The Prudent Hedonist

Supposedly, writing about fitness goals makes things more motivating, right?  At least that seems to work for the 344Pounds.com guy (who, I’d like to mention, weighs less than me right now… not that I’m bitter)

In that vein, I shall brag: yesterday at the gym, I reached a milestone that (for me) seemed pretty major when I first started.  I’m doing the Strong Lifts 5×5 beginner strength training program, which basically has you do 5 exercises per workout, 5 set of 5 reps each (for most of them).  For the barbell exercises, you start with an empty bar (45lbs), and increase weight with each success.

So, yesterday was the first time that I squatted 135lb total (i.e. the bar + 2 45lb plates). Big girl weights!  And this was my first attempt at that weight too.

Now, I know that squatting less than 150lbs is nothing to be all that proud about, but let me present the following mitigating factors:

• This was 25 reps (5 sets of 5). Not my 1 rep or 1 set max — I’m curious as to what my 1 rep max would be, but without an experienced spotter, I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable experimenting, even in the power cage.
• I squat below parallel.  I see a lot of guys at the gym squatting intimidating amounts of weight, wearing those Hulkmania looking belts, and not letting their legs bend at anything less than a 120° angle.  They are cheating.
• 90 days ago, I could barely bend my left knee.  The physical therapy for that injury is what inspired me to start lifting again.
• I start my workouts with squats, which means that after this, I did my 4 other exercises (also successfully), and then went for a swim.

So yeah, I’m pretty stoked.  My next big goals (in the order they are likely to be achieved) are:

• Bench press with the big plates.  If I don’t stall out, I should be there in 14 workouts (I only bench ever other workout, so really 7 more presses).
• Overhead press without feeling like I’m going to die.  It’s funny how much fun this exercise was when it was just an empty bar (try it… you feel like superman!) But going up 5lbs every time seems to be progressing faster than my body is.  I’ve stalled multiple times on this exercise, which apparently, is pretty normal according to Mehdi.
• One measly little pullup.  Is that too much to ask? (stupid weak upper body)
• Squat 1xbody weight for 5×5.  This will be like playing leapfrog with another copy of me on my back

(fun fact: writing the word squat so many times in one blog post has made me giggle.  a lot.)