Cylon357's Super Cool Covid 2020 Weight loss comp log!

[wango]

I seem to be making it ok. I woke up night before last on fire with fever. I was like "damn, I have the sheets so hot I have to roll out of this spot". Now, I'm trending better, though medicated at the moment. Maybe another couple of days? Idk for sure.

Still no word on the test results.

Thanks for checking in!

Glad things are looking better. I think it’s going to be a rough few months for lots of folks. Hang in there.

[Cylon357]

Glad things are looking better. I think it’s going to be a rough few months for lots of folks. Hang in there.

I'm making it brother! Feeling better, and the past two nights I have woken up in the middle of the night and thought "hmm, I might be over this", only to wake up feeling not quite right. Still, just a little congestion and a slight cough, but much better.

I did get my test results back today, and I was in fact positive for Covid. But, having been fully vaccinated and boosted, I think I've done relatively well. And with any luck, may have some additional immune system strength against the bugger.

[Cylon357]

Not a lot going on, trying to get my walks in until covid leaves me enough to let me get back at the weights properly. I'm tons better but not yet best, and will probably do a light weight workout this evening.

On another note, we have two rescued cats now. One was a true feral that we have almost tamed, the other was an abandoned kitty that we have taken in. The feral, Dottie, will let me pet her most of the time and spends more and more time indoors. The abandoned kitty, Boots, was very reluctant to adopt us but now hasn't been out of the house in about 2 weeks.

That said, there are issues, most particularly them getting used to each other. They haven't resorted to violence to date, but there has been a lot of "name calling". That seems to be trending down, and last night we had a first!

Dottie on the left, Boots on the right.

[wango]

Not a lot going on, trying to get my walks in until covid leaves me enough to let me get back at the weights properly. I'm tons better but not yet best, and will probably do a light weight workout this evening.

On another note, we have two rescued cats now. One was a true feral that we have almost tamed, the other was an abandoned kitty that we have taken in. The feral, Dottie, will let me pet her most of the time and spends more and more time indoors. The abandoned kitty, Boots, was very reluctant to adopt us but now hasn't been out of the house in about 2 weeks.

That said, there are issues, most particularly them getting used to each other. They haven't resorted to violence to date, but there has been a lot of "name calling". That seems to be trending down, and last night we had a first!

Dottie on the left, Boots on the right.

Beautiful pic, great story! My wife is ready for 1-2 rescues, but my heart isn’t ready. Happy to hear that you are on the mend.

[Cylon357]

Ok, so the Omicron seems to be mostly done with me now. Some drainage, a mild cough from the drainage sometimes, but tons better. I will hit the weights tomorrow or maybe later tonight.

I have been getting in walks though, so I haven't been entirely sedentary for the past 2 weeks.

You know, chances are good I will barely get off the couch today as there are football playoffs all day and part of the night, so chances are, tomorrow is when I get back at the weights.

[wango]

Ok, so the Omicron seems to be mostly done with me now. Some drainage, a mild cough from the drainage sometimes, but tons better. I will hit the weights tomorrow or maybe later tonight.

I have been getting in walks though, so I haven't been entirely sedentary for the past 2 weeks.

You know, chances are good I will barely get off the couch today as there are football playoffs all day and part of the night, so chances are, tomorrow is when I get back at the weights.

Further improvement, congrats!

I know it was tough to slip in a workout during the Philly - Tampa Bay game. I couldn’t step away from that tv, it was one heck of a nail biter. Same with the ever so suspenseful KC - Pittsburg game .

I know for me personally, I am going to take all of that intrigue and funnel that energy into this morning’s workout.

[Cylon357]

So I feel basically over the Covid-19 infection now. Yay! Of course and I mean OF COURSE, I picked up a secondary infection, including an ear ache from hell. That's OK, I started treatment for that yesterday and it won't keep me out of the weight room tonight.

What's that? Didn't I say I was going to work out LAST night? Well, yes I did, but I got busy with other stuff, including finally assembling my lat pulldown machine. The brand is "El Cheapo - a Walmart Exclusive" but it seems to be functional and I will put it through its paces tonight. Bad pic attached.

