I will go on record by saying I absolutely hate walking into a gym - any gym - and not being in shape.  It doesn't happen very often but when it does, it really blows.  Walking into a restaurant and not being in shape just means that I look like everyone else.  That doesn't bother me as much; I blend in.  Different story in the gym, though.  It's like all of a sudden the young kid who has trained for 6 months is the veteran and I am the old-guy Dad who doesn't know what he is doing. 

"Don't let it bother you, Skip." 
Dufuq?
I didn't say I'm depressed and suicidal.  I'm just saying that it is a feeling that I will never get used to.  After you do something for so long, you would think you would never feel out of place.  Now, I do understand that in a few months if anyone thinks I don't know what I am doing, they will at least be impressed with my transformation.  lol  Right now, though, I am waiting to see if I get some training or diet advice from someone new to the gym that doesn't know I've done this before.  If I do get some advice, I am definitely going to act like I REALLY want it, too.  🙂

My calves are so sore I can barely stand up straight.  No, I am not kidding.  Oddly enough, my quads and hams and everything else got sore last week but NOTHING like my calves.  Holy crap.  Now, back to your regularly scheduled Coach Log...

I trained 3 days last week (M,W,F) and this week I am moving to the M/T/Th/F split where I hit the same body part on Friday that I hit on Monday.  This obviously would rotate weekly so that over the span of 3 weeks, I would hit everything twice in one week.  I am sticking with a basic push/pull/legs so that I can maximize recovery at this early stage.  I felt that if I went with something like chest/back and then delts/arms, my arms and shoulders would get smashed too often and be lacking in the recovery department.  Starting back to the gym, that likely wouldn't work well for me.

I didn't mention this last week but I will now:
I have not focused on my leg size for a very long time.  Obviously, I couldn't when I was having lower back problems because I was so limited with my leg training.  Plus, my legs were always pretty good compared to other muscle groups like... well... everything except my arms. lol
I have watched my legs slowly disappear over the last 7 years due to the back pain and injuries so I am going to focus on them quite a bit this next year to try to stretch my quad measurement for the first time in a very long time.  I feel that my back has been injury-free for over 3 years now so I think I can start to really push them, the way I need to, to see some growth.  Admittedly, I will slowly work into it to build my confidence with my back, but I do feel pretty good about this decision or I wouldn't even consider it.  Being able to really train my legs hard is going to be a hell of a motivator for me over the following months.  I get excited thinking about it and can't wait to try to start to put some plates on the bar again.

As stated in a previous coach log, I did take "before" pictures and will contrast them in 12 weeks with the "after" pictures.  There is no way in hell the before pictures will go up any sooner or without the after pictures.   It just won't happen.  I FORCED myself to take those pictures even though I knew no one would see them until much later.  I can certainly relate to how difficult it is to take before pictures as a client and then send them to the trainer you are working with for their critique. 

It is also important to note that going to the gym to train when you are in great shape is not difficult.  Going to the gym when you are in horrible shape is VERY difficult.  Going when you are in great shape is kind of taking yourself for show-and-tell 3-5 times a week.   You get to the gym and just can't wait to get a pump and get your sweatshirt off.  Now, I wear baggy sweatshirts and sweatpants until I get leaner again.  I am usually a talker and a smiler, but right now I'm on a mission to get done what needs to get done as quickly as possible and though I am enjoying being back in the gym, I do not enjoy being there and not being in condition like I usually am.  Hey, we all have our shit; I'm just being honest about mine.  I took the time off voluntarily and for good reason.  However, the truth is that it is embarrassing going back into the gym like this and knowing people are thinking, "WTF?"

Head down.
Execute.
Don't overthink but be as efficient as possible.

Be patient.

Skip