Need… carbs….

Wendler 5/3/1 program, cycle 22, week 1

• Work Set – Press (working max: 150#)
  • 2x5x45 (warmup)
  • 1x5x60
  • 1x5x75
  • 1x3x90
  • 1x5x100 (work)
  • 1x5x115
  • 1x7x130
• Assistance – Press
  • 5 x 10/10/10/6/6 x 90
• Assistance – Lat Pulldowns
  • 7 x 10/10/16/10/10/10/15 x 100/100/100/110/110/90/70
• Assistance – Lateral Raises
  • 3 x 15/15/12 x 15
• Assistance – Straight-bar Pressdowns
  • 3 x 20/12/10 x 40
• Assistance – Hammer Curls, 30 rep
  • 3 x 30-rep x 25

I don’t know what it is. Was it the diet getting to me? all the mental, physical, and emotional stress I’ve been under lately? I really don’t know if I wanted it for stress relief or if my body truly needed it. But whatever the reason, my body has been screaming for carbs the past few days. On Sunday I gave in and allowed myself to just eat. I didn’t gorge or anything, but if I wanted something, I ate it. So yeah, a couple ounces of ice cream, a few plums, a piece of the banana bread Wife made (with einkorn wheat), the stew she made the prior night (potatoes, carrots, etc.). Whatever. I just ate.

And yes, I feel better. But I also felt rather lethargic when I first got to the gym. But after the warm-up sets, I felt alright. In fact, I think it was kinda good because I was just lifting. I wasn’t out of the zone, I wasn’t in the zone, I just was. And the lifts just went. I found myself not cuing myself, not really thinking, but I would find myself with a tight body, and really pushing and pressing the way I should. It was pretty cool.

So I worked hard and pushed myself a little further. Shorter rest times between sets, and just moved along. I thought to try doing the lat pulldowns Kroc-style, but then I realized why I hate so many reps. 😉 So I stopped, upped the weight, and did more. Then for whatever reason I felt like my back needed more, so I dropped the weight and did a few more sets. I think it was worth it.

You know… Wendler doesn’t make it obvious, but it’s there if you read. He talks about adding in lots of back work. Basically, for every pressing movement you do a pulling movement (or 2). So every bench/press set, you do something like pull-ups in between. I don’t do that… but yeah, I should. I tried in the past to do it, but my shoulders did not like me. Maybe I should try again. And I thought this morning, maybe do it the same way. So as I work up in my main set, work up in my back set. When I do my assistance pressing with a straight set, then also drop the weight and do straight set of rows or whatever. I dunno, but the key is trying to get more back work in, in a way that keeps my shoulders happy.

I also think if I do that, I can pull back on my other work. So my sessions become just 3 exercises, like the book tends to lay out.

We shall see.

But in other news… the diet.

So it’s been about a month now and I can say I’m probably 8# down. That’s nice, but not really. I lost most of that during the first 10-14 days and have basically stalled. I’m not sure why and what has caused the stall, or what I need to do to remedy it.

But I’m starting to wonder if I just can’t do this. That for my body, my needs, etc… I need to eat a little more, and just wait a lot longer. That is, allow myself some carbs, more than I have. Still try to stick to a mostly carb-less diet, but don’t kill myself. So keep on the same track I’m on, but if I have a piece of fruit with breakfast, fine. So it’s not a major deviation, but just don’t let myself go nuts. I’ve noticed my craving was really bad (and I’ve learned this isn’t just a “want” craving, but my body is truly in need of something). I’ve also noticed things like increased forgetfulness and other problems. So I think my body just was not functioning right. I can’t afford that.

And so, if it means it takes me 12 months to get my body where it is… an even slower approach, but perhaps a more steady and truly changes my lifestyle… well, I guess I should find that for the good, right? It’s more painful to accept if this is the truth of it all, but it may be how it has to be.

I don’t know. I said my next assessment point will be Labor Day, so I’ll see then. For now, I’m going to try to keep to the same approach, tho if my body needs something I won’t deny it. And we’ll see how it goes.

I will admit… this depresses me a bit. It’s not what I’m wanting to hear. But if it’s how it has to be, I’ll come around. 🙂