On Hold...

Well, Adam seems to have decided that it isn't a good idea for me to switch trainers mid-week, especially this close to a competition...but just decided to share his decision with me today. lol. So, the new plan is new schedule, new guy, new training, new gym on Monday evening. But, I'm still gonna have him switch up my swimming routines from time to time, so my final paid session that I have with him has just been put on hold until he gets in the pool with me.

Anyway, today's workout went really well. I was very proud of myself actually...we did Dumbbell Bench (at my request), and on my fourth rep I almost dropped them...but I saved it, brought them to my chest and started over again. It didn't scare me at all...which is exactly what I was looking for. That's the reaction that I was hoping for...it's the security I needed to feel going into things with someone new. I also have never dumbbell benched with anything more than 55 lbs.

Dumbbell Bench Press - 60 lbs., 15, 9, 7. 65 lbs., 5, 5. 70 lbs., 5. Adam was entertained because I was very shaky with the 60s, on all 3 sets. Then he handed me 65s, and I did them perfect. lol.
Cable Table Flies - 40 lbs., 15, 15. 50 lbs., 15.
Pec-Dec - 140 lbs., 13, 13, 9, 12. (Again, Adam with the quips about my last set doing so much better.)

"Smith" Flies - 90 lbs., 8, 8, 6, 6.
Cable Reverse Bicep Curls - 25 lbs., 15, 15, 12, 12.
"Smith" Bench - 200 lbs., 15, 15, 15.
3 sets of 30 Decline Abs.

Tune in Monday for the new episodes of my training. :-)

Eye of the Tiger

Feelin' pretty good today everyone!!! I'm still (obviously) going to miss workin' out with Adam, but, I've been pondering some stuff, and it's helping with all the apprehensions.

This morning I was watching the Golden Girls (as I do daily). In this particular episode Dorothy has to have surgery but is afraid of being left alone in the hospital (hmmm....wonder why I could relate to that so well.) She sneaks out, goes home, and they end up taking her back. When she gets back she has a roommate that is there for a second mastectomy. Dorothy doesn't understand why her roommate doesn't seem to be scared, and her roommate says "I'm terrified. But, now I know what to expect. The first time I cried from the time I got to news until they wheeled me off to surgery. Then I cried because there was so much pain I didn't think it would ever go away. But it did...and it will again" (not sure if that's verbatim, but it's close). Reminded me EXACTLY of when Brent left to the time Adam took over, and then my first couple of months with Adam. But I got through it, and I will again. And I already know that it won't take as long to be okay with everything....because I do know what to expect, so I can beat it to the punch.

I also have REALLY been wanting to have myself a Rocky day...just doesn't seem to fit into the schedule lately. I have "Eye of the Tiger" on my mp3 player that I listen to while I'm stretching before I work out. The verse right before the first chorus says "Too many times it happens so fast, you trade your passion for glory. Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive." "Glory" can have many definitions to each individual person, and to me, it would be more glory to stay with what I know than it would to go achieve the Paralympics...but, if I choose to stay, Adam was right all those months ago in saying that I didn't have the right mind frame to make it to the Paralympics. It's hilarious how us humans think that we're owed such an uncomplicated life to get what we want. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's never easy, no matter what road we choose...inevitably something will be there down the road that will complicate it. We have to keep our passion to stay on track with our goals. I have to want to compete more than not wanting things to change and not wanting to lose people. So, that's how it will be!!!

So, now that you've all listened to today's sermon (lol) I will give you my workout. I requested that I do Dumbbell Military and Bench press with Adam this week, before I'm done with him. I haven't done them for so long, I wanted to see how far I've come feeling more secure in handling the dumbbells before I started over again. I figured it might stay fresher in my mind that I can handle them if I do them this close to switching. (Although, I guess I have no idea if I'll even use them with the new guy. lol.)

DB Military - 40 lbs., 2 sets of 15. 45 lbs., 10 & 7. 50 lbs., 5 & 2.
Lateral Pulldown - 1oo lbs., 2 sets of 15. 110 lbs., 2 sets of 10.