[Cylon357]

Had my first weight workout in about 2 weeks today, yay! Kept it simple and light'ish, and put the new piece of equipment to use. The verdict: as it stands right now, it's fine for pulldowns, OK for low rows, but not usable for heavy curls from the low pulley. I may need to bolt / strap it down. It is lightweight, and for a hair less than $200 delivered, it will do. It is probably fine for pushdowns, though I haven't tried that yet.

Workout consisted of a 1 mile walk to warm up, then "Pulldown Fest 2022". I did a total of about 10 sets, keeping the reps in the 9 to 12 range. I varied the grip with the assorted attachments I have and it did fine as a pulldown machine. I switched to low rows next, did maybe 8 sets in total, same rep range. It did OK at this, but I may just need to get things setup better in my weight room.

2 sets of ez curl bar curls, 2 sets of light dumbell curls, alternated with calf raises with the kettle bells wrapped the weights. 3/4 mile walk to cool down, then shower, food and chilling now.

BTW, I got a Fitbit around Christmas. It seems to misinterpret calf raises as going up stairs

[Cylon357]

Second weight day post Covid in the books. Kept it short and simple.

Chest day was barbell bench press, 8 sets or so. I did do one set close grip and that kind of pre-exhausted the triceps a bit. Not what I was planning but that's how it went down. Moved on to dips, 3x8 no weight. Finished out with pushrods, 4x10.

Told you I kept it short and simple

One mile walk to warm up, one mile to cool down and life is good!

[Cylon357]

Alright so it has been a minute since I updated, but welcome back to the thread that never mf'ing ends.

Football had me occupied, then depressed yesterday, so no weights. But today, I squat. Not yet, but soon.

BTW, remember back a few months ago when Express PCT went out of business? I made a big order then, and just got it in. Stockpiling?
♫ Oh my my!
Oh hell yes! ♫
#TomPetty

But right now, I'm betting there are some folks a bit jelly of that 30,000iu (yeah baby, that's thirty thousand units) of HCG that we are looking at in the pic below! The rest of the haul is generic cialis at 5mg, generic viagra at 25mg, tamoxifen and raloxifene for the "just to have on hand if someday I need it". I know for an absolute FACT that their cialis is legit, and believe the viagra to be as well. Though to be honest, I still haven't used either for the boinking. I use the viagra as PWO sometimes and I added 5mg of C to my prescribed 5mg for a total of 10mg a day (5 am and 5 pm) and after 3 days was a walking boner. As exciting as that might sound, it was more of a hassle, and I dropped back to the 5mg a day and just having some extra on hand. At any rate, I suspect their cialis is legit.

[Cylon357]

Got my squat workout in but man, it barely qualifies as a workout. Still, I'm calling it a win, due to both a) still easing back into things post Covid and b) trying not to miss any football.

I did like 5 sets of squats, 3 sets calf raises, and 3 sets of pulldowns. Did "they" decide pulldowns behind the neck are a bad idea? I did some, felt like a good variation, but hadn't done them in years prior to tonight.

Also of note (maybe??), I'll be changing up the workouts after next week. I want one more week of easing back, then Hell starts. More details on that soon.

[Cylon357]

Good, but easy'ish back workout tonight. Well, it wasn't easy, exactly but rather simple. Similar to the one I did a few days ago for back.

Lat pull downs, various grips and attachments, probably 9x10-15. Did one arm dumbbell rows, 2 sets each arm. Moved on to low cable pulls for 3x10. Bicep curls with light dumbbells, 2x12 and then 1x8 ezcurl bar curls a bit heavier. Finished with kettle bell swings alternated with calf raises, not because there is synergy, just because it was convenient.

No walks tonight, it's rainy and cold (well, cool to the rest of the US) in our part of Central Florida. Protein, bagel with some sliced turkey and home made mayo and life is good, bothers and sisters!

