cheapo's log

[zorg]

Your numbers are really looking good. I'd be optimistic as to leveling up!

[cheapo]

I can only hope.

Last night was D2, my perfect form day. On the pull-ups I made a concerted effort to look up at the ceiling, past the bar. It didn't make me any faster, but it did make me smoother and made it easier to get my chest all the way to the bar.

[cheapo]

I've been skipping workouts for the past 4 weeks. (I thought it had been only three!)

Week 38

• Monday, December 8, 2008
  D1L5:
  • 16 rounds (-10 cf. previous D1L5, PR: 26)
    
    Somehow skipping a couple workouts turned into a month-long layoff! I beat myself up about not working out every day. Really, you would not want to have been subject to my interior environment over the past few weeks. Somehow, it just wasn't in me to work out. I was extremely frustrated and still feel very tentative about my comeback.
    
    I expect Xmas to mess with my workout schedule, but I hope I can get two solid weeks of workouts under my belt before then.
    
    I only managed 16 rounds! I could have gone harder, but not without sacrificing form or risking injury. Even at 16 rounds, I don't think my chest touched the bar more than twice. I don't know if this is due entirely to a loss of strength or is at least partially due to the fatigue I have been feeling for the past few months.
    
    Why am I so tired? Firstly, the shorter days and cold weather hit me with a very strong urge to hibernate. Every few weeks, as fall progressed and temperatures trended downward, the sleepy hibernation feeling would hit me again.
    
    Secondly, everyone gets busier in the fall, right? Well, that busy-ness was really amped up this year. My son has two morning (sometimes very early) hockey practices on Sat. & Sun. And I have been spending the rest of my weekends up a scaffold working on my house. And I started playing hockey too.
    
    I have never played hockey before, but having watched my young son enjoy the game over the course of his first two seasons, I decided to give it a try. I am fortunate to have found a bunch of guys who don't seem to mind having a putz like me on the ice with them. I play Thursday nights from 10:30 until midnight. (In bed no earlier than 1:00)
    
    So, you can see that my weekend doesn't offer me much rest:
    
    • Hockey Thurs.
      Very sleepy at work on Fri.
      Up early and working all day most Saturdays and Sundays
    
    All that and doing the dinner dishes with and homeschooling my daughter for an hour each weeknight. Oh my.
    
    Such is my tale of woe.
    
  Wednesday, December 10, 2008
  D2L5:
  • Untimed
    
    Booyah. Comeback Workout 2!
  Thursday, December 11, 2008
  D3L5:
  • Skipped.
    
    Sheesh.

[volleyball_man]

Was kinda hoping you'd not do this so I could kick your a$$ on the accountability thread!

Glad you're back at it!

[zorg]

After having missed a few WO's, the first few you do are very tough, especially - ime - mentally. I had the same situation right now, so I feel with you.

The important part is that you started again! Well done! And the results will improve rather quickly now. Just consider the four weeks an extended and well deserved rest period

[Urup]

I have to drag myself down to the fitness center to workout so I can relate to your trouble with shorter days and the cold weather.

[ianjb]

I've been skipping workouts for the past 4 weeks. (I thought it had been only three!)

Cheapo,

You've made amazing progress in a short time and have provided inspiration and support for so many. I'm sure there a lot of people out there that miss your regular contributions ...

[cheapo]

Call me Matt!

And thank you.
You've given me new inspiration for tonight's workout.

[ianjb]

Hey Matt,

Don't go at it too hard this evening, ease back into it.

And thank you for the inspiration you have given me.

Ian

[cheapo]

Week 39

• Monday, December 15, 2008
  D1L5:
  • 21 rounds (+5 cf. previous D1L5, PR: 26)
    
    Better.
    On the first six sets I did not kip at all and I managed to get my chest to the bar.
    After that it was a free-for-all.
    Progress photos.
    
  Wednesday, December 17, 2008
  D2L5:
  • Untimed
    
    My son's Xmas concert was postponed on account of snow, so I had no excuse not to work out.
    
    Not bad.
    Keep the head way back and look straight up at the ceiling.
    Much smoother motion.
    Easier to get chest to bar.
    Still very hard though! :D
  Friday, December 28, 2008
  D3L5:
  • 5'50" (-0'15" cf. previous D3L5, PR: 5'45")
    Pull-ups: 26 (10-5-3-3-3-2)
    Push-ups: 51 (26-5-5-5-5-5)
    Squats: 51 (43-8)
    
    Pretty happy with that, especially considering how sporadic my workouts have been lately.

[cheapo]

Week 41

• Monday, January 5, 2009
  D1L5:
  • 23 rounds (+2 cf. previous D1L5, PR: 26)
    
    Better.
    Got my chest to the bar consistently on the first 4 sets.
    Did it many other times after that, but not consistently and never on the third rep!
    
    A fair bit of kipping.
    
  Wednesday, January 7, 2009
  D2L5:
  • Untimed
  Friday, January 9, 2009
  D3L5:
  • 4'47" PR (-1'03" cf. previous D3L5, previous PR: 5'45")
    Pull-ups: 26 (14-5-4-3)
    Push-ups: 51 (26-10-5-5-5)
    Squats: 51 (38-13)
    
    Yes!!!
    I did it!

[zorg]

Hey, that's looking good!

[cheapo]

Updated photos.

[cheapo]

Levelling Up!




(click images to enlarge)

[cheapo]

Week 42

• Monday, January 13, 2009
  Rest Week
  • 
    Didn't plan on having a rest week, but enjoyed it.
    

Week 43

• Wednesday, January 22, 2009
  D1L6:
  • 20 rounds (PR)
    
    Certainly felt the impact of the increased push-ups and squats.
    
    Forgot about my resolution to use the early days at this new level to retrench and work on form, form, form.
    
    Expect a lower number next week.
    
  Friday, January 23, 2009
  D3L5:
  • Skipped
    With hockey on Thursday nights, working out on Fridays is difficult.
    I had planned to work out on Saturday, but I got sick.