote:
kuddles wrote:

Has anyone ever tried any kind of service or website that provides structured meal plans?

To take the above one step further into lazy town, the food I eat has always been my biggest problem. Apparently I have tons of willpower except when it comes to food. I seem to have reached a body fat plateau based purely on my normal weight/cardio routine and reducing calories. Now I feel like I need to start eating better, not just less. When it comes to food preparation I'm also lazy and, believe it or not, my body really doesn't digest leafy greens well. Apparently it's hereditary. Are there any pre-packaged meals that are actually healthy? It just seems like all of the "healthy" microwave meals and such are packed with sodium and preservatives. If I could just sit a pack of food down in front of me, heat it and eat it then I'd be set. I've tried preparing meals a week in advance, mapping out diets, etc but I always fall off the wagon after a month or two. If there's something out there that just doesn't take real thought I'm fairly certain I could stick with it.

Lots of folks don't do well with the bitterness and alkalinity of leafy greens. Try boiling vegetables like broccoli or green beans. They are just as healthy for you and easier to digest since cooking them pretty much pre-digests them for you and removes much of the bitterness.

Thanks for the 100 push ups link! I am definitly going go give that a go. My gym memberhsip ended last week so now I need to start training on my own.

Between the 100 push up site, my pullup bar and running every other day, I feel I will be ready for Tough Mudder at the end of Oct.

Paleocon wrote:

I am taking a two week break from the gym due to injury.

I was helping someone out with barbell squats when he started pitching backward pretty badly. I thought, he was going to hurt himself, so I reached out to correct him at precisely the point that he dropped the bar. It caught my finger under the bar and cut it in half when the bar landed on the rack deck. It splattered gibs all over my face and shirt.

I drove myself to the hospital and they were able to reattach it, but I was told that I should stay out of the gym (MRSA hazard with an open wound) for two weeks while it heals. In the meantime, I've just been doing pushups and situps at home.

Picsoritdidnthappen!!!!!!

I'm kidding. Here's to a quick recovery.

Edit: @ Tempest, my brother and I are doing the Tough Mudder in western MD tomorrow morning. Depending how that goes, we'll probably do the one in NJ in October since its near dad's house.