No Crust Racing

I made it to the physio and talked to her about what my podiatrist friend said, she tightly strapped up my arches to see simulate orthotics and see if they would help. Due to Kate's pre-labour we were in and out of hospital all week so I had a full week off gym but was still walking the dog twice daily and the strapping made no difference to my back which was quite tender all week. So last night I thought f**k it and went and did a full session at my normal weights and full sets etc, I had a good stretch prior, a good stretch after and used a tennis ball and my back probably feels better today than it has all week, but still not better. After 50mins of gym I still managed a 60sec plank and 30 sec side plank on each side and this was in between sets of dumbbell lunges and lateral raises so the heart rate was right up as I got into those straight out of my dips so surely my core strength can't be that shit house. I've got the Myo on Monday, see if she can add anything then I will have to look at some other options as I'm not getting anywhere. I may also get a bodybuilder mate of mine to actually come over and spot me for a session to assess my form.

This ^ I started out at 65kg and peaked around 93 or so after always saying "I can't put on weight". In the end I ate 6 meals a day hungry or not, lots of carbs and protein, destroyed maccas etc, was worried about fat but because I was gyming all the time it wasn't an issue. Was also the first time tried supplements and I was just using sustagen sport and plenty of it. Now that's a turned into good eating habits where I eat 5-6 times a day, just not as large a meals and I maintain my weight ok (86kg). I also think that a lot I younger skinny guys with fat metabolisms have better success in the mid 20s instead of early 20s as the metabolism slows down a touch. My 2 cent from a formerly skinny guy

LoL bloody phone. Scared of squats tissue!

Yeah just scare tissue, the bracket and screws are just on the Fib. I'll have a read about hack squats, no idea what they are.

Ahh shit my bad, sorry just trying to whiz through a few things before heading back to the hospital to collect the girls.

What do you mean forget about it? It's not a case of ouch that hurts a little, it's a case of the joint jams up when trying to go that low.

I can't get that low even with a wide stance and well above 45 degree angle on my foot position. The scar tissue on my ankle doesn't allow it. I can get probs 65-75% of the way there if I try and thats pretty uncomfortable. Still below parallel though. My vid shows a semi comfortable depth for me, but doesn't show what I consider improved setup and tension in my core before I start the motion.

That type of toothpaste is shit Birds, you have to hack it open to get the last quarter. Yeah fair enough I realise doing those compound lifts is a winner and it IS my desire to do them, I just want to try and lock down what my back issue is before I continue adding weight to avoid further issues. It's either caused by my leg issues OR was caused by poor form/weakness when I started doing the lifts, as we all know I was dodging them. Problem is I started regular walking and these compounds lifts around the same time (I think) so hard to isolate. At the very least it doesn't specifically hurt when I do those movements, only after. Also, despite having not gym'd since Friday it hasn't improved but I have still been walking twice daily (now with basic insoles and my arches strapped up). Aids.

The problem is I don't know what is exactly wrong so am trying different things based on the opinion of therapists. If the answer is squat more then I must be squatting too much for my core strength at the moment which seems odd as my legs want to squat plenty more. So I either lower the weights or work on some specific exercises to target a supposed weakness and if nothing else prove to therapists that my core is fine (if it is). Anyone had good experience with Chiro's?

TTT, lol good idea. I'm sure I'll get a decent workout with her on my back whole bush walking etc also.

Not at all, I know a strong core is needed and that doing the motion helps. But if I'm having issues at only 50kg squat and SLDL hen I've either got some sort of imbalance due to my leg or poor core strength from being laid up. Want to fix it so I can squat MOAR.

PR as in a PB? Awesome job Thanks guys, and a hat tip to the women in your lives who have had kids, not an easy process. Back on topic. Can't saying having my feet strapped so tight has really made much of a difference to my back, and I haven't been doing any gym work since Friday and I wouldn't be inclined to say it's improving through not using it (not using it heavily through gym). I'll get a start on the oblique work and see if that helps. Anyone have any personal favs improving oblique strength?

Of course it's a girl, I barely squat!

No gym for me tonight but my back and legs got a decent workout today assisting with this... Off topic I know, but damn, what a process. So glad to be a man. She might not bench or squat much, but I was pretty impressed with her strength today!

