Progress, Progress!

My workouts have been very consistent so far this month. My running is still limited because of this stubborn heel problem but it is getting better. I've been really hitting the weights hard and I'm seeing some good progress. I do have some good goals to hit before the end of this year and here they are...

Weight Loss - 30pounds
Running - Run a 5k and a 10k race
Grip Training - close the #2 & #2.5
Bench Press - 245

The 30 pound weight loss is a bit aggressive but we'll see how it shakes out. Hopefully my heel will hold up and the doc doesn't tell me something I don't want to hear. I did have a great lifting session this afternoon...

Bench Press
135x10
155x10
165x10
185x10 PR
205x6
215x3

Weighted Crunches (Machine)
50x10
70x10
90x10
110x10
130x10
150x10

LatPulldown
85x10
100x10
120x10
140x6

Hammer Curls
30's x 10
35's x 10
45's x 10
50's x 10

Plate Pinching
Right - Two 10's x 10, Two 10's and a 5 plate x 10
Left - Two 10's x 10, Two 10's and a 5 plate x 10

Seated Bicep Curl
25 x 10
35 x 10
45 x 10
55 x 10

Incline Press Machine
98 x 10
118 x 10
148 x 10
188 x 8

Moving closer to my goal of benching 245 before the end of the year. I need to do a one rep max to see where I'm at. I think I'm probably at 225-230 right now, so 20 more pounds in two and half months. The consistent grip training has been a huge help to me in the gym. I'm now crushing just under 200 pounds with the right hand and about 175 or so with the left. I did get 3 new grippers for my birthday and one of those was the #2.5 from Captains of Crush a 240 pound gripper. All I have to say is wow what a nasty little gripper and it feels alot harder then 240 pounds. I've also added some plate pinching to my workouts, all you do is just grab a couple of plates, flip them around so the smooth side is out, here is a good example of plate pinching.



I'm also going to incorporate some blob training. Here is an example of blob training...



Blob and plate pinching are tools that will help forearm and hand strength and get me to my ultimate goal of closing the #3 Captains of Crush gripper and certifying.

***********Non-fitness realted news************
My grandfather is now being moved from the hospital back to his nursing home where he will get hospice care just to make him comfortable. He can no longer swallow anything and does not want any tubes with any kind of nutrition period. So now its just a matter of time, a matter that only God is in control of.

" Beware of six enemies of progress- sleep, torpor, fear, mourn, laziness and procrastination. If you win over them, you will be the king of your own wishes."