Cruise Week

I haven't posted in just about a week, and I don't really remember the numbers of what I did, but I can say that my cruise week exercises were enough to keep me busy.

I went to the gym on Wednesday and yesterday (Saturday) for my cruise week sessions, instead of my usual MWF gym days because I felt like taking a day off and just going when I felt like hitting the gym again.

Anyhow, for Wednesday's workout, I practiced some cleans (well, mostly just the jumping shrugs part) and deadlifts.  Did some easy (135 lbs) squats as soon as the squat rack was open.  Before both of those exercises, I actually did several sets of bodyweight dips and and close-grip, parallel bar pull-ups just because the squat area was full of people doing millions of sets.  It was really like a zoo.  I think I finished with some alternating grip BB curls and abs.  And called it a day.  I skipped direct calf work because the jumping shrug, deadlift, and squat seemed to have hit it fairly well...interestingly.

Friday night, I practiced the clean progression motions with a broomstick.  That was actually one of the best non-weight workouts I ever had in while.  Quite fun.  I just hope I was actually progressing, rather than learning everything wrong.

Onto Saturday's workout, I practiced more cleans (this time with the upright row and catching the bar) and did more deadlifts.  Right after that I did some easy squats followed by some wide grip pull-ups and weighted dips (25 lbs).  Finished up with some ab work and was outta the gym.  Again, I did not do direct calf work for the same reasons above.  I actually felt good not doing direct work because somehow the movements proved to be enough work for them.  We'll see how things go when I ramp up the workload.

As of now, I want to get learn the clean, but I definitely need a professional/coach to help me out.  Maybe I will seek the help once I reach J land.

As for the regular weight load, I'm thinking of hitting the gym Tuesday or earlier (Monday/today) depending on how I feel.

I will just end with this final note: lifting with actual weightlifting shoes is probably one of the best things I have done in a long time.