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A Hebridean Diary

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Martin1956Icon...09-02-2026 @ 22:23 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq
Wayne_Cowdrey said:Good stuff Happy

I know you have some health issues, but do you feel that benching has a positive health effect?


Hi Wayne, that's a difficult question to answer, as there's no 'control' period where I haven't worked out for comparison. However I would say that training has been a welcome distraction and it continues to give me goals to look forward to, such as M4 records. The annoying thing is that, health issues apart, I maintain a youthful outlook and am often told I don't look my age. Maybe people are just being kind? All I can say is that in terms of my mental wellbeing and general wellness, I think I'd be in a worse place if I wasn't training. My blood pressure issues would no doubt be helped if I dropped some kilos, but the root of that particular problem is diabetes, which has in turn caused my kidney disease. My biggest problem in 2025 was keeping training while taking blood pressure meds that turned me into a zombie, but hopefully the worst of that is now over and I'm slowly regaining strength.
Martin1956Icon...09-02-2026 @ 22:33 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq
Post Edited: 09.02.2026 @ 22:35 PM by Martin1956
Monday Bench

First session as a seventy something. Thick red band today, adds 25 to 30, previous best in recent times is 90

Bar for 10 x 3 sets
Band on
Bar for 8
30 for 6
40 for 5
50 for 4
60 for 3
70 for 2
82.5 for 1
92.5 for 1
80 for 2
70 for 4
60 for 6
50 for 8
Finish

Energy levels were better today than for ages. Yesterday, I started taking supplements again I've been avoiding - pre workout, creatine, nitric oxide stuff, green tea capsules, tribulus and a couple of other things and something seems to have worked, so I suppose I'll have to keep taking them all!

92.5 was a recent pb. Only a 2.5 jump, but 2.5 a month equals 30 a year, so just be greatful for any improvements. I was right on my limit with the 92.5, and the last reps on 80 and 70, and close to it on the 60 and 50. Good to get a full workout in without having to walk away early and fatigued.
jtIcon...10-02-2026 @ 19:23 
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old age traveller
Member 332, 7953 posts
Good to know things are on the up.....i wonder how much of a placebo the supplements are? Again it would be hard to experiment on yourself with that.

I keep seeing an advert for a testo boost from Healer labs (IPF legal supposedly) I wonder if it would work better than the stella Happy
Martin1956Icon...10-02-2026 @ 23:01 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq
jt said:Good to know things are on the up.....i wonder how much of a placebo the supplements are? Again it would be hard to experiment on yourself with that.

I keep seeing an advert for a testo boost from Healer labs (IPF legal supposedly) I wonder if it would work better than the stella Happy


Thanks Jason, definite and immediate improvement in energy levels after months of lethargy, way beyond what a placebo might bring.
Martin1956Icon...12-02-2026 @ 21:31 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq		Green Band Bench - adds 35 - 40 at lockout

Bar for 10 x 3 sets
Band on
Bar for 6
30 for 5
40 for 4
50 for 3
60 for 2
70 for 1
80 for 1
85 - fail, missed it near lockout
70 for 2
60 for 4
50 for 6
40 for 8
Finish

A mixed bag tonight. Missed 85, which would have equalled my recent best. So going backwards? Well, not quite. Last time, I got 85 but could only get 60x3 on my down set and gave up exhausted. This time, I got all my down sets, with more in the tank if I'm honest. And of course, getting my sets in will build strength, so what's not to like? Won't be able to train again for a week, as I'm off to Edinburgh at the weekend for some R&R.
Martin1956Icon...23-02-2026 @ 18:36 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq		Monday Bench

Wasn't able to train last week. Got home on the ferry Tuesday evening, planned to train Thursday, then Friday, then Saturday, but just didn't feel up to training. Feeling slightly better, so forced my way out today.

Bar for 10 x 3 sets
40 for 6
50 for 5
60 for 4
70 for 3
80 for 2
90 for 1
100 for 1
100 for 2
100 for 2
100 for 2
100 for 1
70 for 10
Finish

The middle set of 100 was supposed to be 3 reps, but stuck at 2. Would probably have tried with a spotter. 70x3 felt heavy on the way up, but 70x10 felt like an empty bar coming down. Shows that the workout is as much about cns as muscles. All in all, happy with today. Glad to get back to training, even if there's a long, long way to go to get back to respectable numbers.
b15ape1Icon...23-02-2026 @ 21:34 
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British bum sex champ
Member 450, 1953 posts
SQ 315, BP 212.5, DL 290
817.5 kgs @ 137kgs Eq		Well done with the 100's Fletty, it all helps Wink
Martin1956Icon...24-02-2026 @ 23:45 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq
b15ape1 said:Well done with the 100's Fletty, it all helps Wink


Thanks Andy, considering it was the first session back, I'll take it. Onwards and all that...
ChrisMcCarthyIcon...25-02-2026 @ 08:12 
Lost his pen, then found his pen. #phew
Member 4899, 2963 posts
Post Edited: 25.02.2026 @ 08:12 AM by ChrisMcCarthy
They all count! (Thumbs Up).
Martin1956Icon...27-02-2026 @ 01:22 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq
ChrisMcCarthy said:They all count! (Thumbs Up).


Thanks mate. They certainly do. Happy
Martin1956Icon...27-02-2026 @ 01:37 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq		Thursday Bench

Posting a bit late as I've been out all evening

Bar for 10 x 3 sets
40 for 6
50 for 5
60 for 4
70 for 3
80 for 2
90 for 1
100 for 1
100 for 3
90 for 5
80 for 8
70 for 10
Finish

Really pleased with today's numbers. Not just the 100 x 3 that I couldn't do last time, but all the down sets too. Trained really late as I got up late and couldn't get my body up for it, which probably makes it even better. Maybe there's life in the old dog yet?
Martin1956Icon...28-02-2026 @ 17:33 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq		Managed to do some assistance work today. First time in months. My energy levels simply haven't allowed it. So hopefully a good sign, and something I can continue doing.

Did a wee circuit;
Facepulls - 25 for 10 reps x 2 sets
Thin red band rows (standing) - 10 reps x 2 sets
Dumbell Arm Curls - 25s for 10.

Did that circuit five times. Surprised I wasn't weaker on curls, given the spaghetti like state of my arms. Small, but important, steps...
BillwestIcon...28-02-2026 @ 17:48 
Member 541, 5277 posts
SQ 192.5, BP 120, DL 222.5
535.0 kgs @ 92.8kgs UnEq		Things starting to look up Martin. Long may it continue!
Martin1956Icon...02-03-2026 @ 18:57 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq
Billwest said:Things starting to look up Martin. Long may it continue!


Thanks. Happy
Martin1956Icon...02-03-2026 @ 19:04 
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Old Age Presser
Member 75, 8040 posts
SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200
400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq		Monday Bench

Woke up this morning sneezing incessantly and clearly going down with something. Tried to get a workout in because I have eye injections tomorrow, which will prevent training for a couple of days.

Bar for 10 x 3 sets
40 for 6
50 for 5
60 for 4
70 for 3
80 for 2
90 for 1
100 for 1
100 for 2
Finish.

All seemed to be going well, but just nothing left after the 100 x 2. Left it there on the basis that something was better than nothing. Ten minutes later I was asleep in my chair. Thursday will be a better day...

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