Friday night boxing was brutal. We were doing push-up variations for the majority of the hour and when we shadowboxed with weights, I put back the 3 pounders I initially grabbed and suffered with the 5s. 5 lbs sounds like nothing until spending a 10 minute round trying to punch FAST with it and holding the guard up. Eventually ended with intense rounds on the heavy bag with an emphasis on power. Very little technique analysis. My biceps were also a little sore the next day.

The way the days progress, Tuesday at the boxing gym tends to be the easiest with the most technique breakdown, Wednesday is a nice middle-ground, and Friday is mostly conditioning. It works out well, but because 1-on-1 work with a coach is so valuable, I tend to like Tuesdays the best right now. Smallest class size, too. I wanted to make it to all 3 this week but I received an email notification announcing there was a mistake in scheduling and Wednesday is full, so I'm signed for Tuesday and Friday.

Back hurt a little the next day from trying to gut through a 3-minute plank at the end of class. Always feels like my back is the failure point, not my abs, something I'm keen on rectifying by continuing to make overall improvements to my back health. I also asked about signing up for sparring and was given a form for my doctor to sign.

Noticed inner elbow pain on my left elbow recently, while last year it was my right that was giving me trouble. Will reduce the amount of push-ups and burpees I do in my free time and save that for class, for now, while finding other things to do at home instead (hello sled!). If the pain persists, I'll wear elbow sleeves and, if necessary, modify exercises. I was already planning on using the Swiss bar for a change. The reverse-grip board press and weighted dips were tw1o movements that gave me no pain last year when my other elbow was at its worst.

Let myself rest and have a dietary cheat day on Saturday. I ended up going to the mall after a Costco run, had a terrible chicken sandwich at the food court Popeye's, and then passed on trying something else out to instead go home and have a bunch of grass-fed steak instead. It felt like my craving for junk was destroyed after that sad little burger.

Hit squats on Sunday:

410 x 9

340 x 15

Reverse-hyper single leg extensions: 4 plates x 12

Reverse-hyper single leg curls: 4 plates x 3 x 15

I also worked out a superior way to do belt squats using my makeshift landmine apparatus instead of standing on two sets of stacked patio tiles like I'd previously been doing. This requires no more set-up than merely loading plates and because it affords a deeper ROM, I don't need to use a preposterous amount of plates like before. I'm super excited for this.

Because I'd woken up early on Sunday, I had plenty of time to train more later that afternoon. Did 2 rounds on the heavy bag for 3 minutes each and then went on a 20 minute run.