Update

[FrankH]

The lifting I started several weeks ago was a bust. I tried to start too early; my Dr. said to wait until I had 3 months behind my brain malfunction before I began again, and it was 3 months the end of December. I have started up again, and will try to maintain it this time. I don't know if I will ever lift heavy again; I am currently just working with an empty bar and 15 pound dumb bells (I refuse to wear spandex) but it's a start. To help make up for the lack of weight, I will be trying to do more reps.

I'm not sure this will be sufficient to let me throw again, but we'll see how it goes. I expect to be judging most of this season, but maybe I'll be able to throw a couple times toward the end of the year. That's my best-case scenario at the moment.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year's, and that you're ready to get back into your off-season training. I'll see you at S MD if I don't see you at the St. Paddy's Day Walk in Alexandria.

--Frank

[Mark Kreafle]

Frank,
Good to see that you are able to start working out again. Keep at it, slow and steady. Hope to see you and Lee later in the year.
Mark

[FrankH]

Thanks, Mark-- I'll be on the field one way or another!

[chirolifter]

Glad to hear Frank... Baby steps brother!!! Keep at it
G

[miked]

Be smart and patient, brother. Don't rush it. And, let me know when you want you 42 back and i will bring it over.

[chirolifter]

Hell yeah Frank... Weight doesnt matter, just the fact that your doing something is all that matters. Your an Inspiration my man... Keep at, slow and steady
Gene

[FrankH]

Thanks, Gene. All I can do is work my plan and see what happens. On the positive side, since my strength is down it looks like I'll be forced to polish up my technique!

[miked]

you mean . . . . you're gonna actually start doing drills???

[TheHammer]

Nooooooooooooooooooo

[FrankH]

[Largemilk]

Hey Frank, your posts have a feel of "I've lost something..." I challenge you to feel empowered to live like there's no tomorrow and continue with your baby steps until you can take leaps and bounds. Keep a tight relationship with your doctors, listen to their advice, seek out other professional advice (rehab oriented if you haven't already) and keep that fire that we know as Frank the Tank.

Respect you body, treat it well and gentle and challenge it when it's time - not before and you'll be back!

You're a true inspiration Frank- always have been for me. Your grit and determination is second to none. Keep your spirits up and we'll see you you on the field.
C.

[FrankH]

Thanks, Charles. I'm just in the shop for a while. I am very far from giving up, and I accept your challenge brother.

[FrankH]

Had a good January doing barbell lifts at 45# and using 15# and 30# dumbells for bicep curls and 2-handed OH tricep pushes, respectively.

For Feb, I have added 10# to light barbell lifts, and 20# to heavy ones. Dumbells are 20# and 40# now. Nice to add weights, however small, to the bar! WOB swings with a 15# pud.

Hoping to add 10#/month to light lifts and 20#/month to heavy ones through the summer, then hold for a while. Might try a comp at 2/3 speed late summer.

Looking forward to judging and to seeing you guys! I hope your off season workouts are going well.

--Frank

[TheHammer]

Glad to hear it is going well, keep it up!

[bjketchem]

Great to hear you're doing well Frank! Keep taking it slow and steady brother:)

[FrankH]

Thanks brocephuses. (Brocephi?)

[Mike Wills]

If your last name is Fay, then it's Breaucephus.

[miked]

Let me know when you want your 42 and I will bring it over.

Glad to hear things are coming along well. hang in there. inch by inch, its a cinch.

[FrankH]

Two months of light lifting down. For January and February, I did about 2600 lifts each month, totaling about 143,000 pounds per month at 55 pounds per lift.

For March I have increased my heavy lifts to 85 pounds, and light ones to 65 pounds. It's amazing how heavy 85 pounds feels, but I think I'll get used to it in a week or two.

My goal for March is at least 2600 lifts and 190,000 pounds, averaging 75 pounds per lift.

I have about a dozen different lifts that I do, and I try to do 3-4 of them 4 times per week.

Hard to say what the long-term deal is throwing-wise, but I'm optimistic that I'll be back next year, and I'm still shooting for a comp or two the end of this year.

[TheHammer]

Woooooo Frank the Tank!!! keep on keepin' on

[FrankH]

Will do.

[Rich McClain]

Glad to hear your progress Frank! You continue to be a testament for a strong will and determination.

[FrankH]

Had another bout with diverticulitis that knocked me down for 8-10 days, but back at it. 2.85-mile walk/jog, light lifting and 30 easy throws with my 15-lb pud today.

I hope to make this my weekend regimen for the next few months, along with light lifting 3-4x weekly and some tosses mid-week.

I hope everyone is having a great off-season; Southern MD next week!

--Frank

[Jeff Storey]

Had another bout with diverticulitis
--Frank

Frank, cut that out! get healthy brother!

[miked]

Frank, are you taking any probiotics or protease/digestive enzymes?

Ever since i had the divericulitis back 2008 I have taken probiotics and have recently returned to the protease/digestive enzymes to ensure my guts are happy and i am digesting as much as possible of the stuff i eat. particularly all the protein.

[Jeff Storey]

mike, can you recommend probiotics/explain what a a protease is? I'm trying to get my house in order for some travel this summer, and I think probiotics are a good idea. thx brosef!

[miked]

see the new post regarding probiotics/digestive enzymes

[FrankH]

Well I started eating yogurt every day or two.

Just pulled my Stonyfield organic super smoothie container out of the trash-- had it with lunch. It says probiotics on it a couple times, and lists 6 different "live, active and probiotic cultures". Nothing about protease, tho.

[FrankH]

Well I have stopped lifting almost entirely; things aren't working out as quickly as I had hoped for. Current plan calls for continued weight loss to 235-240 (I am 248, down 20 pounds from my heaviest) and I'm working on cardio stuff instead. (Walking, some slow jogging, bicycling.) I'll try to get back to lifting in September, at the 1 year mark. It's very frustrating, but some stuff won't be rushed. Believe me, I've been trying. But I'm finally (mostly?) convinced that slow and steady is the only way to make it happen. And when I'm back in a year or two, it will have been a small price to pay.

[miked]

Good to hear, Frank. Slow and steady wins the race.