I dont supplement on the dark side and I honestly dont care either way if others do. I will say though I have no interest in peoples cycles and or progress in this regard.
I'm not normally ambivalent on this topic as physiology interests me. However I've observed so many instances in the last few years where individuals I would otherwise characterise as reasonably intelligent exhibit abject stupidity when it comes to the management of exogenous hormones they inject into their body.
Recently my daughter of 4 was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic. In a whirlwind week interned in the hospital with this gorgeous little princess I came to appreciate the complexity of the human condition.
These initial weeks afforded me the opportunity to spend time picking the brain of some amazingly smart Endocrinologists. Their insights along with the daily regime of managing my daughters blood readings and injections has provided clarity on just how variable physiological response can be day to day in regard to hormone treatment.
This clarity now means I dont really put too much credence on the opinions anyone who injects a hormone and a) fails to regularly measure its impact through bloodwork and b) sources said hormone from less than reputable sources.
In dont want there to be any equivocation. I have no issue with hormone treatment I simply dont respect the complete lack accountabilty the average joe has when they commence a regime of sticking needles in their ass.
There are plenty out there that measure manage and thrive from hormonal intervention and do it well. It;s just that I havent met many recently.
Thomo
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Friday, February 26, 2016
Return of the.....
Friday night perched on the couch after a tough day at work. Its been a year since I've posted here and with no real thought process I simply opened my laptop and started typing.
Why did I stop posting; definitely professional pressure. For the last 5 years I've worked my ass off and taken increasingly more senior roles. While this has delivered a raft of personal benefits I really have been pushed to my limit.
See I tend to obsess better than most people I know. If I find a song I like I tend to buy everything that the group has produced. If I take up a hobby I want to be a damn subject matter expert. Professionally this manifests as someone who finds it really really difficult to switch off. Thankfully I am finally in a work environment where my boss recognises my propensity for doing too much and drives me to get balance.
Why did I start posting again? I'ts not as if my work pressures have disappeared. In fact if anything I'm busier then ever. I think I simply missed writing for fun rather than in a work context. Ive been fortunate that this small little piece of cyberspace generated me lots of traffic. It's also provided some great training contacts that I would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.
Hopefully writing again will also put a fire in my training. Given work challenges I've found I have been missing workouts or worse when I do go I simply dial in the effort. This has been going on consistently for a good nine weeks now and quite simply this shit needs to stop.
Thats enough for one night.
Thomo
Why did I stop posting; definitely professional pressure. For the last 5 years I've worked my ass off and taken increasingly more senior roles. While this has delivered a raft of personal benefits I really have been pushed to my limit.
See I tend to obsess better than most people I know. If I find a song I like I tend to buy everything that the group has produced. If I take up a hobby I want to be a damn subject matter expert. Professionally this manifests as someone who finds it really really difficult to switch off. Thankfully I am finally in a work environment where my boss recognises my propensity for doing too much and drives me to get balance.
Why did I start posting again? I'ts not as if my work pressures have disappeared. In fact if anything I'm busier then ever. I think I simply missed writing for fun rather than in a work context. Ive been fortunate that this small little piece of cyberspace generated me lots of traffic. It's also provided some great training contacts that I would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.
Hopefully writing again will also put a fire in my training. Given work challenges I've found I have been missing workouts or worse when I do go I simply dial in the effort. This has been going on consistently for a good nine weeks now and quite simply this shit needs to stop.
Thats enough for one night.
Thomo
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Just get the blood work done!!
If you choose to go to the dark side then be willing to accept consequences; positive or negative.
I can't say much more, its your choice, your body and as long as it doesnt impact me frankly I couldnt give a shit. Just be humble and stay healthy but....
GET FUCKING BLOOD WORK DONE AND MONITOR THE IMPACT.
'No one gets out alive'
Thomo
I can't say much more, its your choice, your body and as long as it doesnt impact me frankly I couldnt give a shit. Just be humble and stay healthy but....
GET FUCKING BLOOD WORK DONE AND MONITOR THE IMPACT.
'No one gets out alive'
Thomo
You are stronger than you think
Your mind and body lie to you; constantly.
