Resilience

Update On The New Cubicle Prison and Life In General

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I have lost my focus concerning my cubicle prison workouts, and I have been too exhausted to workout at home. My commute is 45+ minutes one way. About 8 weeks ago I began walking the stairs just a bit to get ready for the backpacking trip to the East Caney loop trail in Arkansas, and after that trip I started doing a bit more to prep for the Ozark Highland Trail 3 weeks later. Walking the stairs in the building is actually against the property management rules now, at least according to our power trip HR director. I do it anyway, but I can’t be obvious about it which means I can’t do it with the frequency I would like. As of Last week I have started to adjust to the new grueling workload, and I am willing myself to get back on track. I am listening to my morning motivations again, my attitude has been better in the face of unrealistic expectations, and I have begun my cubicle prison workouts again. Nothing worth noting because at my age I am basically just starting out again. I won’t push my body past 40 consecutive pushups yet, it’s like I’ve never worked out before.

Initially this was a minimum security cubicle prison, but it is no longer. The atmosphere was more laid back, encouraging, and upbeat. It was hopeful and people smiled a lot. That is no longer the case, and hasn’t been for several months, hence the complete silence. A new warden was brought in to work alongside the “minimum security mindset” warden with the intention of increasing the net operating income. This place has now turned into a work camp, it’s as bad as the place I left in March. Moral is terrible, we are working way to hard, head count has been reduced, every month we are changing processes in attempts to be more “efficient”, etc. Today is Friday and we are wrapping up close week. I have been at work at 6:45 AM every morning this week, and haven’t shut down my computer until at least 8:30 PM. I was told when I interviewed that if we worked more than 50 hours during close week we would get comp time, but I have only received comp time once. The reasoning behind not getting comp time anymore is because we are too busy and there is too much to do. I have been doing ledger accounting as opposed to sales and use tax (although I still do some of that as well), and I hate it. And I kinda suck at it. I’m not organized (or anal?) enough to be good at it. The insurance here is far more expensive, so even though I got an 8% raise when I jumped ship, I actually bring home roughly $300 less each month. I’m really struggling financially because of it.

The thing that got me typing updates again is I want to document my quest to get my house sell ready. I have been doing it for about a year, but things are ramping up. This brings into focus the fact that this blog has become less about my overall battle against the typical American Suburbanite life and more focused on how I am trying to stay healthy and fit while trapped at a desk – which is a part of the overall struggle, but not the entirety of it. So, … I’m sure at some point in the past I had mentioned minimizing, and I am still on that path. However the “throw/give away something every weekend” has become less and less doable, but I am always on the lookout for things that I can jettison. When I began the process of getting my house sell ready, I really had no plans to sell it, I just figured there is no downside to having the house sell ready. I would be living in a house that is in good repair and less cluttered. I look at things and ask myself “if I were moving, would I pack this up and move it to the new place”? If the answer is no, out it goes.

Now I am planning to sell the house once I get it sell ready. I originally had misgivings about selling because it’s the house my kids have grown up in, it’s the only house they’ve ever lived in. But now I’m thinking there is no reason to stay in it. It’s not like there are all these fond childhood memories here. This is where all of the disfunction happened. Plus my oldest is engaged and will get married sometime next year, my youngest will be a senior in high school next year, and I plan on proposing to my girlfriend after the beginning of the new year. Two weekends ago I cleaned up a good portion of the back yard. I ripped out one of the raised beds and leveled it, and built a zone 1 garden bed with cinder blocks that looks really nice. Last weekend I painted the cabinets in the bathroom, organized some of my tools, and threw away an old work table that was falling apart and had become a catch all. Next weekend (not tomorrow) I will probably paint the bathroom walls. After that I will paint the Kitchen cabinets, then the walls, then I am going to put up a tile backsplash.

Well I am going to sign off for now, I need to get back to the grind so I can leave this hell on time today.

Peace!!

