Almost a year since last post.

Faith in God, Always. 

SOBRIETY,  closing in on 4 years,  Jan 7th, 2017 sober date. I plan on living the rest of my life 100% sober.  

LIFTING HEAVY .gyms were shut down from 3rd week of March to July 1st or there abouts. Took a while to make my gains back to where I was at time of shut down. NBD. body's need to adapt to change. It sucked starting over at weight amounts that I use to warm up with were my max lift after shut down. 

VAN DWELLING,  life is good. just passed the 9 year mark back in August.  The pros far outweigh the cons. I cannot for see myself ever buying a house again, or even paying rent. maybe rent a room for short term if situation dictates. but doubtful.  I know all the pros and cons of home ownership.  I owned my house for 25 years.  Me and the bank of course. I got to pay all note and interest and also maintain the building for the true owners, bank and government.  Never again. Not even out west where some land is dirt cheap. no thanks. when I start to travel home will be where I park it. I get bored, I move on. The whole idea of owning land or a house  these days is not appealing to me. Its just something for the establishment to hold over your head and make you comply to their orders. Dont listen to us, we will take your house and auction  it. No thanks . I lived through the threat of that when I owed back taxes.  Literally was advised , pay up or your house is ours. Ok, I believe you. 

COMMERCIAL CRABBING and FISHING.  

Started out very good crabbing early season. Was selling crabs as fast as I could catch them. As season went on and temps got warmer the problem of deadloss became significant . I was iceing crabs down but still suffered too much.loss. So I didnt crab much of the summer , July and August mainly. Started again in September.  But was having problems with my gear. Long story. Did a good bit of eeling, learned a lot . Will be crabbing and eeling again next season. I plan on trotline crabbing along with using commercial crab pots. This will pay dividends.  The pots will be working for me while Im doing trotline crabbing.  I will check and empty pots 3 days a week , while trotline crabbing 2 or maybe 3 different  days . I will be checking eel pots on same trip as crab pots. They will be set in same area. 

      

Ideally I will work pots on Tues, Thurs and Sat or Sunday.  Trotline would be on alternate days of Fri and Saturday in early season.  As water temps warm I'll be able to trotline closer to home. In early season I have to drive about 70 miles each way  to crab . Its a pain but the money is there.  After July 4th or there abouts,  I'll be trotlining locally.  This makes life a Lot easier. I hope to have refrigeration before next season. That will be a game changer. 

My first experience of eeling was this past season.  Will be eeling for sale next season. I kept my catch this season. Salted and ready for crab bait next season.  Eels make excellent trotline crab bait. Not sure if they produce well in crab pots, if so I'll be using for bait there also. If not, I'll be selling eels as well as baiting my line with them. 

 

Christmas Day 2019

Its been a while since posting. Merry Christmas. 

     Still lifting regularly and with a purpose and goals. I just did back rack yesterday.  I ve been useing the 5x5s strong lift plan. This training plan delivers ! Im doing incline bench at 275lb for 5x5s,  and back rack 285lb 6x5s yesterday.  thats 30 reps at 285#. Yes, I had to emphasize that number. I am very proud of 30 reps at 285lbs.  Its still amusing to observe those observing me while I lift heavy weights.  😀. 

My plans or goals for over winter. I don't do New years resolutions.

 CUT BODY WEIGHT.  Yep, Im a power lifter and most are on the large size. ( belly included ) I want to drop at least 25 pounds by spring. Very do able. But will it affect my lifting strength ? I expect to some degree  , but not much.

BICYCLE TRAINING.  Yes it get cold around here but a 1 hours bike ride 3 or 4 times a week is possible thru much of the winter. This is not only good for leg strength and cardio but keeps the mood up as well. winter can get me in a foul assed mood, but a bike ride in cold air helps my outlook.  I plan on doing the airport loop around BWI , its a 12 mile loop with some moderate inclines or hills to give some challenge as opposed to the flat straight B&A bike trail.  

WEIGHT LIFTING   many goals but I ll just say this. I plan on keeping with the 5x5s  ( plus 3xs and 1s ) training for the foreseeable future. If I can add 5lbs a month to my workout weight on each of my main lifts I will be beyond happy.  who the hell wouldn't ? I find it amazing I was doing a self designed plan very similar before I ever learned of the renowned 5x5s  plan. I  was doing basically the plan but based it on the Prilepin's chart.  The results are shocking. I m lifting like I never dreamed I could.  25 reps on incline bench at 275#  ....... ?  After I do this workout I look at my log book and still can't believe Im doing it. 

TREADMILL, about 4 to 6 hours a week this winter, just to keep some cardio moving.  If bike riding that week treadmill time will be less. I  guess 8 hours a week combined is a good number. 

CURLS, yes. I need to focus on curls. I have big arms but will be better after a solid biceps training plan.  Noted. 

RUCK MARCHING - Hiking , throw the old backpack  on occasion.  I  have an abundance of places to do this. Noted. 

