The Mature thread

[Primemuscle]

Steve and I are on the same page today. Sunday was my leg day too.

I made it to the gym by 3:30 p.m. which gave me an hour and a half to work out get back home and to get dinner on so that we'd eat at 6:00 p.m. My wife is on a really tight meal schedule since her recent bout with low blood sugar.

I had a great workout. Despite that I missed several leg workouts over the past few weeks, I was able to up the resistance a little, while maintaining good form. Aside from not getting in two sets of five of standing calf raises, I got through the whole routine. There were a couple of times I felt a bit winded, but all was good. I actually got a bit of a pump. If you knew how lite I am going on the weight, you'd be surprised at this. Maybe this just goes to show that going heavy isn't always necessary. Working legs on Sunday is great because the gym is almost never crowded.

Because of all the crap going on in our lives, I've missed a lot of days at the gym. Taking cues from you all, on the days I don't get to the gym I do something at home, even if it is only a series of stretching exercises. If I had a basement or other area where I could set up a weight room, I would. There are definitely occasions when it would come in handy to be able to actually do some lifting at home, although I prefer working out at the gym because it is more inspiring. There is almost always someone who has a killer physique that makes me want to work out all the harder.

[The Scott]

Steve and I are on the same page today. Sunday was my leg day too.

I made it to the gym by 3:30 p.m. which gave me an hour and a half to work out get back home and to get dinner on so that we'd eat at 6:00 p.m. My wife is on a really tight meal schedule since her recent bout with low blood sugar.

I had a great workout. Despite that I missed several leg workouts over the past few weeks, I was able to up the resistance a little, while maintaining good form. Aside from not getting in two sets of five of standing calf raises, I got through the whole routine. There were a couple of times I felt a bit winded, but all was good. I actually got a bit of a pump. If you knew how lite I am going on the weight, you'd be surprised at this. Maybe this just goes to show that going heavy isn't always necessary. Working legs on Sunday is great because the gym is almost never crowded.

Because of all the crap going on in our lives, I've missed a lot of days at the gym. Taking cues from you all, on the days I don't get to the gym I do something at home, even if it is only a series of stretching exercises. If I had a basement or other area where I could set up a weight room, I would. There are definitely occasions when it would come in handy to be able to actually do some lifting at home, although I prefer working out at the gym because it is more inspiring. There is almost always someone who has a killer physique that makes me want to work out all the harder.

How is your wife?

Thank you.

[Primemuscle]

How is your wife?

Thank you.

She's doing okay for the moment. She has made it clear that she does not want to be on permanent dialysis when that time comes. Her kidneys are failing. Currently, they are at 10%. Along with the kidney failure, her congestive heart failure has worsened. One possible cause of the recent situation with low blood sugar might be pancreatitis. She is strong willed and stubborn. She will do what she wants with regards to her health. We are all just trying to cope with her decisions.

No one knows when they are going to die. Sometimes people with a very grim health prognosis, will hang on for a very long time and sometimes people who are seemingly in great health suddenly die. The thing we are struggling with is that she is done with being sick and has come to the point of refusing further treatment. We respect her wishes as we hope other folks will respect ours. It is not an easy situation for anyone concerned.

[The Scott]

She's doing okay for the moment. She has made it clear that she does not want to be on permanent dialysis when that time comes. Her kidneys are failing. Currently, they are at 10%. Along with the kidney failure, her congestive heart failure has worsened. One possible cause of the recent situation with low blood sugar might be pancreatitis. She is strong willed and stubborn. She will do what she wants with regards to her health. We are all just trying to cope with her decisions.

No one knows when they are going to die. Sometimes people with a very grim health prognosis, will hang on for a very long time and sometimes people who are seemingly in great health suddenly die. The thing we are struggling with is that she is done with being sick and has come to the point of refusing further treatment. We respect her wishes as we hope other folks will respect ours. It is not an easy situation for anyone concerned.

I understand her desire.  I have a friend that recently passed from breast cancer.  It had been gone for many years but when it returned she fought it as best she could (without telling anyone it had returned) and decided she was done fighting.  She passed on her own terms and peacefully.

We had a service for her.  I was not there but learned that a chaplain spoke of how her giving up on fighting it was actually her giving up on God.  When I heard of this I was told not to speak to him as I have no problem telling anyone when I think they're full of crap.  A co-worker and friend said he agreed with the chaplains assessment.

