hesn92 wrote: »

amyinthetardis1231 wrote: »

hesn92 wrote: »

Ive been a member of this group for a while but never post. I’ve been going to the gym consistently for about 2 months now. My gym isn’t the most equipped, it’s small, but it’s inexpensive. There’s 2 squat racks and those are the only barbells, and there’s really no open space to do other lifting with a barbell other than in front of those 2 racks. I’ve been loosely following the SL program but using dumbbells for the upper body things (still using the barbell for squats and DL obviously) i could use the bar for bench press but I got self conscious because I was only able to put little tiny weights on the bar and these guys would make jokes, like “did you wanna try putting some weight on there?” it was annoying. Sigh. I’ll probably switch to a bigger gym when my membership is up in nov. on a good note I got up to 115 lbs for DL last time, I was excited to use the 35lb plates lol.

Those guys are *kitten*. We all start somewhere. If they're harassing you, what about reporting them to the manager? Don't let meatheads scare you away if you enjoy lifting and want to progress with the bar! Just chuck a plate at them next time they make fun of you (don't do that).

Well I know he was just kidding around, not harassing me, but it still makes me feel awkward lol. I have only had 2 guys joke about it. I’ve been using dumbbells but I think I may switch to the barbell because I don’t really like using the dumbbells that much.

Some people can be right buggers! Do what feels comfortable for you.

Yesterday ended up being mostly upper body because my knee was almost better but not quite.

DB bench press 2 x 5 @ 30 lb db, then felt weak and did the next 3 sets with 27.5 pounders. Felt on some level like I forgot how to lift.

Bent over rows were much better. 5 x 5 @ 70 lb and felt more solid on them.

Close-forward-grip lat pulldowns 2 x 8 @ 85 lb, got only 6 on the third set

Single leg glute bridges with a 10-lb plate 3 x 10 each leg

Yesterday:
Squats 95lbs 5,5,5
Deadlifts 115lbs
OH press w dumbbells ... 15 lb dumbbells, 12,12,10. Will definitely go up to 20 lbs next time lol.
I was thinking about adding in pull ups on the assisted machine but my arms were really tired after the OH presses and I was just like no.

Today we are cleaning out the backyard and I shoveled gravel into the bed of my husbands truck. That was definitely a work out hahaha omg. The previous owners of this house were insane with their rocks and gravel.

went to the gym for the first time in forever, and it had that usual soothing effect of 'for x hours i'm not going to be thinking about anything'.

still not lifting much, but i did do my next ohp workout at 45. 5 doubles, 3 triples. idunno about oerhead press. 45 pounds is okay but i'm really trying to work on whatever is mechanically strange about my left shoulder before the weights get any heavier. there's a kind of . . . clunk that happens when i'm locking out. not that i can't do the lockout and hold it, but like it's just happening through bone-to-bone angle mechanics, instead of being under the proper muscle control. so i'm working on that, but not knowing what might be causing it makes it a bit hit-and-miss. it seems like consciously focusing on keeping the bar closer to my shoulder on that left side may be helping a bit. most of the reps in today's sets happened smoothly and did not have that clunk, and then the other thing i do is try to get better thoracic extension on the left side. guess we'll see how it goes.

the only other thing i did was deadlifts with the same bar i was pressing with. basically deficit deadlifts, i guess - not that the bar was offset but it was only a couple of inches above the floor with the plates i had on. they weren't serious deadlifts, but it was all about trying to activate and properly use my leg and glutes on the left. LE SIGH. fifty pounds, and it's inconclusive whether it even means anything.