Nice job, Dereck. We all have to adapt as we get older, but it doesn't mean we have to stop!

Thanks Matt.

Great stuff Dereck, no matter what you have lifted in the past, just remember that if you asked your 'average' 40 year old to lift at your current, debilatated level, it would kill 'em
Take it easy, let your wounds heal as best they can, and keep on truckin'

Dereck,

I know how you feel bud. When your mind says yes,but your body tells you no. Listen yo your body, it'll be worth it in the long run.

Ease back into things eventually and you will most likely avoid further injury to yourself.

Besides, like Cord said. What can most 40yr olds do? Quit comparing yourself to Randy Couture and start comparing yourself to me. You'll feel much better about yourself,lol.

These are my actual arms and legs..

Thanks Cord.

You kill me Brian. Okay, no more Randy and all Brian. Can you send me the life size photo to stick on my wall now?

As some of you will know, I have had a set back with a knee injury recently, and so am working more dynamic lifts, requiring more stabilisation in the knee. I am pretty sure that my knee problem may have been triggered by squatting using a smith machine (my only option), and the act of 'fitting' my body motion around a machine is not good practice.

New workout looks like this:

Dumbell hang clean to push press 4x6-8
Push up/Wide grip chins x 3 supersets
Unilateral Dumbell Snatch 4x6-8 each side
Olympic Plate stack Rows 3x6-8

4 times per week- 2 on 1 off, 2 on 2 off.

gearing up to re-joining my old savate class in October all things being well, so good stuff ahead

What happened to that great place in Cambridge that you train at? Surely they have something better than a smith machine?

Its a fantastic place- so fantastic that it is too busy for me to take advantage of my friend's generous of offer to use it for free. It is not a gym where members can turn up and 'do their own thing', they all have a trainer with them at all times, be it a team conditioning session, or 1 on 1.
If I train there, it means they have to make an acception to that rule, and I dont feel inclined to cause them problems by giving people a chance to say 'well he trains on his own' or similar.
I do occasionaly meet up and train with them when our schedules match, but its not regular enough to structure a routine around their facility.
I have a membership to the University gym, which is adequate, with a little imagination, and it costs me only £65 for the whole year, so I cant complain. I also have my garage that contains various odd things for carrying and HIIT drills.

Thats unfortunate. £65 is pretty good bargain for the whole year. What about squatting with sandbags/heavy bags?

I didn't think a smith machine was really good for anything apart from pull ups and the like.