"Smith" Military (Vertical) - 100 lbs., 2 sets of 25 and 2 sets of 20.
Adam had marked down to do Pull Ups next, but I switched and did:
Lying Single-Arm Dumbbell Rows - 20 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Lateral Raises - 10 lb. DB's, 3 sets of 15.
Iron Cross w/ Band - 3 sets of 20.
4 sets of 3o Alternating Supermans.

Just Another Day in Paradise.

Bench Press - 115 lbs.-135 lbs., 10 reps. 145 lbs., 8 reps. 155 lbs., 4 reps.
Dumbbell Flies - 30 lbs., 20. Then 2 sets of 15 w/ a 1-second Pause.
Skull Crushers supersetted with Close-Grip - EZ Bar + 30 lbs., 3 sets of 12 on both.

"Smith" Bench - 240 lbs., 4 sets of 8.
"Smith" Flies - 80 lbs., 3 sets of 8.
Tricep Overhead Extension - 25 lb. Plate, 4 sets of 15.
Wrist Curls w/ EZ Bar - 3 sets of 30.
Side Bend Abs - 3 sets of 30.

There's a country song by Phil Vassar called "Just Another Day In Paradise." It's about a guy who has all these things go wrong in his day w/ bills not being paid and kids fighting and appliances breaking, and the chorus says "And it's okay, it's so nice. Just another day in paradise. There's no place I'd rather be. Two hearts, one dream. I wouldn't trade it for anything. And I ask the Lord, every night, for just another day in paradise."

This is the point that I'm at right now in my life of training....the differences in personality with me and Adam, the different opinions we have about almost everything in life...but if I could make time stand still right here with another week left with Adam, but the excitement of starting with someone new, without every switching...it'd be 'all good' as they say. I've gone through every scenario I can to try to ease myself into it. If I didn't have a competition in two months, I probably would start slow and go one session a week in Columbiana, and two in Boardman, then cut down to 1 in Boardman....but, that's just not going to cut it for the time I have to prepare.

I'm not a change girl. Almost every decision I've ever made in my life has been based off of the relationships that I had in my life...not my personal goals or things I have going on in my life. People are the most important thing to me. And I hate when I lose them. And I really have a hard time adjusting to new people.

It's funny how the very thing we don't want other people to do to us is what we do to them. I really hate when people stereotype me and assume I want help and can't do things on my own because I'm in a wheelchair. But, when I go somewhere new...it's so hard for me because I stereotype all the new people and assume they are all going to think that way just because they don't know me.

So, I guess the moral of the story is, please keep me in prayer. It's nothing against the new guy....just like when Brent left, it wasn't anything against Adam. It's just that I have a very hard time adjusting to new surroundings and new people. But, I know that I would just be prolonging the inevitable if I didn't switch...trying to make it not happen...which I can say by past experience doesn't work, at all. lol. And I also know that it will be a very good thing in the end, since he has experience in the sport, and and it will make me stronger yet for the ever-lingering possibility that it will have to happen again...we can't assume anything is permanent, no matter how much we want it to be.

Playing Catch Up.

This has been a long week and I'm having trouble with my internet. So, I haven't been able to blog. I'm now on my mom's laptop...but, I'm going off memory, so I might not be able to get everything down exactly how I did it. But I'll try.

Monday:
Bench Press was 4 sets of 10 reps at 115 lbs., supersetted with sets of 145 lbs., 5 reps, 155 lbs., 4 reps, 165 lbs., 3 reps, and another ATTEMPT at 175 lbs., 2 reps. That didn't happen....well, not without a lot of Adam's help. I did the 115 lbs., and then the heavier weight, then waited a minute and did the 115 lbs, and then the next heavier weight.
Cable Flies - 40 lbs. for 2 sets and 50 lbs. for one. I THINK 12 reps for each.
Cable Crossover - 30 lbs., 12, 12, 15.

"Smith" Bench - 230 lbs., (?)...can't remember my sets...under 8 somewhere, probably.
Tricep Kickbacks - 25 lbs., (?), 4 sets of 15 (?), Holding Tempo of 1
Reverse Wrist Curls - EZ Bar - 3 sets of 25
Side Bends - 4 sets of 30

I ususally do 5 exercises by myself, but I can't remember what else it would have been on Monday.