Tune up my B.O.B. and refresh on some prep /survival skills.  Not a winter project but definitely need to get squared away. Ive acquired some new to me bags and backpacks for this purpose.   This is a constant. Keep bags and plans current. 

Back Rack

banged out 325# today. Awesome breakthrough.  Did a 325# for 1 rep about a month ago. Today did 4 sets x2 reps.  It felt great. 7 plates stacked plus a 10lb to top it off.  Yep, it must look completely outrageous to watch me lift this weight. I warmed up with my  typical 225# x 10 reps for 1st set. had some eyes on me for that too.


#lifter#pumpingiron #gym #meathead #focus #powerlifter

120#s dumbells bench press

been working hard to get here. I did a set of 7 reps on 120#s several months ago. I didnt try the 120#s again until today . I have been putting in the base work for a while, several months at least. I decided today was the day. Im really happy about the achievement.  2 sets , 1-10, 1-9 reps.  this was on a 7 day split.  I prefer a 5 or 6 day split.  these 120#s were in my head.  same as a 300lb bench press gets in a lifters head. its a milestone and also a mental sticking point.  its just a number but its a very important one. a breakthrough,  more mentally then physically. 

#lifter #pumpingiron #gym #meathead

Roadtrek back from shop

It was in the shop the week of 10,7 thru 10 12 during which time I  was back in my Whiteford .Inn
Not exactly the hotel Ritz but liveable indeed. I  made a hasty transition taking minimal essentials from R.T. into whiteford thinking I would have my R T house back in a day or 2 at most. I should have known better,  I know how these things work but I was lazy. I had to make a trip to the shop and retrieve my mattress and put into whiteford.  I also picked up my instant coffee and coleman single burner cooker. I refuse to pay a coffe shop or convenience store for overpriced coffee .
 The front end noise was never diagnosed. Its there but they couldn't find what's causing it. Oh well, good news , front end is tight.
So glad to be back in my Roadtrek house. Stand up room can not be over rated. I  did 4 years in whiteford with a low roof, but after 4 years in Roadtrek Ive become spoiled.  There she sits on a rainy morning as I sit inside drinking my instant coffee .  Van Dwelling is Awesome. 

#roadtrek#vandwellers#fulltimerv#roadtrekliving#vans#vanner#vanlife

Roadtrek in shop

Ive been waiting for cooler weather to get some front end work on van. I didnt want sleep in my back up plan, the Whiteford Inn while temps were high. Doesn't have fans or airconditioner.  Made arrangements and dropped off Roadtrek this morning.  Before heading to the shop I grabbed a few essentials,  clothes, toiletries and my 29er Kona and put in whiteford.  Drove to shop dropped off Roadtrek and rode back on my Kona, short trip and almost decent roads as far as bike friendly.
The Whiteford has been used primarily as a storage unit for last 4 years and accumulated much junk. I spent about an hour cleaning and arranging things to make it useable as a place to sleep in tonight.
It was quick and simple. If I was planning a longer stay in whiteford I would bring my coleman1 burner,water jugs,  tea pot, portable radio , etc. but hopefully my Roadtrek will be finished by tomorrow.  The point is not only to be a mobile home but also have portability. 
 Also invaluable is having a bicycle with you and the ability to ride for moderate distance when necessary.  I guess moderate would be different for everyone but the ability to ride a solid hour without dieing is sufficient.  It's a pain in the ass to arrange a ride from friends for simple tasks such as dropping car at shop.

#roadtrek#vandwellers#vans#tinyhouse#whitefordinn#vansrule#rideyoubike

Sunday post, not the Newspaper.

Gym 0700, I really enjoy simple Sunday's these days. Unlike waking at 0300 to launch boat and go crabbing,I get to sleep in. Wake at 0530,  I get to gym by 0700 and start my back rack workout.
 I like the back rack but I m so frigging glad when its over.
 I went up to 330# today for 2 single cheaters. Cheater reps are how you get gains, both mentally and physically.  My last 1 rep max was 325 a few weeks ago, it  was almost a clean rep, about 85-90%.
Dumbells,  been lifting the 115#s regularly on bench days.  Gains. work towards them and they will come. Dont just lift willy nilly. have a solid plan outlined.  this picture is 315# . 7 plates x 45.
Its now coffee time then a bike ride.  This is my planned out Sunday routine.

1:45 pm.         post lifting work,  bike ride ✔
post bike ride pizza, ✔✔, a check mark for each slice. back in gym watching the Ravens vs Steelers game. Can I root against both teams ? Piss on the NFL, PERIOD. No more wasted Sundays for me.  I took a knee against YOU. At least Im doing positive things on Sundays nowadays. 

Ughhhh, the many many wasted Sundays I was WASTED all day and night drinking with a group of friends while watching games. Lesson learned, behavior and lifestyle corrected. Great things happen when one gets sober. Since  1,7,17 and nothings gonna change that. I have the power because I have faith in God.  Acknowledged  !!!




#gymlife #meathead #time #lifter #pumpingiron #faith  #sober