New Horizons in Shaving (HMan's Journal of Sorts)

Thanks for checking in Cole. Hope you can get the vaccine soon. Got my 1st dose of Pfizer Wednesday.

Thanks for checking in Cole. Hope you can get the vaccine soon.

Thanks Dave, and super that you got the first jab done!

Hi HMan , I'm Marko  aka Mark and I'm glad to meet you.  I'm looking forward to enjoying your journal not just for shaving but to hear about and exchange ideas and thoughts on weight training.  I'm a retired person (61) and weight training is my primary fitness activity.  The lockdown which resulted in gym closures had the silver lining of getting me to add to and improve my home gym setup.  I don't know if I'll ever go back to the public gym.  I love the commute to my home gym, its never crowded and the equipment is always clean and available.  Right now I'm in a forced low activity period - I've been getting some veins in my legs treated/removed and they do them a little at a time spaced out over several weeks and I can't lift for a couple of weeks following treatment - no core pressure/stabilization allowed so that makes any kind of strength training hard.  I feel like the witch in the Wizard of Oz - I'm melting!(wasting).  No worries though because its the journey and the process so it doesn't matter, I'll just start again.  and again.  I've picked up some books by a strength coach/strength athlete named Dan John - I like his approach and his philosophy .  Because of him I even picked up some kettlebells and I'm planning to do the 10,000 swing challenge.  So far I can manage 500 swings in one workout but to do it in 5 consecutive workouts with 2 days off and then again3 more times.  Thats something I have to work up to.  Why 10,000 kettle bell swings?  Why not?  Its a challenge.

Cheers

Hey Mark! I know you from the T+S thread

Well I'm only a few years behind you and have done quite a lot of fitness related activities.

In my younger years I was a yoga teacher, doing a lot of pretty hard stuff, yes yoga can be hard.

For a number of reasons, as I got into my late 40's I moved away from yoga and started studying 'physical culture' at large, Dan John was one of my first gateways to using weights and of course kettlebells. He co-authored a good book with Pavel Tsatsouline, dang I forget the name right now.

I have a small fitness company now and have do a lot of reading in sport science. Personally I've landed on bodybuilding style training as what I enjoy and feel is sustainable for me at this age. But I'll be honest, I sure don't look like a bodybuilder, I guess that's part of the appeal. It's a challenge, right?

One tiny word of advice, is take the challenge as just that and not a necessity. You really need to make sure your lower back is recovering before pushing extra sessions reps etc, or what was a fun and healthy activity can take a nasty turn!

Looking forward to more convos in the future

I hear you. While I enjoy a challenge, I try not to be stupid about it. I’m dealing with lots of arthritis and other active life related issues. I’ve had three shoulder surgeries and I’m hoping to get a new hip before the end of the year. I insisted on the surgeon/procedure/appliance that will allow me to continue with squats and deadlifts with lowest dislocation risk. I’m not ever going to stop. I’m having too much fun.

I hear you. While I enjoy a challenge, I try not to be stupid about it. I’m dealing with lots of arthritis and other active life related issues. I’ve had three shoulder surgeries and I’m hoping to get a new hip before the end of the year. I insisted on the surgeon/procedure/appliance that will allow me to continue with squats and deadlifts with lowest dislocation risk. I’m not ever going to stop. I’m having too much fun.

Great attitude Mark!

I'd like to say another great week of shaving, but for some reason, my shaves felt a little off. Missed spots, and feeling like the beard is coming back in fast and itchy. Oh well.
Not sure if it's just my skin is being it's annoying self or if it's playing around with razors. I was trying to focus on my Slim the last week or so. It just might be too much of a jalopy for me.

I'm starting to look a little at some modern options, especially with the new Era coming out. It's in my price range, and something cool about the way it's made. There are just too darn many nice looking options coming out now, from all corners of the globe.

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Training wise the first meso of this muscle gain phase is in the bag, I'm trying to be better about not overfishing, and this may have been one of my most successful mesos. Weight gain also seems to be right on track. @woodpusher gave me the idea of using a 7 day average type system to track average bodyweight, and I'm nicely at the low end of where I want to be, even though I've had plenty of extra snacks and stuff. I also think I look a bit burlier, and not too chubby, yet.

I'll make a couple of minor adjustments to next meso's program, but for the most part plan to continue the same for another 4 week burst after the low key week ahead.

Thanks for checking in Cole. Hope you can get the vaccine soon. Got my 1st dose of Pfizer Wednesday.

They opened up my group, and I got the vaccine last weekend. No issues to date.

After the last couple weeks bad shaves, I changed course a bit and picked up my old Fatip Grande, putting a Nacet in it. Great shave, no itchy irritation, though there's a bit quicker grow back, it's coming in softer, so good combo for me right now. Also adding some cheap lotion (Humektan) from the pharmacy as post shave. Feeling great.

Today was the second shave in a row with the Grande and feeling even better. One thing I love with this razor is the feeling that you can buff to your heart's content without getting the feeling that you're scraping all your skin off, or going to nick yourself.

I'll stick with it through the week, but it looks like I should be getting a present in from South Africa, so will intersperse the Gibbs for sure.

Nice shave Cole ! What did you get from Claudio ? Inquiring (Nosey) Minds and all Handle or something else ?

Something else! I just want to make sure he's ok with it before I start blabbing too much, it's something he's talked about before though.