Still on the Right Side of the Grass

[gymdad150]

Finally took the plunge after being a long time SS poster, and BBM follower. Originally started with Mehdi (gasp) at Stronglifts...until he went the pay route. I may still post at SS, and I'll still post at BBM...but it's awfully quiet there.

Used to train on my own until about four years ago. My lifts were going nowhere, and I needed a place to train where I could get coaching, and programming help. Since joining my "new" gym, I've become a competitive Raw Masters 3 lifter. I've taken my lifts from quarter Squats, bridged Benches and mediocre Deads, to lifts I'm proud of...well maybe not the Bench

Age: coming up on 65
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 200lbs
Time Under The Bar: 15 years
Competing: USAPL Raw Masters 3, 3 years
Health: ehhh, being treated for Prostate Cancer a/o 11/19

Sq: 165kg
B: 97.5kg
D: 227.5kg
T: 487.5kg

I post on Instagram under gymdad150

[mgil]

Welcome aboard! Solid numbers.

[oldguy]

Yeah , nice job. Good to have you over here.

[slowmotion]

Welcome! Nice solid work!

[gymdad150]

Yeah , nice job. Good to have you over here.

Welcome! Nice solid work!

Welcome aboard! Solid numbers.

Thank you...

[gymdad150]

12/24/19

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

As I'm in the midst of treatments for prostate cancer, my training sessions are markedly different than what they would be were I training for a meet. At the moment, my coach has me working at 2/3 - 3/4 of what we would normally being doing. Depending on the day, I may go a little heavier, or add more reps...my own version of RPE. I'm also using Austin Baraki as my primary care doctor as I try to thread the needle between training and cancer treatments. He's been a godsend over the past two years.

Instead of a four day training week, I'm training three days. Additionally, I'm trying to get back on the Squash court at least one day a week, so that I can re-connect with old friends. I'm all about maintaining relationships at the moment...as I'm going through a divorce at the moment. I need as many friends as possible these days.

Anyway on to today's session:

Safety Bar Squat - 90kg 6*4
Tempo SBS - 77.5kg 6*4
Dumbbell RDLs - 90lbs 8*3
Tempo Belt Squat - 55kg 8*3
Knees to Chin - 10*4

The biggest issue I'm having (at the moment), is I'm winded as all get out. The treatment regimen has stolen my endurance, and my top end strength.
That said, today was a good session.

Merry Christmas "ya filthy animals"...

[mgil]

Keep up the good fight. Peeps are rooting for you.

[gymdad150]

12/26/19

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

Larsen Bench - 70kg *10, *7, *5, *5, *3
Wide Grip Larsen Bench - 65kg *10, *8, *6, *6
Belt Squat - 85kg 6*3
Tempo Incline Dumbbell Bench - 50lbs 8*4
Neutral Grip Pulldowns - 57,5kg 8*5
Hammer Curls - 60lbs 8*3

A little tired today. These damn hot flashes kept hitting me every 20-30 minutes last night, making sleep impossible. That said, I got my reps in.

[gymdad150]

12/28/19

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

Deadlift - 160kg 6*3
RDLs - 140kg 6*3

Bench - 62.5kg 8*3
Press - 47.5kg 5*3

Really tired today. The Deads just killed the rest of the session.

The "hot flashes" are still OUT.OF.CONTROL.

[gymdad150]

12/31/19

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

SBS - 100kg 6*4
Tempo SBS - 85kg 6*4
Dumbbell RDLs - 90lbs 8*3
Tempo Belt Squat - 65kg 6*3
Paloff Press - #9 10*4

Ending the year with a nice day under the bar. Just 'cause it feels heavy, doesn't mean it is heavy.