[Cylon357]

Just a two mile, lightly weighted (20 lb vest), walk yesterday for some good LISS.

I started enclomiphene from Tailor Made at the beginning of the year. I think it is causing inflammation, particularly in my remaining hemi. I suspect it is caused by something in one of their fillers - their enclomiphene has an orange tint to it and kind of looks like it has baby aspirin mixed in with it. Anyhow, I suspect whatever they are filling it with seems to be inflammatory for me. I am going to stop it for a week or so to see if the inflammation goes away. I've got other SERMS on hand to take its place in that time, but my guess is that I will be seeing about getting enclo from another place like Empower.

I will add that at the beginning of the end of last year, I had about a week off, too. My numbers came down, but man, I could pee like a race horse! BPH is one of the things that I did not fully anticipate when I began my HRT journey / lab rat life.

I have a "neat" HIIT workout planned for today if the weather holds. More details on that shortly...

[Cylon357]

Got my HIIT routine done today. It was kind of cool. The bulk of the time was spent in the warm up (half mile) and cool down (one mile) walks, but in between, it got intense. Remember when I talked about buying those big a** tires? They got used today, Jack!

2, almost 3 rounds of the following:
30 body weight squats
30 small hammer swings (15 each, alternating with a hammer in each hand)
15 sledge hammer swings
30 mountain climbers (the calisthenic exercise)
quarter mile run

Doesn't seem like much, but it was intense. I did 2 full rounds, but in the third round, I dropped the run - I didn't really have the time or the gas left in the tank. My Fitbit was letting me know I was hitting all the goals, I was kind of like 'yeah, no sh!t, Sherlock. My racing heart, huffing breath and sweaty buttocks told the tale there' but it's all good. I kept the round count low because this is the last 'ease back into it' week post-Covid. Anyhow, short and sweet, I will up the rounds and do this as it's own workout, or keep the round count low and do it after squat or deadlift day (because evidently something ain't right in my head).

Life is good, sisters and brothers!

[Cylon357]

Remember those tires I mentioned? I bought 2 for 20 bucks ($10 each) from FB marketplace, just had to pick them up. They aren't big enough for flipping, unless maybe speed and reps are your thing, but do make for a fine hammer workout. This is one of them, plus the hammers I already had. The long handle is an 8 pounder, the two short handles are 4 pounders.

BTW, you should try swinging a hammer with your non dominant hand. Call it a bonus if you don't look like Pee Wee Herman trying to throw a football...

[Cylon357]

Come to think of it, if I strap both those tires together, to form one "Mega Go Go Ultra Tire", maybe they would be fine for flipping. Wouldn't want to tear up the yard, just to have The Wife flip ME :O

[wango]

Remember those tires I mentioned? I bought 2 for 20 bucks ($10 each) from FB marketplace, just had to pick them up. They aren't big enough for flipping, unless maybe speed and reps are your thing, but do make for a fine hammer workout. This is one of them, plus the hammers I already had. The long handle is an 8 pounder, the two short handles are 4 pounders.

BTW, you should try swinging a hammer with your non dominant hand. Call it a bonus if you don't look like Pee Wee Herman trying to throw a football...

Never thought of individual hammer motions. Truly BRILLIANT rotator cuff strengthening! Seriously, it was like a hundred light bulbs going off in my head, the second I read your words SMART, SMART, F’n SMART !!!

[Cylon357]

Good little workout today to in the next to last day of the easing back into it week. I tried things, man, some with more success than others.

I tried doing vertical leg presses with the landmine attachment. In short, not good. Too unstable with just one lever arm and having to maintain side to side balance. I'm thinking about something there, though...

Rest of it was front squats, dips, overhead press and some push downs, just to make sure I'm not all Fred Sanford when the real deal starts Tuesday.

Had pizza tonight, no beer but we had Screwdrivers made from fresh squeezed orange juice, with oranges from the neighbors trees. Man, that was tasty, and I had been pretty good nutritionally through the week.

