Press, DB jerk, kb swings

Press 2x5,1x5+ (go to failure on the last set using push presses)
2x5x135#
7x135# (last two reps pushed)


DB Jerk 3x5
70# dumbbell used for all reps

125 KB Swings for time:
6:33

MOB- 1 min couch and glute

COMMENTS:

Presses felt really good. Enjoying training this way but feeling really sore the last few days. Going to deadlift for the first time in about 5 months tomorrow.

1 Mile TT, pushups, pullups

1 Mile Run
5:56

FM Chin Ladders
2,2,3 X 3 (21 total)

FM Pushup Sets throughout the day
185 total


MOB- 2 min couch stretch

COMMENTS:
21 seconds off my all time PR for 1 mile run (senior year of high school, ~25lbs lighter than I am now). I'm larger and fatter than I have been in a long time, but it's good to see I can still go sub 6.

Nutrition on point today.

Squat, GHR, Conditioning

Squat
5x45
5x135
5x225
5x275

GHR Sets
12, 12, 16


Conditioning WOD done with Dan

3 Rds for time:
250m Row
7 DB snatches each side, 50#

4:43

MOB- 2 min of couch, some glute work
COMMENTS:

• General: I was supposed to do three squat sets but I got the leg cramps I normally get when I haven't squatted in a long time. Being that it's been four months, I didn't push it.

Press, Sprints, Pushups

Press
3x155#
17x95#

Pushup Sets
40, 30, 25, 20, 15

5 ~70 yard sprints, 1-2 minute rest

MOB: 3 min of couch stretch ea side

COMMENTS

• General: Definitely easing back into things. Was pleased that my press didn't go down too much, although all my lifts suffered with no lifting all summer. The high rep set surprised me.
• Nutrition: I'd call my diet plans going forward primal. I'm keeping things that work like whey and have no aspirations of being totally strict. Wanna lose some weight though.
• Body: I have a nagging tightness in my shoulder that has been a problem for a few months.
• Sleep: 7-8 hours
• Reflections: None

Beast of the East

I'm back from the best summer of my life. Colorado was more than I ever could have asked for it to be and I'm being honest when I say I couldn’t feel more blessed. The people I met at CCO were the highest quality of people I have ever surrounded myself with and it was amazing getting to grow as a person around them. On top of my amazing experience there, I spent a week road tripping home and going on a cruise. This was the greatest 4 months of my entire life, hands down. This summer was the palate cleanse I needed to get my life back on track, and I fully intend to do this going forward.

 

My senior year of college starts tomorrow. This is amazing to me, seeing as I started this blog before I even left for college in June of 2010. I still remember that version of myself so well, and many, if not all aspects of my life are different at this point. My future plans right now are looking to go one of two ways-

 

1.      Two more years of grad school to get my masters in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology

Or

 

2.      Move out to Colorado on a permanent basis and start teaching and coaching.

 

Both have potential to be great decisions but they both have drawbacks. If I had the perfect situation, it would be getting a fellowship in Colorado for my master’s, but I’m finding this to be unlikely. Ultimately I’d be dumb to turn down free college education so if that opportunity presents itself (I’d like to think I have a good chance), then that’s probably the route I’ll go.

 

I have more plans after the next 2-3 years in my mind but I don’t want to put them down on paper yet. I won’t know what my future holds until around March 2014 so I have some time to just stew, which sucks for my psyche.

 

 

Training wise, I spent a lot of this summer working on the bodyweight movements. I got pretty good at ring pull-ups and dips and did a few “metcons” every now and then, but nothing crazy. My diet went to shit. This summer was so much more than exercise and nutrition that I can never even consider this to be a negative, more just a reality of the situation I was in. When I go back to CCO next summer I’m hoping I can set it up to incorporate training and nutrition a little bit more into my lifestyle, which will take some preparation.

 

I am leaning towards following a more CrossFit style of training going forward. At this point in my life, I’d rather be extremely lean and get more muscular slower than be big but holding excess weight. My training will ramp up in intensity in the coming weeks and months and I’m really looking forward to putting my body through the ringer (in a safe manner) and seeing how the old machine responds.

 

Until next time.

BostonStrong

I ran a marathon on my school's track on Wednesday night (106 laps) to raise money for the victims of the Boston bombings. We raised over $1200 dollars and I made the news. I'm so happy to be an American. God bless all those effected.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/04/springfield_college_student_be.html


http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/springfield-college-students-are-running-for-boston

http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/22071685/springfield-college-student-runs-1-man-marathon-for-bombing-victims

Check out the last link for a live news interview.

I'm Headed out West!

Training recently has been bodybuilding stuff mostly. I've had a sore shoulder the last week so I've been taking it easy. Going to hit some hot yoga for the first time tomorrow morning in about a month.


Besides that- got some amazing news. I'm moving out to Granby, CO for 13 weeks this summer beginning on May 29 to work as a camp counsellor. I went through two interviews and my three references (including this guy) solidified this dream job for me. I'm so excited to go out there and see if it's a place I would actually like to live. I'll have two days off a week to travel to see different parts of Colorado and check out some grad schools while I'm out there. Needless to say I haven't been this excited in probably two years for anything.

Other than that, I'm making moves with my music career too. I'm performing for the first time at the end of April. I'll be opening a small perfomance on campus with a guitar and singing piece by John Mayer, singing two other songs, and doing a skit song with another girl. I've never done anything like this so I'm extremely excited for a new opportunity but nervous as well.

My life has been prioritized recently as such: school, work, the future, music, training. I wouldn't even call it training because I have no goals in mind at the moment. It's been on the back burner for over a month now and I'm okay with it. I'm very excited to develop some other elements of my life I had slacked on, and grad school is right around the corner, so I need to get my GPA as high as possible to ensure I get into everywhere I apply. I'm getting paid well, studying a lot and playing a lot of music, and I'm a lot happier than I have been in the past.

With the Colorado news, I know that I will not lift weights for over 3 months, a tough pill to swallow indeed, but will be a good experience. They will be here when I get back, and I'll be a beast on the gymnastics rings, with bodyweight exercises and at trail running and hiking. I'll probably be the leanest I've ever been!


Anyway, that's my spiel. 10 weeks until I leave for Colorado, and I'm sure I'll post between now and then. Hope all are well.