[gymdad150]

1/2/20

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

Hey, I got the date right without thinking about it #sharpasatack

Larsen Bench - 70kg *10, 8, 6, 6
Wide Grip Larsen Bench - 65kg *10, 8, 6, 6

Belt Squat - 90kg 6*4
Incline Dumbbell Bench - 60lbs *8, 8, 7, 8
Row - 70kg 8*4

Good session, more reps than last Bench session on the top work, used more weight on the assistance work

[gymdad150]

1/4/20

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

Deadlift - 170kg 6*3
RDLs - 145kg 6*3
Bench - 65kg 8*3
Press - 50kg 5*3

Last day of this cycle. Finished strong...winded, but strong. Had to take 7-8 minutes between sets on the Deads.

[Skid]

Keep up the good work! Kick that cancer in the you know what!

[slowmotion]

Nice work! Keep at it!

[gymdad150]

Nice work! Keep at it!

Keep up the good work! Kick that cancer in the you know what!

I'm in the eye of the hurricane at the moment. So I'm taking advantage of the good days whenever I can.

Thanks for the encouragement

[gymdad150]

1/7/20

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

Cycle 2

SBS - 110kg 7*3
Tempo SBS (5 count) 80kg 5*5
Belt Squat - 70kg 10*4

Reverse Flys - 25lbs 10*3
Dumbbell Press - 35lbs 10*3

Good day, even with the disrupted sleep due to the hot flashes.

[JohnHelton]

Following here, Chas and on instagram. What does your treatment look like? My wife's sister has stage 3 breast cancer and just started chemo at the end of November. She will have radiation after that in March. Tough sledding.

Keep kicking ass.

[gymdad150]

Following here, Chas and on instagram. What does your treatment look like? My wife's sister has stage 3 breast cancer and just started chemo at the end of November. She will have radiation after that in March. Tough sledding.

Keep kicking ass.

Thanks for the support John.

Treatment consists of a shot of a long term hormone suppressor/androgen blocker, and then (after a two month hiatus) 28 straight days of radiation treatments. The radiation appointments start on the 24th of January.

I'm classified as early/intermediate. They rolled out all sorts of algorithms (aka: reading tea leaves) to explain the biopsy findings.

As far as I know, there is no Chemo to this treatment program...if everything goes well.

And yes, Chemo is a rough go. My best wishes for your sister-in-law.

Surgery was not an optimal option, and the life expectancy between surgery and radiation were the same.

So we went with the less invasive approach. Interestingly, the same gene that marks breast cancer, is the same marker for prostate cancer. I had genetic testing done (as my older brother has PC), and this was one of the interesting pieces of information #themoreyouknow.

I continue to train as best I can, with a goal of getting back on the platform in 2021.

[gymdad150]

1/9/20

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

Cycle 2

Bench - 72.5kg 8*3
Spoto Bench - 60kg 8*4

HB Squat - 90kg 10*3
Pendley Row - 70kg 10*3
Dumbbell Incline Bench - 50lbs 10*3

First Hi Bar work in ages. It's like I forgot how to do the damn things. Other than that, a goodly amount of work and I handled it OK.

Oh, and my weight is back over 200lbs for the first time since Raw Natls...hurrah!

[gymdad150]

1/11/20

#kickcancerinthedick reps/sets

Cycle 2

Deadlift - 170kg 5*3
Wagon Wheel Deadlift - 150kg 5*4

Bench - 65kg 8*3
Press - 47.5kg 4*3
Reverse Fly - 30lbs 10*3
IYT - 10lbs 10*3

It was a little heavier than I expected, but the last set felt better than the first...maybe I didn't warm up enough...it's possible.

My weight has jumped in the last week, about 7 lbs. I'm a hard gainer, so this is quite unexpected. I checked in with Austin, and he informed me that this is to be expected considering the treatment regimen I'm on. Most people experience a gain in fat, and a loss of lean body mass...FML. I'll need to start a food diary, and really dial in my macros. That, and be as diligent as possible with my training.

Other than that, it was a good session...a lot of fun, as the gym was packed with people getting ready for a local meet in early February.