Lubimûr

H2O Cocktail

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I read about this before, I guess a couple of years ago, and it popped up again, so I think I am going to add it to my “Healthy Wellness” morning routine. Especially since I have decided just this week that in order to make some financial progress I’m going to need to be selective about the supplements I take. I am currently working on identifying the most basic “must have” supplements. One that I know without a doubt is Magnesium. I read an interview recently with Robin Arzón VP of Fitness for Peloton, and she mentioned that she only takes like three or four supplements without fail, but does other things like the H2O cocktail as well as some “green powder” (not mixed together). Now the one she takes looks insanely expensive, Athletic Greens – $97 for 30 day supply. I also know that Wild Future Greens is about $80 for 28 servings, so that seems undoable, Organifi Green Juice is $70 for 30 servings, so I’ll probably stick with Amazing Grass greens powder for $22. They also have a chocolate version which my oldest puts in oatmeal. But I digress…

For my morning cocktail:

  • cup warm water
  • 1 tsp (or 1 tbsp) raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Himalayan sea salt
  • 1 tbsp organic lemon juice
  • dash of organic cayenne pepper

Some people use this for constipation, and is also called a salt water flush or cleanse, and is designed to cleanse your colon. The salt is supposed to start the body’s own process of natural detox and waste elimination. It is also supposed helps get your digestive system back on track. Most effective if done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach

Other “miracle benefits” I’ve been told are: thin respiratory mucus and alleviate congestion; ease a sore throat; help to repopulate a malnourished gut microbiome; raise your body’s pH and lower inflammation; an early-morning re-hydrator, salt actually helps you digest your food more efficiently by increasing the amount of hydrochloric acid produced; helps reduce muscle cramps (even during the night); and alkalizes our blood (note, my Dr thinks the ability to alter one’s blood PH is complete hogwash, and he has a pretty solid argument. Our body must maintain a very tight range of PH in order to function and not shut down. Therefore, we are always near an optimum PH regardless of what we do. Our bodies may have to work harder at the expense of other body process in order to accomplish this which is a bad thing, but it will); and control blood sugar level.

Whether any of this is true or not, I don’t know. Experts at Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic point out using apple cider vinegar can interact with certain supplements or drugs – including diuretics and insulin. So, people with diabetes should be cautious. Also, according to the Mayo Clinic, there’s little scientific support for these claims. Studies of apple cider vinegar for weight loss have not consistently shown significant and sustainable weight loss across diverse groups of people. There are, however, a number of studies suggest that vinegar might prevent spikes in blood sugar in people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by blocking starch absorption. A study from Arizona State University found that people at-risk for type 2 Diabetes who consumed ACV at meals kept their insulin levels in check and had 34 percent lower glucose post-meal. Another study led by the university tested a group of people with type 2 diabetes. The subjects consumed two tablespoons of ACV before bed*, which lowered their blood sugar levels by four to six percent by the morning.

Regardless, there are a lot of healthy people that swear by it, including people like Dr Axe, Kate Perry, Scarlett Johanson, and Robin Arzón VP of Fitness for Peloton, so what the hell.

So this research reminded me of something I had read about previously called water sole (pronounced solay), which I will probably mix up and keep on the counter to use in the mix above. Some of it’s “miracle benefits” are:

Helps with hydration: The body repairs and detoxifies naturally during sleep, but uses a good amount of water. That’s why we often get thirsty in the morning. Consuming a saline solution like sole helps the body to re-hydrate.

Electrolytes: Sole water contains the necessary electrolytes that provide you with the minerals you need to function and maintain your high energy level.

Improves digestion, energy, and blood sugar; detoxify the body and eliminate harmful bacteria, natural antihistamine, healthy veins, better sleep by relaxing the entire nervous system and control Adeline, reduce blood pressure, healthy skin hair and nails.

How to Make Sole Water

How to use the sole solution: Mix 1 teaspoon of the concentrated sole in a glass of water and consume on an empty stomach every morning. Do not use metal equipment to measure or touch the sole with metal objects.

Ingredients:
• 1 Qt. glass mason jar
• A plastic or non-metal lid
• 1-2 cups of Himalayan Salt
• Filtered water

Instructions:

IMPORTANT: Avoid using metal when making this. Metal from your spook or even the lid of your mason jar will de-ionize the salt. You can use plastic caps for mason jars. Or cover your jar with plastic wrap.

Plastic caps can be purchased here.

1. Fill the jar about ¼ to 1/3 of the way with Himalayan Salt
2. Add filtered water to fill the jar, leaving almost inch at the top.
3. Put on the plastic lid and shake the jar gently.
4. Leave on the counter for a day or so to let the salt dissolve. The Water will turn clear when its ready to use and the sediment left on the bottom of the jar indicates the water has absorbed its maximum amount of salt
5. If all of the salt is absorbed, add more salt and continue doing so each day until some remains. This means that the water is fully saturated with the salt and is ready to use.

Every morning on an empty stomach add 1 tsp of Sole to one cup of filtered water and drink up! Wait at least 30 minutes before eating a meal. Or in my case use 1 tsp to make the H2O cocktail above.

