Okay, so I got a bit cocky in the gym today...

[chesty]

...and it almost cost me. My strength etc has been coming back and my shoulders have recovered quite nicely from minor surgery last november. So, I was looking forward to a solid heavy bench day. Just a few days ago, I just missed 315 on incline with no problems, joint or otherwise.

So today, i arrive psyched as hell, do plenty of warm ups, and then make my usual weight increases up to 315. Decided it was time to get back under the weight and start getting used to it again.

I got a proper lift off, buddy follows me down. I am going real slow, being extra cautious, and about half way I feel a weird stretch in my left shoulder, somewhere around the bicep tendon. It didn't hurt or burn, etc, but it just wasn't right. racked the weight and finished off bench with lighter weights with no issues.

I then did incline dumbells with no issue, biceps and triceps as well.

I just avoided a major problem. It is just a mild strain, no tearing or anything. I have to keep reminding myself, Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was I. It took a lot of time for me to lose what I worked years for and it will take a lot of time to regain what I lost. Patience is the key. There is no hurry to bust out heavy weights in short time. Take time and get everything back up to snuff, slow, methodically, with patience. I have nothing to prove. I've benched 405, squatted 465, curled 225, etc. NO need to try to be back there in a day.

 

[doubleminus]

Good for you man. Seriously. It's a lesson we all have to learn. Keeping pride in check and slowing down, taking it easy, saves a LOT of time in the long run.

People don't know that early on in their lifting careers...but after an injury or two...suddenly you pay attention to what the body is sayin.

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

You're also 40 or older now to right? And you're back training seriously after a long time aren't you?

I know several powerlifters that are stronger than ever in their early 40's, but they have been going consistently without any major layoffs for a looong time.

Jumping back in and trying to rep 315 on the incline in a short period of time is asking for trouble.

I'm impressed you can even budge that much weight with the amount of time you have had back in the gym.

You look like a solid guy, but you don't "appear" strong enough to rep 315 on the incline to me.

That doesn't mean much though. In person rather than an internet photo you may from your weight and stature be quite abit bigger than I can gauge off your photos. I know that at 5'8.5" I'm just average height and if I were to post a pic I probably wouldn't look that big, but in real life at 234lbs I'm almost always proportionally bigger than 99% of the people walking around lol.

Anyway, great job on recognizing the warning sign and keep up the great progress.

 

[chesty]

Well, I was never out of the gym, I just backed off because of bone spurs in my shoulders which made it hard to lift. The incline bench doesn't bother me at all, the flat bench though is taking some getting used to again and adjusting my grip to slightly narrower than I used to go. It has only been 10 months from the surgery, but yeah, I have to put my pride in check.

I was benching 405 at 215 lbs (not a big deal for some I realize) Right now I am 227 at 5'10. I dwarf most people my size. Hell one engineer I was standing next to when they took our picture and it looks like you could fit two of him inside my body.

 

[chesty]

Incline bench my max was 365, I would always bench 315 on it. I will be back, just gotta take my time.

 

[C0LUMB0]

...and it almost cost me. My strength etc has been coming back and my shoulders have recovered quite nicely from minor surgery last november. So, I was looking forward to a solid heavy bench day. Just a few days ago, I just missed 315 on incline with no problems, joint or otherwise.

So today, i arrive psyched as hell, do plenty of warm ups, and then make my usual weight increases up to 315. Decided it was time to get back under the weight and start getting used to it again.

I got a proper lift off, buddy follows me down. I am going real slow, being extra cautious, and about half way I feel a weird stretch in my left shoulder, somewhere around the bicep tendon. It didn't hurt or burn, etc, but it just wasn't right. racked the weight and finished off bench with lighter weights with no issues.

I then did incline dumbells with no issue, biceps and triceps as well.

I just avoided a major problem. It is just a mild strain, no tearing or anything. I have to keep reminding myself, Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was I. It took a lot of time for me to lose what I worked years for and it will take a lot of time to regain what I lost. Patience is the key. There is no hurry to bust out heavy weights in short time. Take time and get everything back up to snuff, slow, methodically, with patience. I have nothing to prove. I've benched 405, squatted 465, curled 225, etc. NO need to try to be back there in a day.

Well said bro...you are spot on ! a good state of mind is without at doubt the most important thing on the road to recovery.
when i was recovering from a tricep tendon injury, the hardest thing for me by far was to resist the urge to pick up weights that i had been using pre injury.

 

[stevesmi]

how are your test levels now? you said before you tested very low?

 

[chesty]

See here...

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/anabolic-steroids/lab-results-today-717661.html

 

[zedhed]

Keep up the good work chesty, BUT you need to take a little bit of time to let your bod recover and adapt. Youre gettin better along with gettin older. Best of luck to you bro!

 

[chesty]

Oh, I know, I'm being smarter about my lifting now. I am on my way to competition form again. Even if I don't compete again.