Wednesday:
Military Press - 85 lbs., 12. 95 lbs., 10. 105 lbs., 7 & 6. Actually, Adam wrote down 7 for my 3rd set, but I only got about 3 or 4 without his help. Then he told me I had to get 6 for my last set, and I said "I didn't get a 6 on my last set." He said, "Yeah...that doesn't mean you won't this time. It's your last set." lol. That was definitely the case all week on quite a few exercises. I did a lot of last sets better this week than the rest of the sets. Adam says you're supposed to run OUT of energy toward the end of your workouts, not gain energy...haha.
Lateral Pulldown - 3 sets of 15 with 150 lbs.
Cable Front Raises....I can't remember the weights. Like 40 lbs., maybe. 3 sets of 12 maybe?

Pull-Ups - 3 sets. I don't remember the numbers
"Smith" Military Press, Vertical - 100 lbs., holding tempo of 1, 4 sets of 8. I supersetted this with Iron Cross w/ the Band, 4 sets of 25.
Lateral Raises - 10 lbs., holding tempo of 1, 3 sets of 15.
Reverse Wrist Curls - EZ Bar - 3 sets of 25.
Supermans - 4 sets of 25.

Friday:
Incline - lol....I don't know what weights I used TODAY!!! I THINK we started at 95 lbs., and went up 10 lbs., a set for 4 sets. Reps were 12, 10, 7, 4.
Pec-Dec - Wow...I guess I didn't look at my sheet. I can't even guess weight on this today. Reps were 12, 7, 6 (I think).
Reverse Bicep Curls, 45 lb. plate on the machine, 8, 6, 12. (see...the number got bigger)

Chin Ups - 13, 11, 8.
"Smith" Bench - 200 lbs., holding a tempo of 1, 12, 11, 10, 12.
Cable Bicep Curls - 30 lbs., holding a tempo of 1, 3 sets of 12.
"Smith" Flies - 60 lbs., holding a tempo of 1, 4 sets of 12.
Reverse Wrist Curls - EZ Bar, 3 sets of 25.
Decline Abs - 20, 20, 15, 15.

So, that's a long entry....but, I got most of it. I met with the new trainer again this week, on Wednesday night, to go over some new stuff I'll be doing. It went well.

Adam figured out more to my elbow problem today!!!! He says I'm double-jointed, so it puts more stress on the inside of my elbow than normal b/c my arm isn't straight when I lock out. He's so smart :-) But, not sure what to do about it, since that's just how my arm naturally goes. Gonna talk to Jack about it tomorrow....and probably see what the new guy thinks about it too.

Everyone have a great weekend!!!

Big News!

Well, Adam and I have been discussing for about a month now, the possibility of me switching trainers. It's not a bad thing...there's no ill-feelings between us. I've even put him on call for me to return to if it ends up not working out. lol. But, we both agree that it will be best for me if I have someone who's done more powerlifting in his day. So, I've been searching for someone, and I believe I have found the right guy. Last night I went to Columbiana to meet him and see the gym I would be working out in. I am going to keep my gym membership in Boardman for cardio sake. I need somewhere to swim, especially in the winter. Anyway, his name is Brian Raneri. I'm paid up with Adam until August 3rd, so I'm going to complete those sessions with him. Then I will start with Brian on August 5th to prepare for my competition in October. Going to take it a month at a time at first, to see how everything works out...then after my competition, solidify the arrangement.

Now for today's routine:

Pec-Dec - 140 lbs., 20. 160 lbs., 11. 170 lbs., 7. 180 lbs., 3.
Incline Dumbbell Press - 40 lbs., 3 sets of 20....10 regular and 10 with a pause.
Dumbbell Bicep Curls - 20 lbs., 3 sets of 11....(maybe, I can't really remember the number).

Machine Bench - 200 lbs., holding tempo of 1, 15, 10, 7, 9.
Cable Bicep Curl - 25 lbs., 4 sets of 12.
Machine Flies - 60 lbs., holding tempo of 1, 20, 16, 12, 8, then continuing a downward pyramid to 1.
Wrist Curls w/ EZ Bar - 3 sets of 25.
Decline Abs - 4 sets of 20.

