PGUK,

OK, dude, watched your 10min video, thanks for sending it. I'm just going to keep it real, I know you want it straight even though it'll be a bit harsh.

The tennis play here was abysmal. Both of you would prob be rated 2.5, and would likely lose all your matches in a 3.0 USTA league. You would lose to most any kid on a junior high tennis team.

How are you getting tired playing like this? You guys look like you are expending like zero energy.

Your serves are just horrible. Totally inconsistent in every way. Any decent 3.5 player should hit back most of your first serves for winners and all your second serves.

At 1:26 you're pumped about a winner, but it's just a regular medium pace shot with little spin. That's a totally ordinary mid-rally forehand for a 3.0 player. At least you got it going straight at a good angle. But the only reason that was a winner is because your opponent served and just stood there - like both of you did for most points. That was not a shot to get excited about.

Both of you stab at way too many shots instead of getting in position and hitting a stroke.

4:10 you say the guy hit a perfect placement shot wtf? That was deep, yes, but it was a soft forehand right into your hitting zone. You should be hitting that back solidly every single time. One problem was that you reacted way too late.

6:40 wtf dude, you called a softly hit loopy ball out that landed a foot and a half in!

Were there actually any rallies in there where you guys managed to hit the ball back and forth a few times?

This is just abysmal, and you won't get any better playing sets against guys like this. If you want to get better, you need to either hit with people who are better than you and can help you with your strokes and footwork, or better yet, take some lessons.

A few months of lessons would do wonders for you and make you shudder watching this video.

This was so boring I didn't watch it all the way through closely, so if there are specific points/strokes/etc you want feedback on, just let me know.

Diablo - thanks for getting back. If you read the post previous to yours you'll see we basically agree on everything! I sent you an email, the only point I think is particularly pertinent to share is: I don't think it's accurate to say I get tired v. this guy. I got tired pre asthma diagnosis but on Thursday I played ~110 minutes coming straight from the gym (3 sets of squat, 2 sets of bench press). I was fatigued at the end but that was muscle soreness as much as cardio. If you watch the video you'll see that despite playing 2 consecutive games that went to deuce I don't look particularly tired.

Given how much better I feel playing v., say, The Professor since getting on medication I think if well rested I'd be able to play two lengthy sets against this guy and feel fine. Maybe three sets. I should know soon.

05/06

Kcal: 1974
Protein: 111g

Easily the most tired/beat up I've felt in a month.

Squat: 97.5KG * 5 * 3
Bench Press: 65KG * 12 * 3

Body sore, I had to force myself a little to lift but feel better for it, now to stretch & foam roll.

Probably tennis v. Terrible Tim tomorrow, but the weather forecast is for lots of wind. I'm going to stop playing him. Diablo is correct - the rallies aren't long enough for me to improve. I'd much rather play someone I had no chance against who would punish my ****ty serves, force me to actually win points and so on. Tennis v. Terrible Tim isn't fun, so why do I play him?

When I do play him, or anyone else, I am going to focus on ball toss & footwork. The ball toss might just get fixed tomorrow, I don't know. Footwork is an ongoing thing but I need to react to where my opponent has placed the ball &
focus on getting in optimal position rather than in "good enough" position which is what I suspect I do right now. That is, I'm currently happy moving to where I can make contact and return the ball rather than where I will make contact with the ball in the sweet spot.

Pguk,

Why don't you start taking lessons?

I will but probably not for a month.

06/06

Kcal: 1788
Protein: 126g

Foam rolled, stretched. Still probably tennising tomorrow but if it's going to be cloudy and windy I'll take a pass & bike at the gym.

Tennis v. Terrible Tim

6-2 5-7

- Sigh. Partially due to guilt from de facto stealing two points from him in the video I shared with Diablo I gave him a point which I thought went 15cm long at 6-2 0-1 40-15. He ended up winning that game. Ceteris paribus if I call that ball out I end up winning 6-2 6-2. I mean, maybe it was in. But I thought it was out!

- I had two points for a 6-2 6-3 win. (I set myself a target of winning 6-3 6-2).

- Two double faults all match. One in the penultimate point of set one when I was thinking how great it would be to go an entire set sans double faulting. One at 30-40 in the final game of set two (I had come back from 0-40). The second one I was thinking "don't double fault, don't double fault" & hit a really tame one into the net cord (very close to a lucky let).

