RENO '05. Hop on !

[Reno_1ted]

Well, a new year traditionally means a new start, new goals, resolutions and all that other stuff. The gym will be packed full of fresh faces, eager and motivated to get in shape. By february, it will unfortunaty be back to the usual old faces.

Just before the holiday break, my body felt like it was in trouble. A tough regime of rugby training, gym training, dieting, working at a new job etc etc had taken its toll, not least of all to my shoulder, which had become rather painful. With many a person here having really bad shoulder injuries, it worries me bit. So all in all, i decided to take 2 whole weeks off from everything and get back on track in the new year. Since april 04, i have watched everything i ate, i have cut, bulked, trained and made 1st team rugby, all in 9 months or so. So its no wonder that my body was rebelling. So for the last two weeks i have eaten whatever and whenever, and have only had one bought of physical excersize the whole time. And now i feel ready to carry on with my goals. I have gained some weight, but i dont really fret about that anymore, as my goals are now based on excelling at rugby and becoming strong, fit and fast.

My plan is to eat like im bulking, but try and burn off as many calories as i can. Hopefully this will result in a decent looking physique, but we shall see. I plan to train at the gym three times a week, rugby train once a week, and begin sprint training at a local athletics club. Im not a morning person, but intend on doing 20mins core body work every weekday morning. And i intend to have sunday's off.

I think the key to all this is going to be recovery and injury prevention. That means lots of stretching before and after EVERY session. Im going to ask about this at the athletics club meet tomorrow (tuesday).

Well, its going to be interesting to see what happens with this mix.

Heres to 2005 !

[Reno_1ted]

ARRGGHHH !

My first day back at the gym. Ready to rock, pumped and feeling strong. Do full 10 mins cardio warmup, then light stretching and shoulder rolling. (Delts day).

To kick off, its military press. Do 2 warmup sets as normal, then 2 weighted sets (ala MAXOT), then for my proper sets, i lowered the weight to allow for it being my first session in a few weeks.

So first set proper, first 4 reps are fine. They feel light, i feel good. Then BANG. I get a sharp shooting pain in my neck and stop the set. I tried another 2 sets but the neck gets worse. It then proceeds to get more and more painful. Movement of head is impossible. It hurt big time. So i left the gym straight away, so as not to aggrivate the problem further. By the time i was dressed and in my car, the pain was leading me to feel dizzy, so i went to the A&E and had it looked at.

Turns out its just a pulled muscle / s in my neck, god knows what caused it, but it hurt like f##k. And a day later, whilst its better, it still hurts. So no gym for a while, no rugby for a while and no sprint training for a while. I hope it gets better soon. Its depressing not to be able to play rugby or train.

Well, guess ill see you tomorrow.

[slush_puppy]

Ugh, I know that pain... I can't do military presses myself for the same reason. I have them listed in my workout, but I do a modified version where I have the bench at about 70-75 degrees instead of 90. It doesn't hit the delts quite as squarely as the military press, but it keeps my neck and upper back from cinching up like that.

It took a long time to realize that it was the military press doing it, too. Usually it would happen sometime shortly after my workout, and my neck/upper back area would just sieze up while doing something like reaching up for somthing in the cabinet. One time it did that while actually doing the military press and I decided to modify it, and I haven't had any problems since.

Give it a couple of days and it'll feel better, at least you didn't damage anything more permanently!

[Reno_1ted]

True Slush, very true. It could have been a whole lot worse.

Went to rugby training last night and watched from the side lines, if only to show my face and let people know im still in this team, and not to be thinking of taking my place permenantly. I spoke to the coach, who was happy enough to let me rest up this week and appreciated me turning up depsite not being able to train. Unfortunatly, standing in the freezing cold for 1 1/2 hours has made my very minor sniffles a fully blown cold. So now i feel a heck of a lot worse. But it was worth it. I really wanna keep my place in the first team, im loving it right now. Hopefully ill be back to full fitness in a week or so. Until then, guess its just rest and recovery for me.

A plus of playing rugby for a club is that you have access to a qualified physio gratis, so i am going for a session tomorrow (thursday) evening. Can have as many sessions as it takes, so that should help.

