Alternatives to MFW

So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
Anyone feel like being helpful today?

In article
<9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
imchardo@live.com wrote:

> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> Anyone feel like being helpful today?

Never hurts to ask.
You could also try googling old threads and see if the info is there.

There is also a UK weightlifting group that used to be pretty decent,
but I've not posted there for a very long time.
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson

<imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> Anyone feel like being helpful today?




Ask a training question and see what happens!

Burr

<imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?

I now subscribe to the print edition of MFW. This month's feature has Burr
working out to the music of Abba while modeling the latest banana hammocks
from Speedo. Newsstands everywhere.

imchardo@live.com wrote:
> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> Anyone feel like being helpful today?

http://forums.lylemcdonald.com/
http://community.livejournal.com/gymrats/
http://www.minionreport.com/forum/index.php

On usenet? Nowhere.

-- Dally

On Tue, 6 May 2008, Zen Cohen wrote:

> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>
> I now subscribe to the print edition of MFW.

Oh, there's a large print version now?

tom

--
First man to add a mixer get a shoeing! -- The Laird

<imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> Anyone feel like being helpful today?

Ping a guy called Hobbes. Or Andrzej. Anything about cooking there is a guy
called Omelet. About scooters consult Curt. Prostate problems see Burr. If
you want to laugh, lots of comedians here

<imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> Anyone feel like being helpful today?

Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
"Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:

> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>
> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>
> -S-
> http://www.kbnj.com

Absolootly.
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson

"Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
> In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
> "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>
>> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
>> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>>
>> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>>

OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was about
one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe just 8.

Been doing fullbody workout every other day, only about 40 minutes of
weights, fairly high intensity, very little rest btw sets, but my bod's
often feeling fatigued and sore in many muscles. Also, right shoulder joint
has been sore for over a month. My routine doesn't seem to be that hard to
be overtraining but that's how I feel. Is it my age (almost 50)? My body
isn't as resilient as it was 20 yrs ago (duh).

>> -S-
>> http://www.kbnj.com
>
> Absolootly.

Why aren't you deliberating?

> --
> --
>
> Peace! Om
>
> "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
> -- Jack Nicholson

"Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4821e04f$0$3385$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
>> In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
>> "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>>
>>> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>>> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>>> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>>> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>>>
>>> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>>>
>
> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was
> about one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe
> just 8.

I can try. There are many possibilities.

> Been doing fullbody workout every other day, only about 40 minutes of
> weights, fairly high intensity, very little rest btw sets, but my
> bod's often feeling fatigued and sore in many muscles. Also, right
> shoulder joint has been sore for over a month. My routine doesn't seem
> to be that hard to be overtraining but that's how I feel. Is it my
> age (almost 50)? My body isn't as resilient as it was 20 yrs ago
> (duh).

Regardless of age, one of the things that happens is that constant
training eventually leads to plateaus and often then losses in strength.
Question #1 is: have you been cycling your training? If not, start now
by taking a week of easy/variety type training. I try to go "three
weeks on, one week off" most of the time and usually include both
weekends in my off week, effectively making it 9 days instead of just 7.

Another is specific to pullups - the best way for most people to train
them is using a variety of methods, e.g., not only vary the sets and
reps, but do some weighted, some not, some chinups or neutral grip and
some pullup grip, some narrow, some wide, etc. If you haven't been
doing this, also a good thing for you to try. 8 bodyweight-only means
you can crank out a few reps with some added weight, so how about a
cycle of weight reps with bodyweight only once or twice a week, or even
not at all for a few weeks.

And varying the sets and reps with just bodyweight is also an excellent
idea, e.g., you could try a ladder for a change of pace - do 1, rest the
amount of time it would take an imaginary training partner to do 1, you
do 2 next, rest for the imaginary partner *(IOW, rest time and work time
are about equal), etc. I think you'll find a ladder to 4 or 5 is
serious training, and once you get to that "rung" of the ladder, you
take a longer rest then start another ladder. It's OK if the number of
rungs goes down as you do a few of them.

Another varying strategy is GTG - do set of 4-6 reps throughout the day,
working anywhere from 5 to 20 sets per day, 6 days per week, for 2-3
weeks, then take a day or two off and test your max.

And sure, age can be a part of it, but there's almost always a way to
work around it to some extent. Weight is another - gaining a few pounds
can certainly knock a few reps off your pullup max.