I told him (with all the brotherly love I could muster, mind you) that I did not merely think he was full of shit, but I  knew it.    Your wife is to be the center of my prayers this night.  I have no claim to a direct line to anyone, least of all God but that has never stopped me from asking what I think is worth asking for.

The two of you are more than worth it.  So that you will know I speak from the heart I will say this.  Which is easier to say, I will pray for you or be well in His name?   Both are well meaning but I would much rather say the latter of the two for while prayer is nice, to be made whole is far, far better. 

Please give her my love.  I would not say as much were it not so.  I am not the best example of what Christ would show the world but at the very least I am honest.

In all ways and for always, be well my friend.

[njflex]

some nice support shown here ,kind words/thoughts....the longer u live/learn/see ,,it feels like there is not any good left over in this world,even people in your own family can turn or be spiteful at times to you...I've been lucky my family gets along even with later on divorce...my extended cousins/aunts that's a different story  .....

[Donny]

some nice support shown here ,kind words/thoughts....the longer u live/learn/see ,,it feels like there is not any good left over in this world,even people in your own family can turn or be spiteful at times to you...I've been lucky my family gets along even with later on divorce...my extended cousins/aunts that's a different story  .....

A very moving post from Scotty.. top Man.

[chaos]

She's doing okay for the moment. She has made it clear that she does not want to be on permanent dialysis when that time comes. Her kidneys are failing. Currently, they are at 10%. Along with the kidney failure, her congestive heart failure has worsened. One possible cause of the recent situation with low blood sugar might be pancreatitis. She is strong willed and stubborn. She will do what she wants with regards to her health. We are all just trying to cope with her decisions.

No one knows when they are going to die. Sometimes people with a very grim health prognosis, will hang on for a very long time and sometimes people who are seemingly in great health suddenly die. The thing we are struggling with is that she is done with being sick and has come to the point of refusing further treatment. We respect her wishes as we hope other folks will respect ours. It is not an easy situation for anyone concerned.

Stay strong, Prime.

[njflex]

Stay strong, Prime.

...

[Primemuscle]

I appreciate all of you and your kind thoughts. Scott's comments are especially heart warming and comforting for me to read.

I am a person who normally prepares by rehearsing events. Although my mom lived with us the last three years of her life when she was slowly dying from the ravages of emphysema caused by decades of heavy smoking, that situation happened a long time ago and did not prepare me for this one. Despite her living dangerously all her life, in the end she did everything to try and stay alive. Her will to live was very strong.

The most difficult part is that I normally try to fix things when they go wrong....hence taking my wife to the hospital recently. It will be a challenge to just let her go instead of doing something to try and get her back on track. Of course, there is no way to know how this will play out until the time comes.

Today is a good day for my wife. Her blood sugar was right on par. She's up and waiting for me to fix her breakfast after a 13 hour sleep. If sleeping heals she should be well.

Monday is not a gym day on my current routine. I am going to run some errands and hopefully put up the other two light fixtures out front. My legs are nicely sore from yesterday. I am amazed how good a workout I am getting with lite resistance and high reps. I actually feel like I get more pump doing this for legs then when I was going heavy. I think my movements are more complete (longer range).

[oldtimer1]

Chest day.

Bench 2 of 6 then 1 x 1
incline bench 2 x 6
flat flies 2 x 10
push ups 2 x max
pullover with ez curl bar 1 x 10

Incline sit ups 1 x max
hanging leg raises 1 x max
weighted crunches 1 x 20
pulley crunches 1 x 20

Seems my shoulder rehab is going slowly but in a positive direction. If anyone is interested in what I'm doing for rehab I can do a post on it but it will take me some time to get it together. I am not a doctor or a physical therapist. If you have a tear you can make it a lot worst doing what I recommend so get a doctor's okay first. It's a combo of rotator cuff strengthening exercises and stretching. Most guys do one or two rotator cuff movements when I believe you should do more due to the multitude of directions a shoulder moves the arm. Second part is stretching. Benching is by it's nature an exercise that can destroy and limit flexibility of the the joint.  Both rotator cuff exercises and flexibility exercises should be gentle. Nothing to failure and gentle stretching.  

On a side note I believe push ups is one of the most healthy things you can do to keep a healthy shoulder healthy is push ups. The bench in the history of exercise is a relatively new invention. Prior to the bench the most popular exercise for bragging about strength was the clean and press. Without the lean back I think it's still a better indicator of strength than lying on a padded bed pushing a bar.

