Mysterious Energy

[VeggieLifterChick]

So in the past week and a half all of a sudden my lifts have gone up dramatically and so did my endurance. For instance, my legs have always been my weakest bodypart, in fact I only started squatting smith-machine free a couple months ago. The bar alone (45#) was enough to bring me to failure in 10 reps. Yesterday, I squatted 100 # 12 times for 4 sets!!
And the day before that, I put up 100 # on the bench press 10 times! My strength only seems to be increasing - I really think I'll be benching reps of 135# by New Years and I'm really excited!

I didn't change a thing in the diet/supplement category and yet my energy is through the roof! Its awesome except that on days I haven't done cardio I get a tension headache from all this free floating energy that has no outlet. Its weird, and I have no idea where it came from, but I'm really liking it!

 

[starfish]

Isn't it cool when everything starts coming together

 

[Pink Space Biscuit]

You've lost all the contest stress and can lift for fun again.

 

[Gladiola]

I agree with PSB - definitely a likely culprit.

Congrats on those PR's! Have you tried sprints or boxing for workouts that feel like cardio but are really anaerobic?

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

I did try sprinting. Boxing kind of requires equipment, like a class or a punching bag, which at the moment I don't have access to. I am intruiged though. I might want to get a punching bag and keep it in the attic or basement for when I can't get to the gym or when I have a fight with a roommate or my bf and need to take out some anger. The only thing is I have no clue about proper form for punching. I do also have a jump rope, which can be used for the sort of workout you're encouraging, right? I haven't gotten into using it because its way high impact for concrete - I feel like there must be a common surface with better shock absorbing. Any ideas?

 

[Gladiola]

only thing is I have no clue about proper form for punching.

Keep your wrists straight, keep the punches tight & controlled -elbows, arms close to your body (to protect your rib cage from being hit). That's about it, so long as wrists are straight & you're not flailing wildly, odds are you won't hurt yourself. You'll want some wraps & then gloves - wraps will come with instructions. Well, I take that back, there's a LOT more to good punching & form, but even without proper foot placement & movement from the hips, you can still get the benefits of the workout. If you can take a cardio kickboxing class- you could get the basic form for the jab, punch from the rear, hook, & uppercut (which is almost impossible on a bag anyway) from an instructor who has a clue - & if s/he talks about movement from the hips, they probably have something of a clue on punching form. But I know for a fact there are plenty of instructors out there teaching cardio KB without any clue on punching form.

"I do also have a jump rope, which can be used for the sort of workout you're encouraging, right? "
--Absolutely! HIIT - jumprope is great for that.

"- I feel like there must be a common surface with better shock absorbing. Any ideas"
I would agree that jumprope on concrete isn't ideal. Plain old grass is great. As for indoors - if you can use the aerobics studio when class is not in session, that should be a shock aborbing floor (Gerstung suspended hard-wood floors are the BEST!) Basketball court when not in use could be good too.