For what it's worth and in the interest of full disclousure, here's part
my current program that includes pullups. I am currently doing what we
Party members know at the ETK ROP - the "Rite of Passage" from the book
"Enter The Kettlebell." The version I'm doing includes pullups in
between press sets. Today, e.g., I will do 3 ladders of (1, 2, 3) and 2
ladders of (1,2). Each ladder is the rung's number of presses right,
presses left, and weighted pullups. Although it needn't work this way,
I happen to be using 28 kg (62 lbs.) for my presses, and also a 28 kg
(62 lb.) weight on a dipping belt for my pullups. At the end of today -
right now I've done the 3 ladders of 1,2,3 and have the 2 ladders of 1,2
to go still - I'll have done 24 presses with each arm and 24 weighted
pullups. Today is heavy day and the program uses a light/medium/heavy
weekly rotation. I hope my pullups numbers will be improving as I
continue over the next few months. This is my second cycle and the goal
is to get to 5 ladders of (1,2,3,4,5), which will mean 75 presses each
arm and 75 weights pullups on heavy day.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

>>> -S-
>>> http://www.kbnj.com
>>
>> Absolootly.
>
> Why aren't you deliberating?
>
>> --
>> --
>>
>> Peace! Om
>>
>> "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
>> -- Jack Nicholson
>
>

Dnia 2008-05-07 Zen Cohen napisa³(a):
>
> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
>> In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
>> "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>>
>>> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>>> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>>> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>>> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>>>
>>> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>>>
>
> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was about
> one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe just 8.
>
> Been doing fullbody workout every other day, only about 40 minutes of
> weights, fairly high intensity, very little rest btw sets, but my bod's
> often feeling fatigued and sore in many muscles. Also, right shoulder joint
> has been sore for over a month. My routine doesn't seem to be that hard to
> be overtraining but that's how I feel. Is it my age (almost 50)? My body
> isn't as resilient as it was 20 yrs ago (duh).

You aren't in the Over Training Syndrome yet, but you are driving
yourself fairly hard, it seems, so fatigue can cause temporary loss of
performance. Taper off a bit, and you should be able to do 12. Then
start over if you like.

Whatever you may say about current state of MFW, we grown up a bit and
don't expect Personal Bests every workout anymore.

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Wed, 7 May 2008, Zen Cohen wrote:

> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
>> In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
>> "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>>
>>> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>>>> So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>>>> sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>>>> Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>>>
>>> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>
> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was
> about one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe
> just 8.

Are you eating enough?

tom

--
Pave the world

In article <68c8h7F2rurjfU1@mid.individual.net>,
Dally <Dally@myself.com> wrote:

> imchardo@live.com wrote:
> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>
> http://forums.lylemcdonald.com/
> http://community.livejournal.com/gymrats/
> http://www.minionreport.com/forum/index.php
>
> On usenet? Nowhere.
>
> -- Dally

I hate web based forums. :-(
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson

In article <4821e04f$0$3385$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
"Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote:

> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
> > In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
> > "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
> >
> >> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
> >> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> >> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
> >> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
> >> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
> >>
> >> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
> >>
>
> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was about
> one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe just 8.
>
> Been doing fullbody workout every other day, only about 40 minutes of
> weights, fairly high intensity, very little rest btw sets, but my bod's
> often feeling fatigued and sore in many muscles. Also, right shoulder joint
> has been sore for over a month. My routine doesn't seem to be that hard to
> be overtraining but that's how I feel. Is it my age (almost 50)? My body
> isn't as resilient as it was 20 yrs ago (duh).

Sounds like overtraining. Try training 1/2 the body every other day for
awhile, and GET MORE SLEEP!

>
> >> -S-
> >> http://www.kbnj.com
> >
> > Absolootly.
>
> Why aren't you deliberating?

Huh?

We Deliberated for 3 freakin' hours today before reaching a verdict!
The judge was satisfied tho'. He told us afterwards that he'd have
convicted too. We felt better about it after we got more background.

They don't tell jury panels all the background details until _after_ the
trial. You are instructed to go strictly by the presented evidence.

It's a bitch, but it works.