Football conference championships tomorrow! Gotta finish the week before they start though. Once the games start, I will only leave the couch to grab food and go to the loo. TMI? Ain't nobody holding a gun to your head, people! Oh snap, actually, I guess it IS possible that they are... blink twice if you need help!

[Cylon357]

Just a bit over two and a half mile walk today. Headed into "watching football" mode, see y'all later

[Cylon357]

Never thought of individual hammer motions. Truly BRILLIANT rotator cuff strengthening! Seriously, it was like a hundred light bulbs going off in my head, the second I read your words SMART, SMART, F’n SMART !!!

Glad to be of service! You really don't need a tire that big, especially if you are swinging the smaller hammers. Just strike closer to the center of the tire where there is more give. A trip to Home Depot, then a quick stop at a used tire shop (or a regular installer that leaves their old ones unguarded) and you are in business.

Video yourself on those non-dominant hand swings. See if you don't look a little "Waterboy" on that side lol!

[wango]

Glad to be of service! You really don't need a tire that big, especially if you are swinging the smaller hammers. Just strike closer to the center of the tire where there is more give. A trip to Home Depot, then a quick stop at a used tire shop (or a regular installer that leaves their old ones unguarded) and you are in business.

Video yourself on those non-dominant hand swings. See if you don't look a little "Waterboy" on that side lol!

Oh my, lol. No, I had meant for younger, functioning & healthy shoulders. On my non-dominant side I can’t cock or lift my arm like that above my shoulder, even if it were an empty soup can. On my dominant and “good” shoulder, a soup can, but only 1/2 way back.

Actually, having a rubber pad behind and at head height attached to a wall would be ideal. It’s the cocking/striking backwards that really activates the RC. Then when the hammer bounces off the pad and shoots forward, slowing/controlling the hammer eccentrically is even more beneficial. Damn, plus the rhomboids, mid traps and spinal erectors are involved - an absurdly brilliant exercise. Glory days .

[wango]

Oh my, lol. No, I had meant for younger, functioning & healthy shoulders. On my non-dominant side I can’t cock or lift my arm like that above my shoulder, even if it were an empty soup can. On my dominant and “good” shoulder, a soup can, but only 1/2 way back.

Actually, having a rubber pad behind and at head height attached to a wall would be ideal. It’s the cocking/striking backwards that really activates the RC. Then when the hammer bounces off the pad and shoots forward, slowing/controlling the hammer eccentrically is even more beneficial. Damn, plus the rhomboids, mid traps and spinal erectors are involved - an absurdly brilliant exercise. Glory days .

Did I say soup can? I meant beer cans

[Cylon357]

Super simple squat day to kick this first official week off, back from Covid!

It really was simple.

Squats, calf raises, leg curls. Then a tri set sort of circuit of
15 kettle bell swings
5 pullups
8 dumbbell curls

No rhyme or reason to the circuit, except maybe the pullups followed by the curls.

1/2 mile to warm up, 1.2 miles to cool down. Protein, food, shower and now chilling!

[Cylon357]

Just a two mile walk today, with the 20lb vest. Tomorrow will be some form of HIIT, either the hammer thing or working the heavy bag. Who knows which?? We will see!

[Cylon357]

Got my HIIT done at lunch. Man, I thought I was gonna yak. Over hydrated and began thinking "hmm, am I about to resemble a 'water feature' here?" Worked out OK but it was touch and go for a minute.

1 minute of air squats
1 minute of alternate small hammer swings
1 minute of big hammer swings
1 minute of mountain clumbers
3 minute jog
90 seconds rest

4 rounds. The first started with no rest between exercises, but that slowly changes in the later rounds, like I would swing the hammer for 45 seconds, and try not to die for 15. I also just walked in the 4th round, but at that point, I was risking a "there he blows!" moment so I'm calling it a win. Half mile walk to warm up, 1 mile to cool down.

If I don't sleep well tonight, something wrong (well, wronger) with me...

Everything is good, y'all!

[wango]

Glad to see you are working out again, congrats!

[Cylon357]

Glad to see you are working out again, congrats!

