Sisyphus

Highs of the Week:  This week my high was taking two OTF classes. I hadn’t done that since September.

Things I Could Have Done Better: I should have started at 240lbs for my 5 sets of 5. I talked about letting go about ego last week and still overestimated my 5 sets of 5 weight. Very frustrating as I am still in my bench press plateau due to the fact I keep screwing the weight up.

Workouts for the Week of January 25-January 31:

MONDAY- Legs
3 minute jump rope warm up
Seated Leg Press and Jumping Lunges:
20x130lbs (warm up)
20x270lbs (warm up)
20x370lbs and 10(ttl) alternating jumping lunges
20x370lbs and 10(ttl) alternating jumping lunges
20x370lbs and 10(ttl) alternating jumping lunges
20x370lbs and 10(ttl) alternating jumping lunges
Walking Lunges (60lb Dumbbells in each hand):
12(ttl)x120lb
12(ttl)x120lb
12(ttl)x120lb
12(ttl)x120lb
Super Set with Calf Raises, Single Leg Romanian Deadlifts, and Single Leg Jump Squats:
20x230lbs (calfs), 5x 90lbs (single leg deadlifts), 10 single leg jump squats(each leg)
20x230lbs (calfs), 5x 90lbs (single leg deadlifts), 10 single leg jump squats(each leg)
20x230lbs (calfs), 5x 90lbs (single leg deadlifts), 10 single leg jump squats(each leg)
20x230lbs (calfs), 5x 90lbs (single leg deadlifts), 10 single leg jump squats(each leg)
Cardio: 7 min incline walk on tread @ 4.5 incline and 4.5 mph

TUESDAY- 1 Hour long OTF Power Workout

WEDNESDAY- Heavy Chest Week 7
Ab Circuit
Warm up 2 sets of 8 with bar
8 Push ups
8 plyo push ups
Barbell Bench Press
8x135lbs 1:30 rest
6x185lbs 1:30 rest
5x245lbs 3:00 rest
5x245lbs 3:00 rest
5x245lbs 3:00 rest
5x245lbs 3:00 rest
4x245lbs 3:00 rest (FAIL)
10 Pull ups a minute until failure= 38 total pull ups.
Lateral Shoulder Raises- 1:30 Rest
14x20lbs
14x20lbs
14x20lbs
14x20lbs
5 Pull ups every 30 seconds until failure=27 pull ups
Cardio: 7 min incline walk on the treadmill

THURSDAY- 1 Hour long OTF Endurance Workout

FRIDAY- Lower Back
Ab circuit
Kettle Bell Swings Super Set with Balancing Hip Bridges (Feet strapped into ab wheel)
25x35lbs (Swings) then 14x35lbs (Hip Bridges)
25x35lbs (Swings) then 14x35lbs (Hip Bridges)
25x35lbs (Swings) then 14x35lbs (Hip Bridges)
25x35lbs (Swings) then 14x35lbs (Hip Bridges)
Stretch

SATURDAY- Hypertrophy Chest, Back, and Triceps
8 Push ups
8 Plyo Push ups
Dumbbell Bench Press
6x200lbs 2:00 Rest
6x200lbs 2:00 Rest
6x200lbs 2:00 Rest
Flat Bench Single Arm Row
8x100lbs (each side)+ 30 seconds of flutter kicks
8x100lbs (each side)+ 30 seconds of flutter kicks
8x100lbs (each side)+ 30 seconds of flutter kicks
8x100lbs (each side)+ 30 seconds of flutter kicks
Row and Overhead Tricep Extensions
2 min row, 12x60lbs (Overhead tricep extensions)
1 min row, 12x60lbs (Overhead tricep extensions)
1 min row, 12x60lbs (Overhead tricep extensions)
1 min row, 12x60lbs (Overhead tricep extensions)
Stretch

SUNDAY
Ab Circuit and 45 minute deep stretch yoga

Changes Moving Forward: I want to try and practice a 1-2 specific yoga moves a week. The one yoga session I do is just a deep stretch so I think it is a good idea to practice a move or two that focuses more on stabilization and/or balance.

Life Updates: The Greek Myth of the King of Corinth known as Sisyphus is a classic story. Long story short Sisyphus was a trickster and on two separate occasions was able to cheat himself out of death. The first time he captured and chained the embodiment of death known as Thanatos so no one could be claimed for the underworld. The second time he died he made sure his wife did not perform the proper burial rituals. When he got to the underworld he convinced the Goddess Persephone (Queen of the Underworld
Goddess of spring, flowers, death, life and vegetation) to let him return to the land of the living so that he could ensure a proper burial. He did not return like he promised and had to be dragged back to the underworld where he was punished by the King of the Underworld, Hades. For his punishment he was cursed to push a huge boulder up a hill for all eternity. Hades enchanted the boulder so no mater how close Sisyphus made it to the top of the hill the boulder always rolled back down to the bottom of the hill. You can’t cheat the gods.

Now why have a told this story? It’s not really a happy story and a lot of the times the story is viewed in a way to show the absurdity and futility of human life. A never ending task that, in the end, amounts to nothing. However, there are some people that believe you need to imagine Sisyphus as happy. Sisyphus learned that there is no easy way out and had he just lived his best life maybe he would not be tricking the gods for another shot at life. Maybe the tale Sisyphus is just a metaphor for staying on the Path. Maybe Sisyphus is happy to have a purpose. Every time people complete a task there is always the next one. There is no such thing as a perfect human so therefor there is not limit to the amount a person can improve in life. Maybe you can only get so good at a certain task but life is multifaceted and there is another way to become a better person. Sisyphus had no choice but to get after it everyday. The purpose of the grind is to get better at whatever it is you are working on but also the point of the grind is to just be on it. To have the discipline to move that boulder regardless of what is going on around you.

The reason I am writing this is because I had briefly forgotten to enjoy what it is I do. I had gotten so caught up in the hustle and bustle that everything I was doing was becoming just another thing to check off of the list. That changed on Friday of this week because I was just thinking about all I had done this week and all I still needed to do in the coming weeks, months, and years. It never stops and it was starting to feel like a lot. Then I had a clarifying thought as I was trying to work up the will power to start my kettle bells swings. “I am the one who makes my schedule, chooses what to work on, and I am the one who determines when/how to get it done.” Everything that I work on is my choice. What a freeing revelation. I workout because it feels good to do so and when I don’t feel like it I do it because I know it is good for me. I go to work to pay my bills and ensure my survival but I also worked hard so that I could have a job in a field I care about where I can make a difference in peoples lives. Everything I do matters to those who around me and I owe it to them and myself to be on the grind. To be working towards a better version of myself. My true high of the week was remembering why it’s good to think of Sisyphus as happy.