This has been reinforced to me recently courtesy of a squat PB hit when I least expect it. The squat is not an exercise that I love. It's not that I dislike the movement, more that it just doesn't come naturally to me. My leverage always feels off and I have to bitch and struggle for every damn kilo.
Last week I ponied up fora squat session on the back of a less than stellar work week. Nothing critical mind you just getting used to longer hours again and some issues getting the calories I need on the job. Regardless I turned up (at my old gym) got under the bar and away I went.
With a great mate behind me I hit a nice double rep unwrapped PR and called it a day. Before I could barely grab a drink the call went out from those around me that I should try another 10kgs. Now this would be a milestone for me given a) it was a 20 kg unwrapped PB b) it was the first time I had hit this number of plates c) it was only 20kg under my all time wrapped squat PB.
With plenty of grunt down I went and damn me up came the bar nicely and according to the 7 or so team mates around who I trust the depth was good.
So what does that tell me. That your mind and body lie and more importantly a professional environment with the right people is worth kilos on the bar.
' no one gets out alive'
Thomo
This has been reinforced to me recently courtesy of a squat PB hit when I least expect it. The squat is not an exercise that I love. It's not that I dislike the movement, more that it just doesn't come naturally to me. My leverage always feels off and I have to bitch and struggle for every damn kilo.
Last week I ponied up fora squat session on the back of a less than stellar work week. Nothing critical mind you just getting used to longer hours again and some issues getting the calories I need on the job. Regardless I turned up (at my old gym) got under the bar and away I went.
With a great mate behind me I hit a nice double rep unwrapped PR and called it a day. Before I could barely grab a drink the call went out from those around me that I should try another 10kgs. Now this would be a milestone for me given a) it was a 20 kg unwrapped PB b) it was the first time I had hit this number of plates c) it was only 20kg under my all time wrapped squat PB.
With plenty of grunt down I went and damn me up came the bar nicely and according to the 7 or so team mates around who I trust the depth was good.
So what does that tell me. That your mind and body lie and more importantly a professional environment with the right people is worth kilos on the bar.
' no one gets out alive'
Thomo
Perceptions and Judgements
People rightly judge you by the things that you say, remember this.
It is not clear to me whether the nonsensical nature of the comment is the issue or the characteristics of the person that typically utters it. When I hear phrases such as these I make a value judgement about your character:
1) 'Dem Gainz'
2) Re-feed
3) Peri work out nutrition
4) IIFYM (don't even start me)
Also if you regularly use social media such as Facebook then take the time once a week to scroll through your feed and re-examine the narrative. Forget the pictures, the reposts and all those hilarious comments from your friends. Just for a minute objectively review your commentary. Does this reflect how you want others to perceive you. If your family saw the drivel you post would they be proud.
'No one gets out alive'
Thomo
Monday, January 12, 2015
Mirrors...the root of all dumb shit!
Workout regularly and you will bear witness to some particularly stupid activity in the gym. Some day's I have a good laugh others I just shake my head and wonder how some people make it through a day.
Case in point. While there are two squat racks in the gym they are rarely both available for use. Instead there is usually some half-wit that just has to military press 30 kilos in the rack, or perform 2 inch range of motion rack pulls.
My personal favourite is the upright half bent shrug row. This exercise is easily identified by the confused bro standing almost upright while rowing the bar as if performing a bent row. The confusing element here is that I am never really certain what the bro in question feels he is achieving. And to be honest I really don't care except, the chosen location for this exercise tends to be right in the middle of the squat rack.
Though I must say my favourite might be under threat. This week I watched incredulously as a bro heaved the trap deadlift bar in-front of the mirror and proceeded to hoist it over head for sets of seated military press. Honestly I just couldn't comprehend what my eyes were witnessing.
I have developed a theory that suggests that 90% of dopey shit occurs within close proximity to a mirror. Therefore to eliminate the bro's and their inane feats of stupidity, remove the mirrors! Absolutely foolproof.
Lift and share the knowledge
Thomo
Case in point. While there are two squat racks in the gym they are rarely both available for use. Instead there is usually some half-wit that just has to military press 30 kilos in the rack, or perform 2 inch range of motion rack pulls.
