I started off with 3 mins cardio (walking/jogging on the spot), the prescribed warm-ups, and then did:

Power Training - Strength Training (weeks 7-9)
Workout A3 (5 of 10)

1: Snatch Pull - 65t/5, 65t/5, 65t/5, 65t/5
2: Clean-grip Deadlift - 150t/5, 150t/5, 150t/5, 150t/5
3: Single-leg Supine Hip Extension - 5, 5, 5, 5
4: Push-ups (incline) - 5, 5, 5, 5
5: Bent-over Two-point Dumbbell Row - 35e/5, 35e/5, 35e/5, 35e/5
6: Push Press - 75t/5, 75t/5, 75t/5, 75t/5
7: Chin-ups (band assisted, attempts) - 5, 5, 5, 5
8: Cable Woodchop - 10, 10, 10, 10
9: Four-point Plank - 45sec, 45sec, 45sec, 45sec

Total time: 75 mins
HR monitor: 451 cals, Max: 154 (87%), Avg: 117 (66%)

I really didn’t feel particularly strong today. I wimped out and dropped a couple of the weights by 5 (#5), 10 (#1) and 15-lbs (#2). I managed to keep the push press where I was last time though. I just felt like I was struggling the entire time. Although I decided if I was going to do a workout today it had to be the morning. Starting around 1pm I’ll be messing with the turkey and such and wouldn’t likely feel like doing it.

Oh well, it’s done, and hopefully by Sunday I’ll feel more like myself. It could just be that I’ve hit the limits of what I can hope to lift while in a deficit. I have to realize that I can’t necessarily increase my lifts every time, but should be happy that this will help retain muscle I already have.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, or Happy Hanukkah (since they overlap this year), or just a general Seasons Greetings to everyone. 

I tend to treat it like just another day. We’ve always been a small family and Christmas, when a child, was a good time for the family to go somewhere warm. My father was like me, a person who didn’t like the cold and snow. So Christmas was most likely celebrated in Florida, Mexico, or whatever warm destination that didn’t cost an arm or a leg during the Christmas break. Actually, I remember at least two cruises over that time frame as well.

Today we’ll amazingly be having turkey. This is something we really never do. A couple of years my mother and I would roast a turkey leg, but even that we stopped doing. So the second turkey will be smoked today and will be the dinner for tonight. And then I’ll slice the rest of it up and freeze it with the rest of the lunch items I’ve been making the last few days. I whipped up a batch of lentil soup yesterday, adding some chopped chicken to it to boost the protein content.

Then I got really lazy last night and didn’t post before bed. I think some of it is the cold. I get curled up on the couch, fall asleep watching television, and then later when I go up to bed I don’t want to risk taking time to post. I’ve always had a tough time getting to sleep and I’m concerned that I’ll get on the computer and then hours later I’ll still be awake.

I decided that the best I’m going to do with the turkey stock is make it, and reduce it. Even if I made the soup, I’ve got no room in the side by side freezer to store it. So, I’ll reduce the stock today and the same with what I make tomorrow from the second turkey carcass, and just store it until I have room.

I got up early enough today that I managed a Christmas workout, so I’ll post that in a minute. I will post yesterday’s food before I go.

Food for yesterday:

Total: 2005 (31% fat, 34% carbs, 34% protein)

Breakfast: protein shake with sour cherries and oatmeal, pecans (470)
AM Snack: none (0)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, smoked turkey, apple (424)
PM Snack: hummus, carrots (166)
Dinner: turkey/beef burgers with bbq onions, salad w/dressing (625)
Late Snack: protein shake, apple (227)