Let Down

You know what the best part of Thanksgiving is? (for me anyway...) Family. What a wonderful thing. It's a shame we only get together like this once or twice a year. Family is cool. I had a great Thanksgiving and I hope you did.

Now on to business...

Ended the week with 295 lbs x 5 on the deadlift. Started the week with 285 lbs. May have to change the plan a bit. A few weeks ago I bent over to pick up some fire hose and felt a sharp pain in my butt, hip and hamstring. Thought not too much about it, however i'm thinking more about it lately as it is bothering the crap out of me. I can no longer sit in a chair for long periods of time. That's a good thing, right? Anyway, Dead lifts are starting to get uncomfortable; atleast some of the time. Can't be a good thing though... So maybe, if I've learned anything from the past and I can learn not to be so stubborn, I should change away from dead lifts or anything else that causes pain. That's right, no more sitting in chairs either.

So, what to do? I should avoid pain. I love my kbells. So far it seems they don't cause any pain; certainly not as much as riding in a car does. Maybe my kbells love me too!
We'll see. I am/was enjoying deads. Although, they don't always hurt.......

Have a good one.

Thanksgiving

It's been a good year. I've met a lot of good people; great people. I've made some really cool friends. I went to Minnesota for RKC Level 1 & 2; Adventures I will never forget. I've had the opportunity to train and infect several people with kettlebells. I have a beautiful wife who puts up with my insatiable insanity. I have two beautiful boys who have helped me see the world through a different lens. Being a husband is a blessing. Being a daddy is an honor and a gift I could never deserve.

I have had a great year. All the annoyances, pains, inconveniences are really nothing in the grand scheme of things. They are just distractions. I think that's why we have them. They try to make us lose sight of what's important, of how blessed we are. I admit sometimes, most of the time, I get distracted. But once in a while I see a bigger picture. It's a gift just to be here. I really have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that I get to live this life. I've never done anything to deserve the blessings I have. Nor could I ever deserve them. I am blessed. I am Loved. And for that I am thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.

My Progress

Well, it's been another week of Power to the People. I've been waving down 10 lbs at the start of each week for my dead lifts and side/bent presses. Instead of going through each day, I thought i'd just post how the week ended. The progression has been steady and surprising.

Friday:
DL w/ 285 lbs x 5 - felt easier than 275 lbs did the other day!
DL w/ 260 lbs x 5
Bent Press w/ 80 lbs x 5/5 - this is great! I only got it 3 times last week and probably should have waved the weight down lower at the start of the week.
Bent Press w/ 70 lbs x 5/5

Also, still been practicing snatches and Long Cycle Clean and Jerks. I really enjoy these practices. I feel the movements are crisp and I'm staying fresh.

So that's it. This week has stayed on track. I plan on continuing w/ PTTP for another 3 weeks, then taking a break. That's the plan...

Today, I just did some very focused Z and windmills w/ 16kg. Trying to stay loose and flexible.

Oh, I'm in the mountains on a small vacation and it snowed! In NC, it was snowing. Just 2 days ago it was 78 degrees! I love this state.

Have a good one!

Second Verse, Same as the First!

As you might imagine, this week's routines look pretty much like last week's. That's kind of how this works. Nothing fancy or flashy, just a steady pace. Yes, it's the KISS principle. I'm keeping it simple, thanks to Pavel...

Monday:
DL w/ 255 lbs x 5
DL w/ 230 lbs x 5
Side press w/ 65 lbs x 5
Side press w/ 60 lbs x 5
Followed up with snatches again (just for practice, less I forget...)
16kg x 25/25, 25/25, 25/25

Tuesday:
DL w/ 260 lbs x 5
DL w/ 235 lbs x 5
Bent press w/ 70 lbs x 5
Bent press w/ 65 lbs x 5
Pull ups b/w sets: 5,5,5,5

Wednesday:
DL w/ 265 lbs x 5
DL w/ 240 lbs x 5
Side press w/ 75 lbs x 5
Side press w/ 65 lbs x 5
NW leg raise b/w sets: 5,5,5,5

Thursday:
DL w/ 270lbs x 5
DL w/ 245 lbs x 5
Side press w/ 80 lbs x 1! - No go bro. Just got one rep each side. Unexpected...
Side press w/ 70 lbs x 5 - No problem here. 10 lbs makes a big difference.
Followed up with Long Cycle C&J (for practice)
w/ 2(16kgs) x 15,15,15,10

Tomorrow was to be another go at the bent press with 85 lbs. However, I may need to rethink that one. I may need to set 'er down. We shall see, I may have had an off day today!

________________________________

Friday Morning...
DL w/ 275 lbs x 5 - this felt so heavy :(
DL w/ 245 lbs x 5
Bent Press w/ 80 lbs x 3 each side. I had to try...
Bent Press w/ 70 lbs x 5

Now I will rest a couple of days and evaluate.
Have a good weekend.

The Road I'm On

Nothing exciting to report, staying with the Power to the People Plan. I like it. I'm not tired and feel pretty fresh throughout the day. Here is the rest of the week's story:

Wednesday:
DL w/ 255 lbs x 5 reps
DL w/ 230 lbs x 5 reps
Side Press w/ 65 lbs x 5 reps
Side Press w/ 60 lbs x 5 reps
Naked Warrior Hanging Leg raises b/w sets = 4 sets of 5

Thursday:
DL w/ 260 lbs x 5 reps
DL w/ 235 lbs x 5 reps
Side Press w/ 70 lbs x 5 reps
Side Press w/ 60 lbs x 5 reps

Then PRACTICED long cycle clean and jerks with 2(16 kgs) x 15, 15, 15
these felt good, but they did get me a little winded...

Friday:
DL w/ 265 lbs x 5 reps
DL w/ 240 lbs x 5 reps
Bent Press w/ 75 lbs x 5 reps
Bent Press w/ 65 lbs x 5 reps
(i think the bent presses felt heavier than i thought they should...)

Now, I rest for a couple of days. Well, i'm sure i'll keep practicing my Z drills...