Welp, the time has come. SHOULDER REPLACEMENT SURGERY on my left shoulder on November 16. The cortisone shots were working for less time and my range of motion was lessening. When putting on pit rub or combing your hair is an effort, it's time to address what's wrong. 6 weeks in a sling, right through the New Year. Currently practicing shaving and brushing my teeth with my right hand. Three- month recuperation, will be ready by spring. Going to PT twice a week to make the muscles around the shoulder stronger and to pre-habilitate my right shoulder which isn't great either.
I also need a protein injection in my right cornea to keep it from degenerating and starting Wednesday, removing some pre-cancerous skin blemishes from my face. Going to use an ointment that will turn my face completely red on the left side. Use for 4 weeks. It's basically, chemo ointment. Good times, going to look fantastic on the family Christmas card.
Been going to the gym. Physically in good shape, can lose 10 lb. but the engine and cardio are strong. Echo Bike, Sled, Kettlebell Swings, and Hands-free Stairmaster intervals. The Echo Bike is the nastiest piece of equipment, I've used in a LONG time. Worked my way up to 19 miserable minutes, adding 1 each time. Tabata on it is the WORST. Now if I could re-lock in my diet, we'd be in business.
So, what caused all this shoulder problems? Kettlebell volume. All the pressing and snatching wore the cartilage down to a nub. I also didn't start until I was 40 and already had mileage on me. All this work pressing double 70's for reps, snatching a 55, 200 times a couple times a week. Dumb dumb dumb.
I'm not saying don't do presses or snatches, I'm saying, pick a volume and go no higher. For example, the Rite of Passage has you pressing 3x a week. 30 reps, 50 reps and 75 reps each arm, while doing pullups in between sets. Recipe for disaster. Both are brutal on the shoulders. The ideal reps' scheme is 25-50 reps twice a week. Lose the heavy day. Grease the groove instead. Most people when they get to 32kg/70 lb. start getting nicked up. I'd say, for most average men, under 225 lb. don't go higher than a 24kg/52 lb. bell most of the time.
Snatching is just as bad. Think of the rolling of the ball and socket as it goes over your head. Is that really good for your shoulders? I love the exercise but 50 reps MAX per arm a couple of times a week and NEVER heavy. Meaning no higher than 24kg/52lb. if you aren't interested in tennis elbow.
I have no one to blame but myself. I was the ignorant one. I love working with kettlebells, it's just now my time is over with them. Don't get fooled by programs that tell you, to keep banging your head against the wall to achieve 1/2 your body weight press and 200 snatches in 10 minutes. Showing up, putting in the work, is all that counts. For the last 30 years, my weight has been between 180-200. It doesn't matter if I was running 5/3/1 and squatting 3 plates for 10 or doing 155 lb. with the safety bar. Or pressing 70's for 3-5 reps or just doing shrugs. I look the same. Maybe older, fatter and less muscular, but not much of a difference.
This is not meant to be bitter. It's reality and I hope others will learn the lesson. I'd be weary of any pressing programs that have you doing it 3x a week for volume. Including THE GIANT. What's the end game? Squat instead, do rows, swings.
Quick recap of the Beatles' 1968 White Album. They did everything better than everyone else. The Beach Boys in Back in the USSR, hard rock with Helter Skelter, the blues with Yer Blues and Why Don't We Do It in the Road? Music hall with Martha My Dear, Rock with While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Country with Rocky Racoon and Don't Pass Me By.
30 songs, uneven, a hot mess. You could easily cull 9 songs off of it. Revolution 9, Long, Long, Long, Everybody Has Something To Hide, Rocky Racoon, Bungalow Bill, Wild Honey Pie, Piggies, Goodnight, Cry Baby Cry, and I would even lop Birthday to make it 10. Dumb lyrics.
I really don't like most of John Lennon's stuff on here. Yer Blues is awesome and so is Sexy Sadie. Mommy issues and wanting to revert to a child with Bungalow Bill, Julia (McCartney with an acoustic singing is WAY better than Lennon), Dear Prudence (no wonder why she wouldn't come out to play). Revolution 9 should have been put on Two Virgins. I always thought Happiness is a Warm Gun is overrated (ironic a warm gun killed him). I like Glass Onion, Dear Prudence, and I'm So Tired. He peaked in 1965.
Back in the USSR and While My Guitar Gently Weeps are spectacular. Mother Nature's Son is better than Blackbird.
