STRONG!

[shanmonster]

It's time for the monthly progress photos, but I'm waiting for the weekend so knightky can get his done with mine.

I woke up at 5 this morning specifically to go to the gym. Why so early? Because tomorrow, I'm teaching a 6:30 fitness "boot camp" class at the gym where I work. I'm filling in for the usual instructor while he bums around in Cuba. I'll be doing another 6:30 am class on Monday.

Although I am decidedly not a morning person, I actually did enjoy my workout once I got to the gym. I had the place almost to myself, and although I was sluggish and slow to get going, I was not weak. I increased the weights on almost every exercise. I'm not ready to increase the bent-over rows and the reverse-grip bicep curls, but everything else went up by a minimum of five pounds. My calf raises jumped from 410 lbs to 430 lbs. The machine maxes out in another 20 pounds, and then I guess I'll have to find an alternative. Maybe the leg press for calf raises?

I've gotta say, in all my time working out at the gym, I've only seen one person do heavier weights than me on calf raises, and his legs look like massive tree trunks. How on earth are my slim gams shoving around that much weight? Are my muscles made of magic?

I have no idea just how strong I am. knightky says I'm stronger than him. I'm not so sure about that. Pound for pound, yes, but I suspect I'm far closer to my maximum potential than he is. I'm beginning to wonder, however, just how well I'd do at a Strong Man competition. I am pretty mighty, over all. I may be even stronger than I think.

And now for something completely different:

Comments

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I feel like ass today (caught something on the plane ride home this weekend), but your post inspired me to not cancel my session with my trainer tonight. RAWR.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

RARR!!!

[etcet.livejournal.com]

Calves are a lot stronger than most folks think - the machine at my office goes up to 400#, and a couple folks doing sets of 20-25 is not uncommon.

The leg press machine can be, unfortunately, a little bit misleading - depending on the angle at which you're pushing the weights up (most machines are either at 30 or 45 degrees), you need to use a coefficient to get the equivalent amount of vertical thrust (as if you were doing a squat). I believe it's 50% for the 30 degree incline, and 65% for the 45.

supporting links:
- http://drsquat.com/content/good-question
- http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/shannon1.htm

(according to that second one, it's actually a sin function, and that chunk of my algebra met its untimely demise during the beery days of college)

All of which is still a preamble to saying: You Go, Girl. :-)

Weigh & Measure this weekend for me, too... I totally fell off the workout blogging bandwagon for all of October (though my journal is filled with my numeric scribbles).

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am doing squats. I do front squats. Admittedly, it's in a rack, but I don't feel confident holding that much weight freehand without a spotter, and alas, I have no training buddy. So I err on the side of personal safety....

I haven't tried using a leg press in several years, because I understand the squat is a superior exercise.

But when it comes to calf raises, I'm a little perplexed as to how to increase the weight safely. What I can handle with my calves with ease, I am less able to wield across my shoulders. Especially without a mighty spotter. So, what are my options, once I've maxed out the sitting calf raise machine? (I still don't know the technical term for that piece of equipment.)

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I think using the leg press for calf raises is a great idea. You'll just have to load it with what looks like a ridiculous amount of weight - start at 500# and keep adding plates until it feels heavy enough. :-)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me.

[lordjulius.livejournal.com]

Can you up the difficulty by doing the calf raises one legged? Not sure if that works seated, I am only familiar with standing calf raises.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Possibly? Might give it a shot tomorrow at a significantly reduced weight to see what placement I'd need.