Where I've Been

I haven't posted in a while. Honestly, I had nearly forgotten about the old blog. My training has been, due to more important endeavors, nearly not worth mentioning since the start of Football season, then into Thanksgiving, and then I never get anything done between Thanksgiving and New Year's. So now here I sit, typing this and Tivo-ing through The Biggest Loser.

There was a four week stretch where I didn't touch a barbell, or a dumbbell, or a tire, or a stone. And now that I'm a little older, and hopefully a little wiser, I'm going to make it an annual habit of doing very little in the Month of December. So, from here on out I'm going to take a month off every year, it's good for me.

I've been back in the gym for two weeks now, and every drop of strength has returned. I'm focused. I'm looking forward to moving the weight and I just feel fresh. A step back, has turned into a step forward.

During that month off not only did I spend alot of time with family and friends, but I took a trip that will forever change my life. My beautiful wife and I flew to Russia and met our daughter for the very first time. We have been in the adoption process for two years now, and experienced nearly every high and low imaginable, and finally in early December we took a 10 day trip to Russia and got the ball rolling on bringing this little one home. She is a precious little two year old with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. She has endured more Hell in those two years than most people experience in a lifetime. There is alot to undo in her little heart, and we are resolved to complete the task. As my sister says all she needs is a little love and vitamins and she will be just fine. Given my wife's fantastic cooking skills at preparing some calorie dense, down home southern soul food, she is gonna plump right up. In late February we will travel back to Russia, go to court, and then bring her home. I could go on and on about our trip, but let me just say, if you're a praying person, please pray for us. Also, if you have the desire to adopt, do it... You will never be the same.

So that's it for me. I was on sebatical from training, now I'm back. I'll try and post more often.

Right now here is what I call the "Not as Young as I used to Be" training routine

Sunday afternoon
3-4 events

Tuesday morning
Squat (low volume, mostly dynamic)
Front Squat
1 Hamstring exercise (~30 reps)
1 Ab exercise (~30 reps)

Thursday morning
1 Pressing exercise
1 rowing exercise
1 bicep and 1 tricep exercise

Friday Morning
Deadlift (low volume)
1 low back exercise (GM's or hyperext.)

My gym days are pretty standard and low volume, stuff that I can recover from easily, then on Sunday afternoon I kill it and work 'til exhaustion on 3-4 events. Sleeping and eating like a Grizzly Bear is also in the mix... maybe some Advil too.