My personal favourite is the upright half bent shrug row. This exercise is easily identified by the confused bro standing almost upright while rowing the bar as if performing a bent row. The confusing element here is that I am never really certain what the bro in question feels he is achieving. And to be honest I really don't care except, the chosen location for this exercise tends to be right in the middle of the squat rack.
Though I must say my favourite might be under threat. This week I watched incredulously as a bro heaved the trap deadlift bar in-front of the mirror and proceeded to hoist it over head for sets of seated military press. Honestly I just couldn't comprehend what my eyes were witnessing.
I have developed a theory that suggests that 90% of dopey shit occurs within close proximity to a mirror. Therefore to eliminate the bro's and their inane feats of stupidity, remove the mirrors! Absolutely foolproof.
Lift and share the knowledge
Thomo
Monday, October 13, 2014
Lessons and loss
A few weeks back and I'm looking through my study window at a grey rainy Sunday vista. My feet are up I have a warm drink at hand as I take in the view while watching the 2014 Mr Olympia live stream. Bodybuilding is not high on my agenda any-more but I take in the Olympia annually as homage to the show the piqued my interest in strength 31 years ago.
It feels quiet alien to be tapping thoughts on the keyboard again. After all it has been 4 months since drama unfolded calling a halt to my ramblings online.
It is remarkable how resilient the human spirit can be. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, in some ways bouncing back is no different from the body adapting to a physical stress akin to the training response.
This has been the most challenging and difficult period in 44 years of existence, it is over, I am back and I am acutely aware of who my real friends are.
Lift strong
Thomo
It feels quiet alien to be tapping thoughts on the keyboard again. After all it has been 4 months since drama unfolded calling a halt to my ramblings online.
Life changing situations engulf every fibre of your existence. Each day is a pitched battle and being constantly on alert floods your system with debilitating stress hormones. Rest is a foreign concept and it is difficult to see or imagine a cessation of the difficulties or a return to normality. You continue introspection peeling away the layers of your psyche, questioning long held paradigms and delving deeper into your reserves.
All the while it is family that is foremost in your mind, pushing through the pain because they are really all that matter.
Imperceptibly little by little things improve, changes are made, lessons learned. Health returns and embrace daylight and recovery. The world you return to though is not the same. It's as if your clothes don't quite fit any more. The veil is lifted and you observe the world with its thin veneer of civility removed seeing things again as they really are.
As time passes you find that its you that has changed, or perhaps its simply a return to who you were. Renewal has brought with it welcome perspective.
A raft of acquaintances will have no idea of recent challenges but that is because I don't choose to play out my life's dramas on social media for all and sundry to pore over the minutia of daily existence. Thankfully friends are there and support has been ongoing and welcomed.
Lessons have been learnt, I have seen individuals driven by the almighty dollar shunning relationships and forgetting who gave them their start. I continue to witness the most crass intellectual arrogance from many who assume their singular existence is demonstrable proof of their methods.
All the while it is family that is foremost in your mind, pushing through the pain because they are really all that matter.
Imperceptibly little by little things improve, changes are made, lessons learned. Health returns and embrace daylight and recovery. The world you return to though is not the same. It's as if your clothes don't quite fit any more. The veil is lifted and you observe the world with its thin veneer of civility removed seeing things again as they really are.
As time passes you find that its you that has changed, or perhaps its simply a return to who you were. Renewal has brought with it welcome perspective.
A raft of acquaintances will have no idea of recent challenges but that is because I don't choose to play out my life's dramas on social media for all and sundry to pore over the minutia of daily existence. Thankfully friends are there and support has been ongoing and welcomed.
Lessons have been learnt, I have seen individuals driven by the almighty dollar shunning relationships and forgetting who gave them their start. I continue to witness the most crass intellectual arrogance from many who assume their singular existence is demonstrable proof of their methods.
It is remarkable how resilient the human spirit can be. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, in some ways bouncing back is no different from the body adapting to a physical stress akin to the training response.
This has been the most challenging and difficult period in 44 years of existence, it is over, I am back and I am acutely aware of who my real friends are.
Lift strong
Thomo
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