>
> > --
> > --
> >
> > Peace! Om
> >
> > "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
> > -- Jack Nicholson
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson

"Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
news:68eaheF2spdtvU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4821e04f$0$3385$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>
>> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
>>> In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
>>> "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>>>> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>>>> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>>>> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>>>>
>>>> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>>>>
>>
>> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was
>> about one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe
>> just 8.
>
> I can try. There are many possibilities.
>
>> Been doing fullbody workout every other day, only about 40 minutes of
>> weights, fairly high intensity, very little rest btw sets, but my bod's
>> often feeling fatigued and sore in many muscles. Also, right shoulder
>> joint has been sore for over a month. My routine doesn't seem to be that
>> hard to be overtraining but that's how I feel. Is it my age (almost 50)?
>> My body isn't as resilient as it was 20 yrs ago (duh).
>
> Regardless of age, one of the things that happens is that constant
> training eventually leads to plateaus and often then losses in strength.
> Question #1 is: have you been cycling your training?

Not really. Unless I'm just not in it that day, I like to work out as
strenuously as possible (ie, as far as my own pain/discomfort threshold
goes).

If not, start now
> by taking a week of easy/variety type training. I try to go "three weeks
> on, one week off" most of the time and usually include both weekends in my
> off week, effectively making it 9 days instead of just 7.
>
> Another is specific to pullups - the best way for most people to train
> them is using a variety of methods....

Yeah, I tend to do the same thing: wide grip, overhand, slow, go nearly to
failure. I'll mix it up as you suggest.

> And sure, age can be a part of it, but there's almost always a way to work
> around it to some extent. Weight is another - gaining a few pounds can
> certainly knock a few reps off your pullup max.
>

I've lost 60 lbs in the last 1.5 yrs. Funny thing is that when I first
waddled back into the gym 60 lbs heavier than I am now I forced myself to do
bodyweight exercises (pullups, dips). I could only do about 1 1/2 pullups
then but I'd bet I can't do one 60-lb weighted pullup right now, despite
being in much better shape now. Probably has a lot to do with not getting
used to weighted pullups.

As always, thanks for the advice.

"Andrzej Rosa" <bakters@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:kdf9f5-mbl.ln1@bakters.bandit.home...
> Dnia 2008-05-07 Zen Cohen napisa³(a):
>>
>> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
>>> In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
>>> "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>>>> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>>>> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>>>> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>>>>
>>>> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>>>>
>>
>> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was
>> about
>> one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe just 8.
>>
>> Been doing fullbody workout every other day, only about 40 minutes of
>> weights, fairly high intensity, very little rest btw sets, but my bod's
>> often feeling fatigued and sore in many muscles. Also, right shoulder
>> joint
>> has been sore for over a month. My routine doesn't seem to be that hard
>> to
>> be overtraining but that's how I feel. Is it my age (almost 50)? My body
>> isn't as resilient as it was 20 yrs ago (duh).
>
> You aren't in the Over Training Syndrome yet, but you are driving
> yourself fairly hard, it seems, so fatigue can cause temporary loss of
> performance. Taper off a bit, and you should be able to do 12. Then
> start over if you like.
>
> Whatever you may say about current state of MFW, we grown up a bit and
> don't expect Personal Bests every workout anymore.

IIRC, I was doing 15 pullups about 15+ yrs ago. Seems that's doable for many
other guys my age/size but still pretty elusive for me. One thing I notice
in the gyms where I work out, though, is that very few guys do pullups, and
when they do, it's usually only about 5 or 6, and it looks like they're
really straining, even though they look like they're in good shape. I think
most people just hate doing them so they're not very good at it.

"Tom Anderson" <twic@urchin.earth.li> wrote in message
....
> Are you eating enough?

I think so. I'm 5'10" ~160 (what's that, about 11.5 stone?) and often eat
over 3000 cals/day, but most days about 2500. I'm almost always hungry but
I've always had a big appetite.

"Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
newsmpomelet-9BCDDA.18113107052008@news.giganews.com...
> In article <4821e04f$0$3385$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
> "Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
.....
> Sounds like overtraining. Try training 1/2 the body every other day for
> awhile, and GET MORE SLEEP!

Definitely need more sleep but that's kinda hard to do with a kid.

Last night, I wanted to go to bed at about 10:30pm but went to the gym
instead and stayed till almost 12. Makes it hard to wake up in the a.m.

