Fitness Catch-All

I just want to put a shoutout to Cronometer. It's been SO MUCH BETTER than the bloatware of MyFitness pal. It also has a great web app to boot. So much of Myfitnesspal is behind a paywall whereas Cronometer gives you all the essential things for free. If you're tracking your macros, give it a shot. It's helped me on my cut losing 15 lbs over the past 3 months.

https://cronometer.com/

Day 88.

Starting weight: 270
Current weight: 239.4

I am hoping to sustain this current rate. My motivation has a dipped a bit the last 10 days but crossing 240 was a big mental boost.

ColdForged wrote:

I finished my 18th Spartan Race last weekend, the Asheville Sprint. I'm pleased with my prep, what with my running streak (sitting at 579 days today) and participating in an OCR workout at an OCR gym every week for the preceding 6 weeks. My knee, knock on wood, has been behaving and letting me run more than a mile for a while now. As such, I had my best finish ever, finishing 3rd in my age group and in the top 1% overall in the open division.

Reaper81 wrote:

Day 88.

Starting weight: 270
Current weight: 239.4

I am hoping to sustain this current rate. My motivation has a dipped a bit the last 10 days but crossing 240 was a big mental boost.

Congrats to both of you! Awesome work.

Yesterday I hit Day 100 on my 30-minutes of aerobic exercise streak. Mission accomplished. For the time being, I'm going to stick with it. Starting about 20 days ago I added in "6+ hours of FitBit sleep" and that's been going well too. I've noticed a difference in my energy and concentration.

My tentative plan is to get to Day 160, then start a focused effort on better nutrition.

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBvXZyYUcAEqZdC?format=jpg&name=900x900)

Not much to add to the conversation other than a sweet deadlift PB! Tried out the uni's gym yesterday and it was really solid. Lots of barbells, good equipment...But really limited plates. I was going to try for 5kg above my best, but could only find two 5kg plates so...I went from 160kg to 170kg (375lb)! That's nice little bump over double-body weight for me, and a number I've been trying to hit for about 2 years now.

For reference, when I resumed working out 6 months ago, my PB was 140kg. Prior to that, when I was being coached, my PB was 155kg.

REALLY proud of that one. Onwards to 200kg.

That's a great milestone mate. Well done.

2X is a great achievement on the journey.

I agree.

I am back into legs, but my first workout was 285x5x3 for deads. Long way to go.

Be glad you aren't using squared off plates. I've got scarring about 15" up my shins from those things settling backward when I put them down.

Update from a previous post, I did go to Muscle Activation Techniques twice now. I do like what they do. I do know that it is helping with my knee injury. If you're stuck with current injuries, or looking at a new approach to treatment, give their website a look. Lots of practitioners across the globe.

I can now Squat twice my weight! I just hit 340 on this squat. I wish I got a bit lower but I'll take it. THis is the 4th month in a row where I was able to up my 1RP +5 pounds.

I had to kill my running streak at 657 days. Been muddling through pain in the sacroiliac joint for about 6 weeks, lowered to the minimum run daily, other methods to try to deal with it but no joy. Decided to call it quits on the streak to try to get it to mend.

It's tough getting an injury of any kind when you are in a routine. Your mind is ready to do something but you know you shouldnt and it's frustrating. I somehow got bicep tendonitis and can really do important lifts like deadlift, rows, or even cable flys. Forget doing bi/tri or any back lifts. I am pretty bummed that I can't do my normal thing for a week or two. The only thing I really can accomplish without making it worse are legs and bench presses all week!

I picked up a Kettlebell (20kg) a couple of weeks ago and it’s been such a worthwhile purchase. I keep it near my desk and if there’s ever a lot screen in a game or a long queue in a multiplayer game, I grab it and knock out a couple swings.

I’ve also been using it as a 20-30 minute quick morning workout to get the blood pumping but so far have been limited to swings and goblet squats. Does anyone have any advice or resources to expand my kettlebell movement repertoire?

staygold wrote:

I picked up a Kettlebell (20kg) a couple of weeks ago and it’s been such a worthwhile purchase. I keep it near my desk and if there’s ever a lot screen in a game or a long queue in a multiplayer game, I grab it and knock out a couple swings.

I’ve also been using it as a 20-30 minute quick morning workout to get the blood pumping but so far have been limited to swings and goblet squats. Does anyone have any advice or resources to expand my kettlebell movement repertoire?

Off the top of my head...lunges, teapots, one armed press, get ups, dead bugs, stiff leg DLs. Each of those has been programmed lately as an accessory.

ColdForged wrote:

I had to kill my running streak at 657 days. Been muddling through pain in the sacroiliac joint for about 6 weeks, lowered to the minimum run daily, other methods to try to deal with it but no joy. Decided to call it quits on the streak to try to get it to mend.

Sorry to hear this ended! Get well quickly!

My streak made it to 162 days and then I stopped. It has served its purpose and I want a recovery day in the week so I can work out harder and longer when I exercise. I'm now doing six workouts per week, shifting to more running for aerobic, and have added three lifts to the week. Steady as she goes.

