Graduation Transformation: Strength Update (T-91 Days)
Well, I got sick for a while and avoided the gym, so I’m not as far as I’d like by this point. But, I’m eating clean and still making progress.
Latest lifts:
Squat: 130x5x3
Here I’m making good progress; haven’t failed a set yet. I’ve been focusing on form and other than when I put the bar back on the rack, I think I’m keeping my form in check.
Deadlift: 135x5
I’m finally up to the big boy weights with a 45 on each end of the bar. Progress has been going well for my deadlifts as well; not much to report.
Bench: 100x5x3
Still small numbers, but I’m moving up fast. I could probably be doing higher numbers, but I wanted to be conservative starting out and have only been jumping 5lbs each session.
Overhead Press: 75x5x2
This lift has not been going well. I failed on my last set again during my most recent workout. I may just need to stay at the same weight two sessions in a row before upping by 5lbs. We’ll see going forward.
I think it’s too early for any visible progress, and my weight is stable. But my strength is going up, so something has to be changing.
This is probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
omg love it
omg this is so adorable
omg aw c’:
This is what my health and fitness goals are really about; the family I plan to have one day.
(via herbivorefitness)
Source: loveofatravelingsoldier
Graduation Transformation: Strength Update (T-114 Days)
Today felt kind of easy, but I’m intentionally being conservative with my starting weights. No point risking injury since the weights will be increasing and eventually catch up.
Squat: 105lbs 5 x 3 (10lbs increase from last time)
Bench: 85lbs 5 x 3
Pulldown: 90lbs 5 x 3
Starting Strength Workout #1 (T-116 Days)
This was my first free-weight workout at a gym. Previously, I only messed around with free-weights in private as I was nervous about looking stupid. Crossing over from the machine area to the weight area is scary. I kept waiting for someone to stop me and tell me I didn’t belong in that area.
But that didn’t happen. I’m sure I got a few looks, especially when my shirt came up during the Press with a ridiculous 10lbs on each end of the bar (damn my weak shoulders!). I didn’t let that fear stop me, because I don’t care what a few people in the gym think (real or imagined) when I’m doing this for me.
Workout:
Squat: 95lbs x 5 x 3
Press: 65lbs x 5 x 2, 4 x 1 (failed the last rep of the last set)
Dead lift: 105 x 5
Progress pics below the cut.
One Hundred Seventeen Days…
is how long I have until I graduate college. This is a big milestone for me as I dropped out after failing my first semester. It marks the end of a long journey of failures, successes, doubts, and growth. My path back to college was the path away from the brink. When I dropped out, I was at my highest weight and the deepest depression of my time on this earth. I had failed, and I thought everything I touched would fail. But it didn’t last. I got help. I enrolled in classes again. I turned a 1.17 GPA into a 3.83. I dropped 50 lbs.
That was four years ago.
I’ve been plateaued for those four years, but no more. This has been my journey, my story, and it’s going to end they way I want it to. Tomorrow I begin Starting Strength and Leangains inspired intermittent fasting. I don’t have a specific goal. My challenge is to see what I can accomplish in 117 days.
My success will be measured in strength and body composition measured by biometric impedance. I know BI is an imperfect method of calculating body composition, but what it lacks in accuracy it seems to make up in precision (i.e. it gives me similar readings day-to-day).
You may be wondering what makes this time different from the past four years. Why will I succeed now instead of then? I don’t really have an answer, but it does feel different this time. I know so much more about nutrition and exercise than I did just a year ago. I know I’m creating a solid foundation this time for me to succeed.
What are we waiting for? Carpe diem, bitch.
Let’s Talk Money
Growing up, my parents had a lot of medical debt, so I’ve always been aware of money and the problems associated with debt. From a young age one of my main goals has been financial security. To help track that goal I’ve decided to start doing monthly net worth updates. Without further adieu, let’s see where I’m at:
Yikes! See that big red number? Yeah, that’s bad. In case you’re wondering, $48k is what an engineering degree costs these days, and that was at an in-state school. Being a college student, I have little money (what you see under current assets will be going to tuition in a couple weeks), a lot of debt, and no fixed assets (no house, etc). What I do have is a 401k (yep, college student with a 401k. Luckily my employer allows part time employees to open a 401k).
The Good:
- No credit card debt
- Student loans are still manageable (if I put my mind to it I could have those paid off in 3-4 years)
- 401k that gets company match money and consistently returns a higher rate than my loan interest
The Bad:
- No emergency fund, relying on parents for now
- Overall net worth is negative, so nobody expect a ransom, ok?
So that’s where I’m at. Right now my near term goals are simply not to rack up anymore debt. That’s about all I can do. In August when I start getting a real paycheck we’ll start looking at tackling those loans, building an emergency fund, and improving my retirement savings.