>
>>
>> >> -S-
>> >> http://www.kbnj.com
>> >
>> > Absolootly.
>>
>> Why aren't you deliberating?
>
> Huh?
>
> We Deliberated for 3 freakin' hours today before reaching a verdict!
> The judge was satisfied tho'. He told us afterwards that he'd have
> convicted too. We felt better about it after we got more background.
>
> They don't tell jury panels all the background details until _after_ the
> trial. You are instructed to go strictly by the presented evidence.

It's a delicate balance the justice system has to strike. I'll bet the D had
a crim history, which is often relevant to guilt but if the jury finds out
about it, it's very difficult for them to focus on the facts of the charged
offense. AFAIC, it's a good balance. In any case, the prosecution often
finds ways to get the evidence in anyway.

>
> It's a bitch, but it works.

I practiced law in Texas for 11 years (am now in CA). Spent two of those
years clerking for a judge on a court of appeals and about seven in private
practice doing appeals. The system usually works but it's much more fucked
up than you'd think. I've seen many many cases where the judge (often a
former prosecutor) doesn't understand or doesn't care to follow the law and
the defense lawyer is incompetent. There are a lot of sleazy dangerous
people out there who do crimes and need to be punished for them but there
are far too many instances where the defendant didn't get a fair trial. BTW,
it's often not a question of guilt or innocence but how much punishment is
appropriate. That's a big deal in Texas because juries usually have a lot of
power to impose stiff sentences. (One time I had an appeal where during
closing arguments the DA said he'd be absolutely crazy to ask for more than
40 yrs. Jury came back with a verdict of 99 yrs.)

Anyway let us know the details of your case if you've been released to
discuss it.

In article <48224a69$0$7723$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
"Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote:

> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> newsmpomelet-9BCDDA.18113107052008@news.giganews.com...
> > In article <4821e04f$0$3385$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
> > "Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> ....
> > Sounds like overtraining. Try training 1/2 the body every other day for
> > awhile, and GET MORE SLEEP!
>
> Definitely need more sleep but that's kinda hard to do with a kid.
>
> Last night, I wanted to go to bed at about 10:30pm but went to the gym
> instead and stayed till almost 12. Makes it hard to wake up in the a.m.

Then just don't expect much progress.
Some nutrition can help, but there is no substitute for sleep.

Trust me. ;-)

>
> >
> >>
> >> >> -S-
> >> >> http://www.kbnj.com
> >> >
> >> > Absolootly.
> >>
> >> Why aren't you deliberating?
> >
> > Huh?
> >
> > We Deliberated for 3 freakin' hours today before reaching a verdict!
> > The judge was satisfied tho'. He told us afterwards that he'd have
> > convicted too. We felt better about it after we got more background.
> >
> > They don't tell jury panels all the background details until _after_ the
> > trial. You are instructed to go strictly by the presented evidence.
>
> It's a delicate balance the justice system has to strike.

It has to be "fair and impartial".


> I'll bet the D had
> a crim history,

No. It was her first offense. Unfortunately, either she or her attorney
was to arrogant to plea bargain. Turned out to their detriment.

Which is typical with jury trials and the DA knows this. If you are
offered a plea bargain, TAKE IT! Statistically, you are better off.

> which is often relevant to guilt but if the jury finds out
> about it, it's very difficult for them to focus on the facts of the charged
> offense. AFAIC, it's a good balance. In any case, the prosecution often
> finds ways to get the evidence in anyway.

Not this time. The DA told me a few things after the trial that were
suppressed which would definitely have influenced my original opinion,
and would no doubt have shortened the deliberation.

We could not go home until we'd reached a verdict. ;-) Fortunately, we
were all to honest/moral (which is typical) to render a quick verdict
for our own convenience. 3 hours is a long time...

>
> >
> > It's a bitch, but it works.
>
> I practiced law in Texas for 11 years (am now in CA). Spent two of those
> years clerking for a judge on a court of appeals and about seven in private
> practice doing appeals. The system usually works but it's much more fucked
> up than you'd think.

Don't think I don't know that. I feel good tho' that this time at least,
it did.

> I've seen many many cases where the judge (often a
> former prosecutor) doesn't understand or doesn't care to follow the law and
> the defense lawyer is incompetent.

There is a reason I voted for this particular judge in the last
election. ;-) It did not influence my decision, but it was not a bad
thing.