- Apart from a pee break at 0-1 in the first set & an extended (five minute?) break between sets we switched end to end with no intermissions. In the first set I just wasn't tired & in the second set by the time I got tired I was always one game away from winning & wanted to get back for Murray-Nishikori.

- By the end of the match I was tired. Not absolutely exhausted, but I wouldn't have wanted to play a third set even if the weather was nice, I was enjoying the match and I didn't want to get back for Murray-Nishikori.

- Re. Diablo's Here's how I'd phrase it. Let's say you were feeling a little sore due to being out of shape, old & having done your squat PB of the past 3.5 years the previous day. So you're basically fine but a little beat up, no biggie. Then you walk round the local track 20 times (5 miles) in 90 minutes (you have water to stay hydrated). How would you expect to feel after 90 minutes? That's how I feel right now.

The tennis didn't consist of numerous extended rallies but I was moving pretty constantly for 90 minutes. From ad to deuce, from one side of the court to the other + yes, chasing after the ball, hitting the ball, serving the ball, retrieving the balls between points. Even the relatively low intensity of a PGUK v. Terrible Time accumulates when you start off overweight & a little beat up. If I were to guess it's closer to 5 minutes in 80 or 85 minutes.

- For a while I thought I was going to win 6-2 6-3. Then 6-2 6-4. Then OK 6-2 7-5. And even though that would have been by far my best result v. Terrible Tim & a pretty dramatic turnaround from when a few weeks ago I still wasn't happy. I don't think I hit a single serve with good pronation. I made too many awful shots. I'm more annoyed by that than losing the last 4 games which I put down to rushing to get home for Murray-Nishikori & not caring.

- Despite the previous paragraph - my improved results in the first 80% of today's match was due to my improved performance - Terrible Tim played as good or bad as usual. Just not serving double faults was a big part of it - the only times I got broken was the game where I gave him the (probably) unmerited points + my last two service games. And I think in general I moved a little better, hit more consistently + actually constructed a few points. But it still wasn't great.

- I didn't enjoy it even when I thought I was going to win 6-2 6-3. I never got in a rhythm - expected when you play a guy who is very likely to hit one into the net/long/wide if you just get the ball over four times. This is why my favourite opponent is The Professor - he gets everything back, moves me around the court & will punish a 50 MPH second serve or short ball but he doesn't hit a fast ball so I'm not blown off the court. Hoping to play him next Tuesday.

- I told Terrible Tim I'm unlikely to play him much in the next month. After that I will get a couple of matches in ahead of the July 23 three month challenge date. To recap I have to "Win the clear majority of sets v. Terrible Tim" by that date. I think I'm already there & he'd have little chance if I was fresh and rested but right now that's just speculation right? My sets against him in the past week went 2-6 7-6 1-4* 6-2 5-7. I can't claim victory off that.

- Until then The Professor seems to only be down to play me once a week & I'd like to play at least twice. I can practice a few serves & drop feed myself groundstrokes but I'd like to find someone else to hit with. There's one guy, Golders, who I like and played three consecutive days but he's out for the next 17 days because of Ramadan. He's similar to The Professor in overall ability. Actual gave me more of a beating but I think that's because I played worse. Still, a pretty solid pusher who I can have extended rallies & won't give me anything easy. I'll try to find someone else to play but if not no big deal I'll work on my fitness.

- I got home 12 minutes after Murray beat Nishikori (I left my phone at home). Sigh!

07/06

Kcal: ???
Protein: ???

Tomorrow = stretching, foam rolling etc. Friday I'll probably do a lot of walking & maybe drinking. Unsure on exercise but I'm thinking something like bench press (which I need to work on) & some light cycling? I want to take two days off from tennis/squatting. Then ideally squat on Saturday & tennis on Sunday if Luigi is up for it.

Couple more tennis thoughts: I was disappointed not to get more time to actively work on stuff like my ball toss & movement. Once we played sets I was focused on the next point rather than assessing what I did or didn't do correct the previous point. I may have lessons in a month or two but I'd like to find someone who will just hit with me. The only one who will do so is Terrible Tim & free hitting with him is of limited use since he's not great at keeping the ball in court & definitely not good enough to, say, feed me a bunch of backhands. There is a tennis court a few minutes walk from my gym which I can and will use to work on my serve. I can drop feed groundstrokes but that's less good than rallying.

