Books and Fitness: July 22-27

Analysis at bottom

Over the last few months I’ve been reducing my processed sugar intake in an effort to be healthier. It’s been hard because I have a sweet tooth, however I’ve found that I’m feeling better and my skin has cleared up a fair bit.

Also I’ve noticed that I’m not really sore any more. Sure, I’m a little sore, but the key word is ‘little.’

Monday

• Read some of the Mueller Report
  • Talk about a depressing read.
•  Gym
  • Chest day. Didn’t do OHP at gym. It was being used, so I did accessory exercises instead.
  • New Theoretical max now at 204lbs
• Walked dog
• Biked 2 miles
• No jump rope (my bad)

Tuesday

• 25 mile bike ride
• Gym (squat day, sumo day)
  • New maxes at 231lbs and 252lbs
• Dog walked
• No jump rope (mb)
• Finished ‘The Mueller Report

Wednesday

• No jump rope (my bad)
• Gym (OHP and incline bench)
  • New Maxes of 154lbs and 166lbs
• 7 mile bike ride
• Read some ‘Beneath Twisted Trees
  • Good so far. I’m liking it fair amount now.

Thursday

• Jumped rope
• Gym (deads and front squats)
  • maxes of 313lbs and 169lbs
• Walked dog
• No bike ride (lazy, mb)
• Read some ‘Beneath Twisted Trees’
  • Slowish start, but we rapidly get back into the plot. The author doesn’t hold back on pacing and plotting.

Friday

• Gym
  • Chest and Close grip chest press
• 2 mile bike ride
• Walked dog
• Read some ‘Jade War’
  • Mixed feelings. I positively loved the first book in the series and this is more of the same… However I liked the first book because it was so unique. This book is the same, so this isn’t unique. I like it and at moments love it.
  • I give the author credit for going to Espenia. I wanted that after reading book 1, and we get it in book 2.

Saturday

• Started ‘The Raven Tower’ and read some more ‘Jade War.’
  • Raven tower is… okay. 2nd person is a bit difficult to read.
• 30 mile bike ride
• Gym- Squats and sumos volume day
• Walked dog

 

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Analysis

Here are my new theoretical 1RMs:

• Bench: 209lbs (95kg)
• Squats: 231lbs (105kg)
• Deads: 313lbs (142kg)
• Overheads: 154lbs (70kg)

Here are my theoretical 1RMs from last week:

• Bench: 203lbs (92kg)
• Squats: 219lbs (99kg)
• Deads: 293lbs (132kg)
• Overheads: 149lbs (68kg)

As you can see, I have made improvements to everything, esp squats and deadlifts. Chest is lagging comparatively, but I feel confident that I tried hard this week. (I’m not worried about Overheads.)

Here are my theoretical all-time max 1RM from last year:

• Bench Press: 260 lbs (118kg)
• Squat: 316lbs (143kg)
• Deadlift: 366lbs (165 kg)
• Overhead Press: 171lbs (78kg)

I have a while to go before I get back my lost gains.

This week I tried to use some grit and force out as many reps as I could, holding nothing back as I worked out… and these moderate improvements are the result. Sure, I improved more this week than I improved last week, but I’m feeling really weak. On the bright side, deadlifts and squats are improving relatively quickly. On the bad side, I still have a long way to go. If I continue adding 5lbs in strength per week, it will take two and a half months to get back to my old maxes. And that’s if I don’t plateau.