On the topic of lifting, I've built a new lifting routine instead of the one I was using forever. I've found this guy's stuff on YouTube (Built with Science) to be very helpful. Some of his stretches on improving posture are eyeopening. Thumbs up so far from me.

staygold wrote:

I picked up a Kettlebell (20kg) a couple of weeks ago and it’s been such a worthwhile purchase. I keep it near my desk and if there’s ever a lot screen in a game or a long queue in a multiplayer game, I grab it and knock out a couple swings.

I’ve also been using it as a 20-30 minute quick morning workout to get the blood pumping but so far have been limited to swings and goblet squats. Does anyone have any advice or resources to expand my kettlebell movement repertoire?

Comrade, you should check out Enter the Kettlebell.

And More Russian Kettlebell Challenge

Some of my favorite moves are:
High Pull (not sumo high pull swing high pull)
Double High Pull
KB Snatch
Around the worlds

The first minute of that Enter The Kettlebell video is comedy gold.

Oh, yeah. It's absolutely cheesy and sometimes cringeworthy but it's still a great resource. I love watching it.
One place I disagree with you is that it's not just the first minute. The entire thing is comedy gold (but also informative).

I missed this one, though.

The Russian Kettlebell Challenge

Simple and Sinister is a popular intro program for kettlebells. The kettlebell thread on reddit is a great resource as well.

Been running S&S for about 6 months now and it's made a huge difference for me. Strength, mobility and conditioning.

Man, I wish I could trust my right knee to do squats, as it stands I do decline leg presses and am coming close to hitting a personal milestone. When I was in my 20s I could leg press in excess of 700 lbs and I just hit 640 lbs just this past Friday (now in my mid 40s) performing a 8 reps on the last set.

I am hoping to break the 700 lbs barrier by next spring!

Anyone try Switch Ring Fit Adventure yet?

Ruh roh. I did a thing. I signed up for the Chicago Marathon. I’ll find out on December 12 if I got in.

3 miles is about my max at the moment. This could be... challenging.

It’s not till October, so plenty of time if I start now, and I’ve run a handful when I was younger and in running shape. And a lot lighter.

I’m already stressing out.

Congrats! And good luck! Post your bib number next year and I'll cheer for you from whatever sidewalk patio along the route that I'll be day drinking and spectating.

Grats! See if you can set some smaller goals between now and then, to keep you on track, like a 5k or 10k, that’s a long time til race day:)

McChuck wrote:

Congrats! And good luck! Post your bib number next year and I'll cheer for you from whatever sidewalk patio along the route that I'll be day drinking and spectating.

Will do! Save me a beer.

jonnypolite wrote:

Grats! See if you can set some smaller goals between now and then, to keep you on track, like a 5k or 10k, that’s a long time til race day:)

Yes, that's a great idea. I'm doing a 5k on Thanksgiving, and have been upping weekly mileage by 1 mile per week for three weeks now. With plenty of time, I want to build up slowly to avoid injury. I started with 6 miles per week, and this week will be 9 miles per week. Really low, I know, but although I've been training quite a bit, I haven't run much at all in the past year. Slowly shifting aerobic training to running.

I can notice the difference already. The first 3 miles I ran a few weeks ago was a struggle. Now 3 miles is feeling less of an adventure.

Officially dumbest gym injury

Moved a few months ago, found a very nice gym walking distance from me. Getting back into it with your basic 5x5 routine.
Been working my way back up to 100kg DLs, hit it yesterday. Problem is I was wearing sweatpants (it was cold) and they are pretty loose fitting, and I gave my self a friction burn on the first knuckle of my right thumb.

Chalk.

jrralls wrote:

Anyone try Switch Ring Fit Adventure yet?

It's great! I'm loving it as a supplement to running.

I use chalk, I just don't chalk the outside of my thumb

Take care fellow gym goers.

I was doing inclined dumbell presses. I was on to my second set shifting up from 17.5kg to 20kg and at the end of the set. Went to let them go on the small drop to the floor and somehow just lined myself up such the grip of the ones I was holding lined up with the weights I had just used. I should have been more diligent in getting them out of the way. Ended up with a tuft fracture of the top of my middle finger. Surgery to repair the tissue damage and graft some skin over the wound.

Bad times and at least a month of not being able to hold anything. Take care.

^Ouch! That sounds painful. Best of luck for a quick recovery!

_______

I'm slowly nudging up my weekly running miles and shifting more cardio to running. 9 miles total last week, aiming for 10 miles this week. Super low, I know, but I've got time and want to work into this gradually. Adding a mile each week will get me to 20-mile weeks by the end of February, which feels like it should be a decent place to be with 7 full months to go before the marathon.

Bruce wrote:

Take care fellow gym goers.

I was doing inclined dumbell presses. I was on to my second set shifting up from 17.5kg to 20kg and at the end of the set. Went to let them go on the small drop to the floor and somehow just lined myself up such the grip of the ones I was holding lined up with the weights I had just used. I should have been more diligent in getting them out of the way. Ended up with a tuft fracture of the top of my middle finger. Surgery to repair the tissue damage and graft some skin over the wound.

Bad times and at least a month of not being able to hold anything. Take care.

What fitness watches are people using that 1) Do a good job of BPM (I understand wrist monitoring is not perfect) and 2) Do a good job of tracking distance travelled not just steps.

Thanks!