The chart mostly speaks for itself. But I also told Jerimiah that I'd really like to be a bit brave on a last attempt in 2018. Not that the last on any of these above were guaranteed, but they had been done before a few times.
And we aren't currently setting a date target other than "next year". We'll just work on progress and keep checking in and when it seems within reach, sign up for a meet and to a 3 month (probably) prep cycle. I said the same last year, but by November was desperate to get signed to a meet to have it firm. I'll try to exercise patience and remember that more meets are added regularly and I won't miss out. Then I can try to be a bit more organic with the planning, which may be helpful given my travel schedule can be hard to have any long term insight into or control over. HERE WE GO!!!!
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We just wrapped on a vacation to COUPLES .... and it was such an amazing rest. We are not really much for "adventure vacations" per se. We already really enjoy our life/lives and aren't looking to a vacation to fill it up with parties, thrills or physical exertion. A real vacation for us is a rest. Not just the lack of daily obligations, but almost a mandate to just "chill out already". Garth already has that down pat, but I struggle. It would be easy for me to find stuff to fill the time. And for some, that might be just what the doctor ordered, but for me; a good vacation is a serious reboot; complete with some time just being....being. Still. Quiet. Sometimes listening to music, or reading. Or a walk. But mostly just a nice slow crawl, a slower pace in the brain, and a release of "need to be doing" for my heart. And I sit here on our patio for the last 1/2 hour before leaving, feeling grateful for this opportunity, and equally thankful for the life we return to. There is not even a hint of wistfulness about leaving. All of this leaves me feeling immensely blessed and grateful. We ease back in tomorrow. Laundry. I'll go to the gym and train. Then back to work on Thursday; full steam ahead. My meet is around 14 weeks out. I have a whole cycle to work through, and hypertrophy starts tomorrow. I am eager for the work, for the inevitable progress, for the opportunity to practice. For the endorphins. :) And work is really humming. I love the product and it's shaping up to be a fun and challenging 2017. Lucky girl. After firing of a killer back spasm 2 weeks ago, I am back at it. Well, not ALL of it. I did air squats on Saturday. Very light weight on Sunday. A bit heavier, but still light on Monday. And today went back to a regular(ish) load. Still it's 10# lower than where we left off, so I have lost (arguably) the 2 weeks, plus another week to get back to that weight. First blush that didn't make me happy, but it's a quick head-space adjustment to realize that 3 weeks is really not that much. I had some fear, but really focused on the balance between listening to my body, but also remembering that it sometimes is lazy and lies. So a reasonable weight, and long rests, no rushing. Feels like JUST the thing to get over the nagging apprehension. I am still going to skip deads on friday (or do block pulls instead). The 3 weeks progress lost is OK, but the crappy week in a back spasm... not really something I want to repeat. And I have a business trip starting Sunday, so that means no real deadlifts for at least another week. Then I should be golden! Was at a conference this week. It was a beautiful venue and really also put me into the Christmas spirit. There was a bit of over indulgence, ... I will spare you the details, but I have had my fill of sushi for a while. A long while. Like... forever. And also, not enough sleep. So too much of one thing, and not enough of another. Just for the record, it does NOT balance out (plus/minus). But I still felt pretty good in the gym today. We didn't do anything overly difficult, but it was not super light either (a single 150# squat followed by some doubles @ 140# , as well as some paused benching at 95# and 100#). I have a vacation day tomorrow, so can take a little extra rest in the AM (sleep in til 7 AM!), and don't train until 11 AM. It's Deadlifts, so will be a bit tiring, and I am out with the Mavens tomorrow night, but at least I won't start at a deficit. And there's always the weekend for a little nap. :) I have traveled quite a bit lately. Just domestic, but still away from home, away from my honey, away from the cats.
My shoulder is killing me: not sure if it's the strange beds (hotels, so not like strange, but.... strange). Or carrying a 800 pound back pack. :) Going to go home tonight. Day off tomorrow and celebrate with Garth his birthday. And another day off for me Thursday....and I'll go lift. (yay!). And then get a massage. All on the shoulder. :) ... is exactly like this past week. :)
No drama or anything. It's been a bit busy. A bit of extra travel. A bit of a chest cold. I also stopped food tracking, because I felt a bit of pressure stacking up. So I turned on the compassion. At least I hope it's that and not me slacking. I still went to the gym; I figured that while I might have an excuse to be able to do a bit less..... I had no excuse to do less than I was able. At 6:30 AM flight doesn't sound so bad. It was only half an hour earlier than the one I was looking for. And now as I set my alarm..: I have the realization that I have to get up at 3:30 AM.
I consider myself a thoughtful person in a literal sense of the word. And yet here I am. I was thinking about the "end"... and nothing seemed unreasonable. I travel all the time it's not like I don't know. It's one of my pet peeve's, yet I succumbed to it myself. I made a promise every intent to deliver. But I hadn't actually calculated the cost to live up to that promise. Now, of course I'm actually going to this promise. I keep my word. And really, it's inconvenient but not impossible. That's not the real concern here. The concern is making commitments in good faith, without considering what it will take. Doesn't really seem like good faith at all when you think about it that way. In this context , "Thoughtful" means thinking. It doesn't mean generous, it doesn't mean kind. When I see it in others it really irks me. So now I am irritated with myself. I have got to remember PAUSE to think. I am visiting Montreal this week... and went into our local office after a client visit, and Immediately ran into someone I trained on Project Management - in a 3 day session in Oct 2014.
She was like “Woah! Look at you, blah, blah….”. And reminded me that when I trained them, I had talked about adult learning, and how I had just joined a gym and was having to hold someones hand in order to squat, or I’d fall over. I guess I used it as an analogy to some other topic in the sessions. Anyway, I was 35# heavier then. And probably walking with a bit more swagger now. :) ......And she said … “I guess you figured it out . " Yeah, I guess I did! It's been a few weeks since I have written. It's weird; I enjoy it, and yet when I stopped for a bit (some business travel had me busy), it was not something I craved to get back to. I was worried that the same may happen to the gym. That I might have lost the love for it.
As it happens, I didn't. Friday was tough: struggled with everything. Saturday was better. And today, while not a heavy weight day, felt like old times. Back in the saddle. Add whatever euphemism here. I really missed it. And it's so good to be back. Was in Vancouver this week; did go to the gym once in the 3 days, but the numbers were sad, sad, sad.
Going today, and again tomorrow early AM. I guess we'll see if I have anything in the tank at all. :) |
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