Month #26: Redemption

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Right now I feel like I am at the brink of maxing out my strength at the current cycle of workouts. Currently I weight 59.5 KG – 60 KG (132 lbs max) and this is the first time I am lifting weights heavier than my body weight on a workout circuit. This is also the longest time I take for rest in between sets and workouts.

WEEK CYCLE 1

Day 1

  • Squats @ 150 lbs – 5 reps x 5 sets with 3 minute rest
  • Deadlifts @183 lbs – 5 reps x 5 sets with 3 minute rest
  • Wide grip Bench Press @ 106 lbs – 5 reps x 5 sets with 3 minute rest

Day 2

  • Squats @ 150 lbs – 6 reps x 4 sets with 3 minute rest
  • Deadlifts @183 lbs – 6 reps x 4 sets with 3 minute rest
  • Wide grip Bench Press @ 106 lbs – 6 reps x 4 sets with 3 minute rest

Day 3

  • Squats @ 150 lbs – 8 reps x 3 sets with 3 minute rest
  • Deadlifts @183 lbs – 8 reps x 3 sets with 3 minute rest (DID NOT FINISH EVEN ONE SET)
  • Wide grip Bench Press @ 106 lbs – 8 reps x 3 sets with 3 minute rest

I struggled at the finale of this cycle; I had to take one day off in between to work out alternate days for my lower back to recover and also to prevent lower back injury which I am prone to getting.

So this time I took longer rest in between sets and also a slight switch in the workouts – I did the deadlifts last so my lower back can recuperate in time. Thus I came back attacking this week…

WEEK CYCLE 2

Day 1 (16th April)

  • Squats @ 150 lbs – 5 reps x 5 sets with 4 minute rest
  • Wide grip Bench Press @ 117 lbs – 5 reps x 5 sets with 4 minute rest
  • Deadlifts @183 lbs – 5 reps x 5 sets with 4 minute rest

Day 2 (18th April)

  • Squats @ 150 lbs – 6 reps x 4 sets with 4 minute rest
  • Wide grip Bench Press @ 117 lbs – 6 reps x 4 sets with 4 minute rest
  • Deadlifts @183 lbs – 6 reps x 4 sets with 4 minute rest

Day 3 (20th April – today!)

  • Squats @ 150 lbs – 8 reps x 3 sets with 4 minute rest
  • Wide grip Bench Press @ 117 lbs – 8 reps x 3 sets with 4 minute rest
  • Deadlifts @183 lbs – 8 reps x 3 sets with 4 minute rest

YES! The entire cycle of workouts done with each rep and set executed flawlessly! No half-ass, no rushing it and no half-reps whatsoever – which have been my way of doing it for the longest time.

I’ll be doing an RM test again next week and after that my working out routine will change. I got myself sick in the last two cycles that affected me from doing my usual online business, so I could use some change this round.

Month #25: New Record in My RM Test!

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Hey! This month marks two years of my fitness training with the coaching and guidance of my personal trainer Qunling Koay.

I’m particularly happy about today because the training paid off when I successfully smashed all of my best records from last year in a RM Test (or Repetition Math) – it basically is a fitness test to find out the heaviest weights you can lift in a single rep.

“Video Or It Didn’t Happen!” And yep, I was recorded when I gave my best today in all the three work outs.

 

RM TEST #1: SQUATS

I did Squats at 3 reps x 172 lbs; The theoretical 1 rep would be 182 lbs.

My previous records were 140 lbs (June 2012) and 134 lbs (Nov 2012).
RM TEST #2: DEAD LIFT

I did Dead Lifts at 1 rep x 249 lbs; one set before this I did 3 reps x 216 lbs.

My previous records were 210 lbs (June 2012) and 158 lbs (Nov 2012).

 

RM TEST #3: WIDE GRIP BENCH PRESS

I did wide grip Bench Press at 1 rep x 139 lbs; I was aiming for 2 but accomplished only one as you can see in the video.

My previous record was 117 lbs (Nov 2012).

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

My body weight as of today is 58KG (127 lbs) or vs 63.1 KG (June 2012).

So in spite of the drop in body weight I am able to lift heavier than before! Now you know why I feel superbly happy and confident 🙂

To think that just last July-August I was down with stomach issue that became a setback to both my daily routine and regular training.

