Hit by a car, time to hit back.

Although I doubt anyone will take the time to seriously read this log, I feel obligated to offer a little of my background. I'm a 21 year old college student and former amateur boxer. 2 years ago, I got hit by a car. This left me with torn menisci in both knees, a partially torn ACL in my right knee, as well as a sublaxed right shoulder with a SLAP (superior labral tear from anterior to posterior).

Recovery/Rehab for those injuries took about a year and a half. Slow process, and combined with the painkillers, I was left with a lack of motivation (and appetite). I ended up weighing 119 pounds about 8 months ago (at 5'10). I don't have a before shot of this, but think something along the lines of Christian Bale in "The Machinist".

After hitting that low, I finally pulled it together and got back in the gym. Training was largely stuff that would be frowned upon by those on this board because I was still not cleared for big compound lifts, and frankly a little intimidated by them and worried about reinjuring myself. It was enough to put some weight back on, and build my confidence again. Finally, I'm able to being compound lifts. I plan to take it easy and work my way back gradually, so I plan on running Starting Strength in the New Year when I go back to class.

Starting Stats (12/27/12) First Update (4/6/13):

Height: 178 cm (5'10)
BW: 72 kg (160) 77 kg (~170)

Max Lifts:

Bench: 250 245x5
Squat: 225 265x5
Deadlift: 309 325x5
SOHP: 120 135x5

Bench is higher than the other lifts because I was able to work it 8 months ago when I got back in the gym. The other lifts are pathetic due to the injury, but heres hoping that changes in the coming year.

I'm hoping this log will keep me motivated and accountable, as well as serve as a platform for me to reach out to other members for advice.

All weights in the log are in lbs. unless otherwise indicated.

 

Looks like you've been quite successful thus far in your rehabilitation, welcome to the logs.

 

I certainly hope that you hit back hard.

Welcome to the logs.

 

Best of luck, babe. You might end up being surprised by the number of people that do, in fact, read the logs around here.

 

111

 

Your story reminds me of kotriz (he was run over by a car, shattered his knee, had a bunch of surgeries, lost a ton of weight and recently broke 500 lbs in the squat), you should look up his log.

Good luck with your training, kid!

 

Started a log, was amped to train, and immediately had an emergency at work that had me working 11pm - 7am, and constantly on call, so my start was delayed until today. I also had a pretty nasty flu (not that sickness should be any excuse). I tried to make the best of the time at work and home sick, using a broomstick to go over the motions of the exercises and hopefully help my form.

Here it is, my first workout on a real program and not some bastardized creation of mine (that only ever resembled a whole lot of what-the-fuck)

BW: 157.2 (thought I would have lost more from being sick, pleasant surprise)

Squats

BWx5
45x5
45x5
125x5
135x5
155x5
205x5x3

Switched to low bar today from high bar. Felt awkward at first, but fortunately (maybe?) I hadn't squatted much in the last year due to injury and the technique felt like it came relatively quickly. Definitely converted.

Press

45x5
45x5
75x5
95x5
105x5x3

Deadlift

65x5
135x5
155x5
205x5
275x5 (Rep PR)

Chins

BWx12
BWx6
BWx6

Grip gave out on these before the muscles did. Overall the workout felt great, something satisfying about having a clear goal in the gym.

 

Last nights workout:

Squat

BWx5
45x5
135x5
155x5
185x5
210x5x2
135x10

Work sets felt good, but I could tell I was cutting the squats a little high on the last 2 reps of my second work set, so I lowered the weight and focused on maintaining technique. I'm too new to this to develop bad habits for the sake of ego.

Bench Press

45x5
125x5
135x5
155x5
185x5
225x5x3 (Needed assistance on the last rep)

Bench felt good, one of the lifts I'm more comfortable with.

Deadlifts

45x5
135x5
185x5
225x5
245x5
280x5

Coming along, I feel a lot better about my deadlift technique lately.

 

Another one reading your log here. Keep up the good work!

