Workout: What did you do today?

[Guybrush]

Was working out today, but didn't feel motivated after the dumbbell chest presses and dumbbell curls (progress on both btw), so I quit after that and took a hot bath instead. I'll do some rows and standing Calf raises tomorrow, maybe skull crushers.

If I wanna torture myself, I might also do this variant I made to the supine hip drop I've been doing. It goes like this:

Lay on your back on a flat bench with your ass just over the side. It's good if you can also hold on to something. Loop a secured resistance band around your feet. The actual exercise: Pull your knees up towards your chin to the point where you start to lift / curl up your lower back. Rinse and repeat.

It's pretty awful. I've gotten stronger fast, though.. and progressed so much faster than I did with situps.

[DJChameleon]

Yesterday, I tried to do my 18 minutes jump rope session. I only made it 8 mins into it before I had to stop. My heart was beating faster than usual.

I ended up doing 10 mins on elliptical to make up for it. I did chest day this morning. Felt good about it.

[jimmy jazz]

I just did dips yesterday.

Made gainz.

[grindy]

Pull day today.
I used to always do barbell rows to the stomach since my lats lag behind my upper back and this way the lats are targeted a bit more.
But since I dropped face pulls from my plan I decided to switch between pulling to the stomach and pulling to the chest which I did for the first time today.
It was pretty humbling but felt great. Looking forward to the next time. Overall I'm glad to be back, although I am pretty out of shape and everything feels a bit weird.

[Guybrush]

I went with a friend and colleague to CrossFit as it was bring your bud week. I was honestly a little worried that I was gonna hate it because loud techno music and lotsa peeps isn't my style. I have no instinct for competition and am internally motivated. I don't need or want a drill sergeant or other people pushing me.

But actually, it was pretty fun. It was team day, so me and my bud had to get through a program of strength exercises plus some rowing. Let's say we had to do 50 reps, then we'd perhaps do 25 each to reach the target. It was stuff like kettlebell swings and squats followed by overhead press and burpees. Very high rep, though, so felt more demanding in terms of cardio than strength. I felt fairly strong, but my endurance isn't that great so I was pretty exhausted by the end of it. Not in a very bad way or anything, but could be better.

Cardio is something I don't do enough of, so I might get the punch card option and do more of these team days.

Afterwards, we hung around the gym a bit and did some dips and pull-ups.

[jimmy jazz]

Just a bit of bench tonight.

15 sets, 80kg.

Started at 15 reps then by the end was down to 8.

About 50 mins.

Right now I'm not doing any isolation stuff. Just bench, squat, dips, rows and deadlifts.

[DJChameleon]

Now that Im at a different gym. I am starting to realize certain equipment that I used to use aren't at my new gym. I miss doing the assisted pull ups.

[Guybrush]

Now that Im at a different gym. I am starting to realize certain equipment that I used to use aren't at my new gym. I miss doing the assisted pull ups.

Don't they have resistance bands?

[grindy]

Just a bit of bench tonight.

15 sets, 80kg.

Started at 15 reps then by the end was down to 8.

About 50 mins.

Right now I'm not doing any isolation stuff. Just bench, squat, dips, rows and deadlifts.

That's not a bit. You're resilient af.
Don't think I've ever done 15 sets of anything, certainly not compounds. I'd probably be at 2 reps with just the bar at set 10.

[grindy]

Don't they have resistance bands?

They can help but it's not at all the same. Resistance bands have a force curve that is not at all aligned with the pull up. The higher you go, the less they help but the exercise is hardest at the top.

[jimmy jazz]

That's not a bit. You're resilient af.
Don't think I've ever done 15 sets of anything, certainly not compounds. I'd probably be at 2 reps with just the bar at set 10.

Normally I would have finished with tricep pushups but not atm.

[Guybrush]

Just a bit of bench tonight.

15 sets, 80kg.

Started at 15 reps then by the end was down to 8.

About 50 mins.

Right now I'm not doing any isolation stuff. Just bench, squat, dips, rows and deadlifts.

Yep. You're a beast, Jimmy. A beast!!

Seriously, that's an astonishing amount of weight lifted for a bench press sesh. Do you get sore afterwards?

They can help but it's not at all the same. Resistance bands have a force curve that is not at all aligned with the pull up. The higher you go, the less they help but the exercise is hardest at the top.

Yes, resistance bands often do the opposite of what I want, at least for pull exercises like face pulls. I want good resistance when the muscles are lengthened, but of course that's when they're slackest.

And then ofc for pull-ups, they provide the most help at the bottom when the muscles are lengthened where again I want more resistance.

So yeah, all this to say I get your point and generally wish I had more access to cable stuff or got better use out of my bands.

[jimmy jazz]

I will probably have DOMS tomorrow. It won't be unbearable though.

Usually it's worse when I switch the exercise, or obviously if I have a break and then the first time I lift again.

Next week I will just do pushups and it'll be worse then I think. Then the week after I'll try 100kg for reps again and see where I am.

[grindy]

Leg elevated push ups where you also put your hands on blocks or something like that so you can go really deep and get that wonderfully disgusting pec stretch are awesome.

[Guybrush]

Leg elevated push ups where you also put your hands on blocks or something like that so you can go really deep and get that wonderfully disgusting pec stretch are awesome.

Probably a given, but pushup bars are great for the stretch when you kinda dip down between them.