> There are a lot of sleazy dangerous
> people out there who do crimes and need to be punished for them but there
> are far too many instances where the defendant didn't get a fair trial. BTW,
> it's often not a question of guilt or innocence but how much punishment is
> appropriate.

Which was the VERY reason we took 3 hours!

> That's a big deal in Texas because juries usually have a lot of
> power to impose stiff sentences.

I learned that today.

> (One time I had an appeal where during
> closing arguments the DA said he'd be absolutely crazy to ask for more than
> 40 yrs. Jury came back with a verdict of 99 yrs.)
>
> Anyway let us know the details of your case if you've been released to
> discuss it.

I have. :-)

I'm just too tired to type it up right now. I'll report later. Promise!
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson

"Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4821e04f$0$3385$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> newsmpomelet-C5C2D8.07263907052008@news.giganews.com...
>> In article <68dkkrF2suf9cU1@mid.individual.net>,
>> "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:
>>
>>> <imchardo@live.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9a820cc0-4b83-4f25-a204-26dafe683886@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>>> > So, since MFW is essentially dead now, where's a guy go to get the
>>> > sort of useful advice I used to be able to find here 3 years ago?
>>> > Anyone feel like being helpful today?
>>>
>>> Rumors of mfw's death have been greatly exaggerated.
>>>
>
> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was about
> one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now maybe just 8.
>

If you can't bang out a dozen or so pullups you're either too weak or too
fat, take your pick.

(paraphrasing a sig from vintage MFW)

"Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:48224498$0$7701$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Andrzej Rosa" <.
>
> IIRC, I was doing 15 pullups about 15+ yrs ago. Seems that's doable for
> many other guys my age/size but still pretty elusive for me. One thing I
> notice in the gyms where I work out, though, is that very few guys do
> pullups, and when they do, it's usually only about 5 or 6, and it looks
> like they're really straining, even though they look like they're in good
> shape. I think most people just hate doing them so they're not very good
> at it.
>

I can't do one!!!

Burr

"ranieri"
>
> If you can't bang out a dozen or so pullups you're either too weak or too
> fat, take your pick.
>
> (paraphrasing a sig from vintage MFW)
>
>
>

I'm both and fuck you Ranieri!!

Burr

Dnia 2008-05-08 Zen Cohen napisa³(a):
>
> "Andrzej Rosa" <bakters@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> You aren't in the Over Training Syndrome yet, but you are driving
>> yourself fairly hard, it seems, so fatigue can cause temporary loss of
>> performance. Taper off a bit, and you should be able to do 12. Then
>> start over if you like.
>>
>> Whatever you may say about current state of MFW, we grown up a bit and
>> don't expect Personal Bests every workout anymore.
>
> IIRC, I was doing 15 pullups about 15+ yrs ago. Seems that's doable for many
> other guys my age/size but still pretty elusive for me.

There is something weird going on above 12 reps for me. I could be
stuck on this number for ages without making progress when I used to do
that many, so I'm not surprised that 15 is hard to reach. I don't think
it's entirely psychological, rather that some system in our bodies gets
depleted by the time we reach this number, so even if it looks like an
easy step from 12 to 15, it may take a while.

> One thing I notice
> in the gyms where I work out, though, is that very few guys do pullups, and
> when they do, it's usually only about 5 or 6, and it looks like they're
> really straining, even though they look like they're in good shape. I think
> most people just hate doing them so they're not very good at it.

ATM I'm one of those guys. I wasn't doing any serious pulling for over
half a year, so I'm there for sure. And I never could do above 10 too.

Anyway, Steve was very right about varying your grip. Change it in such
a way that your shoulder is fine with it, or else. ;-)

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

Dnia 2008-05-08 Zen Cohen napisa³(a):
>
> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> newsmpomelet-9BCDDA.18113107052008@news.giganews.com...
>> In article <4821e04f$0$3385$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
>> "Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
> ....
>> Sounds like overtraining. Try training 1/2 the body every other day for
>> awhile, and GET MORE SLEEP!
>
> Definitely need more sleep but that's kinda hard to do with a kid.

That thing is crucial. I think it was Dan John, who invented a recovery
grading system. You started with some basic number and awarded yourself
points for some things while mostly deducing points for things which
limit your recovery ability. Sleep above 8 hours added points, but
fight with wife lowered them, which is actually true. A stress is a
stress is a stress.