Peace!!

Have a Great Day!

Lubimûr

Introspection

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What am I willing to suffer for? What Am I willing to give up for it? In order to achieve a goal, we must not only focus on it, but we must trade something for it. Think of achievement as a barter system.

I have a very deep sense (awareness) that I am not doing anything significant or meaningful with my life. What I do doesn’t matter. I’m not making a difference, I’m not improving people’s lives, I’m not making the world a better place, I’m not building anything. I’m not fulfilled. I’m just making money so I can pay the bills.

I’m willing to do today what others aren’t, so I can do tomorrow what others can’t.

Today is my last day at this facility. I am transferring to another cubicle prison. I turned in my notice at the beginning of the month and gave them a full cycle. I consider this move a necessary one in that it is breaking out of my comfort zone, I have been incarcerated at this facility for 15 years. I will not only be leaving a place that I have grown very accustomed to, but will be doing a job I have never done before. I think this is necessary because I need to get used to the feeling of taking risks, of stepping out into the unknown. I can’t look back on my life and wonder if I settled, if I could have (or should have) done more, if I didn’t take enough risks, if I was afraid of trying, etc… I can’t call myself a risk taker but never take any risks. Change can lead to growth, growth leads to fulfillment, fulfillment creates happiness.

Peace!!

Lubimûr

Prison Cubicle Workouts Week of 3/21/2019

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3/20/2019 Wednesday

Did nothing really to speak of the first two days of this week. I had a terrible crick in my neck Monday, and was still feeling it some yesterday. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t have any issues in my shoulder girdle after last week’s 1 RM attempt.

I have been taking B:hIP Red since last Thursday not including the weekend. I think it’s decent. It’s hard to tell if supplements are actually doing any good or not since they don’t really make you feel any different unless they are a workout specific type supplement like Taurine or Creatine. I also got some more BulletProof Collagen Protein which I’ve been adding to my coffee this week.

10:15 – NOS Blast Preworkout

10:20 – Pushups x 34; hands low on body right at bottom of rib cage; total fail on 34, made it about ½ way up. I was really pushing too. I have a sports message therapy appointment at 11:30.

10:35 – Just tried to do a planche, not even a planche pushup, …just embarrassing.

– Flat Foot (Paleo?) Squat x 5 minutes; yeah baby, 5 minutes. I think I had really good form too. Still difficult to straighten back out when I stand up, but being in the pose felt good.

3/21/2019 Thursday

11:50 – Preworkout

11:55 – Air squats x 50, 10, 20, 20, 20, 1min rest in between; great form, butt to heel, shoulder width, good glute focus

Have a Great Day!

Lubimûr

Finding My 1 Rep Max

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I Should have sent this out last Friday.

Last week was one crazy week. Of course hell week started back up. I also heard from the company I had been interviewing with, they made an offer and accepted it. Had to draft my resignation letter, take home all non-essentials from my cube in case I was asked to leave immediately after turning it in. then had to work out what I was going to say when I turned in my letter. I had to do all of this while grinding away at my deadlines. My girlfriend (yes I have one of those, finally after being single for over 6 years. Too picky perhaps…?) of 2 ½ months has been acting insecure about our relationship so I’ve been addressing that. She is moving way faster emotionally than I am, and while I have no doubt I will get there too, we aren’t teenagers so the practicality and logistics of relationships has to be balanced with the stage of life we find ourselves in now. I turned in my resignation letter and it went very well. I bought my 15 year old her first car, almost an entire day’s event since I am what you would call broke as hell and all I had to spend was what I got back on my tax return. We won’t talk about the BS of why her mom can’t contribute at all. On second though here’s a brief synopsis: In her mind letting me claim my daughter that lives with me full time and I carry the insurance on was her “monetary” contribution, despite the agreement that we would both fill out our returns claiming her and not claiming her, see how we got back the most money, and then combine everything we got back. The ex decided that since I claimed her, anything she gets back is hers and not for the car fund.

Last Monday the manager of the workout facility downstairs asked me if I would mind participating in a research study that one of her interns is doing with measuring a relationship between wingspan and bench press on rep max. Of course I said yes, and last Wednesday I did the first part of the study which involved finding my 1RM with a very wide grip. The hand placement was determined by the measurement of my wingspan.

I was rather pleased that I was able to hit 195, all things considered. The best I’ve ever done on the 1RM was 220, and that was back in my 20s when I was weight training regularly. I also haven’t been training with weights since back in … what, August or October? I can’t remember, I’d have to look. Plus I’m 52. So like I said, rather pleased all things considered.

