July 24th and 25th - A warmup day, then a lightened Deadlift day - cardio improved

 24.07.2026

Decided that I have not recovered well enough for DL. Yesterday's Bench was pretty bomb!

Just a warmup day.

Overhead stretches with a stick, wall pushups - actually a bunch of sets. Floor pushup static holds in various positions and grips, including "eagle claw". "Bird dog" - I liked it a lot, never actually done it with intent. I can feel my obliques and my internal pressure on it. Another set and eventually I tried one-sided bird-dog - easy on my left side, hard on my right side - mostly because of my foot.

Also I did some kneeling and stretching yesterday, kneeling on the balls of my foot as well as upper side; sat on my heels, used the pillow - it was pretty intense, my old injury got pretty fatigued from all the stretch. Old as in 10 months old lol, the ankle cut.

Parallettes - pushups holds, JM-style micropushups for many reps (pec cramp!), standing Cricket pushups - you can actually shift your weight onto your arms when your do them! Second set of Pike/Cricket pushups - a few standing, then three with legs on bed - pretty hard!

25.07.2026

A lovely day. Slept and ate mediocre but feel good. Doing stuff on writing.

Deadlift

20 for 20

70 - 2 sets of 5

123 for 5

163 for 5 DOHG

203 for 5 mixed grip - awkward, feeling struck again - but not as bad as on recent sessions! I hope that my abstinence from unnecessary medication is helping. Starting to get covered in very fine sweat.

233 for 5 mixed grip - not bad, although the left hand isn't supinating that well. I suspect that the effort I have to put in grip translates into me unconsciously slowing down the bar so it doesn't fall.

I wanted to do 255,5 for 5 sets of 5. But seeing how I'm feeling, even though it is still a warmup I decided to make it easier and work up to it. So that way 233 was already the first working set.

238 for 5 - I liked it! All mixed grip. I usually take a couple centimeters wider of a grip when I do it mixed, so I'm gripping by the knurling.

I look so thin in the mirror today. Funny stuff! No appetite, no carbs, just meat and veggies I've been having. IT'S IMPORTANT to continue working out even when you're in your "usual" self like that! Also I've been feeling cold, sweat evaporating, weather more chill - gotta figure out the correct attire for the day when the weather starts changing. I simply had some tea to feel warmer.

243 for 5 - 2 mixed, 3 straps - not bad

248 for 5 straps - nice! I'm really happy with how cardio is doing, although the barbell still moves kinda slower than I imagine it should 😁

255,5 for 5 - very nice, I'm happy with the speed 😁 The set took 32 seconds, and I had just enough grit to walk back and rack it and get just a little knocked out lol.

ALSO I went back to folding my straps in two - so they're way shorter now. It's much better for me that way, the way I'm used to it.

I tore off a scab on my wrist I got a couple sessions ago. Don't like that! Don't want another scar. If it's not healed by the next session I should consider wearing some kind of soft wrist covers. It's the strap that caused it, nylon. And I wrapped it weird that time.

I wonder what happened to my feet ever since I made a switch to my new thicker crocs. They do feel like they enforce a better arch. Old ones are nice and smooth, I feel more in control when I walk in them but the outsides of my feet get kinda tired if I stand in them.

You know, I do have a tag for cardio, funny stuff! I do mention it a lot and I even do it sometimes but I think I haven't applied it in years.

RPotD - Closeup of brown basmati rice