> Last night, I wanted to go to bed at about 10:30pm but went to the gym
> instead and stayed till almost 12. Makes it hard to wake up in the a.m.

At 50 you should be smarter. You can't train harder without recovering
harder still. Being you I'd cut down on cardio first. Those insubstantial
calorie expenses aren't worth the recovery bill you have to pay for
them, so it would be the first thing to go. Doing light workout
directed at joint health is my choice in such situations.

Om is right. Sleep well to train well, otherwise you will bump into
issues, and rather sooner than later.

[...]
--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Wed, 7 May 2008, Zen Cohen wrote:

> "Tom Anderson" <twic@urchin.earth.li> wrote in message
> ...
>> Are you eating enough?
>
> I think so. I'm 5'10" ~160 (what's that, about 11.5 stone?)

73 kg. Metric 4 life, G!

> and often eat over 3000 cals/day, but most days about 2500. I'm almost
> always hungry but I've always had a big appetite.

Okay, sounds like you're eating enough.

From the other branch of the thread, it does sound like sleep could be a
problem. Given the circumstances, not a lot you can do about that, though!

tom

--
Got a revolution behind my eyes - We got to get up and organise

On Thu, 8 May 2008, Andrzej Rosa wrote:

> Dnia 2008-05-08 Zen Cohen napisa?(a):
>>
>> "Andrzej Rosa" <bakters@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>>> You aren't in the Over Training Syndrome yet, but you are driving
>>> yourself fairly hard, it seems, so fatigue can cause temporary loss of
>>> performance. Taper off a bit, and you should be able to do 12. Then
>>> start over if you like.
>>>
>>> Whatever you may say about current state of MFW, we grown up a bit and
>>> don't expect Personal Bests every workout anymore.
>>
>> IIRC, I was doing 15 pullups about 15+ yrs ago. Seems that's doable for many
>> other guys my age/size but still pretty elusive for me.
>
> There is something weird going on above 12 reps for me. I could be
> stuck on this number for ages without making progress when I used to do
> that many, so I'm not surprised that 15 is hard to reach. I don't think
> it's entirely psychological, rather that some system in our bodies gets
> depleted by the time we reach this number, so even if it looks like an
> easy step from 12 to 15, it may take a while.

12 reps is the traditional boundary between myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic
hypertrophy, isn't it? Does that mean something like your muscles are just
running out of energy at that point? What happens if you do 12, hang for
15 seconds, and try to continue?

tom

--
Got a revolution behind my eyes - We got to get up and organise

"Burr" <pitzradio@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:jIudndcFe5jc4L_VnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
>
> "ranieri"
>>
>> If you can't bang out a dozen or so pullups you're either too weak or too
>> fat, take your pick.
>>
>> (paraphrasing a sig from vintage MFW)
>>
>>
>>
>
> I'm both and fuck you Ranieri!!
>


Now we're getting somewhere! This is startig to feel like old times.

"Zen Cohen" <aturny@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:482242e1$0$7692$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

>>> OK, can you tell me why I am not able to do as many pullups as I was
>>> about one month ago? I was doing 10 (wide grip, good form), now
>>> maybe just 8.

>> Regardless of age, one of the things that happens is that constant
>> training eventually leads to plateaus and often then losses in
>> strength. Question #1 is: have you been cycling your training?
>
> Not really. Unless I'm just not in it that day, I like to work out as
> strenuously as possible (ie, as far as my own pain/discomfort
> threshold goes).

This is a very important thing. Read the book, "Consistent Winning."
It's out of print but worth finding. I've come to look forward to my
fourth weeks - it gives me a chance to work on movements I don't usually
do, take a movement I usually do for low reps and do it with a lighter
weight for higher reps, stuff like that.

Take a week and change up your training, and you will return to your
usual routine much fresher. I have, e.g., often found that it's often
hard to restrain myself from doing too much the first day back into a
new cycle because I feel so good.

I really can't stress this point enough. You have to learn to embrace
the idea that you actually _want_ to let yourself get detrained a bit
because this is what the body needs to make long-term progress. FWIW,
I don't think this is as important for aerobics activities like distance
running - some of those people do cycle back, but the cycle tends to be
much longer, e.g., they'll take a couple of months easy in the winter
but then train hard consistently otherwise. Consistent Winning cites
several examples of aerobics athletes who, after injury-enforced time
off, came back to set new personal records (which were sometimes world
record or gold medal level performances), but overall my impression is
that the more towards the strength end of things you train, the more
important it is to back off regularly - just a gut reaction on my part,
no science claimed on this particular point.