Anyway I have problems with both shoulders and one is really bad. I don't know what caused the problems completely. I have arthritis, to much use over the years, and hitting the heavy bag are definitely contributors to the problem. In my 20's, 30's, 40's and in my early 50's I never had a problem with my shoulders except for one incident in my late teens early twenties.  

[Donny]

Chest day.

Bench 2 of 6 then 1 x 1
incline bench 2 x 6
flat flies 2 x 10
push ups 2 x max
pullover with ez curl bar 1 x 10

Incline sit ups 1 x max
hanging leg raises 1 x max
weighted crunches 1 x 20
pulley crunches 1 x 20

Seems my shoulder rehab is going slowly but in a positive direction. If anyone is interested in what I'm doing for rehab I can do a post on it but it will take me some time to get it together. I am not a doctor or a physical therapist. If you have a tear you can make it a lot worst doing what I recommend so get a doctor's okay first. It's a combo of rotator cuff strengthening exercises and stretching. Most guys do one or two rotator cuff movements when I believe you should do more due to the multitude of directions a shoulder moves the arm. Second part is stretching. Benching is by it's nature an exercise that can destroy and limit flexibility of the the joint.  Both rotator cuff exercises and flexibility exercises should be gentle. Nothing to failure and gentle stretching.  

On a side note I believe push ups is one of the most healthy things you can to keep a healthy shoulder healthy is push ups. The bench in the history of exercise is relatively new invention. Prior to the bench the most popular exercise for bragging about strength was the clean and press. Without the lean back I think it's still a better indicator of strength than lying on a padded bed pushing a bar.

Anyway I have problems with both shoulders and one is really bad. I don't know what caused the problems completely. I have arthritis, to much use over the years, and hitting the heavy bag are definitely contributors to the problem. In my 20's, 30's, 40's and in my early 50's I never had a problem with my shoulders except for one incident in my late teens early twenties.  

"a padded bed pushing a bar"... you are right about the good old push up. I have done it with a Plate on my upper back or a weighted ruck sack. the hardest is "Tiger dips" for triceps. A push up variation not for the faint hearted much harder than any Cable pushdown.. pure Tri strength

[Donny]

been very busy the last few Days with a lot of new people in the Gym... last Night i did my POF chest workout.

Incline BB press 4 sets
incline DB flyes 4 sets (stretch in lower position)
Incline Cable Flyes 4 sets(contraction in top position)
Decline BB press 4 sets.

I get of course a good stretch with cables too but i like DB flyes because i can move more freely in the Bottom position. doing them similar to what Arnold did really working in the lower position. the cables really get the Contraction in the upper position ..   SQUEEZE

Abs: hanging knee raises 3 sets. Calfes 5 sets standing on smith machine.

[njflex]

CHEST/TRI/ABS

FDB PRESS....WARM UP SET,,65/75/80/85..12/10/10/6
DECLINE X3 ..STAYED LIGHTER ON THESE DUE TO 'TWINGE'IN OUTER PEC LAST WEEK,,FELT BETTER THO...
IN DB PRESS..60/65/65 10/10/8
PULLOVER DBELLS..60/70/80
CABLE CROSSOVERS X4

TRIS
PUSHDOWNS X4
OVERHEAD ROPE EXTENSIONS X3
CLOSE GRIP BENCH SUPERSET WITH DB/EXTENSIONSX3

ABS

[Donny]

CHEST/TRI/ABS

FDB PRESS....WARM UP SET,,65/75/80/85..12/10/10/6
DECLINE X3 ..STAYED LIGHTER ON THESE DUE TO 'TWINGE'IN OUTER PEC LAST WEEK,,FELT BETTER THO...
IN DB PRESS..60/65/65 10/10/8
PULLOVER DBELLS..60/70/80
CABLE CROSSOVERS X4

TRIS
PUSHDOWNS X4
OVERHEAD ROPE EXTENSIONS X3
CLOSE GRIP BENCH SUPERSET WITH DB/EXTENSIONSX3

ABS

Nice Work as always Steve...bet your Tris were fried with that last superset...

[njflex]

Nice Work as always Steve...bet your Tris were fried with that last superset...

THANKS,,YEAH GREAT WORKOUT...

