September 28, 2012 Lower Body

• Squats: 275*3 300*2 315*1 250*3
• Hanging Power Snatches: 95*3 115*3 135*3 140*3 125*7
• P.U.P.P.: 1:30, 1:30

Really getting frustrated with squatting.  I can barely make depth, and it's like I get no 'push' when at parallel.  I don't get it.  Plus I get folded over by anything about 225, which is odd because my back must be strong if I can pull 500+.  No idea what's going on.  I think I forget to keep my hamstrings/posterior chain tight when going down to parallel, and then try and engage it at the bottom, which doesn't work.  Back to the drawing board.  

In good news, a trainer noticed that on my snatches I was basically throwing the weight up in front of me, so that my arms were fully extended out in front of me like some sort of front raise, which just happened to go up over my head.  I tried a few sample reps and he was right.  So I did the rest of the sets focusing on keeping the weight tight up near my body and snapping it over my head.  MUCH easier, and feels like it must've been the missing link in my snatch.  Probably cleans too.  Cannot wait  to try this next week as well.   Push up planks went well, got 3:00 total. 

Also, been absolutely ravenous lately, not really getting chubby/soft/etc. either, so my body's using it for fuel apparently. 

August 7, 2012 Lower

• Deadlifts: 315*5 410*X WEK:NTKEWJ:TJKSNDF Back.. 135*10 225*X
• Hanging Power Cleans:  135*5 185*X-Back 135*5

aaaah SHIT.  So my back was feeling about 90%.  Did the bar, 135, 225, 275, and 315 to make sure everything was decent.  Was sore, but felt capable.  Went to pull 410 and couldn't budge it. Weird...that's usually a borderline warmup set for me. Reset, got down and threw everything I had behind it.  Got it 5" off the ground and then....I can't describe what the hell happened.  My lower back muscles on both side cramped, felt like they were roiling, and then seized up completely.  I dropped the weight and then fell backwards.  Friend got a foam roller and I stretched it out, so I could stand up again.  Several minutes go by and it's still painful.  Try 135 and get it fine, doesn't hurt any worse.  Try 225 and can't even move it.  Switch to hanging cleans.....can get 135, but again as soon as I throw any kind of real weight on the bar, can't do it.     

After I was in some pretty bad pain/soreness/stiffness.  Ice didn't do anything. Heat didn't do anything. Tried poking/prodding/massaging. Nothing.  Not sure what this is. I hope it's not my spine/disc in the spine.  When I stand and try raising my leg I feel a sharp pulling pain in my lower back.  When I sit I feel pressure build up in my lower back, far out on the sides, and also in my lower abdomen near where you would have a hernia (I don't appear to have any). Plus my left calf keeps getting this weird tingling pain in it when I sit for too long. All of this happens when I stand for too long as well.  Shit.

December 21, 2011 Conditioning

• 34.5" Plyo Box Jumps: 30
• Side Rope Slams: 13, 15, 15

Was feeling particularly depressed again today.  I have no idea why.  Got an interview for a great job on Friday, I should be excited. I am, but I'm still feeling 'dark' overall.  I decided to go to the gym and jump on boxes, since that usually cheers me up.  It did a little.   Went over to Wendy's after this workout, and felt much better.  Still not up to where I should be though. You can see the alternating rope slams (side rope slams) in the beginning of the following video.  I'm not actually in the video or anything, it's just the only example I could fine easily on youtube.  I'm obviously doing them with much more violent force.  

November 13, 2011 Food Poisoning?

So you know what makes it hard to get over a slight stomach bug you've been fighting all week?  Food poisoning and throwing your guts up.  Went to a farmer's market today, got some organic chocolate, barely ate any of it.  Didn't feel right after it, for a couple hours. Went to bed at 9:45 on a Saturday.  My body punished me for being a candy-ass by making me get up about 45 minutes later and throwing my guts up.  Afterward I was sweating and freezing and shaking while I tried to sleep.  Not good times.  Sunday my stomach hurt way too bad, I was almost doubled over.  Started to feel a bit better in the afternoon, went to a bar with some friends had a glass of Budweiser and that didn't go well. Went home, slept from 5-8, got up for Patriots game, promptly passed out afterward.  This has just not been my week.