 

Todays work:

Squat

BWx5
45x5
115x5
135x5
185x2
215x5x3

Need to work on my breathing a bit more, but these felt really good.

Press

45x5
45x5
75x5
95x5
110x5x3

Deadlifts

135x5
185x5
275x2
285x5

I had a massive lump on my shin from the weekend. I was knocking 3ft icicles off of my garage with a hockey stick (not hard to tell I'm a Canadian), took one in the shin when it fell. However it ended up providing a nice cue for the bar path, if it didnt hurt like hell to pull, the bar was coming off of my shin.

Chins

BWx8
BWx8
BWx6 - Was going for 8, but my hands were tired so my grip pulled a Bruce Willis.

 

Damn, crazy background. Good luck with your training!

 

Didn't get a chance to log yesterday

Squat

Barx5
135x5
135x5
185x5
215x5x3 (4 last set)

Bench Press

45x5
135x5
185x5
225x5x3

Deadlift

135x5
185x5
225x2
240x2
290x5

Pull ups

BWx10
45x5
45x3

 

I've been in a similar, if not worse place myself.

Work hard, be consistent, don't get discouraged, but be diligent about not aggravating your injuries.

 

Good luck.

Those lifts aren't bad at all.

 

I guess I'm late to the party. Sounds like you've made huge steps in the right direction already adding 40 pounds of bodyweight back on. Good job man. Welcome to the logs.

 

Yesterdays workout:

Squat:

Barx5
135x5
155x5
185x2
205x2
225x5x3

Press:

45x5
45x5
65x5
95x5
105x5
115x5x3

Deadlift:

135x5
185x5
225x2
275x2
290x2
300x5

Barbell Curls:

80x10x3

Good workout. Squat now matches bench for work sets, so I'm slowly becoming more normally proportioned. Also, having the worksets for deadlifts up to 300 is cool too.

I usually post via my phone so it would be difficult to thank everyone individually, but thanks to everyone who has posted and offered their support or shared stories so far.

 

Today:

Squat:

Barx5
135x5
155x5
185x2
205x2
225x5x3

I was worried after the last workout about depth, so I didn't move the weight up. These were easy and deep, so I'll progress next day.

Bench Press:

45x5
135x5
185x5
205x5
225x5x3

Deadlift:

135x5
185x5
225x2
275x2
290x2
305x5

Chins:

BWx12
BWx8
BWx8

Calf Raises:

100x30x3

 

Today:

Squat:

Barx5
135x5
155x5
185x2
225x2
245x3x2
235x5

I meant to start with 235, but I was really out of it today. I was actually sort of relieved when I caught the mistake though.

Press:

45x5
65x5
95x5
115x5
125x5x3 New PR

5 pounds over my PR for 5 reps. My press is moving up quickly, which is probably a combination of the continuing rehab I've been doing on it and noob gains.

Deadlift:

135x5
185x5
225x2
275x2
285x2

Even with the PR, today was a shitty day at the gym. I worked from 630-930 am then had 9 hours of classes. I was expecting the gym to be an outlet, but it was busy, the music was too loud, and besides the press, the lifts felt bad.

I really didn't feel like myself, and it's getting to me more than it should. I had so many shitty days rehabbing my injuries that any "off" days now feel like the end of the world.

I was debating not logging this workout, but bad days happen and maybe I need some other people to tell me to man up a bit too.

 

Squat:

Barx5
135x5
155x5
185x2
225x2
230x3x5

Bench Press:

45x5
135x5
185x5
225x3x5

Deadlift:

135x5
135x5
185x5
275x2
290x2
305x5

Chins:

BWx12
BWx8
BWx8

 

Stretching:

Agile 8

Squat:

Barx5
135x5
155x5
185x2
225x2
235x3x5

Press:

45x5
65x5
115x5
130x3x5

Deadlift:

135x5
135x5
185x5
275x2
290x2
305x5
275x2

Chins:

BWx12
BWx8
BWx8