Exerbabble for 5-9-6

Ever have those moments where you’re convinced every single clock is off by the same amount of time? For some reason, I thought my final was at noon. So I’m in the student center, and noticing how all the clocks say sometime around 9:40. I thought, “No way. I can not be here two hours early.” Like the Twilight Zone, a practical joke where all the clocks were set back.

Then I remembered that my final was indeed at 10 AM, and I wasn’t going mad.

I’d eaten my all-bran, and a double-dose of oatmeal already, so after my final I sat in the student center and did the sodoku for the day. One of those things I swore I never would do – but decided I should in the spirit of getting over myself. Damn me getting over myself! When I sensed victory was at hand, I ate the banana I had with me. Healthy carbs.

Today’s Workout:

Arnold Press: 7, 7, 7, 3 @ 30 lbs
Back Squat: 5×5 @ 175 lbs
Romanian Deadlift: 5×5 @ 165 lbs
Standing Calf Raise: 3×8 @ 360 lbs
Chin-up: 8, 8, 3 @ bodyweight
Cuban Rotation: 3×7 @ 30 lbs
current bodyweight: 144.6 (+ .4 lbs, weekly average of 143.9 lbs)

I can’t express what it’s like to go all-out. I know what my max is for upper body lifts. But lower body, the only thing that’s stopping me is confidence. I haven’t hit failure yet. I haven’t hit that point where I can’t do one more rep. It just takes a bit to get used to what it feels like to move that amount of weight.

Lifting is about as proactive as it gets. 175 lbs amounts to three plates on each side, 35 + 25 + 5. Best that way, as 115 is my current warm-up. In six days, I’m going to try for 185 lbs. A challenge. I just have to trust myself.

And Romanian Deadlifts? My heart rate used to shoot up, and I’d be out of breath. Oh sure, all that heavy lifting makes me break a sweat, and I’m definitely breathing hard after a set. But it doesn’t feel so desperate anymore, definitely more controlled. 165 lbs down to the floor and back up. You can’t fake that. I can definitely keep adding weight, as I didn’t struggle at all. I’m so glad I read about that alternating grip, or my forearms would still be the limiting factor.

And to touch again on the breathing and heartrate, I’m trying not to rest so much between sets. I do wait until my heartrate comes down a little, and my breathing is under control. But it doesn’t take that long now. Heh. As I suspected, it took care of itself.

I’m almost up to the max the calf raise apparatus can do. Unless I throw some plates on. Seriously, I’m going to be doing 400 lb standing calf raises soon. *smiles*

Chin-ups are odd because I’m.. short. Normally I try to find something to step onto first, but today I figured it’s more organic to jump up, get my grip quickly, and pull myself up from full extension. I’ve noticed something curious. When grabbing, I use my left hand first. Maybe I was never meant to be right-handed, who knows. I sure use my left hand for a lot of other things. *giggles* And when I alternate grips, guess how I hold the bar. Like I would a hockey stick, right hand pronated, left hand supinated. Assuming I finally got that right. Pronated is overhand, right? Nevermind.

I went back to the café and purchased some PROTEIN. I mean, food. *yawns* I know if I go home I won’t do anything, so I’m going to try doing some light studying for my spanish final.