Deadlifting a Turkish Whore!

Deadlift - Functional Focus:

This was interesting.  We did reverse deadlift, which I have never done before.  We didn't go super heavy just focused on form.  After a couple sets of these, we went onto regular deadlifts, but using the opposite stance that we normally do, which for me, would be Sumo stance.  Can't say that I like it much.  Which is ironic because Sumo is how I originally learned to deadlift.  I changed my stance once I hit about 225 or so, and have never looked back.   Well, this was a revisit to Sumo-land,  and just not so good.  Given the choice, I'll go regular stance, thank you!

Turkish Get-up 1-1-1/Front Squat 1-1-1:

I don't think we've done TGU's for weight in a while, so I was a bit curious about how I would do.  That, plus my shoulders have been a bit twingy and off since Lucifer's Lunges and the 45 dips that Friday.  Nothing major, just not 100%.  I started at 50 with the barbell. That was fine, my left shoulder seemed a bit weaker than usual, but not bad.  Went to 60, again, definitely harder with the left hand than with the right.  Last set, I went to 70, hoping to match my previous PR.  It was definitely more difficult - but got the left one. Did the right. Once I got to the top, the barbell was trying to twist and turn on me, as I was descending, so I ended up having to try to muscle it into position with my wrist and forearm - not an easy task!!  I ended up doing the whole thing - but my arm kind of collapsed as I going into the final lay back position.  It may not have ended pretty, but I'm still counting it.  As I was writing up my score, I realized that I hadn't hit 70 before - that had only been successful on one arm - so in reality - I had just hit a new PR! YAY ME!

Front Squats after TGU's. Not so good.  We were a bit rushed for time - since the TGU's took most of the hour.  I started light, I admit it.  125.  Not a problem.  Then, silly me, watched Z, who I had been matching on the weight thing all night, easily squat 165.  He's not a big guy, my thighs are twice the size of his, so 165 should, in theory be no problem.  Not to mention the fact that I have done it before.  Well - I think the 40 lb jump may have been a bit too much after the heavy TGUs.  I plopped down like a lump.  Last round, I went way back down - going with the thought that the important thing is to get it.  So - light at 135.  No problem. Not the most impressive night for Front Squats, but the TGU's were cool!

Kelly - 400m run/30 box jump 16"/30 WB 16# - 5 rounds - 30 minute cutoff.

Kelly is an evil whore.  All I'm gonna say.  This one is pure torture.

No excuses - no nothing.  I did the exact same as last time - didn't finish before the cutoff. I got in 3 rounds plus the run and Box Jumps.  30:50 - about a minute quicker.

Physical effects of this one: let's see  lower right back pain, by the box jumps of round 2 or so(the usual place I get it when running, still can't figure out why), round 3 major foot cramps in the arches of my feet (if you've had this pain before, you know it's terrible.) I haven't had it much with CF, but it struck today!  Lack of oxygen - to the point the hair follicles on my head were all tingly and goose bumpy.  I think that's about it.   I have a sad, sad stamina.  I've never had much tolerance for lack of oxygen, but I should have a better lung capacity by now....at least I think I should!  UGH! Frustrating!  The rest of it, just comes with the territory.  So - yes, better than last time, but not really anything to brag about,

Kelly and the Evil Monkey

We had some new fun this week.  Yesterday was our first experience with "Kelly".  Kelly is a feisty one.

Kelly: 400 meter run/30 box jumps 16" box/30 wall ball shots 16# ball...that's all fine and dandy, until  you hear the topper - 5 rounds!  Of course we had a 30 minute cutoff time, so getting in 5 rounds, for me, AKA Speedy Gonzalez, was going to be a miracle.

Round 1 - actually wasn't too bad - I think I went pretty fast, "pretty" being a relative term. Round 2 - slower, but ok.

Round 3 - much slower, and during the wall balls my back muscles did their tighten up and cramp thing.

Round 4 - well, I did the run, although I ended up walking most of it, because my back muscles wouldn't relax.  Then got to the box jumps, partway through them, time was called.  So, I didn't finish round 4.  End result 3 rounds plus the run/box jumps - time was 31:24.  It was 31 - not positive about the 24 though.  I was surprisingly ok with not finishing the 5 rounds - I was even ok with not completing the 4th.  That in and of itself is kind of peculiar.

Today - Death by Pullup.  I did actually do alot better this time. Last time, I was in the red bands, did 9 +9 first round and 10 + 7 second round for a total of 116.  This time, I hit 12 +9 first round and 10+9 second round for a total of 151.  Big difference this time I was on low bar, but in minis (woo-hoo!).  Pullups are still jumping - someday I'll be able to drop the jump, hey, someday I may even be able to do an ACTUAL pullup.....I must believe it, or it will never happen.

So here's something peculiar - kind of took me by surprise today. I've been on thyroid meds, longer than I've been off them, actually, a thought that kind of freaks me out - I've been on them more than 25 years.  YIKES! How did I get that old?  I've gone through prescription changes on and off.  For some reason, when I got my blood tested this time, I was thinking there wouldn't be a change, possibly a decrease, but unlikely, I've been on the level for a couple years now.   I've been working out, eating right, so nothing really should have changed.  I was really surprised when I was told they had to increase my doseage.  I guess it's good, because at least there's a reason that weight isn't melting off of me (HA! like it ever has...but still, it's a rationalization).  Overall, it just puzzles me, because you would think the working out, eating right etc, would have a positive effect on my system, and to find out that it doesn't.  It's a bit like my body is saying:

 "SCREW YOU!! HAHA! I'm gonna do what I have to, to stay where I want to be!!" 

 .....kind of weird, I know. Even stranger: now my body has taken on a persona separate from my brain...hmm.   Anyway, I just found it interesting, a bit perplexing, and yet funny in a warped kind of way.   It is as if my brain is working, and trying and my body has turned into the evil monkey that won't go away.