Being that my memory is shot I forgot it is practically a new year still. That not being embedded in my head quirked the interest as to why the gym has been sooooo damn packed as of late. Recently I had to switch for the third time gym-wise. In December I finally made a two year change, moving from Court Jester athletic club to Shamrock-a gritty powerlifting gym that is VERY old school and to my liking. (Many bash it for its' craptacular equipment, lackluster this or that...but I lovelove the older esque gyms. Feels hawdkaw.) Anywho, Shamrock decided it would run out of dough and lose its' ownership making its' facility up for grabs and eventually turn into the River athletic club. The new place was only a 10 minute driving distance; plus it offered all Shamrock returnees the option for a free 3 months but here's the kink: The place it transferred is literally a locker room sausage fest with plates an inch less in diameter. So upon arrival my friend and I instantly left. Off to American Family Fitness (which ironically is the first gym I ever joined back in 2007.) $10/month ain't too shabby of a price despite how packed the place is. Cool thing again is all the equipment. Oldschool mixed with new! Plus more than ONE squat rack!
Mood going into the workout was decent. Considering I am 74 days out and on lower calories I am not necessarilly 100% mentally every day. Today was my first out of two refeed days of the week, each selected for upper body workouts since they are my most lagging bodyparts. Perhaps I will link meals as well for this blog since I have never done so in the past. (I eat pretty awkwardly and anti-bro as stated, so a bunch of variety that fits the macros for the day.)
Due to it being a new gym as stated everything feels different the first week or two. It's awesome how body mechanics adapt to certain lifts and when taken out of their previous comfort zone the alarm that rings. Bars feel different, the benches are wider/more cushiony. The plates don't necessarily feel like 45lbs plates. Mental game right? Haha.
First up were close grip bench press. Since it is my Deload week everything is sub-maximal. Meaning I am not going anywhere above 75% of a 1 rep max on each lift. (Pretty schweet since new gym = allows me to adapt with the deload week/get a feel for each new bench/bar, etc.) The bar/bench already felt awkward, and being that I am 5'5'' quite a hassle to unrack without a lift off. (Thanks Joe!) Everything was smooth sailing from then on. Since I have set lifts in the routine it was pretty easy finding a different machine out of the many that could sub in for them. I love the variety at this gym. There are more than two different machines of the same type, but each have their own feel. From cybex to nautilus , to hammer strength and life fitness. All are cool and ideal for everyone. Only crappy thing is NO CHALK ALLOWED! SUCKS.
Also a bit of reflection/thoughts of the day:
My dad currently survived type four terminal cancer, meaning he had zero chance of surviving despite today's advancement in cancer treatment. With luck (despite myself not believing in luck) he was able to beat the cancer with radiology and chemotherapy, allowing for it to go into remission. This was during my senior year of highschool and quite honestly the scariest day of my life. I still and will always remember it to this day. With every good thing a dark cloud always seems to follow above. In January of 2008 I had gotten into a fight with an egotistical kid at school; more so just beating his face in with the school monitors/principal pulling me off him, and I was suspended for a week. (kid was a douche bag, got in my face, and only resolve at this point was confrontation which I dislike. later became friends though.) Sitting in the principals office I remember getting some pretty deep lecture from the guy. I wouldn't call them life changing words, but they sunk deep down and made me think things a bit more thoroughly. Bringing up my grades he made clear that I wasn't going to pass this year unless I took summer school courses. Already being a senior this was unheard of, also considering I had a full 9 period class schedule I was screwed. Simply, I would have to undergo another year in highschool meaning being a super senior: in my eyes a complete failure. I digress, because things that you think are bad always have that potential to worsen tenfold. Call it karma, call it whatever you will but nothing can be done but keeping a clear leveled head and moving forward. So here we are, January of 2011 and my Dad calls. Cancer's back and he has to undergo Chemotherapy again this time, only it isn't so potent that it's making him nauseous and sick...Good thing so to say but I'd rather him not have cancer at all, but if he is in better spirits things are mucho better. Regardless I think about him 24/7. Much as an introvert I am, I tend to bottle emotions very well and act as if nothing ever gets to me. On the outside it seems as if nothing affects me but deep down it truly does, and my mind is on overdrive constantly always thinking about something. With him unknown to this also, I look at my dad as my role model despite his current position. At one time he was financially well off and supporting my mom and I with working crazy over time hours just so we could have a nice house , but due to his psyche things lopsided and everything more or less went to shit. I do not blame him one bit for this. Psychological problems are a serious matter, and when you have schizophrenia , medication missed is very vital. I will not go into further detail about this, but I respect my dad not only as a father but on an individual level. He was more of a man than I ever was. He worked and busted his ass every day carrying a shit ton of materials working in a chemical factory, once or twice even dying being that he had to change the tops on a tower. With that said I will without further ado admit I am scared and come to the realization that life is short and I love my father for everything he has done. With his cancer returned it is this time in the area of the liver. Meaning it will continue spreading and the possibility of it diminishing being nil, but not quite fatal as before. So it has a positive and negative in my opinion. Quoting him "They're pretty much gonna try to keep me alive long as possible. So don't worry too much we're good!" Agreeing with him I did, but deep down the negative part of me is scared shitless. I love my pops with everything I've got and I can't imagine seeing him pass. The past few years things haven't been the same and our relationship as father and son has dwindled. We used to do so much together, but ever since I hit the age of 17-18 things have changed. My previous ex-girlfriend destroyed the time I had to spend with him, as she soaked up every minute of my life until our eventual break up. I hardly even had the chance of visiting him in the hospital during the most VITAL days he needed me. That really hit home and it will forever haunt me. I think I am a shitty son and could do better, but no sense in dwelling on the past because I have seen to it that I will do whatever it takes to be there for him this time 110%. I have transportation versus when I was 18, am much more mature, and this time I will prove to him I am there.
Here is my workout from today:
Close Grip Bench
135 x 5
145 x 5
175 x 3
205 x 3
225 x 3
245 x 3
255 x 3
Preacher curl
5 x 6
Dip Machine
4 x 6-8
Machine shoulder press
4 x 6
Machine side lat raise
3 x 8
Cardio
500 kcals on treadmill... Done in 31 minutes @ 15.0 incline 3.2-4.0 speed
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