Yeah the Covid-19 thing seems to have come and gone. Must have been omicron to be so RELATIVELY mild, but that is OK with me.

[Cylon357]

Just an easy walk yesterday in the "cold".

Today I did a nice little bench workout. Kept it simple: barbell bench, dips, dumbbell flyes, skull crushers - a lot of the usual suspects. I did do Arnold Presses for the shoulders and as a variation. It was fun.

1 mile walk to start, 1 mile walk to end and everything is good!

[Cylon357]

Quick update on the enclomiphene.

It seems to cause some inflammation, though that could be unrelated. Note that it is not likely enclo itself at fault here, if it is related to enclo at all, rather to some filler TMC uses. Working through that, more details as available.

That said, when I take enclo in the morning, that night, I'm going to be waking up with wood like I was 18. Like seriously, I could cut diamonds and also maybe "is this a problem?" type of wood. So it seems to at least have that going for it.

No bloodwork yet, and I need to resolve the inflammation thing. Not 100% saying the fillers are at fault, but it did seem to flare up when I started Tailor's enclomiphene.

That is all for now, today is an off day!

[Cylon357]

Back / deadlift workout today.

Started with pull downs to warm up some. Moved on to deads after that, just a few working sets, relatively light. Barbell rows followed, then moved to a couple of sets of front squats. Kept those light, then wrapped with calf raises and barbell curls.

Half mile walk to warm up, but it was cold and rainy, so no follow up to wrap.

[Cylon357]

Just a 2.5 mile walk today, finished in about 37 or 38 minutes, unweighted. This is good time for me, as I'm almost 5'7" tall. Good lunch time LISS.

I have HIIT on the agenda tomorrow, could be the tire / hammer thing, could be the punching bag, treadmill, climber thing. Only time will tell!

[wango]

Just a 2.5 mile walk today, finished in about 37 or 38 minutes, unweighted. This is good time for me, as I'm almost 5'7" tall. Good lunch time LISS.

I have HIIT on the agenda tomorrow, could be the tire / hammer thing, could be the punching bag, treadmill, climber thing. Only time will tell!

That’s a nice pace! Plus I really like how you have such a variety of options of workouts, keeps things fresh.

[Cylon357]

That’s a nice pace! Plus I really like how you have such a variety of options of workouts, keeps things fresh.

I was kind of getting grind-y with the same old for a bit, and not really making progress. This current scheme AT LEAST provides variation. Variety being the spice of life and all

[wango]

I was kind of getting grind-y with the same old for a bit, and not really making progress. This current scheme AT LEAST provides variation. Variety being the spice of life and all

Hey, it’s got to be fun. Planet Fitness really saved me, perfect gym at the perfect time because on many days I really am looking for excuses to not work out. And it’s getting too easy to rationalize passing on workouts .

[Cylon357]

So I sort of audibled on today's workout.

I actually slept pretty well and woke up initially around 7:15am, when I don't have to be on the job until 9:30. I work from home, so this literally means as long as I am wrapped up and ready for my work day by 9:25, I'm good to go.

Saying all that to say, I saw the clock said 7:15 and thought 'hey, I will get up and do my HIIT first thing! Cool!'

Then I looked at the temp: 41 degrees. Here in Florida, we consider that 'almost fatally cold'.

So I slept in a bit.

Around 12:15 it was in the mid to upper 60's. Lunch time HIIT it is! But what? What?!?!


I decided to move things around, so I did something like this:

1 mile to warm up (last half was alternating jog and walk for an eighth mile at a time)

Then 4 rounds of this:
Air squats 45 seconds
Small hammer swings 45 seconds
Big hammer swings 45 seconds
Mountain climbers 45 seconds
1 minute rest

So, total work time was 12 minutes, with 4 minutes rest. I mile walk to cool down and get in some LISS and I was done.

I got a Fitbit recently and it is handy for keeping track of heart rate, steps, etc. Since it is new to me, I'm in the 'golly gee wow' phase, but it serves as motivation so it's all good.