46 days ago

So, half way through how is my progress? Let's score everything from 0 to 10 with 5 as "Exactly on schedule".

I don't know exactly how much I weighed at the beginning (would have been smart to log) but around 105KG. Today I weigh 102.8KG. I initially vacillated between choosing 98KG or 99KG as a target before selected an "easy" 100KG. After a slow/stagnant first few weeks I sped things and now need to lose 6.16 lbs in 45lbs so ~1lb/wk. Progress 4/10.

I did 65KG * 12 * 3 the day before starting the 90 day challenge & also two days ago. I still think I can do this if I bench press 3 times a week as opposite to the 10 times in 6.5 weeks I counted in the log. Nonetheless it's a clear Progress 0/10.

I did 75KG * 5 * 3 two days before starting the 90 day challenge & 97.5KG * 5 * 3 two days ago. I could do 100KG * 5 * 3 today & will do over the weekend. This is essentially done. Progress 9.5/10.

Tough to judge. Again I think this is done - if I was fully rested I don't think he'd have much of a chance. But this assertion is much more speculative than the squat. My tennis results are definitely improved but imo mostly due to increases in fitness from getting asthma under control than better tennis technique. I will start playing this guy again in four to five weeks when I hope to dispatch him comprehensively. He really shouldn't get close to winning a set v. me. Progress 7/10.

Cumulative progress 20.5/40, so slightly ahead of schedule!

Outside of all the obvious stuff I will make a conscious effort to stretch more often. I've been beat up for the past week. Started a week ago today when I unwisely squatted, bench pressed & played tennis on the same day & I've never fully recovered due to continuing to exercise. Outside the initial lift/tennis day (which wasn't even that crazy) I haven't gone that wild - I think my slow recuperation is due to lack of stretching (and old age).

10/06

Squat: 90KG * 5 * 3

Right rotator cuff strain. Cancelled tennis this a.m which sucks, the weather is perfect. I could play but there's some sort of mild strain that I haven't been able to shift for three to four days. I get right shoulder pain often and it is likely my squat/bench press technique is not the best. Maybe it's a serve thing - that would explain why it's only affects the right shoulder.

Anyone know of a pectoral exercise that doesn't involve the shoulders? I'd like to do some left armed pressups, alas a one armed one pressup is currently beyond me. As for today it looks like stationary bike while watching the French Open final, perhaps I will jog instead.......

Tennis v. The Professor

1-6 2-6 1-6

I felt fresh at the beginning of set three but after a couple of multi-deuce games I was done. The last three games I had no energy, although I actually had two games points.

Backhand was noticeably improved, both slice and drive.
The only shot I had trouble with was a high backhand which I couldn't deal with (a disadvantage of the one hander). That said my results were no better than normal. I didn't record the match but I strongly suspect my movement was not up to scratch.
This is related to my cardio. I will add a specific fitness goal my next three monthly targets. There's lots I can do to improve my tennis movement (mainly focus on it),
but improving fitness is crucial. For example in the last 3-4 games The Professor hit a few standard "Move PGUK from centre court to his forehand side" which due to my tiredness turned in to "clean winners".

I played 90 minutes, walked 25 minutes home and now feel recovered and rather fresh. Outstanding weather forecast and I intend to implement running into my routine.

Played ~2 hrs 15 minutes tennis v. Luigi today. Exhausted and let's see how I feel tomorrow but it was only a couple of months ago I couldn't play more than 75 minutes.

This was a badly played point by both (The fact that I wasn't confident enough to hit the facile backhand passing shot is quite sad) but I played some good defence.



Fun to win that one after his lazy 'No way fatboy will get this' "winner".

Also I logged today. Currently on 1679 Kcal 109g protein but I rate to eat more given how much tennis I played (plus 50 minutes walking).

15/06

Kcal: 2024
Protein: 113

I'm fascinated to see how my body feels tomorrow. This is ~50% more tennis that I've played this year and I also walked 50 minutes. Iwant to bench press & squat tomorrow but let's see. If I do that's a very good sign.