Oh and another bummer. My guitar amp has developed a rather loud buzzing sound. Great, given that repairs could take weeks, i cant even take it to the place to be looked at till next week, and we have 2 big gigs in liverpool this month ! Man, in the words of John Lennon, "No body told me there'd be days like this."

Laters guys

[marked]

I wonder if you have what's commonly turned "Wry Neck".

I got that 5 weeks before UK Indoor Rowing Champs and had to sit out for 4 weeks because of it (just doing One competitive pace row 3 days before the event).

I'm really sorry to hear it came back after 2 weeks off.

If it is what I'm thinking then once the most acute pain is over then you can train through the rest, but it is getting the confidence to do so.

As an FYI I had another bout of it this week on the other side (due to reading at a funny angle believe it or not - I did read 5 books between Xmas and New Year), and even though pain is still acute when I get up for 10 mins or so, doing Seated Rows, Wide grip pull ups, etc, isn't making it any worse - it is getting better each day, so hopefully yours will too.

Good Luck in making your new goals

[Reno_1ted]

Well, still no gym, but f##k me if the psysio wasnt the dogs bollocks !

I feel so much better !

The problem with my neck is connected to my shoulder problems, which stems from a back problem. So he has done some work on my neck, shoulders and back and i feel a whole lot better. My shoulders aint perfect, but they are improved, and im going back to see him for more work on thursday. I feel quite optimistic.

Im going to train tonight, but if anything starts to hurt, ill drop out.

My amp has stopped buzzing. Which is good. Plus, the band will be playing at a fairly large venue at the end of this month, in manchester, for the tsunami appeal. I dont know if its all unsigned acts or what, would be cool if there were a few known acts on to ! We have 2 gigs in liverpool the next two weekends, so we need to get practicing. I think were getting together friday to run through the set. Cant wait, i love playing live !

The diet is slowly but surely getting back on track, though its no where near as strict as it should be. Its gonna be tough going to the gym after all this time off. But at least things with my injury look ok.

Take it easy guys.

[Reno_1ted]

Well, today is hopefully the first day back. And i know its gonna be tough for the first few weeks, but i gotta crack it.

Last night i prepped all my food up etc and so far i have eaten according to plan.

Gym tonight will consist of cardio and light weights. Proper heavy training is going to be put on hold for a while, while i concentrate on rehabing and getting my body used to lifting again. I dont expect to have lost to much strength. So tonight is lightweight back and bi's. Should be good.

The weekend went well, our band played a gig at a place in liverpool, which went down really well. We all felt it could have been better, but everyone who was there seemed to disagree, and many of them i know not ot be "yes men" so to speak, so that was good. Also had a run out for the 3rd team at rugby, and we won. I played pretty well and my shoulders held up ok, but they are pretty sore today, along with a few others niggles, but hey, thats what happens when you dont play for over a month, your gonna be sore. Am sure ill live.

Going back for more physio in two weeks time. He really is working wonders.

My girlfriend and i are off to rome for a few days in March. Ive always wanted to see the collesium. Cant wait.

Work is pure hell right now. Dont get me wrong, i love the work, but its getting pretty darn busy now, and im working longer hours to make sure i get it all fitted in. When you work here for the first time, or are promoted or change roles, you get put on a three month probation period, after which time, you are either taken on or binned off. I know i wont be binned off, but there is also the chance of a payrise. My period is soon finished, so im working my ass off to make a good impression. I could do with some more dollar. (couldnt we all).

Well wish me luck. Lets hope this time, the gym doesnt leave me in A&E....

[Reno_1ted]

Well, yesterday was a brilliant day.

The gym went really well. I lifted very little weight in relation to my best lifts, and increased the reps from the 4-6 range to the 8-10 range. It was actually pretty tough to get 10 reps out, even on low weights. Not tough strength wise, but lactic endurance wise. Maybe this may do me some good.

Foodwise i did very well as well. Ate every meal and ate clean.

All in all, a very good 1st day back.

Today is going well to. I will be rugby training tonight, but will avoid the contact parts and just do the running about, ball skills etc. Am quite looking forward to it, though it bloody cold out there today !!!

Read Johns update today. I probably would have skipped the workout. He always amazes me. Gives me thought about myself. Which is always a plus.

Have a good day.

