Exerbabble for 12-5-6

Today’s Workout:

HGM Phase IV “Gimme a V!”, Workout XVI, Leg Day Of Death, END OF PHASE IV

BB Back Squat: 3 @ 135 lbs

Superset A
DB Bulgarian Split Squat: 12, 12, 12 @ 35 lbs/15.9 kg (+2, +3, +4)
One-Legged Air Hump: 3×12 @ BW

Superset B
BB Squat: 12, 12, 10 @ 155 lbs/70.5 kg (+0, +2, +2)
DB Traveling Lunge: 12, 12, 11 @ 20 lbs/9 kg (+0, +2, +3)

Superset C
One-Legged DB RDL: 12, 12, 12 @ 30 lbs/13.6 kg (+0, +2, +4)
Seated Calf Raise: 12, 10, 9 @ 110 lbs/50 kg (+10 lbs)

current bodyweight: 159.2 lbs/72.4 kg (+2 lbs, weekly average of 157.4 lbs)

Ahh. I feel like I just ran a marathon. And then did lunges. Or something.

I said I was going to push it today, and I did. Those BSS were a pain, but I did them, damn it. Those squats nearly killed me. Part of me didn’t want to. But I’ve been managing to talk my body into doing things it doesn’t want to do, this phase. I kept saying to myself twenty rep squat. No, no pausing, I just wanted to keep going. Until failure. After the third set of squats, I got REALLY dizzy, and had to pause twice before doing my lunges. Not that the lunges were any easier. My last lunge had me collapse. I wanted to hit 12. Oh well. I put my heart into it, at least. I felt it in my quads today.

Maybe it was the compensatory intake of water, but I felt like I was going to puke during the third superset. I knew if I could just get through it, it would be okay. Afterwards, I gave myself one set of collapsing to the floor in a heap of sweat. I made myself do some meager stretching, but I was just exhausted. I slowly made my way up 18 steps to go get post-workout nutrition and take a well-deserved shower.

I see my supersetting of milk and cottage cheese was effective last night! Ha ha, artificial inflation. It’ll probably drop down by Friday. You don’t just grow two pounds of muscle overnight. Once I poop again, it’ll go down. : D

Let’s talk progress.

Superset A
DB Bulgarian Split Squat: 3×12 @ 20 lbs – > 3×12 @ 35 lbs (+15 lbs)
One-Legged Air Hump: 3×12 @ BW (no change)

Superset B
BB Squat: 12, 10, 8 @ 135 lbs – > 12, 12, 10 @ 155 lbs (+20 lbs)
DB Traveling Lunge: 12, 10, 8 @ 15 lbs – > 12, 12, 11 @ 20 lbs (+5 lbs)

Superset C
One-Legged DB RDL: 12, 10, 8 @ 15 lbs – > 3×12 @ 30 lbs (+15 lbs)
Seated Calf Raise: 12, 10, 8 @ 90 lbs – > 12, 10, 9 @ 110 lbs (+20 lbs)

Average Bodyweight: 154.8 lb – > 157.4 lbs (+2.6 lbs)

Bulgarian Split Squats were a challenge right from the get-go, even though I went easy on the weight at first. Air Humping, despite my mocking, took time before I could balance my leg without the ball rolling. I just think Swiss Ball Leg Curls and Hip Extension is FAR too long to have in my workout descriptions. Air Hump makes more sense than SBLC&HE.

I can squat more, but it was hard right from the start, because my legs were pre-exhausted. This phase taught me mental effort. Barbell Squatting second? That’s blapshemy! Travelling lunges, I HAD to focus on not falling down with each rep, and moving with control.

I’m glad I added one-legged romanian deadlifts. Not so hard when you’re fresh. More difficult if you’re already preexhausted and your lower back is asking you to not do anything. Mostly a balance exercise, but I think it really reinforced the value of unilateral work.

I kind of did the vacuums when I felt like it? Yeah. Sue me. When I’m panting, the last thing I want to do is get rid of all the air in my lungs.

I’ll detail Phase V in a day or two. Looking forward to setting some new records this weekend.