Little note about the video - I'm happy with my shot at 0:27. He hits a very respectable approach shot that I did well to get back. If you slow down the video you'll see I perfectly time a split step so I can move to my right once I see where the ball is going (he would have won the point with an equally well placed crosscourt approach). That's something I was working on - I don't think I reach that without a split step. It's a fundamental part of playing good tennis but it's far from automatic for me & I'm sure it slipped as the match went on. I just need to keep working on it preferably with free hitting rather than sets.

PG,

Nice job getting across the court for that last get! Never give up!

15/06 (updated, forgot breads)

Kcal: 2287
Protein: 121g

16/06

Kcal: 2365
Protein: 142g

I'm not yet in shape to lift the day after playing 2 hr 15 minutes tennis. I could have but it was better to wait until tomorrow. I can probably play 1 hr 45 right now and feel OK the next day. I'm curious how much of my tiredness is due to weight v. fitness. I have lots of aches and pains and my back felt really sore for the last half of yesterday's match. I'm intending to lose weight and improve my fitness so guess we'll never know!

Bench Press: 67.5KG * 11, 12, 10
Squat: 90KG * 5 * 3

Bench press is encouraging - if I can do 67.5KG * 12 * 3 within 8 days (I can) it gives me four weeks to reach my 70KG * 12 * 3 target.

Squat - I did 97.5KG 11 days ago and doubt I could have replicated that today. 90KG * 5 * 3 was tough. My legs are still tired from Thursday's tennis.

Tennis on Monday v. The Professor. The weather will be hotter than I like. Which leaves tomorrow! What exercise shall I do? This is an interesting question and I'm going to decide tomorrow since I like to live life on the edge.

Tennis v. The Professor

2-6 0-6 1-6

Just too hot for me. Got through the three sets in about 75 minutes since I couldn't move. And I don't feel remotely tired since I wasn't running much! Actually some very encouraging signs re. my forehand.

Unless I find a shaded court I'll wait for a cooler (and/or windier) day or play indoors.

Planks: 66s * 3
Squat: 95kg * 5 * 3
Bench Press: 65KG * 11 * 2

Next few nights in a hotel, not many photos of the gym but it looks OK & I'm hopeful of some farmer's walks, cardio & dumbbell bench press. Squats I presume are out. 07:00 tennis tomorrow with someone who seems to be of the 4.0-4.5 calibre, I told him I am nowhere near that & he said he's happy to hit and work on technique.

It's good to see some tennis action in the thread!

You were looking active around that court, good going!

It was finally cool and breezy yesterday morning but I was playing indoors & this place didn't have air-conditioning and was like a sauna. I sweated like a Guantanamo detainee and didn't move much.

This guy hit a hard ball which meant some fun rallies. I went toe to toe on almost equal terms forehand to forehand but I had to take more shots on my backhand than I'd like and those didn't go very well. I can just about get away with a lack of backhand against most opponents I play but anyone decent would punish me. Not like this guy was even deliberately targeting my backhand side which I presume he would if we were playing competitively.

No way he's a 4.5 - he hit way too many into the net (even if it was too high). Didn't get to see his serve but he was in amazing shape & I'm sure hits it fast. Placement & accuracy IDK. Was a fun 50 minute workout although I'd prefer something that made me run more and sweat less. Hotel gym is nice.

Dumbbell Bench Press: 26KG * 12 * 3
Hill walk - 1 mile walk, 170m incline. Took a weird route which mean we kinda went up and down twice so de facto 1.5 mile walk 250m incline? It was a little tricky & I was more out of breath than my walking partner but she's 120-125 lbs and runs marathons. I was struck by how much easier I found it than climbing Ben Nevis in 2014. The latter is 4.25 miles 1300m incline but I got tired early on and had to take breaks every few minutes. Today I didn't take one break. I ascribe most of this improvement to asthma medication but who knows? Need to climb Ben Nevis to really make the comparison but that ain't happening today

Tennis v. Professor

3-6 1-6

Started up 3-1 and thought I might win the set but things went downhill from then. I think I was just tired from the weekend, lots of walking around a very hilly city (Edinburgh), my forehand was encouraging. Also I'm back logging.

Pg,

Let's see some more tennis video. I want to see this new and improved forehand!