You are hereby ordered to cycle your training, Comrade!

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Dnia 2008-05-08 Tom Anderson napisa³(a):
> On Thu, 8 May 2008, Andrzej Rosa wrote:
>
>> Dnia 2008-05-08 Zen Cohen napisa?(a):
>
>>> IIRC, I was doing 15 pullups about 15+ yrs ago. Seems that's doable for many
>>> other guys my age/size but still pretty elusive for me.
>>
>> There is something weird going on above 12 reps for me. I could be
>> stuck on this number for ages without making progress when I used to do
>> that many, so I'm not surprised that 15 is hard to reach. I don't think
>> it's entirely psychological, rather that some system in our bodies gets
>> depleted by the time we reach this number, so even if it looks like an
>> easy step from 12 to 15, it may take a while.
>
> 12 reps is the traditional boundary between myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic
> hypertrophy, isn't it? Does that mean something like your muscles are just
> running out of energy at that point?

That would be something along the lines of my thinking, bearing in mind
that the exact mechanism can be quite different.

> What happens if you do 12, hang for 15 seconds, and try to continue?

You fall off? Anyway, there are two possible approaches at combating
this sticking point. One is to use lower reps and build strength to the
point that 12 rep with old weight becomes easy enough to do 15, the
other is to train for 20 reps and build them sacroplasms, or whatever it
is which fails at 12. Maybe both, at two different days? Guys
successful at pullups do them about three times a week, using various
grips and set/rep numbers (speaking in general terms, of course).

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Thu, 8 May 2008, Andrzej Rosa wrote:

> Dnia 2008-05-08 Tom Anderson napisa?(a):
>> On Thu, 8 May 2008, Andrzej Rosa wrote:
>>
>>> Dnia 2008-05-08 Zen Cohen napisa?(a):
>>
>>>> IIRC, I was doing 15 pullups about 15+ yrs ago. Seems that's doable for many
>>>> other guys my age/size but still pretty elusive for me.
>>>
>>> There is something weird going on above 12 reps for me. I could be
>>> stuck on this number for ages without making progress when I used to do
>>> that many, so I'm not surprised that 15 is hard to reach. I don't think
>>> it's entirely psychological, rather that some system in our bodies gets
>>> depleted by the time we reach this number, so even if it looks like an
>>> easy step from 12 to 15, it may take a while.
>>
>> 12 reps is the traditional boundary between myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic
>> hypertrophy, isn't it? Does that mean something like your muscles are just
>> running out of energy at that point?
>
> That would be something along the lines of my thinking, bearing in mind
> that the exact mechanism can be quite different.
>
>> What happens if you do 12, hang for 15 seconds, and try to continue?
>
> You fall off? Anyway, there are two possible approaches at combating
> this sticking point. One is to use lower reps and build strength to the
> point that 12 rep with old weight becomes easy enough to do 15, the
> other is to train for 20 reps and build them sacroplasms, or whatever it
> is which fails at 12. Maybe both, at two different days?

I've tried both approaches with other lifts in the past. At the moment, i
lean towards the idea that more reps with a lighter weight is what helps
most. I really don't have solid evidence for that, though.

tom
--
Got a revolution behind my eyes - We got to get up and organise

"Tom Anderson" <twic@urchin.earth.li> wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.64.0805081544431.17425@urchin.eart h.li...
> On Thu, 8 May 2008, Andrzej Rosa wrote:
>
>> Dnia 2008-05-08 Tom Anderson napisa?(a):
>>> On Thu, 8 May 2008, Andrzej Rosa wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dnia 2008-05-08 Zen Cohen napisa?(a):
>>>
>>>>> IIRC, I was doing 15 pullups about 15+ yrs ago. Seems that's
>>>>> doable for many
>>>>> other guys my age/size but still pretty elusive for me.
>>>>
>>>> There is something weird going on above 12 reps for me. I could be
>>>> stuck on this number for ages without making progress when I used
>>>> to do
>>>> that many, so I'm not surpr