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Post by Iroc-z on Aug 6, 2020 12:11:58 GMT
Just checking in, hope all is still well on your end. Thanks buddy, I appreciate that. As is pretty traditional for me, I'm hardly logging anything during the summer months. I am still hitting my workouts, though. The highlight of my summer training has been hitting 255 for 23 reps on the bench press. My son has decided he's getting burned out on his workouts and is going to take six weeks off from any type of resistance training. I don't necessarily think that's a good idea for him, but I'm also not going to push him to train when I know his heart isn't totally into it. I hope everybody is staying safe and doing well!
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Post by Iroc-z on Sept 19, 2021 12:21:47 GMT
Wow, I feel like I completely let you guys down. Over a year since my last post. That's just downright shameful. I'm doing okay, but 2021 has been kind of a train wreck for me. Back in January of this year, I went in to the doctor for my annual physical and ended up being diagnosed with CKD (chronic kidney disease). Been through lots of tests since then and still don't really have any decent answers. I've been on a pretty strict renal diet, my kidney function numbers are still quite low, and I have absolutely no symptoms of anything whatsoever. The whole thing is very frustrating. On the positive side, I've lost over 20 lbs on this diet and actually look pretty lean, I haven't really missed any workouts throughout this process, and my blood pressure numbers have never been this awesome for my entire adult life. My squat and DL numbers have dropped a bit, but upper body lifts have remained about the same. I will try to post more updates!
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Post by macdiver on Sept 19, 2021 14:39:58 GMT
Good to hear from you. Hopefully you caught the kidney issue early and can get it stabilized without progressing to dialysis.
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Post by seltzer on Sept 20, 2021 12:03:31 GMT
Sorry to read about the medical issues you've been experiencing and the lack of resolution. I'm sure it's frustrating. Keep in touch!
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Post by shamie on Sept 20, 2021 14:29:59 GMT
It is good that you went for the physical, and they became aware of the problem, before you started to get symptoms. Good luck on getting the problem resolved.
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Post by phillydude on Oct 7, 2021 11:20:47 GMT
Oh wow... if you need a kidney, let me know. I know a guy who can "find" a donor for you... he hates to throw a body into the bay with everything intact... at least I assume that's why he cuts their hands off first.
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Post by Iroc-z on Apr 3, 2022 13:28:24 GMT
Thank you all for the encouragement. I still don't really have any decent answers on my kidney situation. Been to multiple different doctors; urologist, nephrologist, etc. The best explanation I've been given so far is that I was probably born with semi-weak kidneys and now that I'm getting older, they have continued to go downhill. The nephrologist believes that my 35+ years of heavy lifting may have also contributed to the issue. I'll be on a pretty strict renal diet for the rest of my days, but I do cheat a couple times per month. The goal is to try to keep my kidney function numbers as stable as I possibly can. My diet is basically no sodium, no potassium, and low phosphorous. In other words, I can't eat anything good! I've cut out dairy completely, and my red meat intake is limited to once or twice per week......that is probably the worst part of the diet for me. I still workout 5-6 days per week, but only one of those days is a heavy day, the rest are moderate to lighter. Powerlifting and strongman contests are completely out of the question, but I would still like to compete in a gripsport contest every now and then. I still follow along with the journals here, I just haven't been commenting and I apologize for that. You've all been an important part of my life for a very long time and I definitely consider you all to be great friends.
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Post by seltzer on Apr 3, 2022 20:15:56 GMT
I'm glad that you will still be able to compete in grip contests as I know that is something very important to you. Sending big cyber vibes that all will be well.
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Post by shamie on Apr 3, 2022 22:38:48 GMT
Good luck with your medical issues.
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Post by Iroc-z on Nov 25, 2022 13:21:39 GMT
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
I'm still hitting my workouts and my kidney diet is definitely doing some good. My GFR (measure of kidney function) has come up 16 points over the past year. The numbers still aren't great, but the goal is to try to maintain that number for as long as possible.
My younger son (he'll turn 11 in a couple months) played tackle football this past summer/fall and loved it. He has now decided he would like to get stronger for next season, so I have him on a twice a week program of high rep bodyweight squats and pushups. He loves it!
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Post by seltzer on Nov 25, 2022 17:08:04 GMT
Happy Thanksgiving and it was nice to see your post.
Damn, the not so young guy is almost 11. :headspin:
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Post by Iroc-z on Oct 8, 2023 13:01:55 GMT
Phillydude scolded me and told me to get back here, so this is my annual update!
I'm still working out with fairly high intensity for a 54-year-old guy who has bad kidneys. This nonsense about gradually losing strength each year after your mid-40's is not true. I have managed to keep almost all of the strength I've built over the years, but what I continue to lose is the ability to recover. Those intervals seem to be getting longer with each passing year. I'm hoping to compete in a gripsport contest in OH in January.
My older son, whom I used to journal about on here when he was working out hard, no longer does any weight training. He still does some bodyweight stuff and some stretching, but between working full time and going to college part-time, he doesn't have enough hours in the day to hit the gym. He says he would like to try to get back into it in 2024.
My younger son, who turns 12 in a couple months, has been working out with me a couple times per week and has made amazing gains. I have him doing high reps squats with a weight vest on, high rep sets of pushups, some one-arm deadlifts, some arm isolation work, and some grip work. He loves it and works very hard at it. The results he has seen have been phenomenal. He played tackle football last year in 5th grade, and he basically sat on the bench the entire season. He's kind of a quiet kid, and the coaches barely even noticed he was there. This year (6th grade), after almost a full year of working out, he is an absolute beast on the football field. He mostly plays defensive end, and he has been wrecking the other teams offenses for the entire season.
I hope everybody is doing well and I'm going to try to get back here a little more often this next year.
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Post by seltzer on Oct 8, 2023 15:31:25 GMT
Hi Iroc!!!!
I can empathize with the additional time needed for recovery; nice to read that you haven't let it dissuade you and you're planning for the contest in January.
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Post by phillydude on Oct 8, 2023 21:20:06 GMT
Ohio is lovely in January. Is this part of the Arnold Classic?
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Post by macdiver on Oct 8, 2023 22:37:25 GMT
It's good your younger son is interested in fitness.
Hopefully you will be back before January but if not best wishes on your competition.
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