I am going in for round 2 this Wednesday, and I’m curious to see how it goes. My hands won’t be quite as wide as last time, but still wider than normal. So with that in mind, today I’ll do light training, sort of like an active recovery type day. Make sure my form is good, get the muscles active but not stressed, do some antagonist muscle work, again low intensity.

Tomorrow I will do Moderate intensity, I’m thinking a few reps of 50% effort. Maybe 5 sets of 25 pushups throughout the day, a couple of isometric side delt raises, and maybe 1 – 2 sets of dumbbell military press for 10 reps each when I get home. I think I should do some trap work as well.

Wednesday I’ll try to get up earlier because my test will be at 11:30, and I read that you shouldn’t do 1RM tests for bench during the first 4 hours after waking because the spine may still be releasing fluid buildup from the night, and this could cause an injury. Before the test I’ll do some joint mobility drills for neck, shoulders and wrists.

3/11/2019 Monday

10:30 – Knee pushups x 20; med hand width; right shoulder catching a little bit causing a sharp twinge of pain. Not too bad, but something to keep an eye on.

– Scapular Squeeze against Chair Back x 30; mild intensity, arms at 60 degrees from body.

– Neck Mobility Drills

– NOX and BCAA; forgot about these but still need to take the to get my muscles loaded back up

11:25 – Yoga Pushups x 30; After that I think I need to add some trap work to tomorrow

– Shrugs x 50 (No weight obviously)

11:50 – Stairs x 2 floors;

– Elevated Pushups x 10; med hands; feet on second step; at bottom of 3rd time coming down stairs;

– Air Squats x 20; excellent form, medium stance; no rest from pushups; focused on glutes, screwing feet into floor; I was really winded

– Air squats x 10; narrow stance, just at 90 degree bend in knees; at top of 3rd time coming up stairs

– Biceps Iso-Flex x 50; not an intense squeeze, just enough to feel really good

1:05 – Stiff Leg Deadlifts x 50; it seems that if I squeeze my scapula during the movement it provides relief (stability?) for my lower back.

– Lunch: slice of Chicago deep dish, don’t judge me! It’s leftovers, I cannot waste leftovers!

3/12/2019 Tuesday

8:30 – Reverse Lunges x 10; non-alternating

10:00 – Seated Scapular Dips x 25;

– Pushups x 25; Narrow hands; focus on extending arms to the max;

– BCAA + NOX

10:50 – Pushups x 25; wide grip, exaggerated ROM; Pretty fast reps, thinking explosive movement;

12:30 – Pushups x 25; wider hands, butt in the air,

– Calf Raises x 30; single leg, elevated

3:15 – Straight Arm Plank x 90 seconds; wide hands

3/13/2019 Wednesday

Didn’t do any trap work last night as intended. For dinner I had smoked brisket, shredded carrots and yellow squash. Used very little lard, no real reason other than experimenting with some different cooking techniques. Took 2 Prime Male before bed in addition to my usual morning dose.

I’ve been trying to get fully hydrated, so far this morning I’ve had at least 25 ounces of water, probably 30 or even more but I know with 100% certainty I’ve had at least 25 oz.

9:00 – Knee Pushups x 25; knees were on my chair, wide grip focused on correct motion for bench press

– Shoulder Shrugs x 55; no weight, seated, 25 looking straight ahead, 15 looking up, 015 looking down

10:25 – Stairs x 3 sets of 2 floors ea.

– Neck Mobility Drills

11:10 – NOS + BCAA + Protein Powder + ACV and a little coffee with sweetened creamer, my blood sugar read 77. As of now I have consumed at least 50 oz. of water.

– Mobility Drills: wrist, elbow, shoulder

Well it looks like my 1 RM is 195. Tried 205, couldn’t get it off of my chest, backed down to 200, same story. I think my breathing and technique were off too. I know last time I sort of lifted my head off the bench when pushed, but this time it feels like I was pressing it into the bench. My neck feels a little fatigued. I feel good though, I do love the pump! Muscles swollen, flushed with blood; heart beating strong. I’m not going to do anything else with my upper body today, unless I do some arm flexing. With my neck feeling stiff after that, I am having flashbacks to when I separated my shoulder. Interesting side note, my lower back isn’t as stiff and sore as it was before I performed the test…

Feels like lunch time.

This Is Going To Be A Great Week!

Lubimûr