Not doubting you need core, just putting it up for discussion. If its purely a core issue then I'd be more Inclined to think its less related to my foot/ankle and more so a strain from starting back work on a weak core. Which seems odd as it doesn't hurt during those motions. Not hard to think that my core is weaker after working From a recliner for 8 weeks and generally staying off my feet, then only walking on one (so perhaps an imbalance). I think it was TTT who pointed out I wasn't setting up well enough also so might have strained something also - I feel better about setup at the moment. With the baby stuff happening I have had to skip gym so we'll see if that plus foot strapping helps.

Physio visit today, she has strapped both feet heavily to see if raising my arches helps. She also wants me to focus on core/lateral oblique movements an come back in 2 weeks. Podiatrist friend said leg length and arch response (as in when u are flat footed and pull the big toe up the arch should respond.) she suggested orthotics. Physio said strapping will prove if that's right. Myo, the only one I actually pay for also gave me oblique targeting stretches (also good massage) and after my last visit (4th I think) said it was the first time my leg lengths and pelvis tilt had been even. All see to think that if squat/sldl etc was the cause there'd be an acute pain during those motions which there isn't. I did specify which spot on my back a few posts back with a diagram -basically lower left side. I don't think a few on and off hours of awkward snoozing in hospital chairs has helped either.

Copy/paste from my build thread as questions get answered quicker in here. For some reason, my back is worse than it's been so I either did something Friday night or sleeping in shit hospital chairs/not sleeping is giving me grief (Kate has been in pre-labour for the last 3 days so we've been in and out and not sleeping very much). No gym on Monday as a result so I've had a good 3-4 days off. Not even a stretch is helping me and it's pinching randomly when I'm not doing much. I've noticed, with squats, that if I go below parallel my body tends to lean forward at the bottom of the motion which I'm wondering if that's causing some kind of cantilever effect on my lower back as I come back up. Or is some form of forward tilt at the bottom of the motion normal/acceptable? Extra info: A podiatrist friend came over on sunday and did some tests, said my legs are 1.5cm different lengths, specifically from the waist down so nothing from the back as she measured that too. I put orthotics back in my shoes (just off the shelf ones) on her advice on Sunday but I "think" my back was already playing up before that.

May not make it to the Physio today, we've been in and out of hospital over the pasty 3 days with Kate's pre-labour. Little to no sleep for either of us so naturally there was no gym last night. For some reason, my back is worse than it's been so I either did something Friday night or sleeping in shit hospital chairs/not sleeping is giving me grief. Not even a stretch is helping me and it's pinching randomly when I'm not doing much. I've noticed, with squats, that if I do below parallel my body tends to lean forward at the bottom of the motion which I'm wondering if that's causing some kind of cantilever effect on my lower back as I come back up. I put orthotics back in my shoes (just off the shelf ones) on Sunday but I "think" my back was already playing up before that.

If you injured yourself badly I'd be reluctant to lean on it without at least giving it a weeks rest. Better yet, see your chosen therapist and see what they say. Seems like you're busy enough squatting anyway

Protien shake + creatine immediately following, then dinner not too long after.

Had my podiatrist friend come over, she said there's a good 1.5cm difference in my leg lengths and some discrepancy in the way my feet rotate and said there's no doubt I will need orthotics and that it would be the likely cause of back issues. I'll book in and get the ball rolling. With that, the myo and some other Dr visits/tests I need at the moment it's costing me some bucks...

I was on the right track then as I've been choosing the lower sugar options. I get the Jalna yoghurt, set in pot and far less additives. It's fine without honey, but I do throw in some almonds.

Good to hear from a less Angry Birds... Nutrition question. If I'm looking at say Yoghurt (though question applies to anything) am I better off with the tub that has less saturated fats or less sugar per hundred grams given roughly equal protein and normal fat amounts. Just using Yoghurt as the example but I'm trying to make better choices with my foods, especially snacks, and get caught wondering if I should be aiming for less sugars or less fats in general. It seems you either get one or the other. I realise it's going to be dietary specific, so I'm just talking as a general guideline.

Good goals for sure, I hope to join in when my ankle is a bit more robust.

I eat pretty well but no set plan, jut smart choices but I've gotten past the ecto stage partly from gym and partly due to slow metabolism due to age. Back when I was 65kg it was very different. Keep up the good work Troz!