Nothing Unusual

"Assisted" Single Arm Military Press - 65 lbs., 8. 60 lbs., 10. 55 lbs., 12. 45 lbs., 15.
Backwards Incline Rows - 40 lb. Dumbbell, 2 sets of 8. 30 lb. Dumbbell, 2 sets of 12.
Straight Arm Pulldown - 60 lbs., 70 lbs., 80 lbs., all sets of 15, last holding 1 sec. between reps.

Pull-Ups - 12, 10, 10.
"Smith" Military - 100 lbs., 3 sets of 20 and 1 of 15.
Single Arm Lateral Raises - 10 lbs., 3 sets of 15.
Wrist Curls - EZ Bar - 3 sets of 20.
Alternating Supermans - 4 sets of 20.

Drill Time.

Adam started the 'towel' drill today. It's supposed to help fix my almost-but-not-quite lockout problem, because I only bring the bar down until the towel hits my chest, which is about half way. Then I push it back up...so it forces me to push through that dead spot. It actually worked already today. I pushed through on my last set once he took the towel off.

Bench Press w/ Towel - 115 lbs., 12. 125 lbs., 3 sets of 12. Then without towel, 115 lbs., 8.
Supersets of Cable Straight Arm Overhead Pullovers and Cable Skull Crushers - 70 lbs., 3 sets of 15.

Machine Flies - Tempo 211, 70 lbs, 4 sets of 12.
Machine Bench (Vertical) - 230 lbs., 4 sets of 10.
There are two grips on the machines, one is straight out the sides, like regularly pressing a bar, and one is out front so that your arms are in front of you instead of beside you. This is the first time I ever did bench press vertically. I switch on Machine Military very often, I don't know if I ever marked it before...it usually goes about every other week. Anyway, it seems to be for me that vertical is a little easier than regular (horizontal).
Cable Tricep Kickbacks - 20 lbs., 15, 15, 12, 12. I changed my position on this, to help my elbow, and it worked out really well today.
Wrist Curls - EZ Bar - 4 sets of 25.
Crunches w/ 25 lb. plate, 4 sets of 25.

Reliability!!!!!!!!!

Reliability is SO comforting. :-) Adam is away this weekend for a half-triathlon...so everyone say prayers while his family is traveling, and for Adam's race, and for Adam's brother (Ryan) who's in his first sprint-triathlon. They went to Indiana. Anyway, Adam was gone today, so I needed a spotter. This has not worked out so well several times. BUT! Today, someone finally showed for me :-D And it worked out very wonderfully. He's real nice, and a lifter, so he was good. So, Adam made my routine before he left and Doug strapped me and spotted me and everything went off without a hitch!

Incline Press - 115 lbs., 125 lbs., 135 lbs., 145 lbs....reps 8, 6, 4, 3.
Bench Press - 115 lbs., Tempo 311, 12, 12, 10, 11. (30 seconds between sets)
Dumbbell Bicep Curls - 20 lbs., 4 sets of 15.

'Smith' Flies - 60 lbs., Tempo 212, 18, 12, 12, 10. (30 seconds between sets)
Cable Bicep Curls - 30 lbs., 4 sets of 15 each arm.
Rope Wrist Curls - 5, 5, 3, 3.
'Smith' Bench - 200 lbs., 20, 12, 10, 10. (30 seconds between sets)
4 sets of 20 Decline Abs.

SO thankful my spotter showed. Maybe he'll come back next month when Adam is gone for his full-triathlon.

Up to me!

Today's half routine without Adam was really long! More than I usually do on my own....but, not really anything new. I guess it's really my job to get it all done anyway. :-)

Barbell Military Press - 95 lbs., 8, 8, 9, 10. (Imagine that, I did more on my last set.)
Reverse Incline Cable Rows w/ Rope - 110 lbs., 120 lbs., 130 lbs., 140 lbs., reps 20, 15, 10, 5.
Upright Cable Rows - 50 lbs, 3 sets of 12.

Pull-ups - 12, 10, 8.
'Smith' Military - Tempo 212, 100 lbs., 4 sets of 10.
Iron Cross w/ Band - 4 sets of 30.
Lateral Raises - Tempo 212, 10 lb. dumbbells, 3 sets of 15.
Rope Wrist Curls - 3 sets of 5 :-)
4 sets of 25 Supermans.