[Donny]

THANKS,,YEAH GREAT WORKOUT...

we all know Tris make the Arm but in your case i think itīs true. Great Tri strength and staminia.

[T-REX007]

Chest / tri's  /  traps on Monday

Bwt 215

Flat bench
work sets :
325 x 5
335 x 5
345 x 5
355 x 5
365 x 5

Incline d-bell presses -

100's x 5 x 5

Tri's -

weighted dips -
Bwt x 10
Bwt + 50 x 5
Bwt + 75 x 5
Bwt + 100 x 5
Bwt + 125 x 5
Bwt + 150 x 5

Kettlebell incline skull crushers - kettlebell in each hand

50's x 5 x 5

Shrugs - 3 x 12 with dumbbells

Working out with this younger guy - he's probably 35 "ish", very strong gym rat for sure, really pushed me tonight !

[The Scott]

Too tired today.  I barely got through  5X5 on back and then chest before I pooped out.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.  Shoulders and arms and if I am not up to a few rounds of Giant Sets then I will do 5X5 for everything.

Just had two very large roast beef, turkey and cheese sandwiches washed down with a half gallon of ice cold milk.  I like milk.

[njflex]

Chest / tri's  /  traps on Monday

Bwt 215

Flat bench
work sets :
325 x 5
335 x 5
345 x 5
355 x 5
365 x 5

Incline d-bell presses -

100's x 5 x 5

Tri's -

weighted dips -
Bwt x 10
Bwt + 50 x 5
Bwt + 75 x 5
Bwt + 100 x 5
Bwt + 125 x 5
Bwt + 150 x 5

Kettlebell incline skull crushers - kettlebell in each hand

50's x 5 x 5

Shrugs - 3 x 12 with dumbbells

Working out with this younger guy - he's probably 35 "ish", very strong gym rat for sure, really pushed me tonight !

strong chest pressing there,,,props..

[Donny]

legs yesterday.. POF.

Squats 4 sets
Seated leg press 4 sets
Stiff Deads 4 sets
leg Curls (Feet flexed towards shins) 4 sets
Seated calf raises 5 sets

I wanted to do Donkey calf raises but in the Gym not practical at times. Donīt have a machine to simulate a partner on my back. Can use a weighted belt but too much trouble to be honest. Lucky at home My son jumps on my back when i do them. Really feel my calfes with this great old school exercise. Still... i like seated calf raises too. I like to play around with foot positions too.. wether it helps much is a debate in itself but i do it anyway. My "Tibialis Anterior" is worked well with the flexed position of my feet in my leg curls. So all in all "killing two Birds with one stone"...

[njflex]

legs yesterday.. POF.

Squats 4 sets
Seated leg press 4 sets
Stiff Deads 4 sets
leg Curls (Feet flexed towards shins) 4 sets
Seated calf raises 5 sets

I wanted to do Donkey calf raises but in the Gym not practical at times. Donīt have a machine to simulate a partner on my back. Can use a weighted belt but too much trouble to be honest. Lucky at home My son jumps on my back when i do them. Really feel my calfes with this great old school exercise. Still... i like seated calf raises too. I like to play around with foot positions too.. wether it helps much is a debate in itself but i do it anyway. My "Tibialis Anterior" is worked well with the flexed position of my feet in my leg curls. So all in all "killing two Birds with one stone"...

I love donkey calf I've used 2 versions 1 good 1 bad,,,today no version at my gym 

[Donny]

I love donkey calf I've used 2 versions 1 good 1 bad,,,today no version at my gym 

apart from a few older guys at the Gym most donīt know what it is...    seated,standing and maybe calf raises using the leg press machine and thatīs it..

[chaos]

We have that donkey calf machine in our gym, about 3 people know how to use it. Also have a seated unilateral calf machine where the foot placement swivels in all directions, could be an ankle breaker but works awesome.

[Donny]

We have that donkey calf machine in our gym, about 3 people know how to use it. Also have a seated unilateral calf machine where the foot placement swivels in all directions, could be an ankle breaker but works awesome.

never seen or used a machine like that. sounds great. The Gyms here are good but not so advanced like in the US. In the Big places sure but not where i live.

[Donny]

Rep range is important too in calf training. I start off full range and also do partial reps in between too. Not "Burns" at the end but mix it up. Full stretch and short movements. I have found this beneficial in my training. 2-3 full reps then some short fast reps. Fatigue is quicker.