Friday is an off day, then I have Overhead press on Saturday, and LISS or MISS on Sunday, before the Super Bowl of course!

[Cylon357]

Good if kind of short, overhead press workout tonight. I had worked in the yard some, well, actually washing windows and mistimed my meals. But, I got in there and got it done.

Started with a 1 mile brisk walk to warm up.

Then did overhead press, dips, shrugs, pushdowns and calf raises.

1 mile brisk walk to get some more LISS.

And boom, that was it. I did take an injection of ModGRF 1-29 and Ipamorelin @ 100mcg each post workout, just trying to spike that post workout GH spike. I really think this combo is better at night, will try some tomorrow maybe and see how that sits with me now.

I'm also going to start another run of TB-500 and BPC-157, partly to help with some inflammation and party to help with a few nagging spots. That will begin tomorrow and right now, I have enough on hand for 2 weeks, I think. I will be ordering some more soon, I guess.

Pizza to wrap the day, and now chilling with The Wife. Life is good!

[wango]

good if kind of short, overhead press workout tonight. I had worked in the yard some, well, actually washing windows and mistimed my meals. But, i got in there and got it done.

Started with a 1 mile brisk walk to warm up.

Then did overhead press, dips, shrugs, pushdowns and calf raises.

1 mile brisk walk to get some more liss.

And boom, that was it. I did take an injection of modgrf 1-29 and ipamorelin @ 100mcg each post workout, just trying to spike that post workout gh spike. I really think this combo is better at night, will try some tomorrow maybe and see how that sits with me now.

I'm also going to start another run of tb-500 and bpc-157, partly to help with some inflammation and party to help with a few nagging spots. That will begin tomorrow and right now, i have enough on hand for 2 weeks, i think. I will be ordering some more soon, i guess.

Pizza to wrap the day, and now chilling with the wife. Life is good!

pizza!

[Cylon357]

Squat workout today, yay!

Started with squats, kept it relatively light still, but a little heavier than I had been doing. 2x6 for work sets, then a lighter set with a narrow stance.

Calf raises which, btw, I'm pretty sure the fitbit interprets as going up stairs. I show as climbing 100 flights of stairs today. I have climbed no stairs. But, whatever I will take it. 3x20-25.

Leg curls, again, just to make sure I don't neglect the hammies, 3x10 and then 2x8 hip thrusters. Yeah, yeah, it looks like I'm humpin' the air with a barbell on my lap, but all other things equal, the one with the biggest glutes wins. I'm in no danger of winning anything, but hey, whatever motivates you, man. Also, perhaps if I had a "bar belle" on my lap, I would get more cardio. I would probably also get more murdered by The Wife, so there is that....

Did some chinups to warm the back, 3x6 and it was good for the weight-y portion of the workout.

Did sort of a brief HIIT finisher consisting of 3 rounds of
2 minutes on the treadmill at a 10 minute mile pace
15 kettlebell swings
1 minute rest

The Fitbit lets me set work and rest intervals but not multiple of each. In other words, I had to say the work interval was 2:30 and the rest interval was 1:00. That might I could not dawdle going from treadmilll to kettlebell swings... The rule was: I have to get the 15 swings, THEN the rest period starts. Cut into by a couple of seconds each time, just more incentive to move right along.

1/2 mile walk to warm up, 1/2 mile+ to cool down, now eating some turkey wraps with spinach, whole kernel corn, black beans and salsa. Nice healthy'ish meal. Well, more healthy than a ground beef cheeseburger, with two patties of 1/4 pound meat, 3 cheeses and home made mayonaise.... dammit, WTF is wrong with me??!!? Hide the hamburger!

[wango]

Great workout! That burger sounds damn tasty, however (though sad to say) the turkey wrap w/spinach was more healthy. Wise choice, grasshopper.

[Cylon357]

Bench press workout. I was not feeling it, but went in there and got something did.

Barbell bench press, dips, flyes and push downs was all there was tonight. But I felt each exercise so that's a plus. 1 mile walk to warm up and a half mile to cool down.

Th-th-th-that's all, folks!