And the RM Test result in last year November was pathetic when compared to June (as you can see from my stats mentioned above).

Today I conquered not only my previous records… but also my mental barrier!

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I K.O’ed as soon as I got home and take a shower. 😛

But it was rest well earned.

Until the next time I smash my current record.

PHOTOS: Battle of Sai Kung

3rd March 2013.

8 years ago today, I was just starting out my online business on a second hand computer and 56K modem for Internet connection in the suburbs of Gelang Patah.

On this day, another list from my Dream Bucket was about to be realized.

The 15 of us had our early breakfast in the streets of Mongkok before taking a bus to Sai Kung with the Hong Kong airsoft players. We would later take a ferry across to an island – and damn, the jungle here is super dense! The last time anyone came here was 6 months ago.

I was nervous at first, in spite of being told that this is just a friendly match with no serious competition whatsoever. Probably because of the fact that 6 of my team mates came to Hong Kong last year only to get trashed badly in a series of CQB skirmishes.

And the fact that their average player has nearly 20 years of experience in airsofting – the ‘youngest’ player has 10 years of experience. I feel like a rookie now.

For most of the day, our Malaysian team pitted against the Hong Kong team Unicorn and its allies in over 4 rounds.

The outcome for each round is not that clear since each round timed out with survivors from both sides, but this much is clear: the Hong Kong players are superior in tactics. And of course, since we are fighting on THEIR turf they have the benefit of knowing the terrain already + they get to mod their airsoft guns, whereas for many of us our airsoft guns were stock.

I don’t know if this is something to be proud of mentioning but… we actually did pwn them badly in 2 of the fast, direct-confrontation matches – maybe thanks to us growing up in our Malaysian ‘samseng’ culture? Haha!

I’m pretty certain if they put in an effort they could beat us flatly but that wasn’t the objective. 🙂 At the end of the day, we forged new connections and friendships through the tactical sport – and we are now in touch through Facebook and WhatsApp. Will this be a great motivator for me to finally speak Cantonese?

And hey, the prospects are bright – since these guys are national players we are now in the loop whenever there are airsoft games or tournaments going on outside of Malaysia.

Alright I won’t bore you too much with the details, I’ll share some of the photos I took on this big day. 🙂

 

It was an expensive trip to Hong Kong – and a rushed one – but I don’t regret coming here at all. 🙂

ADDED 9th April 2013:

This is overdue… finally here’s the compiled video footage from my GoPro camera when playing Airsoft in Hong Kong. Enjoy! 🙂

Airsoft Shopping In Mongkok

This is an experience never to be forgotten.

I had just realized one of my dreams through this trip, and that is to pit against other players in an airsoft game… overseas!

We’ve planned this since last year August and on 1st March 2013, a team of 15 of us Malaysians flew in and met up at the Hong Kong International Airport. While a majority of us are from mainland Malaysia, 1 flew in from the UK and another came from Indonesia.

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I am beginning to think this is how Jackie Chan came up with the title for his Rush Hour movie. As soon as we arrived at our hotel at Kings de Nathan in Mongkok, we hustled to the first airsoft store: Redwolf Airsoft.

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It was a few train stations away and while we had several hours before the store closes that day, time seemed to fly when we browsed through galleries after galleries of replica fire arms. 🙂

Just when I thought only women would spend several hours shopping in a Chanel, Burberry or LV store… guess I was wrong. 😛

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I was lucky to secure my purchases in time before the store closes, but some of us needed to come back again the next day.

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And our spending spree didn’t stop even on Day 2. We checked out the other stores like eHobby Asia and Shooter CB Gear, and so many other airsoft stores as they were lined up next to each other on the streets.

IMG_2744Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy store… wait, make that candy streets!

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So that’s what we’ve been doing basically for the first 2 days in Hong Kong. It was a first time for some of us (including me) and problem is, I am a banana – I can’t speak Cantonese. I had to count on my friends to help me get around.

And good thing we brought our walkie talkies with us so we kept in touch with each other as we split up every now and then on the busy streets of Mongkok to buy our Airsoft gears.

All these in good preparation and anticipation for what’s to come… the battle against experienced Hong Kong airsoft players.

To be continued…