We are in the 14th week on this journey. What I love about each week is that you never know what to expect. It has added a little spice to the week, as oppose the the mundane workouts I was accustomed to on my own before hand. Who will I be training with? What exercises will I have? Will it be Vinnie with his supersets? Lee and his single leg, leg press? It was neither…..it was the Big Man himself Davy F’N Jones!
Session 1 :
Do you mind training with me? A message from Davy ahead of Tuesdays session. I have done this once, and it ended up being a two hour session. Of course says I. Who would not want to train with one of Ireland’s strongest men? I knew that chest was not on the cards anyway, Davy likes to operate down stairs away from the bench press, on these days, where all the big plates are. So I knew some dead lifting and squats were what was on the menu. It had been a few weeks since my last workout like this, so I was intrigued. Supersets went out the window, with the idea of longer rest periods allowing you to perform better on a heavier set.
I did not lift anything staggering unlike my training partner, but it was alot better then last time I went at it. Don’t look at others and compare yourself. Compare yourself with a past version of yourself and aim to be better. I liked changing it up to be honest, putting on the weight belt and all that. I still have marks around my waist from it, and that is five days later. Drenching your hands in chalk so you can get a better grasp of the bar, it was a raw primal feeling, that is hard to describe. It even seems like you sweat differently during it, you put everything into this small gap of time, and try and burst through it. Then serenity when the blue spots fade from your vision. It is hard to breathe during it, trying to keep your core tense and strong as the lift or squat happens. Blood rushing to your face, leaving you weak in your legs, until you drop the weight and everything rushes back into place. Training like that is a different animal man.
Session 2 :
Speaking of animals, I was a wounded one come Thursday’s Leg day. Between the heavy session on Tuesday and running, my legs were stressed out! It was planned for a lower weighted day, taking any stress off my spine after the dead lifting. Any weight was too much in my opinion that day. It was an enjoyable day none the less. Time under tension was utilized again, this time with much greater control. Seeing the progression throughout the weeks come to life on the leg press was really encouraging. Particularly as from a body aesthetic I still tend to get down on myself. Like Golum in the Lord of the Rings, I can be upbeat and positive and then that little voice chimes with its unhelpful message. It can tend to get you down if you listen to it, and I have many a time, which in turn manifests unhealthy behaviors. Crash dieting, training injured, drinking, lack of sleep, burnout. I have been there numerous times.
However doing the time under tension leg press, and being able to tolerate it much better then last time, resulted in a big dopamine hit in the brain. Little moments like that make it all worth it.
Session 3 :
Shoulder pressing. Get that weight on your shoulders and press it over your head, do that numerous times and then add weight and do it again, and again, and again. The view today was to work a specific part of the shoulder muscle. I think it was my deltoids, leaving the traps alone for another day. The fatigue would naturally set in with the volume of presses , I think all in all I pressed 130 times in various different forms. This had a knock on effect on my arm workout, I could feel any curls were going to suffer as I was beat. The glamour muscles got done and that was me for the week done. Next week should be interesting what with my working schedule going all over the place. Need to stay consistent though, as that little voice will become louder and louder as the weeks progress and I dont get that hit of dopamine.
If you want to make a change, you can contact Davy on 0892528904 or email [email protected].