Almost! (Doesn't Count)

Tried 175 lbs. on my fourth set today. Started once and couldn't lift it, Adam said he knew it when I started b/c I went down almost as slow as a negative. So, we racked it and tried again. Still a no-go. Adam laughed when it was over because I had it (he said) 5 inches off my chest....couldn't lock it out. When I looked at my sheet there was a '1' written in the box....with a slash through it. Ugh....I'm used to bench coming easy...that hasn't happened for a while. I'm always told I think too much...which is what I'm doing on bench...but I don't know how to go back to not thinking about it I'm bad at switching hats....going from worrying about competition stuff to just training...feels like I can't just train anymore. Oh well, I still have fun with my workouts. That's the most important part.

Bench Press - 145 lbs., 8. 155 lbs., 6. 165 lbs., 3. --two ATTEMPTS at 175 lbs.--
Pec-Dec - 110 & 120 lbs., 12. 130 lbs., 8.
Close Grip - EZ Bar + 70 lbs., 3 sets of 12.

'Smith' Bench - 311 Tempo, 240 lbs, 4. (Was NOT happening anymore). 220 lbs, 2 sets of 4 and a set of 2.
'Smith' Flies - 212 Tempo, 80 lbs., 2 sets of 8 and 2 sets of 6.
Single-Arm Overhead Tricep Extensions - 15 lb. dumbbells, a set of 20 and 3 sets of 15, each arm.
Rope Wrist Curls - 3 sets of 4....haven't done them in a while, so I was pretty impressed!
Plate Twist Abs - 25 lb. plate, 4 sets of 30.

Oh! Adam says he has a drill that will fix my 5-inch raise, no lockout situation.

"Assisted" or "Guided"

Adam informed me a couple of weeks ago that the machine that I always call the "Smith", he doesn't think is the "Smith". So, it's now dubbed the "assisted" machine...or "guided". :-P I think because he always puts 'Smith' for the circuit machines that I use to finish my end of the routine, and the machines in the back weight room that load the actual weight plates that I use on back/shoulder day (you know, the ones that I least like to transfer onto!)

Anyway, I was on the "assisted" today with him. We did two regular sets, then two sets half regular and half with my two-second pause.

Incline Bench - 135 lbs (1st & 3rd set), and 155 lbs. (2nd & 4th set)... reps were 12, 8, 10, 4 (On my last set, I only held 1 with the pause...I think I got 4 holds with the third set)
Bench Press - 145 lbs (1st & 3rd set), and 165 lbs. (2nd & 4th set)...reps were 10, 6, 8, 2
Cable Curls (both hands) - 40, 45, 50 lbs...2 sets of 15 and a set of 10

Second half of the workout only had 20 seconds in between sets...so I was high rep/low weight. The gym closed at noon, so I didn't have a whole lot of time.

2 sets of Chin-Ups - 15, 12 (had a spotter for these, little unusual...worked real good though).
"Smith" Machine Flies - 4 sets of 20 at 30 lbs.
"Smith" Machine Bench - 4 sets of 20 at 150 lbs.
2 sets of 80 Side Bends (he had it broken down into 4/40, but I improvised).

Monkeyin' Around.

Today the exercises done with Adam were the same as last week. They are pretty much my least favorite ones to do. lol. AND...THE HARDEST things to get on in the weight room. Today, I was half way between my chair and one of the seats and Adam said "Just hangin' out?" I said, "Yeah, it's my hobby 'round these here parts." lol. He's a lot of fun.

I did each of the exercises with him single-armed first, and 30 seconds later with both arms. Then took a minute break and repeated. So, those will be the different weights listed, the higher being done with both of my arms.

Smith Pulldown - 3 sets of 10, 60 lbs./ 140 lbs...we went down to 90 lbs. for the last set I think.
Incline Miltary - 3 sets of 12, 35 lbs./ 90 lbs.
Smith Rows - 2 sets of 10, 90 lbs./ 35 lbs.

Machine Military - 4 sets of 12, tempo 211, 80 lbs.
Iron Cross w/ Band - 4 sets of 20.
Lateral Raises - 4 sets of 15, 10 lb. dumbbells.
4 sets of 20 Supermans.