I got back into weight training and I'm about 12 weeks into my program. I'm doing the Starting Strength program which is based on the 5X5 principle - except it's 3X5. The 5 compound lifts I'm doing are Squats, Deadlifts, Bench Press, Military Press and Bent over barbell Rows. For my last workout I worked out with 270 lbs for squats - 3 sets of 5 reps. I'll be a happy camper if I can work out with 300 lbs for squats. I'm sure a number of you put up some monster numbers in your prior lives or are still doing it today. But it will be a personal accomplish to work out with 300 lbs - not just for a 1 rep max.

Just lifting for health. I want to have the best quality of life I can up to the bitter end.

Hey man, anyone putting in effort at the gym deserves to feel good about it. Don't worry about not breaking records, progress is what matters.

Thanks UCF. Being in my 40s it feels like weight training is a necessity. I'm also fortunate enough to have some equipment at home so I don't have to rush out to the gym.

Keep it going miko! I remember trying to cross the threshold. Kudos for not skipping legs.

You ever looked into doing a Windler series? It's a good way to build strength. My 1 rep back squat is somewhere around 370-380 these days. I recently did 5 sets of 3 reps at 275.

I like that as brothers-in-the-web we can speak of other things. Remember when I said that I had to see a doctor about my high blood pressure (202/100something)? Well, my pressure's down and my A1C has gone from 6.5 to 5.7 in two months. Perhaps the fact that I lost 20 lbs. helped. I'm down to around 176 and got to my target of 175 for one day, LOL. That's how much I weighed after basic and tech school. I've lost two sizes from a 36 waist to a 32 but I'm still wearing a 34. My son said that I must look like death but I really don't. I'm keeping it at this level as hard as I can.

Success gentlemen.

(11-17-2017 11:13 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  I like that as brothers-in-the-web we can speak of other things. Remember when I said that I had to see a doctor about my high blood pressure (202/100something)? Well, my pressure's down and my A1C has gone from 6.5 to 5.7 in two months. Perhaps the fact that I lost 20 lbs. helped. I'm down to around 176 and got to my target of 175 for one day, LOL. That's how much I weighed after basic and tech school. I've lost two sizes from a 36 waist to a 32 but I'm still wearing a 34. My son said that I must look like death but I really don't. I'm keeping it at this level as hard as I can.

Success gentlemen.

What did you change nutritionally to lose the weight?

(11-17-2017 10:51 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  Keep it going miko! I remember trying to cross the threshold. Kudos for not skipping legs.

Just ordered a new barbell earlier tonite. I went for the bare steel option. IMHO, a cool basement in OH should not be an issue with keeping the rust to a minimum.

https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-ohio-power-bar

Miko- Just keep doing what you are doing. Be sure you are using correct form. If you don't you won't get the gains you desire.

Start adding adding 2.5 lbs to each side each week. You'll get 30 more pounds before you know it

(11-18-2017 08:37 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Miko- Just keep doing what you are doing. Be sure you are using correct form. If you don't you won't get the gains you desire.

Start adding adding 2.5 lbs to each side each week. You'll get 30 more pounds before you know it

Thanks. I've been adding 5 lbs per day per the program. Not sure how much longer I can do that. Based off the extended time away from weight training, I'm back to being a beginner! Regarding form, I agree and try my best with it. The program wants you to do the low bar squats; however, I prefer to do the high bar because I want more focus on the quads. If I would switch to low bar, I could probably work out with 300 lbs now - but that's not a "true squat" IMHO.

(11-17-2017 11:35 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(11-17-2017 11:13 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  I like that as brothers-in-the-web we can speak of other things. Remember when I said that I had to see a doctor about my high blood pressure (202/100something)? Well, my pressure's down and my A1C has gone from 6.5 to 5.7 in two months. Perhaps the fact that I lost 20 lbs. helped. I'm down to around 176 and got to my target of 175 for one day, LOL. That's how much I weighed after basic and tech school. I've lost two sizes from a 36 waist to a 32 but I'm still wearing a 34. My son said that I must look like death but I really don't. I'm keeping it at this level as hard as I can.

Success gentlemen.

What did you change nutritionally to lose the weight?

I went on an 1800 calorie diet with emphasis on Diabetes Control. It apparently worked as I went from 6.5 to a 5.7 which if I remember is now normal. My familys history is that of diabetes. My maternal grandmother and my older brother both had both their legs amputated at the knee. It also was supposed to help my high BP and with my diet and BP medicine (amlodipine) it helped a lot. This mornings BP was 117/72. Quite a difference from the 185 over ? at home, when my wife said, "you're going to the doctor". At the doctors office it registered 202 over 100something. My EKG was successful. The doctor said, "do you want the good news first or the great news?" I said the good news. He said, "the good news is the Cowboys are 4 and 2 and the great news is your tests came out with flying colors".

I haven't let it go to my head. I still watch what I eat but not at the levels I started with. If I maintain my current weight and cut down on fats I can get my cholesterol down to a better level. I passed that but it's better that I reduce that too. Hey, at 69 it's not that easy as my exercise level isn't the same as when I was a firefighter. I'm more sedentary especially now that I had the grass removed and I won't be doing that mowing exercise. At least at my age I was able to secure a free membership to a fitness gym for free thanks to medicare. I need to build muscle that I've lost with my weight loss. Ugh, I hate to exercise but I realize that I need to or else I'll look like a Soy Boy. LOL

I don't have the ins and outs of what to eat. I have to ask my wife for the paperwork. I'll give more info when she's not busy or else.

Way to go Miko. At 57 my doctor gave me a wake up call on what he called "very poor health numbers" I was way overweight and staring diabetes in the face. I started in the gym at the beginning of August and have been going a minimum of 5 days a week doing 45 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of training on machines. Ive gone from a flabby 240 to a much firmer 220. Really happy with the progress. Energy levels way up and my A1C dropped out of the prediabetic range. Im still 20 pounds outside of my target of 200. Im going to push like hell to reach my target by New Years.

And...best laid plans of mice and men...

This weekend my L knee is swelled up. It's one of two things: 1) Gout (hopefully) or 2) fluid from knee damage. Last time I had fluid on the knee I had to get arthroscopic surgery to fix a torn meniscus. Due to my schedule, my last workout with weights was last Wed. Felt zero issues squatting, and from Wed thru Fri last week knee felt fine. Here's hoping it's just a gout attack due to dehydration. I'd hate to have to lose any more knee cartilige. Even if it's gout, looks like I'm taking the week off from weight training. That sucks, and I may have to drop the weights down a tad to ramp back up and to not be sore as fvck next week.

On a good note, I should be getting my new bar this week.

(11-19-2017 10:05 PM)miko33 Wrote:  And...best laid plans of mice and men...

This weekend my L knee is swelled up. It's one of two things: 1) Gout (hopefully) or 2) fluid from knee damage. Last time I had fluid on the knee I had to get arthroscopic surgery to fix a torn meniscus. Due to my schedule, my last workout with weights was last Wed. Felt zero issues squatting, and from Wed thru Fri last week knee felt fine. Here's hoping it's just a gout attack due to dehydration. I'd hate to have to lose any more knee cartilige. Even if it's gout, looks like I'm taking the week off from weight training. That sucks, and I may have to drop the weights down a tad to ramp back up and to not be sore as fvck next week.

On a good note, I should be getting my new bar this week.

The only situation where gout is a "good" thing. I've had 4 serious flareups in both feet. Haven't felt a worse pain. It takes me months to recover.