The Rocky Mount YMCA — hey, it’s the place to be, especially at the ass-crack of dawn! Today we have another workout from the Iron MetCon bag o’ tricks. Here’s what went down:
barbell thrusters: 135 x 7, 7; 145 x 6, 6, 5
weighted, regular grip pull-ups: 45 x 7, 7, 7, 7, 6+ (stall)
Done as a superset, with minimum rest between sets. Each rep completed an explosive a fashion as possible. Bar returned to a full, legitimate rack position (high elbows, bar secure in the “rack”) prior to front squat descent.
Then:
high cable flyes (out of the lunge position): 60# x 10, 10, 8, 8
barbell good mornings: 135 x 10, 10, 10, 10
Again, performed as a superset, with very little rest between exercises.
The cable flye out of the full lunge position is one of the few cable-based exercises I really like. The lunge position adds more of a full body element to an otherwise rather pedestrian movement. The hands should travel an upward arc from approximately the level of the hips to the top of the head, with the elbows remaining slightly bent throughout. For the good mornings: full descent (exaggerated, even — big, big glute/ham stretch), then explosive out of the hole. Allow the back to round slightly, as we are, in fact, attempting to work the lower back with these as well as the glutes and hams.
Roasted Chicken, the Easy Way (how else would I make it?)
First things first — get your hands on a good bird. A good, locally-raised, truly free-range yard bird is a must. Here’s where I get mine. The difference in taste between free-range and “conventionally raised” (sad that “conventionally-raised” has come to mean what it has) is beyond description, and that difference alone is enough to make even a kitchen hack like me look like I know what the hell I’m doing with a pan and oven.
So the chicken I used here was approximately 3.5 pounds. Rinse and dry ‘im off well. You want the chicken to be thoroughly dry before sliding it in the oven, otherwise it’ll steam instead of roast, and that’ll not make for a nice crispy, brown skin. Salt & pepper liberally, and stuff the cavity with rosemary and thyme — or whatever else you might choose (citrus of some sort, maybe). Put it in a 450-degree oven and let it rip for 45 minutes or so. Whatcha got on your hands after that is pure, chickenly heaven!
I put a small sweet potato in along with the chicken from the get-go, then about halfway though, I added the asparagus. Both ended up slathered in chicken fat. Out-of-this-world good!
Theory to Practice 