[Reno_1ted]

Hey hey,

Well, things are going ok. I managed two weight sessions (very light, higher rep sessions), rugby training and a rugby match last week. The shoulders are feeling good, but i aint gonna push it, just keep going a week at a time.

With lifting such low weights, i am struggling to justify the amount of food im eating. I aint gonna be putting any muscle on, as i cant lift very much weight, so i think its time for a long overdue cut !!!

I aint cut up since last summer, but it is what i do best and what i feel is easiest to stick to. I know what i need to do and what works for me. So as of today, 25/1/05 (or 1/25/05 if your american...i hate that date format! ) im cutting. No need to go into details, but post here if u got any questions. Befores will be taken tonight hopefully. Stay tuned.

Im excited.


Back to the real world, the band went down a storm last friday night, we proper rocked ! We can improve still, especially the backing vocals which were at time shocking ! Oh well, cant be a guitar legend and a great singer can i ?

We lost again at rugby, in a match we really should have won. With not long to go, we were in the lead, until one of our players stamped on someones head, and was sent off, meaning we were a man down, and our heads went down, and we lost by a few points. Sickening. Oh well.

[ABguy]

Good luck on the cut. I could use the company.....seems like everyone is bulking these days.

How's the neck holding up ?

[Reno_1ted]

Funny, i was thinking everyone was back onto cutting.

Neck is ok now, but its the shoulder problem that is the issue. Thats what caused the neck to go. One step at a time mate...

[Reno_1ted]

Well at last january is over and done with. Good riddance. Ive never liked January.

February brings positive vibes to my table. Yesterdays pecs and delts and tri's was great. I still kept it on the lighter weight, higher reps side, but felt like id pushed myself a bit, which is a good feeling. Also feel like im at last getting back into the swing of things again. Still a way to go though. I was so tempted to just rack up the bench and push out 6 of the best, but i refrained and instead pushed out 10 of the best, all be it on a lighter weight.

Diet is getting better to. Am back to my tried and tested cutting diet, but with an extra afternoon protien meal (usually sliced turkey) to keep the LBM happy. Am seeing slightly more definition this week, but then its early days and im in no rush. Summer aint here for a while.

Things are up in the air with the band this week. The drummer seems to be unable to move forward and progress and try new things. Not good. His mother has not been well though, so perhaps its that that is bothering him.

Last weekend, we suffered our worst defeat all season. For whatever reason i started on the bench, but by the time i hit the field, it was to late to make a difference, and we were run out by a better class of side. I think, as we have a new young team, we will go down this season, but if we can keep hold of what weve got and build in the off season, then next season should be a whole lot better.

Hope your all cool and sticking to your goals.

Laters

[Dead-head]

Where do you play rugby?

[Andrew M]

Well Ted, do you think England have a chance this year? Captain Johnny is probably still fragile, and certainly lacking in recent match fitness/experience, and there is a whole catalogue of other injured players. I've a feeling that this could be Ireland's year (assuming that we don't get cocky and make an arse of it).

1 Second row, we have 2 or 3 of the Lion's choices.
2 The tight 5 as a whole are an excellent unit, probably second best to England's.
3 Ronan O'Gara / David Humphreys. Take your pick really, two of the best #10s around (still not a patch on a fully fit Wilkinson though).
4 Brian O'Driscoll.
5 Brian O'Driscoll alongside Gordon D'Arcy, perhaps the best 2 centres in the 6 nations.
6 Geordan Murphy. He wasn't fit last year, and we won the triple crown....

France, as always will be the team to beat with England not on top form, but we have them (and England for that matter) at Lansdowne Road, and it certainly might be all green come March.

Andrew

[Reno_1ted]

Just checking on to say that things feel pretty good at the moment. I have some good doms, which i havent had for months !!! My diet is getting better, and im starting to see results.




England are a whole new team, less then 5 players who played in the world cup final ? And with this new side, we came close to beating Austrailia ? Ireland will be a tough one, it always is, but i think we will provail. Im more worried by france.

I think we have a better fly half in Charlie, but, ill give you the centres, especially d'arcy, he is just awsome. Will be a good game.


I play rugby in the north west of England, unless you mean where in the team, in which case i play on the wing.