Well, That Was Nerve Racking
Last night I finally submitted my application to grad school.
…
Oy vey.
That was the most anxiety I’ve felt over anything in a long time. But at least it’s done. My statement of purpose was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write. How do you sum up in less than 700 words why you want to go to grad school? Most of my reasons are ineffable or ridiculous (Dr. J sounds awesome, right?!).
I’ve known for a while that I wanted to go to grad school. In my time as an undergrad I’ve had 2 internships totaling about 12 months; I didn’t like what I saw. I knew that to do the work I wanted to do would require at least a masters degree. While talking to my professor about applying he talked me into the Ph.D. program. I was hesitant at first. I was worried that there were more Ph.D.s than Ph.D. jobs. Apparently, while that’s true for many of the sciences (and let’s not mention the poor humanities), it’s not the case for engineering.
So it’s done; the die is cast. Now begins the 4 month wait to find out if I was selected.
What a Semester
I’m currently writing this at 0300 CST (sorry for the military time, working in a nuclear plant for 8 months will do that to you) because I can’t sleep. It used to be a common problem when I was young; too many thoughts swimming in my head. There were many nights I’d lie in bed for hours waiting for sleep that never came. I’ve found writing what’s on your mind can really help settle your thoughts and actually allow you to fall asleep.
Since I’ve been on hiatus for most of the year, it might be a good time to review what’s happened this semester:
I was invited and joined Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society. This is the only achievement I’ve done that I’m actually proud of outside of becoming an Eagle scout. In fact, I even went so far as to frame the certificate; something truly unprecedented for me. Only the top 20% of engineering seniors are eligible, and the initiation process is rather involved taking the whole semester to complete.
After an unwilling hiatus of two years, I finally started dating again. Although we broke up two months later, it was a good two months. I’d like to say I learned from the experience, but really, I made the same mistakes I’ve made before. The biggest growth for me was accepting the break up. Not taking it personally and accepting that it wasn’t my fault. Relationships are interesting things; both people must be open to the idea at the same time, find attraction and similar interests, and have this all occur at the same geographical location and time. I could likely do a rough calculation of the probability, but as Han Solo wisely said, “never tell me the odds.”
After flip-flopping for well over a year, I decided on grad school; and not just grad school, but a Ph.D. I’ve now had two internship experiences, and neither one left me impressed. In fact, I was mildly depressed during the eight months of my last internship, despite the piles of money I was making. These experiences made me feel that a 4 year degree wouldn’t be enough to get a job I found fulfilling. After talking to a professor, and taking an introductory course on wind energy, I knew that I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and a research career in sustainable energy. I’ve finished, but not submitted my application. I procrastinated terribly on my statement of purpose. How does one explain why they want to go to grad school in less than 700 words, when half your reasons are ineffable? It’s times like this I wish I was an English major.
There were bad things this semester too. I put on more than a few pounds this fall. Probably attributable entirely to ice cream, my one weakness. And my senior design group got torn apart by a review committee at the end of the semester.
As always, we can only move forward. I’m about four months away from graduating (possibly summa cum laude) with a B.S. in electrical engineering. By then I will know if I’ve been accepted as a doctoral candidate or if I need to find a real job fast. I’m determined to be able to feel my abs by graduation; now if I can only find the discipline. I’m also resolved to get involved in something I’ve always wanted to do and meet some people (yes, my last semester is a little late to be doing this, but what are you going to do?).
Lastly, dear reader, I hope to keep this blog updated. As followers you deserve better than what I’ve given you.
Reboot
I’ve been away from tumblr for about 3 months now. I originally left because I was no longer sure what this blog was, what I wanted it to be, or where it was going. I also left because I had pretty much fallen off the wagon. I was depressed the final weeks of my internship, but now that I’m back in school I’m feeling much better.
Will I have time to blog? I don’t know. But I feel that it could be good, and I want to give it a solid try.
Are you willing to take me back?
Da List, Part Duex
Believe it or not, I wasn’t always an engineering major. I actually started out as a music major. Several things happened and I decided it wouldn’t work out, but I’ve never lost that love for music. When I was growing up, my mother often played piano around the house. I learned enough to plunk around and in college improved quite a bit, but not enough. Which brings up goal number two:
2a) Be able to play Beethoven’s 8th piano sonata (Pathetique). Here’s a recording.
2b) Play at a piano bar for tips at least once.
I’m trying to learn some “Piano Bar” songs. Such as Don’t Stop Believing, Piano Man, Your Song, and so on. This is going to be a very long term goal, but I know it’s one I can do. Motivation shouldn’t be hard, women love guys who play piano, right?
