Carb depletion negatively affects performance. Period.

I’ve been feeling bloated. The trip 2 weeks ago, Halloween, some social events, some family life necessitating eating out a little more than usual. Bleah. It’s simple enough: manage carb intake. The easiest way I’m finding for MYSELF to do that is minimize it during the day. Have some with/after workout/breakfast, then in the evenings. But mid-day, lunch, mid-day shake/snack, etc. — minimize carbs. Try to avoid them entirely, but if some slip in incidentally because whatever, that’s ok.

Anyways, so I’m certainly feeling less bloated, but as a result, I have no gas in the tank. Very evident during squats today. The top weights felt very heavy. The AMRAP set was WAY below my prior run. Ah well.

I also picked up one of those tripod things so I could use a spare iPod Touch to video myself. I’ve wanted to do some form checks. Squat form was pretty good. Depth good. Bar path good. I’m going to review them again, but quick checks was positive. The main thing I wanted to look at was my deadlift, because while I FEEL like I’ve got a flat back, I’m not sure I do.

Sure enough, I don’t.

But that said, I think there may be a physiology reality here — that may just be as flat as I can get. Granted, I do think I can greatly improve my glute/hamstring flexibility, and that’s something I’m working on. But I think I’m as flat as my body lets me get. Still, I was able to tweak it a bit — basically feel like I’m arching my lower back hard, and that gets me flatter (flatter – no actual arch, just feels that way). So, video was good. I’m going to continue to video as I can.

Anyways, blah. Today was what it was. Not thrilled, but something positive came out of it.

• Squat
  • bar x 5
  • 135 x 5
  • 175 x 4
  • 205 x 3
  • 255 x 2
  • 285 x 1
  • 315 x 1
  • 335 x 1
  • 305 x 3
  • 265 x 8 (AMRAP)
• Deadlift (conventional)
  • 135 x 3
  • 225 x 3
  • 315 x 3
  • 335 x 3
  • 335 x 3
  • 335 x 3
  • 335 x 3
  • 335 x 3
• Bodyweight Squats
  • BW x 30
  • BW x 20
  • BW x 10
  • BW x 10